Universities, Colleges and Higher Education In The Eastern Panhandle of WV

Tucked neatly in the hills of West Virginia is a wealth of Higher Educational places. I say hills because if you go to the other parts of WV, such as Elkins or Charleston or Beckley. Those are real mountains compared to The Eastern Panhandle. Many of these colleges and universities have Distance Learning Centers such as on-line or televised classes for for those who need to schedule classes around their work schedules.

Off the beaten path in the Eastern Panhandle of WV are towns that have beautiful Universities tucked right into the center of town, such as Shepherd University. Oh, there are others nestled here in the foothills of the Eastern Panhandle too. The Panhandle is part of West Virginia but it is easy to see why it is forgotten with the rest of the state. That's because to get to the main part of the state you have to go through other states to get there. You can see that on the map at the right.

The Eastern Panhandle consists of three counties, Jefferson. Berkeley and Morgan. The main cities in each are:

Jefferson: Charles Town, which is the county seat and named for George Washington's brother and Shepherdstown. Shepherdstown was the original county seat until they moved it to Charles Town.

Berkeley: Martinsburg which is the county seat.

Morgan: Berkeley Springs.

When looking for a great college or university don't forget about the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Surrounding areas are, Washington County, Maryland which Hagerstown is located, Frederick County, Virginia which is the other Northern Virginia which Winchester is located. Baltimore and Washington D.C. are only a few hours away.

Come take a look with me at the Universities and Colleges there are here in this small part of the country, that everyone seems to forget.

Mountain State University has their main campus in Beckley, WV with satellite campuses all over WV including Martinsburg, which is in Berkeley County in the Eastern Panhandle

They offere many on-line classes for the aqquisition of degrees such as: Accounting B.S., A.S. Biology B.S. Business Administration – Finance B.S. Business Administration – Health Care Management B.S. Business Administration – Human Resource Management B.S. Business Administration – Management B.S., A.S. Business Administration – Marketing B.S., A.S. Business Studies B.S. Computer Science B.S., A.S. Criminal Justice B.S., A.S. Criminal Justice – Corrections Management B.S. Criminal Justice – Homeland Security B.S. Criminal Justice – Police Science B.S. Criminal Justice Administration M.C.J.A. Elementary Teacher Preparation A.A. Environmental Studies A.S. Forensic Investigation B.S. General Studies A.S., A.A. Gerontology Certificate Health Science M.H.S. Health Science Education B.S. Health Studies B.S. Human Resource Management A.S. Information Technology B.S. Information Technology – Website Design A.S. Interdisciplinary Studies M.S., M.A. Legal Studies – Pre-law B.S. Legal Studies – Paralegal A.S. Liberal Studies B.A., B.S. Medical Coding and Billing Certificate Medical Transcription Certificate Nursing B.S.N. Nursing – Administration and Education M.S.N. Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner M.S.N., Graduate Certificate Office Administration – Administrative Assistant Certificate Office Administration – Medical A.S. Office Administration – Secretarial A.S. Organizational Leadership B.S. Organizational Leadership – Criminal Justice Administration B.S. Psychology B.A. Psychology of Early Childhood Development A.A.S. Religious Studies B.A. Secondary Teacher Preparation A.A. Strategic Leadership M.S.S.L

For more information you can go to the Martinsburg Campus Website of Mountain State University

This is a 2 year college mainly to prep students to continuing their education in the main campus of the University of West Vrginia. It is located in a quaint small town of Keyser WV, in Mineral County, which is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from the main campus in Morgantown.

Academics include: 50 associate degrees transfer to WVU's main campus or most other four-year colleges, eight two-year, fast-track career and technical programs that prepare students for competitive jobs in areas including Hospitality & Tourism, Criminal Justice and Equine Production & Management, two four-year degrees in Business Management and Criminal Justice.

They also offer many on line courses for the ease of getting an education for your convenience.

Athletics include: men's baseball; co-ed golf; women's softball & volleyball; men's and women's basketball and soccer.

You can find out more on their website: Potomac State University

It is an accredited college serving the liberal arts community. It was started in 1971 when the county seat in Charles County moved to Charles Town. It is located on the banks of the Potomac River in the town of Shepherdstown, WV.

"*The University offers baccalaureate degrees in a wide range of fields, encompassing the liberal arts, business administration, teacher education, the social and natural sciences, and other career-oriented areas.

*The University provides credit courses for individuals that may not be seeking a specific degree, but who seek to broaden and update their knowledge in either familiar or new fields of intellectual endeavor.

*For the northern Shenandoah Valley region as a whole, the University is a center for noncredit continuing education, public service, and convenient citizen access to extensive programs in art, music, theater, athletics, and other areas of public interest. Shepherd University has a responsibility to extend its resources beyond the campus, bringing higher education closer to those who seek it."

Undergraduate studies and degrees include: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, math and Engineering, Environmental and Physical Sciences, Contemporary Art and Theater, Accounting, Business Admin,. Economic, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology and Geology, English and Modern Language, History, Mass Communications and Music, Educations and Physical Education, Recreations and Sports, Health, and Nursing.

They are recognised by their Teaching Degree prograns and have Pre-Proffesional studies in Veternary Medicine, Dentistry, Medicine and some others.

To learn more about the college go to their website at Shepherd Universtiy

AMU is affiliated with the American Public University serving our armed forces and their families. They are located in Charles Town, WV.

The highly acclaimed movie "Gods and Generals" was also filmed in this city.

"Service. Leadership. Relevance in a global society. These values define our mission at American Public University System. They guide how we educate and support more than 70,000 distance learners studying in 50 states and more than 100 countries. They shape the growth of our two institutions, American Public University and American Military University. They are a roadmap for how we prepare you for successful careers.

How do we set ourselves apart from other distance learning and traditional “brick-and-mortar” universities?"

The programs that they offer are:

Accounting - (AA). Air Warfare - (Grad Cert), American History - (Grad Cert), American Revolution Studies - (Grad Cert), Ancient and Classical History - (Grad Cert), Asymmetrical Warfare - (Grad Cert), Athletic Administration - (Grad Cert), Business Administration - (AA, Bachelor's, Master's), Business Administration-Practicum Option - (Master's), Child and Family Development - (BA), Civil War Studies - (Grad Cert), Communication - (AA), Competitive Intelligence - (Grad Cert), Computer Applications - (AS), Computer Systems and Networks - (Undergrad Cert), Corrections Management - (Undergrad Cert), Counter Terrorism Studies - (AA), Criminal Justice - (BA, BS, Grad Cert, MA), Criminal Justice-Capstone Option - (MA), Cybercrime - (Grad Cert), Cybercrime Essentials - (Undergrad Cert), Database Application Development - (AS), Digital Forensics - (Grad Cert), Early Childhood Care and Education - (AA), Education: Teaching - (M. Ed.), Education: Administration and Supervision - (M. Ed.), Education: Guidance and Counseling - (M. Ed.), Education: Teaching Concentration in Elementary Education - (M. Ed.), Education: Teaching Concentration in Secondary Social Studies - (M. Ed.), Emergency and Disaster Management - (BA, Grad Cert, MA), Emergency and Disaster Management-Capstone Option - (MA), English - (BA), Enterprise Web Applications - (Undergrad Cert), Enterprise Web Applications Using .Net - (Undergrad Cert), Environmental Policy and Management - (MS), Environmental Policy and Management-Capstone Option - (MS), Environmental Studies - (BS), European History - (Grad Cert), Explosive Ordnance Disposal - (AS, Undergrad Cert), Family Studies - (Undergrad Cert), Fire Science - (AS, Undergrad Cert), Fire Science Management - (BS), Forensics - (Undergrad Cert), General Studies - (AA, BA), Hazardous Waste Management - (Undergrad Cert), History - (AA, BA, MA), History-Capstone Option - (MA), History-Practicum Option - (MA), Homeland Security - (BA, Grad Cert, MA, Undergrad Cert), Homeland Security-Capstone Option - (MA), Hospitality - (AA), Hospitality Management - (BA), Human Resource Management - (Undergrad Cert), Humanities - (MA), Humanities-Capstone Option - (MA), Infant and Toddler Care - (Undergrad Cert), Information Assurance - (Grad Cert), Information Security Planning - (Undergrad Cert), Information Systems Security - (BS, Grad Cert), Information Systems Security Essentials - (Undergrad Cert), Information Technology - (BS, MS), Information Technology Management - (BS), Instructional Design and Delivery - (Undergrad Cert), Intelligence Analysis - (Grad Cert, Undergrad Cert), Intelligence Studies - (BA, Grad Cert), Intelligence Studies-Capstone Option - (MA), International Relations - (BA), International Relations and Conflict Resolution - (MA), International Relations and Conflict Resolution-Capstone Option - (MA), Internet Webmaster - (Undergrad Cert), IT Infrastructure Security - (Undergrad Cert), IT Project Management - (Grad Cert), IT Project Management Essentials - (Undergrad Cert), Joint Warfare - (Grad Cert), Land Warfare - (Grad Cert), Legal Studies - (BS, MA), Logistics Management - (Grad Cert), Management - (AA, BA, MA), Management-Practicum Option - (MA), Marketing - (BA), Microsoft Access Database Applications - (Undergrad Cert), Microsoft Office Applications - (Undergrad Cert), Middle Eastern Studies - (BA), Military History - (AA, BA, MA), Military History-Capstone Option - (MA), Military Leadership Studies - (Undergrad Cert), Military Management and Program Acquisition - (BA), Military Studies - (MA), Military Studies-Capstone Option - (MA), National Security Studies - (Grad Cert, MA), National Security Studies-Capstone Option - (MA), Naval Warfare - (Grad Cert), Nursing - (BS), Object Oriented Application Development - (Grad Cert), Organizational Management - (Grad Cert), Paralegal Studies - (AS, Undergrad Cert), Philosophy - (BA), Political Science - (BA, MA), Political Science-Capstone Option - (MA), Post-baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Certification Program - (Grad Cert), Psychology - (BA, MA), Public Administration - (Master's), Public Administration-Capstone Option - (Master's), Public Health - (AS, BS, Master's), Real Estate Management - (Undergrad Cert), Real Estate Studies - (AA), Religion - (BA), Security Management - (BA), Security Management - (Grad Cert, MA, Undergrad Cert), Security Management-Capstone Option - (MA), Sociology - (BA), Space Studies - (BS, Grad Cert, Undergrad Cert), Space Studies-Capstone Option - (MS), Sports and Health Sciences - (BS), Sports Management - (Grad Cert, MS), Sports Management-Practicum Option - (MS), Strategic Leadership - (Grad Cert), Terrorism Studies - (Grad Cert), Terrorism Studies - (Undergrad Cert), Transportation and Logistics Management - (BA, MA), Transportation and Logistics Management-Capstone Option - (MA), United Nations - (Undergrad Cert), Visual Basic Application Development - (Undergrad Cert), Visual Communications - (Undergrad Cert), Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness - (AA, Undergrad Cert), Web 2.0 - (Undergrad Cert), Web Publishing - (AS, Undergrad Cert), World War II Studies - (Grad Cert)

For more Information visit their website at: American Military University

BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE304-260-4380 • 400 West Stephen Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401

The College offers associate degrees, certificates and certification training in a wide range of fields, encompassing the liberal arts, business administration, and various allied health fields.

Academic Programs they offer are:

Allied Health Science

Business & Technology

Economic & Workforce Development

Liberal Arts & Transitional Studies

For more information visit their website: Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

The Martinsburg campus is located at:

287 Aikens Center
Martinsburg, WV 24501
304-263-0979

Valley College offers two primary educational programs. Office Tech, which includes Certification includes:

Medical Administrative Assistant Accounting Administrative and Legal Secretary

The Business Administration Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program, which may be completed in 16 months, is designed to equip graduates with the skills necessary for operating a business or managing a department in a business setting. These include:

Administrator
Administrative Assistant
Admitting Officer
Bookkeeper
Business Manager
Credit Counselor
Customer Service Manager
Database Administrator
Department Manager
Fundraising Director
Insurance Sales Agent
Loan Officer
Manager
Management Trainee
Merchandise Manager
Office Manager
Personnel Manager
Property Manager
Real Estate Agent
Record Management Director
Self Employment
Supervisor

For more information please visit their website at VTC

Located in Martinsburg proper they have certs and degrees for three main programs of study. They include Cosmetology, Esthetician and Nail Technology. All include preparation for passing the WV State Board Licensure.

Admission Requirements: Cosmetology / Esthetician/ Nail Technician Program

Male or female students who have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) Certificate, or pass an ATB test (Ability to Benefit), are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents, and are at least seventeen (17) years of age are eligible. Financial Aid is available.

Hands on learning is a must in this field of study and they have their own beauty salon located in the building right in Martinsburg, WV.

For more informations please go to their website: Martinsburg International Beauty School