|
www.CharlestonSchoolDirectory.com| www.ed.sc.gov
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
ISD 29
Helping Students Reach
Their Goals
WEbSTER UNIvERSITy
T
he idea of going back To
school for a master’s or even an
undergraduate degree is daunting for
many who are already in the workforce.
Managing the time commitment and
schedule and balancing coursework
with a job, family or both, along
with completing prerequisite courses, is
enough to deter
many would-
be students. While it is certainly a big
commitment, getting a higher education
degree doesn’t have to mean leaving a
career or being away from family.
Webster University’s Charleston
campus has been helping students reach
their goals in spite of these obstacles for
over 30 years.
The Webster University Charleston
campus – consisting of a main branch in
North Charleston and another location on
Joint Base Charleston – accommodates its
students with night or online courses.
“We have over 250 students in Charleston, and most
hold full-time jobs,” explained Vice Provost Nancy Hellerud.
“There are several major area employers – for example,
Boeing, MUSC and the military – who send employees here
for higher degrees. This schedule allows students to further
their education while continuing to live their lives.”
Webster University, founded in St. Louis, Missouri,
over a century ago, has evolved into a global network
of several dozen campuses across the United States,
internationally and on military bases. Its 180,000 living
alumni around the world are a testament to the university’s
far-reaching impact on education and careers.
“We want to ensure that education never stops,” said
Hellerud. “Courses are transferrable, and the transition is
seamless no matter where you are in the world. Certain degrees
require time in the classroom, but almost all degree programs
offer online courses in an effort to continue learning.”
One of the founding principles of Webster University
has always been to meet previously unmet needs.
“When teachers needed training in Kansas City,
Webster initially opened up a Kansas City campus
primarily for education programs. When the military was
looking for education on bases, Webster went there. When
the United Nations was looking for education in Geneva
for dependents of people who worked there, Webster
opened a campus,” Hellerud explained.
Similarly, the programs offered
at the Charleston campus reflect the
local economy in order to fill the area’s
employment needs. Programs include
a master of arts in Counseling, Human
Resources Development, Human
Resources Management, Information
Technology Management, Procurement
and Acquisitions Management,
Management and Leadership, master
of Business Administration and master
of Health Administration, as well as
bachelor’s degrees in Management and
Psychology. Webster University offers
prerequisite courses to help students
enter these degree programs.
In addition to online course offerings, on-campus classes
typically meet one night each week for nine-week terms.
“The average full-time student spends two to three
years getting their master’s degree. Others fast-track and
complete their degree in a little over one year. The options
are flexible to meet each student’s needs,” Hellerud said.
In addition to its widespread network of programs and
alumni and its flexible schedule and locations, Webster
University’s faculty members are rated highly by students.
“Nearly all of our professors are adjunct faculty. They
are in the workforce doing what they teach. They have
real-world experience and real-world connections, and
they enhance the quality of education,” said Hellerud.
“Not only do we want you to graduate with a great
degree, but we want you to have a great career as well.
We’re here to help you do that,” she said.
To learn more, visit
www.webster.edu/charlestonor call
843-760-1324 or 843-767-2278.
by ANNE TOOLE
Photos courtesy of Webster University.
Above: vice Provost Nancy Hellerud.
below: Webster’s University’s Charleston
campus.