Key Takeaways:
- California Southern University offers a wide range of online degree programs and post-baccalaureate certificates across six schools, including Business and Psychology.
- The university features a unique option for students to enroll in individual courses without full-time enrollment, facilitating flexible learning paths.
- Accredited by several recognized bodies, California Southern ensures quality education, particularly notable in business and nursing programs.
Degrees at California Southern University
California Southern University appears in our ranking of the Top PhD in Accounting Online Programs.
Students who enroll in college degree programs at California Southern University may choose from a dozen degree programs and ten post-baccalaureate certificate programs. There are six schools operating within the university that include the Schools of Behavioral Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Law, Nursing, and Education.
Featured Programs
There are five bachelor’s degree programs available at California Southern University that include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The university doesn’t offer dual enrollment options for high school students, but it will accept transfer credits when students enroll as legitimate college students.
For graduate students, program options include a Master of Laws, Master of Arts in Psychology, Master of Science in Psychology, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Law, Master of Science in Law Enforcement Executive Leadership, Masters of Science in Nursing, and a Master in Education. There are also three doctoral programs that include a Doctor of Business Administration, Juris Doctor, and Doctor of Psychology. Prospective doctoral students should always check with the university to see whether the doctoral programs are currently accepting students.
One of the unique features of the programs at California Southern University is that students can enroll in single courses without attending full-time or enrolling as degree-seeking students. Single courses are available in the areas of law, psychology, and business. Available classes include Ethical and Legal Issues in Therapy, Career Management and Personal Marketing, American Legal Process, and Business Plans for New Ventures.
Other classes available as singles include Marriage and Family, International Business Law, Group Treatment of Addiction, Brand Management, and Psychology in Business. After enrolling for a single course or taking just a few courses, students can choose to enroll as official degree-seeking students. The university recommends that students enrolling in single courses talk with an enrollment advisor to determine the best course of action should the student decide on traditional degree enrollment.
Students may also pursue a variety of post-graduate certificates in psychology or business. Topics available for business certificates include financial management, international business, management, and strategic leadership. Business students can also pursue post-baccalaureate certificates in project management, leadership, and human resource management. For psychology students, topics include addiction studies, healthcare services, pastoral counseling, sport psychology, industrial psychology, and advanced addiction studies.
About California Southern University
California Southern University was established in 1978 and is a professional school with headquarters in Costa Mesa, California. It offers 100 percent online programs in a variety of areas. The university is separate and not affiliated with a similarly named institution called Southern California College, which is another school in Costa Mesa, but that is affiliated with the Assemblies of God.
California Southern University originally operated as a traditional correspondence school and eventually began offering degrees online in the 2000s. Today, the university operates wholly online and doesn’t require any time spent in classrooms of its students. The original headquarters of the school was once in Anaheim, but it would relocate to Costa Mesa in 2007. With the university, there is a School of Behavioral Sciences and a School of Law.
California Southern University Accreditation Details
California Southern University is regionally accredited by the primary West Coast agency for institutional approvals. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has approved the university to award college degrees. The commission is recognized by both the Council for Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education.
The university’s business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. The university is also a member of the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools and is a sponsor of the United States Distance Learning Association.
California Southern University Application Requirements
The application checklist at California Southern University includes the completed enrollment application, submission of transcripts from high school or college, a copy of a government-issued ID, a personal statement, and the application fee. Only graduate students are required to submit a personal statement. The application fee is $75, and students may pay this fee online or over the phone.
Students who meet application requirements will receive a notice by email about their successful application, as well as a personal letter of acceptance from the dean of the department that houses the student’s program. To complete the application and enrollment procedure, students will review the official degree plan for the student’s intended program, enroll in a payment option for tuition, and sign an enrollment agreement.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition rates at California Southern University are charged by the credit and are different for most programs. Tuition ranges from $395 to $545, and the majority of programs are charged at a rate of $545 per credit. As an example, the Master in Education is $545 per credit, the Bachelor of Applied Science is $425 per credit, and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing is $395 per credit.
Students may also enroll in single courses without being enrolled in a degree program for $425 per credit for undergraduate classes or $545 per credit for graduate and doctoral classes. Students who are veterans or active military will receive a 15 percent discount on tuition with approval from the admissions team. The university doesn’t have meal plans or housing options because all of its programs are delivered via the internet.
California Southern University doesn’t participate in the federal financial aid program, so students don’t need to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid when they enroll. However, the university does offer a locked-in tuition rate that won’t change once a student enrolls for classes. To accommodate students who don’t have the full amount of money required for tuition, the university offers a variety of payment plans.
Options include paying in full for the entire program at the start of enrollment or paying in full at the start of each semester. Students may also qualify for a payment plan where payments are made each semester, as well as a monthly payment plan that features zero interest and affordable course rates. Undergraduate students at California Southern University will pay $275 on the payment plan and graduate students will pay $375 a month on the payment plan.