Brandman began in 1958, established to educate military personnel stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Orange County, California, as a service offered by Chapman University. Initially, the school was known as the Residence Education Center, eventually becoming he Chapman University College and expanding their classes to military spouses as well as the children of military members.
The school became a pioneer in adult education, adding accelerated programs that allowed adult learners to earn higher degrees in less time. They were also innovators in online education, providing working adults with flexible formats to achieve their higher education goals. In 2009, Brandman became a separate, nonprofit institution in the Chapman University System. The name Brandman was chosen to honor Saul Brandman, a World War II veteran and benefactor of the Brandman Foundation.
Today, more than 12,000 students attend Brandman each year and the school’s online programs have ranked among the best in the nation by US News & World Report.
Featured Programs
Brandman University Accreditation Details
Brandman is accredited by The Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission. WASC is one of six official academic bodies responsible for accrediting institutes of higher learning. Accreditation indicates that the school has the resources available to achieve their goals and that they offer excellence in education to students, preparing them for their chosen careers. It also indicates that the school is willing to address any areas that the accrediting agency deems as substandard in order to bring them up to the agency’s rigorous standards. In addition, the following agencies or organizations accredit specific programs at Brandman:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Council on Social Work Education
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Brandman University Application Requirements
Students applying for an associate’s degree program at Brandon must have a high school diploma or equivalent and must provide official high school transcripts. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students who wish to enter an associate’s degree program who have 12-credit hours or more of college-level courses must also provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
Students who wish to enter a bachelor’s degree program must have at least 12 transferrable bachelor’s level credits from an accredited college or university and a minimum 2.0 GPA in all prior college-level work. Brandman does offer an Academic Fresh Start program for students with lower GPAs. All students must submit an application for admission.
Students who wish to apply for graduate programs must either have a 3.0 GPA over the most recent 30 graded semesters at the bachelor or post-bachelor level or a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 with satisfactory GMAT, GRE, CSET or MAT scores. Each graduate program has specific requirements for admission. Students are encouraged to speak to an admissions counselor before applying for graduate studies at Brandman.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Brandman is a private, nonprofit institution and prides itself on providing high-quality education at an affordable price. Tuition for undergraduate programs is $500 per credit hour while Master’s degree programs are $640 per credit hour. The Doctorate of Education is $985 per credit hour and the Doctorate of Nursing is $1,115 per credit hour.
Active duty military and their spouses receive special tuition rates. Undergraduate rates are $250 per credit hour while master’s degree programs are $400 per credit hour. Doctorate level programs are the same per credit hour as they are for non-military students.
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans and scholarships. In order to qualify for any financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who are residents of California may qualify for Cal Grants A and B if they meet specific criteria. In addition, the California Chafee Grant program offers aid to students who are or were foster children. Brandman also participates in the California National Guard Education Assistance Award and the Child Development Grant Programs. Students may also qualify for federal work-study.
Featured Programs
Brandman Degree Program(s) Available
MA in Special Education, Behavior Analysis
The Master of Arts in Special Education with a focus in Behavior Analysis provides special education teachers with the tools and knowledge to design behavior intervention protocols with the goal of targeting and defining socially significant behavior. Students develop on understanding of how to create data collection tools as well as how to implement behavior change procedures while also evaluating a child’s progress. Students become advocates for those with disabilities and work to improve strategies that enhance the performance of such students. Courses required for the program include:
- Advanced Assessment and Program Evaluation in Special Education
- An Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
- Applied Behavior Analysis 4: Applications
- Applied Behavior Analysis 5: Advanced Applications
- Applied Behavior Analysis 6: Ethics
- Basic Technologies of Behavior Change in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Collaborative and Cooperative Teaching
- Leadership and Policy in Special Education
- Procedures and Experimental Design in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Program Development and Organization in Special Education
- Research and Evaluation Methods
Students must follow all graduate admissions policies and meet GPA requirements. Students must also provide two letters of recommendation on official letterhead. Recommendations should be made by individuals who can attest to the ability of the candidate to succeed in graduate school. Students must hold a valid Special Education Teaching Credential. Students must be employed, at least part-time, in a field of employment that uses Applied Behavior Analysis.
The program is available in a completely online format or students may choose to take traditional classes at one of the following campuses:
- Antelope Valley
- Fairfield
- Lacey
- Modesto
- Monterey
- Ontario
- Palm Desert
- Riverside
- Roseville
- San Diego
- Santa Maria
- Victorville
- Visalia
- Walnut Creek
- Yuba City
Since its inception, Brandman has offered flexible course schedules designed with the working adult in mind. Through online courses as well as those offered nights and weekends, adults who may face work, family or social obligations that make it difficult for them to attend traditional college classes achieve their higher education goals at Brandman University.
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