My Baker College Story: 4+1 Pathway

Photo of Baker College student, Tess Lewis.

Tess Lewis is a sophomore in the College of Business studying Human Resources Management at Baker College. Next fall she’ll be relocating to Auburn Hills campus where she is currently contributing as a Student Ambassador. Tess has recently been admitted to our 4+1 Pathway program where she will be working to earn her bachelor's and master’s degree within 5 years. Below she talks about her journey with Baker College and why she chose the 4+1 option.

Why did you choose to attend Baker College?

I chose Baker College because I wanted to attend a college that genuinely cares about me, my education, and my success, and Baker does that.

What is the 4+1 Pathway Program?

Basically, it's a program where you complete your 4 required years to obtain your Bachelor's degree, and then you immediately go into your required classes for your Master’s degree. After 1 year of your required Master’s classes you can graduate with a Bachelor's and Master's within 5 years total. 

What 4+1 degree are you earning and what are the advantages of choosing this pathway?

I am in the Human Resource Management 4 + 1 Program. I've found that HR is a competitive field, but if I graduate with a Bachelor's and Master's degree, it'll make me look more desirable to employers.

You're one of the first students to opt-in to this programming. What made you decide to sign up so quickly and what are you hoping to do with your degree once you graduate?

I actually didn't know about it originally. But last year, the previous director of Business was my professor for two of my classes. She and I created a close bond while collaborating on different projects. She knew how passionate I was about HR and on one of her last days before retiring she emailed me about the program and advised me to reach out to someone in admissions to help me opt-in. So obviously I took her advice and here I am. Hopefully, after I graduate I can collaborate with Baker Career Services to help me find a career in Human Resources.

What advice do you have for those undergrad students who may be considering adding the 4+1 option to their educational journey?

My advice would be, what are you waiting for? You can't go anywhere and have a better opportunity than this. If all you have to do is one more year of studying just to walk across the stage with two degrees, then do it! 

Is there anything else you think we should know?

My experience with the program has been pretty fun so far. I like having to explain the program to people because it's still so new. And I love the impressed looks on their faces when they realize that I'll be obtaining 2 degrees within 5 years. I was at a conference this past weekend with students from big public state institutions and none of them has a 4 + 1 program. They were all so interested and impressed. It just confirmed that my choice to stick with Baker was the best decision. The resources are ongoing and the support is incredible. I can't go anywhere to get the same opportunities.

For more information about our College of Business 4+1 Pathway programs, head to our College of Business page