Fremont-Based University Offers A Quicker Path To Graduation With New Streamlined Program

FREMONT, CA — San Francisco Bay University has introduced a new accredited three-year psychology program to its campus, officials announced earlier this month.

The new program at the Fremont-based institution allows psychology students to complete a degree in three years rather than the traditional four at other institutions.

That means students will only need 90 credits instead of 120 to graduate with a Bachelor's degree. It will also reduce the average cost of attendance at SFBU by around $11,000, according to university officials.

"Accreditation under WASC enables SFBU to offer these and future 90-credit programs in hybrid and remote models as well," university officials said. "Most SFBU students come from a roughly 80-mile area around the university’s Fremont campus."

The program will follow the same academic standards as those in the four-year path in order to ensure graduates are fully prepared to enter the workforce.

But it will focus on emphasizing major requirements and general education, excluding expanded electives from other programs and, in turn, "trim the fat" from a conventional four-year degree, university officials said.

"By streamlining psychology education and all our undergraduate options, we’re making good on SFBU’s core promise: to flatten barriers to higher education," SFBU President and licensed psychologist Nick Ladany said. "Strong demand for psychology professionals will continue even as artificial intelligence upends the employment outlook for other fields."