SOUTH UNIVERSITY

Online Programs
Savannah, Georgia

Distance Learning Program

South University began enrolling students in online programs in 2004 and is backed by the 100-year tradition of exceptional academic standards of the South University campus locations in Savannah, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Columbia, South Carolina. There is no difference in the outcomes or competencies gained in the courses students take online as compared to those that are taught at the brick-and-mortar locations. The difference is the learning process itself. Available online bachelor's degree programs offered through South University include Business Administration, Healthcare Management, and Information Technology.

Delivery Media

Online courses delivered by South University are accessed on a computer using an Internet connection. South University's online classes are asynchronous, which means that students do not have to attend classes at a specific time of day. Students must log in and participate in class five out of seven days each week, but they can log in at a time of day or night most convenient for them. Asynchronous learning adds a level of convenience for students, but it also means that students must have the discipline and motivation to meet assignment deadlines and attendance requirements. Full-time online students are encouraged to take a maximum of two courses during each 5½-week session or four courses every quarter.

Programs of Study

South University is currently offering three online bachelor's degree programs. The bachelor's degree programs consist of 180 credits. The Bachelor of Science degree in information technology offers areas of emphasis in network administration Web management, database administration, and general information technology. The Bachelor of Business Administration degree offers areas of emphasis in management and leadership, marketing, finance, and general business administration. South University also offers an online Bachelor of Science degree in health-care management.

Student Services

There are several student-support services provided to online students at South University. These include a virtual library of full-text and graphic databases that include full-text articles from 8,000 magazines, online tutorials that help students develop specific skills needed in their program of study, and admission to the Talk-on! forum where students can meet and share ideas outside of class. Through hardware, software, and bookstore partners' online stores, students can purchase the textbooks and supplies they need at special student pricing. In addition, Career Services advisers offer a range of services to support students as they prepare to enter their intended profession.

Credit Options

There are five ways to gain advanced academic credit for online programs at South University. These include Advanced Placement exams, CLEP testing, transfer of credit for postsecondary courses, credit for life/work experience, and the Computer Literacy Test-Out Exam. More information about how to utilize these options can be found at the South University Web site or by contacting an Admissions representative.

Faculty

Online courses at South University are led by trained, experienced instructors, who aid the learning process by addressing student needs, interjecting real-world industry experience, and providing direction to create a unique learning experience for each student. Instead of using lecture as the primary method of teaching, instructors guide discussions among the students and ensure that the core course material is covered. Typically, the average class size is 15 to 20 students, which allows the instructors to provide students with individualized attention.

South University, a Savannah, Georgia–based institution with more than 100 years of academic heritage, offers online programs in business administration, health-care management, and information technology. The parent company of South University, Education Management Corporation, is among the largest providers of private postsecondary education in North America, based on student enrollment and revenue. Student enrollment exceeded 58,000 as of fall 2003. South University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone: 404-679-4501) as a Level V institution eligible to award associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

Admission

A prospective student seeking general admission to the online bachelor's degree programs at South University must be a high school graduate or hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate with a score of 225 or higher. Prospective students must also have an ACT score of 17 or higher; an SAT score of 830 or higher (composite math and verbal scores); have 20 semester college credits (or 30 quarter-credit hours) with a GPA of 2.0 or better from a regionally accredited institution or an institution accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS); or hold an associate, bachelor's or graduate-level degree from a regionally accredited institution or an institution accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).

Tuition and Fees

As of July 1, 2005, the standard tuition fee is $250 per credit hour. Books, software, and other supply costs vary with each program. More information about these costs can be found at the South University Web site or through an Admissions representative.

Financial Aid

Many students receive some form of financial aid to assist them in financing their education. South University participates in federal, some state, and other financial aid programs. South University also offers financial planning to its online students, providing payment plans that allow students to budget for the entire program. The goal is to make a student's monthly payments as affordable as possible. After the application forms have been completed, a Student Financial Aid Officer reviews them using a federally required calculation to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid. The Financial Aid Officer works with the student and the student's family to devise a Student Financial Plan to help cover educational expenses, based on the student's financial aid eligibility and family circumstances.

CONTACT

Online Programs Admission Department
South University
709 Mall Boulevard
Savannah, Georgia 31406-4805
Phone: 888-444-3404 (toll-free)
Fax: 563-425-5771
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.southuniversity-online.edu

Applying

An application for admission to South University's online programs must be completed, signed by the applicant, and submitted to South University. There is no application fee required. A prospective student is advised individually about the specific requirements of the online programs. In addition, a personal telephone interview and a student's proof of high school graduation are required for acceptance. Applicants must submit a completed enrollment agreement. No enrollment fee is required.