Comments on: My MBA at the University of Phoenix Online, Part 3: Course Logistics http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/ A premiere personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:42:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-95538 Flexo Wed, 02 May 2007 15:59:08 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-95538 There are some trade-offs. Instead of listening to a two-hour lecture, as you might in a classroom based course, you read a lecture, supplemental materials, cases, and a general text. The two-hour lecture can be read in less than two hours. It's the discussions with your classmates and teammates that take longer through the Internet than they would face-to-face. I would say 20 hours per week is accurate for the courses that I needed such time. There were times I spent less than that, but I didn't get as much out of those classes because of it. I opted to eliminate the week in between classes for the last year or so of the degree to finish quicker... but I was <i>constantly</i> doing school work (when not at my day job) during that time. There are some trade-offs. Instead of listening to a two-hour lecture, as you might in a classroom based course, you read a lecture, supplemental materials, cases, and a general text. The two-hour lecture can be read in less than two hours. It’s the discussions with your classmates and teammates that take longer through the Internet than they would face-to-face.

I would say 20 hours per week is accurate for the courses that I needed such time. There were times I spent less than that, but I didn’t get as much out of those classes because of it.

I opted to eliminate the week in between classes for the last year or so of the degree to finish quicker… but I was constantly doing school work (when not at my day job) during that time.

]]> By: Mike http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-95533 Mike Wed, 02 May 2007 15:43:20 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-95533 So if you are only taking classes for 6 weeks, then I assume that you are spending about 8 hours in class/week/course to get to the equivalent of a 15 week course? Also, whereas a traditional MBA takes about 16 months in class time, I assume that since you are only taking 1 class at a time at 6 weeks per class (plus a one week break between classes), that will would take you about 35 months to obtain the degree? Plus, I assume that as with any MBA program, you spend at LEAST 2-3 times the amount of time working outside of class as you do sitting in a lecture. So then I can safely assume that you are spending around 20 hours/week working toward this degree. Additionally, since you are doing this all over computers, I imagine that there is a very signiificant degree of difficulty added to your work over being able to meet face-to-face with classmates. I'm sure that adds at least a couple of hours each week. So if you are going to state all the benefits of your 'MBA', why not mention that if you are going to call it an 'MBA' you are probably spending about 22 hours a week over about 3 years...on top of a regular job? So if you are only taking classes for 6 weeks, then I assume that you are spending about 8 hours in class/week/course to get to the equivalent of a 15 week course?

Also, whereas a traditional MBA takes about 16 months in class time, I assume that since you are only taking 1 class at a time at 6 weeks per class (plus a one week break between classes), that will would take you about 35 months to obtain the degree?

Plus, I assume that as with any MBA program, you spend at LEAST 2-3 times the amount of time working outside of class as you do sitting in a lecture. So then I can safely assume that you are spending around 20 hours/week working toward this degree. Additionally, since you are doing this all over computers, I imagine that there is a very signiificant degree of difficulty added to your work over being able to meet face-to-face with classmates. I’m sure that adds at least a couple of hours each week.

So if you are going to state all the benefits of your ‘MBA’, why not mention that if you are going to call it an ‘MBA’ you are probably spending about 22 hours a week over about 3 years…on top of a regular job?

]]> By: Mike Berta http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-87249 Mike Berta Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:51:57 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-87249 Flexo, you commented about the OWA and Outlook Express. UOP moved everything from OE and the old OWA into an ever-evolving online-only interface. It took about one class to get used to the new format, the online-only aspect, and the tools within the format but things are improving. I agree the old OWA was a bear to wrestle with when no other option was available. Still, I miss the days of Outlook Express, nothing like being unplugged from the Internet and still able to complete classwork. Flexo, you commented about the OWA and Outlook Express. UOP moved everything from OE and the old OWA into an ever-evolving online-only interface. It took about one class to get used to the new format, the online-only aspect, and the tools within the format but things are improving. I agree the old OWA was a bear to wrestle with when no other option was available. Still, I miss the days of Outlook Express, nothing like being unplugged from the Internet and still able to complete classwork.

]]> By: Jana http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-74240 Jana Tue, 19 Dec 2006 06:12:00 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-74240 I just stumbled across your missive, and I am really enjoying. I am looking at it from the other side, as a faculty member, although I teach for UOP's "junior" college, Axia. So this is all very interesting to me. I was/am considering starting a blog myself, and part of what I would write about would be my experiences as an Axia of UOP facilitator. Hmm. . .I like this site quite a bit, and I am looking forward to the rest of your experiences. I just stumbled across your missive, and I am really enjoying. I am looking at it from the other side, as a faculty member, although I teach for UOP’s “junior” college, Axia. So this is all very interesting to me.

I was/am considering starting a blog myself, and part of what I would write about would be my experiences as an Axia of UOP facilitator. Hmm. . .I like this site quite a bit, and I am looking forward to the rest of your experiences.

]]> By: Marc http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-64784 Marc Sun, 01 Oct 2006 23:02:45 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-64784 Just when I thought I had no one to ask about UoP online degree, I came across your blog. Thank you for some very interesting and informative reading. I look forward to the next three. Just when I thought I had no one to ask about UoP online degree, I came across your blog. Thank you for some very interesting and informative reading. I look forward to the next three.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-64478 Flexo Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:48:18 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-64478 I just heard about the stadium deal yesterday... and I do have some thoughts. I think I'll throw them somewhere in the series. Glad to have you aboard, Dave! :-) I just heard about the stadium deal yesterday… and I do have some thoughts. I think I’ll throw them somewhere in the series.

Glad to have you aboard, Dave! :-)

]]> By: Dave S http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-64476 Dave S Wed, 27 Sep 2006 22:59:29 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/09/27/my-mba-at-the-university-of-phoenix-online-part-3-course-logistics/#comment-64476 Hey Flexo, I am relatively new to your blog...and I now look forward to your missives. I am certainly enjoying your review of UofP, since I am looking at them for an MBA. What is your $0.02 on the deal with the Arizona Cardinals and naming rights on the new stadium? I think it was 115 million over 10 years... Clearly, UofP is a private company...and the naming rights will help spread the word... As a football fan...I could not envision going to the University of Phoenix Stadium...although, as a Pats fan...their home base is named after a razor... Hey Flexo,

I am relatively new to your blog…and I now look forward to your missives. I am certainly enjoying your review of UofP, since I am looking at them for an MBA. What is your $0.02 on the deal with the Arizona Cardinals and naming rights on the new stadium? I think it was 115 million over 10 years…
Clearly, UofP is a private company…and the naming rights will help spread the word…
As a football fan…I could not envision going to the University of Phoenix Stadium…although, as a Pats fan…their home base is named after a razor…

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