University of Phoenix - Education Degrees?

[CrazyCatLady]

I've had my eye on the Associate of Arts with a concentration in Paraprofessional Education at the University of Phoenix for a while now.

Researching has just left me more confused. But pretty much what I need to know is how legitimate this degree (or more if I went higher) really is? I have no plans on becoming a PS teacher...but would I be able to with this degree. I'm pretty sure this school is known for actually being legit right?

I'm in the starting stages of research here and just a bit confused. Thanks for any insight.

[purplepaperclip]

I would steer clear of Univ of Phoenix. If you are interested in online classes there are many uni's out there that hold much more "standing" in the academic community who offer online degrees. I would do some more research and check all your options. In my experience, Univ of Phoenix is not something that employers look upon desirably. (hope I'm not stepping on too many toes here...)

[CrazyCatLady]

How funny. I "know" about most of the online options. I just always thought I heard about University of Phoenix being the best out of the bunch. Apparently I need to do a lot more research.

I may just end up going back to the school I got my last (useless) education from. Guess I was just hoping for something a little easier on my unschooling/single mom schedule.

Thanks

[Peony]

Originally Posted by purplepaperclip

I would steer clear of Univ of Phoenix. If you are interested in online classes there are many uni's out there that hold much more "standing" in the academic community who offer online degrees. I would do some more research and check all your options. In my experience, Univ of Phoenix is not something that employers look upon desirably. (hope I'm not stepping on too many toes here...)

I agree. I am doing an online program, just choose your school wisely!

[JudiAU]

I don't think it has a good reputation. I'd choose a "real" school with a real campus, which offers an online campus. Online is fine-- but it should not be for-profit..

[sparklett]

I think if a hiring manager looked at a candidate with a UofP degree and had to compare that person to someone who had a degree from a different college like a state college, the state college would win. It doesn't mean UofP is a poor school, it just means that people think it's not quite the same as other schools.

[Drummer's Wife]

You're in CA, right? There are tons of options for online courses (and they don't have to be in the same state). I'm sure you could at least take all your general education courses online through a local community college (that would probably be the cheapest route). I would avoid UoP just b/c it is likely expensive, and nowadays pretty much all universities, state schools, and community colleges offer online courses. And they won't show up on your transcript or diploma as "online" whereas with UoP may not appeal to future employers, yk?

[That Is Nice]

There was a good New York Times article a while back about University of Phoenix and other "colleges" where they churn out online or even on campus degrees with dubious credentials.

Those sort of schools are degree factories, more or less, and the worth of the degree in the job market is sort of questionable.

Is it better than nothing? Probably. Maybe.

Does it stand up to real bricks and mortar schools with credentials, accreditations, and solid reputations?

No.

As for as education degrees, I do know that at least a few states' boards of education will not certify a University of Phoenix degree because it doesn't meet their standards. I think that says a lot. You can't even qualify in some states for a teaching license with a U of P degree? Something is wrong there...

I'd go for a state school or private school with accreditation and good ranking. I think it's a better investment of time and money. Skip U of P.

I work in academia. People laugh at U of P. Not nice, but they do.

And, finally, U of P is expensive for some unknown reason. The quality of the degree doesn't match the price. Seems like you would get more for your time and money elsewhere.

[*MamaJen*]

Significantly lower quality, significantly lower reputation, significantly higher expense. I've been in charge of hiring in my office, and all else equal, I would strongly give priority to someone with a degree from a state school over U of Phoenix.
I would not even consider it for myself. If you want to do an online program, take advantage of online classes offered through real state schools. You'll still have the flexibility, you'll pay about half the cost, and people will take your degree much more seriously.

[That Is Nice]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

Significantly lower quality, significantly lower reputation, significantly higher expense. I've been in charge of hiring in my office, and all else equal, I would strongly give priority to someone with a degree from a state school over U of Phoenix.
I would not even consider it for myself. If you want to do an online program, take advantage of online classes offered through real state schools. You'll still have the flexibility, you'll pay about half the cost, and people will take your degree much more seriously.

Ditto. No one with a U of P degree would get hired where I work. Ever.

I'm curious about the expense though. I agree about the significantly lower quality and reputation. Why is it so expensive??