Online Degrees Available at West Chester University
West Chester University appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Most Affordable Accelerated Master’s in Human Resources Online.
The Office of Distance Education at West Chester University logs into D2L Brightspace to deliver 374 online courses, including six entire masters and two doctoral degrees. Nine certificates, including Geographic Information Systems, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Adapted Physical Education, are also digital. In Fall 2018, WCUPA has 211 online faculty teaching accelerated, seven-week modules at a 19:1 ratio for engagement. Other benefits are the Veteran’s Center resources, IT Help Desk, Webmail accounts, eLearnReady Assessment, Francis Harvey Green Library access, NC-SARA authorizations, and Textbook eBook Rental program. Here are two sample West Chester online master’s opportunities.
Directed by Dr. Mary Beth Gilboy, West Chester’s Master of Science in Community Nutrition advances food science expertise to prevent chronic diseases in at-risk populations by structuring wholesome diets. The 33-credit, ACEND-accredited major leads to the National Registration Examination for Dietitians with online courses like Public Health Epidemiology, Child Nutrition, Vegetarian Cuisine, and Medical Nutrition Therapy that require 1,200 practice hours.
Redesigned for 2019, the Master of Science in Human Resource Management immerses working WCUPA post-grads in studying effective workplace policies to develop labor systems that maximize employee performance and satisfaction. The 30-credit, SHRM-aligned degree overseen by Dr. Evan Leach fast forwards toward capstone work in one year with nine courses like Talent Management, Employment Law, Compensation Analysis, and HR Information Systems.
About West Chester University
West Chester University originated on September 28, 1811, at West Chester Court House when Quaker educator John Forsythe was appointed head of a new private academy. Sixty years later, its elite campus transformed into the state-funded West Chester Normal School. By 1927, West Chester had become the Commonwealth’s first four-year teacher preparer. During the 1960s, liberal arts programs were added and its 406-acre West Goshen Township campus north of Wilmington grew. In July 1983, Pennsylvania’s 14-site PASSHE System welcomed West Chester University. Budgeting $235.1 million yearly, West Chester now educates 17,552 Rams, including 2,960 post-grads, from 40 nations on-site, in Philadelphia, and online. Linked to 65,058 LinkedIn alumni, WCUPA has proudly produced Jill Biden, Geno Auriemma, Stanley Weintrab, Barbara McIlvaine Smith, and others.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked West Chester the 68th best Northern college, 69th top regional value, and 38th most vet-friendly school. On Niche, WCUPA has America’s 205th best public education, 246th best finance courses, 264th most student life, and 378th top psychology programs. Times Higher Education featured West Chester University among its top 800 overall. Forbes picked WCUPA 454th with the 168th best Northeast degrees. Money magazine noticed West Chester for the 246th best ROI and 70 percent graduation. College Factual placed WCUPA 385th nationally with the 294th top business and 89th best teaching programs. WalletHub applauded West Chester University for the 268th best career outcomes and 463rd most selectivity. PayScale calculated a mid-career median wage of $91,200 for WCUPA alums. The Social Mobility Index was even named West Chester 133rd countrywide.
West Chester University Accreditation Details
In 2016, West Chester University successfully finished a self-study peer review with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to renew the Level VI accreditation for another 10 years under its 15th president, Dr. Christopher Fiorentino, who received the 2018 Bucks County Distinguished Service Award. Headquartered 35 miles east via US-322 in Philadelphia, this respected six-state East Coast accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to evaluate the effectiveness of WCUPA’s 65 baccalaureates, 54 master’s, and four doctoral majors. Online West Chester degrees also uphold these programmatic approvals:
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
West Chester University Application Requirements
Admission to West Chester University is labeled “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because only 8,934 of the 13,589 falls 2017 candidates were triumphant for 68 percent acceptance. Post-grad Rams rumbling for online cohort spots must already hold a regionally accredited bachelor’s. The online Master of Education tracks necessitates previous education training for K-12 Pennsylvania certification. Master of Business Administration online students must fulfill prerequisites in Accounting, Economics, Finance, and Marketing with grades above C-. Similarly, courses like Organic Chemistry, Statistics, and Anatomy are mandated for the MS in Community Nutrition online. Generally, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred. The online Master’s in Public Administration gives provisional status for grads with 2.75 GPAs who receive Bs on two trial courses. Most College of Business majors must score 460 or better on the GMAT exam. Sometimes, an admission index score of 1100 is used when multiplying GPA by 200 and adding GMAT marks.
West Chester University primarily has rolling online graduate admission, though priority is given before October 1st for Spring and March 1st for Fall. Interested master’s students must submit the $50 Graduate School Application online using Google Chrome or Firefox. Requested attachments include the two references, recent GRE/GMAT scores, résumé, teaching certification, and 500-word goals statement. Collegiate registrars should send official bachelor’s transcripts directly to McKelvie Hall at 102 West Rosedale Avenue in West Chester, PA 19383. Please contact (610) 436-2943 or gradadmissions@wcupa.edu with more questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, West Chester University is billing Pennsylvania master’s students $516 per credit or $4,644 per semester full-time. Non-resident graduates pay $774 per credit or $6,966 each semester of 9+ credits. Each course adds an $84 technology fee and a $377 general fee. Online education varies and adds a fee equal to 15 percent of tuition though. For example, the online Master of Business Administration charges Pennsylvanians $1,548 and out-of-state grads $1,578 per course for around $22,000 total. Yet dietetics students pursuing the online Master of Science in Community Nutrition afford $797 in-state and $941 out-of-state per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Kershner Student Service Center gifts $34.51 million yearly for 80 percent of new full-time WCUPA Rams to collect median offers of $5,743 each. Master’s funds include the Janet L. Wallace Education Scholarship, Independence Blue Cross Nurses for Tomorrow Scholarship, Sharon Ennis Graduate Study Scholarship, Teacher with a Mission Scholarship, Chamber of Commerce MBA Scholarship, Cheryl Hamel Scholarship, Ian Hancock Graduate Scholarship, Institute for Women Graduate Grant, and Kathy Cooper Memorial Scholarship. The Graduate School requires 3.0 GPAs for assistantships that waive nine credits with $ 1,875-semester stipends. Submitting the FAFSA application coded 003328 by February 15th determines Direct Unsubsidized and Plus loan eligibility. Pennsylvanians could qualify for the PASSHE System’s Dr. Lou Bohl-Fabian Memorial Graduate Program. Veterans also submit DD-214 paperwork to claim military benefits.
Find more online offerings, such as the Master of Business Administration, Master of Education in Special Education, Master of Public Administration, Master of Education in Early Childhood, and Doctor of Nursing Practice, at the West Chester University website.
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