online BA at Union Institute and University

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by windy, Aug 9, 2010.

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  1. windy

    windy New Member

    I am considering working to finish my BA (history and/or English) at Union Institute and University. I am in my late 50's, and am sort of stranded at home due to family health issues. Did 2 years at a very good school a long time ago, but have given up trying to finish there, even through continuing education, because I just can't get there.

    Family budget is tight and I would like to hear if spending money for UI&U is worth it.

    Have people found credits are transferable? Do grad schools recognize UI&U? Is it more difficult to find a job with a degree from this school?

    Is the program good quality, and how are the teachers?

    Thank you.
     
  2. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Welcome to the board. I can not speak for the quality of course work from Union but at $459 per credit there are many cheaper options available. Fort Hays has a Bachelors of General Studies with 58 credits being electives and tuition is only $168 per credit. I am sure there are other history/english options and others will add to this.

    How many credits do you have? Maybe Thomas Edison State College or Charter Oak State College are an option.
     
  3. tiffer

    tiffer New Member

    University of Illinois (Springfield) offers these majors for less than $300 per credit hour online also. They prefer if you have 60 credits done before entering the program though.
     
  4. windy

    windy New Member

    I have 69 credits (and tons of life experience/work experience).

    Thanks for the responses so far.
     
  5. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Randell, MC and others who know more about it, can he/she CLEP out of some of the classes? That would be the cheapest way to get legitimate credit.
     
  6. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    American Public University offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in both English and History. Tuition is $250/credit. They have a generous transfer credit policy. APU is regionally accredited.

    Best of luck!
     
  7. windy

    windy New Member

    UI&U did offer me a good Pell grant and another smaller grant.

    Any comments on the quality of programs and faculty, and acceptability by employers and grad schools (for me, the latter would take me well into my 60's, so the question may be rhetorical)?
     
  8. JBjunior

    JBjunior Active Member

    They didn't offer you a pell grant, the federal government did. You will receive that at any accredited school you choose to attend.
     
  9. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Have you looked the big three (Excelsior, TESC, and COSC) options?

    The Excelsior BS in liberal arts is probably the most flexible degee in the USA in regard to requirements plus it it allows up to 59 units of professional courses (such as business, CJ, computers, education, engineering).

    You can transfer credits in from any regionally accredited school and from challenge exams such as CLEP and DSST. And you can also obtain credit by submitting a life long learning portfolio.
    With 69 units you may already qualify for an associates degree from oneof the big three.

    What is your state of residence - some states offer low tuition to residents.
     
  10. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator


    You can also look at Charter Oak State College which is just as flexible as Excelsior but the customer serivice is much better. This can be become a "great taste - less filling" debate on who is better. :D
     
  11. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    If you need some credits and have a vast knowledge of worthless stuff (aka - good at Jeopardy) you can take tests for three credit classes and very few six credit classes. Here are the links - DSST - GetCollegeCredit.com and About the College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
    The exams cost about $80 and can take anywhere from 30-90 minutes. That is cheap and fast. Under $100 and under 2 hours to earn 3-6 credits.

    For upper level classes you could take some Excelsior College (EC) exams found on Excelsior’s website. These exams are more money, about $200-$250 if I remember correctly.
     
  12. windy

    windy New Member

    Sorry, am aware that Pell grants are federal. I just meant it was on my FA report from UI&U. I would also say, however, that their evaluation of my situation was subjective and generous.

    Would like to get discussion away from cost (my fault) and toward quality, and also usefulness of a degree from a specific place in terms of transfer of credit, admissions to grad school, work, but especially learning some good stuff.

    At my age, I doubt I am going to develop any great career paths from this. But I would like helpful/knoweldgeable teachers, good structure to a program, and insighful peers to discuss things with.
     
  13. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Again, can't speak for Union but I was accepted to graduate programs at California State University and University of Florida with my COSC degree. I would say the admission focuses more on the courses completed and do they meet the pre-reqs of the graduate program you are interested in. Do you have a graduate program you are targeting?

    As far a quaility - I am a firm believer in you get out of it what you put into it.
     
  14. JBjunior

    JBjunior Active Member

    You seem to be only wanting information on this particular institution. If that is the case then maybe someone who has been there can give you some insight.

    There are many other colleges that will meet or exceed your requirements as well at a better price point.
     
  15. windy

    windy New Member

    I was not really aware of any of these others. I went to Goddard's open house a few years ago, but Goddard seemed more tied to a current vocation, and also seemed really good for artists. Someone at that open house told me about UI&U. After a couple of more years trying to do my original school, I applied to UI&U as an alternative, was accepted, and have communicated with them.

    So yes, I would love to hear from someone who has done their program.

    (That said, it is eye-opening to hear about all these other programs, especially at lower cost. I really should have come here a year ago.)
     
  16. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Most RA credits are transferable - I have transferred credits from both US and UK schools to US schools (the UK credits after evaluation).

    Yes - but remember many grad school programs have specific requirements for enrollment.

    For people with a long work history the degree becomes almost a check point in the hiring process. In my opinion it is experience and interest in the job that gets you hired/promoted.
     
  17. NorCal

    NorCal Active Member

    Good luck having your original question answered. The DegreeInfo community is great, but sometimes people get carried away and forget to simply answer the question being asked, lol. (Don't flame me)

    Welcome to the forum. :D
     
  18. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    What? We would never do that! Consider yourself flamed. :)
     
  19. consultco

    consultco New Member

    I think it's great you're interested in the quality of the learning experience, and at your age - which is close to mine - you might consider graduate school as an experience that would be more satisfying to you. Excelsior and Charter Oak allow people to fully test out for their degrees, which saves major money and time. I got my degree this way from Excelsior, and then got a master's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
     
  20. windy

    windy New Member

    Consultco, that is a really good idea to look into. Thanks!
     

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