Excelsior College Degree Program(s) Available
Excelsior College appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Great College Deals: Master of Public Administration Online.
Excelsior College allows students to pursue their passion without putting their life on hold. At Excelsior College students are able to create a personal plan of study. It includes credit for experience as well as online examination options to help them achieve their higher education goals faster and at less cost. Excelsior College offers programs in six departments which include:
- Business
- Health Science
- Liberal Arts
- Nursing
- Public Service
- Technology
The Business Department offers an Associate in Applied Science in Administrative and Management Studies that is available on campus or online. The program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain entry-level positions in a wide range of industries. The program provides instruction in Microsoft Word programs, including:
- PowerPoint
- Excel
- Word
- Access
Students are able to create a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis for an actual company. They are also provided training in:
- human resources
- law
- diversity
Students must complete 23 credits in general education as well as 17 elective credits. A business core of 20 credits is required and covers such subjects as:
- computer hardware
- application software
- networking
- Microsoft Office
- social media platforms.
The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences offered through the Health Science Department is available online and covers a wide range of responsibilities required of healthcare providers. The program teaches students how to foster behavioral change and empower clients to maintain health throughout the lifespan. They gain an understanding of overcoming obstacles by applying strategies that support the health of individuals and communities. The program covers:
- methods for stress reduction
- information on nutrition
- details on physical fitness
- ways to treat obesity as well as addiction
The program requires 120 credit hours that include general education and electives as well as a health sciences component. Courses in the health component may include:
- Healthcare Issues in Culturally Diverse Populations
- Introduction to Health Delivery Systems
- Introduction to Healthcare Informatics
- Public Health.
The Liberal Arts Department offers a Bachelor of Science in History that provides students with an understanding of how and why events occurred. It also includes information on how to interpret historical evidence and synthesize the evidence into a clearly written argument. Students learn how history is about passion, beauty, and a search for truth that creates more informed citizenry as well as a better society. The program is available online and emphasizes:
- critical thinking
- written analysis
- an understanding of diverse perspectives
The program requires 120 credit hours that include:
- general education
- electives
- a history component
Courses required for the history component include:
- US History
- World History
- European History
- Non-Western History
- African American History.
The RN to Nursing Informatics Dual Degree allows students who are currently RNs to earn both their Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Informatics at the same time. The program is available online. The program begins with general education and bachelor’s courses before moving into graduate-level courses. This allows students to earn their master’s degrees in less time, saving them money. The program requires 142 credit hours and includes a nursing informatics capstone. This enables students to apply the knowledge they have gained to hands-on experience. It includes a 247.5-hour practicum.
The Public Service Department offers a Master of Science in Criminal Justice that provides students with:
- an understanding of legal and ethical dilemmas in the workplace
- how to conduct research and analyze crime statistics
- how to develop crime-fighting strategies based on their analysis
Students gain a deeper understanding of police, courts, corrections as well as the history and science of criminology. Students are able to concentrate their studies in Homeland Security or Emergency Management. It requires 30 credit hours with courses that may include:
- Criminology
- Criminal Justice Theory and Policy
- Constitutional Law
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice.
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity is available through the technology department at Excelsior College. The program provides an understanding of any organization’s cyber assets as well as methods to prevent, detect, counter, and recover from cyber incidents. It focuses on:
- data communication
- ethics
- legal issues
- operational process
- ethical hacking
- software security, and more
These help prepare students for careers that secure and defend cyber assets. Students are able to understand the legal issues related to cybersecurity as well as methods to protect the assets of any industry. It is available online and requires 30 credit hours. Courses may include:
- Foundations in Cybersecurity
- Network and Communication Security
- Project Management Principles and Application
- Ethics
- Legal and Compliance Issues in Cybersecurity
- Leadership and Communication in Cybersecurity.
About Excelsior College
Founded as the Regents External Degree Program, Excelsior College opened its doors in 1971, funded by the Ford Foundation and Carnegie Corporation. In 1986, the name of the school was changed to Regents College but remained under the guidance of the New York Board of Regents.
The school was granted a charter in 1998 to operate as a private, non-profit organization. In 2001, the name of the school was changed to Excelsior College. There are currently over 23,000 students enrolled . About 80 percent of all graduates pass required examinations for their industry.
Excelsior College Accreditation Details
Excelsior College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Accreditation informs parents, employers, and students that graduates of programs at Excelsior College have received the highest level of education based on criteria created by the Commission.
ABET accredits all engineering programs. The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education accredits business programs. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing accredits all nursing programs at Excelsior College.
Excelsior College Application Requirements
Students must hold a high school diploma and provide official high school transcripts if they apply to the:
- Associate in Applied Science in Administrative and Management Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Science in History
Applicants to the RN to Nursing Informatics Dual Degree program must provide a copy of an active and unencumbered US RN license as well as an official transcript showing completion of an associate degree in nursing or an RN diploma education. The associate or RN diploma must have been earned in New York State or a regionally accredited college or university. AN MS Capstone Requirements form must also be completed. Residents of Washington state are not accepted into the program.
Applicants to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice or the Master of Science in Cybersecurity must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. They must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. GRE scores are not required for admission.
Excelsior College Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for the Associate in Applied Science in Administrative and Management Studies, Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, or the Bachelor of Science in History is $510 per credit hour. Tuition for the RN to Nursing Informatics Dual Degree varies depending on the number of degrees transferred. Tuition for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice or Master of Science in Cybersecurity is $645 per credit hour.
Financial aid is available. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify. Students may be provided scholarships, grants, or loans as part of a financial aid package. Those who attend on-campus may be offered work-study programs. Graduate students are offered loans but may seek grants and scholarships from outside organizations.
Excelsior College offers an outstanding education to student populations who have previously been underrepresented in higher learning. Excelsior College offers all programs in both an on-campus and online format that allows for flexibility for non-traditional students.