Colorado State University

Mountain-High Expectations: Programs at Colorado State University

Colorado State University appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Online Bachelor’s in Emergency Management Degrees. Colorado State University has undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. They’re offered on campus, online or in a hybrid format. Although the school has a history of agricultural offerings, there are degrees in cutting-edge technological areas . All undergraduate programs begin with the All University Core. These are courses that give students a foundational knowledge of concepts like:

• mathematics
• sciences
• communications and other areas

Students who have taken advanced placement tests may be exempt from some of them. But they make up a large percentage of the first two years of undergraduate study. Interdisciplinary programs are not degree programs in themselves but can be used as minors to enhance a degree. Interdisciplinary studies concentrate on one problem or area of study. It explores that area through courses taken from several different colleges. They all  give different perspectives. Interdisciplinary studies can also be used to earn certificates. The College of Agricultural Science has undergraduate and graduate degrees in many areas. Students may earn degrees in:

• Agriculture Business
• Agriculture Education
• Animal Sciences
• Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
• Environmental Horticulture
• Equine Science
• Horticulture
• Landscape Architecture
• Soil and Crop Sciences

There are a number of business degree programs at CSU. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration is a four-year, 120-credit program. It focuses on:

• global orientation
• technology
• ethics
• business processes
• corporate social responsibility
• building businesses that are sustainable

All students in this program take business core courses and select one of nine concentrations, including:

• Finance
• Financial Planning
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing
• Organization and Innovation Management
• International Systems
• Real Estate
• Accounting
• Supply Chain Management

The Master of Business Administration is earned in one of several concentrations including:

• General
• Early Career Specialist Track
• Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise Specialization
• Marketing and Data Analysis Specialty

The MBA, Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise Specialization degree is a 41-credit-hour program. It’s presented in a cohort model. It includes a 40-60-hour summer practicum. Sample courses include:

• Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
• Global Sustainable Entrepreneurship
• Contemporary Issues: Global Enterprise

There are many degree options in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. Students may major in:

• Atmospheric Science
• Chemical and Biological Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

They may also study under the School of Biomedical Engineering. There are several dual-degree programs and minors available as well as 10 master’s programs, one doctoral degree, and a certificate. The College of Health and Human Services houses degree programs through 11 departments and two schools. Nursing degrees are offered through the Pueblo, Colorado, campus School of Nursing. Social Work degree programs at the main campus include, among others, the Bachelor of Social Work. This is a 120-credit-hour program. It applies:

• practices
• theories
• ethics
• principles
• the concept of human rights to intervene in societal problems.

The program includes courses that focus on issues in many contemporary issues including:

• gender
• culture
• ethics

The sophomore year includes practicums at an agency with an agency participant. The senior year requires an internship. The CSU College of Health and Human Services offers degrees in Design and Merchandising, Food Science and Nutrition, Human Development and Family Sciences, Occupational Therapy and Construction and Management. The School of Education is included in this college as well. This school has a teacher preparation program. It offers 15 teaching endorsements and four special services and administrative endorsements. Students may apply to the School of Education after completing 30 credit-hours. There are several Master of Education ( Me.D.) degrees, many of which are available online. The MeD Adult Education and Training Specialization can be earned in a thesis or non-thesis option. It contains 30 credits and consists of five required courses. In the College of Liberal Arts there are many degrees, including:

• arts and theater
• sociology
• psychology
• history, among others

Additionally, Colorado State University has online:

• several certificate programs
• 11 bachelor’s degrees
• 38 graduate programs

Some of these online degrees include:

• the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Fire and Emergency Services Administration
• Human Development and Family Studies B.S.
• Natural Resource Tourism B.S.
• Psychology B.S.
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology M.A.I.O.P.
• Arts Leadership and Cultural Management M.A.L.C.M.
• Computer Information Systems M.C.I.S., and many more.

About Colorado State University

This school, a land-grant institution, began in 1870 as the Colorado Agricultural College. The institution was primarily a college preparatory school at the time. Today, the university houses eight colleges with 55 academic departments. There are:

• 65 areas of undergraduate study
• 55 graduate field areas
• 40 doctoral areas of study
• a veterinary medicine program

The student/faculty ratio is 16:1. The US News and World Report ranks CSU as #140 of National Universities.

Colorado State University Accreditation Details

• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
• American Occupational Therapy Association Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
• American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation
• American Veterinary Medicine Association Council on Education
• Commission on English Language Program Accreditation
• National Association of Schools of Music Commission on Accreditation
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
• Teacher Education Accreditation Council, Accreditation Committee
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
• Society of American Foresters
• Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation
• Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
• And others.

Colorado State University Application Requirements

Students applying to the university as first-time freshmen should complete the online CSU form unless they are applying for several institutions in the system. In that case, they should use the online Common Application. There is a non-refundable application fee of $50 that should be paid at the time the application is submitted. Students should arrange for CSU to receive their official transcripts from the high schools they attended and the official SAT or ACT scores from the testing agencies. The application requires one recommendation from a teacher or counselor and a written personal statement on a topic chosen from the application writing prompts. Students applying as graduate students apply to the department housing their degree program. They should complete the online application as well, and submit it and the $60 application fee to the school along with three letters of recommendation, official undergraduate transcripts and GRE or GMAT scores and any other documentation required by the department.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for undergraduates at CSU is $11,982 in addition to other fees. Room and board  averages $12, 566 per year. Additionally, students should budget for books and supplies and personal expenses. Per-credit tuition for graduate students ranges from $568 to $1,831. There are also fees and supplies as well as living expenses and personal expenses. Students earning their undergraduate degrees online pay $476 per-credit-hour plus fees. The Free Application for Federal Student Assistance program awards:

• grants
• loans
• work-study opportunities

These are available to students according to financial need. That’s why it is important to complete the application as soon as possible. Colorado offers some higher education grants such as the Colorado Student Grant and The Colorado Graduate Grant. There are also funds available to students from special populations such as:

• Native Americans
• foster children aging out of the system
• military and first-responder survivor benefits and others

CSU offers several scholarships and grants for students who demonstrate academic prowess. There are scholarships and grants  for those in certain programs and departments. All of these can be found on the school website. Outside scholarship opportunities funded by private individuals, organizations and corporate bodies can be found through an Internet search. Students who still have student debt after applying all their scholarship and grant money may consider taking out student loans. They should be careful not to over-extend themselves, however.  Graduating with a lot of student debt is stressful. Part-time jobs and work-study programs may be a much better option for paying for degree programs at Colorado State University.

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