Saint Joseph's College
Standish, Maine
Distance Learning Program
Saint Joseph's College offers the adult learner an opportunity to integrate formal education in the liberal arts tradition with professional experience. Saint Joseph's College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The Graduate and Professional Studies program provides academic options in a variety of disciplines leading to undergraduate and graduate certificates and to associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees. Each option is designed to reflect the special nature of Saint Joseph's commitment to its students. The Graduate and Professional Studies program currently enrolls about 4,400 active students, and approximately 7,500 Saint Joseph's alumni earned their degrees through the distance program.
Faculty-directed independent study is a highly flexible, accessible mode of education that allows students to study where they are. Upon enrollment, students receive the texts, materials, and study guides for their courses. Some courses require access to a computer or a VCR. Approximately half of the 200 courses offered through the Division of Graduate and Professional Studies are available online via the Internet. Faculty members assist each student with their studies through a combination of written feedback on assignments, telephone consultations, and e-mail. An academic adviser is assigned to work with each student from the first enrollment through to graduation. Undergraduate and graduate degree programs require one 2-week summer residency at the campus in Maine. Nondegree classes are also offered.
More than 100 full-time and part-time faculty members serve students in the Graduate and Professional Studies program. Many teach in the traditional program as well as in distance education. All excel in their fields and have experience with nontraditional students.
Programs of Study
The Division of Graduate and Professional Studies offers the following degree programs at the graduate level: a Master of Science in education with an emphasis in teaching and learning (33 credits), which serves two major professional arenas-K-12 school systems and adult education programs; a Master's degree in health services administration (42 credits) for senior management roles in complex health-care organizations, offering specializations in health services administration, international health care, long-term care administration, and practice management; a Master of Arts (33 credits) with specializations in pastoral ministry, pastoral studies, and pastoral theology for those who seek to minister to the evolving needs of church and society; and a Master of Business Administration (42 credits) with specializations in resort management (full-time residential) and quality leadership. Graduate certificates include programs in health services administration (15 credits), international health care (15 credits), long-term care (15 credits), medical practice management (15 credits), and pastoral studies (18 credits).
At the undergraduate level, the Division offers the following degrees: the Bachelor of Science (128 credits), offering majors in business administration with concentrations in banking, through a joint venture with the Center for Financial Training, and in management; criminal justice, with concentrations in law, management, and psychology; general studies (a degree-completion program for adult students transferring a minimum of 30 credits), with concentrations in adult education and training, business administration, human services, information technology management, and psychology; health-care administration; long-term care administration; professional arts (a degree completion program for licensed health-care professionals), with concentrations in adult education and training, health-care administration, human services, information technology management, and psychology; and radiologic science (a post-certification baccalaureate degree for radiologic science professionals). A Bachelor of Arts (128 credits) is also available at the undergraduate level, with majors in liberal studies and adult religious education. The Division also offers eight majors within the Associate of Science degree (66 credits), including adult education and training, business administration, criminal justice, general studies, human services, information technology management, management, and psychology.
Undergraduate certificate programs (18 credits) are available in adult education and training, American studies, business administration, Christian tradition, criminal justice, health-care management and advanced health-care management, information technology management, long-term-care administration and advanced long-term care administration, and professional studies (self-designed). Students who would like to take individual courses at either the graduate or undergraduate level may enroll as continuing education students.
The Department of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing with specializations in nursing administration (39 credits), nursing education (39 credits), and parish nursing (42 credits); graduate certificate programs (18 credits) in nursing and health-care education and parish nursing; and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with an RN to B.S.N. track (129 credits) for students at a distance. The Division of Graduate and Professional Studies offers the noncredit Lay Ministry Foundation Program, a series of five courses created to help meet the needs of churches in an era of increasing lay participation. The Division is a member of the Army University Access Online program (eArmyU) and the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) and assists other active and nonactive military personnel in their educational pursuits as a member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC).
Applying for Distance Education
Students are accepted on a rolling admissions basis and, therefore, can apply and begin their studies at any time during the year. Students can apply online at http://www.sjcme.edu/gps or by contacting the Admissions Office at the number listed below.
Admission requirements vary by program of study. Prospective students should contact the Admissions Office for the Graduate and Professional Studies program at 800-752-4723 (toll-free) with specific questions about admission requirements. Information can also be obtained from the Web site listed below.
The Graduate and Professional Studies program acknowledges the value of certain formal learning and career-based experience. For most programs, the College follows the American Council on Education guidelines in granting transfer credit for courses of study from accredited colleges or universities with a grade of C or better; ACE/PONSI-approved credit; ACE-approved military training and experience credits; CEUs earned through professional seminars, workshops, internships, and in-service education classes as elective credit; and CLEP, ACT/PEP, and DANTES exams. A maximum of 30 credits can be accepted by exam.
Costs
Tuition is $290 per credit hour ($710 per 3-credit course) at the undergraduate level. Graduate course tuition is $315 per credit hour ($975 per 3-credit course), except for the M.B.A. resort management specialization courses, which are $550 per credit hour ($1650 per 3-credit course). Application fees are $50 for degree programs and $25 for certificate programs and continuing education. A complete fee schedule is available in the program catalogs and on the College's Web site.
Financial Aid
Students may be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and/or Federal Stafford Student Loan. Applying for financial aid is an individualized process requiring consultation and evaluation. For more information and assistance, students should call the Financial Aid Office at 800-752-1266 (toll-free).
For Additional Information
Admissions Office
Division of Graduate and Professional Studies
Saint Joseph's College
278 Whites Bridge Road
Standish, Maine 04084-5263
800-752-4723
E-mail: info@sjcme.edu