Online Master’s Degree Programs at Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University appears in our ranking of the Top 35 Most Affordable Accelerated Master’s in Higher Education Online.
Dakota Wesleyan University offers two online graduate degree programs and two online certificate programs for graduate students. The university offers one of the only certificate programs in trust management in the country, which helps students learn about the management and creation of estates and trusts. Each of the six classes in the program is online, including Principles of Wealth Management, Essentials of Estate and Trust Administration and Fundamentals of Federal Estate, Gift and Fiduciary Tax Law. Some courses prepare students for administering financial trusts and estates and helping clients create wills and trusts.
The other certificate program offered online is in nonprofit church leadership. Dakota Wesleyan University designed this program for students who work as pastors and others who help religious organizations. Students look at how churches can raise money, engage with parishioners, follow budgets and fill roles in the church. The university expects students to attend three meetings on-campus with their peers and professors and do two projects. They will take three classes before doing the first project and three more before doing the second. Those classes include 21st Century Resource Development and Management, Strategy Design, Implementation and Evaluation and Communication and Community Outreach.
In the Master of Arts in Education program, students graduate in 15 months through full-time enrollment. Both part-time and full-time students take eight-week classes and complete 36 credits of work. Some of the credits they earn will come from the program’s capstone. It allows students to find a solution to a problem in the educational policy or administration field and address how that solution will benefit teachers. This program has three start dates every year.
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is also available online from Dakota Wesleyan University that includes eight-week classes. The program allows students to follow a self-paced curriculum and take modules that address several business subjects each term. This makes it a popular choice for students who didn’t major in business. Business majors can progress through the program faster. The program includes a trust management focus that includes the same courses as those in the certificate program. Another focus is on entrepreneurial and strategic leadership, which teaches students communication skills and helps them learn about the best leadership methods.
About Dakota Wesleyan University
Dakota Wesleyan University is a private university affiliated with the United Methodist Church. When South Dakota was still a territory, some of the Methodist settlers in the area banded together to establish a new college. Founded in 1885 as Dakota University, it developed a curriculum based on the teachings of that church. The founders hoped that it would offer opportunities for their children and keep them connected to their faith. It became Dakota Wesleyan University or DWU in 1904 and was the largest private university in the state by the 1920s. During the Great Depression, DWU provided on-campus housing and food vouchers for its teachers and allowed students to barter and trade to cover their tuition. The George and Eleanor McGovern Library and Center for Leadership and Public Service is one of the main buildings on the DWU campus and saw guest lecturers such as President Bill Clinton speak there over the years.
Dakota Wesleyan University Accreditation Details
Online graduate students in need of financial aid can easily use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before beginning at DWU. This form is available for students because the university was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has regional accreditation from that organization. It also has accreditation from the South Dakota Department of Education for its teaching programs and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) for its business programs. DWU also holds accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
Dakota Wesleyan University Application Requirements
At DWU, online and adult students need to meet the same admissions and application requirements. The education program requires a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 or higher, a completed application, and a bachelor’s degree. Students need to write an essay of 300 to 500 words on what they would do to improve the education system and why the DWU program appeals to them. They’ll also provide a transcript and resume. Students applying to the MBA program need a transcript, a bachelor’s degree, and a GPA of 2.75 or higher. This program asks for an essay of up to 500 words on how they’ll use ethics in the business field and why they chose DWU. Prospective students need to submit a resume and transcript when applying too.
Both of the university’s certificate programs have similar requirements. Only students who work as pastors or associate pastors can apply to the nonprofit church leadership program. Those who hold different positions in their churches can petition the university to let them apply. The trust management program requires an application with an application essay, an undergraduate transcript, and a background check. Students also need to interview teachers in this program. DWU favors students who took prerequisites in wills and estates, business ethics, and business law.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The education graduate program at DWU charges $375 per credit hour and costs $13,500 to complete. MBA students pay $425 to $450 per credit hour based on which concentration they choose. They’ll spend between $15,300 and $16,200 to finish an MBA at DWU. Students in any of the certificate programs pay $500 for each credit they take and pay as little as $9,000 to finish their programs.
Online students sometimes think that they won’t qualify for financial aid, especially if they enroll in online programs. DWU offers financial aid for those students once it receives their FAFSA documents. Students seeking a master’s degree can use one or more loans to cover their expenses. Not only can they get unsubsidized loans of $20,500 a year, but they can get PLUS loans from the government too. There are also alternative loans for online graduate students as well as a few grants and scholarships that they can get. The university has a payment plan for those who need one and accepts tuition reimbursement packages from employers. Students with questions about financial aid can contact Dakota Wesleyan University before applying to an online master’s degree program.
