Dr. Robert G. Mayes Sr. founded the Columbia Southern University (CSU) at Orange Beach, Alabama in 1993. It is a privately owned, online educational institution that first offered degree programs in Environmental Engineering and Occupational Safety and Health. Now the University has widened its offerings to include Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degrees in the fields of fire science, criminal justice, business administration, information technology, human resource management, and organizational leadership. Certificate and partner programs are also available.
To qualify for a CSU program, undergraduates need to have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Graduate program applicants should have an Accredited Bachelor’s degree, and those vying for Doctoral degrees will have to have an MA in Business Administration as well as 2 years professional work experience. Furthermore, all CSU students must have access to the Internet and have a valid e-mail account. International students may be requested to take the TOEFL or IELTS exams, however these may be waived depending on individual circumstance.
Tuition at CSU is charged on a per credit hour basis and costs $200.00 for undergraduate courses, $265.00 for graduate programs and $300.00 for doctorate classes. Students who are on active military duty enjoy a discounted rate of $250.00 per credit hour for graduate courses to comply with the Department of Defence’s annual ceiling cap of $4,500. Other financial aid in the form of federal and state grants, as well as the Robert G. Mayes Memorial Alumni Scholarship are available to qualified students. The CSU Office of Financial Aid will have more information on application requirements and procedures.
Columbia Southern University is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council.