Stratford University

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From the College

Stratford University was founded in 1976 and has undergone constant changes as it has continued to expand and adapt to changing employer demands. Stratford is a small, private institution with a personalized approach to student needs. The Stratford community includes two campuses in northern Virginia just a short distance from Washington, D.C. The Stratford philosophy is to provide professional competencies that satisfy employer needs, utilizing a teaching method that accommodates a variety of different learning styles.

Stratford enrolls more than 1,500 students in its programs, offering small classes to ensure personal attention to each student. Stratford students represent a diverse population, from recent high school graduates to adult learners seeking to make a career change. The friendly and supportive environment at Stratford University ensures that students feel comfortable and well supported.

The University offers programs in technology, business, allied health, hospitality, and culinary arts at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The University is located in the heart of Fairfax County, Virginia, home of the Internet and numerous businesses that support the Internet, telecommunications, and information. User groups, national societies, and various technology councils provide networking avenues for Stratford students. Hospitality-related businesses abound in the Washington area, from world-class restaurants to boutique hotels; career opportunities are numerous. In addition, the business of government provides varied career paths for Stratford graduates.

The University provides a full array of career development and placement services. Students attend workshops on academic planning, resume writing, and effective interviewing skills. Career Services strives to help students make the contacts that lead to internships or permanent positions.

Stratford University partners with Collegiate Housing Services to offer comfortable and affordable dormitory-style apartments near both campuses. The typical housing configuration is a furnished, two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment shared by up to 4 Stratford students of the same gender.

Stratford University has two campuses in the greater Washington, D.C., region. Washington has much to offer. From politics to urban events, culture to recreation, the capital region is a great place to live, work, and study. Local sights include Mount Vernon, Old Town Alexandria, the White House, Capitol Hill, the Mall, and the Smithsonian Institute. Most of the sights are easily accessible by public transportation.

The prosperous D.C. job market is a draw for Stratford students. For both working students looking to upgrade skills and full-time students concerned with finding a job quickly after graduation, the region offers a wealth of jobs for graduates of all of Stratford’s programs. As the nation’s capital and a major tourist center, the metropolitan Washington area is a center for business, finance, industry, and entertainment.

The School of Business Administration offers Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in business administration. The School of Computer Information Systems offers A.A.S. degrees in digital design and in network management and security and a B.S. degree in information technology. The School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality confers A.A.S. degrees in advanced culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and hotel and restaurant management; and a B.A. degree in hospitality management. The School of Allied Health confers an A.A.S. degree in allied health with concentrations in medical assisting, clinical hemodialysis, phlebotomy technician, medical insurance billing and coding, and pharmacy technician. The business administration, hotel and restaurant management, and hospitality management programs are also offered online.

Stratford University delivers competency-based educational programs that prepare individuals for employment in specific career areas. These competencies are employer centered. The curriculum in each program is designed to ensure that students have the required competencies demanded in their fields of endeavor. The instructional techniques at Stratford are student centered. At the beginning of each program, students are tested for both learning styles and learning modes, and instruction in all classes is individualized based on the results of this assessment. This dual emphasis results in student academic success, without lowering required employer-based standards. As a result, students who graduate enjoy a high placement rate.

The A.A.S. and the B.S. degree programs include core requirements, elective requirements, and general education requirements. The total requirement is 90 quarter credits for the A.A.S. programs, and they normally take sixty weeks to complete. The total requirement for the B.S. degree programs is 180 quarter credits. The first 90 quarter credits are completed prior to beginning the 90 credits of junior- or senior-level courses. The B.S. programs take 120 weeks to complete.

The diploma programs include core and elective requirements. The total requirement for these programs is 60 quarter credits, and they normally take fifty weeks to complete.

Students may receive transfer credit for courses transferred from accredited institutions. Also, certain training received from prior military schools, military service, or prior work experiences may be awarded as transfer credit. Stratford is approved for the training of veterans.

The course calendar is divided into five sessions, each of which is ten weeks in length. With start dates in January, March, May, August, and October, Stratford’s flexible scheduling accommodates its busy students.

Stratford’s libraries are located at the Falls Church and Woodbridge campuses, but all 2,400 titles are available online. In addition, the library subscribes to OCLC FirstSearch, a collection of more than 50 databases, and EBSCO Research Host database.

The campus has state-of-the-art facilities equipped with the latest technology and resources. All information systems classrooms are equipped with one computer for every student, and Stratford’s networking students work with state-of-the-art Cisco routers and switches. Students may also access one of several computers for general use in the library. Culinary arts students are trained in one of six fully equipped professional kitchens.

Tuition is $340 per credit hour plus laboratory fees where applicable.

Financial aid officers at Stratford are trained to guide students through the financial aid process to ensure that all available financial aid has been explored. Federal loans and grants (including PLUS, PELL, FSEOG, FWS) are applicable toward tuition at Stratford. The University is also approved for Veterans Association benefits, Vocational Rehabilitation benefits, and private institutional financing.

Stratford offers the Graduating High School Senior Scholarship Program and the Culinary Scholarship Programs. Stratford University also accepts private scholarships from foundations, service clubs, and other organizations.

Stratford University’s faculty members have been hand-chosen for their teaching ability, personality traits, and experience in their fields. The entire Stratford University staff works as a team to help students succeed.

Graduation from a secondary school or equivalent education as certified by the state department of education is normally required for admission.

Stratford is approved to offer I-20 certification for F1 visas for international students. Students for whom English is a second language are required to demonstrate English proficiency through a TOEFL score.

Students must submit a completed application for admission and a $50 nonrefundable application fee. Applicants must also schedule an interview with admissions to complete the assessment instrument. Students may bring or have the registrar from their high school, college, or state GED office forward a copy of their transcripts to Stratford University. Student-issued copies of transcripts or diplomas can be submitted directly to the University.

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