Academics
Initially founded in 1891, Beal College has provided residents of Bangor, Maine and beyond with the opportunity to earn the sort of training needed to make a name and a living for themselves out in the professional world. As a two-year college that offers primarily associate’s degrees, as well as certificates and diplomas based on more vocational-oriented training, the college provides different options for those who might not be sure what their next step in education is going to be. With full accreditation by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, attendees can get the most out of smaller class sizes and decisive learning paths that ensure preparation for the real world immediately upon graduation.
The most popular programs include those in administrative management, business management and accounting. The one-year diploma in medical coding is often a popular choice with students who are looking for more concrete job skills that they can immediately apply to their next search for work, while others with two years seem to choose the medical administrative specialist associate’s degree. Students interested in earning their associate’s degree in conservation law enforcement can also focus particularly on criminal justice. The other popular associate’s degrees on campus are those in medical assisting, social and human services assisting, and early childhood education.
Beal sets itself apart from other two-year colleges in Maine offering associate’s degrees by operating on an entirely different system. Rather than providing courses each semester or each quarter, the school operates on what is described as the Mod System, which is eight-week sessions that are basically just half-semesters. The academic year, therefore, is divided into equal terms that do not account for large gaps for vacation time. This means that students have more flexibility on when they begin their course of study, since they can start at the beginning of each modular semester rather than having to wait for either September or January to roll around and for admissions to begin again.
