Degrees Available at Harding University
Harding University appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the South.
When attending Harding University, students may pursue ten undergraduate degrees, 21 graduate and professional degrees, and 97 different majors. The university also offers 14 pre-professional programs. The divisions and schools within the university include Allied Health, Arts & Humanities, Bible & Ministry, Business Administration, Education, Nursing, Pharmacy, Sciences, and the Honors College. The most sought-after subjects at the university include those in business, management, and marketing, as well as education, various health professions, communications, and journalism. Within each of those subjects exist several unique majors for students who want to specialize in a narrow area of study.
For example, students interested in communication arts may study advertising, communication, broadcast journalism, electronic media production, journalism, film, or public relations. Several of these majors require that students have access to a DSLR camera that can also record video. Students enrolled in communications programs at the university have the opportunity to participate in an annual trip to New York City and Washington, D.C. The Department of Communication also offers several opportunities for scholarships and jobs within the department. Other degrees in the arts and humanities that students can consider include those in theater, art, design, and music.
Similarly, students enrolled in programs offered by the College of Pharmacy can enroll in degree programs that allow the student to combine programs to emerge from college with a highly valuable skill set. The university allows students to enroll in the Pharm.D. program at the same time they enroll in the Master of Business Administration program. Students will devote their elective courses in the pharmacy program to business classes. Future pharmacy students who are still in high school have the opportunity to join the annual Pharmacy Camp, which takes place each summer and is sponsored by Walgreens. The camp features laboratory experiences, group projects, and field trips. Other undergraduate programs offered by Harding University that could also work well with an MBA include those in exercise and sport, communication, history, political science, and nursing.
Some degrees are offered online, too, through the Center for Distance Education in Bible and Ministry. Programs students may enroll in online include certificates in Biblical Studies or Christian Ministry or dual enrollment in ministry studies for students who are still in high school. The university also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Bible & Ministry or a Master of Ministry. Some of the classes a student may take in their distance education program include Evangelism and Church Planting, Congregational Ministry, World Christian, and New Testament Textual Studies. To enroll in distance education classes, students must have a working computer, reliable internet access, and access to a word processing program.
About Harding University
Harding University is a private institution in Searcy, Arkansas that is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. Established in 1924, the university eventually grew to become the largest private university in the state. The suburban campus in Searcy covers 350 acres, and the university also has a campus in Memphis that was once known as the Harding Graduate School of Religion. The school’s official colors are black and gold, and athletes at the school play as the Bisons in NCAA Division II games. One of the interesting facets of the university’s history is that the institution advocated for political disengagement and pacifism during the cold war, which was in line with the philosophy of the minister and educator for which the school was named.
Harding University Accreditation Details
Harding University’s regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission, and the university most recently published its Quality Initiative Project in 2013. More than 50 degrees, departments, and colleges within the university possess specialized accreditation. The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education first accredited the athletic training program in 2007. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs first accredited the Paul R. Carter College of Business Administration in 1992. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation first accredited the Cannon-Clary College of Education in 1961. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs first accredited the school’s programs in professional counseling in 2015.
Harding University Application Requirements
Harding University suggests that its admissions decisions aren’t based on any single factor and that each applicant’s application is examined for its strengths. The university suggests that it includes moral character as part of its admissions criteria. Graduates of high school who have a 3.0 GPA and a composite score on the ACT of at least 19 or an SAT combined score of 900 will qualify for unconditional admission. Students who don’t meet these minimums can still apply but will have their applications examined for individual consideration. Transfer students can gain unconditional admission with a 2.0 grade point average, and some students may even qualify for dual enrollment or apply if they haven’t yet graduated from high school. Students must pay an application fee of $50 and submit two references to complete their applications.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Harding University is a private school and charges all students the same rate for tuition. Undergraduate tuition is $638 per hour, and graduate tuition varies by program. Students will also pay a technology fee of $250 if they enroll in 10 or more credit hours and pay $1,829 per semester for housing in a dorm. Apartment-style housing ranges from $2,113 to $2,362. Meal plans range from $601 to $2,083 with the cost depending on how many meals a week the student purchases. Students may also choose to rent a post office box, which will cost $29 per term, as well as register a car, which will cost $31 per year. Some classes may have additional fees, and the university expects an undergraduate student to pay approximately $27,905 for the year in all direct costs related to university enrollment.
Financial aid at Harding University is offered to students who submit their FASFA form and qualify for financial assistance in a combination of loans, grants, and possible scholarships. Undergraduate students will submit their family’s financial information, and the university will determine what, if any, financial assistance the student will receive. Students may qualify for Federal TEACH grants or loans, Federal Parent PLUS loans, Grad PLUS loans, or alternative private loans from private banks. Some of the scholarships available to students attending Harding University include the National Merit Scholarship, the Trustee Scholarship, and the Academic Achievement scholarship, which are all available through the university.