Colorado Technical Institute began in 1965 with humble beginnings as classes were held in an old roller rink. Since its beginning, Colorado Technical Institute has focused on degree programs designed not only to meet the needs of students, but also to meet the needs of employers who need a knowledgeable workforce. The school was a pioneer in online learning and still leads in offering a hybrid of traditional as well as online courses.
The Colorado Electronic Training Center began as a way to meet growing technology needs in the workplace. Over the past 25 years, the school has adapted curriculum to meet various needs in the technology industry. As technology became more and more important in the business world, the need for engineers and computer science professionals grew tremendously. When the internet exploded in the late 1980s, information technology and criminal justice professionals grew in demand. Colorado Technical University worked to provide employers with highly trained employees who would meet their ever-increasing technological needs.
The first doctorate degree at Colorado Technical University was offered in 1995. Since that time, the school has earned multiple awards and recognitions for their programs. The online programs offered at the school were ranked among the best in 2016 by U.S. News & World Report. The online MBA program was ranked Top Tier in the World by the International Graduate Forum in 2016. The NSA and Department of Homeland Security recognize Colorado Technical University as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense. The National University Technology Network awarded the school with the Distance Education Innovation Award in 2015 and the Instructional Technology Institute awarded Colorado Technical University the 2015 Award for Outstanding eLearning Program.
Colorado Technical University Accreditation Details
Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission North Central Association. A university that has received regional accreditation has succeeded in providing programs the accrediting agency recognizes as excellence in education and that school strives for improvement in areas identified by the agency. In addition, specific programs are accredited by the following organizations:
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation
- Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
- Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center
Colorado Technical University Application Requirements
All students who wish to attend Colorado Technical University must submit to an interview with an admissions counselor. Upon completion of the interview, students may complete an online application and submit official high school transcripts. Some of the programs at Colorado Technical University also require that students submit an essay. Transfer students must follow the same process as students who are attending college for the first time, although transfer credit may be accepted, depending on the program the student has chosen.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for students who wish to take traditional classes at the Colorado campuses of the school is $305 per credit hour for undergraduate, $490 per credit hour for master's level and $598 for doctoral courses. Military tuition for undergraduate courses is $210 per credit hour, $460 for master's level and $540 for doctorate level courses. Students who wish to complete their degree online pay $325 per credit hour for undergraduate, $585 for master's and $598 for doctorate courses.
Financial aid is available to all students who attend Colorado Technical University. Aid may be in the form of grants, scholarships or loans. Colorado Technical Institute also accepts military and employer benefits. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify. In addition, grants and scholarships that students may qualify that are specific to the university include:
Online Degrees Available
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – Homeland Security and Emergency Management
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a focus on Homeland Security and Emergency Management is designed for students who wish to play a vital role in the protection of citizens throughout this country and the world. It is a 182-credit program offered both online as well as the Colorado Springs and Denver campuses. Courses required for the program include:
- Advanced Application of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Technologies
- Advanced Application of Intelligence in Homeland Security
- Career Planning and Management
- Comparative Approaches to Event Management
- Constitutional Law and Public Policy Analysis
- Counterintelligence
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- Criminology
- Emergent Topics in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Evaluating Risk in Critical Infrastructure
- Homeland Security
- HR and Administrative Issues in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Interagency Relationships in Homeland Security
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Introduction to Emergency Management
- Introduction to Homeland Security and Emergency Management Technologies and Applications
- Introduction to Intelligence
- Introductory Business Practices
- Knowledge Into Practice: Communications and Emergency Planning
- Local Emergency Management and Civil Preparedness
- Private Sector Role in Homeland Security
- Psychology of Fear Management and Terrorism
- Research Methodology and Policy Analysis
- Strategic Planning and Budgeting for Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Terrorism: Origins, Ideologies and Goals
- Understanding Critical Infrastructures
Master of Science in Homeland Security
Colorado Technical University is one of the few universities in the country to offer a master's level degree in Homeland Security. The program provides a holistic overview of the skills necessary to protect the United States and the world from acts of terrorism. Students may choose to concentrate their master's degree in Cybersecurity, Emergency Management or General Studies. The program is 52 credits and courses required include:
- Dynamics of Terrorism
- Homeland Security and Government
- Homeland Security Fundamentals
- Intelligence Organizational and Policy Changes
- Private Sector Role in Homeland Security
- Research, Writing and Critical Thinking
- Technology Solutions for Homeland Security
- Vulnerability Analysis and Protection
A Capstone course is also required to complete the degree.
Doctor of Management – Homeland Security
The Doctor of Management in Homeland Security is designed to create leaders in the area of public safety. The program requires 96 credits and is available completely online. It is a terminal degree and prepares students to think and act strategically. Curriculum is designed to encourage high-level expertise and analysis in homeland security. Students are able to demonstrate knowledge of management theory as it applies to homeland security as well as how to formulate risk management methodologies related to infrastructure, transportation and border security. Students are able to create framework that incorporates terrorism, security and public health into a holistic system while devising methods to involve private sector in homeland security. The program requires successful defense of a dissertation in order to receive the degree.
Should I Have Work Experience Before Pursuing A Master's Degree?
Colorado Technical University offers online programs designed to provide flexibility to working adults who may have work, social or family obligations that could prevent them from achieving their higher education goals. The online degree programs at Colorado Technical University make it easier for working adults to move into a new career or advance in a current career.