| The possibility of taking Online degree programs | | | | Except from those mentioned about, most other |
| have been one of the biggest direct changes in | | | | services are somewhat lacking, however. There is |
| education due to the internet. It is easy and | | | | a campus bookstore where you can buy various |
| convenient for working adults to be able to take | | | | kinds of materials including software, as well as |
| courses without having to fit classes around their | | | | books. Like most college bookstores, you can |
| busy schedules or commute to campus. One of | | | | easily find the same books more cheaply other |
| the more popular accredited online degree | | | | places if you look around a little. Like most |
| programs is offered by Capella University. This | | | | schools, the bookstore is used to make some |
| school was founded in 1993 and got its | | | | extra money for the school. But, the easy way |
| accreditation in 1997. After it was accredited, it | | | | out of this, for you, is to buy the books you |
| changed itsname and established five schools: | | | | need on the websomewhere. There are lots of |
| Human Sciences, Technology, Education, | | | | services available for buying textbooks online. In |
| Psychology and Business. | | | | spite of this, the Capella school is quite affordable. |
| The school's headquarter is located in Minneapolis, | | | | There are more and more schools coming on the |
| Minnesota. Within these five schools, there are | | | | web every year, and those that want to stay |
| about 70 different areas of study with more than | | | | must be competitive. |
| 650 classes offered. The Capella school has 650 | | | | At Capella, there are five schools within the |
| faculty members, more than 550 employed staff | | | | college. They should be considered or reviewed |
| and 13,000 students enrolledin courses. As you | | | | separately in terms of quality. While the Human |
| can see, this is a real college for higher education | | | | Sciences, Business, Education and Technology |
| with real credentials. | | | | schools are quite good, the Psychology school has |
| The school has its good points as well as its bad | | | | been undergoing some issues. There have been |
| points. In order to draw as balanced picture as | | | | some problems with the management, and this |
| possible of this school, let's consider both. It has a | | | | has affected the overall quality of the program |
| special individualized portal for each student, called | | | | negatively. Because of these issues or problems, |
| the iGuide. After you enroll, you're granted secure | | | | the Psychology school has had to keep changing |
| access through this portal to all the academic | | | | its Dean, and this has also added to their |
| information you need. This makes it easy to look | | | | problems. At the time of this writing, the |
| at and get an overview of courses and | | | | psychology school is still not accredited by the |
| transcripts. Through the portal, you have access | | | | American Psychological Association, even though it |
| to your internet classroom, which they refer to | | | | has been running this program for so long. |
| as the 'courseroom', where you can get your | | | | This shouldn't reflect too badly on school as a |
| assignments and post messages. | | | | whole. Remember, there are 650 faculty |
| Most other schools on the internet have online | | | | members, so there is a load of variety. As a |
| chats and webcams which often don't work very | | | | matter of fact, the quality of the instructors has |
| well. At this school however, the technology is all | | | | always been commented on by the students who |
| together and in working order. It has a special | | | | have graduated here. One thing criticised by many |
| system for turning in assignments which is very | | | | is that so many of the faculty are part time |
| efficient but still easy to use. Just submit all your | | | | contractors, and thus do not have the interests |
| assignments as zip files or Microsoft Word | | | | of their students in mind as a highest priority. It is |
| documents. That's all you have to do. | | | | also charged that many of the teachers here are |
| The school portal offers access to the alumni | | | | new to teaching on the web, and in being |
| center which you can use for networking and | | | | unaccustomed to it are unable to give the best |
| looking for employment opportunities. There are | | | | instruction to their students. Thischarge comes |
| many other services available, like access to | | | | particularly from students who have attended |
| grants and other public money. Some of the | | | | masters or Ph.D. programs here and found the |
| graduates have criticized the alumni center as not | | | | quality of instruction at that level to be lacking. It |
| being so useful, and being mostly just for show. | | | | could be that the strength of this school is in its |
| However, most graduates are very happy with it. | | | | undergraduate program. |
| Because this school is targeted to students who | | | | This is what most students attend the school for, |
| are already in jobs, its opportunities for on | | | | so it may be that the instructors are better able |
| campus employment are pretty bare. The | | | | to teach at the undergraduate level. There aren't |
| thought is that the reason you've chosen to | | | | many complaints from undergraduate students |
| study there rather than at a more traditional | | | | about instructor or teacher quality, so this may be |
| college is that you are already in a jobs . If you | | | | the case. |
| live outside Minneapolis, the school does not offer | | | | At the Capella university you certainly get a bit of |
| much in the way of employment for its students. | | | | everything. Whether this school is for you |
| The school does offer a wide range of services | | | | depends on a number of different factors. |
| to students with various handicaps. There is a | | | | Retrieving and submitting coursework is easy. On |
| variety of software available, and the staff | | | | the negative side, the quality of the teaching or |
| makes an extra effort to accommodate students | | | | instruction has consistently been lauded, if at |
| with disabilities. The school is consistently ranked | | | | times inconsistent. The fact that every education |
| high among higher educational institutions for its | | | | program is not yet accredited probably reflects |
| services for disabled students. There is mobility | | | | badly on the school. |
| assistance, sign language interpreter service as | | | | Nevertheless, as internet programs go, it is rated |
| well and additional time given to those who need | | | | high in all areas. So, if you are looking intopursuing |
| it. | | | | a higher education online, weigh your options well. |