Frequently Asked Questions

How many nights a week do you hold class?

Classes meet one night per week for four hours, from 6-10 p.m. Cohorts meet on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday, depending upon the starting date of the cohort.

How is it possible to complete my degree so quickly?

The Adult Degree Completion Program builds on the college-level work already completed. Students need a minimum of 60 semester hours of college credit or an accredited nursing diploma program/RN licensure to begin the program. Forty-three semester hours will be earned through the nursing major curriculum.

To graduate from Eastern Mennonite University in the Adult Degree Completion Program, students must earn 124 semester hours. The additional semester hours may be generated by taking additional courses or by documenting college-level learning in a portfolio. Additional courses may be taken at EMU or other institutions (with prior approval) before students begin the curriculum, while enrolled, or after they complete the curriculum.

An assessment counselor works with students to assist them with their individualized academic plan. This one-on-one academic advising is one of the reasons EMU has been so successful with graduation rates.

Do classes meet year-round?

Yes. Our program is a non-traditional program which means that we hold classes year-round. Breaks are built in and include a two week semester break, as well as a two week break for the Christmas holidays. In addition, groups which meet on Wednesday or Thursday receive a break for Thanksgiving and groups which meet on Monday receive the major federal holidays off.

If I haven't taken a college class in years, can I be successful in this program?

Yes! The Adult Degree Completion Program is designed for adult learners. Classes are discussion-oriented, drawing from practical work experience. It is a writing intensive curriculum; students write papers applying what they have learned. They are not required to memorize information for examinations. All students participate in a writing lab during the first weeks of the program. This lab helps prepare students for the writing portion of the program. As students progress through the program, their writing continues to show marked improvement.

How much homework is there?

The homework may take about 10-15 hours to complete per week. This includes assignments of reading, researching and writing.

Are all the students Mennonites?

No. Only about 8 percent of the students enrolled in the Adult Degree Completion Program are Mennonites. The program was designed to be an outreach from the university to the community. Students come from a wide variety of religious heritages and backgrounds. Since EMU is a Christian liberal arts college, students are required to take religion courses. Two such courses, "Biblical Perspectives" and "Issues and Values," are included in the nursing curricula.

What qualifications do I need to be admitted to the Adult Degree Completion Program?

Students need a minimum of 60 semester hours of college credit or an accredited nursing diploma program/RN licensure to begin the program. They must also have a grade point average of at least a 2.0. Because the classes are discussion-oriented, students are encouraged to have work experience or significant volunteer experience. The work environment also provides a place in which students can practice what they are learning in the classroom. Because the curriculum is writing intensive, successful completion of a writing sample is required of all applicants. EMU does not have a selective admissions policy for the Adult Degree Completion Program. We do, however, have a rolling admissions policy which means that the first 18-20 qualified applicants for a particular cohort group will comprise that group.

What is the cost of the Adult Degree Completion Program?

For the Spring 2007 cohort, the cost of the nNursing program (43 credits) is $15,738. This cost includes 43 semester hours of credit and all textbooks and additional reading materials. The cost per credit is $345. If students want to earn credit through their portfolio, they will pay an additional $50 per semester hour of petitioned credit.

Will I qualify for Financial Aid?

Yes! Some of our students will qualify for Pell Grants; some will qualify for Subsidized Stafford Loans; and everyone will qualify for Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (as long as they are not in default on a student loan). Applications for federal financial assistance are available in the Adult Degree Completion Program office.

Our students are working adults, so scholarship money is fairly limited. Students in the adult degree completion program are considered to be nearly full time students, so student loans are available. The loans are low interest and have a ten-year payback period. We also work closely with those employers who provide employee assistance.

What is EMU's Accreditation?

Because our main campus is located in Virginia, the University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This is equivalent to the Middle States Accreditation, which is the accrediting agency for schools located in Pennsylvania. The Lancaster extension program is licensed by the PA State Board of Education for undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs. Our degrees are recognized and accepted for admission into graduate schools.

EMU's nursing program received initial accreditation from the National League of Nursing in 1970. In 2004 the program received full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the accrediting body of the American Association of Colleges and Nursing (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 202-887-6791; www.aacn.nche.edu). The nursing program is also approved by the Virginia State Board of Nursing.