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Degrees Offered at East Carolina University

East Carolina University appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Most Affordable Online Business Graduate Degrees.

East Carolina University is a public research institution that offers a comprehensive selection of associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees as well as non-degree certificates. With nine undergraduate colleges, four professional schools, a graduate school and an online campus, ECU offers excellent opportunities to students at all stages of their education. The academic disciplines at ECU are organized into the following schools and colleges:

  • Honors College
  • Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Allied Health Sciences
  • College of Business
  • College of Education
  • College of Engineering and Technology
  • College of Fine Arts and Communication
  • College of Health and Human Performance
  • College of Nursing
  • Brody School of Medicine

Within the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences is the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment. Several bachelor’s programs offered by this department are in very high demand. The Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Science and Technology is a four-year program that requires 120 credit-hours of coursework. Students must complete 40 hours of general education courses, 25 hours of common core courses, 12 hours of geographic information science courses, nine hours of environmental and human geography, nine hours of course cognates and 23 hours of electives. The B.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology offers the perfect stepping stone to a career in GIS or a graduate degree in this field.

The College of Education offers a large selection of degree paths relevant to today’s job market. The Master of Arts in Education for Curriculum and Instruction requires a minimum of 39 credit-hours of coursework. Core course titles for this program include Introduction to Research, Trends and Issues in Education Research for Practitioners, and Understanding and Engaging in Education Research. Students are required to complete six credit-hours in a Diverse Learner competency area, three hours in a Research, Trends and Issues competency area and three hours in an Effective Communication and Leadership competency area. The second year of the program includes 27 credit hours of Curriculum and Instruction courses in English, history and social studies.

ECU offers many doctoral programs in a wide range of disciplines. The Department of Public Health offers the Doctor of Public Health program, which is a terminal degree path that requires 50 to 74 credit-hours of coursework and research, depending on the student’s academic background. Students who haven’t earned a master’s degree can also choose to take a dual doctoral program that includes the Master of Public Health and Doctor of Medicine degree paths. All of the public health degree programs have residency requirements that must be completed by the student on campus or in a clinical setting.

Online programs at ECU are available for undergraduate and graduate students looking to complete a partial degree or start a new program from the beginning. Non-degree certificates are available for working professionals who want to update their credentials. Healthcare professionals with master’s or doctoral degrees can enroll in a one-year certificate program to gain special expertise in a particular subject. Online certificate programs include the Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education, the Post-Master’s Certificate for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners and the Post-Doctoral Certificate for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners. Online certificates do not have residency requirements and can be completed entirely on the Internet.

About East Carolina University

ECU was founded in 1907 as a normal school for teachers. Over the decades, it has grown into a major public research institution, and it is now the fourth-largest university in North Carolina. With about 23,000 undergraduates, 6,000 graduate students and 2,000 faculty members, ECU offers residential and online students an excellent student-to-faculty ratio. The university consists of three main campuses spanning almost 1,500 acres in Greenville, N.C. Notable alumni include music composer Nia Imani Franklin and screenwriter Kevin Williamson.

East Carolina University Accreditation Details

ECU is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC). The SACSCC is a regional accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education to audit universities throughout the South. Regional accreditation is beneficial for students because it ensures that credits and degrees earned at ECU can be transferred to other institutions. Many programs at ECU are also accredited by specialized agencies, including:

  • Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
  • Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education
  • American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
  • Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
  • American Psychological Association

The list of program accreditations is extensive, and this list is only a small sample. Students pursuing professional or specialized degrees can rest assured that their education will meet the highest standards of academic rigor. Employers and institutions throughout the world recognize the accreditation of degrees granted by ECU in professional disciplines, such as law, medicine, nursing, psychology, counseling, therapy and teaching.

East Carolina University Application Requirements

ECU has an acceptance rate of around 70 percent. Typical SAT scores for enrolled students are 480 to 560 for writing and 490 to 570 for math. To begin the application process, students must complete an online application and submit the required supporting documents, including high school or college transcripts, SAT or ACT scores and letters of recommendation. Transcripts must show information about grade point average, class ranking and course schedule. Application deadlines are May 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Annual tuition costs for ECU are about $7,000 for North Carolina residents and $23,000 for non-residents. Online and graduate programs cost approximately the same as residential and undergraduate programs. The cost of books, supplies and living expenses can increase the amount by around $12,000 per year. Students can apply for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. FAFSA offers access to low-interest public loans to students with financial need. Public loans do not need to be repaid while the borrower maintains at least half-time enrollment status.

East Carolina University is a great choice for college students pursuing careers in a wide range of professional and vocational fields.

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