| THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX: PROS AND CONS | | | | Northwestern University (News writing and Reporting |
| 26th October 2005 | | | | 301-0) |
| Author: Lucky Balaraman | | | | $3217.00 |
| Copyright 2005 | | | | Harvard University (SOCI S-40: Introduction to |
| ~~~ About the University ~~~ | | | | Human Societies) |
| The University of Phoenix is the largest private | | | | $1850.00 |
| university in the United States. It has more than | | | | University of Phoenix Online (Marketing: MKT 421G) |
| 17,000 instructors and 240,000 students, out of | | | | $1230.00 |
| whom roughly half are enrolled in its highly evolved | | | | 5. The University's online program is one of the most |
| online educational programs. It has 170 physical | | | | highly evolved in the world and continues to be a |
| campuses spread over the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico | | | | fount of innovation. (The latest development: online, |
| and ---. Since 1976, more than 171,600 working | | | | downloadable, paperless textbooks) |
| professionals have earned their degree from | | | | 6. The curriculum stresses team playing. Even online |
| University of Phoenix. | | | | students are organized into groups and each group |
| The University of Phoenix is designed very differently | | | | asked to complete a project. This prepares students |
| from conventional universities. Its programs are aimed | | | | for the group efforts so fundamental to today's |
| at working adults - AT&T, Boeing, IBM, Intel, | | | | working world |
| Lockheed Martin, and Motorola -- not to mention the | | | | 7. The University is accredited by the Commission on |
| U.S. military.---who want to better their salaries by | | | | Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central |
| enhancing their qualifications. About 60% of students | | | | Association of Colleges and Schools. Any graduate |
| receive some tuition reimbursement from their | | | | school is required to recognize its diplomas |
| employers, which include such blue | | | | ~~~ Cons ~~~ |
| The School offers undergraduate and | | | | 1. Graduate Schools value applicants from Ivy League |
| graduate-degree programs in Business, Business and | | | | Universities much more than those from the |
| MBA, Criminal Justice, Education and Teaching, | | | | University of Phoenix |
| Healthcare and Nursing, Human Services Information, | | | | 2. Staff turnover is very high and continuity is poor ( |
| Technology, Accounting, Management, baccalaureate | | | | 3. Instructors can often be confused about the |
| nursing programs marketing, and the like, | | | | syllabus |
| ~~~ Pros ~~~ | | | | ( |
| 1. You can enroll in on-campus, offline or Flexnet | | | | 4. Plagiarism is often unchecked (Ibid) |
| programs (the latter is a combination of the first | | | | 5. Feedback on graded papers can be non-existent |
| two) | | | | (Ibid) |
| 2. If you are a working adult, you will not feel out of | | | | 6. Responsiveness of the management leaves a lot |
| place age wise: the average student is 34 years old | | | | to be desired; often complaints are not addressed |
| and earns between $50,000 and $60,000 a year | | | | ( |
| 3. Again, if you are working, there is a high chance | | | | 7. An unusual number of students are disillusioned |
| you can receive tuition reimbursement from your | | | | with the University |
| employer (60% of students do) | | | | ~~~ Conclusion ~~~ |
| 4. The tuition is much less than several other | | | | All the facts are now before you. It is now your call |
| universities'. Some sample fee comparisons: | | | | to weigh them carefully and make a sound, informed |
| TRV University (Technical Remote Viewing 101: Basic | | | | decision. Good luck in your educational endeavors! |
| Skills) | | | | Lucky Balaraman, who has a Masters degree in |
| $1295.00 | | | | engineering, is an experienced author who writes on |
| Columbia University (Political Science S1002Q) | | | | a variety of subjects. |
| $2514.00 | | | | |