Programs offered online by Columbia College: - Associate in Arts
- Associate in General Studies
- Associate in Science in Business Administration
- Associate in Science in Criminal Justice Administration
- Associate in Science in Fire Service Administration
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration
- Bachelor of Arts in General Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
About Columbia College
On January 18, 1851, Christian Female College received its charter from the Missouri Legislature, making it the first women's college west of the Mississippi River to be chartered by a state legislature. The city of Columbia strongly supported female education partly because the University of Missouri did not yet admit women. The college has been affiliated by covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since its inception, yet it has always been a non-sectarian school welcoming students of all religious affiliations.
When the Civil War gripped the nation, Christian College President Joseph K. Rogers vowed to keep the school open and he did, thanks to faculty who stayed on knowing they might not be paid.
During the war, President Rogers insisted the college remain neutral and did not allow newspapers on the grounds, but privately he read them. As the fighting continued, so did the fight for the college's survival. Only three students graduated in 1862 and four the following year. But Christian College never missed a day of classes. After the war, Christian College saw its largest enrollment to date with 182 students taught by nine faculty members.
Luella St. Clair, a "steam engine in petticoats," served three different terms as president of the college between 1893 and 1920 and was one of the first female college presidents in the country.
During her administration, she spearheaded the construction of four new buildings — St. Clair Hall, Dorsey Hall, Launer Auditorium and Missouri Hall — all of which are still in use today. She also doubled the size of the faculty, held the first Ivy Chain ceremony, launched a college magazine, created a college orchestra, started a women's basketball team and implemented a bold new cap-and-gown uniform, which the students wore whenever they were in public.
She also changed the college from a four-year school to one of the first accredited junior colleges in the country.
In the late 1960s, Christian College, like many other small private colleges, faced declining enrollments. So the college did what it has always done when faced with adversity — it changed with the times. In 1970 the college changed from a two-year all-female college to a four-year coeducational college and changed its name to Columbia College. For the first time in the school's history, men and women sat side-by-side in the classrooms and men began participating in the time-honoured Ivy Chain ceremony.
If work, military or family obligations keep you from attending a traditional college, you are an excellent candidate for pursuing your college degree online. The Online Campus at Columbia College lets you study virtually anytime, anywhere.
Columbia College prides itself on its ability to change with the times and to offer educational programs that meet the needs of an ever-changing society. The college often has been among the first colleges to try "daring experiments" in higher education such as educating women, military personnel or adult learners through evening classes.
In keeping with this long history of being a pioneer in higher education, Columbia College quickly embraced the notion of "online education", seeing the potential of using technology and the Internet for teaching and learning.
The Online Campus at Columbia College offers more than 250 online courses and five online degrees. Most of the online faculty at Columbia College are the same experienced faculty teaching traditional courses, ensuring students receive a high-quality educational experience.
Still, some people believe online learning is easier than attending a traditional in-seat class. Ask any of the 8,000 students who took an online course at Columbia College this year and you will likely hear that online courses are just as challenging as in-seat classes, if not more so. That's in part because online courses must pass the same accreditation requirements as land-based courses. The subject matter is the same. It's simply taught in a different way.
At Columbia College, online courses are asynchronous so students are able to access the courses when it is convenient for them, no matter what time of day or night it may be. Students will meet weekly assignment deadlines, but are not required to meet the instructor or the students at a certain time online or in person.
The courses are held in eight-week sessions and there are five sessions offered each year starting in January, March, June, October and January.
The courses have two major components: Syllabus and discussion forum.
Students will receive a detailed syllabus that covers in-depth the course expectations. Students may view the syllabus for a course prior to the first day by visiting the course offerings and clicking on the course title.
The discussion forum is where the bulk of student-to-teacher and student-to-student interactions take place. No only do instructors check the discussion and offer almost immediate feedback, the students benefit from the diverse perspectives and opinions offered online.
Online testing happens in a variety of ways. Some instructors choose to have their tests proctored by an approved person while other instructors choose to have less structured evaluation methods. Assignments, quality discussion postings and research papers are a large part of most online coursework.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Approved for teacher preparation by the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
For more information on Columbia College click here
Click here for information on Regional Accreditation and National and Specialized Accreditation
| 
