old dominion university accreditation

Old Dominion University

 Old Dominion University appears in our ranking of 50 Beachfront Colleges Ranked by Affordability.

Old Dominion University provides students with more than 400 degree opportunities when looking at majors, minors, and all degree levels. More than 100 of these are available online. Among this truly staggering number of programs, students will find fields as disparate as applied sociology, music, and children’s rights. Other students may select civil engineering technology, English literature, or even oceanography.

The Bachelor of Science in Park, Recreation, and Tourism Studies requires students to focus on ethics and behavior as linchpins of the general curriculum, which comprises between 41 and 47 credits of study. Students will study 36 further credits in the major curriculum and 33 additional credits in their chosen specialty, which is either tourism management or park and recreation management.

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology requires students who studied the same field as undergraduates to complete 57 credits to earn the degree. If the interested student did not study speech-language pathology as an undergraduate, then that student must complete 24 additional credits of prerequisites prior to admittance into the program. Students in the program will do off-campus practical work in one of 18 centers in the area.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Education With a Human Movement Sciences Concentration requires students to choose one of three concentrations: applied kinesiology, sport and recreation, and health and sport pedagogy. The degree requires 60 credits to complete, nine of which are electives. The dissertation itself comprises 12 credits.

Students may also strive for various certificates even as they minor in other subjects and complete their majors. The variety of degree offerings might even be overwhelming, so students should peruse the website for more information, call the Office of the Registrar, or both.

About Old Dominion University

Up until 1962, Old Dominion University was an extension of the College of William and Mary. It handled the teaching and engineering students for the 32 years it was part of its parent school. In 1962, it began its own life as Old Dominion College and began issuing four-year degrees.

The university’s enrollment, course offerings, and degree foci all exploded then. Today, the school is home to more than 20,000 students, and it sits on 251 acres of prime Norfolk real estate. Old Dominion University ranks No. 215 on the list of National Universities released by U.S. News and World Report. It is also No. 121 on the list of Top Public Schools and No. 74 among Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.

The school is somewhat selective and chooses 86 percent of undergraduate students for admission. Admission to the graduate school is much more difficult than that. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18-to-1. Interestingly, the school is currently about three times the size of its parent university.

Old Dominion University Accreditation Details

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges granted Old Dominion University regional accreditation. Other organizations have also bestowed academic accreditation on many of the departments at Old Dominion University. Some of those organizations include the:

  • American Dental Association
  • American Physical Therapy Association
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
  • Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology
  • National Association of Schools of Art and Design
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • National Association of Schools of Theatre
  • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
  • Council for Standards in Human Service Education
  • Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering
  • National Recreation and Park Association

Old Dominion University Application Requirements

High-school seniors with at least a 3.30 GPA may apply to Old Dominion University without taking either the SAT or the ACT. Of course, if they wish to take the tests and submit their scores, that is allowed. Incoming freshmen must also submit their high school transcripts or their record of GED achievement. Should they wish to do so, they may also submit letters of recommendation and an activity resume.

Graduate students’ application process depends on the student’s choice of degree. As an example of the rigorous process for graduate students, the requirements for the Ph.D. in Oceanography are as follows: Graduate Record Examinations records, three letters of reference from people who are qualified to evaluate the candidate’s suitability for work at the doctoral level, all transcripts from previous study, a substantial essay, and a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition at Old Dominion University is calculated purely by credit hour. Undergraduate Virginia residents pay $356. Out-of-state students pay $1,047. Graduate residents pay $547, and out-of-state students pay $1,383. All students pay an activity fee of either $100.10 or $121.69 per credit hour. Which fee they pay depends on the main campus where they study.

All housing options at Old Dominion University, save one, cost at least $6,000 annually, and some cost as much as $15,000. Foundation Hall, however, costs only $1,254 annually. That residence hall, however, is a scholarship hall, and students must qualify as part of the financial aid process to live there. Meal plans cost between roughly $1,000 and $2,500 for on-campus residents, and there are commuter rates available too. Students should check the website for further information.

Need-based financial aid is awarded as any combination of grants, subsidized loans, and scholarships. Students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and the government follows a formula to determine how much aid is applicable. Students may also apply for merit-based aid, most of which is from private sources. Students who choose to apply for Old Dominion University under the test-optional program may still take the SAT and ACT for consideration for merit-based awards even if they don’t use the test scores as part of the actual admissions process.

Old Dominion University stands proudly as part of Virginia’s nearly 400-year-old history of higher education.