University of Phoenix, begun in 1976, is a private online university with over 400,000 enrolled students studying in over 100 online degree programs.
The largest private university in North America, this institution has changed the online educational landscape – both structurally and politically – and its success has inspired the creation and growth of many other online universities.
This article will give an overview of the University of Phoenix, detail its online degree programs, and explain how its distance learning works.
University of Phoenix – Benefits of Online Education
When students consider an online degree, they often do so because personal situations demand an educational opportunity which presents more flexibility than traditional, campus-based colleges can offer. Below are some of the benefits offered by the University of Phoenix:
- Flexible scheduling which allows working students, full-time parents, and those who travel often to attend classes anytime, anywhere
- Student-centered learning which caters to multiple intelligences and provides both personal online interactions with instructors as well as asynchronous class time
- Extensive technological resources, including online libraries, research tools, ebooks, and computer simulations
Of course, another advantage to the University of Phoenix is financial: online learning is often much less expensive than attending a traditional, campus-based college. Additionally, thanks to changes in the rules governing federal financial aid, students who attend online college are now eligible for federal student loans and Pell Grants.
University of Phoenix – Campus and Online University Structure
While known for its online college learning system, the University of Phoenix also has over 200 physical campuses, thus providing both online learning opportunities as well as traditional, campus-based education.
Students who solely utilize the online university learning structure take one class at a time, meeting with professors both in real time and asynchronously via the internet. This structure allows students to complete work via online forums, provides students with the flexibility to attend live classes when convenient, and gives students the ability to complete group projects by forming working relationships with other students online.
While some students choose to attend the university traditionally by attending its campus-based courses – most of which are on the evenings or weekends – many students are able to combine the two platforms by using what the University of Phoenix calls its FlexNet learning format. In this format, students are able to supplement their online courses by attending campus-based classes. This blend is available for those who need the flexibility of online college, but desire face-to-face interactions.
Regardless of which learning format a student chooses, all of the educational programs and degrees (detailed in the next section) are available.
University of Phoenix – Online Degree Programs
The University of Phoenix offers over 100 online degree programs through several academic colleges and a full range of departments. Among these programs are a number of online Associate's degree programs available through Axia College, and include:
- Accounting
- Communications
- Elementary Education
- Financial Services
- Health Care Administration
- Human Services Management
- Information Technology
- Medical Records
- Pharmacy Practice
Additionally, online Bachelor's degree programs are available, many of which have multiple concentrations, and include:
- Multimedia and Visual Communication
- Business
- Criminal Justice Administration
- Health Administration
- Human Services
- Information Technology
- Management
- Nursing
- Psychology
A number of online Master's degree programs are available through several departments as well, and include:
- Education
- Business Administration (MBA)
- Health Administration
- Information Systems
- Management
- Human Resources
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Public Administration
The University of Phoenix also has a handful of online doctoral programs in its portfolio, and include the following:
- Doctor of Business Administration
- Doctor of Education
- Doctor of Health Administration
- Doctor of Organizational Leadership
All of the above online degree programs are available for students who utilize solely the online learning model as well as the FlexNet learning format.
University of Phoenix – Online University Technology Requirements
Technology plays a large part in online education, and as such students who enroll in online college must have the necessary hardware to participate. Since computers are advancing at a rapid pace, and online universities change their platforms to keep up with such advances, technology requirements are always in flux for online college students.
Below are some of the current technology requirements for online students at the University of Phoenix:
- A processor with a minimum speed of 1.6 GHz;
- Current anti-virus software;
- At least 256MB RAM;
- At least a 20 GB hard drive;
- A high-speed internet connection;
- A sound card with speakers;
- A CD ROM;
- An inkjet or laser printer;
- Access to Microsoft Office software.
University of Phoenix – An Online University for Students Who Need Flexibility
For those who are able to meet the technological requirements in the above section, the University of Phoenix provides the dynamic ability to experience online courses both in real-time and asynchronously. With a wide range of degrees, student resources, and campus-based learning opportunities to supplement its online learning format, the University of Phoenix has become a leader among distance learning providers, and is a good choice for those students looking for a flexible online degree.
For more information on the items contained in this article, reference the University of Phoenix's online degree program guide, from which the information for this article was gleaned.
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David Harris-Gershon - David Harris-Gershon – a blogger for Tikkun magazine and a freelance writer on Israel, the Middle East and America’s role in ...
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