Online Education

Copyright 2005 Richard Keir

As the demand, and supply, for online learning and distance
learning of all kinds continues to increase, it’s fascinating to
look at what a fully developed and highly acclaimed online
university is like.

The University of Phoenix is a relatively new institution.
Founded less than 30 years ago (in 1976), it was not only one of
the first accredited universities to provide complete degree
programs as an online college, but it has now become the leader
in the field in the United States.

The size of their operation is astonishing. They’ve developed
into the largest accredited university in the United States.
Here are some of the numbers they provide: more than 17,200
instructors, 163 campus locations and learning centers in 33
states, Puerto Rico, Canada and now Mexico, and over 171,600
earned degrees since 1976. They provide, naturally, world
spanning online learning through the internet.

Their curriculums are developed by working with industry and
business in order to provide the skills and knowledge that are
in demand. Focused on providing not only the content needed by
today’s professionals and businesses, they continue to upgrade
their formats and methods as well as their curriculums.

An innovative program put in place by the University of Phoenix
is called FlexNet. Rather than being a purely online learning
experience, a portion of each course is held at a campus or
learning center location. For many this feature adds a sense of
personal and community involvement, giving the student a chance
to interact directly with instructors and classmates.

Courses at the University of Phoenix Online are concentrated.
Students need to be willing to make a serious commitment.

While online learning courses vary they tend to have certain
features in common. In today’s hectic environment, the ability
to flexibly schedule your hours is critically important for many
prospective students. Being confined to fixed hours in a fixed
location for a traditional offline course just won’t work for
many. The demands of work and family too often cause missed
classes.

Traditional college education may also involve taking subjects
with little application to the professional’s working life.
Online education can allow you complete a degree in two or three
years.

In many online college environments, all your courses will be
focused on your professional needs. Generally, you’ll also be
able to focus on one course at a time rather than having to
split your attention among several over a long period. This
intensity and focus can be a significant benefit.

Since most online and distance learning is oriented toward
professionals, working people, generally the materials you’ll
study will be up-to-date and can be used immediately in your
working environment. This combination of studying things that
you can implement, materials relevant to your work, can make
online learning a uniquely rewarding and pleasant way to earn a
degree.

You do want to make sure that wherever you decide to study, that
it is accredited and that any degree or certification in a field
that requires licensure or state certification will be accepted
by your state. If your employer has an educational reimbursement
plan, be sure to verify that the college or university you chose
will be acceptable. In some cases, part of your expenses may
also be tax-deductible. Accreditation is important not only for
employer acceptance, but also if you are going to seek
scholarship funds to help with the cost.

The University of Phoenix is not the only place offering online
learning, but it does give you a pretty good introduction to
what’s possible. They offer everything from AA degrees to
Doctoral programs with a large variety of specialized Bachelor
of Science and Master’s degrees as well as professional
certifications and non-degree courses. You can explore their
offerings at http://www.phoenix.edu/ .

With today’s demands for highly educated and specialized
professionals, the value of online learning has never been
clearer. The fast paced and mobile lifestyles so common now
demand solutions that can fit into our lives, not ones that
require us to squeeze into them and disrupt our careers and
families for 3 or 4 years. The growth and acceptance of online
education makes it virtually certain that you can find a program
and a university or college that offers what you need to get
ahead – and a way to fit it into your life.

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