Complete Guide to Attending Grand Canyon University
Introduction
Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a for-profit Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona. The university, which began in 1949 as a tiny Baptist college, has burgeoned into one of the nation’s largest Christian universities. GCU is renowned in the academic fraternity for its consistent promise towards excellent educational programs and offers a plethora of opportunities with undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level degrees available both on-campus as well as online. Grand Canyon University is one of a kind, not only for its educational quality and community involvement but also because it is a Christian university.
We will take a look at the history and evolution of Grand Canyon University along with its academic programs, student body strengths, online learning platform, athletic offerings and its role in GCU Community. We will also take a look at some of the controversies and trials that the university has gone through over the years, and give an insight into its future as well.
University of Phoenix: Is It the Right Choice for You?
About Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon College had been founded in 1949 by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention. When it was founded, the university was intended to be a higher education service for the local Baptist church. Founded in Prescott as a four-year college, the school was moved to its present location when the state deemed it necessary to accommodate an increasing number of students.
It was a small, private college for much of its history, with limited course offerings in education, business and theology. But financial problems in the early 2000s moved the university to pursue a substantial change. Grand Canyon University transformed into the first for-profit Christian college in America in 2004. The move proved critical to steadying the university’s finances and propelling a dramatic expansion of its student body and academic programs.
It was converted to a for-profit institution of the company in 2004, but Grand Canyon University became non-profit again in 2018. Today, the university still prospers with a student body of more than 100,000 through both on-campus and online schools. Founded in 1918,…. committed to student success at an affordable price for students in all walks of life.
Degree Programs and Majors in Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is famous for its high number of courses to offer. GCU provides a program for who desire to obtain their degree in Healthcare, Business, Education, Arts and courses that fit the lifestyle of adult learners.
Undergraduate Programs
Here at GCU, we have over 200 undergraduate degree programs in nine colleges.
Colangelo College of Business — Named after a titan of Phoenix professional sports and business, this college has programs in areas such as accounting, marketing and entrepreneurship.
College of Education The College of Education, one of the oldest programs at SVSU, is committed to developing students for careers as teachers and school leaders in K-12 grades and higher education.
College of Nursing and Health Care Professions: With degrees in nursing, healthcare administration, and public health this program is one of GCU’s most chosen paths.
College of Science, Engineering, and Technology – offers numerous programs for those interested in pursuing fields ranging from biology to computer science to engineering and are working toward a career in STEM.
College of Fine Arts and Production — A college that centers around fostering the arts such as music, theatre, dance and other visual arts in which students can grow their talents among a strong Christian presence.
Graduate Programs
The University offers more than 40 graduate degree programs and helps professionals advance their careers, or make new career transitions. Popular Graduate Programs Include:
Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an Emphasis in Poetry: This is a hopeful degree for business professionals who are preparing to lead others at their organization.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Designed for registered nurses with an interest in healthcare informatics, public health or nursing education.
Master of Education (MEd): Built for educators and administrators, this program provides specializations in areas such as instructional leadership, early childhood education, and special education.
Doctoral Programs
Grande Canyon University provides options for students who want to earn the highest levels of an academic degree, such as:
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): Provides an opportunity for business leaders to gain mastery in the most advanced level of business theory, strategy, and leadership.
Doctor of Education (EdD): This program is for those who wish to fill leadership roles within K-12 or higher education settings.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): A program for registered nurses who have completed an advanced practice nursing specialty and wish to pursue leadership roles in clinical areas or within healthcare organizations.
Bringing us to the present day, Grand Canyon is of course now a full education university that also offers online degree programs for students.
Grand Canyon University has one of the best online education platforms in existence. Online programs through GCU are intended to meet the specific needs of working professionals, parents and those who need flexibility in their educational experience due to work or other commitments.
The GCU online learning experience is accessible with a user-friendly interface. They can read the materials for their courses, take part in class discussions or submit assignments from anywhere on this globe. The online courses are delivered by the same faculty experienced in teaching on-campus, this ensures that students will get the same high-quality education as a student studying at the traditional campus.
The institution provides over 200 online degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in business, health care, education and the social sciences. We help online students at each step, from admissions to financial assistance to truly believing you will thrive here — and thrive.
GCU Student Experience
Community, faith and academic engagement are the pillars of the student experience here at Grand Canyon University. The student life at GCU is notorious for being very lively, including many clubs and events that help the students to bond and gain experience around different interests.
Spiritual Life
Here — in the form of online chapel and Bible studies based on the GCU curriculum — faith is woven through Christian university life. The university provides many resources for student to deepen their faith, such as weekly Chapel services, discipleship groups and service opportunities. GCU is based on Christian values but welcomes students of all faiths and encourages them to engage in open discussion regarding spiritual beliefs.
Campus Life
An example is the active student body on the modern yet historic campus of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. It has modern classrooms, laboratories, residence halls and sports facilities which allow students to have the true experience of an American campus. The university offers plentiful events as well to choose from, such as concerts and guest lecturer series along with intramural sports and community service projects.
Athletics
GCU is an NCAA D1 school and has a really great athletics program — the Lopes. There are basketball, soccer, baseball and volleyball to choose from. The sports program has a proud history at GCU and therefore very supportive fans.
Public Engagement and Outreach
Community Engagement Grand Canyon University is strongly committed to serving our community. The campus is highly integrated into the local Phoenix community, which it sees to solve problems with urban revitalization and improve the quality of life of nearby residents. With programs such as the GCU Neighborhood Safety Initiative and Canyon Kids, the University strives to guide outside of campus.
Furthermore, GCU promotes mission trips and service projects for its students at a local and global level. The university’s motto is “Serving others with excellence.” Students work at places like Habitat for humanity, food banks and after-school programs doing volunteer work.
Controversies and Challenges
Grand Canyon University has had its controversy while experiencing explosive growth and success.
Criticism and For-Profit Status
Changing to for-profit status in 2004 ranks as one of the most significant obstacles GCU has ever faced. The switch came as some argued that a for-profit model clashed with the Christian values of the fledgling university, which at the time was struggling to break even. This focus on profit, critics contend, could mean a degradation in the quality of education and that the move would be antithetical to the university’s mission. GCU adjusted by maintaining academic quality and keeping students in school.
That changed in 2018 when GCU transitioned back to nonprofit, which relieved some of these trepidations. The university is a not-for-profit these days, and it has renewed its emphasis on what it sees as part of its traditional mission: low-cost learning access.
Too Much Accreditation, Too Little Concern for Quality
Grand Canyon University, in recent years, has been criticized by some professors and groups about the quality of its programs. GCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The university has been steadfast in addressing issues and enhancing its academics.
The Grand Canyon University of the Next Generation
As for the future, Grand Canyon University is now looking forward to more expansion and pioneering. With ASU Online also on the horizon, the university is pushing more of its programs outdoors and into the web with what began as a plan to use this new downtown campus to extend its get-out-the-college community involvement.
They are focusing on student success, in the form of boosting graduation rates and job placement. No matter what kind of role you are attempting to land in the business, healthcare, education and so on, GCU is here to set you up for success.
The university also will seek to maintain its goal of providing high-quality, accessible and affordable higher education. It is the goal of Grand Canyon University to eliminate many of these financial barriers through scholarships, financial aid programs and community partnerships.
