School Details
McNeese State University is a four-year public school located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. MSU was founded as a Lake Charles Junior College in 1939 and adopted its current name in 1970.
McNeese State University offers associate degrees, bachelor degrees, master’s degrees, and certificates of completion. Degree programs are offered between the school’s various colleges.
The University motto is “Excellence with a Personal Touch” and is expressed in unique programs and professional faculty. McNeese State University provides a variety of affordable online graduate and undergraduate degree programs designed to help students earn a degree at their own pace. Some programs allow students to earn degrees completely online, while hybrid courses include some in-class time. For over 80 years, McNeese State University has been respected as an institution of innovation and academic excellence. McNeese is ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States and one of the finest regional universities in the South.
Accreditation & Licensing
McNeese State University is accredited by:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
All Programs
Art & Liberal Arts
Earn an Associate of General Studies degree online through McNeese State University distance learning. This customizable, interdisciplinary program is designed for students interested in a broad-based education. Available concentrations include but are not limited to:
- Arts and Humanities
- Applied and Natural Sciences
- Behavioral Sciences
Students will develop written and oral communication, critical and creative thinking, and other skills directly applicable to a wide variety of workplaces. Courses are available 100% online, making this a solid option for the working adult. Students may choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a desired subject or careers from criminal justice and economics to art education and religious studies.
McNeese State University online offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a concentration in General History to the nontraditional adult student. This program offers students a broader understanding of events of the past leading to the present. Studies cover topics including but not limited to:
- Foreign language
- British literature
- Social and behavioral sciences
Students will develop skills in research, written and oral communication, analysis, and more. With this degree students are prepped for certification to teach grades 6 through 12. Graduates may pursue a master’s degree in history or entry-level careers in government, law, education, and other historian positions.
An online Bachelor of General Studies degree is available to the nontraditional student at McNeese State University. This interdisciplinary program is customizable to fit individual academic and professional goals. Degree concentrations include:
- Applied and Natural Sciences
- Arts and Humanities
- Behavioral Science
Courses are available 100% online or in blended formats. Students have benefits including personalized advising and expert faculty leading the online classroom. Develop a broad based knowledge and skill set through training to adapt to today’s rapidly changing marketplace. Graduates may pursue career paths in sales, project coordination, technical writing, and more, while also having the option to move forward academically to a more advanced degree.
Business
The Bachelor of Science in Management, an online business management degree, allows students to jumpstart their business career. Prepare for a career that involves the organization and allocation of resources, the division of tasks, and the supervision and direction of personnel. The curriculum combines business-specific skills with interpersonal skills. Courses cover such areas as:
- Accounting
- Global business
- Business ethics and law
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Professional decision making
This online business management degree allows students to pursue their degree when and where they choose without putting their lives on hold.
A concentration in Human Resources Management is available for those who want to focus on recruiting and retaining employees.
This online Master of Business Administration supplies an international perspective, preparing students to enter today’s industry with a global mindset and a competitive educational edge. Graduates are equipped with the tools and techniques to meet the challenges of value, fast-paced data, and cultural affect.
Students will study foundational topics including:
- Economics
- Accounting
- Management
- Marketing
- Organizational behavior
The 100% online MBA option creates a flexible learning platform for working professionals, allowing balance between career and academics. Learn to help sustain, lead and contribute to your organization or any administrative environment.
Criminal Justice, Safety & Law
The online Bachelor in Science in Criminal Justice prepares students for success in the criminal justice and related fields. Through this online program, students learn how the system handles crime and offenders, and the various roles of criminal justice practitioners. There are many online resources available to students for academic support and research.
Classes include, but are not limited to:
- American Government
- Crime and Jurisdiction
- Ethics in Criminal Justice
Career opportunities for graduates include jobs in forensics, private investigation, criminal profiling, probation, parole, intelligence, policing, social work, and more. Classes have a small student-to-faculty ratio to maximize personal attention. Graduates are ready to serve communities in law, politics, court administration, advocacy, and more by obtaining the online Bachelor in Science in Criminal Justice.
The online Master of Science in Criminal Justice produces leaders in safety, service, and problem-solving. Students gain useful skills and participate in various projects. This online master’s degree program is ideal for busy, working professionals trying to balance work, education, and other responsibilities.
Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Forensics
- Corrections
- Ethics and Justice Administration
The experience gained through the online master’s degree in Criminal Justice empowers students’ professional growth and provides skills that employers are seeking. Career opportunities for graduates include jobs in courts, crime labs, corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and more. Graduates are equipped with the necessary tools and training to succeed in the field of criminal justice.
Education
A valid teaching license is your entry into a graduate program that can open doors for your career and your gifted students. The Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Academically Gifted Education from MSU provides a specialized and pragmatic educational program.
Students appreciate the relevant and rigorous gifted education program that includes field experiences for the practical application of content knowledge. Besides mentor-teaching training courses and research classes, students study such topics as:
- Characteristics of gifted individuals
- Creative thinking and problem-solving
- Methods for teaching the academically gifted
- Social and emotional needs of the gifted
Licensed teachers can achieve graduate-level expertise in reading and literacy with the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Content Literacy in K-12 Education from MSU. This online program offers your choice of mentor teacher training from elementary, secondary, secondary mathematics, or universal teaching.
This online reading and literacy education program provides content knowledge in such areas as:
- Technology
- Counseling
- Leadership
- Technology
The program’s pragmatic and specialized scope blends theoretical content with practical applications through field experiences. Teachers gain professional development that furthers their careers in education.
Those with a valid teaching license can broaden the scope of their offerings with the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / English Learners. This online ESL master’s degree accepts new students in the fall.
Your online ESL graduate program includes rigorous and relevant coursework as well as field experiences. Graduates find success in professional roles in P-12 settings.
With an emphasis on leadership and technology, you gain the skills and knowledge to boost your career. Topics of study include:
- Policy, law, and ethics
- Structure of the English language
- Curriculum design for the multicultural classroom
- Language and culture
You can gain expertise in special education with the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Special Education Mild/Moderate for Elementary Education. Through field experiences and relevant and rigorous coursework, you gain skills in leadership, counseling, and technology.
Your online gifted and special education classes follow a specialized and pragmatic scope. Topics of study include:
- Collaboration and consultation strategies for program planning
- Portfolio management for teacher education programs and certifications
- Technology for students with special needs
- Reading assessment, diagnosis, and intervention
You can gain mastery in special education for grades 6 – 12 with the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Special Education Mild/Moderate for Secondary Education. The online, graduate-level program includes field experiences to blend theoretical content knowledge with practical application.
Your online gifted and special education master’s degree broadens your knowledge base to include the following:
- Technology
- Leadership
- Counseling
- Curriculum and instruction
McNeese State University proves its commitment to student success with an extensive offering of student support services. You will find career and professional development services, a language resource center, a tutoring center, and more.
All it takes is motivation and your valid teacher’s license to up your game in education. Through the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Transformational Teaching & Learning from MSU, you can better serve your students and your school.
The online curriculum and instruction master’s degree provides rigorous and relevant coursework to bring expertise to your classroom, benefitting both you and your students. Topics of study include such areas as:
- Advanced telecommunications and distance learning
- Instructional media design
- Educational telecommunications, networks, and the internet
- Design and development of multimedia for instruction
The online Master of Science in Instructional Technology program is intended for candidates who do not hold teaching certificates but work in administrative or support roles in settings other than P-12 classrooms. The curriculum prepares candidates to work with modern technology and use technology to enhance instruction in the classroom and in distance learning.
Study topics, including but not limited to:
- Design and development
- Visual learning
- Educational research
- Mobile technologies
You can earn an add-on teacher certification with the Post-Bachelor Certificate in School Librarian from MSU. This online library science certificate program starts with the summer session and can be completed entirely online.
Besides a library practicum, you will focus on such topics as:
- Books and related material for the secondary school
- Library reference
- Technical services in libraries
- Children’s literature and related materials
Your ticket to ride on this express train of graduate studies begins with the Post-Master Certificate in Academically Gifted Education. This online gifted and special education graduate program leads to an add-on teacher certification without investing your time and money in yet another degree.
New students start this gifted education certificate program in the fall semester. All courses can be completed online; however, in addition to your coursework, you must accomplish one of the following:
- A three-hour practicum for the academically gifted
- An internship in academically gifted
- Three years of successful teaching of the academically gifted
Nursing
The online RN to BSN degree completion program from McNeese State University provides registered nurses with a convenient and flexible pathway to earning their bachelor's degree and advancing their career. Coursework explores topics such as:
- Wellness Promotion
- Nursing Informatics
- Ethical and Legal Issues
- Leadership
- US Healthcare Organization and Delivery
McNeese State University offers an MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree online for RNs seeking to advance their careers in this direction. With this degree you will be able to act as the primary care provider for patients of all ages. You will be able to provide patients with preventive health services, health education, and disease management. As an FNP, you will monitor health and wellness, treat minor illnesses, and manage chronic diseases, ordering diagnostic tests and prescribing medications as needed.
In addition, all MSN degree programs develop skills in critical thinking and therapeutic intervention and prepare you to influence healthcare. Designed for working nurses, this online MSN degree offers the flexibility you need along with the support of a dedicated faculty and staff that are driven to help you succeed academically and professionally.
The Master of Nursing program is a cooperative educational opportunity offered in partnership through Southeastern Louisiana University, McNeese State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Nicholl's State University. Prospective students can enroll in their school of choice.
If you are an RN with a desire to share your experience and teach the next generation of nurses, this MSN in Nursing Education is a great way to advance your career. In this online nurse educator degree, you will complete the courses needed to become an effective educator and mentor. You will advance your skills in leadership and communication and be prepared to teach others in both educational and healthcare settings.
All MSN degree programs at McNeese State University develop skills in critical thinking and therapeutic intervention and are designed to prepare you to influence healthcare. Designed for working nurses, this online MSN degree offers the flexibility you need along with the support of a dedicated faculty and staff that are driven to help you succeed academically and professionally.
The Master of Nursing program is a cooperative educational opportunity offered in partnership through Southeastern Louisiana University, McNeese State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Nicholl's State University. Prospective students can enroll in their school of choice.
There is a high demand for psychiatric professionals that continues to grow as more people seek help for mental illnesses and psychiatrists reach retirement age. The MSN in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program online at McNeese State University advances the careers of RNs. Students gain the skills and knowledge needed to become advanced practice RN specialists who are capable of assessing and diagnosing mental health issues. You will be able to treat mental health issues through pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic interventions.
All MSN degree programs at McNeese State University develop skills in critical thinking and therapeutic intervention and are designed to prepare you to influence healthcare. Designed for working nurses, this online MSN degree offers the flexibility you need along with the support of a dedicated faculty and staff that are driven to help you succeed academically and professionally.
The Master of Nursing program is a cooperative educational opportunity offered in partnership through Southeastern Louisiana University, McNeese State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Nicholl's State University. Prospective students can enroll in their school of choice.
Psychology & Human Services
McNeese State University offers a bachelor’s in Sociology online to increase students’ knowledge and understanding of human society both past and present. Graduates will be prepared for a wide variety of careers in the field of Sociology or for furthering their education through related graduate studies.
A well rounded liberal arts degree, this Sociology degree online includes components of English, math, foreign language, natural sciences, and more. A senior research seminar capstone experience incorporates research methods, data gathering and analysis, and presenting findings on a topic of the student’s choice.
Core classes include topics such as:
- Social problems
- Introduction to psychology
- Social research methods
- Social stratification
- Sociological theory
Online Psychology degrees can increase your marketability in a variety of fields. This online bachelor’s degree in Psychology from McNeese State University increases your understanding of human behavior and gives you experience in research and data collection in topics such as adolescent and social Psychology.
Undergraduate research is built into the curriculum, with students designing their own study where they will gather, analyze, and report findings in a senior thesis paper. In-person internships offer real world opportunities to practice learned skills under the supervision of experienced providers. Graduates can work in a variety of industries such as social work, counseling, and education, or pursue a master’s degree for professional certification or licensure.
Possible job opportunities include:
- Case worker or social service aide
- Community relations officer
- Group home attendant or youth counselor
- Public health administrator
- Social-Urban planner
- Substance abuse counselor
- Vocational rehabilitation specialist