Christian Distance Learning

The Original University for Working Adults

Some of today's "buzz words" in higher education -- nontraditional students, underserved populations, distance learning, mentoring, social relevance -- represent concepts pioneered by Union Institute & University almost 40 years ago. Recognizing early on that mid-career, degree-seeking adults need a way to integrate their life with their learning, Union Institute & University continues to offer personalized undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs designed for the lifelong learner.

Union Institute & University is an accredited, private, international university that has, since 1964, redefined higher education by placing learners at the center of their own education. Union has administrative headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently enrolls approximately 2,800 learners from all 50 states and more than 20 countries worldwide.

In October 2001, the university acquired the highly respected academic programs and historic campus of Vermont College in Montpelier and Brattleboro to complement its well established distance learning programs and academic centers in Cincinnati, Miami, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. VermontCollege adds several master?s degree programs and an Adult Degree Program to Union Institute & University?s existing undergraduate and doctoral programs, providing a seamless progression of degree opportunities, along with certificates in advanced graduate study.

Undergraduate Programs

Our innovative degree programs (B.A. or B.S. in liberal studies) combine your needs, passions, and goals with your professional experience and, if applicable, college credit for prior experience through accelerated degree completion.

Whether you want to study entirely at a distance through communication with faculty and other learners by phone, Internet and email, or if you want to combine brief campus residencies with independent study, you'll find a program that meets your personal preferences and study style.

College of Undergraduate Studies Study from wherever you live and work with no residency requirement; or with flexible schedules face-to-face with faculty mentors at UI&U centers in Cincinnati, Florida, Los Angeles, or Sacramento. Part- and full-time study offered.

Vermont College Undergraduate Program (formerly Adult Degree Program). There are three options: Spend two one-week residencies a year on UI&U's Vermont College campus in Montpelier; six week-ends each semester in Montpelier or Brattleboro, VT; or VIRTUAL VERMONT - the newest option - an entirely online B.A.

Masters Programs

•  Masters Programs Overview
•  Master of Arts Program
•  Department of Graduate Psychology & Counseling
•  MFA Visual Art
•  MFA in Writing
•  MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults
•  M.Ed Program, Florida
•  M.Ed Program, Vermont

UI&U's master?s programs are designed for working adults around the world. Brief residencies enable learners to hold a full-time job, maintain family responsibilities, and study from home.

The programs combine live interaction with peers and faculty at brief residencies with mentoring at a distance and, often, online discussion.

Lifelong Learning offers online graduate seminars in several areas, in addition to two preparation seminars in writing and research.  These are ideal for those either considering or just beginning master's programs. Credit can be transferred into UI&U's M.A. degree.

Doctoral Programs

Union Institute & University offers the Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies, with concentrations in the following areas:

• Educational Leadership/Systems
• Psychology
• Organizational Behavior/Development
• Arts & Sciences
• Public Policy Administration

The UI&U doctoral program has a residency requirement of 35 days - a 10 day entry colloquium usually held in either Cincinnati, Ohio or Montpelier, Vermont; three 5 day seminars, which are conducted in various locations throughout the U.S.; and 10 peer days, which are learning sessions conducted by three or more doctoral learners (some can be done online). The doctoral program also requires completion of a 500 hour internship, coursework which is developed by the learner in partnership with a faculty advisor and doctoral committee, and a Project Demonstrating Excellence, which is a dissertation or final research project.  The minimum time period required in the program is three years ? most people complete the program in 3 ?-4 years.

If you feel your life experiences have prepared you for a learner-centered doctoral program, you'll find an academic home with Union's accredited yet non-traditional approach. Here you design many details of your degree plan, assisted by experienced faculty within the approved degree structure. You serve as a facilitator for your doctoral committee, along with core faculty who serve as academic chairs. You will be a major contributor to your learning plans and activities instead of forcing your dreams into a rigid traditional lock step degree.

Creative freedom: At Union you design your own comprehensive degree plan. You will play an integral role in creating courses of study and learning schedules. Here you control the place of study, instead of spending every day on a traditional campus.

Intellectual freedom: Because you are an active member of your own doctoral committee, you?re also able to choose your own faculty (with the consent of the Graduate College dean).

Interdisciplinarity: The interdisciplinary freedom that you?re entitled to at Union has supported some truly original contributions to society and academia.