Anyone have experiance with University of Phoenix?

Everyone I've ever talked to who has attended college has had at least one (if not more) course that was badly taught, or just a joke. That includes two people who have graduated from Harvard. That doesn't make the whole school bad.

I'd love to see 60 Minutes take a look at your alma mater. Now, that would be entertaining. Over 10,000 graduates with a faculty of a couple dozen people, many with home-grown credentials. Which school would look "millish" then?

BTW, for disclosure purposes, I have no connection whatsoever with UoP.


Bruce

 

Wow! Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed!

 

Granted, I only took one class at UOP but one was more than enough, (for me). I don't have the knowledge and the experience that some of you have so I need to be with a school that will provide me with the information that I want. If I go to a restaurant and both the meal and the service is bad I go else where. As for anybody who is interested in attending UOP - everything ain't for everybody. Take one class and see if it works for you. If it doesn't you can always transfer, transfer, transfer!

 

As far as comparisons go, there will always be a school that is better.
Webster University has a DM program that is residential. If a candidate from there was competing with one from another RA DL DBA or PhD, wouldn't you think the PhD or DBA would still win?
There will always be a winner and a loser. The person who started this post was asking about experience with UoP.
When you talk to people who have taken a few classes there, there seems to a positive response. Those with little experience, however, disagree.

Andy, would you say UoP is a scam?

 

My question is always... if you want to get a quality education from a respected education (at possibly lower prices) why even consider UoP?

Aside from a accelerated program with reportedly low standards, there is not a single program they offer that cannot be found at more reputable institutions... of course, more academic rigor may be required.

 

UOP

As a graduate of UOP, I have to say that there are positives and negatives to pursuing a degree there - just as there are at most all colleges/universities. Limiting the discussion to DL (specifically online) facilities, I have to say that my experience was nothing but rewarding. A couple of comments:

1) I do get some tuition assistance through my employer, but not nearly enough to cover the entire year - especially since I would take 2 classes at a time when possible.

2) The online environment did overall seem easier to me as compared to "brick and mortar" classwork from previous colleges. The biggest part of this was that I could manage my own time and not have to be at class at stringent intervals. I already have to work full time to prove I can keep a schedule - I do not need this discipline from my college.

3) The amount of time put into the class definitely varied from course to course. Some were very easy to me and required little more than some solid participation. Others were much more intensive if I was not extremely familiar with the subject matter.

4) The courses are often writing intensive. But think about it... There is no face-to-face interaction or other method to quantify participation if a lot of discussion and writing does not take place.

In my opinion, higher level education is what you make of it. Maybe UOP has an easier degree than other schools, I cannot say since I do not have two Bachelor's degrees. What I can say is that I entered the program with the intent to learn as much as I could, not just get a good grade in each class. Maybe you could do less work and get an easy "A" - who knows for sure? But if you are really interested in learning than bust your a** in class and learn everything you can, regardless of whether or not it was really necessary to get your "A."

I went through the program very quickly, a little over 18 months. This is fairly quick in my opinion. If you cannot afford to pay for UOP than your concerns are valid - it is expensive. But do not soley base your opinion on the cost of the university versus what other people say about how easy it may or may not be. It can be as easy or hard as you want to make it. I took pride in my work and tried as hard as I could to push myself well past the expectations of my instructors. I did very well, and definitely have the knowledge to prove it.

I am a proud UOP graduate and would suggest it to anyone looking for an online degree.

Michael

 

UoP

I have read most of this thread, and I have to offer another opinion. I am a UoP Graduate (class of 2001), and I very much resent the continual implications that this accomplishment was handed to me. I busted my backside to earn my degree, and nobody "skated" me through any classes. The fact is I graduated with a 3.7 average, and again I worked hard to earn that. Sadistics was a killer <groan>
I start the MS/CIS program next month, and that will be at UoP. But I'm not about to let a bunch of vauge inuendo and unsubstantiated accusations make my decision for me.
The question was asked how much time I spent for each class, and in my case that was an average of 25-30 hours a week in reading, assignments, and earning the 5 of 7 day participation grade that was mandatory in every class (contrary to a couple of statements that logging in a couple times a week was all that was required).
UoP is a place of learning...and you take away what you put into it, plain and simple.

 

Whew, I'm sure glad I don't have to vigoriously defend my college.

Or do I?

 

It just so happens that someone asked opinions of UoP. Therefore, it seems relavant to render an opinion....good or bad.

BTW, where is International College?

UoP is one of the most successful and largest DL institutions. It seems that as they get bigger, they gain more critics. People seem to be really critical of Nova . This boggles my mind. What can you not become at Nova?


Oh Well

 

Yes there will always be a better school - unless you are the best. But where is UoP relative to the rest of the pack? From an academic perspective - the instutition is pretty weak. As I've pointed out in prior posts, I taught for Phoenix for a number of years. I won't teach for them any more. A combination of their "for profit" status (and resulting attitude) and the kind of students they tend to recruit was too much for me.

Is UoP a scam? No - I don't think so. It certainly isn't a degree mill - you do have to do some academic work in return for a degree. But I find UoP to be pretty low in the RA pack. I've taught graduate MIS courses, for example, at several schools. I believe that the course I taught at UoP was by far the weakest.

Would I pursue a degree at UoP. No way - but then I'm an academic these days. A UoP credential would be a killer on my resume. Would UoP be an "ok" credential for someone in industry? Probably. It likely won't be the hardest degree you ever earned, but it may well be worth your time.

If you're looking to teach someday I'd shy away from UoP.

If UoP works for you - fine. But if you're looking at various options for a degree, I'd look far and wide before I settled for UoP. High price, questionable service and questionable reputation (especially in some quarters) doesn't bode well.

Regards - Andy

 

Re: UoP

Being as many of those who have made accusations, including myself, have been students and teachers at UoP, I would say they are not vague or unsubstantiated - they are from personal experience.

Perhaps you'd like to reread the thread and alter some of your comments to be more in line with the truth.

Christian
Former UoP Student - 2000

 

Nope, just another day at DegreeInfo.com.

My whole point to you, in case you missed it, was that those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.


Bruce

 

Of course, the D.B.A./Ph.D. from the other RA school, unless that school is about to get its accreditation yanked.

My understanding is that the D.M. is even more of a practitioner's degree than the D.B.A., while we all know the Ph.D. is the "king of the hill" in regards to academia.

That just reinforces my point....the D.M from Phoenix will trump the Ph.D. from Century every time.

BTW....UoP wouldn't be my first choice either, but I really think they've gotten a bad rap. They're the largest private university in the US, and have never even been placed on probation by their regional accreditor in spite of all the "evidence" (anecdotal stories) against them. They recently opened a campus in a suburb of Boston, which requires approval from the MA Board of Higher Education....no mean feat (I think MA is the anti-Hawaii in regards to school licensing). The fact that they are competing in an area (Boston) that is saturated with colleges & universities tells me that they're doing something right.


Bruce

 

*Twist* *twist*

Christian

 

The only doctorate offered by UoP is the D.M., so it's really a moot point.


Bruce

 

My experience differs... I teach marketing and e-Business at the University of Phoenix (UOP) Online. I've had a good deal of experience interacting with students and the faculty. The courses are rigorous. The faculty members are well-trained. The students I've taught have been highly motivated. And there are a lot of smart folks in administration who are helping UOP grow to one of the largest institutions of higher learning on the planet. Tuition costs are close to the better brick and mortar schools in the USA. Price and quality are strongly correlated at UOP as they are in private industry. Student satisfaction is very important to the faculty and administration as evidenced by continual peer reviews and end-of-course surveys. Hope it helps...

Cheers,

Dave Wagner
([email protected])

 

To use a word I learned today, Andy is referring to accreditors' floccinaucinihilipilification of Century University.

 

Re: Re: UoP

What....more in line with your "truth"? I have read through the thread completely, and I don't see anything but just what I said...unsubstantiated opinions. Where are the facts?

Looking at your posts, this seems to be your biggest "fact", and I quote: "If you had lots of money, didn't really want to learn anything, didn't want to be hassled with studying for tests or writing big papers, then UoP is perfect. "

That's your truth...and you are welcome to it...I personally spent plenty of time studying and completing tests and writing some massive papers, so I don't know where your "truth" comes from.

By your own admission you don't have a clue about the online program, and it looks to me like you are getting upset because somebody dares to have an opinion different from your own...and I personally am not going to lose any sleep over that.

 

I want to be there when you use it in a sentence, with an audience.


Bruce

 

UOP

I have read many of the posts regarding negative opinions on University of Phoenix Online and my experience has been different. Yes, I think it is overpriced. I found the first class to be pretty easy (GEN300) and do not think I should have had to take it, especially for $1200. I also find it hard to believe that people could simply log on three times a week and get an 'A' in a class. The classes do get harder as you go on.

I chose University of Phoenix Online primarily for the flexibility it offers. I did not want to sit in a classroom several nights a week, work all day, and not have any time for studies. I am now able to focus on one course at a time, there is plenty of time to study, and I feel like I am learning a lot.

The cost is high, but I think the flexibility makes up for it. I am pleased with my decision to attend University of Phoenix Online.