Admissions: Other Programs
ASD Affinity Program
Defiance College’s ASD Affinity Program offers personalized, fee-based support for students with autism spectrum disorder, helping them thrive academically, socially, and professionally. Through weekly one-on-one sessions, students receive guidance in time management, goal setting, communication, and campus engagement.
The program also includes access to the ASD Affinity Lounge, peer mentoring, and Advising Plus—a dedicated second advisor to guide students through their college journey. By sophomore year, participants can gain hands-on experience through a paid, career-based internship on campus, complete with coaching, performance feedback, and supervisor collaboration.
Designed to build independence, self-advocacy, and career readiness, the ASD Affinity Program empowers students to define their strengths and succeed at Defiance College and beyond.
Support Sessions – Students attend regular 1:1 support meetings with the Program Coordinator or peer support staff each week.
Each session is adjusted based on student support needs but may include the following:
Academic Success
- Development of academic time-management plans
- Review of class syllabi and discussion of academic expectations and progress
- Goal setting for academic success
- Discussion of available accommodations and processes for using accommodations
- Clarification of communication from campus faculty/administration
- Support to communicate with campus faculty/administration
- Review of course-specific or campus policies and procedures as appropriate
- Skill building focused on individual student goals by request
Campus Engagement
- Notification of upcoming student organization meetings and campus social events
- Peer support staff are available to attend events with students by request and if schedules allow
- Support to navigate campus relationships
Campus/Community Life
- Goal setting for personal goals
- Selection, creation, and instruction to be able to use support tools such as Google Calendar, phone alarms, visual schedules, etc.
- Instruction to be able to use community resources by request
Skill building focused on individual student goals by request
PAID CAREER EXPERIENCE
Second semester sophomore year, students are eligible to participate in a semester-long, campus-based employment program. During the first four weeks of the semester, students will be matched with on-campus employment opportunities related to their field of study, apply to appropriate positions, and participate in interviews. Once a student is hired to fill a position, he or she will work 3-5 hours per week for ten weeks.
Support provided during the experience includes:
- On-site training for DC faculty and staff who supervise career experiences
- On-site training and supervision for participating students
- Weekly performance-specific feedback focused on the national Association of Colleges and Employers career competencies
- Performance review meetings with employment supervisor and ASD Affinity Program coordinator mid-way and at the end of the career experience
- Action plans created as needed to support students in developing career readiness skills
Other Program Benefits
ADVISING PLUS
The Director of the Hench Autism Studies Program serves as a second advisor for all ASD Affinity Program participants. The Director works collaboratively with the student’s faculty advisor to support the student in selecting, navigating, and completing their college journey.
ASD AFFINITY LOUNGE ACCESS
Located in Defiance Hall, the ASD Affinity Lounge is a dedicated space with ID access. Participants can use the lounge as a meeting space with Peer Support Staff, to study on their own, or as a quiet place to decompress and watch TV between classes.
PEER SUPPORT STAFF
Peer Support staff are Defiance College undergraduate students who have been selected to work for the ASD Affinity Program based on faculty recommendations. All Peer Support staff are trained and supervised by the Program Coordinator.
Defiance College’s ASD Affinity Program is a comprehensive, fee-based support program for Defiance College students with autism spectrum disorder. Students who are accepted to the program have demonstrated that they are academically capable by meeting the Defiance College admissions requirements.
As students transition into their role as Defiance College students, our goal is to support the development of the skills necessary for navigating college academics and campus life. As students prepare for their transition from Defiance College to their chosen profession, our goal is to support the further development of self-advocacy skills, self-determination, and the ability of students to be able to articulate their strengths and support needs as professionals.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS ASD Affinity Program
The ASD Affinity Program is designed for students who meet the following requirements:
- Are 18-24 at initial enrollment
- Have a documented diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
- Meet the Defiance College academic admissions requirements. Consideration for admission to the ASD Affinity Program also requires completion of a separate application for undergraduate admission.
- Demonstrate a willingness to request and accept support
APPLICATION PROCEDURES & REQUIRED MATERIALS
The following confidential documents must be submitted in order for ASD Affinity Program applicants to receive full consideration by the admissions committee. Please fax any paper documents to 419-784-4101, scan and email to autism@defiance.edu, or mail to Clarissa Barnes, ASD Affinity Program, 701 N. Clinton Street, Defiance, OH, 43512.
ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS
- ASD Affinity Program application
- ASD Affinity Program parent or support person application
- Application for undergraduate admission
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
- Current psychological evaluation or Evaluation Team Report (ETR) conducted within the last 3 years and including:
- Results from intelligence testing (e.g., Stanford Binet IV, WAIS-IV)
- Results from achievement testing (e.g., Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement)
Note: Results should include subtest scores and a detailed narrative.
- Documentation of ASD diagnosis/qualification of services
- Most recent individualized educational plan (IEP), if applicable
- Contact information for two references, not related to the applicant, who can speak to your preparation for college-level academics and college life.
- Parent or support person performance ratings
After all print materials have been submitted and reviewed by the ASD Affinity Admissions Committee, candidates who meet the minimum admissions criteria will be contacted to complete an on-campus interview with the Director of the Hench Autism Studies Program and Coordinator of the ASD Affinity Program.
College Credit Plus
Defiance College’s College Credit Plus (CCP) program gives high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while completing high school coursework—at no cost to families. Participants take real college classes alongside DC students, gaining valuable experience in time management, academic rigor, and independent learning.
Students who later enroll at Defiance College can apply completed courses toward their degree, saving both time and tuition. With small class sizes and faculty support, CCP students experience a true college environment designed to challenge and prepare them for the next step in their academic journey.
College Credit Plus (CCP) replaces Ohio’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program and all alternative dual enrollment programs previously governed by Ohio Revised Code chapter 3365.
Full college credit will be awarded for all courses satisfactorily completed according to DC’s established requirements and procedures. Students are expected to perform at the same level as the College’s regularly admitted students.
Courses completed will be applied toward degree requirements if the student enrolls at Defiance College after high school graduation.
BENEFITS
- In-depth, challenging courses – see course list here (PDF)
- Opportunity to earn college credit while in high school
- Personal enrichment and growth at an established private liberal arts college
- Higher education experience
CHALLENGES
- Increased responsibility for learning and time management skills
- Heightened academic expectations of college course work
- Learning to interact with college students and faculty
- Schedule conflicts with extracurricular high school activities and part-time employment
CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY
- Cumulative grade point average = 2.4 or higher
- Submission of official high school transcript
- Composition and Mathematics courses may require additional testing prior to enrolling.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Summer 2025: June 15, 2025
Fall 2025: August 1, 2025
Spring 2026: December 1, 2025
HOW TO APPLY
Submit the following to DC Admissions Office:
- Defiance College’s CCP application (PDF) signed by student, parent/guardian, and high school guidance counselor
- An official high school transcript stating cumulative GPA and class rank
- A copy of the school district’s “Intent to Participate in the CCP program” form, completed by the student, parent/guardian, and high school guidance counselor
NOTIFICATION OF ADMISSION DECISION AND REPORTING OF GRADES
Upon completion of the CCP program application procedures, the Office of Admissions will immediately respond with the admission decision and instructions by letter. Copies of the letter will be sent to the parent or guardian, high school guidance counselor, and area coordinator.
Prior to the first day of the start of the semester, DC will send a roster of participants from each high school to their guidance counselor along with course withdrawal dates. Within twenty-one days of the start of the semester, DC’s registrar will send a letter of enrollment notice to the student, high school guidance counselor, and the superintendent of instruction for the State of Ohio. Upon the completion of the semester, DC’s registrar will send a grade report to the high school guidance counselor. The student may check and print their grades online. If an official college transcript is requested, please click here.
Law Enforcement Intelligence Certificate
Defiance College’s Law Enforcement Intelligence (LINT) Certificate is a fully online, 12-month program designed for professionals ready to advance their careers in criminal justice and intelligence analysis. Through hands-on coursework in data analytics, GIS mapping, social media investigations, and counter-terrorism, students gain the technical and analytical skills needed to address real-world law enforcement challenges.
Taught by experienced faculty, the program combines practical intelligence-gathering techniques with a strong foundation in ethics and legal standards. Graduates emerge ready to make data-driven decisions, strengthen community safety, and lead in the rapidly evolving field of law enforcement intelligence.
Benefits of earning LINT certification:
- Be able to implement effective intelligence gathering techniques & apply them to an array of law enforcement challenges, including: rapid location of fugitive suspects, identifying potential victims, & repeat offenders
- Gain a deep understanding of the concepts of domestic & international terrorism
- Acquire a deeper understanding of the government’s role in responding to terrorism & its impact on civilian & law enforcement communities
- Have a greater understanding of the techniques employed by counter-terrorism units to effectively mitigate or prevent acts of terrorism
- Be proficient in using open-source materials (including social media platforms) to collect intelligence on potential subjects of interest while recognizing the legal & ethical boundaries that govern these types of resources
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
LINT501 Intro to Intelligence
This course introduces the student to the techniques for legally and ethically acquiring/analyzing data and providing digested information to policy and decision makers that are depending on reliable intelligence to make fact-based policy, strategic, and tactical decisions.
LINT502 Intro to Data Analytics
This course introduces the student to the basics of data science and data analytics for handling massive databases. The course covers data mining for big data analytics and introduces the practicalities of map-reduction while adopting the big data management life cycle.
LINT503 Intro to GIS
This course introduces the fundamentals Geographic Information Systems (GIS), focusing on spatial analysis. The basic design of the course is to teach the principles of mapping and spatial analysis of real world scenarios. Specifically: applications for law enforcement intelligence, including the crime map creation and analysis, will be covered through training using ESRI’s ArcGIS software.
LINT504 Intro to Social Media Investigations
Students will learn how social media is used by bad and good actors to find information about other people, and gain insights into both intelligence-gathering and counter-intelligence techniques in the realm of social media. Students will also learn about US and international laws and regulations that pertain to data collection on social media.
LINT505 Intro to Terrorism
This course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the dynamic nature of terrorism. This includes an examination of the various definitions of terrorism. The definition of terrorism tends to evolve and, depending on the federal agency, it may be defined or described differently. This course also provides a deep analysis into the study of terrorism by examining law enforcement and governmental responses intended to mitigate and prevent acts of terrorism. Terrorist groups and their tactics will also be explored in this course.
LINT598 Capstone Project
In this course, students will engage in a group project with a partner law enforcement agency to use their data collection, aggregation, processing, and analytical skills to help solve a real-world law enforcement challenge posed by a partner agency.
RN to BSN Completion Program
Defiance College’s RN-to-BSN program empowers registered nurses to advance their careers and education — 100% online, affordable, and flexible. Designed for actively licensed RNs with an associate degree or diploma, this degree-completion program can be finished in as little as one year through convenient 8-week courses and one-stop student support services.
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the program emphasizes leadership, ethics, technology integration, and community-based care — preparing nurses to meet the growing demand for bachelor’s-prepared professionals. With maximum credit transfer and a focus on lifelong learning, Defiance College helps RNs expand their impact and define their future in nursing.
RN-to-BSN REQUIREMENTS
- Completed application for admission
- GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Official college transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Student must hold valid nursing license prior to enrolling in NRS 476 Community NRS Clinical
Each candidate for admission is reviewed individually with careful consideration given to academic records.
By the completion of this program, students will be able to:
1. Develop caring professional values within a legal and ethical framework of nursing practice.
2. Synthesize knowledge from the liberal arts and nursing curriculum to become a provider of care in a safe environment.
3. Practice as a nurse generalist within the framework of diversity.
4. Integrate technology into professional nursing practice.
5. Incorporate effective communication principles to produce positive professional relationships.
6. Establish a foundation for lifelong learning and nursing scholarship.
7. Integrate community nursing concepts as a coordinator of care utilizing the nursing process and critical thinking.
8. Apply nursing research and scientific inquiry to fulfill the leadership role of a nursing professional
At Defiance College, the baccalaureate degree in nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001; phone: 202-887-6791.
The associate degree nursing programs at Northwest State Community Collegeand Rhodes State College are fully approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. (NLN contact: 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326; phone: 404-975-5000; fax: 404-975-5020).
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What kind of nursing license is required for admission?
You must have a current, unencumbered registered nursing license, which we will verify on the Board of Nursing websites. If you have your LPN certificate, you must obtain your unencumbered RN license before applying to the RN-to-BSN program.
How long does the application and transfer review process take?
You will receive an admissions decision after receipt of all application materials and verification of RN licensure.
How long will it take me to finish the program?
It depends on how many courses you take each semester and whether you are a full-time or part-time student. Students can complete the RN-to-BSN degree in as little as one year.
When are courses offered?
Courses are offered fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Can I have a minor?
Defiance College is willing to accept minor interests. Any interests should be discussed with the Director of Nursing. Minor classes are not guaranteed to be available online.
How much will it cost?
Defiance College offers an affordable tuition. Many employers offer tuition assistance or reimbursement; check to see if your employer is one of them.
What payment options are available?
Defiance College offers tuition deferment (up to 100%) for eligible students. The program is for tuition only and does not allow for deferral of books, fees, or other supply expenses. All accepted undergraduate students can be considered for need-based financial aid including loans after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligible students may also choose to use the Defiance College Payment Plan to pay their tuition and fees.
Is Defiance College accredited?
At Defiance College, the baccalaureate degree in nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001; phone: 202-887-6791.
The associate degree nursing program at Northwest State Community College is fully approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. (NLN contact: 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326; phone: 404-975-5000; fax: 404-975-5020).