Adult Learners

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Adult Learners

In addition to our undergraduate/degree-completion programs, we offer graduate, certificate, and professional-development programs for adult and non-traditional learners. Whether you're juggling family responsibilities, a career, or both, your busy lifestyle deserves a high-caliber and flexible education to match. That's where we come in.

Barry's many Adult learner programs are designed to meet each student along their personal and professional path and help them advance. We offer flexible course delivery options at multiple Florida locales, credit for career experience, opportunities for corporate partnerships and employee learning, and so much more. Here are just a few of the ways our programs cater to you:

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Face-to-face, fully online, and hybrid program options

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In-demand bachelor’s and master’s degrees

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Certificate, credential exam preparation, and licensure programs for professional, personal, and educational advancement

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Evening, online and weekend courses

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Undergraduate/degree-completion credits for learning acquired on the job through our Portfolio Program

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On-site learning available at 5 Florida locations

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Accelerated seven-week terms

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    Face-to-face, fully online, and hybrid program options

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    In-demand bachelor’s and master’s degrees

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    Certificate, credential exam preparation, and licensure programs for professional, personal, and educational advancement

  • shield

    Evening, online and weekend courses

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    Undergraduate/degree-completion credits for learning acquired on the job through our Portfolio Program

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    On-site learning available at 5 Florida locations

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    Accelerated seven-week terms

Undergraduate Degree-Completion Programs

Did you know that nearly half of enrolled college students in the U.S. are adult/non-traditional learners ages 21 and up.

Barry's Adult Learner programs have long supported adult learners. Accelerated seven-week terms allow you to advance at your ideal pace, and flexible, career-driven curricula celebrate your life experience and professional knowledge. Our programs are designed exclusively for you and always will be—because at Barry, non-traditional is the norm.

To enroll in an Adult Learner undergraduate/degree-completion program, students must have earned a high school diploma or GED.

In addition, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Be able to document a work history of at least 2 years

Active-duty service members of the United States military seeking to enroll in an accelerated online program are exempt from the admissions requirement regarding work experience.

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Application for admission is a process separate from the registration process and must be completed prior to course registration.

Program Options

  • Public Administration (BPA)

    The Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) degree is of special interest to the working professional in the public and nonprofit sectors, and those individuals who want to pursue a career in the public and nonprofit sectors. The purpose of the Bachelor of Public Administration degree is to provide the student with an understanding of theory and practice essential for good governance.

  • Organizational Leadership, BS

    The BS in Organizational Leadership degree is a flexible program that addresses a broad range of organizational principles and practices, and also allows for individual emphasis through optional specializations.

  • Emergency Management (BS)

    The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management is designed for current emergency management professionals, individuals interested in promotion in a related-field, or those interested in entering the field.

Professional Development Series

Barry University Melbourne Campus “Professional Development” series programs educate leaders to leverage communication and interpersonal skills to achieve organizational objectives. Specialized professional developmental education programs provide an innovative and educational experience to broaden your abilities and encourage you to inspire others. Our mission is to further develop your effectiveness as a leader in shaping operations to meet organizational challenges.

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Experiential Learning Experiential Learning Portfolio (ELP)

You may not have been in a classroom for a while, but you have never stopped learning. Your professional and community activities are valuable. The portfolio program allows you to translate your real-life learning into college credit. 

You may earn up to 30 credits by demonstrating college-level learning in one or more of the following academic disciplines: administration, behavioral sciences, communication, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and five special topics. Please see your advisor for additional information.

Credit for Prior Learning & Assessment (CPL/PLA)

Adult Learner FAQs Experiential Learning Portfolio Presentation

Thousands of Barry University adult students have completed portfolios and considered this experience time and cost effective as well as personally rewarding.

Here are what three students said about their portfolio experience:

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    Student 1

    "You know, it sort of gave me more pep in my step and actually gave me a sense of accomplishment and pride. It also made me realize how marketable I am. It did, it did a lot of things for me but it really gave me a sense of empowerment."
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    Student 2

    "It really made me stop and think. It reinforced my belief in myself. I tend to get so caught up in everyday situations that I forget that I ever did something, you know, fifteen years ago. I think the portfolio is one of the most rewarding pieces of work that I have ever done."
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    Student 3

    "The insight gained from [my] portfolio helped me to see, as the slogan goes, ‘You've come a long way baby'! in my accomplishments, achievements, [and] my development. A degree with a portfolio makes you assess your professional life; without a portfolio, you just know your academic strengths, but you don't know your professional strengths."

Graduate Programs

When you choose to earn your degree, you’re taking the first steps toward expanding your career and earnings potential. Each of our Administration programs is offered both on site and online, allowing you to pursue your graduate work around your personal and professional commitments.

Across private, public, and nonprofit sectors, a graduate degree in Administration helps you become a stronger leader with the critical, strategic, and ethical knowledge to effectively serve your organization and community.

Online Programs

Life changes are a constant challenge for working adults of all ages as they must adapt to new situations, new jobs or new goals. With Barry University Online, nontraditional learners can embrace change and adaptation without disrupting their learning goals. We empower our students to become the architects of their own learning experience as a member of a learning community of fellow professionals, all connected by the same objectives and desires.

Online courses and degree programs at Barry University enable students to maximize the outcome of their learning experience through intensive collaboration, exchange of ideas and experiences. The faculty is always prepared and excited to provide the best academic support and create a productive learning environment.

Corporate Partners Employee Education

We’re teaming up with employers and HR departments who are looking for ways to improve the lives of their employees and teammates through higher education. By assisting employees in getting back to school with our undergraduate, degree-completion, graduate, certificate, and continuing-education programs, you can help them develop holistic skills that create a real-world (and often real-time) impact on your day-to-day business.

It’s no secret that supporting job training and development through tuition payment or reimbursement is great for business. Employees who gain work-related education through their employer overwhelmingly tend to stay in their jobs and even expand their leadership capacity. And with an array of programs tailored to the busy lifestyles of working professionals, Barry University is the ideal partner for dedicated employees who want to develop their talents and enhance their leadership potential.

Our flexible programs celebrate and build on professional experience, giving every adult learner an individualized path to career development, with:

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Accelerated Terms

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Flexible Schedules

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Career-Driven Curricula

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Professional Learning Environments

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Expert Faculty

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Affordable Programs

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    Accelerated Terms

  • calendar dates

    Flexible Schedules

  • target

    Career-Driven Curricula

  • Books School

    Professional Learning Environments

  • instructor

    Expert Faculty

  • bank

    Affordable Programs

Corporate Partners

As your partner in growing your company’s talent, Barry University is committed to making every employee’s education affordable. Plus, as an added bonus, financing worker education comes with major tax benefits!

Our programs are delivered on our main campus, off-campus sites, and online, allowing students to pursue their graduate work around their personal and professional commitments. We invite you to learn about our mission and programs, and share with your employees and teammates why Barry may be a great fit for them. Want to learn more about BarryU, our values-driven education, our service-learning approach, or our generous scholarships? We're here to help!

Chat one-on-one with an Admissions Counselor, in person, video conferencing, or by phone, and get all your questions answered.

To find out more about how Barry can be your partner in educating your workforce, get in touch!

State Authorization

  • Barry University has been approved by the State of Florida to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. NC-SARA is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. NC-SARA makes it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. Current authorized SARA member states include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and all states except California.

  • Part of the SARA membership requirements is the mandate that all schools publish the following complaint process within their institution's website. At the time of the application, the state has approved the following Barry website for the complaint process inclusion: https://www.barry.edu/dean-of-students/

    If the institutional complaint process is not satisfactory, students may file a complaint with the following: Office of Articulation, Department of Education, articulation@fldoe.org, 850-245-0427.

  • If you are considering an academic program that leads to a professional license in your state, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your home state before beginning the academic program located outside your state. Barry University does not guarantee certification acceptance in any other state other than Florida.

  • Barry University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone 404-679-4500). Information regarding SACSCOC' complaint process can be found on the SACSCOC Website under Complaint Procedures

  • Out of state online students who have completed Barry University's internal institutional grievance process and applicable state grievance procedures may appeal non‐instructional complaints to the FL‐SARA PRDEC Council. For additional information on the complaint process, please visit the FL‐SARA ComplaintProcess page. For questions and assistance, please call the Office of Distance Learning at Barry University: 305-899-3457.

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