The mission of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies is to support and extend the university mission by providing lifelong learning opportunities for students of all ages, in both traditional and nontraditional formats. Timeframe Students who enter the undergraduate program with 60 hours or more may complete the core courses in about 20 months. Should general education or elective courses be needed in addition to the core courses to meet the 129 hours necessary for graduation, they may also be taken through the School and the time of completion may be extended. The MBA program usually takes about 22 months to complete the required course work. Students Approximately 1850 students are enrolled in the graduate and adult degree programs at the Longview, Tyler, Dallas, Bedford, and Houston, and Austin sites.
All students are working adults who have at least three years of full-time relevant work experience.
Many are in managerial positions of responsibility who wish to complete the undergraduate or graduate degree for promotion, company requirements, or personal satisfaction. The average student age is approximately 36 years. Faculty Faculty members have at least a Master's degree or a Doctor's degree with 18 graduate hours in the teaching discipline. They are working professionals who are carefully selected for their knowledge of the business world, their ability to integrate theory with real-world experiences, their communication skills appropriate to adult students, and their ability to integrate business experience with ethics and Christian principles. Financing Students who are citizens or have permanent residence status in the United States are eligible to apply for financial assistance under various federal aid programs.