First let me thank those members that responded to my previous post regarding the validity of an online degree. Since that post, I have received my official transcripts and have talked with representatives of several distance learning schools. Two of the schools so far offer a Bachelor degree in Business Management that seem attractive, Baker College and University of Phoenix. I would like to get some unbiased input on both of these programs. Any experiences? Thanks in advance Fred
Fred - I've taught for both (although it has been a while since I worked for UoP), and I have strong feelings on your question. Any one that has been around for a while can probably guess how I see this - but here goes with my opinion. Realize that there are similarities in how Baker and UoP operate. Both use lots of adjuncts and conduct classes in 6 week on-line terms. Both have on-ground operations (UoP is all over the country, while Baker is limited to Michigan). Both focus on many of the same fields of study. Do note that Baker is IACBE accredited, while UoP isn't. Although Baker operates in a "corporate" model that is more like a business than a university, I find their model superior to UoPs. The Baker administration seems genuinely concerned about their integrity while meeting student and employer needs. I see Baker as a reasonable compromise between an all out for-profit operations that focuses on the money to an extreme and non-profit operations that are hung up on academic issues and aren't student centered. If you check other current threads in this NG you'll see that others have noticed UoP's singular focus on making money. While Baker isn't into losing money, as a non-profit the organization doesn't have stock holders (and the U.S. government) to pay. As I've made clear in other threads - this is a key difference between the for profits (where 50% of their revenue goes to marketing, profit and taxes) and non-profits. Regards - Andy
Thanks for the reply Andy. I am leaning strongly towards the Baker program just for the reasons you stated. I would like to thank the members on this board. The discussions have helped me "wade" through many of the distance learning programs available. Fred
I'm working on a MA in Education but I know a lot of people who have gotten their degrees through UOP or are currently doing so and most all of them are in the business track. I know one in computer science and one in accounting and several who have finished their MBA's. I can tell you that no matter what the subject matter they are all exactly the same. We all have 3 discussion questions a week and learning team assignments. The format is the same. UOP makes you write a lot of papers no matter what subject you are studying. They aren't real research papers though. Mostly short papers maybe 2 pages long. As far as I am concerned UOP is the easiest program a person can do. If you work full time it is definately by far the easiest way to go and least stressful. Like I have said before, if you like to surf the net then you can basically do this degree. I feel no differently about posting on the message board for my class than I do this one. It takes about the same amount of effort and time. I think it depends on what you want. A lot of people do tend to laugh at the UOP degree (including myself from time to time) but most of the MBA's I know were promoted on up the line because they got the necessary credential and no one seemed to give a flip where the MBA came from. It is my understanding that unless you are planning on going to Harvard or some school of that caliber, all MBA's are pretty much the same. Someone may flame me for that but all in all this is what I"ve been told.
I slightly disagree with two things: 1. My experience as an ungrad @ UoP was not easy. I don't think I ever worte a two page paper. Typically, it is 3 to 5. SOmetimes 5 to 7. I even tured in a 20 pager once. 2. I have found that MBAs are not all the same. Mine is from a well respected school that does not have a strong business program or AACSB accreditation. This hurts. I know some disagree, but this accreditation will make thing easier if someone looks to teach on the collegiate level, which it seems all MBAs want to do after some point. If I could do it over, I'd have chosen a program with AACSB accreditation.
I'd heartily agree here - I think students should go for the most rigorous program they can reasonably complete. Regards - Andy
Yes. I've been reading about UMUC on this board (University of Maryland University College) which is AACSB accredited. Many posters here say, however, that UMUC is not rigorous at all. I wonder if this is true...of course, accreditation is no guarantee that a program is rigorous or substantial.
WannaJD - A couple of points: 1. AACSB doesn't guarantee rigor - but on the whole, the requirements to earn AACSB accreditation lead business schools to be rigorous. All of the top rated (and I would argue most rigorous) MBA programs in the country come from AACSB schools. 2. As I understand it - the University of Maryland College Park is AACSB, but UMUC isn't. This is common in large state universities. Central Michigan has an AACSB accredited business program - on campus. Their off-campus operation offers a Master of Science in Administrations that isn't AACSB. Regards - Andy
Hi Fred, I can't tell you much about UOP but I am a Baker Online student. I have completed 9 classes from baker in the pursuit of my Bachelors of Business Admin. Most of the classes are 6 weeks long. There are a few shorter ones. Baker is huge on the APA format of term paper writing and there is a paper required for almost every class (in fact maybe it is every class). Length of paper varies but 10 pages would probably be a good average. Baker's attendence policy bu post to threaded discussions is 1 post per day at least 5 days a week. More is recommended and sometimes required by individual instructors. Each week you can generally expect to answer in essay format, 3-5 discussion questions, a set of assignments, and a lessons learned essay, in addition to2-3 chapters of reading. Some classes also include a group project. Baker's classes can be very time consuming but I think that they are offering a very quality education. I am happy at Baker and intend to finish my degree there before transfering to another school for a Masters in a subject that Baker no longer offers. If they did, I would stay. Good luck with your decision.
