02-06-2008, 09:02 PM
I've taken courses in person at one of the UoP campuses in Phoenix and have also taken online courses through them.
The price is exhorbitant. They do make it very convenient, though, in that if your employer has a tuition reimbursement program they will defer the bill until after your grades are issued.
One thing I liked about them is that they generally require their faculty to actually have experience in the field that they are teaching (rather than some PhD professor at a state university who has never been outside of academia).
One thing I didn't like, and what actually caused me to stop taking classes there, is that all undergraduate classes had "group" assignments. Meaning every single class (6 weeks long usually) you had to break into groups and do all of your assignments as a group, meet outside of class time as a group, etc. Normally people with the same major would be taking the same classes at the same time, so it would end up almost like a cohort group. Great if you got into a group with good people, not so great if they weren't reliable.
What I found at the time is that my lifestyle (at the time, single no kids) didn't match up with the lifestyle of the other people in my classes, so they were always wanting to meet on Friday nights when they could get a babysitter and I would rather be out. I preferred meeting after class but they all would want to get home to put their kidlets to bed. Even in the online classes we had to do group work, and try coordinating that across different timezones and getting everyone on the same Instant Messaging program!
It's a realistic model -- most people work as part of a team in their place of employment -- but if you are at all any bit of overachiever, Type A, OCD, or a perfectionist you might have a hard time signing your name to a group project with folks who are satisfied with different academic standards.
Just my 2 cents worth. A former cubicle-mate of mine went there for his Bachelor's in Project Management and was very happy with the experience.
The price is exhorbitant. They do make it very convenient, though, in that if your employer has a tuition reimbursement program they will defer the bill until after your grades are issued.
One thing I liked about them is that they generally require their faculty to actually have experience in the field that they are teaching (rather than some PhD professor at a state university who has never been outside of academia).
One thing I didn't like, and what actually caused me to stop taking classes there, is that all undergraduate classes had "group" assignments. Meaning every single class (6 weeks long usually) you had to break into groups and do all of your assignments as a group, meet outside of class time as a group, etc. Normally people with the same major would be taking the same classes at the same time, so it would end up almost like a cohort group. Great if you got into a group with good people, not so great if they weren't reliable.
What I found at the time is that my lifestyle (at the time, single no kids) didn't match up with the lifestyle of the other people in my classes, so they were always wanting to meet on Friday nights when they could get a babysitter and I would rather be out. I preferred meeting after class but they all would want to get home to put their kidlets to bed. Even in the online classes we had to do group work, and try coordinating that across different timezones and getting everyone on the same Instant Messaging program!
It's a realistic model -- most people work as part of a team in their place of employment -- but if you are at all any bit of overachiever, Type A, OCD, or a perfectionist you might have a hard time signing your name to a group project with folks who are satisfied with different academic standards.
Just my 2 cents worth. A former cubicle-mate of mine went there for his Bachelor's in Project Management and was very happy with the experience.
Completed all requirements for B.A. Management @ Ottawa University, Phoenix AZ
96 credits earned through traditional coursework:
3 credits - Front Range Community College (CO) - 1993
44 credits - Arizona State University (AZ) - 1992-97
49 Credits - Ottawa University (AZ) - 2004-08
Credits earned by examination:
6 credits - AP Exams (European History & US History)
12 credits - DANTES Exams (General Anthropology, Intro to World Religions, Criminal Justice, Here's To Your Health)
12 credits - CLEP Exams (Analyzing & Interpreting Lit, Spanish Language)
5 credits - FEMA courses thru Frederick Community College
Program completion 8.23.08 - degree posting 12.31.08 !
96 credits earned through traditional coursework:
3 credits - Front Range Community College (CO) - 1993
44 credits - Arizona State University (AZ) - 1992-97
49 Credits - Ottawa University (AZ) - 2004-08
Credits earned by examination:
6 credits - AP Exams (European History & US History)
12 credits - DANTES Exams (General Anthropology, Intro to World Religions, Criminal Justice, Here's To Your Health)
12 credits - CLEP Exams (Analyzing & Interpreting Lit, Spanish Language)
5 credits - FEMA courses thru Frederick Community College
Program completion 8.23.08 - degree posting 12.31.08 !
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