PEIRCE COLLEGE

Peirce Online
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Distance Learning Program

Peirce Online offers students high-quality programs from an accredited college, the flexibility to fit higher education into their busy lifestyles, and the personalized attention from faculty and staff members needed to successfully complete their degrees.

Peirce Online courses are seven weeks in length, with new courses starting every month. Students can earn an associate degree in eighteen months and a bachelor's degree in thirty-six months.

Delivery Media

Peirce Online students must have access to the Internet and an e-mail account.

Courses and degree programs can be completed entirely online, with no residency requirement. While there are weekly deadlines, students complete course work at their own pace. As part of each course, students submit homework assignments, papers, and exams online, and participate in asynchronous online discussions. Through the online courseware, students can join with classmates in threaded conversations, privately correspond with instructors, and review their progress with the online grade book.

Program of Study

Peirce College offers bachelor's and associate degrees in business administration, information technology, and paralegal studies. Degrees in business administration and information technology can be completed entirely online. A minimum of 61 credits is required for an associate degree and 121 credits for a bachelor's degree.

In business administration, students can choose from concentrations in accounting, business law, management, marketing, or real estate management.

In information technology, students can select from concentrations in application programming with .NET technology, desktop applications for business, networking, network security, or technology management.

In paralegal studies, students can complete most courses online. After taking four initial courses in a traditional classroom setting at Peirce's Philadelphia campus, or from other accredited paralegal programs, students can conveniently complete the remainder of their degree online.

Peirce maintains strong business community relationships and continually upgrades courses to reflect hiring trends. In all degree programs, students take general education core courses in English, communication, social sciences, mathematics, and science. Supervised cooperative education is available in all programs. Most of the bachelor's degree programs include a capstone course in the last term of the program.

Student Services

Peirce offers student services in an online format, including academic advising, workshops, and tutoring; career development counseling and workshops; and services for students with disabilities. Library services include an extensive collection of online databases incorporating full-text periodicals, e-books, industry and financial reports, legal research, and reference materials. All Peirce College students are welcome to request a free copy of Microsoft Office Professional.

Credit Options

Peirce College reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to allow students to earn 90 credits toward a bachelor's degree and 30 credits toward an associate degree through any combination of transfer credits, credit by examination, work experience, and portfolio assessment. Students wishing to receive a degree or certificate from Peirce must complete 15 credits in their concentration through courses offered by Peirce College.

Faculty

Peirce Online emphasizes personal attention from faculty and staff members. Small classes and convenient online courseware ensure that faculty members are readily available to offer professional guidance to individual students. Faculty members also serve as career and academic advisers.

Founded in 1865, Peirce is a private, four-year, specialized institution providing practical, leading-edge curricula to primarily working adult learners. The College has been offering online programs since 2000 through Peirce Online.

Peirce is accredited by the Commission of Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to award bachelor's and associate degrees. The business administration program is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The American Bar Association (ABA) approves the paralegal studies program.

Peirce College employs full-time and adjunct faculty members with diverse professional backgrounds. Most faculty members have advanced degrees and are practitioners in their field. Attorneys, certified public accountants, psychologists, market analysts, computer experts, health-care professionals, business managers, and other professionals are among the teaching staff members at Peirce.

Admission

In compliance with relevant federal, state, and local laws, the College does not unlawfully discriminate in its admissions decisions on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran's status, military status, or membership in any other protected group.

Applicants for a degree program must submit the following official documents for consideration: a completed application for admission with application fee; an official transcript documenting high school graduation or a copy of the GED or state equivalency diploma and scores; official college transcripts for college transfer credit; and evaluation of transfer credits for final admission and acceptance into the College.

Complete admissions requirements are available in the Peirce Student Handbook, which is posted at the College Web site, http://www.peirce.edu.

Tuition and Fees

For the 2004–05 academic year, tuition and fees were $377 per credit hour for day, evening, and online courses plus a $100 technology fee. Books and supplies average about $100 per course. Costs are subject to change.

Financial Aid

Financial assistance includes scholarships, grants, loans, and on-campus employment. Peirce College participates in most federal and state aid programs. Approximately 70 percent of students receive financial aid. Applicants for aid must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

CONTACT

Online Programs
Peirce College
1420 Pine Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-4699
Phone: 888-GO-PEIRCE Ext. 9800 (toll-free)
Fax: 215-670-9101
E-mail: online@peirce.edu
Web site: http://www.peirce.edu
http://www.peirceonline.net (Online Learning)

Applying

The Peirce Online application process is convenient and flexible. When students apply to Peirce Online, they can register and begin their studies while transcripts and other documents are being processed. There is no long wait—the initial application should take only 15 minutes. The application/registration process can be completed online at http://www.peirceonline.net. There is a $50 fee due at time of application.