Communications Programs at TESU
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Thomas Edison State University offers two degree programs that communications majors will find appealing. The first of those is a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communications. Designed to help students learn more about the theories behind communications and how to apply those theories in practical situations, the program also teaches students to analyze methods, understand how communications technology works and use research methods to conduct their own studies. Students take 60 credits of general education classes and 33 credits of required communications courses. They’ll also take 27 credits of electives.
Required courses include Mass Communications and Communication Theory. Other courses can include Media in Communication, Motion Picture Productions, Public Relations and Public Speaking. Communications majors must also take a capstone class that requires they do some research and create a paper or project that serves as one of the last things they do before getting a degree.
The university also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. This unique program allows students to take communications classes and courses from other programs to help them understand the connections that exist between two or more subjects. Students can declare a concentration in communication and take 18 or more credits of classes from that department. The liberal arts program encourages students to take classes in psychology, humanities, criminal justice and other fields. Students in this program will also need to take a capstone class in their final semesters.
About Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University is one of just 11 public colleges operating in New Jersey. Founded in 1972 as Thomas Edison State College, it saw its enrollment grow after moving to a new campus in Trenton at the end of the 1970s. This allowed the school to offer courses for the busy students who worked in and lived near the city and made it one of the only options for students living near Trenton. The college took over a historic building and many credit the university with revitalizing the city. Thomas Edison State later took over other buildings nearby and restored the historic structures for its students and administration. It became a full university in 2015.
The university divided itself into five different schools that include the John S. Watson School of Public Service and Continuing Studies, School of Business and Management and Heavin School of Arts and Sciences. The Heaven School of Arts and Sciences offers an interdisciplinary approach to learning that has students take courses from different disciplines related to the liberal arts.
The university ranks as one of the only schools in New Jersey that offers credit for the experiences that students had in the real world. Incoming students can take exams that test them on their experiences, and their scores determine the number of credits they earn. Thomas Edison State University also allows students to transfer in credits and earn credits through online classes and courses available on its campus.
Thomas Edison State University Accreditation Details
Regional accreditation lets students apply for financial aid to cover some or all of their educational costs, but it also allows students to transfer course credits between two schools. TESU has regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). It also has specialty accreditation that applies to specific degrees and programs. Some of the organizations that granted the university this form of accreditation include the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAANEP).
Thomas Edison State University Application Requirements
Thomas Edison State accepts a large number of the students who apply each year. The university offers one application for all incoming freshmen, but it offers different applications for adult learners, transfer students and those coming from outside the United States. Incoming freshmen can transfer in college credits they earned in high school, but they will need to submit a transcript from each college attended. Students can transfer in up to 90 credits earned from another college or university that has regional accreditation. The university charges a $75 application fee that is due when the student submits the application.
This university uses a rolling admissions policy that allows students to begin classes at the start of any semester. When filling out the online application, students will need to list the date they want to start. The only requirement beyond the application is a high school transcript. Students can mail their transcripts directly to the university’s admissions department before or after finishing the application. TESU will notify students within five business days of its decision.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The university offers two different tuition options for students. One option allows them to pay upfront for the entire school year. They can then take up to 36 credits of classes within the next 12 months. The current annual tuition rate is $7,300 per year for New Jersey residents and $9,820 for nonresidents. Students can also sign up for a pay as they go option, which lets them pay only for the classes they take in a single semester. This program is open to both full-time and part-time students. It charges $396 per credit hour for New Jersey residents and $499 per credit hour for nonresidents.
TESU has its own scholarship program that awards scholarships to current and incoming students each year. Each one has its own eligibility requirements and application process. Students can check with the university to see if they qualify for any scholarships and what they need to do to apply. Some scholarships award students a few hundred dollars a year, but other scholarships are worth much more and carry over from one year to the next. The university will accept outside scholarships received from other sources.
Students can also qualify for financial aid via the FAFSA. TESU recommends that students file this form as soon as possible after applying for admission. The university uses the information that each student provides to determine if he or she should receive financial aid and both the amount and type given. Financial aid packages may include both state and federal grants and federal loans. Thomas Edison State University can help students find jobs working on its New Jersey campus and help parents apply for loans to pay for their children’s educational expenses.
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