Adults seeking a quality higher education degree can find a variety of flexible, collaborative and interdisciplinary programs to accommodate their particular needs, from online bachelor’s to doctoral degree programs, at Union Institute & University, a regionally accredited non-profit national university with an academic center in Hollywood.
Distinguished as the pioneer in adult education, UI&U has been providing socially relevant degree programs since 1964. The Florida Academic Center at 4601 Sheridan St. relocated last October from the North Miami Beach area.
“The South Florida area is one of the most culturally diverse and socially conscious in the nation,” said Ron Thomas, Executive Director of the Florida Academic Center. “That matches up very well with UI&U’s mission in transforming lives and communities. Our whole institution is organized around supporting students who want to lead in these efforts.”
Advanced Degree Options
UI&U’s bachelor’s degree programs offer flexible majors with close faculty support and collaboration with other students in person and online.
Majors include Business Management, Organizational Leadership, Criminal Justice Management, Emergency Service Management, Early Childhood Studies, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Maternal Child Health: Human Lactation, Exceptional Student Education, Psychology, and Social Work.
Graduate degree programs include Master of Science programs in Healthcare Leadership and Organizational Leadership; Master of Arts majors in Health & Wellness, Creativity Studies, Literature & Writing, History & Culture, and Leadership, Public Policy & Social Issues; and a Master of Arts program major with residency in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
The online Master of Arts program emphasizes the connections between academics and real-world application, and is built around students’ own questions and interests. Program faculty encourage interplay between education and experience, theory and practice, and help students reflect on the lessons they learn by looking at a question from many vantage points.
UI&U’s Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies degree program includes majors in Educational Studies, Humanities & Culture, Ethical & Creative Leadership, and Public Policy & Social Change. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Studies Specialization is offered to supplement a doctoral student’s primary work.
Certificate Programs
UI&U also offers certificate programs in Forensic Science Management, Homeland Security (undergraduate), Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling, and Health Education (graduate), as well as a variety of continuing education courses and workshops.
Who is UI&U for?
UI&U hosts commencement ceremonies throughout the year. More than 15,500 alumni have completed their degrees while juggling career and/or family responsibilities.
Among the notable alumni are Portia Simpson Miller, former Prime Minister of Jamaica; bestselling author and poet Rita Mae Brown; Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Jungian analyst and author of Women Who Run With the Wolves; Jane O’Meara Driscoll Sanders, wife of U. S. Senator Bernie Sanders; police chiefs and sheriffs; and numerous university presidents.
Committed to providing the best value for an online university, UI&U offers accelerated degree completion options and a liberal transfer policy, and financial aid is available. Resources for veterans include scholarships and credits for military education and experience, as well as GI Bill assistance.
Additional Center Services
Other student services include writing assistance, an online library, and career development. The Hollywood center, one of five academic centers that include locations in Ohio, Vermont and California, offers academic advising, a computer lab, workshops, and community events.
“Our center is your resource as you need it,” said Ashley S. Finkes, UI&U’s Director of Marketing. “Our staff and our faculty work with students on a personal basis every day. We are accessible to anyone, anywhere.”
A Part of the Community
As a national university with a local feel, UI&U is community-driven.
“Giving back to the community is something we pride ourselves on,” Finkes said. “We’re excited to be in the Hollywood area and put our footprint on the community.”
“Hollywood has already proven to be a welcoming and supportive city for UI&U,” Thomas added. “This city is poised for exciting growth and development, and we want to be part of making that happen.”
Open House set for Mar. 23
The Florida Academic Center will be hosting an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Thurs., March 23. Interested students can tour the new facility and learn about the exciting happenings at Union. The event will include refreshments, free giveaways and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m.
Call 305.653.7141 to RSVP.
For more information on Union Institute & University, call 305-653-7141. To learn more about course offerings, admissions and financial aid resources, visit www.myunion.edu. UI&U can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/myunionedu.