University of Phoenix offers an innovative approach to higher education. Focused on meeting the needs of working students, we believe it is important to provide educational opportunities that are not only convenient and accessible, but also up-to-date and applicable to the real world. This philosophy is reflected in many areas throughout University of Phoenix, including our flexible scheduling, practitioner faculty and centralized curriculum design.
Accessibility to Higher Education
For more than 30 years, University of Phoenix has been dedicated to providing working adults with access to higher education opportunities. Indeed, that is at the very core of our mission.
Working to remove the barriers to education, the University offers flexible scheduling that allows students to enroll at any time, as well as convenient learning formats that enable students to learn online at times and places they choose or learn at a nearby campus location at times that fit their schedules.* Together, these elements help expand educational opportunities for students who previously may have been excluded due to personal, geographic or employment circumstances.
As part of our focus on making higher education highly accessible, University of Phoenix also does not require students to take college entrance exams or submit essays. Instead, the University requires that students are employed or have access to an organizational environment that allows them to apply the concepts learned in our courses. For more information, see our Admissions Requirements.
Flexible Scheduling
Since our founding in 1976, University of Phoenix has provided working students across the world the ability to continue their education while earning a living. This is made possible by offering classes at convenient times and locations, as well as online.
In addition to convenience, a fundamental part of our educational approach is flexibility. Understanding that busy working students want to earn their degrees efficiently, we offer flexible scheduling instead of operating on a semester or quarter schedule. This allows students to enroll at University of Phoenix year-round rather than waiting for the next semester or quarter.
Another benefit of flexible scheduling is that learning is not interrupted for long breaks during the year or in the summer. Students can complete their degrees sooner than they may think-and without having to put their jobs and other commitments on hold.
Practitioner Faculty
As part of our Mission and Purposes, University of Phoenix is dedicated to providing instruction that bridges the gap between theory and practice through faculty members who bring to their classroom not only advanced academic preparation, but also the skills that come from the practice of their professions. Our faculty members bring immediate relevance to content while helping students relate to the world of work and make connections between theoretical and practical applications.
This approach to higher education helps ensure that our students receive a quality education that is applicable to the real world. Our students learn from faculty members who have master's or doctoral degrees and substantial experience in the fields they teach. In fact, some of our faculty members work at the world's most recognized companies. Additionally, faculty members are encouraged to keep up-to-date in their professions and involved in academic and professional scholarly activities.
Click for faculty demographics or information on becoming a faculty member.
Centralized Curriculum Design
Degree programs at University of Phoenix are designed to provide a quality education based on relevant, rigorous learning. Our college deans and select faculty members collaborate to create each program, using a four-step process:
- Identify objectives, admission requirements, course requirements and basic qualifications.
- Research input from a variety of constituencies, including leaders in the community, education, business and industry.
- Create course objectives, content, suggested activities, assignments and learning assets, such as texts, readings, simulations and tutorials.
- Verify alignment with the master curriculum agenda, program objectives, University Mission and University Learning Goals.
As part of the curriculum design process, learning outcomes are created for each course and clearly communicated to students. These measurable outcomes are geared toward the practical needs and theoretical context of the discipline being studied. Importantly, stated learning outcomes give students, faculty members and the University the ability to assess and demonstrate the effectiveness of the students' educational experience.
* While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats.