Degree Programs at the University of the Potomac
University of the Potomac appears in our ranking of the 15 Best Deals on MBA in Hospitality Management Online Programs.
At the University of the Potomac, students can choose:
- associate’s degree programs
- bachelor degree programs
- graduate degree programs
The university offers associate’s programs for students who can commit to two years or more. It includes a major in early childhood development for those who want to educate young kids. This program helps students understand how to work with kids and their families. It features courses that transfer to the bachelor’s program in the same field. Business and network security management are some of the other popular majors for associate’s degree students.
Eleven majors are available for students seeking a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS). One program awards students a BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management. It features internship opportunities at the National Mall and other tourist attractions around Washington DC. Students must take six required courses, including:
- Hotel Front Office Management
- Hospitality and Tourism Law
- Hotel Convention Sales and Service
The program also features concentrations such as tourism management and marketing.
In the university’s cybersecurity and policy program, students look at factors relating to personal privacy. This program offers a concentration in government contract management, which includes:
- Government Contract Law
- Purchasing and Material Management
- Contract Modification and Options
Computer science and health information management are some of the other majors suitable for bachelor’s students.
The University of the Potomac offers eight graduate degree programs, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science in Education (MSED). Education majors can choose 18 credits of electives to study:
- new technology
- teaching reading and writing
- working with older or younger students
This program features a core that is worth 24 credits. It includes Social Contexts in Education and Child and Adolescent Development.
In the MBA program, students can select from concentrations such as:
- geospatial intelligence
- information technology
- human resources
- marketing
- management
All concentrations include eight core classes such as Managerial Finance and Marketing Management.
Advanced and graduate certificate programs are available for students. They only accept those with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. The office application support program prepares students for working in positions where they will support office staff and assist with their technical needs. It includes:
- Introduction to Spreadsheets
- Information Systems Essentials
- Survey of Operating Systems
Some of the advanced certificates available from the university include:
- government contract management
- health systems management
- general management.
About the University of the Potomac
The University of the Potomac is a for-profit university once known as Potomac College. Founded in 1991, it served as one of the leading colleges in the Washington DC area. In addition to a large campus in DC, the university also has a second campus in Vienna, Virginia. It is sometimes called Potomac for short. It offers hybrid and online programs for working students that help them complete their degrees in 18 months.
The university can also award students credit for any certificates or professional experiences that they have as well as their military service. It has an open admissions policy that allows all incoming undergrads to get federal grants and loans to pay their costs. Both campuses offer traditional degree programs. Both have office hours where students can meet with their professors. Potomac has a large number of military students, including those stationed overseas.
University of the Potomac Accreditation Details
Any student attending Potomac can use the university’s regional accreditation if they need financial aid. That accreditation gives them the choice of using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Middle States accreditation also authorizes the university to offer degree programs at the post-high school level. Both the university’s Virginia and Washington DC campuses have the same accreditation.
University of the Potomac Application Requirements
Prospective Potomac undergrads need to interview with a faculty member as part of the application process. They can conduct their interviews online through Skype and other apps or in-person on one of the university’s campuses. Incoming students need a high school diploma, GED certificate or home school diploma. They will apply online and submit their documents. Potomac also asks for scores or transcripts from students who have AP or similar credits and those who attended college before. Military students can submit their military transcripts for evaluation too.
Graduate students applying to Potomac need to meet the minimum requirements for admission and any requirements of their degree programs. All programs require that incoming students have an undergraduate degree from a four-year school. They must complete the online application. Using MS Word, they’ll write an essay that explains how they prepared for graduate school and specifically for that program. Students also need to have two letters of recommendation. The university doesn’t require a GRE score. However, it encourages students applying to the MBA program to submit a score from that exam if they do not have a background in business. They should also submit copies of any professional certificates that they have.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The University of the Potomac cut tuition for all students by more than 30% in 2017 and promised to keep costs down for all future students. Undergrads now pay $832.50 for each class they take in an associate’s or bachelor’s program. It costs $16,650 to earn an associate’s degree from the university and $33,300 to complete a bachelor’s degree. Graduate students pay $1,462.50 for each of their classes and $17,550 to earn their degrees. To complete a certificate program, graduate and advanced students pay $4,995. Students pay between $500 and $1,000 for their textbooks every semester too.
Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) loans are available from the federal government as are unsubsidized loans for grad students and subsidized loans for undergrads. Graduate students may qualify for one of the government’s PLUS loans or a private loan also. Federal assistance is available in the form of Pell and opportunity grants as long as the total amount awarded does not exceed the student’s estimated costs for the year. Though the university does not offer scholarships, it can help students find those programs. The University of the Potomac can accept any funds that students get from outside the university after they enroll in a degree program.