DeVry University is a private, for-profit university which combines a dynamic online university with over 90 campuses across North America. With over 65,000 enrolled students, it is one of the largest online institutions serving English speakers.
DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
This article will give an overview of DeVry University, detail its online degree programs, and explain how its distance learning works.
DeVry University – Benefits of Online Education
In today's marketplace, nontraditional students are increasingly looking for educational options which meet a variety of lifestyles. Such students often look toward online degree programs because they present more flexibility than can be found in traditional, campus-based settings. Below are some of the benefits offered by DeVry University:
- Asynchronous classes which present flexible scheduling, allowing students to attend class whenever they wish
- A central, online repository which houses all aspects of its online courses
- Student-centered learning which presents information in a variety of ways for students with differentiated learning styles
- A full offering of technological resources which include online libraries, web-based tutorials, and media seminars
As with many online universities, learning at DeVry University has the added benefit of being less expensive than most campus-based schools. This is partially due to the fact that students attending online colleges do not pay for expensive peripheral costs (such as student housing and textbooks).
Another important point to consider is that changes have been made to the federal rules which govern the various federal financial aid programs; students who attend online universities are now eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants.
DeVry University – Online Learning and Online Course Structure
The university operates on a three semester schedule yearly, with semesters in the fall, spring and summer. For online learning, semesters are split into two, eight-week sessions, thus allowing students to enroll in a new course twice a semester. This schedule allows student the opportunity to complete an online Bachelor's degree in approximately three years.
Courses are fully asynchronous, meaning that students are able to view lectures whenever it is convenient for them. All courses provide syllabi which show when assignments are due, present electronic readings, and chart when tests and quizzes have been scheduled.
Every course provides access to The Hub, an online repository for educational resources, such as tutorials, web conferencing opportunities, writing resources, and online libraries. Online courses also provide lecture pages, which house all of a course's instructional classes and are replete with an instructor's commentary and tips.
While students are not required to attend class in real time, every online course has a dynamic forum in which students and professors communicate about learning issues through discussion threads. It is here that students demonstrate their class participation.
In some online courses, students and professors are able to communicate live using the iConnect web conferencing technology. Additionally, all students have access to a full academic advising team, technical support, and career services for students nearing graduation.
DeVry University – Academic Colleges and Online Degree Programs
DeVry University offers a wide range of online degree programs through its five colleges. This section will detail its degree offerings by academic college.
Below are the online degree programs offered through the College of Business & Management:
- Associate of Accounting
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Technical Management
- Master of Accounting and Financial Management
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Human Resources Management
- Master of Project Management
- Master of Public Administration
Below are the online degree programs offered through the College of Engineering and Information Sciences:
- Associate of Electronics and Computer Technology
- Associate of Network Systems Administration
- Bachelor of Computer Engineering Technology
- Bachelor of Computer Information Systems
- Bachelor of Electronics Engineering Technology
- Bachelor of Game and Simulation Programming
- Bachelor of Network and Communication Management
- Master of Electrical Engineering
- Master of Information Systems Management
- Master of Network and Communications Management
Below are the online degree programs offered through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences:
- Master of Educational Technology
- Master of Educational Technology (graduate certificate)
Below are the online degree programs offered through the College of Media Arts & Technology:
- Associate of Web Graphic Design
- Bachelor of Multimedia Design and Development
- Bachelor of Web Game Programming
In Devry University's fifth academic college, The College of Health Sciences, there is currently only one degree offering: an Associate's degree in Health Information Technology.
DeVry University – Online University Technology Requirements
Technology plays a large part in online education, and some schools have technology demands which can be burdensome for students. However, at DeVry University, most of the computer requirements are basic, and those courses which demand more advanced software provide them for students through a software library called iLab.
Below are some of the basic technology requirements for online students:
- A fast and stable internet connection;
- Basic word processing;
- A sound and video card.
DeVry University places an emphasis on providing necessary software to its students, and as such there are few technology requirements about which its students need to worry.
DeVry University – Distance Learning Which Offers Maximum Flexibility
DeVry University provides a sophisticated and well-organized online course offering through its online platform. With a broad range of student resources, student support services, and a well-developed online organizational model provides students with lectures, online forums, web seminars, and tutorials, DeVry University is a good option for students who demand flexible and asynchronous online learning.
For more information, reference DeVry University's online degree program guide, from which the information for this article was gleaned.
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