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Stephens College School of Graduate and Continuing Education encompasses the nontraditional educational opportunities available to women and men at Stephens College. Enrollment options range from taking a single course for enrichment to meeting the requirements for a baccalaureate or master's degree. With the assistance of an academic adviser, a student plans a degree program that allows for the continuation of professional and family responsibilities while furthering educational goals.

Undergraduate Programs
The School of Graduate and Continuing Education offers an External Degree Program for women and men (age 23 or older) whose life situations do not permit them to enroll in a traditional residential program. This distance learning program offers Internet-based courses in a 16-week semester format. Students may augment their studies with evening and short-format classes. In addition, credit for documented college-level learning gained outside the classroom enables some students to reduce the time needed to complete their degree.

Health Information Administration (HIA) Program
The HIA major and certification program are offered only through the External Degree Program of the School of Graduate and Continuing Education. The HIA Program was the first accredited external degree program in health information management in the country. Students who have demonstrated entry-level competency in health information technology, as identified by the American Health Information Management Association and those new to the field may earn a bachelor of science degree through this program. Students who hold baccalaureate degrees and meet the entry-level requirements may enroll in the HIA certificate program. Completion of the degree or certificate program prepares students for the national registration examination, which leads to certification as a registered health information administrator (RHIA).

The HIA Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in collaboration with the Council on Accreditation of the American Health Information Management Association.

Degrees Offered
Undergraduate students may obtain a bachelor's degree in the following areas: Health Information Administration; Business Administration; Psychology; Law, Philosophy and Rhetoric; Education; English; and dual-disciplinary degrees combining health care or health science and an academic area.

Graduates of accredited associate degree programs and accredited non-collegiate programs in an allied health field may combine their specialized training with an integrated core of courses in an academic department to earn a dual-disciplinary degree. Students also have the option to earn a student-initiated major (SIM) combining two areas of academic discipline.

Graduate Programs
In keeping with the tradition of offering coeducational programs to nontraditional students, Stephens College offers graduate programs in business and education. The graduate programs incorporate delivery systems similar to those in the undergraduate program while utilizing communication technology to a much greater degree. For more information, please refer to the graduate program catalog.

Degrees Offered
Graduate students may obtain master's-level degrees in business administration and education. The on-line M.B.A. Program offers emphasis areas in Management, Entrepreneurial Studies and Clinical Information Systems Management. The on-campus M.Ed. Program offers a track in Counseling. Other areas of specialization are currently in review.

Admission
Further information is available in the School of Graduate and Continuing Education admission office.
Campus Box 2121
1211 E. Broadway
Columbia, MO 65215
Phone: (800) 388-7579
Fax: (573) 876-7237
Undergraduate programs: sce@stephens.edu
Graduate programs: grad@stephens.edu