Aurora University

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Located 40 miles west of Chicago in Aurora, Illinois, Aurora University is a nonprofit, private liberal arts college. Approximately 5,000 students enroll in more than 40 on-campus and online doctoral, master's and bachelor's degree program at the school. The university was founded in 1893 as Mendota Seminary and was first focused on training and education in the Advent Christian Church.

Aurora University Accreditation Details

Aurora University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission at the doctoral, master's and bachelor levels. The School of Social Work is accredited by the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE), and the College of Education degree programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Both the baccalaureate nursing program and the Master of Science in Nursing program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Aurora University Application Requirements

Application requirements to an online program at Aurora University include official, sealed transcripts from all previous educational institutions, at least 15 semester hours of transferable college credit from an accredited school, a minimum 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and at least two years of demonstrated work experience or military service. Depending on the online degree pursued, the school may have additional application requirements relevant to the degree, including resumes, letters of recommendation and personal statements that discuss why the students has chosen to pursue a particular degree.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Online adult degree completion programs range from $350 to $425 per semester hour, and graduate programs range from $565 to $600 per semester hour, depending on the degree pursued. Students seeking an endorsement or certificate program can expect to pay $565 per semester hour. More than 98 percent of students attending Aurora University receive some type of financial aid, and every student is automatically considered for an academic scholarship once he or she is enrolled. Students may apply financial aid toward tuition, supplies, books, fees and living expenses and must first complete the FAFSA in order to apply. The school also recognizes veterans by participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program as well as other federal GI Bill Benefits. Interested students may apply through the Department of Veteran Affairs to determine eligibility.

Online Degrees Available

Aurora University offers a number of online degrees at the bachelor's level, including a B.A. in Business Administration, a B.S. in Computer Science, a B.A. in Criminal Justice, a B.A. in General Studies, an RN to BSN nursing program and a B.S.W. in Social Work. Online master's degree programs include an MBA in Business Administration, an M.A. in Homeland Security, an M.A. in Mathematics Education and an M.S.W. in Social Work. Students may also pursue a Bilingual/ESL certificate to help advance their teaching careers. All programs are taught by practitioner-based faculty members with real-world experience who are focused on helping students and professionals reach their educational and career goals.

The online B.A. in Business Administration provides students with a broad overview of topics, including international business, marketing, human resources, organizational behavior, finance and accounting. The four-year program includes 120 credit hours, 52 of which must be in the major. Core courses include general statistics, organizational behavior, managerial accounting, business communication, principles of marketing, strategy and business planning, foundations of management and business computer software apps. Students must also complete two additional courses and may select from consumer behavior, operations management, human resource management, cost accounting and dynamics of leading organizations.

Students pursuing an online B.A. in Criminal Justice will develop a broad academic background in criminology, the criminal justice system and other core subjects. The four-year program includes 120 credit hours, 40 of which must be in the major. Course offerings include strategic planning and ethics, research methods, policing America, criminal law, criminology, correctional services and an introduction to the criminal justice system. Students are prepared for a variety of careers, including U.S. Marshal, security manager, fraud investigator, fish and game warden, TSA screener, police officer, fire inspector and criminal investigator.

The online Bachelor of Social Work degree prepares graduates to work with individuals, families, groups and communities in a variety of settings. Graduates are eligible to apply for advanced standing in the school's M.S.W. program and to take the examination for the State Social Work license. The four-year program includes 120 credit hours, 40 of which must be in the major. Students must take two field instruction courses, and general education requirements include principles of sociology, general psychology and an introduction to U.S. government. Core courses include social work research, social work with communities and organizations, human behavior in the social environment adult lifespan, social work with groups, survey of social work and human behavior in the social environment as it pertains to infancy through adolescence.

The school's online Master's in Business Administration stresses important business topics with courses in accounting, finance, leadership, organizational behavior and marketing. The one-year, full-time course includes 36 credit hours. Students can expect to take classes in strategic management, applied business research, operations management, financial management, managerial accounting, leadership and organizational behavior and marketing management. Students are also required to take a total of nine hours in concentration courses covering topics such as leading teams, leading strategically and leading organizational development. Upon graduation, students may enter the field as sales managers, entrepreneurs, brand specialists, marketing analysts, consultants and advertising executives.

The online Master of Arts in Homeland Security is designed for both government and private officials, including corporate security personnel, firefighters, homeland security specialists, emergency managers and law enforcement professionals as well as students seeking to enter the field. Students will learn the key organizational and policy design problems that homeland security leaders face and develop skills needed to meet the challenges. The 30-credit-hour program is designed by the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security and lasts for one year. Students will be exposed to a number of topics, including the psychology of fear management and terrorism, terrorist financing and state response, disaster preparedness and emergency management, intelligence for homeland security, cyber security in the information age, counter-terrorism in the United Kingdom and the asymmetric threat to homeland security. Students pursuing the online M.A. in Homeland Security from Aurora University will be prepared for careers in homeland security such as mission support, prevention and first-response, immigration and travel security, municipal personnel and law enforcement.