Online Communications Studies at The University of Maryland University College
University of Maryland University College appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Best Online Communications Degree Programs.
One of the online programs The University of Maryland offers is a Communication Studies Bachelor’s Degree. Students can transfer in up to 90 credits earned from any other college or university that has regional accreditation, but they must complete at least 30 credits of classes through the online system. One of the scholarships attached to this program drops the cost that students pay by $100 for each class that they take.
This program not only focuses on verbal communications and the way people talk to each other but also on the other modes of communication, including the written word. It features required courses like Foundations in Oral Communication, Writing for Managers, Communication and Gender, Mass Communication and Media Studies, and Introduction to News Writing.
UMUC offers a similar bachelor’s degree program with an emphasis on graphic communication. This program features electives and 10 required classes, including Intermediate Drawing, Introduction to Drawing, Introduction to Graphic Communication, Digital Media and Motion Graphics. Students will also take a class called Graphic Communication Portfolio that shows them how to put together the portfolios that they will later use when applying for jobs. Both programs require that students take at least 46 credits of electives and that they take some general education classes. General education classes at University of Maryland University College include Media and Society, Advanced Research Writing and Introduction to Professional Writing.
About University of Maryland University College
The University of Maryland University College is just one college campus that makes up the entire school system that operates under this name. The University of Maryland opened a small extension school in the area at the beginning of the 1920s, which later became the College of Special and Continuation Studies. This school was on the small side and only offered a small number of degree programs, but it later added more programs to its curriculum, which eventually became the University of Maryland University College. The University of Maryland added this campus to its school system in 1988.
Also known as UMUC, the university has just two colleges: one of which is for undergrads and one that is for graduate students. Undergrads can enroll in one of more than 30 bachelor’s programs or one of more than 40 certificate programs. A small number of undergrads earn at least one certificate while working on a full degree. The university also offers classes on two campuses overseas that are open to military students. Those campuses allow students to work on their degrees and complete their degrees while deployed. Other branches of UMUC are in different cities in Maryland and some foreign countries. More than 68,000 students take classes from UMUC either online or on one of its more than 50 campuses.
University of Maryland University College Accreditation Details
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) granted regional accreditation to UMUC and renewed its accreditation during each renewal process, which occurs every decade. This type of accreditation not only allows students to use the FAFSA when applying for financial aid, but it also allows students to transfer their college credits to or from the university. The university also has accreditation for its information technology, project management, and MBA programs. This accreditation applies to the programs offered on all its campuses and those that are available online.
University of Maryland University College Application Requirements
Applying to the UMUC requires that students complete four easy steps. They will first go online and begin work on the application. Those who think they cannot finish it in one sitting can create an account on the site. This allows them to log in, do some work and log out with the site saving all the information they shared. The application asks for some basic background information, including whether the student attended college in the past, if the individual has a high school degree, and where the student went to high school. There is a $50 fee that students pay when they submit their applications through the site.
The university then asks students to fill out and submit the FAFSA and to look at all the financial aid options available to them. They can then send an official high school transcript to UMUC. Home-schooled students must submit a homeschool progress report in lieu of a transcript. Federal employees, military students, and veterans applying to the university will use a different application. The university awards those students some credits based on their past work. UMUC has a 100% acceptance rate and accepts all students who complete its application requirements. Once they complete all steps, students can register for classes for the coming semester.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition at UMUC is $189 per credit hour for Maryland residents. The cost for nonresidents rises to $499 per credit hour. UMUC offers discounts for different types of students. It offers a tuition rate of just $250 per credit hour for all military students on active duty status and veterans. This same tuition rate is available for the dependents of military students, including their spouses and children. Nonresidents taking classes on one of its other Maryland campuses and nonresidents enrolled in one of its hybrid programs pay a tuition rate of $418 per credit hour. Students can simply multiple their rate by the number of credits they plan on taking to find the total rate they will pay each semester.
Students can use the FAFSA to find out if they will receive any loans or grants and if they can participate in the UMUC work-study program. Subsidized loans and government grants can cover a significant portion of the costs that students face. The university also offers scholarships for incoming students. UMUC has a fund that awards more than $6 million in scholarships every year. Students can visit the university’s website and search for available scholarships or view the scholarships currently available. They can find out more about the requirements of each one and apply for those scholarships too. The University of Maryland University College also has some scholarships that carry over from year to year.