School Details
Charter Oak State College, a distance learning institution, provides non-traditional adult students the opportunity to earn undergraduate or graduate degrees from anywhere, any time. The flexibility of programming allows for a balance between education, family life and career paths, helping individuals develop personally as well as academically and professionally. Learn to think critically, communicate effectively and more with COSC.
Working adults may take advantage of online master’s, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees through COSC. Programs cover a variety of curriculums including business, education, arts, sciences and more. Charter Oak State College assesses courses, graduates, faculty and current students to provide innovative and effective programs.
Accreditation & Licensing
Charter Oak State College is accredited by:
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
All Programs
Art & Liberal Arts
Charter Oak State College offers the online Associate in Arts or Associate in Science in General Studies. There are several concentrations offered to suit students' personal interests and professional goals:
- Individualized Studies
- Liberal Studies
- American Studies
- Child & Youth Development
- Child Studies
- Human Resources
- Information Systems Studies
- Organizational Leadership
- Paralegal Studies
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Public Safety Administration
- Sociology
Charter Oak State College offers the online Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in General Studies. There are several concentrations offered to suit students' personal interests and professional goals:
- Individualized Studies
- Liberal Studies
- American Studies
- Child & Youth Development
- Child Studies
- Human Resources
- Information Systems Studies
- Organizational Leadership
- Paralegal Studies
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Public Safety Administration
- Sociology
Business
A Business Administration degree online from Charter Oak State College prepares graduates for leadership positions in business, non-profit, and governmental organizations. The General Business concentration allows you to customize your studies through a broad range of topics, some of which include accounting, management, information systems and marketing.
Graduates of this online business administration degree will gain an understanding of the global business environment, information technology, world markets and more.
Get ahead on your degree progress through:
- College-level examinations
- ACE military credits
- Transfer credits
Gain the skills you need to manage the human side of business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources. This online program from Charter Oak State College prepares you for HR management positions within any organization.
This online Human Resources degree program encourages the development of decision-making, leadership, teamwork, and motivational skills. Students also learn about topics such as allocation of resources and business applications of information technology.
Courses cover subject areas such as:
- Business law
- Principles of management
- Financial and managerial accounting
- Finance management
- Organizational behavior
The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration focusing on Organizational Management provides key skills and insights into leading groups of people in a workplace setting. This online program from Charter Oak State College can lead to management positions in nearly any industry.
This online business management degree program encourages the development of decision-making, leadership, teamwork, and motivational skills. Students also learn about topics such as allocation of resources and business applications of information technology.
Courses cover subject areas such as:
- Business law
- Principles of management
- Financial and managerial accounting
- Finance management
- Organizational behavior
Charter Oak State College offers a fully online Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an optional concentration in Project Management. Students in this program will gain important skills to prepare them for leadership roles in a wide range of industries.
This online Project Management degree program encourages the development of decision-making, leadership, teamwork, and motivational skills. Students also learn about topics such as allocation of resources and business applications of information technology.
Courses cover subject areas such as:
- Business law
- Principles of management
- Financial and managerial accounting
- Finance management
- Organizational behavior
Gain skills to help you successfully open and run your own business with the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration focused on Small Business. Students in this degree program will learn the essentials of all aspects of business management.
Courses encourage decision-making, leadership, teamwork, and motivational skills. Students in this online Entrepreneurship degree program also learn about topics such as allocation of resources and business applications of information technology.
Topics covered in this Business Administration degree include:
- Business law
- Principles of management
- Financial and managerial accounting
- Finance management
- Organizational behavior
Charter Oak State College offers an online Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources Management. Students completing this degree will have the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully fill HR roles in various business, government, and nonprofit organizations.
Courses cover topics in recruitment, development, and retention of quality employees. Students will learn about HR operations, employment law, employee relations, training and development, performance, and compensation systems. Graduates will be well prepared to drive organizational performance in dynamic business environments.
The curriculum of this online HR Management degree program examines:
- Organizational communication
- Managing people in a global economy
- Diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- Union and labor relations
- Leadership
Complete your Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership degree entirely online with Charter Oak State College. Skills gained through this program prepare students for leadership and management positions in business, government, and nonprofit organizations.
Coursework provides key knowledge in various business disciplines, as well as leadership skills useful in any environment. Students learn how to drive performance at the individual, team, and organizational levels. Classes emphasize motivation, team dynamics, ethical behavior, and organizational change processes.
Graduates will have valuable skills in areas such as:
- Organizational communication
- HR management
- Marketing
- Diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Charter Oak State College offers an online Certificate in Project Management. This three-course program prepares students for professional certification with the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Students learn how to competently perform as a project team member and leader in situations ranging from small single projects to large, complex, and multiple projects. Courses introduce innovative project management tools and approaches to improve on traditional methods.
Gain vital leadership skills with a Graduate Certificate in Leadership from Charter Oak State College. This online program encourages students to assess their own leadership style and critically examine organizational challenges. Courses in this organizational leadership online program analyze aspects of organizational interactions as individual, group, and organizational levels. Students’ real-world knowledge and experiences serve as a basis for expanded understanding of leadership competencies.
Advance your career opportunities with a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership online from Charter Oak State College. This four-course program is designed to prepare you for leadership roles and responsibilities specific to the nonprofit sector.
Students learn how to plan and implement fundraising activities, as well as market and brand their nonprofit organization. Courses in management and leadership equip students with skills necessary to successfully effect organizational change. Graduates will be prepared to create a mission and strategies that focus on creating lasting social impact.
Pursue a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Development entirely online from Charter Oak State College. This four-course certificate program is designed for working professionals who want to take their leadership skills to the next level.
Courses examine various coaching, mentoring, and motivational models and their applications in the workplace. Students learn how to analyze and design high performing organizations. Enhanced leadership skills gained from this online organizational leadership program prepare students to lead successful strategic change initiatives.
The Master of Science in Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership from Charter Oak State College is a degree enabling students to sharpen their leadership skills and organizational competency. Graduates will assess their own personal leadership style, critically examine organizational challenges and analyze various aspects of organizational interactions at all levels.
Students can choose to concentrate in either Business or Nonprofit as they progress through the online master's in organizational leadership. Business courses focus on leadership and effective communications. The Nonprofit option centers its studies on fundraising and social change.
Computer Science & IT
Graduates of the BS in General Studies focusing on Information Systems will be prepared to use information technology to create computer-based systems that support organizations. Students in this program learn how to address the business, technical, societal, and ethical aspects of Information Systems.
Courses examine the use of information technology to acquire, organize, and communicate data. Students gain experience in coordinating processes and making data-informed decisions. Graduates of this online computer information systems degree understand the importance of professional and personal integrity, cultural awareness, and ethical behavior in their career paths.
Courses cover topics such as:
- Statistics
- Database management and design
- Systems analysis and design
- Computer networking
- Software engineering
Criminal Justice, Safety & Law
You can understand the importance of ethics and professional behavior as it relates to due process in crime with the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice / General from Charter Oak State College. The online criminal justice degree prepares you for a range of professional roles in such areas as:
- Conflict resolution
- Policy development
- Offender rehabilitation
- Substance abuse counseling
Through the online criminal justice bachelor’s degree program, you examine such components as the police, courts, and corrections. Graduates develop skills in research, data analysis, and communication to work effectively in professional environments.
You can learn to help those affected by crime with the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice / Victim Advocacy from Charter Oak State College. The online criminal justice degree offers studies in such topics as:
- Victimology
- Victim’s rights and services
- Domestic and sexual violence
- Mental health and substance abuse
Through the online criminal justice bachelor’s degree program, you learn about prevention and punishment policies and practices. Graduates find rewarding careers in conflict resolution, policy development, law enforcement, and more.
You can prepare to work as a security professional with the Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security from Charter Oak State College. The online cyber security degree examines such topics as:
- Network Security
- Systems forensics, investigations, and response
- Hacker techniques, tools, and incident handling
- Auditing IT infrastructure for compliance
Through the online cyber security bachelor’s degree program, those with a background in computer science secure their futures in information assurance, IT security, or information systems security.
As a first responder, you can focus on administration with the Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration. The online administration degree offers courses in such topics as:
- Ethics
- Group dynamics
- Cultural diversity
- Political and legal systems
Through the online administration bachelor’s degree program, you can serve your community at a higher level. You gain the skills to manage change, organize people, and create innovation to solve organizational and social issues.
You can learn the best ethical and professional practices within the field of Law with the Certificate in Paralegal from Charter Oak State College. The online paralegal program focuses on such topics as:
- Civil procedures
- Technology in law
- Legal research, writing, and reasoning
- Legal ethics and professional responsibility
Through the online paralegal certificate program, you learn teamwork and management skills. Graduates understand attorney/client privilege and state and federal court structures to effectively assist attorneys with their work.
You can gain management skills for leadership roles with the Certificate in Public Safety Administration from Charter Oak State College. The online administration program offers training in such topics as:
- Ethics
- Cultural diversity
- Group dynamics
- Human and community service
Through the online administration certificate program, you prepare for supervisory roles in public safety. Sectors that most commonly hire professionals with these credentials include homeland security, fire science, and law enforcement.
Education
The Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education from Charter Oak meets the standards for the professional training of early childhood teachers. This online program prepares students to be head teachers in early childhood settings. It also lays a foundation for the BS in Early Childhood Education.
Besides teaching diversity and ethics, this online early childhood education associate’s degree prepares graduates to work with young children in various settings. The expert faculty presents study topics such as:
- Early language and literacy development
- The exceptional learner
- Observation and assessment
- Child development
Charter Oak can help you advance your career with its Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. This online program offers many benefits, such as a fully online format, transfer credits, and credits awarded for prior learning experiences.
The comprehensive curriculum provides a professional education for those wanting to work in early childhood education. Graduates can work in non-certified administrative positions or as teachers.
The online coursework follows the teaching philosophy of constructivist-based developmentally appropriate practices. The target student is from birth to 8 years old.
In providing a broad education, students learn health, safety, and nutrition. Other subjects covered in this program include:
- Observation and assessment
- Early language and literacy
- The exceptional learner
- Psychology of play
Healthcare
The online Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration is designed to provide professionals working in the health care industry, or a health care related industry, with the knowledge required to create, implement, and efficiently administer programs and services delivered by health care and health care related organizations. Courses include Health Care Systems and Administration, Health Care Quality Concepts and Principles, Contemporary Ethical Issues in Health and Health Care, and Economics of Health and Health Care.
Combine your interests in healthcare and technology with this health informatics bachelor degree online. Gain the knowledge and skills needed to manage patient data and work with electronic health records which is increasingly important in this digital age. The program is guided by the principle of “quality healthcare through quality information.”
Students will learn to:
- Understand medical science, information technology, and business management applicable to HIM
- Understand facts, terms, and concepts important to health information processing
- Do coding and billing
- Apply database technology to modern electronic medical records management
- Maintain quality management techniques in HIM
This online health informatics degree program prepares students to sit for the Registered Health Information Administration (RHIA) credential exam.
Nursing
Students who are currently registered nurses can increase their knowledge and skills and advance their careers with the online RN to BSN degree completion program from Charter Oak State College. Graduates are prepared to:
- Utilize informatics and patient care technology to enhance communication in the provision and management of safe, effective patient care
- Integrate determinants of health and patients' cultural beliefs and practices into the delivery and management of care
- Advocate for and participate in patient safety and quality initiatives
- Demonstrate a strong foundation in evidence-based nursing practice
- Utilize an ethical framework to advocate for patients amid economic, political, social, and demographic forces affecting the delivery of regional, national, and global health care
Psychology & Human Services
Study the science of behavior with the online bachelor’s degree in Psychology through Charter Oak State College. Students of this degree program can choose to study either General Psychology or concentrations in Life Span, Social/Behavioral, or Cognition and Learning.
Cognition and Learning studies perceptions, memories, attention and focus, language, and problem solving. Graduates will understand the principles of behavior and be able to apply them to individuals, society, and institutions such as government, business, and mental health.
Classes cover a range of topics such as:
- History of psychology
- Research methods for behavioral sciences
- Learning and memory
- Abnormal psychology
- Neuropsychology
Study the science of behavior with the online bachelor’s degree in Psychology through Charter Oak State College. Students of this degree program can choose to study either General Psychology or concentrations in Life Span, Social/Behavioral, or Cognition and Learning.
Graduates will understand the principles of behavior and be able to apply them to individuals, society, and institutions such as government, business, and mental health.
Classes cover a range of topics such as:
- History of psychology
- Research methods for behavioral sciences
- Learning and memory
- Abnormal psychology
- Neuropsychology
Study the science of behavior with the online bachelor’s degree in Psychology through Charter Oak State College. Students of this degree program can choose to study either General Psychology or concentrations in Life Span, Social/Behavioral, or Cognition and Learning.
The Life Span concentration takes an in-depth look at patterns of growth, change, and stability in behavior that can happen across a person’s lifespan. Graduates will understand the principles of behavior and be able to apply them to individuals, society, and institutions such as government, business, and mental health.
Classes cover a range of topics such as:
- History of psychology
- Research methods for behavioral sciences
- Learning and memory
- Abnormal psychology
- Neuropsychology
Study the science of behavior with the online bachelor’s degree in Psychology through Charter Oak State College. Students of this degree program can choose to study either General Psychology or concentrations in Life Span, Social/Behavioral, or Cognition and Learning.
Social psychology examines how social situations affect people and how people affect one another. Behavioral psychology is based on the theory that all behaviors are learned through conditioning. Graduates will understand the principles of behavior and be able to apply them to individuals, society, and institutions such as government, business, and mental health.
Classes cover a range of topics such as:
- History of psychology
- Research methods for behavioral sciences
- Learning and memory
- Abnormal psychology
- Neuropsychology
Examine both scientific and humanistic perspectives with an online Sociology degree. Students will gain a better understanding of the characteristics, values, changes, causes, and effects of group life with this bachelor’s in Sociology online. Graduates will be prepared for careers in social work, counseling, or other fields supporting relationships, families, and communities.
Some core components of this degree program include studies in intergroup relationships, environment, social class, technology and communication, health-seeking behavior, and social movements.
Students choose electives from one of six specialty tracks:
- Social stratification
- Social organizations
- Social psychology
- Urban and rural psychology
- Sociology of the family
- Social change
The online gifted and special education bachelor’s degree, Bachelor of Science in Child Studies from Charter Oak, sets the foundation for advancement in several areas, such as:
- Human services
- Family and youth development
- Education
- Special education
The interdisciplinary coursework pulls from psychology, early childhood, and sociology. Students study typical and atypical child development. They demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of diversity, society, community, and family.
Graduates can enter the workforce as knowledgeable professionals. Those who wish to continue their education have the foundations for a graduate program in education or the social sciences.
You can explore mental health and substance abuse disorders with the Certificate in Victim Advocacy from Charter Oak State College. The online social work program offers courses in such topics as:
- Ethics
- Victimology
- Victim’s rights and services
- Sexual and domestic violence
Through the online social work certificate program, you learn the patterns and types of sexual violence, including prevention and punishment. Students learn to apply victim rights to criminal cases to be effective in their work.