Western Baptist College

Adult Studies Online Programs

Salem, Oregon

DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

Western's online degree completion programs are specifically and conveniently formatted for the Christian student who has two years of college credit and desires a Christian college education but is unable to attend on-campus classes. With only a three-day residency orientation, the entirety of the sixteen-month program is completed from home via computer.

DELIVERY MEDIA

Online course work requires an IBM-compatible computer system, Internet access, and completion of an initial orientation held on campus. Complete precourse training is provided for all students via self-paced tutorials, hands-on workshops, and follow-up technical support. Course instruction is accomplished by utilizing facilitated discussion forums, live chat conferences, and collaborative project reports, which are supported by Internet course-management software, audio-video and keyboard conferencing programs, e-mail, and telephone.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Western Baptist offers two degree completion programs entirely online. Individual online courses are also offered to assist students in completing general education requirements. The online degree completion programs lead to a B.S. or B.A. degree. Students enrolling in the degree completion program must have completed 60 semester hours of transferable credit. A total of 128 semester hours is required for the bachelor's degree.

Both online degree completion programs in management and communication and family studies are excellent preparation for graduate study. The Management and Communication online degree completion program is 37 semester hours. The curriculum is structured to develop leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a Christian perspective. Course work provides expertise in management, organization development, and communication—three of the most important aspects of business and public administration. The Family Studies online degree completion program is 44 semester hours. It is an applied interdisciplinary approach, focusing on the study of family dynamics and the relationships between families and the society at large. The curriculum is integrated with biblical principles and is taught by Christian professionals. Students completing the program are eligible for certification as family life educators through the National Council on Family Relations.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Students are given the opportunity to earn college credit for prior learning through the Prior Learning Assessment program. Students learn how to identify, document, and describe appropriate prior learning experiences. Weekend classes are offered both online as well as on-campus and are designed to meet general education requirements. The course offerings vary in length. Internships and research projects are required in the online degree completion programs. They are generally completed within the workplace or in a related local business or agency.

STUDENT SERVICES

Online students enjoy complete access to the same College services as campus students via Web-based communication, fax, or telephone. In addition to academic advising and project mentoring, financial aid, registrar's office, technical support, campus bookstore, and library services are available. Online library resources include EBSCOhost, ERIC, Academic Universe, ProQuest Direct, and other comprehensive databases.

Western Baptist College is an independent, Christian liberal arts college and is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Its core purpose is to educate Christians who will make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ.

The College offered its first distance learning program in 1994, which developed into a uniquely online format in 1997. It now offers two online degree completion programs for Christian students in the areas of management and communication and family studies.

CREDIT OPTIONS

Qualifying college credit may be transferred subject to the approval of the College registrar. Students may earn a maximum of 32 semester hours of credit through college-level exams (CLEP, DANTES) and 30 semester hours of credit through the Prior Learning Assessment program.

ADMISSION

Enrollment in the online degree completion program requires applicants to have a minimum of 60 semester hours of transferable college credit as well as profession of a personal faith in Jesus Christ.

TUITION AND FEES

The 2001 tuition for the online degree completion program is $12,300. Tuition includes all textbooks and graduation fees.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is available through federal and state financial aid programs. For further information, students should contact the financial aid office at 800-845-3005 (toll-free) or via e-mail at [email protected].

CONTACT

Adult Studies Online Program
Western Baptist College
5000 Deer Park Drive, SE
Salem, Oregon 97301
Telephone: 800-764-1383 (toll-free)
Fax: 503-375-7583
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.wbc.edu

APPLYING

Applicants for online degree completion programs must complete an application and submit transcripts, two references, an acceptable writing sample, and a profession of faith in Jesus Christ.