Traditionally, an undergraduate education is designed to build a well-rounded academic base while helping students develop key skills in their chosen field. Today's workforce, however, demands that college graduates emerge from their programs with the core competencies needed to navigate an evolving environment.
To answer that call, Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) has developed Fast Forward degrees, which are 90-credit bachelor’s degree programs featuring streamlined, focused coursework. Graduates of these accelerated online degree programs develop workforce skills that allow them to easily transition into professional roles.
One of the most common questions that students have when they are exploring accelerated, 90-credit bachelor's degree programs is, "Will employers respect this degree?" It's a valid question, as anyone who is investing in higher education wants to make sure that future employers will value and recognize their academic credentials.
In recent years, the job market has rapidly evolved, and as a result, the credentials valued most by employers have shifted. Of course, employers want to hire recent graduates who have a strong academic foundation, but they are really looking for qualified professionals who have the interpersonal and digital skills needed to drive results within their organizations.
Across many industries, entry-level jobs require candidates to have a bachelor's degree, but employers are becoming less concerned with the number of credits earned in those programs. Whether you complete a traditional, 120-credit bachelor's degree program or a streamlined 90-credit degree program, they are looking for specific skills and abilities.
The American Association of Colleges & Universities recently revealed data that highlighted the needs and preferences of modern employers. The good news is that about 80% of employers felt that recent college graduates were prepared for entry-level jobs, though many noted that some new hires were still lacking important skills.
Some of the most valued workforce skills among employers include oral communication and digital skills. Increasingly, employers are searching for graduates who have microcredentials, which are fast and focused programs that improve proficiency in one specific skill.
To effectively navigate the current employment landscape, you will need to be able to prove that your credentials make you a qualified candidate. Simply earning a degree is not enough, as employers are looking to hire professionals who have tangible experience through both in-person and virtual internships. A strong portfolio can help you strategically position your 90-credit college degree and showcase the experience that you gained throughout your program.
The Fast Forward 90-credit bachelor's degree programs at IWU were designed to serve a dual purpose — to provide students with an affordable, streamlined pathway and to provide employers with graduates who are uniquely prepared for entry-level positions. The purpose-built curriculum for these programs includes embedded credentials designed to strengthen employability and meet the needs of modern employers.
The focused curriculum for these programs emphasizes practical learning and career readiness. Students who enroll in these innovative online degree programs benefit from applied learning experiences, skills-based coursework, and virtual internships, letting them gain the experience needed for a wide range of entry-level positions.
The 90-credit degree programs are fully online, appealing to students who are searching for a flexible and affordable education. However, the online format offers more than flexibility alone. By requiring students to navigate the leading online tools and collaboration platforms, these programs support the development of powerful digital skills. In addition, students learn to leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and how to utilize them responsibly. In an employment landscape that will increasingly be reshaped by AI, AI skills for the workplace will become critically important.
The coursework for these programs centers on experiential learning, giving students the ability to connect the concepts that they are studying to real-world challenges in modern work environments. By integrating evolving technology alongside leadership, ethics, and communications, these programs support the development of practical, technical, and interpersonal skills, all of which are needed to become part of the AI-ready workforce.
In the world of higher education, 90-credit degree programs are a relatively new concept. In fact, the first three-year bachelor's degree programs were just approved by accrediting bodies within the last five years. IWU is at the forefront of this revolutionary concept, and as a result, all programs have been intentionally designed to help employers recognize the value of these unique credentials.
Applied learning plays a pivotal part in the online college experience, so students can not only improve their understanding of a topic but also understand how it connects to real-world environments.
Through applied projects, traditional coursework is transformed into practical experience. Examples of applied projects may include capstone experiences or virtual internships, in which students are responsible for using their knowledge to solve problems and contribute within a professional environment. These collaborative and interactive projects advance understanding while developing practical and digital skills.
Employers recognize the value of interpersonal skills, knowing that workers who can communicate and collaborate are more likely to make positive contributions within the organizational environment. However, it can be difficult for recent graduates to prove that they have these valuable soft skills. When applied projects are embedded within the degree program curriculum, students graduate with artifacts they can use in their portfolio to showcase their emotional intelligence.
Applied projects provide students with tangible proof of the interactive and engaging work that they completed throughout their degree program. In addition to adding these projects to their portfolio, they can use them as a conversation starter during the interview process. Students can explain the scope of the work, their personal contributions, and the core competencies they developed as a result of the project.
As part of the commitment to career readiness, IWU's 90-credit degree programs include virtual internships and embedded professional experiences available through employer partnerships. These opportunities play a critical role in the online learning experience, giving students the flexibility of remote learning while still allowing them to develop the practical and technical skills needed in the workforce.
Virtual internships are similar to traditional, in-person internships in the sense that students gain valuable professional experience while completing their studies. The difference is, though, that virtual internships are available in a remote environment, improving the accessibility and versatility of these experiences. Virtual internships let students expand their professional network and boost their exposure, all while expanding their industry knowledge and helping them build practical skills.
Stackable credentials and other embedded experiences are a critical part of the coursework in these career-focused degree programs. Available through employer partnerships, these embedded experiences support practical and digital skill development all while ensuring that degree programs remain in alignment with market demand.
Bridging the gap between online learning and professional work environments, virtual internships let students take that first important step into the workforce. In these structured programs, there is additional supervision, creating a safe and supportive environment for students to begin making critical connections between their academic studies and the work completed in their field. They graduate with concrete examples of work they have done, allowing them to prove their value to employers.
Online degree credibility has increased substantially in recent years, particularly as employers begin to recognize the added skills students gain throughout these flexible programs. Graduates with a 90-credit degree will not have to justify their choice to earn a streamlined academic credential. Rather, they will spend their time highlighting the benefits of their program and how it uniquely prepared them to join the AI-ready workforce.
Begin the conversation with your prospective employer by explaining that 90-credit degrees do not reduce academic quality. For the most part, these programs eliminate superfluous electives, focusing solely on the actionable coursework needed within a specific field. You can highlight the academic rigor of the curriculum and showcase the applied learning projects that promote career readiness throughout the program.
Explain that these programs are not created to be an easy way out for college students, but rather to provide the most motivated students with the actionable skills needed for an evolving professional landscape. Note the embedded experience and stackable credentials that are included as part of the program and discuss their value throughout the interview process.
The applied projects, embedded experiences, and virtual internships that anchor these programs yield critical portfolio artifacts. By building a strong portfolio throughout your degree program, you can showcase the practical, digital, and interpersonal skills that you gained during your studies. These powerful examples provide concrete proof of the skills and knowledge that you will bring to a real-world professional environment.
IWU's Fast Forward 90-credit bachelor's degrees feature a purpose-built curriculum that blends academic rigor, career preparation, and affordability. These programs do not reduce learning; rather, they streamline coursework to focus on the key topics needed for career readiness.
There are several Fast Forward programs available, including those that center on AI skills for the workplace and secondary education, letting motivated students expedite their entry into the workforce. With embedded career-ready experiences, stackable credentials, and applied learning opportunities, graduates emerge from these innovative programs with the confidence and purpose needed for a wide range of roles in the modern economy.
Learn more about our undergraduate degree programs, request more information about our Christ-centered campus, and apply to IWU today.
Employers typically care most about whether a candidate has the skills, knowledge, and experience to do the work. A 90-credit degree can be respected when students can clearly explain the program’s focus and show evidence of career readiness.
Students can point to applied projects, virtual internships, embedded experiences, digital skills, AI literacy, and portfolio-ready examples that show how they have completed real workplace tasks.
Not necessarily. A well-designed 90-credit degree can focus on career-relevant learning instead of unnecessary credit volume. The key is to showcase that the curriculum is intentionally built around outcomes employers value.
Applied projects give students examples they can discuss in interviews, include in portfolios, and connect to workplace skills such as analysis, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
AI literacy helps students understand how intelligent tools are used responsibly in modern work environments. It can make graduates more prepared for roles where digital tools, automation, analytics, and ethical technology use are increasingly important.
Yes, virtual internships can help students gain practical exposure, build confidence, and create resume-ready examples, especially when they are connected to real tasks or employer-informed projects.
