Office of Continuing Studies

Part of the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, the Office of Continuing Studies connects the resources of the University with individuals and partners in the community seeking to expand their knowledge and professional skills. We develop and oversee programming and initiatives that expand educational and professional development opportunities for non-traditional students, transfer students, adult learners, lifelong learners, and working professionals.

Initiatives and Programs

Coastal Online is the University's portal for learners searching for online undergraduate and graduate degrees. We provide information and assistance to students seeking to complete a Coastal Carolina University degree online. We help returning learners finish what they started through CCU Complete, a new program that allows eligible returning learners to complete up to five qualifying online classes in one semester, each at a cost of $100. CCU Complete offers a pathway back to degree completion for the nearly 500,000 returning learnings in our state with some college but no degree. Coastal Online also oversees online quality assurance for Coastal's online courses and degree programs through our Quality Matters Initiative. We are a resource to faculty who teach online and are proud that Coastal Carolina University is a Quality Matters Institution. Coastal Online works with other University partners on matters of accreditation for online programming. We partner with all of Academic Affairs to leverage existing resources and capacity to provide more options for returning learners who want to complete the degrees they started in a flexible online modality.

Continuing and Professional Education offers non-credit courses, certificates, and programs to meet the needs of South Carolina citizens and our state's workforce. We create tailor-made educational programs for corporate and community partners who seek to upskill their employees.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI@Coastal) offers programming for lifelong learners aged 50 or better who seek to stay intellectually and socially active. We offer courses, special interest groups, and events for lifelong learners from all walks of life. OLLI@Coastal ties the community closer to the University and allows adults who remain curious the opportunity to explore the best that Coastal has to offer.

Transfer Excellence is an initiative focused on making transfer more seamless at Coastal Carolina University. We work with campus partners in Academic Affairs and other units on campus to remove barriers and create unique pathways for transfer students in partnership with our colleagues in the South Carolina Technical College System. Alongside Admissions & Merit Awards, we provide leadership for the University at the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education's Transfer Excellence Center. More detailed information on transfer can be found at Transfer Admission.

Coastal Online