Here is my review of the University of Phoenix. I am half way through my Master's degree at UoP. Initially I was skeptical about going to UoP and weighed my options with going to UW, Community College(to satisfy some credit in accounting), and other online colleges. Coming from a traditional university (for my undergrad) I had some concerns with transitioning to an online college. Here were my concerns: 1) Can you really learn anything from an ONLINE course? 2) Is the education worth the cost? 3) Given my situtation, is this a good fit for me in comparison to the other option (above). It took me 3 months to determine this. I talked to individuals who attended. I talked to advisors and asked them very pointed questions as to how this schooling help me to obtain my futher goals (CPA certification). At the end of it all, as you know, am attending the University. As to the comments below, I can affirm to some of the negatives and postives of the school. Please take into consideration I did not take the option to take online courses, rather I thought "GROUND CAMPUS" was the best fit for me. Ground campus is when you go to a physical location (once a week for 4hours) with a instuctor who lectures. It is cheaper too. I like the PHYSICAL interaction btwn facilitator and students. As my perception about online (per my learning habits) is that I couldn't just read online, get questions answered online, and have everything electronic. I need to read, understand the material, and come to class to bounce idea off other students and teachers. So please consider this really a review for UoP Ground Campus.
I guess lets start with the negatives. Coming from a traditonal college, I do see students at the UoP who should not be a certain levels of the program. I would say good grades are considered to be easily given to a student that does not do the "level" of work they should be at the BA, BS, MA level. I don't think instructors should be doing this. I think they should be brutually honest because if the student is not doing the quality of work they should by giving them a passing grade only hurts the development of that individual. Moreover cheapens the image of UoP because everyone one is able to get a degree easily. I have the option to to this, but I don't. I provide the best quality of work I should at a Master's level. Please, students that are not rising to that level, take the workshops available to help improve your skills. Another negative is that the classes are short so there is pressure to comphrehend the material in a short period of time. I would say these are the negatives I have experienced. From reading below at the other comments, there are instructors that should not be teaching but there are other instructors that are on the ball and make a world of difference in learning. But like any other university you get that as well- good and bad instructors.
So let go with the positives now. Okay, obviously I do like the UoP since I am still here. UoP fits into my schedule since I work full time and am raising a family. I attend to use UoP as a stepping stone in my over scheme of my career goals. I am going to UoP to satisfy the educational requirements for CPA. Later down the road continue to Law School as my true passion. And yes.... I was wondering the same thing, individuals from UoP can go to Law School. hahahaha! It is an accredited university. I checked, I need to it to be with where I am going. Let me first say to all, EDUCATION IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT TO BE. What ever college you decide to go to, the main factor is you. Since learning happens so fast in UoP you need to READ THE MATERIAL, LECTURE, COMPREND, AND INTERACT. UoP I believe is designed for individuals who are working adults that have other obligations and are SERIOUS about learning the material. It is not like the traditional college where there fresh off of high school students (although I do believe some of the adults act as so) come to lecture and are fed the material. Even in a traditional college it is easy to get a good grade you just come to lecture and do the work. Trust me, there are some stupid people that graduate from college. At UoP you are not fed the material, you need to read it and come to class prepared with questions you may have. It is funny when the comment below stated that the instructors go off the same material as the previous years (2007). Well sorry to tell you but so does other instructors everywhere else. How else would you teach the class- something different all the time? It is a template for learning or as one would say a skeleton for how you should teach the students. Now the really good instructors puts the meat and bones to the lecture and update information with the passing of time. My instructors have been great with given responses back then I ask- because I am in the classroom with them! What I like about the UoP is that the instuctors are actually working in the field they are teaching. Traditional college is mostly theories, hypothetical, and straight from the text book. Here the instructors are realisitic and teach the material as to how it would pertain in the real world. Because as you know what is written isn't always practice. Education sometimes comes with the experience of having done it. I like the team collaboration because it teaches you to interact with others as you will in the work place. It enhances your learning. UoP works around my schedule in this moment in time. My overall feeling with UoP is that it is a little above average- good. It isn't fantasic- obviously it is not Harvard, Yale,etc. I would not make UoP my sole education. As I stated before, it is a stepping stone to where I want to get eventually. Be smart about what degree to choose from and if realistically a degree in that area in UoP will really get you the job you want. Do the research and ask employers, licenser, etc what requirements need to be satisfied and if UoP would do that.
I do have a lingering concern about how employers view UoP on applications? To be honest I get the feeling it is a 50% chance for negative and positive. Although alot of employers just care that you have the education and they can teach you the job skills and technicality when you are hired; I can't help to wonder the other employers who may has a bias perception of UoP. I have asked my bosses and it is right down the middle. Be aware though that some with a BA, BS, MA in a more prestiagious college obviously gets higher points. I am weary about just having the MBA at UoP but since I will be getting certification as CPA it really doesn't matter since the at that point you are certified/ licensed through the state. Well, thanks for letting me belt out this large thesis. hahaha but I just wish a educated opinion was put up for me when I was researching what college to pick. It was an a great ordeal for me to pick the right one. I hope this helps others in weighing there decision with going back to school. I know the first day of orientation, I said to myself, "Oh,gosh I am doing this again- school" but I decided I got to make a decision and commit. So I pick UoP, don't think about the length of completion, study, and go with the flow. I am happy because I am half way through. At the end of 2010 I will graduate with MBA concentration in Accounting. Yay!!!!!!!!! I'll be 27..... so old :( haha
Oh sorry if there are a little of grammar errors in my post. I am just writing off the top of my head besides this is not for class.