Undergraduate, Whitworth Online - Adult Degree Programs

https://online.whitworth.edu/

Whitworth Online provides degree and certificate programs designed for adult learners seeking to advance their education while balancing professional and personal responsibilities. Rooted in Whitworth University’s mission of educating the mind and heart, Whitworth Online integrates academic excellence, intellectual rigor and spiritual reflection within a supportive learning community. Courses are offered in an accelerated online format, allowing students to engage deeply with course material while maintaining flexibility for work, family and community commitments. Programs are structured to promote critical thinking, ethical leadership and practical application within students’ chosen fields.

Mission: Whitworth Online provides accessible, high-quality education for adult learners, equipping them to grow professionally, serve their communities and pursue meaningful work.

Vision: Whitworth Online envisions an educational experience for adults that is responsive, relational and academically rigorous, fostering lifelong learning and purposeful engagement.

Values: Whitworth Online is guided by the values of transformation, relationship, excellence and care. These commitments shape the learning environment and reflect Whitworth University’s dedication to dignity, integrity and Christ-centered higher education.

Whitworth Online Admissions

Whitworth is designed for working adults, defined as 23 years or older and employed or performing care-taking duties. (Students who do not meet this criteria may request an exception. See section below).

The admission requirements are as follows: 

  • Submit an online application.
  • Submit official transcripts from previously attended colleges and/or universities to the Whitworth Online Office. High school transcripts or GED will be required for students transferring in with less than junior standing. 
  • Meet any program-specific admissions requirements, such as: a personal essay, a résumé, a meeting with the program advisor or director, a dispositional evaluation, and/or reference forms. 

A key part of Whitworth’s online degree programs for working adults is that each student contributes to a collaborative learning environment by sharing knowledge gained through experience. Students who are under the age of 23 or not currently employed can still be considered for full admission, with the following supplemental materials:

  1. Transcripts that demonstrate substantial previous college experience (typically completion of an A.A. or A.A.S degree, or the accumulation of at least 24 semester credits).
  2. A résumé that demonstrates two years of employment history.

Students unable to provide these additional application materials may be still considered for provisional admission status.

Admission Evaluation and Acceptance

Each application is carefully reviewed before the admissions committee grants a prospective student admission to the university. The following criteria may be considered in the admission-decision process: transfer-credit grade-point average, academic advisor meeting, disposition, availability of appropriate academic program(s), prior coursework and pattern of coursework completion, professional experience and demonstration of college-level writing competency. Applicants will receive notification of their admission from Whitworth Online.

Applicants not meeting the admission requirements may be offered provisional admission and may be required to complete certain classes specified by the academic advisor.

Academic Information & Policies

General Whitworth Policies

For additional Whitworth policies, please see the section on Academic Information.

Whitworth Online-Specific Academic Policies

Bachelor of Professional Studies Degree Requirements

General degree requirements for a BPS can be found in Graduation Requirements.

Student Course Eligibility

Whitworth Online students may not take courses in the undergraduate day program, and undergraduate day students may not take courses offered through Whitworth Online. 

Specialty Course Credit Limits

Independent and Guided Studies: Whitworth Online students may take a maximum of nine credits of independent and directed studies for their degree. 
Internships: Whitworth Online students may take a maximum of nine credits of independent and directed studies for their degree. 
Fitness/Wellness, Physical Education, Athletics Courses: Whitworth Online students may count a maximum of five credits of fitness/wellness, physical education and athletics courses toward their degree. 

Double Concentrations & Majors

Whitworth Online students may not pursue double majors or concentrations. Only one major or concentration is allowed when pursuing a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree. 

Whitworth Online Transfer & Alternative Credits

The following transfer and alternative credit policies apply to Whitworth Online students, in addition to to all other general Whitworth University transfer and alternative credit policies. 

Deadline for Acceptance Transfer & Alternative Credits 

Official transcripts or score reports for any transfer or alternative credit completed before a Whitworth Online student begins courses at Whitworth must be received by the Office of the University Registrar before the end of the student's first term or semester at Whitworth.

Transfer Policies for Whitworth Online Students Holding Associate of Arts Degrees

A student transferring to Whitworth Online with an associate of arts (A.A.) degree from a community college in Washington (approved by the Intercollege Relations Commission for the State of Washington), Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, or with an associate of science (A.S.) degree from a community college in Washington or North Idaho college (excludes AST-Track I & II), will receive the following:

  • Junior standing (60 semester credits)
  • Transfer credit of a maximum of 96 quarter credits or 64 semester credits
  • Waiver of all shared curriculum requirements, with the following exceptions:
    • Habits of the Mind
    • One course in Biblical Literature or Faith, Reasoning and Contemporary Issues
    • Worldview Studies
Transfer of Community College Applied Associate Degrees (A.A.S. or other)

This program allows a student to complete an applied associate degree at a regionally accredited institution and subsequently enroll at Whitworth for completion of a bachelor's degree through Whitworth Online. Total credits needed (shared curriculum, major, upper-division and electives) at Whitworth will vary depending on credits transferred.  Whitworth will accept credit from applied associate (A.A.S. or other) or technical degrees meeting the following criteria:

  • Earned at a regionally accredited institution
  • Earned within the last 10 years (transcripts for applied associate degrees older than 10 years will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis and/or the application will be assessed by the Whitworth Online admissions committee on the applicant's current use of the degree in the applicant's profession)
  • Includes at least 90 quarter or 60 semester credits
  • Student chooses to apply that credit toward a bachelor's degree offered through Whitworth Online 

Students with a qualified applied associate degree will transfer to Whitworth Online with junior standing. 

Alternative Credit

Whitworth Online students may count up to 22 alternative credits towards their degree. Alternative credits include test for credit (CLEP, DSST, AP, IB), portfolio credit, credit for prior learning, JST and military credit. Official CLEP and DSST test scores must be received by the Office of the University Registrar before a student has earned 84 credits in the Whitworth Online Programs in order to count the credit towards their degree.

Change of Program to Bachelor of Professional Studies Policies

Current Whitworth Online Students Moving to Pursue a Bachelor of Professional Studies

Current Whitworth Online students moving from a 120+ credit degree (B.A.) to a 90-credit BPS degree must complete the major and Shared Curriculum requirements within the BPS degrees as written.  Current students are ineligible for any individual substitutions or waivers in the BPS degree. The only permitted substitutions or waivers are pre-approved blanket substitutions and waivers within the major. Courses taken as part of the old General Education or Shared Curriculum requirements may not be substituted for new Shared Curriculum requirements, unless they also share the new Shared Curriculum designations.

Former Whitworth Students Returning to Pursue a Bachelor of Professional Studies

Former Whitworth students returning to Whitworth to pursue a 90-credit BPS degree after previously pursuing a 120+ credit degree (B.L.S., B.A., B.B.A. or B.S.) must complete the major and Shared Curriculum requirements within the BPS degrees as written, including the BPS Praxis requirement, and are ineligible for any individual substitutions or waivers in the B.P.S degree. The only permitted substitutions or waivers are pre-approved blanket substitutions and waivers within the major. Courses taken as part of the old General Education or Shared Curriculum requirements may not be substituted for new Shared Curriculum requirements, unless they also share the new shared curriculum designations.

Transitioning from the Undergraduate Day Program to Pursue a Bachelor of Professional Studies

Students currently enrolled in a traditional day program degree wishing to move to Whitworth Online to pursue the 90-credit BPS degrees must wait one full term between leaving the day program and enrolling in WOL. Students moving from the day program to the 90-credit BPS degree must complete the major and Shared Curriculum requirements within the BPS degrees as written, including the BPS Praxis requirement, and are ineligible for any individual substitutions or waivers in the BPS degree. The only permitted substitutions or waivers are pre-approved blanket substitutions and waivers within the major. Courses taken as part of the old General Education or Shared Curriculum requirements may not be substituted in for new Shared Curriculum requirements, unless they also share the new Shared Curriculum designations.

Credit Completion

Any Whitworth student, current or former, moving from a 120+ credit bachelor's degree to the 90-credit BPS degree must complete at least three additional credits at Whitworth after moving to the 90-credit BPS degree. There are no exceptions or petitions.

Individual Substitution & Waiver Petition Process

Current or returning students who believe they have extenuating circumstances and would like substitutions or waivers considered may pursue the academic petition process as outlined in the section on Academic Information.

Dean

BROOKE KIENER

Assistant Dean

MEAGAN HELTON

Director, Business Programs

STEPHANIE ELIE-MARTIN

Director, Human Services Programs

MAUREEN MCGRATH

Director, Teacher Certification Programs

LISA HOXIE

Lecturers

KATIE BLACKBURN KEN BROWN MOLLY BOZO