City University of Seattle, commonly called CityU, is a private non-profit institution of higher learning. Its mission is to enhance lives by offering high quality and appropriate education that promotes lifelong learning. It is committed to offering access to education around the world and its programs focus on the values of accessibility, flexibility, relevance, innovation, and a global perspective. It incorporates diversity in all aspects of the learning environment to demonstrate openness to new ideas and perspectives and valuing differences among cultures.
City University of Seattle employs a strong academic model to achieve its major objective of providing quality education that is student-centered and results-oriented. The model is intended to provide a functional structure for employing the university’s mission throughout all programs. The elements of the academic model include a concentration on student learning, insightful practitioner faculty, application to the workplace, student service, and accessibility and receptiveness. CityU also implements a philosophy called Citywise that involves a unique combination of academics and practical experiences. It involves spending time experiences the real world to gain formal education and experience to choose a particular life path. CityU offers more than 60 programs that result in an associate, bachelor, or master degree or endorsement or certificate.
CityU offers flexible study options for busy adults who have various other obligations. Its online education programs are delivered using the Blackboard course management system. Through Blackboard, students are able to log into the virtual classroom to obtain course content, submit assignments, engage in discussions with instructors and fellow students, and check progress and grades. Instructors provide constant feedback and help students throughout the course. Online programs are available at undergraduate and certificate levels as well as associate, bachelor, and master degrees. Online programs offered include educational leadership, reading and literacy, applied psychology, general studies, accounting, human resource management, sustainable business, marketing, business administration, and information systems.
City University of Seattle was established as City College in 1973. It changed its name to City University of Seattle in 1982 to better demonstrate its purpose and academic offerings. Currently, the university is one of the largest private nonprofit universities in the Northwest with more than 45,000 graduates.
Accreditation
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities regionally accredits City University of Seattle.
Schools of Education
School of Management: committed to offering accessible and pertinent education to enhance the competency and professional development of students to become global ethical leaders. Offer undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates in various areas such as management, business administration, accounting, leadership, technology management, computer systems, and project management.
Gordon Albright School of Education: prepares students for a wide variety of educational opportunities and enables them to attain the necessary knowledge and ability to become excellent education professionals. It offers bachelor and master degrees and graduate and professional certificates as well as endorsement programs and alternative teacher certificate routes. Programs include early childhood education, elementary education, special education, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, reading and literacy, and middle level mathematics.
Division of Arts and Sciences: offers a variety of programs that focus on the application of theories to practical experiences. Programs result in associate, bachelor, and master degrees along with undergraduate certificates. Examples of programs include general studies, applied psychology, communications, gerontology, counseling, counseling psychology, and couple and family therapy.
Scholarships Offered
CityU awards scholarships four times throughout the year to assist students with tuition expenses. Scholarships include June Gasparovich Scholarship, Seahawks Undergrad Scholarship, Gordon Albright School of Education Diversity Scholarships, Washington State International Student Transfer Scholarship, New International Student Scholarship, Student Ambassador Scholarship, CityU International Student Economic Hardship Scholarship, Laid-Off Work Scholarship, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Scholarships, and Washington Community and Technical College Transfer Scholarship Program. The university also accepts external scholarships.
Financing Options
City University of Seattle offers financial aid services and programs to help students pay for their education. Financial aid programs include Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal PLUS Loan, and Federal Graduate PLUS Loan, TEACH Grant Program, and Federal Veterans’ Benefits. CityU also accepts private educational loans.
Credit Earning Options
City University of Seattle awards academic credit for previous coursework completed at another accredited college or university, applicable scores on standard examinations, military experience, and prior experiential learning. It accepts up to 135 quarter credit hours from recognized four-year institutions toward a bachelor degree and 45 of the transfer credits must be upper-division and comparable to courses at CityU or accepted upper-division professional courses. The university participates in various nationally recognized standardized examination programs such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations, and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).