Marian University has created 100% online Pre-College Program courses designed to give high school students, grades 9-12, a head start in exploring a wide variety of potential career options and majors in the areas of criminal investigation, business and health.

These courses are especially valuable for students who may be entering college as Undecided in their major. Marian University provides these students with a way to explore different programs with information, options, and advice from experts in various fields.

Highlights of the Marian Pre-College Program

Marian University’s pre-college program allows high school students to learn while they earn college credit. The courses start in Spring 2023. Registration is open until March 1, 2023, or earlier if classes reach capacity.

The pre-college program provides an opportunity to learn about the latest career trends. Other highlights include:

  • Students choose from Intro to Business Professions (BUA 100), Intro to Criminal Investigation Professions (CRJ 204), and Intro to Health Professions (ALH 100).
  • The courses are offered 100% online
  • Students earn one college credit for each five-week course completed
  • The registration fee is only $50 per course
  • Students receive a $500 per year award (up to $2,000 off tuition for a bachelor’s degree at Marian University)
  • The courses are offered on different days of the week allowing students the opportunity to participate in all three.

How the Pre-College Program Works

Marian University invites expert speakers for each course to advise students about trends and innovations in their respective fields. The courses also involve interactive, faculty-led discussions.

Introduction to Health Professions

March 15 to April 12, 2023

Students explore various healthcare careers. Disciplines include nursing, social work, radiologic technology, sonography, exercise and sports science, forensic science, and psychology.

Introduction to Business Professions

March 14 to April 11, 2023

Students explore business-related careers such as accounting, economics, finance, healthcare administration, human resources, management, marketing, operations, and sports and recreation management.

Introduction to Criminal Investigation Professions

March 13 to April 10, 2023

Students explore crime-solving techniques and crime scene investigation. Careers in forensic science, criminal justice, psychology, biology, homeland security, social work, and social justice are explored.

All three professions offer many interesting careers to pursue. The latest information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that 12.4 million people with business degrees in the United States earn a median salary of $65,000. The most popular areas of employment are business management and administration, accounting, finance, and marketing. Some of the most popular jobs in business that require a bachelor’s degree include:

  • Financial manager
  • Management analyst
  • Human resource specialist
  • Accountants and auditors
  • Business managers

The BLS reports that 4.9 million people work as professionals in healthcare, making a median annual salary of $63,000. The most popular areas of employment include nursing, treatment therapy, pharmaceutical sciences and administration, and general medical and health services. Some of the most popular jobs in healthcare that require a bachelor’s degree include:

  • Medical and health services managers
  • Speech-language pathologists
  • Physical and occupational therapists
  • Radiology technicians
  • Registered nurses
  • Ultrasound technicians

The Police and Detectives BLS data shows that job growth is 3% with median pay of $66,020 per year.  Over 800,000 people work in this job category in the U.S. Some of the most popular jobs in criminal justice that require a bachelor’s degree include:

  • Fish and game wardens
  • FBI detectives and investigators
  • Police lieutenants
  • Emergency management directors

A Mission to Support High School Students

Marian first offered the online Pre-College Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing students to earn college credit online while learning about majors and careers in their area of interest.

“Our mission is to provide access to all high school students, grades 9th through 12th. Through this program, we offer them an opportunity to learn more about careers and college through high-value programs available at a low cost,” said Megan Liptow, Executive Director of Undergraduate Enrollment at Marian University.

The program has met with such success that Marian opened additional sections for each course. “There’s a clear desire among students for information that allows them to make more informed choices. We’ve enrolled students in Wisconsin from across the United States and Canada,” Liptow said.

Benefits of the Pre-College Program

Students take the Pre-College Program courses online through the same convenient online learning system Marian University students use. Each course provides students with critical information and guidance as they determine the next steps in their academic journey.

The courses also benefit high school guidance counselors. The program supports meeting benchmarks in career planning assistance, promoting career development theories, and postsecondary planning. Additionally, the courses help students understand the importance of postsecondary education and training as a pathway to a career.

“At its core, the Pre-College Program meets the university’s mission of providing high-quality courses to as many students as we can reach,” said Liptow. “It’s also an impactful way for Marian to provide a service to students and the greater education community.”