Degrees Offered at Colorado State University-Global Campus
Colorado State University-Global Campus appears in our ranking of the 30 Most Affordable Online Colleges Offering Degrees for Journalism Jobs (Bachelor’s).
While Colorado State University-Global Campus does not have a physical campus, the school does offer 13 bachelor’s and 12 master’s degrees completely online. Many of the programs are business-related including the Business Management and Marketing undergraduate degrees as well as the Human Resources Management and Healthcare Administration and Management undergraduate and graduate programs. Each course was designed specifically for the online platform featuring simple ways to contact professors as well as an intuitive design flow. While the delivery method is different, course work is as rigorous as traditional classes. For example, the Master of Professional Accounting track consists of ten classes including a capstone project that prepare students for the CPA examinations. Eight courses make up the core curriculum including Accounting Ethics, Advanced Cost Accounting, and Forensic Accounting. For the remaining two courses, students select an emphasis area, Data Analytics, Taxation, or Professional Accounting.
Other programs combine technology and business including undergraduate degrees in Information Technology and Management Information Systems and Business Analytics as well as a graduate data science program. Additionally, both the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Project Management programs are geared toward preparing students for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. In addition to general requirements, undergraduate students take 30 credit hours of project management courses including Assessing/Managing Risk and Effective Project Scheduling. During the graduate program, the course sequence follows the recommended PMP coursework. Since project management skills are useful across all industries, students at both levels are encouraged to choose one of many specializations like Emergency Management, Education, Computer Programming, or Population Health among others.
There are also a few degree programs related to public service including degrees in communications, human services, and criminal justice. The M.S. in Teaching and Learning is geared toward teachers in K-12 classrooms as well as administrators. Throughout the required 36 credit hours, students learn new ways to integrate technology into schools and practice alternative methods of lesson planning. They also explore how current societal issues are influencing the educational system during courses like Social, Ethical, and Legal Issues in 21st Century Learning and Cultural Responsiveness in the Differentiated Classroom.
Colorado State University-Global Campus
CSU Global is a very new school having opened its doors in 2007 which made it the first accredited public university to exclusively offer online degrees. All courses and degree tracks were designed to be flexible and straightforward, geared especially toward working nontraditional students. All programs have monthly start dates, and the classes are offered at an accelerated pace, so students only take one or two at a time. While unconventional, the university has had positive results with enrollment growing from 200 in 2008 to its current population of 18,000 students, having graduated over 10,000 students during this period. Despite the virtual class format, faculty members are dedicated to forming relationships with their students and hold online office hours. In addition, the technical support line is always available for issues with the learning platform. Even though the university is only 12 years old, the U.S. News and World Report ranked CSU Global 8th out of 367 schools on its Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list.
Colorado State University-Global Campus Accreditation Details
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) evaluates colleges and universities in 19 states in the Midwest, and it first accredited CSU Global in 2011, just a few years after it opened. The school passed its second review in 2016 so is now on the typical 10-year reaffirmation cycle. This process ensures that schools continue to meet standards in a variety of areas related to the quality of education, campus culture, faculty expertise, use of resources, transparency, and organizational structure. The HLC looks at the university as a whole, but there are other groups that provide accreditation for individual degrees as a way of certifying that the curriculum and learning experiences adequately prepare students for professional work. At CSU Global, ten business and management programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Additionally, the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs has provided accreditation for both project management programs.
Colorado State University-Global Campus Application Requirements
Undergraduate students are either admitted as standard or provisional status. Applicants must submit a completed application, SAT or ACT scores, official transcripts, and professional resume. The minimum admissions standards are a GPA above 2.3 and at least an 86 college readiness index which is a calculation based on GPA and ACT or SAT score. Other requirements include two years of work experience, successful completion of 12 hours of college coursework, and a high school diploma. Students who do not have these qualifications will be considered for provisional acceptance after providing a 500-word statement of purpose, list of extracurricular activities, and a SmarterMeasure test score. Once provisional students demonstrate a semester of satisfactory academic progress, they transfer to standard admission status. For graduate programs, the main requirement is a completion of a bachelor’s degree with an GPA above 3.0. To apply, prospective students need to submit a statement of purpose and professional resume along with official transcripts. Some individual master’s programs have additional specific coursework and experience requirements.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The tuition rates at CSU Global are not dependent on state of residence or degree program. All undergraduate students pay $350 per credit hour, while graduate courses cost $500 per hour, and there are no student fees. Also, the school has a Tuition Guarantee which ensures that, once students register for their first class, their tuition price is locked for the duration of their degree even if university rates increase for incoming students. Also, graduates from affiliated community colleges receive a 10% discount on tuition as long as they had a GPA of at last 2.0 and enroll at CSU Global within 3 years of getting their associate’s degree. Students are advised to communicate with a financial aid adviser who can provide information on employer-based tuition reduction programs and other university scholarships as well as federal financial aid and loan options. Prospective students can reach Colorado State University-Global Campus representatives by phone, e-mail, or the live chat feature on the school’s website.
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