Union College Degree Programs Available
Union College appears in our ranking of the Top 15 Most Affordable Master’s in Behavioral Psychology Online Programs.
Earning a college degree is one of the best ways to move into leadership positions in any industry. Not only do college graduates earn higher salaries, but they also report being more satisfied in their jobs and are less likely to be unemployed. Union College offers several degree programs that are designed to help individuals advance in a current career or move into a new career.
Union College has many departments with more than 30 majors for students to choose from, each driven and designed to help students succeed. There are ten undergraduate departments with broad curricula providing students with a strong liberal arts focus. Undergraduate departments include:
- Department of Business
- Department of English
- Department of Fine, Performing & Communication Arts
- Department of History, Religious Studies and Languages
- Department of Natural Sciences
- Department of Psychology
- Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Department of Wellness, Human Performance & Recreation
- School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Through the Department of Business, students may enroll in the General Management program at the bachelor’s level. The program is available both online and on campus or in a hybrid version. Students gain an understanding of management and leadership in business. They learn management theory, leadership thought, research and analysis. Students are also able to express their thoughts in both written and oral formats. The program requires 120 semester hours that include a liberal education core and major requirements. Courses required for the core may include:
- Business Essentials
- Financial Accounting
- Intermediate Technology Applications
- Legal Environment of Business
- Managerial Accounting
- Principles of Management
- Principles of Marketing
- Principles of Microeconomics
Students must also complete 15 semester hours in electives from accounting, business administration, economics, management, marketing or another business discipline.
A Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Communications is available through the Department of Fine, Performing & Communication Arts. The program prepares graduates to be more competitive in one of the fastest-growing industries, helping them gain knowledge used to analyze and evaluate ethical decision-making, social responsibility while also applying business principles to the marketing and communications industry. The program is available online and can be completed in less than two years. Courses that may be required include:
- Brand Management
- Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
- ECommerce
- Integrated Marketing and Communications
- Internet Consumer Behavior
- Managerial and Leadership Analysis
- Market Research
- Organizational Behavior and Teamwork
- Social Media Marketing
- Strategic Decisions
The Department of Psychology offers an undergraduate degree in Substance Abuse Counseling designed for those who wish to work with individuals, families or communities dealing with substance abuse issues. The program requires 120 semester hours which includes completion of a liberal arts core, major requirements, and electives. Students gain an understanding of chemical dependency as well as ethical issues that exist when working with those who are dependent. Students learn about the physiological, emotional, cognitive and behavioral dimensions of addiction. Courses required may include:
- Abnormal Psychology
- Adolescent Psychology
- Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience
- Child Development
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Deviance and Criminology
- Drugs and Society
- Ethical Issues in Chemical Dependency
- Forensic Psychology
- Foundations of Chemical Dependency I & II
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Introduction to Psychology
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Lifespan Development
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Psychology of Addiction
- Recovery & Relapse
- Social Psychology
An internship in substance abuse counseling is also required.
Through the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Union College offers a Master of Athletic Training that is available online. The program is designed for those who wish to enhance their career in sports. There are two main components comprised of coursework and clinical experience. The program is 62-credit hours and can be completed in two years with full-time study. Students can enroll in a joint degree option with Exercise Science to earn both the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Athletic Training in five years or they can complete the program in two years and earn the Master of Athletic Training if they already hold a bachelor’s degree.
About Union College
Union College was founded in Barbourville in 1879, established to create opportunities for families in the area as well as to help the region thrive. In 1886, the school was purchased by the Kentucky Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1912, the Methodist Board attempted to close the school but it remains open with the support of the citizens of Barbourville. In 1914, the Methodist Board resumed control. Until 1923, the school offered academy classes but 7th and 8th grades were eliminated that year. Ninth grade was dropped in 1926 and the school became fully an institute of higher education.
In 1945, only nine of the original 113 students enrolled received their degrees due to World War Ii. Today, there are 912 undergraduates and 227 graduate students enrolled at Union College.
Union College Accreditation
Union College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This indicates that the school complies with the requirements of the Commission, offering programs that prepare students for careers in their chosen field. It also indicates that the school has the resources to meet its stated goals and objectives. In addition, programs throughout the college are accredited by the following organizations:
- ABET
- Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Union College Application Requirements
Applicants to the General Management or Substance Abuse undergraduate programs must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended as well as documentation of a high school diploma or GED.
In order to apply for the Master of Science in Digital Marketing & Communications Management, applicants must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. One must show the conferring of a bachelor’s degree or higher. Two letters of recommendation, a statement of goals and objectives along with a signed curriculum contract must be provided.
Applicants for the Master of Athletic Training program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university unless they are entering the joint program. They must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a science GPA of 2.8 or higher. They must have 50 hours of documented clinical observation earned in a college athletics or medical setting and supervised by a certified athletic trainer. A physical examination and medical form, as well as official transcripts from all colleges and universities, attended. A letter of intent and resume as well as three recommendation letters are required. Applicants must undergo a criminal background check and drug screening. They must have completed Human Biology, College Physics, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Statistics, Wellness, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology and Introduction to Psychology.
Union College Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition for the undergraduate degrees in General Management or Substance Abuse is $225 per credit hour. Tuition for the Master of Science in Digital Marketing & Communications Management, as well as the Master of Athletic Training, is $340 per credit hour.
Financial aid is available with 100 percent of students who attend Union College receiving some type of financial assistance. In order to qualify for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Assistance may be in the form of grants, scholarships or loans. Students who attend on campus may also be offered work-study, assistantships or fellowships.
Since it opened in 1879, Union College has offered programs grounded in four pillars that define their focus as an academic institution as well as with a focus on service to the community.