University of Phoenix - Online Individual Courses (MKT) Review

Although there is much controversy about the quality of a University of Phoenix (UOP) online education, I found that taking one of their classes to be a beneficial, quick way to complete a work requirement.  Mind you, the classes are not cheap.  The class I took cost about $1,000.  However, because I am a serious adult, who genuinely wanted to complete the class to my best ability, I found it to be a worthwhile venture. 

As in any educational task, you get out of it, what you put in.  Although there was no physical classroom, lectures or one-on-one meetings with the instructor, I still found this to be a helpful experience.  Because the class was online, the classroom came in the form of a special forum.  If you're not technically savvy, it might be frustrating to "get in" to class each week and navigate through the system.  Within the forum, the instructor left reading assignments from a required text that, as in all college classes, students were expected to buy.  Students were expected to complete response essays demonstrating what they learned from the reading passages.

Because it was a text that provided relevant information for my job, the reading assignments (usually 3 to 4 chapters each week) were good choices for the class.  As the class was only 5 or 6 weeks long, there was a lot of reading to complete in a short time.  This should be expected in any college-level class.  Along with the reading responses, there were quizzes to assess comprehension.  Again, because I was serious about learning and doing well, I aced these quizzes and reading responses.  T

In addition, class discussions came in the form of forum posts.  Students were expected to contribute to ongoing threads about relevant topics from the class and reading assignments.  Students were assessed on the quality of their responses.  A quick, superficial answer would get one a low rating.  The more thoughtful, and in-depth the response, the better rating one would receive.  I found that the other students in the class (all mainly mid-career professionals like me) to be engaging and insightful.  I enjoyed contributing, posing questions and sharing my ideas during "discussions."  I got something out of this form of class participation.

To receive credit for class, students had to sign-in weekly, post responses and upload assignments within a certain time frame.  This is where the class could get tricky for a procrastinator or someone who thinks the class is worthy of blowing off.  If you put off the work until the last hours that you can, than your shoddy work will definitely show.  Also, one's grades will definitely be affected by the effort put into the class.  I must admit, that I missed a deadline for one of the three (or four?) weekly class discussion forum posts.  The instructor was professional and pleasant about it, but I did not receive credit for this missed "class discussion."  I'm not complaining -this is the way it ought to be.

There were several formal writing assignments.  Several shorter research-based papers that ran about 2 to 3 pages were required, as well as two longer 5-8 page papers.  These papers were typical college-level research assignments with required APA formatting, citations, notes and a bibliography.  As writing is a major part of my work, I found the papers to be engaging, worthwhile assignments that allowed me to examine a question and pose my thesis statement clearly. 

Those students for whom writing didn't come so easily were given a list of online resources to help them.  I believe they were links to UOP sites that were the equivalent of a college writing lab or help center.  I believe there was also the option to revise papers that were not up to par one time.

Overall, I found the class to be an interesting experience.  I am not going to say that it was similar to taking a class at a local university or that it rivals Harvard in its academic challenge.  However, it was a helpful way for me to complete a class for work, learn a few things, and bone up on my skills.  My class was in the continuing education department, and I believe most other students in the class were similar to me, holders of Masters degrees needing a convenient and worthwhile way to earn some credits.  I am not sure if I would try to get a full degree from this institution for several reasons.  First, the cost would be too much to bear, and next, I think having a degree from this University could be looked down upon in certain fields.  However, a class or two could be helpful for the right student.