Thomas Edison State College
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edison State College is a public institution of higher education
located in Trenton, New Jersey
. One of New Jersey's 12 public universities and colleges, Thomas Edison State College offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Thomas Edison State College was approved by the New Jersey Board of Education in December 1971, and established on July 1, 1972. The college was named in honor of Thomas Alva Edison, the New Jersey inventor who gained encyclopedic knowledge of many subject areas through self-directed learning.
in September 1979, at a time when other institutions were leaving cities. The 7-year-old college, which had spent three years at the Forrestal Center outside of Princeton, needed room for growth. At the same time, the state was looking for an appropriate tenant for the landmark Kelsey Building at the edge of the Capital Complex, while the city sought to preserve the building’s historic use as a school. Built in 1911 and one of the architectural landmarks of the city, the Kelsey Building housed three schools before serving as the headquarters for Thomas Edison State College.
, bachelor's
and master's degree
s in more than 100 areas of study to its more than 18,700 students in every state in the United States and more than 70 countries around the world. These programs are based in Thomas Edison State College’s five schools.
. The curriculum meets the educational and career needs of adult learners who work in environments that benefit from technical currency, practical knowledge and applied skills.
The Heavin School of Arts and Sciences provides an interdisciplinary approach to lifelong learning
for adult learners interested in exploring values inherent in the liberal arts
, humanities
, natural sciences and social sciences
, as well as rigorous degree programs in the human services.
The School of Business and Management provides a broad curriculum that encompasses the academic and professional areas of current business
and management
specialties. Organizational leadership
is a strong focus of its curriculum, which ensures college-level competence in business and the arts and sciences
The School of Nursing provides students with innovative degree programs that meet the educational and career needs of licensed registered nurses who want an alternative to campus-based instruction.
The John S. Watson School of Public Service and Continuing Studies offers degree programs and advanced certificate programs that cover domestic and international issues, including public policy
studies, nonprofit management, financial management
, public policy analysis, regional planning
, early childhood education
, environmental policy
/environmental justice
and health policy and management
.
Currently, the BS is only offered for those majoring in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
magazine identified Thomas Edison State College in 1997 as one of the top 20 colleges and universities in the nation in the use of technology to create learning opportunities for adults and, as an early adopter of online education and administration, the college's computer network was cited in 1994 as “one of the brighter stars of higher learning” by The New York Times
. The college's Bachelor of Arts degree programs in psychology, social sciences and sociology were ranked among the top "Best Buys" in the country for online accredited degree programs in those fields, while the college's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree was named one of the top five "Best Buys" in the country for an online accredited business degree, both by GetEducated.com.
After thoughtful consideration and reflection by the governor and the legislature, a consensus was reached that the merger proposal would not go forward. On June 29, 2010, the governor, the legislative leadership in both houses, and of both parties, concurred with Thomas Edison State College’s view that the public interest
was best served by maintaining the autonomy
and special mission
of both Rutgers and Thomas Edison State College.
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
located in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. One of New Jersey's 12 public universities and colleges, Thomas Edison State College offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Thomas Edison State College was approved by the New Jersey Board of Education in December 1971, and established on July 1, 1972. The college was named in honor of Thomas Alva Edison, the New Jersey inventor who gained encyclopedic knowledge of many subject areas through self-directed learning.
Campus
Thomas Edison State College moved into downtown TrentonTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
in September 1979, at a time when other institutions were leaving cities. The 7-year-old college, which had spent three years at the Forrestal Center outside of Princeton, needed room for growth. At the same time, the state was looking for an appropriate tenant for the landmark Kelsey Building at the edge of the Capital Complex, while the city sought to preserve the building’s historic use as a school. Built in 1911 and one of the architectural landmarks of the city, the Kelsey Building housed three schools before serving as the headquarters for Thomas Edison State College.
Academics
The college offers 20 associateAssociate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
, bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s in more than 100 areas of study to its more than 18,700 students in every state in the United States and more than 70 countries around the world. These programs are based in Thomas Edison State College’s five schools.
Schools
The School of Applied Science and Technology provides students with innovative degree programs to gain expertise in the fields of the applied sciences and technologyTechnology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
. The curriculum meets the educational and career needs of adult learners who work in environments that benefit from technical currency, practical knowledge and applied skills.
The Heavin School of Arts and Sciences provides an interdisciplinary approach to lifelong learning
Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is the continuous building of skills and knowledge throughout the life of an individual. It occurs through experiences encountered in the course of a lifetime...
for adult learners interested in exploring values inherent in the liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
, humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
, natural sciences and social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, as well as rigorous degree programs in the human services.
The School of Business and Management provides a broad curriculum that encompasses the academic and professional areas of current business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
specialties. Organizational leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
is a strong focus of its curriculum, which ensures college-level competence in business and the arts and sciences
The School of Nursing provides students with innovative degree programs that meet the educational and career needs of licensed registered nurses who want an alternative to campus-based instruction.
The John S. Watson School of Public Service and Continuing Studies offers degree programs and advanced certificate programs that cover domestic and international issues, including public policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
studies, nonprofit management, financial management
Managerial finance
Managerial finance is the branch of finance that concerns itself with the managerial significance of finance techniques. It is focused on assessment rather than technique....
, public policy analysis, regional planning
Regional planning
Regional planning deals with the efficient placement of land use activities, infrastructure, and settlement growth across a larger area of land than an individual city or town. The related field of urban planning deals with the specific issues of city planning...
, early childhood education
Early childhood education
Early childhood education is the formal teaching and care of young children by people other than their family or in settings outside of the home. 'Early childhood' is usually defined as before the age of normal schooling - five years in most nations, though the U.S...
, environmental policy
Environmental policy
Environmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...
/environmental justice
Environmental justice
Environmental justice is "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." In the words of Bunyan Bryant,...
and health policy and management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
.
Degree Programs
Thomas Edison State College offers 14 degrees at the undergraduate level, including six associate degrees and eight bachelor's degrees in more than 100 major areas of study. The college also offers six graduate degrees as well as undergraduate, graduate and noncredit certificates.Associate Degrees
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
- Associate in Arts (AA)
- Associate in Arts in Human Services (AAHS)
- Associate in Science in Applied Science and Technology (ASAST)
- Associate in Science in Business Administration (ASBA)
- Associate in Science in Natural Sciences and Mathematics (ASNSM)
Bachelor's Degrees
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Science (BS)
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology (BSAST)
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)
- Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHeS)
- Bachelor of Science in Human Services (BSHS)
- Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership (BSOL)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Currently, the BS is only offered for those majoring in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Graduate Degrees
- Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEdL)
- Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS)
- Master of Science in Applied Science and Technology (MSAST)
- Master of Science in Human Resources Management (MSHRM)
- Master of Science in Management (MSM)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Undergraduate Certificates
Undergraduate certificates generally require 18 credits of study. The Gas Distribution certificate is a 12-credit program.- Accounting
- Computer-Aided Design
- Computer Information Systems
- Computer Science
- Dental Assistant
- Electronics
- Finance
- Fitness and Wellness Services
- Gas Distribution
- Human Resources Management
- Labor Studies
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Polysomnography
- Public Administration
Graduate Certificates
- Clinical Trials Management
- Homeland Security
- Human Resources Management
- Nurse Educator Certificate (Post-Master’s)
- Online Learning and Teaching
- Organizational Management and Leadership
- Public Service Leadership
- N.J. Educational Leadership Supervisor's Certificate (Awarded by NJ Department of Education)
Current Accreditation
Thomas Edison State College's accreditations are as follows:- The school has been regionally accreditedRegional accreditationRegional accreditation is a term used in the United States to refer to educational accreditation conducted by any of several accreditation bodies established to serve six defined geographic areas of the country for accreditation of schools, colleges, and universities...
by the Middle States Association of Colleges and SchoolsMiddle States Association of Colleges and SchoolsThe Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
since 1977. - The school's nursingNursingNursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
programs are accredited by the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the National League for NursingNational League for NursingThe National League for Nursing is a national organization for faculty nurses and leaders in nurse education. It offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to more than 25,000 individual and 1,200 education and...
Accrediting Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing EducationCommission on Collegiate Nursing EducationThe Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is an autonomous nursing education accrediting agency that contributes to the improvement of the public's health. The CCNE is recognized by the U.S...
. - The school's Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Program is accredited by The Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). The TEAC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education AccreditationCouncil for Higher Education AccreditationThe Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation in order to certify the quality of higher education...
.
Reviews
ForbesForbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine identified Thomas Edison State College in 1997 as one of the top 20 colleges and universities in the nation in the use of technology to create learning opportunities for adults and, as an early adopter of online education and administration, the college's computer network was cited in 1994 as “one of the brighter stars of higher learning” by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. The college's Bachelor of Arts degree programs in psychology, social sciences and sociology were ranked among the top "Best Buys" in the country for online accredited degree programs in those fields, while the college's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree was named one of the top five "Best Buys" in the country for an online accredited business degree, both by GetEducated.com.
Notable Alumni
- Arthur C. BrooksArthur C. BrooksArthur C. Brooks is an American social scientist and musician. He is the president of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. Brooks is best known for his work on the junctions between culture, economics, and politics...
, EconomistEconomistAn economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, President of the American Enterprise InstituteAmerican Enterprise InstituteThe American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
. - Bonnie Watson ColemanBonnie Watson ColemanBonnie Watson Coleman is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1998, where she represents the 15th Legislative District....
, Majority LeaderMajority leaderIn U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
of the New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
General AssemblyNew Jersey General AssemblyThe New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
. - Mike Davis, former Indiana UniversityIndiana UniversityIndiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
head men's basketball coach and current head coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham - Steven L. HermanSteven L. HermanSteven L Herman, is a broadcast correspondent and bureau chief for the Voice of America, based in Seoul.-Reporting:Herman was one of the few journalists to spend time in the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant "hot zone" and visit the grounds of the crippled facility in April 2011...
, South AsiaSouth AsiaSouth Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
bureau chief and a Radio/TV CorrespondentCorrespondentA correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
for the Voice of AmericaVoice of AmericaVoice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
. - Brian M. HughesBrian M. HughesBrian M. Hughes is the County Executive for Mercer County and a former member of the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders.He was elected in November 2003, becoming the first Democrat to hold the post of the highest elected official in the county in 24 years....
, current Executive of New Jersey's Mercer CountyMercer County, New JerseyAs of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
. - Jim Harrington, NetworkRadio networkThere are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
Radio host. - Steve LevicoffSteve LevicoffSteve F. Levicoff is an American writer and former educator best known for his writings, in books and online, on adult higher education and distance learning, and his practical guides to law for evangelists and Christian counselors...
, WriterWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. - Tom LunaTom LunaThomas "Tom" Luna is the current Superintendent of Public Instruction in Idaho, sworn in on January 1, 2007. Before being elected to this position, he served on the Nampa School Board for seven years, three as chairman, and on the Idaho Achievement Standards Commission and Idaho Assessment and...
, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
Superintendent of Public Instruction. - Captain Edwin Muñiz M.D., Ph.D. and Ed.D., Aerospace PhysiologistAerospace physiologyAerospace physiology refers to effects on the human body caused by characteristics of the aerospace environment.This subject includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:* Spatial disorientation and airsickness* Vestibular system...
. - Michael D. ReynoldsMichael D. ReynoldsMichael D. Reynolds is the Dean of Mathematics & Sciences and Professor of Astronomy at Florida State College in Jacksonville, Florida...
, AstronomerAstronomerAn astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, currently a Dean at Florida Community College in Jacksonville. - Kristina SiscoKristina SiscoKristina Sisco is an American actress.-Biography:The daughter of a Navy reservist, Kristina moved four times by age 12. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, she moved to Texas and California before returning to Bethesda. At age 13, she began her acting career by working as an amateur reporter for a local...
, Actress. - Dr. Andrija (Zoran) Vujisić, Linguist.
Proposed merger with Rutgers
In March 2010, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie proposed merging Thomas Edison State College into Rutgers.After thoughtful consideration and reflection by the governor and the legislature, a consensus was reached that the merger proposal would not go forward. On June 29, 2010, the governor, the legislative leadership in both houses, and of both parties, concurred with Thomas Edison State College’s view that the public interest
Public interest
The public interest refers to the "common well-being" or "general welfare." The public interest is central to policy debates, politics, democracy and the nature of government itself...
was best served by maintaining the autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
and special mission
Mission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
of both Rutgers and Thomas Edison State College.