The University of Northern Colorado is a public university located in Greeley, which is approximately 50 miles north of Denver. Although it originally began back in 1890, it officially became a university in 1970. The University of Northern Colorado offers programs through its Colleges of Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, Performing and Visual Arts and Health and Human Services. Undergraduates can choose from over 100 bachelor's degree programs and graduate students can choose from over 100 master's degree programs.
There are around 9,500 undergraduate students that live on or close by the suburban campus of 243 acres. Most incoming freshmen have an average GPA of 3.3 and SAT score of 525. Students can choose from over 150 organizations, which include the Student Senate and around 20 sororities and fraternities. The university's Bears varsity sports teams regularly compete in NCAA Division I conferences. The University of Northern Colorado is very international and proudly maintains their Black Cultural Education Center and Cesar Chavez Cultural Center. There are also campus centers for Asian, Pacific and Native American.
University of Northern Colorado Accreditation Details
The University of Northern Colorado is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools' Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The speech-language pathology Master of Arts program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
University of Northern Colorado Application Requirements
In order to qualify for most Extended Campus graduate programs, students must have an accredited four-year degree with a GPA of at least 3.0. GRE scores are generally required for technical or advanced programs, such as the speech-language pathology Master of Arts program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Most online degrees that belong to the Extended Campus program charge a standard tuition rate per-credit for all in-state and out-of-state students. The program tuition is $550 per credit hour for online students and is slightly adjusted every year during the summer. There are no student fees, but certain courses or programs include additional course fees for special services and materials. For example, the the online speech-language pathology Master of Arts degree program is $585 per credit hour.
Online students whose program requires a one to two-week on-site course during the summer may qualify for up to $1,500 in travel reimbursements. Online students are expected to apply for federal financial aid through the FAFSA. All graduate degree students must take a minimum of five credits per term to be eligible for financial aid. Graduates may qualify for the Dean's Scholarship Program that provides financial support for students to faculty nominated students. Many graduate-level degrees are covered, which includes education, gerontology, sociology and speech language pathology. Students who are members of an historically underrepresented group may apply for the Graduate School Diversity Tuition award that awards $750 to $3,000.
Online Degrees Available
The University of Northern Colorado began offering rudimentary distance education programs back in 1902. They were early adopters of the distance education model and started offering Internet-based program back in the 1990's. The University of Northern Colorado offers online degrees in popular subjects like education, business, psychology, various sciences and the performing arts. They also offer many uncommon online degree programs in areas like audiology, gerontology, brewing science and American Sign Language (ASL).
The online speech-language pathology Master of Arts degree prepares graduates for entry-level employment as licensed speech-language pathologists. Program applicants must have an accredited bachelor's degree in audiology, communication disorders or speech-language pathology. This program uses a clinician-researcher model to provide students with a foundation in evidence-based practice and a strong academic background in current research. Students are required to complete a two-week lab during their third semester. The degree takes approximately three years to complete. Graduates are eligible to take the exam for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology that is offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Graduates who elect to complete an eight week internship in a public school can apply for licensure from Colorado's Department of Education.
The Master of Arts in teaching American Sign Language prepares graduates to teach American Sign Language in secondary and post-secondary school settings. Students who are not currently licensed are allowed to selectively take courses in order to obtain their teaching license. This program is unique because it focuses on instructive coursework for teaching ASL as a foreign language. Unlike most other programs, it is not designed to teach students how to master ASL. In order to be accepted into the program, applicants must submit documentation that verifies their ASL proficiency. This program can be completed in five semesters and prepares graduates to become a high school or community college foreign language teacher.
The Master of Arts in physical education is one of the first available graduate programs that prepares teachers to become P.E. leaders within their schools. In fact, the demand for comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAP) and licensed P.E. leaders is rapidly growing as parents realize the importance of health and physical activity in their children's lives. This Master of Arts in physical education program trains participants how to design, coordinate and promote CSPAP programs through promoting participation in school-wide physical activity programs and increasing the involvement of staff, family and the community. Most graduates go on to work as physical activity leaders and administrators at the district level.
The University of Northern Colorado's online Bachelor of Arts in psychology trains graduates to become the leaders, scholars and researchers of modern psychology. The online psychology will take around two years to complete, but this depends on the student's pace and enrollment preferences. The program requires that all students take basic classes in research, statistical, physiological and basic psychology. Psychology students may elect to pursue a general degree and continue to take foundational classes, or they may pursue specialization in either experimental or social/development psychology. All students must complete a university internship that allows them to accumulate part-time work experience through helping on-campus psychology professors.
Related Resource: 30 Most Affordable Top Ranked Schools for an Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction Degree
The University of Northern Colorado offers many more interesting online degree programs that lead to stable and satisfying careers.