Lander University is expanding its already robust learning opportunities through the creation of the College of Graduate and Online Studies, which is preparing to open its virtual doors. "We are proud to be establishing a college offering high-quality, affordable and accessible online options for students who want to begin, or even finish, an undergraduate or master's degree," said Lander University President Dr. Richard Cosentino.
A core value of the College of Graduate and Online Studies is to provide high quality and affordable education. There will be no out-of-state tuition for online students at the undergraduate or graduate levels. The total cost is $390 per credit hour for undergraduate programs, and $545 per credit hour with no additional student fees for graduate programs, with discounts available for veterans and teachers.
"In keeping with Lander's mission to provide high-demand, market-driven programs, all offerings in the college are designed to give students a direct path into the workforce," said Dr. Todd Gambill, Vice President for Enrollment and Access Management. The online undergraduate programs are designed to maximize transfer credits, he added, and the graduate programs require no more credit hours than necessary, with none requiring more than 39 credit hours.
Lander's lineup of online degree programs is growing quickly, with a variety of degrees currently offered - ranging from a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration to a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and Wellness. There are also five graduate programs currently offered, with a sixth, a Master of Business Administration, set to begin this August, pending approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Enrolled graduate students will also have the opportunity to join Lander's graduate assistantship program, which is set to launch in the fall of 2021. Graduate assistants have the opportunity to work approximately 20 hours per week during the academic year for a 50% tuition discount and a $3,000 per semester stipend. Jobs in the graduate assistantship program align with each student's field of study, providing them with opportunities to gain relevant work experience to bolster their resume while they are completing their master's degrees .
Some 32,000 South Carolinians are enrolled in online degree programs through out-of-state institutions. Lander's goal is to give these students the degrees they need, in the high-quality online format they want, closer to home.
Dr. Lloyd Willis, director of Lander's Center for Online and Innovative Learning and associate professor of English, will serve as interim dean of the college and has been instrumental in its development. He wants Lander's online students to know they are full-fledged Bearcats. "They are part of the Lander family, from day one until they drive into town to walk across the graduation stage."
For more information, please visit lander.edu, or call the Admissions Office at (864) 388-8307.