University of Phoenix Business Communications degree?

Question

Id this a good degree? I know some business degrees require a certain accredidation. Is this one of them?

Answer 1

No, this is not a "good degree."

Most employers (with some very few exceptions) do not give much credence to degrees from "online universities" like University of Phoenix / Axia, AIU, Capella, Penn Foster, etc.

(An "online university" makes most of its money from online students. 250,000 suckers in the case of U of Phoenix. A "brick and mortar" school only offers distance education as a sideline or outreach program, and therefore is held to much more rigorous standards in terms of the quality of education it offers.)

If your only option is to work toward your degree online, many longstanding, regionally accredited, and completely reputable state universities offer courses and even degrees online. This is called "distance education."

The links below are the absolute best you will find. They contain more links to many well-respected state university distance education programs.

What distinguishes these sorts of programs is that the courses are generally transferable between regionally accredited institutions. Sometimes, the degrees offered are identical to those earned on campus.

I would advise you to start by looking at your own state university and check to see if it offers the programs and courses in which you are interested. If not, look at other state universities. (Pennsylvania has a great system, for instance.)

Just avoid the "online universities." These for-profit businesses are not the same as non-profit institutions of higher education, and they are notorious for not delivering on their promises. I can also assure you that these degrees are laughed at in academia.

Note: In institutions of higher education, regional accreditation is better than national accreditation. This sounds odd, but I assure you that it is the case. The regional accreditors are:
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NCCU)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

If a program is not accredited by one of these associations, it is best to stay away.

Best wishes to you, and good for you for asking the question before wasting your money!

Answer 2

I actually wanted to follow-up on the response offered by "Professor X" and point out a contradiction he stated with his response to you. The good professor advised for you to stay away and "avoid" online universities; and in addition, opined that online university formats are "laughed at in academia". He then proceeded to give you the following notice:

Note: In institutions of higher education, regional accreditation is better than national accreditation. This sounds odd, but I assure you that it is the case. The regional accreditors are:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
NORTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION of COLLEGES and SCHOOLS (NCACS)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NCCU)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Which leads me to question his knowledge and the validity of his response as a well thought out, researched answer; instead of the stereo-typical off-the-cuff response he provided. Had he done a little research on the matter, he would have learned that the University of Phoenix IS accredited by NCACS (http://www.elearners.com/college/uop/). This means that as an accredited institution it is subject to the same standards that are required as that of any other “traditional” colleges and universities. Yes, it is expensive since it is a for-profit institution which is no different than going to a private school in your state. What the University of Phoenix has above “well-respected state university distance education programs” is 30 years of experience, specifically in the online learning format.

My recommendation is for you to invest some time and effort and conduct your own research instead of running with what someone tells you in an online community message board. What I can offer you with my own experience(s) as a University of Phoenix student, is that it requires determination, discipline and dedication. If you do not have either one of these qualities, then I whole heartedly agree with the good professor for you to look into traditional classroom setting classes. Otherwise, the workload can and will bog you down since the requirement for learning online is purely reliant on your own, and access to your instructor is not instantaneous. Look around; see what will best fit your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I know someone who has 2 "MA"s from UOP and she though she was going to get a great job in education in admin. She did not-she is working for the YMCA with seniors - making around 15K a year.