Degree Programs Available at the University of Louisville
The University of Louisville appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans.
There is no question that earning a college degree can help someone advance in their career. It can also help someone move out of a career with less potential for advancement and into one that pays better while also providing them with the satisfaction that comes from working in a job they love. However, many working adults have work, family and social obligations that make it difficult for them to attend traditional classes. The University of Louisville offers many degree programs with the flexibility to help non-traditional students achieve their higher education goals.
The University of Louisville offers 12 different schools and departments, each with specific programs that give people the skills and knowledge they need to excel in a chosen field. Schools and departments at the University include:
- Brandeis School of Law
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Education and Human Development
- Graduate School
- Kent School of Social Work
- School of Dentistry
- School of Medicine
- School of Music
- School of Nursing
- School of Public Health and Information Sciences
- Speed School of Engineering
The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Louisville offers 57 undergraduate and 35 graduate degree programs offered both online and on campus. The Bachelor of Science in American Sign Language Interpreting Studies provides students with the training necessary to work as qualified sign language interpreters. Students learn American Sign Language and understand the basics of sign language linguistics. Deaf history and culture is also discussed throughout the program along with the fundamentals of interpretation. The program is available on campus only. Courses required may include Heritage & Culture of the Deaf, Application of Fingerspelling and Number Systems, ASL to English Interpreting as well as Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In addition to classroom requirements, students must complete 450 hours of an advanced interpreting practicum.
The College of Business at the University of Louisville is ranked as one of the top 100 best business schools in the country by US News and World Report. One unique program offered by the College of Business is a Graduate Certificate Distilled Spirits which blends an industry of tradition with an innovative school. Louisville and the surrounding area are home to many of the most well-known distilled spirits companies in the world. The program was developed with industry experts, offering a one-of-a-kind curriculum featuring current knowledge, skills, and awareness. The program is available completely online and takes 15 weeks to complete. Students gain an understanding of finance, marketing, and operations as well as an insider’s view of the industry through guest speakers and corporate fellows. Courses required may include Distilled Spirits Finance Fundamentals, Sustainability in Distilled Spirits, Spirit Brand Marketing and Three-Tier Distribution of Alcohol Distribution.
Embracing the University of Louisville’s mission to advance the intellectual, cultural and economic development of the community, the College of Education and Human Development promotes the highest level of learning in areas of the social, emotional and physical well-being of individuals, families, and communities. One program that strives to create individuals with a focus on improving the world around them is the Master of Education Special Education. The program provides a strong foundation in general education content with a focus on special education theory and methods. Students gain the skills and competencies to teach students with special learning requirements. These include strategies for inclusion, behavior management, social skill instruction and methods to modify the general curriculum to meet special needs. The program is available online and on campus, requiring 36 credit hours. Courses that may be required include Applied Behavior Analysis, Applications of Assistive Technology, Moderate and Severe Disabilities and Assessment of Exceptional Learners. A practicum is also required.
The Kent School of Social Work offers a Bachelor of Science in Social Work that is available both online and on campus. The program prepares students for entry-level positions in social work practice. It builds on liberal arts groundwork, focusing on generalist social work knowledge. Students learn to analyze, plan and implement effective interventions to address compels social problems. They also gain an understanding of how social issues have an impact on individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Courses required include Social Problems, Statistics for Psychology, Elementary Statistics, Human Behavior and the Social Environment as well as Issues in Policy and Service Delivery. Students must also complete two practicums.
About the University of Louisville
In 1798, eight men announced their plan to establish the Jefferson Seminary in Louisville, asking fellow citizens to pledge funds to purchase land, construct buildings and hire teachers. The seminary was chartered by the Kentucky legislature, creating an institute of higher learning in what was basically a frontier.
Despite support from the community and legislature, the Jefferson Seminary struggled. The school opened in 1813 but closed in 1829. In 1833, the Louisville Medical Institute was chartered and the Louisville Collegiate Institute was chartered in 1837, the same year the medical institute opened. In 1841, the Louisville Collegiate Institute was renamed Louisville College and, three years later, inherited the estate of Jefferson Seminary.
Louisville College, despite high enrollment, continued to struggle. Community leaders wanted to divert funds from the medical school to the fledgling college and, in 1846, the legislature created the University of Louisville, combining the medical school and college along with a newly created law school. There was a common board of trustees but each division retained financial control for their own school and the University closed again.
In 1907, there was pressure to create a liberal arts college and a more vibrant University of Louisville was created. The new version of the school focused on accreditation guidelines which allowed them to expand academic programs using stricter higher education standards.
After World War II, there was a movement to close the all-black Louisville Municipal College and desegregate the University of Louisville. In 1951, this movement was successful. In the late 1950s, however, the University began to struggle financially as many tax-paying citizens moved to the suburbs. Since the school was funded municipally, this placed a drain on funding. Throughout the 1960s, there was a discussion of the school joining the state system of higher education and this occurred in 1970.
Today, the University of Louisville is a state-supported research university located in the largest metropolitan area in Kentucky, far different than the frontier where the Jefferson Seminary began.
University of Louisville Accreditation Details
The University of Louisville is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Accreditation indicates that the University offers programs that are of the highest quality, confirming to parents, students, and employers that graduates will be well-prepared for their field of study. In addition to regional accreditation, the University of Louisville is accredited by the following organizations:
- Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
- American Council for Cooperative Education
- American Psychological Association
- Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International
- Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs
- College Reading and Learning Association
- Commission on Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry
- International Association of Counseling Services
- Military Installation Education Review
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
University of Louisville Application Requirements
Acceptance into the Bachelor of Science in American Sign Language Interpreting Studies is not automatic. Applicants must be basically fluent in American Sign Language and basic interpreting competencies. They must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.25 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in ASL and ITP courses. They must have completed ITP 220 and the final examination in that course is part of the screening process for entry into the major.
Applicants to the Graduate Certificate in Distilled Spirits Business program must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university with an undergraduate GPA of 2.0 or higher. They must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
In order to apply for the Master of Special Education, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and must provide official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. They must submit two letters of recommendation and a personal statement of 250-500 words. Official GRE or GMAT scores are also required. They must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and must have completed Introduction to Exceptional Children or the equivalent before applying. Applicants must also hold a valid teaching certificate or statement of eligibility.
In order to apply for the Bachelor of Social Work program, applicants must have a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher while applicants with college credits must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in all college courses attempted. They must provide ACT or SAT scores unless they have more than 24 transfer credits. Official high school transcripts must be provided. Transfer applicants must also provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
University of Louisville Tuition & Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition is $489 per credit hour while tuition for the Graduate Certificate in Distilled Spirits Business, the Master of Social Work and the Master of Special Education is $764 per credit hour. Active duty military personnel pay $250 per credit hour.
Financial aid is available and students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be submitted between October 1 and June 30 each year. Undergraduate students may be offered scholarships and grants which do not need to be repaid. Loans may also be offered but it is important to remember they must be repaid upon graduation. Undergraduate and graduate students who attend on campus may be provided work-study, fellowships or assistantships. Graduate students may seek grants or scholarships from outside sources. The University of Louisville will offer loans to cover the cost of graduate study.
The University of Louisville pursues excellence and inclusiveness as it strives to educate through diversity, research, and engaged service.