University of Phoenix: Degrees for Working Adults

The University of Phoenix is a private university that was founded in 1976 by Dr. John Sperling, an economist and professor-turned-entrepreneur, who was educated at Cambridge.

In the early 1970's, Dr. Sperling and several associates conducted research at San Jose State University in San Jose, California, on teaching/learning systems for the delivery of educational programs and services to working adult students.

At that point in time, colleges and universities were focused on meeting the needs of the 18-22 year old undergraduate students. Adult students were rarely to be seen on traditional campuses and were treated as second rate students

The University of Phoenix created new ways for working adults to get a higher education. The university has been committed to meeting the needs of non-traditional adult students, who want to add recognized degrees to their career portfolios.

Presently, the university is the largest accredited, private university in the United States. It serves about 200,000 adult students, enrolled at more than 250 campuses and online, all over North America.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a process of quality assurance and review, which indicates that an institution complies with the standards of the accrediting body and that there is sufficient reason to believe that it will continue to meet them.

The University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA). The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Some of the programs offered by the university also have accreditation approval from other agencies and organizations.

Distance learning

The University of Phoenix allows students to complete their education entirely online, at their convenience and from anywhere. Registration, ordering books, posting assignments, interacting with classmates and getting feedback from instructors, can all be done online.

You can take online classes at your convenience, as long as you post comments on at least four of the seven days of each week. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection and you can get lectures, questions and assignments from your instructor. You can review them and work on them off-line.

Online degree programs have been designed and updated to give students the skills and expertise that are much in demand in the professional world. Students can access tutorial services, academic counseling and 24-hour technical support.

Most of the students complete their degrees in two to three years, but some may take four or five years.

The University of Phoenix helps non-traditional adult students, to add a recognized degree to their career portfolios, while working on a fulltime job and meeting their family responsibilities.