Degrees Offered at the California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Most Affordable MBA in Entrepreneurship Degrees Online.
The California University of Pennsylvania offers a number of programs for undergraduate students. Not only can they choose from more than 100 majors, but they can also pick minors that go along with their degrees and sign up for one of the university’s certificate programs. The university offers both associate and bachelor degree options. Some of the majors for associate students include digital media technology, applied policing technology, physical therapy assisting and industrial technology. Students can earn bachelor’s degrees in fields such as art, anthropology, chemistry, gerontology, sociology, public affairs, and sport management. Certificates in studio art, Spanish, student affairs and other subjects are also available.
Graduate students can both earn degrees and get certified in different areas from the university too. It offers two administration programs for those who want to work as principals. Those who have a degree can get a certificate, but other students can earn their higher education administration degrees from the university. An athletic training program for graduate students includes practicums and courses in exercise science and kinesiology. Some of the other programs suitable for graduate students include applied math, communication disorders, business administration, secondary education, sport management, and primary education.
Students can also complete certificates and degrees through the university’s online system. Arabic Languages and Culture, Business Administration, Industrial Technology Management and Exercise Science are just a few of the available undergrad degree programs available online. Graduate students can major in education fields, including PreK through 8 education, autism spectrum disorders or applied behavior analysis. The university offers ABA and autism spectrum disorder certificate programs online too.
School psychology, business administration, and nursing are just a few of the other degree programs offered online for graduate students.
About the California University of Pennsylvania
The California University of Pennsylvania is a comprehensive public university that offers both associate and bachelor programs as well as doctoral and graduate programs. Established in 1852 in the small town of California, Pennsylvania, it opened after residents of the city used their tax dollars to build a new school. It originally offered classes for students in kindergarten and elementary school through the first few years of college. After getting a charter to serve as a normal school, it became the Southwestern Normal School and then the California State Normal School. Only after serving as a teachers college and then a full college did it become the California University of Pennsylvania.
Also called Cal U, the university has a deep commitment to all its current and future students. The university announced plans in 2000 to bring in new residence halls and to construct new buildings for students. Those modern buildings are open to students who want to live on the Cal U campus today. It’s also known for the California University Television station (CTU), which won Station of the Year in the past. More than 7,300 students now enroll in the programs offered by Cal U every year.
California University of Pennsylvania Accreditation Details
Cal U received regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). It maintained this type of accreditation for several straight decades through the programs it offers for students, including those on and off its campus. MSCHE accreditation is also the reason why Cal U can offer the financial aid packages that so many students need. Some of the other accreditation that it holds comes from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
California University of Pennsylvania Application Requirements
There are only three requirements for undergrads applying to Cal U. Those requirements include an application, test score, and transcripts. Students can submit their high school transcripts or the transcripts from where they earned a GED. The university allows students to submit either an ACT or SAT score and will waive this requirement for any student who graduated or left high school at least two years before applying. Students can submit some optional information too, including a personal essay and one or more letters of recommendation. In addition to the Cal U application, students can also use the Common Application.
The process that graduate students follow is similar and begins with an application. Students need to use either the application designed for on-campus programs or the one for online programs. There is a $35 application fee that increases to $50 for doctoral students. The university asks for official transcripts from each student and has a rolling admissions policy with no set deadline for applications. Many programs do have other requirements though. Some ask that students either write personal essays or submit writing samples. Students may need to take the GRE or another exam and submit their scores and also provide letters of recommendation too.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Pennsylvania residents can take one or more classes as a part-time student and pay $322 per credit hour. This is the same rate that residents pay to take summer classes and when they take more than 18 credits of courses in one semester. Full-time residents pay $3,858 per semester to take a minimum of 12 credits up to 18 credit hours. Nonresidents pay either $482 per credit hour as a part-time student or $5,787 per semester as a full-time student. Full-time students also pay around $10,000 a year for room and board and another $3,200 for university fees. Graduate students pay either $516 per credit hour as a Pennsylvania resident or $774 per credit hour as a nonresident plus some miscellaneous fees.
Incoming students who apply for financial aid will receive an award letter from the university and login information that lets them log into an online account to apply for scholarships. Some scholarships are worth $200 to $500, but there are some scholarships that cover a student’s entire tuition for the year. Students of all types must submit the FAFSA as part of the financial aid process too. This is what lets graduate students see some of the loans they can get and what lets undergrads see if they qualify for federal work-study, loans and grants. Some of the degree programs at California University of Pennsylvania offer scholarships and special financial aid programs for students in specific majors and programs.