Roanoke College is expanding opportunities for more learners with the introduction of three-year bachelor’s degrees designed to help working professionals accelerate their career goals.
Enrollment is now open for programs in public administration and cannabis studies. Coursework for both programs is 100% online, ensuring busy students balancing work and home get the flexibility needed to succeed.
“These programs are part of our commitment to ensuring higher education is accessible and aligned with the needs of the modern workforce,” said Lisa Stoneman, assistant vice president and head of Roanoke College-Roanoke Valley, a forward-thinking workforce development initiative.
“For many professionals, a degree is part of unlocking the next stage of their career. Our goal is to help them shorten the distance between where they are and where they want to be, all while providing the same high-quality education that defines a Roanoke College degree.”
Roanoke is one of the first institutions approved to offer three-year degrees by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The innovative approach puts the campus at the forefront of a movement to make education — and its career benefits — more accessible to people already in the workforce. Stoneman was recently appointed to a committee tasked with creating a statewide model for expanding three-year degree opportunities.
The new programs announced today are a direct response to job market demand. The Abridged Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, which includes courses in team management, public policy and data analysis, was developed alongside employers to ensure real-world relevance. The versatile degree can be applied to work in government, public safety and nonprofits.
The Abridged Bachelor of Science in Cannabis Studies is launching at a time when 40 states have approved a form of marijuana legalization — and Virginia is poised to establish its own recreational marijuana market next year. The growing movement brings with it a need for a well-educated workforce grounded in the science, ethics and best practices of the industry.
Roanoke has been a leader in cannabis education, and in 2024 it created Virginia’s first four-year degree program in the subject.
The accelerated, three-year bachelor’s degree programs will begin classes in the fall semester. To learn more, visit roanoke.edu/onlinedegrees.
