This school appears in our ranking Top 30 Online Master's in Special Education Degrees 2017.
The University of Arizona was established in 1885 and has since become a super land-grant university. Old Main was the first building constructed, originally holding the school's entire student body of 32 students and is still in use today. The school has over 43,000 students in 19 different colleges or schools including two schools of medicine and the James E. Rogers College of Law. Students can choose from a range of post-secondary education options, including bachelor's master's, doctoral and professional degrees. There are also numerous athletic opportunities, with award winning teams in almost every avenue, including baseball, soccer and basketball.
As a global leader in research, the University of Arizona has been awarded with over $606 million in research funding each year, ranking in the top 25 public universities for this type of funding. The school is also one of the top 25 schools in the country for students interested in STEM. It is also one of the top 100 law schools in the country. The U.S. News & World Report ranked the University as one of the top 25 schools in the nation for their graduate programs, including a variety of STEM offerings, Speech Pathology, and Photography. In addition to academic rankings, the University also achieves a high ranking when it comes to offering scholarships and other merit-based types of financial aid.
University of Arizona Accreditation Details
The Higher Learning Commission examines and evaluates each aspect of a university, including its finances, governance, available funding and resources, as well as its academic offerings. Since 1917, they given accreditation to the University of Arizona in recognition of its strength in these areas. The most recent full and complete evaluation praised the school for the integrity of its academic programs, the quality of the research conducted, the skill of the faculty and staff, and the performance of the students.
In addition to being recognized by the Higher Learning Commission, specialized accreditation has also been conferred on several online programs, schools and departments at the University of Arizona, by the following organizations:
- Arizona Department of Education
- Council on Education for Public Health
- American Bar Association
- American Library Association
- National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
- American Psychological Association
- Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
University of Arizona Application Requirements
Some Arizona residents may be eligible for Assured Admission for both online and on campus courses. This is guaranteed acceptance for residents of the state who attend an accredited high school, who rank in the top 25 percent of their class and who carry a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Those who do not meet this criterion can still be considered for admission. Strong class standing, a high GPA, ACT or SAT scores, extracurricular activities and the strength of the personal essay can all help a prospective Wildcat gain admission.
Certain degree programs require an internship to be completed before graduation. Online and in-person programs that require an internship as part of the degree requirement include:
- Bachelor of Science in Care, Health and Society
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Built Environments
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
Prospective students who reside outside of the state of Arizona may need to keep a few special considerations in mind. While the University of Arizona and UA Online can accept international and out of state students, field experience programs are not available in the following US territories:
- Guam
- American Samoa
- Puerto Rico
- Northern Mariana Islands
Additionally, students from the aforementioned territories cannot complete an online degree program that requires an internship. Instead, they must apply for face-to-face programs. Students who reside in one of the US territories above are also unable to complete elective internships through the University of Arizona. However, all programs that offer elective internships can successfully be completed without fulfilling that particular requirement.
Graduate school requirements do not include the completion of the GRE or other entrance exams. Instead, admission is based on factors such as your GPA and existing transcripts. Admission to accelerated master's programs requires a GPA of 3.3. Certificate programs require a 2.75 GPA, while students applying for degree programs must have a GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants to non-degree programs must already hold a bachelor's degree or comparable certification.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition varies dramatically depending on the program in question. Undergraduate studies, both online and on campus, require nine unites for a full course which costs about $5,000 per year. Graduate studies are slightly more costly, running at approximately $9,000 per year for both in person and online courses.
Approximately 85 percent of University of Arizona students receive some type of financial aid. There are numerous scholarships, grants, and awards offered by the school depending on your program and academic performance. Applications for financial aid are due March 1st the semester before you need the aid. This deadline applies to undergrads, graduate students and online learners alike.
Online Degrees Available
At the University of Arizona, almost all courses available face-to-face are also available online. Distance learners can benefit from the same professor and the same access to recourses as students who attend classes on campus. The US News & World Report recently ranked the University of Arizona as being in the top 15 percent of schools who offer online bachelor's programs. UA online offers students online programs in over 80 areas, including:
- Graduate Certificate and Masters of Science in Accounting
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Administration of Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Masters in Business Administration
- Master of Science in Photonic Communications Engineering
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Science in Systems Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Built Environments
Online programs begin once every seven weeks, making it easy to further your education when it suits you, rather than a fixed September or January start date. All other aspects of UA life, including finding financial aid, seeking educational resources and finding a community remain the same for online students as they do for those on campus.