Northcentral University Online Graduate Programs in Review: No Residency Requirements

Northcentral University Online Graduate Programs in Review:  No Residency Requirements
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NCU

Northcentral University is unique in that it offers advanced degrees you can take completely online. Through NCU, you can earn a doctorate online with no residency requirements. NCU is a pioneer in the making as it was the first online university to be accredited as well as offer doctoral degrees 100% online.

Located in Prescott, Arizona Northcentral University Accreditation includes:

  • Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC).
  • Their Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
  • NCU’s degree programs in the School of Business and Technology Management are accredited by the Association Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
  • NCU’s Master of Education Program is granted Initial Accreditation by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) for a period of five years, 2013-2018.

Graduate Degrees (4 out of 5)

All Doctoral Programs require dissertation and research courses to be completed.

  • Business M.B.A: Requires 30 credits beyond the Bachelor’s degree. Students can choose from seventeen various specializations including, but not limited to: Public Administration, Project Management, Organizational Leadership, and Human Resources Management.

  • Business D.B.A: Requires 54 credits beyond the master’s degree chosen among eighteen various specializations including, but not limited to: Management, Marketing, Health Care Administration, and Advanced Accounting.

  • Business Ph.D.: Requires 60 credits beyond the master’s degree chosen among seventeen various specializations including, but not limited to: Organizational Leadership, International Business, and Heath Care Administration.

  • Education M.Ed.: Requires 30-36 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Students can choose from nineteen various specializations including, but not limited to: Special Education, Curriculum and Teaching, and Educational Leadership.

  • Education Ed.S.: Requires 33 credits beyond the master’s degree chosen among twelve diverse specializations including, but not limited to: Early Childhood Education, E-Learning and International Education.

  • Education Ed.D.: Requires 51 credits beyond the master’s degree chosen among thirteen diverse specializations including, but not limited to: Leadership in Higher Education, and Sports Management.

  • Education Ph.D.: Requires 60 credits beyond the master’s degree chosen among twelve diverse specializations including, but not limited to: Global Training and Development, English as a Second Language, and Organizational Leadership.

  • Psychology M.A.: Requires 36 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree chosen among five specializations including Health Psychology, Gender Studies, General Psychology, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

  • Psychology Ph.D.: Requires 60 credits beyond the master’s degree chosen among five specializations including Health Psychology, Gender Studies, General Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Mental Health Policy and Practice.

  • Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy: General Family Therapy degree requires a minimum of 45 credit hours and California Licensure Track requires 60 credits.

  • PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy: Requires a minimum of 69 credits chosen among five specializations including Child and Adolescent Therapy, Couple Therapy, General Family Therapy, Medical Family Therapy and Therapy with Military Families.

  • NCU also offers CAGS or Certificates in Advanced Graduate Studies. Certificates are 18 credits and may be earned through the business, education, or psychology areas of study.

Tuition and Financial Aid (3 out of 5)

All qualifying current and prospective students at Northcentral may apply for all applicable federal student aid programs, including Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford loans, Federal PLUS (Parent) loans and Federal Pell Grants.

Your costs and fees will vary depending on your program. However, NCU has stated that they try to keep tuition as low as possible while still providing a quality academic experience. Northcentral’s current tuition rates are posted on https://www.ncu.edu/tuition-and-admissions/tuition.

Advantages and Disadvantages (4 out of 5)

The obvious advantages of Northcentral University are the flexibility of online classes and no residency requirements. The tuition rates are also very reasonable compared to other online schools which range about a few hundred more dollars per credit.

If you plan to be licensed to practice in your state, you will need to asses the degree and ensure that all required courses by your state are covered.