Anyone have experiance with University of Phoenix?

Back to the old question of "rigor"

Some of the comments made about University of Phoenix appear to question the school's credibility based on the matter of how rigorous (or not) the courses are. I have never taken classes at Phoenix, but I do have one little anecdote.

I know a woman who was enrolled in the MPA program with me at CSU Hayward. Without telling either school, she was enrolled simultaneously in Phoenix's online MBA. I often asked her how she managed it, especially since she was not particularly an academic.

Now, from that anecdote, I can raise at least three questions: First, is the relatively well respected Hayward MPA so undemanding that a person can matriculate in the program while matriculating in the Phoenix MBA program? Or, is the Phoenix program so undemanding that one can pursue the Hayward MPA at the same time? Or, are both programs so undemanding that one can do them simultaneously?

Well, the answers are all going to be subjective. Phoenix is no top tier school, but different people assess the school differently. If we are arguing that regional accreditation establishes at least minimum uniform standards, then Phoenix meets those standards. For those who choose to pursue degrees there, blessings to you in your endeavor.

 

Buyer Beware

-- Southwest Florida
-- Organizational Management
-- Because they offered a new, first-time, experimental, graduate-level program and it was a good opportunity for me to "jump onboard." Also, the tuition is substantially cheaper.
-- University of South Florida

 

Re: Back to the old question of "rigor"

Perhaps the answers to the questions you pose would depend on the rate of matriculation? If one was working a simple 40 hour work week (or less) and pursuing both Masters degrees part time, then both programs could be rigorous and completed simultaneously. Perhaps?

Cheers,

Dave

 

Re: Back to the old question of "rigor"

Well, what did she answer? I can think of several possibilities besides assuming that one program (or both) demands too little of students.

This doubly-enrolled student was ...
--incredibly motivated and well organized
--enrolled simultaneously but not taking courses simultaneously
--not employed, or employed part-time, or, if full-time, in a job that took little thought/energy.
--actually *not* managing, as she'd taken on more than she could manage.

Phoenix is RA, but also arouses a lot of negative reactions. My gut feeling is that Phoenix has so many branch campuses and so many adjunct faculty that its quality and rigor, both actual and perceived, may vary tremendously course by course.

 

Or perhaps she is taking similar courses in both programs? If the graduate work is research based with papers instead of exams she could be turning in a “management of the public firm” for one program and a “management of the private firm” for another. These two curriculums have parallel paths to a point – you can even enroll in a joint MPA/MBA at some schools.

 

Re: Back to the old question of "rigor"

Kristin, the M.P.A. program was not exam driven. It depended largely on research and papers. There were some exams, but they did not constitute a core of the program.

The women said the Phoenix M.B.A. program was based largely on case studies, some of which were online group projects. She suggested that the Phoenix program was a bit soft unless you happen to get a professor who was idiosyncratic.

At the same time, I have to admit that she was they type of student who was content to settle for "passing" both programs.

 

Re: Back to the old question of "rigor"

During one Embry-Riddle MAS class I met a person doing two masters degrees simultaneously and both part time while working a 40 hr week. His other project was a MSQA from CSUDH. His rationalle: when courses he needed for one program were often not being currently offered he took courses from the other program.
Also he set up his program so he could transfer 9 units from each program to the other (which meant that he would earn two masters for 54 units of study rather than 72 units of study).

Ian Anderson
BS USNY
MSQA CSUDH
MAS ERAU (in progress)

 

Rigor?

I have taken classes at the Oregon Institute of Technology, California State U. Bakersfield, University of Laverne, and The University of Phoenix. Without question UoP is more rigorous than the others. By far the easiest is CSUB, that place is a complete joke.