University of Louisville

The University of Louisville, also known as U of L or just Louisville, is one of the top colleges in Kentucky. Established in 1798 with an act of legislature, locals quickly set about raising money to build the new campus. Louisville was still a small town at the time, and the campus helped that town grow into the thriving city that it is today. The university opened the very first emergency room in the United States and did the first transplant of a hand too. While its medical programs are popular, the university also offers programs in other fields and has more than 70 programs available at the master's level and more than 20 doctoral programs too.

U.S. News & World Report, which included U of L on its list of the country's top colleges, called the university a selective school, which means that it accepts fewer students than other public colleges do. The university routinely accepts less than 70% of its applications. Forbes and Washington Monthly ranked Louisville as one of the nation's top colleges too. The University of Louisville also has a strong reputation for its business programs. Through its international campus in Panama City, students can earn an MBA in under two years. This program ranks within the top five of all MBA programs in Latin America.

University of Louisville Accreditation Details

The accreditation process is one of the most important processes that a college will go through. Without regional accreditation, students enrolled in those colleges may not receive financial aid through traditional lenders. Those students may also have a difficult time transferring college credits. University of Louisville has regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which is one of the top agencies responsible for college accreditation. Students hoping to major in engineering, nursing, law and other subjects will find that the university has specialty accreditation for those programs too. With specialty accreditation from nearly 20 organizations, students will find that the campus has accreditation from groups like the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, Planning Accreditation Board, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and National Association of Schools of Music.

University of Louisville Application Requirements

Prior to applying to any of the graduate programs offered by U of L, students must have an undergrad degree or be within one year of completing this type of degree. Though the university does not have an application deadline, it does recommend that students complete all steps and file their applications at least six weeks before the start of the semester. The basic online application allows prospective students to inform the university about their grades, classes, degrees, extracurricular activities and other details. They will also need to pay the $60 application fee at the time they submit their applications.

In addition to the application itself, the university also asks for official college transcripts. Anyone who attended U of L can have their transcripts automatically added to their applications, but students from other schools will need to request their transcripts mailed to the campus. They also need to supply the university with official test scores. The GRE is the most commonly accepted test for grad students. Students must also submit at least two letters of recommendation with their application packets. Once accepted into one of its grad programs, students will need to supply the university with their names, addresses, birth dates and social security numbers.

Tuition and Fees

Earning a graduate degree typically costs more than earning an undergrad degree. U of L charges $681 per credit hour for Kentucky residents taking graduate classes. This equates to just over $6,100 for full-time students. Non-residents, who are those who move to Kentucky for college, will pay $1,417 per credit hour, which comes out to more than $12,700 for a full course load. The university offers reduced prices for those taking graduate courses online. Those classes cost right around $710 per credit hour. There is also a discounted rate available for students in the military. Active duty military personnel pay just $250 per credit hour for most graduate classes.

Start to Finish is a program offered by U of L that guides students through the process of applying for financial aid. They can get help filling out and filing the FAFSA and help understanding the type of aid they receive. Graduate students generally qualify for both grants and loans. Grants are available from the Kentucky government and the federal government. Students can also borrow more than $15,000 a year in the form of student loans from the federal government. Private lenders offer alternative loans that can help students fill in the gap between the aid they receive and the amount they owe.

Master's in Human Resources

The Master's in Human Resources is the shortened name given to the M.S. in Human Resources and Organization Development available from the University of Louisville. This program awards students with a Master of Science degree and provides them with the valuable experience necessary to find a job in today's job market. It has three concentrations available: health professions education, human resources leadership and workplace learning and performance. Depending on the concentration they choose, students can take classes on the main U of L campus, on its Health Sciences Campus in downtown Louisville, from some of the other campuses it operates across the state or online.

Students will take between 33 and 36 credit hours of classes. The thesis option requires that students conduct their own research on organization development or human resources and write a paper that they present to faculty. Those students receive three additional credits for their thesis work. The shorter program, which requires only 33 credits, requires that students do some type of fieldwork and create a portfolio that shows off some of their work.

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The health professions education concentration is best for those who want to work in continuing education centers and in similar jobs. They'll take classes on teaching students in the field and in the classroom. The leadership option is better suited for students who want to work as managers and includes courses on human capital and resource allocation. The workplace learning and performance concentration available through the University of Louisville prepares students for working as corporate trainers and educating workers in the field.