Stratford University, which is located in the state of Virginia, is a higher educational institution that specializes in adult career education. They maintain affiliations with industries, career centers and professional organizations. The university delivers online, classroom and blended degree programs. Stratford University awards associate, bachelor and graduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines. These include nursing, culinary arts, health sciences, hotel management, business administration and computer information systems. The degree direction, program structure and learning outcomes of curricula focuses on employability and work skills.
Stratford University has been recognized by the VA as a military-friendly college because they are an active member of the Yellow Ribbon Program. Stratford University has their own internal Tuition Assistance program to help military students attend college. Stratford University maintains active membership with the Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP) and the DoD Servicemembers Opportunities Colleges (SOC) Consortium. Civilian students will benefit from the flexibility transfer credit policy that accepts qualifying classes from ACE, CLEP, CCAF, AARTS, SMART and DANTES.
Admissions reps strive to help prospective students identify and pursue the career paths that are the best fit. They match personal interests, academic backgrounds and career aspirations to specific degree programs. Stratford University is a non-traditional college because it promotes adult learning styles and continuing professional development. Thus, it solicits personalized feedback, follows up on academic progress and connects students with free tutoring and resources to improve achievement and performance. Most students select a career transition program, such as an internship, to help them learn and secure employment.
Stratford University Accreditation Details
Stratford University is accredited through the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). The ACICS is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is the premier national institution for academic quality. The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) accredits culinary and hospital related degrees. Students should note that the Department of Education recently revoked ACICS' qualification for Federal financial aid. However, the Department of Education is allowing ACICS schools to transfer to another qualifying accrediting body without any sanctions or penalties.
Stratford University Application Requirements
Stratford University requires prospective students to submit an application for admission that primarily includes personal information official academic transcripts. Proof of language proficiency and financial support are required for international students. GRE or GMAT test scores are only required for graduate students. Students who apply to a master's or doctoral program may be required to submit a resume that reflects qualifying professional experience in their intended field of study. They may be also required to submit a research or writing sample, two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The tuition costs at Stratford University are assigned by credits and degree level. Undergraduate students will pay $370 per quarter credit hour and graduate students will pay $495 per quarter credit hour. Textbooks are given free to active students. The office of Student Financial Services provides payment projections, customer service and financial counseling to students and alumni. They also provide predictable cash flows for students who are being sponsored through their employers. Students may apply for Federal financial aid, such as loans and grants, as well as non-Federal loans through private organizations. The office of Student Financial Services coordinates with military branch administration and VA military student offices.
Working students may apply for corporate reimbursement and vocational rehabilitation benefits if their employer or sponsor belongs to Stratford University's Corporate Alliance Program. This unique collaborative partnership provides students with opportunities to complete their degrees online or on-campus while paying lower tuition rates.
The Corporate Alliance Program includes Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in popular areas like hospitality, culinary arts, computer science, business administration and information technology. Students who are admitted to this program will enjoy an application fee waiver, a 10 percent tuition reduction and free course materials.
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Online Degrees Available
Stratford University's School of Culinary Arts and Hospital Management offers an Associate of Applied Science in Advanced Culinary Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management and a Master of Science in International Hospitality Management. The Hospitality Management degree program provides students with the marketing, administration and customer service tools and skills needed to succeed in the travel, leisure, tourism and hospitality fields. The Hospitality Management degree program prepares students to become effective and organized leaders in hotels, resorts, casinos, restaurants and tourism attractions. Students will master the critical competencies needed to survive in one the world's largest and most competitive industry. Students take classes in promotional strategies to understand their PR, sales, advertising and marketing strengths and weaknesses. Students learn about strategy development, message timing, global perspectives, workplace efficiency and productivity leadership.
Stratford University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an International Master of Business Administration. A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration will start out by covering basic classes in ethics, society, finance, decision making and communication. Students may take classes in microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis. During the second and third years of school, business students may learn about managerial accounting, financial statistics, organizational behavior, business law and management information systems. Class assignments may involve modeling market outcomes, the dynamics of leading organizations and probabilistic decision making for management. During the final year, students will learn the most important knowledge through semester-long team projects that focus on new product or service development. These projects may involve marketing tactics, business analytics, financial management, organizational leadership, technology implementation or long-term business planning.
Stratford University's School of Health Sciences offers Associate degrees in Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy Technology and Medical Insurance Billing and Coding. Bachelor's degrees are offered in Health Care Administration and Health Information Management. Tech savvy students who attend the School of Computer Information Systems may earn master's degrees in Information Systems, Information Assurance, Software Engineering and Telecommunications. Stratford University offers multiple students in Virginia and neighboring states. This includes Virginian campuses in Richmond, Alexandria, Woodbridge and Falls Church. Out-of-state campuses can be found in Baltimore, Maryland and out-of-country campuses can be found in New Delhi, India.