Kean University Degree Programs
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Kean University (Kean) is a public educational institution in the state of New Jersey principally known for its excellent liberal arts programs. The school graduates the highest number of teachers annually than any other school in New Jersey. The university is located in Union and Hillside, New Jersey with satellite campuses in Toms River and Manahawkin, and Jefferson, New Jersey and has recently opened a foreign campus in Wenzhou, China, the only public university in America allowed by the Chinese government to open an outlet in their country. Kean is the third-largest university in New Jersey, providing an excellent education to over 16,000 students. The student body enjoys an opportunity to join and participate in over 130 student organizations and professional groups. The university offers over 50 areas of study for undergraduate students and more than 60 graduate programs, including masters-level and doctoral degrees and post-graduate certifications.
Kean is organized into seven divisions or schools that house the various educational programs which Kean now offers. Those divisions are:
College of Business and Public Management
College of Natural, Applied and Health Sciences
College of Liberal Arts
Michael Graves College, Architecture and Design
Nathan Weiss Graduate College
College of Education
New Jersey Center for Knowledge, Technology, and Mathematics
First-year students who come to Kean with a proven record of motivation and inspiration are asked to apply for entry into the Kean University honors program. Those who qualify for the honors program obtain entry into an interdisciplinary approach to multiple subjects that interconnect through added research opportunities. Honors courses are limited in subject matter to biology, earth science, English, history, political science, psychology, music, sociology, and public administration.
Kean University offers students over 50 pathways toward a baccalaureate degree. The university began as a teacher's college and has expanded its offerings to include an expanse of subjects such as business, architecture, art, criminal justice, information technology, biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, communication, healthcare, education, economics, English, fine arts, global studies, graphic and industrial design, history, management, mathematics, music, nursing, political science, psychology, sociology, Spanish, or theater arts.
Of the 50 pathways toward a bachelor's degree at Kean, the university presents 11 entirely online as well as in the classroom. Those specialized presentations include:
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science in Business—General Business Option
Bachelor of Science in Business—Entrepreneurship Option
Bachelor of Science in Business—Management of Organizations Option
Bachelor of Science in Business—Supply Chain Management Option
Bachelor of Science in Business—Human Resources Management Option
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology—Forensic Psychology Option
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Kean encourages students to expand their horizons by opting to add a minor degree to their major field of study. Minor degrees at Kean require a student take between nine and 18 credit hours of upper-division study in each field. Typically, a student will use some of their electives to satisfy their minor degree. A student can choose from 44 minor programs. Many students take advantage of the Kean online presence to satisfy their minor degree obligations during the summer months. Online minors include:
Minor in Accounting
Minor in Criminal Justice
Minor in Cybersecurity
Minor in Management
Kean offers 31 master's programs. Six of the most popular degrees are offered entirely online. These courses incorporate 30 to 36 credit hours of study with a capstone or thesis project required for completion. The online degrees are:
Master of Science in Computer Information Systems
Master of Arts in Educational Administration—Supervisor and Principal
Master of Arts in Educational Administration—School Business Administrator
Master of Arts in Educational Administration—Supervisors, Principals, and School Business Administrators
Master of Arts in Hindi and Urdu Language Pedagogy
Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
Kean provides post-graduates the opportunity to sharpen their skills in areas through a post-graduate certification program. These certificate programs are designed for students who have finished their master's degree and find an opportunity to advance at work by gaining certification in an area of study. The certification process involves 12 to 18 credit-hours of study. Kean offers 13 post-graduate certifications including:
Certificate in Director of School Personnel Services
Certificate in Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant
Certificate in English as a Second Language
Certificate in Bilingual Education
Certificate in Substance Awareness Coordinator
Certificate in Reading Specialist
Certificate in School Business Administrator
Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy
Certificate in School Psychology
Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis: Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Certificate in Educational Supervisor
Certificate in Student Personnel Services
Certificate in Principals, Supervisors & School Business Administrators
Kean includes five doctoral degrees in its portfolio of programs. Doctorates require a minimum of 60 credit hours of study beyond those hours spent achieving a master's degree. Kean does not support doctoral programs online. Students seeking a doctorate at Kean must attend courses in the classroom. Most candidates spend time working at the university as assistant instructors or research professionals. The five doctoral degrees available at Kean are:
Doctor of Education in Urban Leadership
Doctor of Philosophy in Speech-Language Pathology
Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Educational Leadership
Doctor of Philosophy in Combined and Integrated School & Clinical Psychology
About Kean University
Kean University opened its doors to its first students in 1855. The original purpose of the school was to supply much-needed teachers to a burgeoning populace. In 1937, the school became the New Jersey State Teachers College—a recognition of the quality teachers the school was turning out. By 1957 Kean began expanding its role to include areas of study far beyond education. Today, Kean is home to several notable research institutions.
Niche.com ranks Kean as the 201st Most Diverse College in America and at 251 on its list of the Most Liberal Colleges in America. US News & World Report ranks Kean as 129th in its list of Best Colleges in Regional Universities North and 41st in Top Performers on Social Mobility. The publication rates Kean's graduate programs as 106th in Occupational Therapy, 199th in Speech-Language Pathology, 225th in Social Work, and 253rd in Best Public Affairs Programs.
Kean University Accreditation Details
Kean University is regionally accredited through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Internal special program accreditations within Kean include:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
American Psychological Association (APA)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASA)
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NSPPAA)
Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation (CSWEOSA)
Kean University Application Requirements
The application fee at Kean is $75.00. The school allows students with a 3.5 high school GPA or higher to bypass sending in their ACT or SAT scores unless the following situations apply:
The student is applying for entry into the honors program
The student was home-schooled
The applicant is an international student
The student is applying for a merit scholarship
The applicant has a GED
Every applicant coming directly out of high school must present their official high school transcript. Successful applicant's transcripts will show successful studies in:
Four years of English
Three years of mathematics including algebra I and higher courses
Three years of science including two with lab experience in biology, physics, or chemistry
Two years of history, including U.S. or world history
Two years of lab sciences
Two years of the same foreign language
Three years of approved electives in social studies, science or mathematics
The applicant must also provide two letters of recommendation from a teacher, administrator, coach, counselor, or employer. It is recommended to include an essay on why the applicant is pursuing further education, and a list of high school activities or employment that demonstrates the applicant's leadership abilities.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition at Kean for New Jersey residents is $12,595, including fees per year; non-residents pay $19,771. On-campus living adds another $14,802 in room and board. Graduate-level tuition and fees run at $17,133 per year for New Jersey residents and $21,998 for out-of-state students.
The Financial Aid Department at Kean works with each student to find their finance needs. The department advises students about possible scholarships, grants, and loans to lower the out-of-pocket costs for students. The Kean Financial Aid Department encourages students to accept as little help from the Federal Student Loans Program and concentrate on gaining scholarships or grants.
Kean is a premier school for students from every walk in life. Graduates from Kean University enjoy an enhanced reputation anywhere in the world when they display their diploma.