Coastal Carolina University's College of Graduate Studies and Research will hold an open house in the Alford Ballroom on Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 3:30-5:30 p.m., to showcase the graduate programs available to prospective students. The event is free and open to the public.

Those interested in pursuing graduate studies will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from each academic college, as well as Coastal's Office of Online Learning, to gather information and advice on pursuing a graduate degree. This is the second year the college has held such an event, and it brings faculty, staff, graduate students, and deans together at one place and time for prospective students.

Coastal Carolina University is home to 26 different graduate programs in the colleges of business, education, science, and humanities and fine arts.

In addition to the representatives from each college, members of student services such as financial aid, student accounts, and veterans affairs will be available to discuss the resources CCU offers graduate students.

Light hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served at the event, and the evening will end with special prize drawings for CCU gear, a graduate school application fee waiver, and more.

"This will be a relaxed atmosphere with food and fun," said graduate marketing and communications coordinator Kristin Olsen. "We want our guests to leave with all the knowledge they need to make an informed decision about graduate study at Coastal."

When it comes to searching for graduate programs, Olsen and the College of Graduate Studies and Research have three crucial pieces of advice: research, planning, and preparedness.

"Talk to faculty, students, and staff in programs that you are interested in," said Olsen. "Read up on a variety of programs and explore the career opportunities with those degrees."

Olsen recognizes that the purpose of a graduate degree is to pursue a goal, and it is important to determine if graduate school is the best way to achieve those goals. "Graduate degrees should be used to further your long-term goals and achieve a specific area of employment-whether that be in higher education, business, research, or whatever passion you are pursuing."

The College of Graduate Studies and Research was established at CCU in January 2019. The college focuses on the coordination of graduate recruitment and enrollment across all academic disciplines and houses the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Services as well as the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Space for the event is limited. RSVP to the event through coastal.edu/gradopenhouse. For more information, visit coastal.edu/graduatestudies. View a list of the graduate programs CCU offers at coastal.edu/graduateprograms.