Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What are Degree Completion Programs?
- What academic programs are available, and why pursue them?
- What do you mean by the Cohort model?
- Where and when are these programs offered?
- Do I have to sign up for each course one at a time?
- How often and when would I attend classes?
- How long does it take to complete a program?
- How much is the tuition? Are textbooks included in the tuition cost?
- Can I get financial aid?
- If I take out student loans, when would I have to start making payments?
- Is PUC on the quarter or semester system?
- Will I find time for school and studying?
- When do I need to apply?
1. What are Degree Completion Programs?
A Degree Completion Program is typically a program designed for working adults who have had some college credit and now wish to complete a bachelor's degree but are unable to attend classes during the day due to their work schedule. Pacific Union College offers two
different Degree Completion Programs at locations other than the main campus
in Angwin. Classes in these programs meet one night a week from
6:00-10:00p.m., to make it more convenient for working adults.
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2. What academic programs are available,
and why pursue them?
For students with 75-90 quarter units
of transferable credit (50-60 semester units) we offer two different
degree completion options: A Bachelor of Science degree in Management
(BSM) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education
(ECE).
The pool of management jobs requiring a bachelor's degree is quite
large in the four-county area served by this program. A good share
of positions in this area will be new or vacated within the next
few years. PUC's BSM
program will give you a solid base in business management knowledge
and skills. Completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from an
accredited college like PUC, can give you an edge for a great job
in management or will strengthen your capacity to manage your own
business.
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3. What do you mean by the Cohort model?
The Cohort model of education is
where a group of students start and finish a sequence of classes together
for the duration of the program. The learning is designed to be
interactive and the members of a cohort form a cohesive learning
community. They support each other with assignments, they share
meals together, and they often end up supporting each other emotionally
through life crises that come along. Since all the members of a
cohort are adults with work experience, there is a great deal of
shared learning that takes place. We believe that the cohort model
is one of the most powerful and dynamic contexts in which adults
can study and learn.
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4. Where and when are these programs offered?
Degree Completion Programs in Management are offered in Napa, Clearlake, Santa Rosa, and Fairfield. The Early Childhood Education program is offered in Napa, Clearlake, and Santa Rosa. Classes meet one night a week. Cohorts start in the fall (September – October) or early spring (January – February). For the next start dates see the Degree Completion Programs home page or cohort start dates.
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5. Do I have to sign up for each course
one at a time?
No. An advantage of the cohort model is that you sign up
for all the classes at one time. Once you start the first course of the program, we will automatically register you for all the remaining courses, which are scheduled in a sequence.. In our program, we also supply the textbooks for you
in advance of each new course as a part of the package deal.
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6. How often and when would I attend classes?
Students attend class just one night per week.
Classes meet on a weeknight from 6:00-10:00p.m.
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7. How long does it take to complete a program?
The length of each program is about
23 months depending on which day of the week the classes meet.
For instance, classes held on Monday nights may take longer because
of the Monday holidays.
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8. How much is the tuition? Are textbooks
included in the tuition cost?
The tuition for the Degree Completion Programs for the 2007-2008 fiscal year is $336 per credit unit for a total of $20,496 for the major courses in the BSM program and $20,160 for the major courses in the ECE program. This rate is about half of the on-campus tuition rates,
so adult learners are getting a significant discount on a high
quality degree. Textbooks are included in
this price.
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9. Can I get financial aid?
Financial aid may be in the form
of scholarships, grants, or loans. Since the tuition for the non-traditional
programs is already deeply discounted, PUC offers very
few internal scholarships for these programs. Other sources of
scholarships may be available. State and federal grant monies may
be available to qualified students. Students may qualify for a
Cal Grant (if their college GPA is 3.0 or higher and their total
annual household income is below $65,000) and/or a PELL Grant (if
their total annual household income is below $20,000). It is important
to follow the application and funding cycles for this type of financial
aid. Applications are usually made in January and February for
financial aid that will begin in the fall of the same year. Loans
can be secured at any time of the year for very reasonable rates
with deferred payment until after you have completed your education.
See the financial aid section of the website for more detailed
information.
Glen Bobst in the PUC financial aid office will be your partner
in financing your college education or credential study. Contact
Glen early in the process to work out your financial plan at (707)
965-7200.
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10. If I take out student loans, when would
I have to start making payments?
Most student loans allow for deferred
payment until up to six months after you have completed your program
and are no longer a full time student. If you plan well, you can
wait until you have graduated with your degree and have started
in your new high paying job to start making your student loan payments.
If you decide to go on to graduate school on a full time basis,
your loans may be deferred until you finish with your graduate
program.
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11. Is PUC on the quarter or semester system?
Pacific Union College operates on
a quarter system. A minimum of 192 quarter units is required for
graduation with a bachelor's degree. Our Degree Completion Programs provide
60-61 quarter units of upper division credit toward the total needed
for graduation. To convert semester units into quarter units, multiply
the number of semester units by 1.5.
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12. Will I find time for school and
studying?
We have scheduled the classroom part
of your education in the evenings from 6:00-10:00p.m. one evening
per week so that it will have the least possible disruption to
your work and family commitments. Returning to school will make
your life busier, so you will need to schedule your time carefully.
You will need to make time for reading, studying, and writing papers
outside of class time. Some adult students have found that their
involvement in our program has helped the whole family with scheduling
time for homework and study. Starting with a strong commitment
to your education objective will help see you through to the end.
We have had students who have experienced everything from birth
to death of close family members while in our program, and who
have continued with their classes with the help of their cohort members
and instructors. Others before you have done it. You can do it
too. Click here for a list of additional resources that may help.
Resources for Adults Returning to College Books
- Back to School: A College Guide for Adults by Lavem Ludden
- The Adult Student's Guide to Survival and Success by Al Siebert and Bernadine Gilpin
- The Adult Leamer: Strategies for Success by Robert Steinbach and Kay Keppler (Editors)
- For suggestions and resources on balancing college and a busy life, visit the following Web sites.
- Father's World http://www.fathersworld.com/
- All sorts of ideas for fathers from recipes to coaching to guest columnists.
- Organizedtimes.com http://www.organizedtimes.com/
- Home organizing and time management tips for busy families
- 25 Offices Organizing Tips http://www.businessknowhow.com/manage/getorg.htm
- Helpful tips for getting organized.
- Care Guide http://www.careguide.com/Careguide/indexjsp
- Search for child care, preschools, after school programs, and elder care.
< top 13. When do I need to apply?
Non-traditional students
are admitted throughout the year. Since the cohorts form and begin
at set times (fall and early spring), it is best to apply as soon
as possible. From the time you first submit an application and
request official transcripts sent to PUC, it can be several weeks
before your transcripts arrive. Once you are accepted to PUC, you
can join the next available cohort. If you can supply us unofficial
transcript copies while your official transcripts are on the way,
we can speed up the process and allow provisional acceptance status.
The best thing is to apply as soon as you decide to join the program.
[More about the Admission Process]
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