Degree Programs at Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Best Most Affordable Master’s in Project Management Online Degrees.
Charleston Southern University offers degree programs with full accreditation. These programs are available from The Graduate School and for undergrads. Any student who wants to take classes online will find six undergrad and nine graduate programs available. The university also offers some hybrid programs that are quite flexible too. Students in a hybrid program will take a few classes on the Charleston campus or do clinical work in their own areas while taking online classes.
The online options for undergrads include a Bachelor of Technology in Computer and Information Sciences. It consists of two years of liberal arts classes and a small number of computer science classes followed by two years of information and advanced computer science courses. All undergrad programs include the same two years of liberal arts and general education courses.
Undergrads can also earn a Bachelor of Science online in five fields. The management program looks at all aspects of management, but students can major in either human resources or project management too. A healthcare administration and a hospitality and tourism management program are also available online.
Graduate students can earn either a Master of Science or a Master of Arts online. The university offers a business administration program that allows students to complete an MBA online. They can also study other areas of business like project management or earn a criminal justice degree. The criminal justice program includes courses that prepare students for a doctoral program and for working in different areas of criminal justice.
Charleston Southern University also offers a Master of Science in Nursing. Designed for licensed nurses who want to further their educations and study nursing education, it prepares graduates for working as nursing educators. They learn how to work with students in the field and how to train them to work with patients. Students must have a nursing degree and a nursing license to enroll in the MSN program.
About Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University is a full university in Charleston, South Carolina that offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Established in 1960, the campus used the name Baptist College of Charleston when it first opened. The First Baptist Church of Charleston opened its doors and allowed the college to operate out of one of its buildings. It added graduate courses in 1965 and saw students finish these programs just two years later. Citing the need for a new name because of the programs that it added, the college became Charleston Southern University in 1990. It now goes by other names such as Charleston Southern and CSU. Though the university has an affiliation with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, it operates separately from that church.
CSU is one of the only schools in South Carolina with a bridge program designed for high school students. Those students can take college classes and get credit for both high school and college. The university believes that preparing students for higher education will help them achieve more success in the future. Most of its students live on the Charleston campus until they turn 21 or graduate. CSU has an enrollment of more than 2,700 students, which makes it one of the largest Baptist colleges in the south.
Charleston Southern University Accreditation Details
CSU has regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Not only does this allow students to transfer college credits to and from CSU, but it also allows students to apply for financial aid. The university’s nursing, music, teaching, and business programs all have accreditation also.
Charleston Southern University Application Requirements
Incoming college students who are under the age of 21 must submit official test scores from either the SAT or the ACT when applying to CSU. Students need to score 1020 on the SAT or 19 on the ACT. The university waives this requirement for older students. Undergrads should also take the South Carolina college prep curriculum, which includes two science labs, three math and science classes, four English classes and three social science and history classes. Undergrads will send their transcripts and test scores through the mail and submit an online application. CSU charges a $20 application fee.
CSU has the same admissions requirements for any student applying to an online program. Graduate students will need to also use an online application and pay the university’s application fee. The application asks what program they want to study, which allows them to select an online option. Some programs may require even more information from students though. These programs may ask for a resume or for references who can talk about the student on an academic or professional basis. Students may need to submit writing samples or a goals statement too.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for full-time undergrads is $12,750, which is the same rate that any nursing student will pay. Though part-time undergrads pay $490 per credit hour, online students pay just $470 per credit hour. Graduate program costs can range from $450 per credit hour for its education programs to $625 per credit hour for most management programs. Students living on the CSU campus will pay at least $5,000 a term for housing too. The university offers discounts for those taking summer classes.
CSU offers 10 different scholarships for incoming undergrads. Its music, band and athletic scholarships only go to certain students. Those students can contact the university to learn more about supplying samples of their work or getting a scout to watch them play. There are also scholarships available for the children of missionaries working around the world and some scholarships for students with strong academic backgrounds. Those in ROTC and students who held leadership positions in high school may qualify for some of its scholarships too.
All other students can submit the FAFSA to find out if they will get any traditional aid for the following year. Students usually need to submit this form by the beginning of early spring. It determines whether they get any loans and grants and if they can work for the university in any capacity. Graduate students can also borrow loan money after filling out this form. Charleston Southern University recommends that students in any of its degree programs apply for financial aid via the FAFSA because it uses this form to create its aid packages.