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Curriculum and Instruction

Please select one of the categories below for answers to your questions. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please contact us.

About Online Programs
Admissions/Financial Aid
General Program/Course
Graduate Degree

About Online Programs

Is Buena Vista University accredited?

We are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Does BVU offer online degree programs?

Yes, BVU Online currently offers a Master of Education degree for working teachers with two tracks - "Effective Teaching and Instructional Leadership" and "Teaching English as a Second Language" - and undergraduate degree completion programs in Business Administration, Health Services Leadership, and Organizational Leadership, and Psychology.

I am enrolled at one of the BVU Professional & Online Studies locations. Can I take online courses?

Yes, students at enrolled at a BVU Center may enroll in any BVU Online undergraduate course to supplement their face-to-face program.

How long are the courses or on what schedule do they run?

The BVU Professional & Online Studies programs run by terms, not semesters.

How long is each term?

Each term is 8 weeks long. All terms begin on a Monday and run through the last Sunday of the 8 week period.

When do the terms start?

Term 1: Sep/Oct, Term 2: Nov/Dec, Term 3: Jan/Feb, Term 4: Mar/Apr, Term 5: May/Jun, Term 6: Jul/Aug

The terms follow the academic year, not the calendar year. See the term schedule for specific dates.

Will my diploma be different or specify that it's from an online program?

No. Your degree will from Buena Vista University, and as a BVU student you will receive the same diploma whether you get your degree online, at one of the Professional & Online locations, or at the residential campus.

Admissions/Financial Aid Questions

What are the admission requirements?

Visit the appropriate program page for specific Admissions requirements.

What is the tuition cost?

For the most current tuition costs, please see the Tuition & Costs page.

What is the admissions deadline?

Undergraduate: Admissions to BVU Online Program Office undergraduate programs are reviewed on a rolling basis. To ensure acceptance, be sure to have a completed application submitted at least two weeks prior to a term start.

Graduate: Admissions to the graduate program are reviewed approximately every four weeks. Applications must be completed and received at least 4 weeks prior to the start of the term in which you want to begin.

What if I do not have the prerequisites for the program?

Undergraduate: Students lacking prerequisites for the Business Administration degree completion will be required to attain those courses before entrance into the program. The BVU Professional & Online Studies program provides 15 locations around Iowa where we operate offices and provide face-to-face courses. One of our locations may help you to complete required pre-requisites.

Where do I submit my application?

You can apply online. Mail all of your required items (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) to:

Online Admissions Office
Buena Vista University
610 W. Fourth Street
Storm Lake, IA 50588

How much is the application fee?

There is no application fee.

What does the $80.00 technology fee pay for?

The $80.00 technology fee provides access to all required software, including the Microsoft Office Professional Suite, SPSS and the latest plug-ins used for courses, plus access to 24/7 technical support. This is a one time fee covering two years, charged to your account upon acceptance.

What is the estimated cost of books?

The estimated cost of each text book is between $80.00 and $150.00. Books are available to order online through the BVU Bookstore and can be delivered directly to your home.

When will I be notified of my acceptance?

Undergraduate: You will be notified of your acceptance usually within one week after receipt of your application.

Graduate: You will be notified immediately after the review process has been completed. Applications are typically reviewed during the second and fifth week of an academic term.

Does Buena Vista University accept transfer graduate credit?

Yes. Transfer of credits is limited as follows:

No more than six hours may be transferred into the student's program.
Transfer credit must consist of course work that has been obtained from an accredited graduate program within the past eight years.
Only course work with an obtained grade of "B" or above may be transferred.
The Admissions Committee will examine the courses for similarity of content and will approve or disapprove the transfer by a simple majority vote.

How many credit hours will transfer from my previous college?

Undergraduate: Students are required to complete a minimum of 60 credits from a four-year (baccalaureate) institution and a minimum of 30 credits from BVU, therefore, a maximum of 98 credits will be applied toward the degree, of which no more than 68 may be from a two-year college.

Graduate: Candidates for the Master of Education degree may transfer up to 6 hours of previous graduate credit with approval from the Graduate Education program.

How do I file for Financial Aid?

Eligibility for Financial assistance in the form of loans is determined by the Financial Assistance Office after completing the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA (this link will open a new browser window). Check the Financial Aid page for details.

What is the deadline to file for financial aid?

Financial Aid information should be completed as soon as possible. Please indicate that your SAR (Student Aid Report) should be sent to Buena Vista University.

What is the federal school code for financial aid?

BVU's SAR code is 001847.

General Course/Program Questions

How do I register for online courses?

Can I start at anytime during the year?

Students may begin a program during any of the 6 terms each year. Check the Term Schedule.

Do I complete the courses at my own pace?

No. Each course is divided up into 8-weekly workshops. The workshops begin on Monday and end on Sunday. Within each workshop there will be due dates to keep you on track.

The courses are group-paced: you can work ahead a little bit, but not so much that you'll lose the rest of the class.

Do I need to be online at certain times for class/group discussions etc.?

There are no set times that you will need to be online. However, your instructor may have optional chat times and within your group you may set times to be online.

How much time will I spend each week on class work?

Undergraduate: Students should expect to spend between 12-15 hours a week per class.

Graduate: Students should expect to spend between 15-18 hours a week.

These time-on-task estimates will vary from student to student, but they are based on the amount of time you would typically spend in class and work on assignments outside of class for a traditional, face-to-face semester course.

How many courses can I take at one time?

Undergraduate students may take up to two classes per term. Graduate students may take only one class per term and up to two classes during Term 6 (July-August).

Will I be able to complete my program within two years?

The course schedule is set up so that students may enter the program during any term and should be able to complete within two years as long as they maintain an appropriate load. When you enroll in the program, your advisor will develop a plan of study based on your needs and the schedule to keep you on track for achieving your goals in the desired time frame.

Undergraduate: Students would need to complete 10 courses per year to complete the program in 2 years, depending on transfer credit.

Graduate: Students would need to complete 5 courses per year to finish a degree within two years. The schedule does provide for taking courses in only 5 out of 6 terms, if desired.

Is there a spring or fall break during my course?

No, there are not breaks during the term. There will be a Holiday break after Term 2, at the end of the calendar year.

How do I order my textbooks?

All books for online courses can be ordered online through Buena Vista University's Lehnus Campus Bookstore operated by Follett, Inc. Books ordered from the BVU Lehnus Campus Bookstore are kept in stock for all BVU courses, and they ship the same business day if orders are received before 3 PM CST. You usually will get your books within 2-3 business days of placing an order. (If you choose to order from other online bookstores, you may not get your books on time. Remember, online book sellers do not necessarily keep books in stock, especially textbooks, so you may have to wait more than a week to get your books.)

For complete instructions on ordering books online through the BVU Lehnus Campus Bookstore, go to the Ordering Books help guide.

Graduate Degree Questions

How many credit hours are required for graduation?

Master of Education students enrolled in the Effective Teaching and Instructional Leadership Track need to complete 30 credit hours. Master of Education students enrolled in the Teaching English as a Second Language Track need to complete 31 credit hours.

Can I complete my degree entirely online?

Yes. All of the classes are online and there is not a campus requirement.

How long does it take to complete the Master of Education program?

You can complete your degree in less than two years if you maintain continuous enrollment.

How many courses can I take at one time?

During terms 1-5, you can take one course per term and during term 6, you can take 2 courses (if available), which is a maximum of 6-7 courses per year.

How long do I have to complete my degree once I begin?

All requirements submitted in fulfillment of the master of education degree must be completed within a period of eight years.

Is there a thesis requirement for the Master's program?

No. Instead of a thesis, you will complete a capstone portfolio.