One of the major barriers faced by students who want to go to graduate school is a lack of time, due to family obligations, work and other factors. However, obtaining a graduate degree does not have to interfere with all the other important aspects of your life.

With more and more frequency, colleges and universities are offering accelerated programs for graduate students. Schools know that you are busy, and they strive to accommodate all types of students with all types of needs.

What is accelerated learning?

Accelerated learning often saves students both time and money. According to the Center for Accelerated Learning, these programs are based upon scientific research on the brain and different learning styles. The brain takes in information immediately and automatically, and we tend to learn better when abstract, verbal learning is translated into concrete activities and images. In other words, once we have information, we are more likely to retain that information if given the opportunity to apply it to the real world.

Students in accelerated courses or programs enjoy a more hands-on learning experience than in traditional courses. Accelerated learning involves studying multiple things at once and making connections between them. The learning is geared more towards creation and retention, as opposed to drill-and-practice or simple memorization.

The learning environment is one of the key elements of accelerated learning. The environment is designed to be relaxing despite the fact that the courses cover a large amount of information. Accelerated learning is in tune with human emotion and creates a stimulating environment physically, emotionally and socially.

Accelerated learning invests the whole person in the experience with a great deal of active engagement and participation. It is based on activities and not as much on materials or presentations and lectures. The high level of interaction decreases the competition among students. Students in accelerated learning environments engage in a high level of collaboration. Accelerated learning is relevant to all styles of learning, as the education is driven by the learner and his or her individual needs.

What to expect

If you are interested in accelerated learning, be ready for an intense commitment. You may have to arrange your life around your classes, but since classes last only a few weeks, there is less scheduling than if you were to attend regular classes. Accelerated learning was designed in response to student demand and time constraints. There are no summer or winter breaks, but students earn their degrees in a much shorter amount of time.

Accelerated classes are offered with different schedules. It is common to have an accelerated class meet every day for up to four hours for just two weeks. Another common schedule involves classes meeting one night per week for between five and eight weeks. It all depends on the school's programs. Classes are also sometimes offered on weekends and during the summer, and can be taken online or on-campus.

Instructors of accelerated classes facilitate and support learning. They do a good amount of observation and try to keep students motivated. The instructors switch roles to adjust to what is occurring in the classroom and to meet the different needs of individual students.

Students often work in groups or teams as part of a collaborative effort, dividing work among the members. This results in students forging close relationships with classmates during the few short weeks they are in the same classroom.

Is it right for you?

Accelerated learning could be for you if you want to earn your degree as soon as possible. If you would like to have the ability to apply previous life experience to your classroom studies, you may find these programs rewarding. Accelerated classes are narrowly focused because the classes spend a concentrated amount of time on just one or two subjects.

For more information on accelerated learning, visit the International Alliance for Learning, the Professional Organization for Accelerated Learning at http://www.ialearn.org/index.php.