Arizona State University

Innovative Degree Programs at Arizona State University

Arizona State University appears in our ranking of the 25 Best Bachelor’s in Engineering Online Degrees. Arizona State University has an amazing array of graduate and undergraduate degrees available. Many of them are presented in accelerated and concurrent programs and/or in online formats. Students can earn degrees in more than 350 programs in:

• architecture and construction
• the arts
• business
• communications and media studies
• computing
• mathematics
• education
• engineering and technology
• entrepreneurship
• health and wellness
• humanities
• science
• social and behavioral sciences
• law
• criminal justice and sustainability

They can take exploratory programs and even programs that combine curricula from different colleges. One unique undergraduate program is Aeronautical Management. This degree can be earned in:

• Air Traffic Management
• Air Transportation Management
• Professional Flight
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Astronautics

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics ) is a 120-credit-hour degree program. It  prepares students to design and develop vehicles and systems for aerospace. Two of the courses included in the program are Space Vehicle Dynamics and Control and Orbital Mechanics. The program is available in the accelerated format. This enables students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is another interesting undergraduate degree program. Students study things like:

• artificial intelligence
• computer vision
• graphics
• networking
• other aspects of computer science

This is a 120-credit-hour program that focuses on:

• the design of computers
• innovations in programming
• computer design evolution

The Bachelor of Science in Earth and Space Exploration combines astrobiology and biosciences. Astrobiology is the study of the past, present, and future of life in the universe. Bioscience studies focus on the “interaction of biological and geological processes on Earth at present and in the geologic past.” The two disciplines are interrelated. The concepts are involved in studying the possibility of life on other planets. This degree program is heavy in math and science classes. Two of the courses students take are Exploration of the Universe and Coding for Exploration. The Master of Arts in Creative Enterprise and Cultural Leadership is a surprising offering in the graduate programs. This program prepares students to take leadership roles in the preservation and promotion of the arts. It involves things like museum curatorship and novel programs in the arts. The degree contains 31 credit-hours including written and oral exams and an applied project. The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice explores:

• criminology
• research methods
• statistics
• the operation of the criminal justice system

The program contains 30 hours including the capstone. Students may combine electives and requisite courses to specialize in areas such as:

• policing
• corrections
• other concentrations

About Arizona State University

This university was founded in 1885 as the Territorial Normal School. It went through many name changes until it finally assumed the current title of Arizona State University. The school is designated as an R1 research institution, which is indicative of the greatest research activity. There are several campuses of the school including the main location in Tempe. Others are:

• the Polytechnic Campus which teaches skills and knowledge to enable students to go directly into the workforce
• the Downtown Phoenix Campus which houses the urban and public programs such as nursing and criminal justice
• the Lake Havasu Campus that encompasses only undergraduate studies

There are also more than 150 degrees offered through the distance learning departments. In 2018, the US News and World Report ranked Arizona State University as the most innovative school in the US. It is also ranked as #61 in Public Schools and #115 in National Universities. The university ranked in the top four schools for online bachelor’s programs. Many of the school’s programs and schools are highly-ranked as well.

Arizona State University Accreditation Details

Arizona State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission. There are many special accreditations for programs and departments, including, among others:

• American Bar Association, Council on the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar
• American Psychological Association
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Pathology
• Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Aviation Accreditation Board International
• Council on Social Work Education, Office of Social Work Accreditation

Arizona State University Application Requirements

Arizona State University accepts, without prejudice, the Common Application or the Arizona State University application. Students applying as first-time freshmen should complete only one of these.  Completing both will cancel them out. There is a non-refundable $50 application fee for the ASU application or a $75 fee for the Common Application that must be submitted with the application. Documents required include the official grade report from:

• the testing agency of ACT or SAT
• official high school transcripts.

Students who apply as graduates should complete the online application for the graduate department which houses the desired degree program. They must also submit the graduate application fee of $70. Applications must be accompanied by transcripts from all institutions where the student completed undergraduate work. Additional documentation differs by school and department.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition at ASU is $10,792, including fees. Room and board adds another $12,209 to the estimated cost-of-attendance. In addition, students should allow money for:

• books
• supplies
• personal expenses

The total cost-of-attendance for an undergraduate at the university is about $27,530 per year. Graduate tuition varies by degree program and department but averages about $11,506. Online programs vary in cost. The two-year MBA program is $54,600. Credit-hour costs vary from $520 to $728 for undergraduate courses and $522 to $1,397 for graduate courses. Students who need financial assistance to pay their student debt should first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance. That government program awards grants and student loans based upon student financial need. Arizona has grants and scholarships available to students as well. These include:

• the Arizona College Access Aid Program
• Arizona LEAP
• the Arizona Early Graduation Scholarship Grant, among others

There are also several scholarships available to special populations such as:

• Native Americans
• foster children
• women

ASU has financial aid in the form of university, departmental and activity scholarships and grants. There are also privately-funded outside scholarships that can be found through an Internet search. Students who have applied all the grants and scholarships which they were awarded and still  have a student debt can apply for student loans. These loans carry lower interest and have options to defer repayment until after graduation. The lowest-interest of these are usually those awarded by the FAFSA program. However, private lending institutions often have student loans as well. Work-study programs and part-time jobs are another way to pay student debt. These opportunities can give students valuable experience and can be listed on resumes. Students graduating from Arizona State University should try to be as debt-free as possible. Putting tuition and school costs on credit cards is never a good idea.

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