Online Masters Degrees Available at the University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Cheap Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Online.
The University of South Carolina offers a variety of online graduate degree programs offered completely online. These programs provide the same rigorous coursework and level of support as the traditional on-campus learning options. In the engineering field, students can earn a Master of Science or Master of Engineering degree in specialties that include Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Nuclear Engineering, as well as Computer Science and Engineering. Courses are delivered via streaming video through the APOGEE system, which stands for A Program of Graduate Engineering Education, with courses starting three times per year, in Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
In the field of education, students can also earn a Master of Education degree in Education Administration, Educational Technology, or Teaching. In these cases, courses are not self-paced, but rather scheduled and taught by USC faculty online through Blackboard. In this way, students have access to the same materials and coursework as they would have if attending in a physical classroom.
In the Public Health field, courses are coordinated through the Arnold School of Public Health. While this particular school offers several programs that include some online courses, there are also three Master’s degree programs offered completely online, these being the Master’s of Communication Disorders, Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, and the Master’s of Public Health in Health Services Policy and Management. Like the other online graduate degree programs, these also follow the rigorous standards expected of more traditional methods of learning while also offering the convenience of distance learning.
Regardless of the graduate field of study, the quality and rigor of the programs and curriculum in each is as strong online as it is in the campus classrooms. With such publications as Kiplinger’s Inc. and U.S. News & World Report touting the University of South Carolina as having programs that are some of the best in both the nation and around the world, a graduate education here is of solid value and investment toward a bright future.
About the University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is the state’s flagship university, originally established in 1801 as the South Carolina College and seen as a means of uniting South Carolinians following the American Revolution. After several closings and restarts in the years before, during, and after the Civil War, it was rechartered as the University of South Carolina in 1906, continuously growing and operating from then to the present day. Today, it’s one of only 32 public universities with both Research and Community Engagement designations from the prestigious Carnegie Foundation.
The University of South Carolina system consists of eight campuses across the state, although those other than the main campus in Columbia each offer limited programs and degree options. Graduate studies, both online and in the traditional classroom setting, are offered through the main campus, which is home to more than 34,000 students across the various undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs offered.
University of South Carolina Accreditation Details
The University of South Carolina is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Individual colleges and programs are also accredited through the agencies that oversee their particular subject areas, with these additional accreditations also extending to the online options available in these fields.
These options include the master’s degree programs in the various engineering fields, which are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Also included are the Master’s programs in Education, accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the degrees obtained through the Arnold School of Public Health, fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
University of South Carolina Application Requirements
Students applying to the University of South Carolina as a freshman or first-year student should begin by filling out the online application for admission and submitting it, along with the $65 application fee. At this level, admission decisions are based primarily on the student’s high school courses grade point average, and standardized test scores for either the SAT or ACT. Students accepted at this level have a midrange weighted GPA score of 3.67 to 4.44, SAT scores in the midrange of 1180 to 1320, and a midrange composite score of 25 to 30 on the ACT. The writing portions of either the SAT or ACT are not required for admission.
Students applying at the graduate or post-baccalaureate level will apply by using the Graduate School application, available online through CollegeNet. Supporting documentation required after submitting the application include proof of having earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, official transcripts from all colleges previously attended, test score from the GRE or GMAT, and two or more letters of recommendation.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Exact tuition rates per credit hour are not readily available, as the University of South Carolina takes into account many of the unique factors that can affect any given student’s costs to attend college classes. However, estimated costs can be provided. Undergraduate students who are residents of South Carolina are generally assessed a rate of $509.00 per credit hour, capping at the total cost of $6,108.00 for a full-time schedule of 12 credit hours or more per semester. Out-of-state residents generally pay $1370.75 per credit hour, capping at a total of 12 credit hours for $16,449.00 on a full-time schedule or 12 or more credit hours per semester.
Graduate students follow a similar cost structure, with a rate per credit hour of $568.75 for in-state residents, capping at $6825.00 for a full-time schedule. Out-of-state residents pay $1216.50 per credit hour capped at $14,598.00 for full-time schedules. These fee estimates are the same for both on-campus and online course loads. In all cases, additional fees may also apply, in addition to base tuition.
For students seeking financial aid to help pay for their college education, the first step should be to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid online. Once submitted, the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships will work to determine each student’s need and eligibility for scholarships, grants, loans, and student work-study programs.
University of South Carolina website
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