Columbus City Schools
Welcome, Columbus City Schools Employees
Through this partnership with the Coalition for the Common Good and co-founders Antioch and Otterbein Universities, Columbus City Schools Employees and their families are eligible for a 15% discount on tuition for the full catalogue of undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates. This includes BA Degree Completion, School Counseling, Teacher Apprenticeship programs and more. Immediate household family members of active Columbus City Schools Employees are also eligible for these partnership benefits.
"I’ve seen over the years so many educators are constantly looking to see what they can do to get better for their students and for this community they serve, this is a really exciting opportunity for our entire learning community as we continue to have that restorative vision for the district and ultimately a restorative vision for the city.”
Elizabeth McNally, PhD
Director of Research and Program Evaluation - Columbus City Schools.
Available Programs Include
BA in Applied Studies
If you’ve gained valuable technical expertise through a trade or specialized vocational training, but long for professional advancement, finishing your bachelor’s degree in our Applied Studies program at Antioch University can help you maximize that experience and reach your career goals. The BA in Applied Studies is designed for transfer students with a passion for learning and transferable college credits from a vocational field. Unlike other degree programs, the BA in Applied Studies program accepts credits when a student has a focused area of study such as paralegal studies, transportation and mechanical technology, medical assisting, office administration, cosmetology, construction, culinary arts, electrical technology, and more. Through a blend of enriching coursework and experiential learning that connects your technical expertise to an undergraduate degree and academic experience, the BA in Applied Studies prepares you to advance professionally and to pursue graduate studies at Antioch or at other universities.
BA in Business Management
The Antioch BA in Business Management program provides students with a strong foundation for understanding organizations, leading change, and working effectively in a global and multicultural environment. Grounded in Antioch’s commitment to social justice, the program emphasizes leadership, ethics, economics, organizational effectiveness, and responsible decision-making.
Students develop practical skills in ethical leadership, finance and budgeting, fundraising and resource development, marketing, human resources, project management, and organizational change. The program prepares students to analyze complex challenges, lead diverse teams, and apply sound business practices in ways that support organizational success, community impact, and positive social change.
BA in Environmental Studies
Whether you are currently a community college student, a busy parent or worker, a veteran, or an international student, our Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies completion program is designed to support your personal, academic, and professional goals at any point in your life or career path. Students are taught by engaged faculty with environmental expertise and the program will prepare students to be practitioners in the field, empower students who may already be dealing with environmental justice issues in their own communities, and provide optional field study for experiential environmental opportunities.
BA in Liberal Studies
Our liberal studies courses inspire our students to become independent lifelong learners with the ability to think critically about the social issues that influence their lives. By linking knowledge to agency and action, our program will support your commitment to social justice and personal responsibility in our communities and the world at large. An advisor will be assigned to work with you personally in order to tailor a degree plan that realizes your specific academic goals and passions. Students in this degree program can tailor their studies to their interests by choosing from seven areas of concentration: Business Management, Child Development and Education, Creative Writing, Environmental Studies, Psychology, Queer Studies, and Spiritual Studies.
Areas of Concentration
The BA in Liberal Studies degree offers the option of students choosing a focused area of study, referred to as an Area of Concentration. Students are not required to choose a concentration, but if they do complete 24 credits in their chosen concentration, it will appear on the official transcript.
- Business Management
- Child Development & Education
- Creative Writing
- Environmental Studies
- Psychology
- Queer Studies
- Spiritual Studies
BA in Psychology
The BA in Psychology is designed to give students a foundation in psychological theory and research. This versatile degree provides a wide range of possibilities for both career choices and graduate work. The curriculum reflects an integrated approach to support—connecting psychological, biological, social and embodied perspectives that focus holistic wellness practices for diverse identities and communities. Antioch University graduates will have learned and practiced these critical skills:
- Clinical, developmental, and relational psychology
- Identity and its role in the practice of psychology
- Applied client support and leadership skills
- Interaction of behavior and health
- Integration of historical context reshaping practice in the field
- Diverse perspectives for inclusion in mental health support
The Master of Arts in School Counseling program is offered online with two one-week-long intensive residencies. These are low-residency opportunities beginning January 2025, Fall 2025, and January 2026.
This counselor education program, with a specialty area in School Counseling, trains students in eight (8) core areas:
- professional counseling orientation and ethical practice
- social and cultural diversity
- human growth and development
- career development
- counseling and helping relationships
- group counseling and group work
- assessment and testing
- research and program evaluation
The Master of Arts in School Counseling program is housed within Antioch University's School of Counseling, Psychology, and Therapy.
Become a Licensed Intervention Specialist with Columbus City Schools. Whether you have completed a Bachelor's degree or not, we have a path for you!
- Our programs offer a working-adult-friendly pathway, with online classes available through Antioch University and hybrid K12 education coursework at Otterbein University.
- Whether you have already have earned your BA or are still looking for guidance on degree completion pathways to teacher certification, our admissions counselors will be there to guide you.
Explore and register for Antioch University’s upcoming professional development and learning courses and opportunities.
Your Financial Benefits As A Partner
As a Coalition for the Common Good partner, Columbus City Schools Employees are eligible for the following benefits:
- 15% Tuition Discount - As a partner of the Coalition for the Common Good, Columbus City Schools Employees receive a 15% Tuition Discount on degree programs. The Tuition Discount also extends to include all immediate household family members.
- $6000 President’s Merit Scholarships - New students seeking a master’s degree with a minimum 3.40 GPA and work/life experience are eligible for awards of $6000, distributed equally over the first two academic years of the student’s program, and students must remain enrolled full-time.
- $12,000 President’s Doctoral Fellowship Scholarship - Beginning in Summer 2026, 24 students per year will be awarded fellowships of $12,000 that can be applied to any of Antioch University’s doctoral programs.
- Otterbein University’s Advantage Scholarship - Dependents of Columbus City Schools Employees are eligible for Otterbein University’s Advantage Scholarship, which includes up to $100,000 for tuition for undergraduate programs at Otterbein.
Learn more about the Advantage Partnership Scholarship for Columbus City Schools Employees-affiliated students and families.
Ready to Apply and Use Your 15% Tuition Discount?
Please use this form, and our Admissions Team will reach out to build a tailored plan for you - and apply your 15% Tuition Discount.
“Being a school counselor today with Columbus City Schools is a way to feel like you’re making an impact in the lives of our students and our families in our community. It’s a really rewarding experience. It’s hard work, but it’s meaningful work. ”
Ashley Kay
School Counselor, Columbus City Schools
Additional Financial Assistance
Scholarships
Students can apply for various grants and scholarships to help fund their education, and all institutional scholarships and scholarships from outside organizations are now housed under one site here - Scholarship Universe
Financial Aid
Many students take advantage of financial aid options to fund their education. Antioch University’s Financial Aid team can design an aid package based on your eligibility and personal level of need. We’ll help you explore a variety of federal, state, and institutional financial aid options. You’re welcome to either contact the Financial Aid Office or apply now to see what choices are available for you.
About the Coalition for the Common Good
Unbound by geography, Coalition for the Common Good uses the combined resources of the member institutions to develop and deliver targeted educational and professional development programs that meet the unique requirements of our communities through academic partnerships with local businesses and employers.
The Coalition for the Common Good is designed to be a unique national university system — truly the first of its kind — of multiple institutions of higher education with complementary, high-quality academic programs, geographic diversity, and innovative approaches to undergraduate and graduate education and lifelong learning.
