Oct 05, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Academic Programs and Curricula


Degree Programs

Fort Valley State University is organized into four colleges: the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences & Technology, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and Professional Studies, and the Office of Graduate Studies. Academic departments within these colleges offer major degree programs of study leading to the award of the Baccalaureate, Master’s and Education Specialist Degrees.

Special Programs and Outreach Initiatives

Fort Valley State University responds to the busy lifestyles of today’s students through flexible degree program offerings. Regular and non-traditional students are provided online courses and programs and flexible scheduling options to earn an advanced college degree. Administrative, academic, and student support systems are provided to ensure students access to a quality educational experience comparable to that provided on campus.

Evening and Weekend Classes

Evening classes are scheduled to provide working adults with the opportunity and advantage of entering or completing degree programs or taking individual courses for personal enrichment. The objectives of evening courses are identical to those of courses taught during the day. The instructors are regular University faculty. Academic standards are maintained at the same level as those in the day courses. Admission and registration procedures are identical to those of day programs.

Online (Web-based) Offerings

Through the offering of online or web-based courses, Fort Valley State University provides quality educational programs of study to students independent of their geographic locations. Students who are situation bound, that is, students who are unable to attend college because of family, work, and other responsibilities are able to pursue a college degree via the Internet. Online courses are facilitated using the Brightspace by Desire2Learn learning management system (see http://www.fvsu.edu for additional information). Academic standards are maintained at the same level as in face-to-face courses. Admission and registration procedures are identical to those of traditional programs.

FVSU’s online courses are designed for the highly motivated and independent student who is willing to devote as much time and effort to web-based learning as to traditional classroom offerings. The student should be comfortable using technology and have time management and organizational skills.

Three Fully Online Graduate Degrees are available online:

 

Continuing Education Non-Credit Programs

Non-credit activities follow broader and more flexible guidelines than credit classes and are designed to provide occupational development, personal enrichment and leisure courses for residents of Middle Georgia. Courses are scheduled according to instructional need and vary from three hours to one year. Costs are determined on a contract basis, and vary according to content, instructional needs and operational expenses. Admission is open to the public, regardless of age. Many activities are offered for certification through the award of Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Contract Programs

Special educational programs, both non-credit and academic credit, are available to local businesses and organizations. These programs are based upon organizational needs, and are contracted on an individual organizational basis. They may be delivered at the organization’s location, on the Fort Valley State University campus, or at some other designated site. They are further designed to meet employer specifications and blend state-of-the-art knowledge with on-the-job needs.

Community Services

Fort Valley State University strives to use its many resources to help enhance and develop the regional community that it serves. The physical and human resources of the University are available to assist individuals and groups in the development of educationally related programs and to assist in resolving community problems. Fort Valley State University personnel are available as resource persons, consultants, speakers, and as representatives of the University to serve on community-based projects. Under certain conditions, the facilities of the University may be used by local organizations to present educational programs to community audiences.

Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) and Professional Learning Units (PLUs) are provided on the basis of clock hours and student performance. Nationally used criteria for CEUs are subscribed to by the University. (Ten clock hours of successful student performance equals one CEU.) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Learning Units (PLUs) are not equivalent to academic credits, and the two may not be interchanged.