what does shaquille o'neal have a phd in

Shaq earns education doctorate

• Associated Press

MIAMI -- Former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal is a doctor now.

O'Neal received his doctoral degree in education from Barry University alongside 1,100 other students during commencement ceremonies on Saturday.

The Miami Herald reports O'Neal got on one knee so the chair of Barry's organizational learning and leadership program could drape a light blue hood around O'Neal's more-than-7-foot frame.

O'Neal then high-fived other graduates as he made his way back to his seat along with his manager, Cynthia Atterberry, who also received a doctorate in education.

The former All-Star and MVP earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.813 while completing 54 credit hours at Barry, mostly through online courses and video conferencing over the past four years. O'Neal's doctoral capstone project explored how CEOs and business leaders use humor in the workplace.

Does Shaq Really Have a Ph.D.?

Shaquille O’Neal acts, raps, analyzes basketball on TNT, invests in dozens of companies , and even owns a partial stake in the Sacramento Kings. On top of it all, however, Shaq is a lifelong student.

Many NBA fans might not know that O’Neal is the proud recipient of a doctoral degree. His commitment to education is a sticking point for him.

Shaquille O’Neal goes to college

Shaq initially followed the path of many others when he attended Louisiana State University . Although he valued his education, he knew he faced a lucrative NBA career as the consensus No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. O’Neal began at LSU in 1989 and, according to him, knew he wanted to finish with his degree no matter what, reports The New York Times .

If Ben Simmons goes No. 1 overall, he will join Shaquille O’Neal as the only No. 1 picks from LSU in the NBA Draft. pic.twitter.com/6CfJkpgjCb — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 23, 2016

Three years later, he left for the NBA, putting his educational goals on hold. Despite his status as an NBA superstar, he wanted to get his degree and used his parents as motivation. “I promised my parents I’d do it. I promised myself I’d do it,” O’Neal said of earning his degree. “It took eight years; it should have taken six or seven. I had some other engagements.”

That eight-year wait ended in 2000 when O’Neal famously missed a game against the Vancouver Grizzlies to attend his college graduation from LSU. “Here he is, almost 30, and he’s graduating from college,” Phil Jackson said per ABC News . “He’s persevered to do it. We wish him well in his graduation; it’s a wonderful thing to do.”

Not every player needs to finish their education. LeBron James hasn’t even gone to college. O’Neal, however, wanted his degree and wouldn’t stop with his bachelor’s. 

Becoming ‘Dr. Shaq’ 

Five years after receiving his degree and fresh off his tumultuous ending with the Lakers , O’Neal received another diploma. He got his master’s degree in business thanks to the University of Phoenix’s online opportunities, reports Harvard blog Ipso Facto . Shaq received a degree in business administration, which should shock no one who’s followed his career.

Meet Dr. Shaquille O'Neal with Barry University President pic.twitter.com/3IYltyz8 — Melissa Adan Vargas (@MelissaABCNews) May 5, 2012

While several big names get honorary degrees from various schools, O’Neal earned his just like any other grad school student. He took what he learned and applied it to his craft away from the court, but he didn’t stop there. 

Attendees at a 2012 convocation for Barry University saw one particularly large graduate in their midst, reports ESPN . Recently retired from the NBA, O’Neal finished his educational goal and received his doctorate in business along with 1,100 other students. O’Neal put himself in an exclusive club of pro athletes with doctorates. He is not technically a Ph.D. but received his Ed.D (Doctor of Education).

Shaquille O’Neal passes it on

Shaq’ss love for education does not stop there, however. Now a father to six adult and teenage children, O’Neal wants to instill his love of learning into the next generation of his family. Referencing the work he saw Miami Heat owner Micky Arison give his son, O’Neal wants his kids to learn the value of hard work and education.

O’Neal said he wants his kids to get at least two degrees before they dip into his money. This way, they can invest their finances similarly to how he does while also learning valuable life lessons. 

Off the court, O’Neal has had about as much success as he did on it. In a world where athletes are often lost outside of their games, O’Neal showed there is a path for even the largest superstars to expand their expertise.

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Bradley Geiser has been a contributing writer since 2019 and works with content for MotorBiscuit and Sportscasting. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English literature and English creative writing from UC Davis.

Does Shaq have a PhD or Doctoral Degree? Shaquille O’Neal degrees

Shaquille O’Neal, also known as Shaq, is not only a superstar NBA athlete and one of the best centers of all time in basketball but also holds a doctorate degree as well as many other advanced degrees.

He earned his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) from Barry University in Miami with a thesis on “The Duality of Humor and Aggression in Leadership Styles”.

In 2012, Shaquille O’Neal graduated with an Ed.D in Human Resource Development, a program centered on organizational learning and leadership.

This doctorate is similar to a PhD in many ways, except it focuses more on practical application and practice than research.

The NBA legend started working towards his doctorate towards the end of his illustrious NBA career, stemming from a promise he had made to his mother. Shaq maintained that he would one day complete his education which he did by earning his doctorate.

Undoubtedly, his dedication to following through on this promise demonstrates his commitment to higher education and fulfilling personal goals.

Shaq’s academic journey began at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he played college basketball. After his early entry into the NBA draft, he completed several online courses to achieve his degree from LSU, showcasing his perseverance.

In addition to his Ed.D, Shaq plans to further his education by attending law school. This pursuit underlines the multi-dimensional nature of this iconic Lakers player.

What Shaq said about his doctoral degree in education:

What motivated me to continue is, you know, this is the field that I wanted to be in, organizational leadership. So, as I was studying, you know, the experts, you know, the John C. Maxwell, the Hersey’s and Blanchards. You know, I realized that, you know, some of the techniques that they apply were some of the techniques that I was already using, you know, to become the great leader I was in sports. You know, I realized that, you know, especially when it comes to task and relationships. And also, you know, as I started reading, I was like, wow, this is very, very interesting. So, I had to put myself in little kid mode, like I was reading Goleverse Travels. So, like, you know, I have a crazy war of brands sometimes. So, instead of saying, oh, it’s not the cop call man, I got to read 80 pages, I would put myself in. Okay, he did this, and you know, I would make it fun. And I got to be very, very fun, quite enjoyable. When you cross into someone’s field, one thing you must have is their respect. So, you know, if I’m, if I’m gonna call myself a police officer, there’s a must that I go through the same training that they go through. Gas masks, the tasing, the running, the yelling. You know, if I’m gonna call myself a doctor, let’s go through the same, same academics that each student went through. So, I don’t, I don’t believe in anything honorary.

How many degrees does Shaquille O’Neal have? His love of learning

What is shaq’s master’s degree.

Shaquille O’Neal, or simply Shaq, is a former NBA superstar who has accomplished a lot both on and off the court.

Even after retiring from basketball, Shaq continued to pursue education and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix.

He was highly motivated to earn this degree as he had taken a lot of business-related decisions in his life, including owning a few franchises and investing in many businesses.

Shaq also believes that education is important and encourages everyone to pursue it.

He has given back to society by endowing large amounts of money to charities for education, which is a testament to his belief in its value.

Shaq’s endeavors and his ability to balance it all while constantly seeking new frontiers makes him an inspiring figure to people of all ages who wish to achieve more.

Wrapping up

Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA legend, is a prime example of the importance of lifelong learning and personal development.

His academic journey is a testament to his determination and resilience, as well as his ability to balance multiple pursuits successfully. Shaq’s commitment to his education, coupled with his philanthropic efforts, make him a true inspiration for anyone striving to achieve greatness both in their personal and professional lives.

From earning his B.A. degree in General Studies to his Ed.D. degree in Human Resource Development, attending the Sportscaster U training camp, and even studying directing and cinematography,

Shaq showcases that there truly are no limits to what we can accomplish if we set our minds to it. His pursuit of law school and dedication to giving back to the community further highlight his commitment to personal growth and making a difference in the world.

As we celebrate Shaq’s lengthy list of achievements, we are reminded that success is not solely defined by our careers, but also by our dedication to expanding our knowledge and constantly striving to become better versions of ourselves.

Let’s take a page from Shaq’s book and remember that it’s never too late to learn, grow, and make a positive impact.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal’s Education: Does He Have a Ph.D.?

Shaquille O’Neal speaks during Pepsi Stronger Together and CTG Foundation Atlanta Law Enforcement on in McDonough, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Pepsi Stronger Together)

Shaquille O’Neal wanted to take his talents to the NBA after a brief stint with LSU. However, his parents Phillip A. Harrison and Lucille O’Neal advised him to continue school. Unwillingly, Shaq obliged. However, three years into college, coach Dale Brown was tired of all the hard fouls that were allowed on the towering center. Brown was worried that Shaq could potentially suffer a serious injury that could hamper his NBA career. So he himself convinced his parents to allow him to declare for the NBA draft before graduating.

O’Neal declared for the 1992 NBA draft with a promise to his parents that he would come back and finish his degree. The Orlando Magic selected him as the first overall pick. Subsequently, there was no stopping the powerhouse, who went on to achieve almost everything there is to achieve in the league. However, Shaq’s parents still wanted their son to keep his promise and complete his education.

Shaquille O’Neal is highly qualified outside the basketball world

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Shaquille O’Neal is arguably one of the best basketball players ever. However, he is much more than just a basketball legend. Shaq is a certified polymath and highly qualified outside of the basketball world as well. He can do it all, from making music and starring in movies to building successful businesses. Furthermore, he was a smart entrepreneur from the very start of his career. Amidst his success in the league, O’Neal was winning off the court as well.

Shaq was one of the most popular athletes in the world and it earned him major endorsements. However, he soon realized that he could earn much more via partnerships. So the Big Aristotle joined hands with major brands instead of just endorsing them. This helped him build his massive business empire.

READ MORE – Awestruck NBA World Notice Crazy Body Transformation as Shaquille O’Neal Unleashes Hysterical Clip

However, it did not come easy. The Los Angeles Lakers legend had to spend many sleepless nights studying to be where he is now. Even though he was a superstar in the league, he did not forget his promise to his parents. So he worked hard to graduate and educate himself aptly. However, Shaq did not stop after getting his first degree. His motivation to learn more only increased from there on.

Being a good businessman, Shaquille O’Neal has invested a lot in his education

Shaquille O’Neal was curious about business from a very early stage in his NBA career. He learned things with experience, making mistakes here and there. However, he made sure to not make the same mistake twice. Furthermore, he surrounded himself with brilliant minds and did not hesitate to ask questions about entrepreneurship. Now, he has over 172 restaurants and 150 car washes that add to his impressive net worth.

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 18: Shaquille O’Neal arrives ahead of the 2018 NBA All-Star Game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on February 18, 2018. (Photo by Philip Pacheco/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The Hall of Famer understood the importance of education as a good businessman. However, he had to learn it the hard way. Even though his associates respected him, they did not think he would understand the details being discussed in business meetings. So whenever they discussed business, they did it by themselves. Shaq was not happy with the way he was treated in meetings .

The four-time NBA champion thought his lack of education in business was the reason behind it. So he wanted to be in charge and decided to educate himself further and hence, invested a lot of his time and money in education.

Shaquille O’Neal’s education is one of his biggest achievements in life

Over the course of his NBA career, Shaquille O’Neal has won almost every accolade there is to win. After losing the Finals playing for the Orlando Magic, Shaq could not wait to win his first-ever title. However, he had to bide his time even after joining the Lakers. O’Neal and the Lakers fell short in the playoffs multiple times. Shaq received major criticism from analysts and fans because of his inability to deliver chips despite his massive contract. However, he vouched to win it all and decided to do whatever it took.

When Shaq found head coach Phil Jackson was available, he let the management know his desire to play under Jackson. Furthermore, he met Jackson to convince him to join the team. The legendary head coach had some conditions for O’Neal regarding his training regimen, which he obliged. Then there was no stopping the Lakers. They went on to win three straight titles from 2000 to 03 despite Shaq and Kobe Bryant’s internal feud.

WATCH THIS STORY – How much did Shaquille O’Neal weigh at birth

Shaq won the NBA MVP award in 2000 en route to his first NBA ring. Additionally, he won the Finals MVP award on all three occasions. Other than Shaq, only Michael Jordan has done that. After leaving LA in 2004, the Big Diesel won another title with the Miami Heat in 2006. He has also won the All-Star Game MVP thrice while playing in 15 editions. He was eventually inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Even though O’Neal has won almost everything in the NBA, his education will still be considered one of his biggest achievements, mostly because of the importance he ascribes to it.

Complete details on Shaquille O’Neal’s educational background

Eight years after leaving LSU, Shaquille O’Neal went back and kept his promise by earning his B.A. degree in general studies. His parents could not be more proud. However, he was just getting started. The 15-time NBA All-Star reached out to the University of Phoenix to join the MBA program. But the university only offered online courses. However, Shaq wanted to attend classes. The management said that it needs more students who are willing to attend physical classes to make it happen.

So O’Neal enrolled 15 of his associates and paid for them as well. In 2005, the 2000 NBA MVP earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix. But his mother’s tears of joy pushed him to do more . Lucille O’Neal suggested that it would be nice to have a doctor in the family.

So Shaq began his work to earn a doctorate in education in 2010. According to a report from ESPN , O’Neal received his Ed.D. in Human Resource Development from Barry University in 2012. Contrary to popular belief, Shaq does not have a Ph.D . However, Dr. Shaquille O’Neal earned his doctorate, just like his mother desired.

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Shaquille O’Neal Earns His Doctorate

By The Associated Press

• May 5, 2012

The former N.B.A. star Shaquille O’Neal received his doctoral degree in education from Barry University alongside 1,100 other students during commencement ceremonies in Miami Shores, Fla. O’Neal high-fived other graduates as he made his way back to his seat along with his manager, Cynthia Atterberry, who received a doctorate in education. O’Neal compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.813 while completing 54 credit hours at Barry, mostly through online courses and video conferencing over the last four years. O’Neal’s doctoral project explored how business leaders use humor in the workplace.

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Call Him Dr. Shaq: Shaquille O’Neal Earns Ph.D

In case you missed it: One of the NBA's most colorful characters got a new title and a new nickname over the weekend.

Towering over his classmates, former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, gestures before the graduation ceremony, Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami.

Retired NBA superstar and well-known nickname enthusiast Shaquille O’Neal has a new moniker: The Good Doctor.

Sporting a triple-extra-large red robe and a black cap, the 7′ 1″, 325-pound former center, now a basketball analyst for TNT,  received a doctorate in education from Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla., over the weekend.

During the ceremony, which was held in downtown Miami’s James L. Knight Center, O’Neal knelt so that department chair David Kopp could place the light blue doctoral hood around O’Neal’s shoulders.  The crowd erupted when O’Neal then lifted his professor into the air.

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O’Neal’s degree focuses on organizational learning and leadership, with a specialty on human resource development; for his thesis he studied how CEO’s and business leaders use humor as part of the work environment.

After the ceremony, Dr. O’Neal praised his parents and the university during a press conference. He credited his parents for always pushing him to excel in education before basketball. O’Neal earned his first degree from Louisiana State University in 2000, eight years after he left the school early to play in the NBA. He received an MBA online from the University of Phoenix and, according to Barry University, has spent the last four-plus years completing 54 credit hours with a 3.81 grade point average. According to ABC News , the four-time NBA champion says he now wants to go to law school.

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Shaquille O'Neal Becomes Receives Doctorate Degree

                                                                         (Image Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

While much of the world refers to NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal simply as "Shaq," the towering 7-foot-1 former basketball center will soon have a new moniker: Dr. O'Neal.

Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla., will award O'Neal a doctorate in education this weekend after more than four years of graduate school work, including one-on-one class sessions O'Neal arranged to have as he traveled around the country, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The former L.A. Lakers and Miami Heat champion successfully defended his dissertation at the Roman Catholic university earlier this month after completing 16 courses, 54 credit hours, and finishing with a 3.8 GPA.

The soon-to-be Dr. O'Neal, Ed.D,  concentrated in Organizational Learning and Leadership, and wrote a dissertation, complete with an oral and video project, titled, "How Leaders Utilize Humor or Seriousness in Leadership Roles."

"He was a good student," Dr. David M. Kopp, chairman of the university's Organizational Learning and Leadership program, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "He is very intellectually curious. He is like a sponge, he takes everything in."

O'Neal, 40, will walk in the weekend graduation ceremonies with 1,100 other students at the James L. Knight International Center in Miami, according to the report.

Barry University and a representative for O'Neal did not respond to calls for comment.

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Does Shaquille O’Neal Have A PhD? What Field Did The Lakers Legend Earn His Doctorate In?

Samir Mehdi | Published Oct 08, 2022

Does Shaquille O’Neal have a PhD and what did he study to receive his doctorate after completing 19 years in the NBA.  

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Shaquille O’Neal is a man of all trades. Everything from endorsing packets of potato chips to investing in 24-Hour Fitness centers across the United States, the Los Angeles Lakers has his feet firmly dipped in all facets of life. Not to mention all the ‘side missions’ he’s been on such as appearances on WWE   and being a part-time DJ.  

Along the way, ‘The Big Aristotle’ decided that he wasn’t content with being ‘just’ a 4x NBA champion, 3 Finals MVP, and 2000 regular season MVP. Towards the tail end of his career in the league, around the time he was with the Phoenix Suns, Shaq would go on to try and get a degree.  

In May of 2012, his dream of getting a degree came to fruition as he graduated from Barry University. Many people however, confuse his time at Barry with time spent in trying to get his PhD.

Also read: “Money is no object”: How $400 million Shaquille O’Neal, who cut his Ferrari in half, couldn’t save his grandmother

Does Shaquille O’Neal have a PhD or an ED.d  

Shaquille O’Neal does not have a Phd. He did receive his Ed.d in education in 2012 from Barry University. 1,100 students were present during the ceremony to receive their degrees along with O’Neal. Shaq nearly had a 4.0 CGPA as well, putting up 3.813 over the course of 4 years.  

He received his Doctorate in Education, technically making him a doctor. His final project delved into the nuances of how business leaders used humor in a work environment. This is actually something very fitting for the jolly giant considering just how much he jokes around all of the time.  

This doctorate of his came through several online courses as due to his NBA career, he couldn’t attend classes physically.

This isn’t the first time Shaquille O’Neal has received a degree.  

Just as he received his doctorate in education through the use of online courses, he once got himself a Master’s in Business through the same medium. This however, was from the University of Phoenix. There was discourse online about the quality of a Master’s from UoP but a degree is a degree at the end of the day.  

Shaq should be commended for staying the course when it came to his education despite earning hundreds of millions from playing basketball.

He would also graduate from LSU, his alma mater, in 2000, eight years after he had been drafted by the Orlando Magic and left LSU following a 3-year stint with their collegiate program. He would miss a game between the Lakers and Grizzlies to attend his graduation ceremony.

Also read: “I Don’t Have to Be Around That Idiot”: Charles Barkley Brutally Roasted Shaquille O’Neal During a Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes Golf Game

• Shaquille O'Neal

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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Shaquille O'Neal Earns Doctorate Degree, Shares Views on Education

This spring Shaquille O’Neal earned his doctorate degree in Organizational Learning and Leadership from Barry University the old fashioned way: by spending his days in a library instead of on a basketball court. No honorary degree for this guy! “I’m as proud of this as anything I have accomplished in my life,” O’Neal wrote in an article for USA Today . Wait, wait, wait. Is he really saying that earning a little piece of paper is as important to him as his career in the NBA? What would make someone think that way? “I was fortunate to have a mother who understood the value of education, even as she saw me join the NBA,” he continued. “…My mom knew that education not only would help me down the road, it also would make me a better person.” O’Neal was studying for his bachelor’s degree at Louisiana State University when he was drafted into the NBA. He was in his junior year and only had a few more classes to take before he would have his bachelor’s degree. Instead of giving up on his education and focusing only on his career in the NBA, he took correspondence classes in order to earn his degree. O’Neal continued on to say that too many of today’s youth are not earning a higher education and that this needs to change because education is something that will help you for your entire life. Many young athletes dream of following O’Neal’s path and making it to the professional sporting arenas. Most do not succeed, and then what should they do? O’Neal says they should go to school. So does this mean that the handful who do succeed should not go to school? O’Neal says that is not the case at all because “a career in athletics is fleeting – education isn’t.” “Education matters,” he said. “It instills self-discipline. It exposes a person to a world of shared knowledge. It forces us to stay attuned to current events. And most important, it helps each of us understand how and where we fit into this world.” I think that O’Neal’s story is really inspiring. It’s a nice change to see a celebrity saying that education really is important, instead of one saying that money is .

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• Barry University

Shaquille O'Neal graduates from Barry University with doctoral degree in Education

Miami Shores, Fla. – NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal can now be referred to as “Dr. O’Neal,” following his graduation from Barry University on May 5 with a doctoral degree in Education.

O’Neal joined more than 1,100 Barry students who graduated during multiple Commencement ceremonies at the James L. Knight Center in Miami. O’Neal was enrolled in Barry’s Adrian Dominican School of Education and received his doctoral degree in Organizational Learning and Leadership with a specialization in Human Resource Development.

For the past four-and-half years, O’Neal pursued his doctoral degree in Education while juggling the roles of athlete, student, and entrepreneur. He completed the requirements of the doctoral program while adhering to the grueling NBA schedule prior to his retirement last year as well as fulfilling commitments in broadcasting and business.

O’Neal achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.813 while completing 54 credit hours, comprised of 16 courses and six credit hours of self-directed research under the guidance of Dr. David M. Kopp, chair of Barry’s Organizational Learning and Leadership program.  In addition to attending class on Barry’s campus and participating in academic sessions with university professors and administrators, O’Neal’s instruction was provided via satellite classrooms, video conferencing and Blackboard.com.

As part of his graduation requirement, O’Neal presented his Doctoral Capstone Project titled, “How Leaders Utilize Humor or Seriousness in Leadership Styles,” to Barry faculty and administrators.

In 2000, O’Neal returned to the campus of Louisiana State University to complete studies for his Bachelor of Science in General Studies – a promise made to his mother at the time he was drafted by the Orlando Magic. He received his MBA in 2005.

“This is for my mother, who always stressed the importance of education,” O’Neal said. “I am proud to have achieved a doctoral degree and wish to thank my professors and Barry University for helping make this dream a reality.  I’m smart enough to know that, even at my tender age, my pursuit of education is never finished.”

By the fact itself. An award-winning blog by a Harvard Extension School alumnus.

Shaquille o’neal’s uop master’s degree brings out the haters.

Shaquille O’Neal received his doctoral degree in education last week. It wasn’t an honorary award — he earned it from Barry University , a private Catholic institution in Florida. It’s an admirable achievement that required lots of hard work, both on campus and off — he took many courses through distance education, but also had presentations and other activities on campus, as in the photo provided by Barry (the other person in the photo is David M. Kopp, Chair of the Organizational Learning and Leadership and Human Resource Development Programs).

But I noticed an interesting thread in the Gawker story about Shaq’s graduation. The entertainer and former basketball star received a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix prior to getting his doctorate from Barry. The Gawker story only mentioned Shaquille O’Neal’s UoP degree in passing, but it brought out a lot of spirited comments, many of them highly critical of University of Phoenix degrees.

MicMutt started off the thread with this comment:

Does “a Master’s degree from University of Phoenix” even mean anything?

A bunch of sarcastic comments followed (“It means your check to the University of Phoenix cleared”, “I hope so, that’s where I received my MD. Surgery rotation was cake”, etc.). But there was a serious response, too:

Lots of companies (and government agencies) pay for their employees to return to school for MBAs and such, and a substantial number of those people end up at UoP. It’s one of the top destinations because a lot of the time the employee just needs those extra letters behind his/her name, and the curriculum isn’t really that different from any other program.

However, one UoP supporter fired back at MicMutt with this:

You know what, if I ran a business I would take a UofP MBA over a BC/Columbia MBA every day of the week. Usually the people taking online classes are doing so because they are already out in the workforce, not everyone had daddy paying their tuition.

Focus on Shaq’s UoP master’s degree highlight concern over UoP standards

From there the conversation turned into a bitter war about privilege, ability, standards, career opportunities, and whether or not UoP degrees are legit. Example:

You know what? I do run a business and, as MicMutt said, a UoP MBA counts for very little. Traditional public and private not-for-profit universities offer online programs, and there are only two reasons someone would choose UoP: 1. Couldn’t get accepted to a program with legitimate admissions criteria; 2. Not sophisticated enough to realize that UoP is among the most expensive choices and has among the worst reputations. This is not the sort of person I am interested in hiring for anything other than low-level grunt work.

These comments are cruel and unfair to students who put in a lot of work to earn their degrees. However, they do reflect real problems with UoP standards (which are affected by its for-profit mission) and perception in the marketplace. I wrote about this issue six years ago on another blog , and the post attracted more than 100 comments from UoP supporters and critics.

My publishing company counts newer for-profit schools as well as nonprofit educational institutions among its customers, with our LinkedIn book being one of the top sellers for students from both types of schools. It really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Regardless of which school they attend, many grad students want to improve their career opportunities. It’s not just about getting a bigger paycheck, but also being able to network with other professionals and finding new job opportunities via LinkedIn’s huge jobs database.

Update: According to Essence , “this doctoral degree is [O’Neal’s] proudest accomplishment.”

More from my site

• Why the Harvard Extension School still struggles with reputation
• Harvard Extension School ALM in Management vs. full-time MBA
• Experimenting with bulk orders targeting the educational market
• Educational “badges” as an alternative to diplomas?
• Stanford free classes review: “Online lectures suck”
• Harvard Extension School success stories from the past year

129 thoughts on “ Shaquille O’Neal’s UoP master’s degree brings out the haters ”

I would like to respond to the University of Phoenix detractors. Various people on the Internet have ridiculed the University of Phoenix (hereafter referred to as UOPX) as a “bullsh*t school” or claimed that UOPX was “raping me on tuition”… Actually, UOPX is just a private online college that happens to be very popular, and for certain good reasons. Because it is private, their tuition is more than a public college such as the University of Cincinnati, from which I hold two undergraduate degrees. However, you get what you pay for. UOPX offers nice advisors who don’t try to deceive you or pressure you into taking too many classes, as happened to me twice at the University of Cincinnati. They also offer personalized tutoring if you feel like you are getting in over your head in any particular course, as happened to me when I started doing college-level accounting. I have found that the bachelor’s degree program that I am completing right now is rigorous enough that it challenges me, enough that it was difficult to keep even a 2.5 GPA at times. As to whether UOPX compares to other online colleges, it is probably middle-of-the-road as far as ranking versus other online schools such as DeVry, Kaplan, Capella, etc. The accreditation and regulatory issues that UOPX once faced are now in the past, and about 85% of employers recently surveyed say that they would consider an online degree from UOPX the same as one from a brick-and-mortar university. As I advance into the second half of my bachelor’s degree, I believe that I have made the right choice for my final undergraduate degree, even if I had to max out my undergraduate loans in order to do it. Let no one tell you that the University of Phoenix is a bad school, because it isn’t.

Why for you be making fun of my UoP degree?

With a net worth of $400m+, I’d say he knows enough enough about business to teach a MBA course. So that would cover the education degree too.

My husband received a masters degree and was an honor student. He had to work & chose it carefully with that in mind. My husband was a top high school science teacher near our affluent home in Apple Valley.

I saw shaquille o’neal from my spectator viewpoint in Inglewood. Along with my husband & thousands of happy grads . . . I loved all of it.

As an adjunct professor I suggest that if you’re having trouble maintaining a 2.5 GPA while enrolled with UoP, you may want to reconsider furthering your academic studies. You ought to explore the choices and enroll at your local vocation school.

You’re adjunct? Why aren’t you a full time professor? I guess that big time degree is not helping you that much.

Shaun, he’s probably adjunct because he has a master’s degree. One can only obtain full tenure if they’ve obtained a doctorate degree which requires being approved at said schools doctorate committee and in many cases having said dissertation published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Please research before making these types of comments..

An MBA is considered a terminal degree and therefore is a common degree among business school faculty.

An MBA is not a terminal degree, and usually only adjuncts or professors of practice have one as their highest degree. At any legitimate university, tenured or tenure-track business school faculty have a PhD or DBA in their subject area.

EDITED VERSION:

I am a full time associate professor at one of the top colleges in NJ. I received my BA from Montclair State, my masters from UOP, and I am now working on my E.D.D at UOP. You get what you put in. I bust my ass, and I maintain a 3.9 GPA. The ability to network and experience is what helps someone succeed. A degree at this point is just a piece of paper. You could have a degree from NYU and be completely communicative and commonsense illiterate. Anyone ever notice that most of the UOP haters are stuck in part time work, or not working in their field? I was hired in my field a month before I graduated with my MA. I love to self educate myself as well. Not everyone learns the same way, so insulte and hate all you want. I’m making six figures with my “shit degee.” 

I 100% agree with you, I received my BA from St. Peter’s College, well over priced mind you, but it wasn’t until later when I received my MBA from UOP, between caring for 2 sick kids, and working full time, UOP was the best option for me and my family. I now have a 6 figure job with 20% annual bonus payouts. I am not sure what the none sense is about concerning a UOP degree, but I can honestly say it’s done very well for my career, and now my own business.

Thanks for your honest feedback because I’ve been considering going to UOP and I needed to this post because it’s a lot of negative comments about UOP on the web. Stuff like employers will push your resume to theBottom if they see a UOP degree.

That’s an unprofessional comment from someone who claims to be an educator. It is clear this student is working hard toward their degree, and you have no idea what other responsibilities they are carrying. Maybe that Assistant Professorship hasn’t materialized because you lack empathy. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I can’t tolerate bullies.

Very nice. Discourage someone who might be juggling 3 or 4 responsibilities from attending college. College isn’t for adults that want to move up in life, no it’s only for rich people’s kids these days. Got it. Thanks for the lesson, professor.

Exactly! I’m a parent and I’m finishing the last part of my MBA-HRM with a 3.86 gpa. Let me tell you, UOP is not that simple. The sooner employers recognize the self discipline it takes to get your work done the better. I have dealt with slackers. They either fail or drop out.

Steph is SPOT ON! Employers need to recognize the sacrifice and determination to takes to accomplish continued education! The professors that provide the forums are no push-overs. I’ve witnessed my share of drop outs and fault the pressures of that myself! I call it TWO YEARS OF PAIN! 🙂

Stephanie, I absolutely agree with your comment. I graduated in October 2016 with my B.S in Psychology with a 3.5 g.p.a while being a mother, wife and a full-time employee. This was not an easy task and anyone “downing” UoPx should attempt to pursue a degree which requires discipline no matter the secondary institution you attend. Pursuing an online degree takes a tremendous amount of discipline and time management. What I have gathered from the “nay-sayers” is that they just aren’t college material no matter the institution(s) they have attended. Don’t discourage anyone from furthering their education. To the adjunct professor, they should have taught you how to be nice and to offer words of encouragement. You are never above getting choice words so choose your words wisely. If you have nothing nice to say then just remain silent. No one will miss your negativity.

Hi Stephanie,

First of all, congrats on you GPA. I know you’ve worked very hard and deserve to reap the benefits of all your hard work. I am certain you’re close to graduation or you’re very close to completion by now. I just started the MHA/MBA program at UOP and have completed two classes thus far. It is very demanding and I have zero social life. The only time outside of school I have are my three teenage high schoolers and work. I am presently maintaining a 4.0 GPA so far and I have the bags under my eyes to prove it. I will continue to forge forward in maintaining my GPA but I know I can do it. I just hope by 2019, they will begin to acknowledge “high honors” on my degrees when I graduate. Best wishes to you and your future.

So which degree? The MHA or the MBA – you can not do both at the same time at UOPX.

I’m a COO and my company recognizes the validity of UOPX degrees. I think the “naysayers” just pull things out of the air. Everyone should realize it is the interview that brings a job offer and not the university.

Hello Ethan,

As a senior at University of Phoenix the biggest fears I heard from other students when finishing up my general education portion, wasn’t so much about nailing an interview, but about getting one in the first place.

As an IT student, I consider myself to be in a uniquely advantageous situation as my specific field puts far more value into certifications, meaning my degree won’t be scrutinized much. Other fields, however may not be so lucky. I am happy to hear that your company recognizes UoPhx degrees (that’s how they told us to abbreviate it, for some reason) as I’ve heard people claiming to be responsible for hiring at their companies, say that they throw out any resumes with UoPhx as their only listed degree granting institution.

you can get both at the same time it is a 2.5 year program

I graduated with a 3.98 GPA Summa Cum Laude, and I would never say such a thing to somebody based on their GPA alone. Perhaps he has alot of real world issues he’s contending with. I was combating Chrons disease, I was diagnosed in my junior year, but still managed.

I think sometimes professors such as yourself lose perspective in regards to the real world and balancing school work, family and a life. However, to tell him that he should not pursue his academic studies further and to just go to vocational school is pretty callous and even a bit smug.

You must have incredibly low self-esteem. 1) I do not believe you are a faculty member anywhere and 2) you are a toxic person.

I recently finished my MBA from UoP. I graduated with a 3.86 and I found the course to be challenging, manageable, and just as good as any “brick and mortar” school. I have my degree in Marketing from the University of Maine and I scouted several schools before deciding on UoP, to include UMaine. After talking to a large group of MBA students at UMaine, reviewing the curriculum, I realized the two schools teach the same exact thing. I went and spoke with two other friends, both quite intelligent, who were getting their masters from UoP. They both spoke highly of the school, the staff, and the support.

After looking around, I choose UoP because it was the most well-established distance education school, had ACBSP accreditation, and the people I talked to spoke highly of it, while the people who went to Umaine did not.

The school offers the same curriculum as any of MBA program that is not a research based institution, provides the tools to juggle a full-time job and family, and pressures you to be self-accountable. I found my experience at UoP to be challenging and rewarding. The instructors are well-versed in their area of expertise. The grading is done fairly, and their ‘grades’ follow a normal bell curve, which is what you expect out of a non-research based institution. On top of that, their MBA program requires a B average or higher to remain in the program. The school lets a lot of people in their programs but there graduation rates are low. It’s not because the school is not good a good school, it’s because it is challenging. With high acceptance rates, they make money, they are for-profit, but just because the doors open, doesn’t mean everyone is able to walk through. They give people the chance to do the work, if they are not cut out for it, they aren’t cut out for it, and they are kicked out of the program.

So personally, I had options, I knew their reputation, but I also knew from close friends on what they were really like. You have to look at the whole picture, the reason behind the way things are, to really understand what UoP is. A for-profit school will let a lot of people in. I can’t speak for their undergraduate program; I can speak to their MBA program.

Their MBA program is great; it is challenging, and is a lot of work. Ask anyone who actually graduated from it. I would recommend it to anyone. I can personally say that I wrote more papers, participated more, and felt that I got a lot more out of this degree than all the people I spoke to who got their MBA from UMAINE, who is AACSB accredited.

P.S. Mr. Adjunct Professor Craig B, have you taken courses at UoP? If you haven’t, you shouldn’t talk about it.

Thank you for your well said response. UOPX is where I currently attend a ground campus MBA program. I also teach part-time and manage a construction company. The MBA program is no cakewalk and I am proud of my 3.68 gpa. It is not a simple task to manage everything and earn a higher degree. It gets irritating to read all the negative garbage about something I am working hard to achieve. UOPX has a high fail rate because it isn’t as simple as just paying for a degree as many believe.

I couldn’t help but respond to this thread. First of all the people that attend UOPHX in essence by design have much more knowledge going into the undergrad program. traditional universities cater to young adults participating in absorbing information, without much to contribute, in General. University of Phoenix by nature and structure offers Grad level participation, usually by the depth of knowledge and experience in a particular subject level. as we may all agree colleges are continually bolstering their reputation to attract students. If schools like University of Phoenix begin to gain credibility then these schools loose. All I have heard was propaganda, with no proof of the traditional schools superiority. I challenge schools to provide statistical proof that the education and delivery format at University of Phoenix is inferior.

I recieved my MBA from UofP…even though I paid 150k for my undergrad.

My MBA was one of the best decisions I have ever made. UofP was a great choice for me. I had other options, but I wanted to receive my education online.

When I graduated, I received a huge pay raise and a rise up the corporate food chain.

I graduated with my Masters in Psychology in 2013. The Program was very rigorous. I worked full-time and graduated with excellence. No one gave me anything as I was disciplined and worked hard to succeed. Please stop speaking negative because you will not only tarnish the university’s reputation but the reputation of present and future graduates.

I will add to Kurt’s response. I’m no UoP advocate, but during my hunt for a graduate school while maintaining my household income, UoP stood head and shoulders above the rest. They offered the flexibility I needed and more importantly, they demonstrated that they (UoP) wanted to earn my business. I didn’t feel like a number but as a valued student. Now, if I paid more for the attention – so be it. The money was put to good use. Met some superb instructors, whom most were business owners or “influencers” in the community. Attack UoP for being for profit all you want – but NOT the dedicated professionals that provide instruction or the students who put in the sacrifice and studies to EARN their degrees.

I am a u of p alumni and proud pf it. Gteat school.

Did they teach you spelling at that gteat school too?

Did they teach you spelling, Fitz? Typos happen on a discussion board. Get over it.

I am a single mother and a graduate of UOP’s MBA program. UOP offered me flexibility to care for my child while I earned my graduate degree. Not only do you get more than what you pay for, its up to you to make the most out of the experience. Most of the instructors were amazing. There were a few that left me wondering though. Many of my classmates however, did not have high enough standards. No matter where you go, you still have to prove yourself as a professional and have good habits. I’m proud to say that I graduated with a 3.7 GPA. It wasn’t easy and I appreciate the challenge.

I am receiving a Masters in Information Systems for UOP, I have a BS from a traditional school and this is my first online educational experience. For me, I learn the best when I actually go through the process of doing what it is I am learning. UOP forces you to do that very thing. During my BS the instructors handed out printed outline notes for their lectures for students to follow along with and write additional notes on from the lecture. This was fine to study with for the tests and then most of which were forgotten after the tests. I feel that I have done most if not all of the leg work on learning in the classes at UOP, but that is what is expected in a professional environment. As with any profession, one learns more while working than they did from their studies, or for me that is when it was committed to long term memory. I have yet to have a manager or boss give me a lecture on anything and test me before I was expected to perform the duty, if you can read between the lines then my point should be clear. P.S. For Craig (Adjunct Professor) I hope you don’t say the same to your students as far as your comment to Adrian. You are no doubt the type of jerk who probably feels that someone who makes an A average is superior than someone who graduated with a C, but this is not always the case. Some are better with only memorizing for tests and are not able to apply a d*mn thing they learned in a real situation. I had a few instructors while earning my BS degree that would always brag about being straight A students and brag about their PhD. They were terrible clinical instructors because they didn’t know how to apply anything and it showed. Are you teaching just to pat yourself on the back or are you teaching because you like to help people learn? Maybe you should reconsider your value to the teaching profession.

Thanks for this post!! I am currently attending UOP and I would say the exact thing! Thanks for the validation.

WELL SAID. I went from not being able to read or write,to receiving my GED, to a 4 week Nurses Assistant Training Program, to an Associate Degree in Social Work, to Bachelors for Nursing and working on my Masters. I did not grow up with money and took me many years to work my butt off and save money to further my education. Therefore, screw you Mr. Jerk Professor. It doesn’t matter what fancy degree you have; if you don’t apply it to common sense, then that makes you an educated fool. Shut your mouth. if you don’t have anything encouraging to say to anyone, than don’t say anything at all.

Great post!!!!!

I really hope you people talking great about uop are pigeons, otherwise this is just sad. Show me proof of one job found by a uop degree, in which that degree was required for the job.

I have an associates, bachelors, masters, and am working on my doctorate, all in IT from the UoP. My current job required an IT degree, and I aced it. I replaced someone with a bachelors and masters in IT from an Ivy League university, and he was unable to perform the required work. He was fired for his lack of skills. I’m a programmer, web developer, project manager, and my employers feel I do a great job, and so do I.

My daughter has a bachelors from Texas A&M and an MBA from UoP. She feels UoP was the best experience and the place where she learned the most. She holds an executive position at a Fortune 100 corporation. The year she completed her MBA at UoP, her employer doubled her salary. Five years later, it has quadrupled. She paid off her student loans in the first year after graduation.

The only thing that matters in the end is how well the graduate performs and if they are happy with the result.

I completed an Associates of Arts in Information Technology, now I’ve shifted my focus and am pursuing Bachelors of Science in History. Both are from Phoenix. My shift was because I’ve gone from being the script kid I once was and would like to pursue teaching in a high school setting one day.

Before I decided to re-enroll for a Bachelor’s however, I called the Independent School District in which I would like to teach-and I asked the administrator point blank what does a Phoenix degree mean. Her response is that it is accredited and that’s all that matters to them, in fact anyone thinking they didn’t get hired in teaching for their degree was probably wrong and just forgot some of the resume packet.

While I don’t believe Phoenix to be the BEST out there, I highly doubt Harvard has the best program in EVERY subject. To each their own.

And to that guy who wouldn’t hire someone with a Phoenix degree or just use them as a grunt. You cannot be too great an owner if you’re online ranting a lot. Nor do most managers or owners hire people for a degree title, many are hired for personal knowledge of the applicants abilities or just simply the ability to play the game during an interview.

You Rock Mr. Bill. Way to go. You are the MaNNNNNNNNNNNN.

Sorry the above comment is for Beth, I apologize to you Beth. I was extremely excited and impressed with your comment. Way to go. You rock Mama.

I graduated with a 4.0 in Business Management and a 3.97 in Business Administration from UOP. I worked very hard and had a wonderfully rewarding learning experience there. I had an instructor from NASA, two successful practicing attorneys as well as a plethora of other amazing instructors. I feel like I had such an advantage learning from people who were working in the fields for which they taught. One of my best friends graduated with both dual bachelor’s and her Master’s degree from UOP. She is currently the Executive Director for the Office on Aging and Veterans Affairs of Orange County and was named one of the most influential people of 2015 by the OC Register. Another of my friends, who graduated with us is currently the Superintendent for Riverside School District in California. I also had the pleasure of walking with Shaq at graduation. There are so many success stories I have personally witnessed about UOP graduates, I could fill pages.

Proof, right here. I’m a tenure associate English professor. I was hired at one of the top colleges in NJ a month before I graduated. I make six figures, and I am blessed. I am good at what I do, and I never stop learning.

Unless you are becoming a doctor, I don’t think any degree is “required”. You make yourself look ignorant with your comment. Getting a Masters degree or any other education basically shows that you can commit to something and complete it. By getting a degree you are showing the employers that you are marketable and that you have some proof of what you are claiming you know.

I have a bachelor’s degree in accounting and I am more marketable than an employee with just some ‘bookkeeping’ experience. An MBA student is more valuable than me because they have taken more advanced courses that pertain to management. Now, experience can surpass an MBA degree, however, it will never surpass a bachelor’s degree if it is required for a job posting. A lot of jobs require the bachelor’s degree, I have yet to see a job that “requires” an MBA.

I graduated from UOP with a Masters Degree in Education. I had a better learning experience than during my Bachelors at a brick and mortar. Those persons who make derogatory comments about this school or other online schools should first attend and then let us hear from you. My program was excellent, challenging and I finished with a 3.9 GPA. I completed an Internship at an elementary school and gave lesson plan ideas to my fellow 21 year old interns, who were fresh out of college and did not hold a candle to my life experience or creativity due to my age. I also did not speak to my 3rd graders like they were little baby cildren…I spoke to them like they were people, (unlike my cooperating teacher). I was a mid life career changer, so to the naysayers who make negative comments about online education, enroll and attend and then voice your opinion. One more thing, I was surprised as to the lack of technology skills on the part of many teachers at this school, regardless of age. This was another group of skills I learned during my Masters at UOP

I have attended ASU and obtained a bachelors and later attended University of Phoenix for continued education. IMO some private schools (like UoP) are more innovative and the criteria and curriculum was as difficult if not more difficult while attending UoP. Universities are popular because they have a market dominance and sports teams so people believe they are better, however; it would have been much easier to skate by at ASU than UoP

I received my undergraduate degree in nursing and am currently in the masters of nursing (MSN)program at UOP. I received my ASN from “brick and mortar” college. UOP have “ground” classes that I attend weekly as well as on line courses. I find the courses challenging and the reading extensive. I have a very close friend who has his EdD, PhD, and MD degree. He was associate dean of science at Barry university and help founded a private college for nurse anesthetist. All of his schooling was done a brick and mortar. I had him review the MSN program and he believed the program courses were challenging and approate for a master program

Sorry, did not mean to transmit this message. Still had more to write: Challenging and appropriate for a master program. I believe for my self, that the extra letters behind my name will help me achieve my goal in nursing education. I currently work adjunct for a private college (Jersey College) total of five campuses between New Jersey and Florida. The program chair received her MSN/Ed from UOP. I have also spent 25 years as a nurse and a total of 28 years in the health field. At my age and years in nursing, potential employers are assessing my work experience and expertise in nursing, more than what school I went too. Especially when there is a nursing shortage. I believe you make out what you want from any school. If you put in the time and energy required to achieve a higher education from UOP or any other college it will pay off. College is difficult and not everyone can put in the time or hours that is required to pass all classes. As we get older and our schedule is full. School like UOP help people in achieving his or her goals, where otherwise would be impossible to obtain a degree. If you had class to attend all week and during hours that effect work and family makes it more difficult in achieving ones goals.

STOP CALLING IT UOP. UOP = University of the Pacific. STOP taking away from people who attend a REAL school by using the acronym for a fake ass college. Thanks.

That is correct, UoP is University of the Pacific. Pity the rest of your comment is as uneducated as you demonstrate yourself to be.

Stop being a forum troll Roland, your School was ranked below University of Phoenix by 50 schools at 110, where University of Phoenix was ranked 60th. As for your comment about UOP what about University of Portland, they ranked 8th or University of Potomac, they ranked near University of the Pacific, on the bottom of the list. Before you start throwing stones you might want to verify your facts.

Very appropriate DC! Representative words of the many.

God Blesses,

I’m beginning to think Harvard.edu doesn’t have very good moderators to allow you to use ‘fake ass college’. You seem very passionate about Pacific… That’s great. How is University of the Pacific UOP instead of UOTP?… Seems they forgot something there. Just my useless 2 cents.

I have a task for you, I would like you to attend UOP(X)? Get a scholarship or something so you’re not paying for it… Try some of the training and that way you can attest to the rest of us how fake it is. I could’ve swore there was a difference between a college and university. Oh well you know better than me, I just went to that fake ass university UOP in Phoenix AZ.

I will finish with a 3.5 with a UoP 2016.

I received both my bachelors and masters degrees from UOP about 7 years ago, and would highly recommend the university. Unlike traditional universities, the professors you interact with have real world experience in their field of study, and the students you learn with are from around the country vs people within the same region as yourself. Why is this important? It provides you with diversity of thought, engaging your mind in a much more meaningful manner than if you attended a traditional school with professors who have been doing the same thing for the last 20-30 years. However, this style of learning is not for everyone. In order to get your degree, you have to be very self-motivated. Unlike traditional universities, you manage your own time, and for a lot of people, that can be very challenging. To a potential employer, it is an asset.

Does it really matter if you achieved your higher learning from a private institution like UOP, or a traditional brick and mortar institution? It really depends on the person. If you are working full time in a challenging job, then a university like UOP might be for you. If you have time to burn and cannot be self-motivated, then a more traditional approach might be the way to go.

Finally @ Roland, do you notice the maturity level difference between your post and those above it?

I beg to differ with all of the Pheonix graduates. I attended “brick and mortar” colleges and took traditional, online, and hybrid courses. I completed my Master’s with roughly 30 of 36 hours completed online. I also worked full time during both undergrad and graduate studies. I do not think anyone with a “Pheonix” degree is equivalent to anyone with a traditional regionally accredited degree. I wouldn’t hire anyone with a Pheonix degree. My first question would be, why didn’t you opt for a local university with a distance education program verses an “all online for profit” school?

Oh gee, probably because not everyone is as priveleged to do so. Some people have diseases that make juggling work and going to school. Some people don’t have their daddies and mommies pay for their…anything, actually. Some people are on their own, and some people just simply want to learn for the sake of learning.

Hayden, has no legitimate grounds for his comments – other than personal prejudice. He’s a “band-wagoner” and has no – absolutely no proof to substantiate the poison he’s spewing. He is directing his “fuel” at the hardworking student and dismissing the integrity, leadership and pride of the professors. Obtuse.

All the best! CPO, USN/RET/Submarines

Why wouldn’t you hire anyone with a UOP degree? Are you making this determination based on what others are saying or do you have an actual basis for this decision? As a UOP graduate, and one who has attended and graduated from several brick and mortar colleges and universities, UOP is the real deal. In order to graduate from UOP one must be a self-starter and self-motivated. In addition, in order to be successful at UOP one must be well versed in technology, a solid writer and critical reader. I would hire a UOP graduate without any hesitation.

Hayden in response I would likely ask you why you attended a brick and mortar installation? It’s likely our answers are similar if not in unison-it was the one I knew about when looking into colleges.

I don’t typically like to read nor participate in these “bash the topic” threads, however, there appears to be some “miss informed” ideals at play here.

1) University of Phoenix is a legitimate “brick and mortar” school. “UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX”, not “only online trolls of Phoenix” (to assist the lazy and/or underachievers, please check this “PHYSICAL building”) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Phoenix_Stadium , and University Phoenix Main Campus 1625 West Fountainhead Parkway Tempe AZ 85282

2) University of Phoenix (UofPH) has in-class, brick an mortar classes, online AND hybrid classes.

3) UoPH is one of the first programs in the country to provide “alternative” types of education for a working professional (outside of night schools often deemed fly-by-night schools). So using this analogy the UofPH dissenter would have to publicly state following auto manufactures are total crap – Ford, Mercedes, and Ferrari (just to name a few). It’s call innovation, look into it (Yes, another innovation by a Gentleman named David Spade)

4) Put your superior degrees to work here, If the model was so wrong why are Ivy league schools copying it? Was it a catastrophic failure? It’s obvious that ECON or Marketing 101 wasn’t taught at brick and mortar school of the UofPH dissenter. Supply and Demand. They copy it because it works (and because their lack of innovation and small “exclusive” brand can only net a small return by comparison).

5) Exclusive/Political academic practices from “brick and mortar.” It’s really dumb to think the elite have to maintain a 3.x – 4.0 This simply isn’t the case when Daddy donates to the new building/wing/sports team/etc. (need an example? G.W. Bush – Yale University 1968 – GPA roughly 2.x. Do you know anyone that can get IN to Yale with a 2.x, much less stay there for more than 2 (quarters/semesters). Again…just research, something taught at UofPH. Do they not teach that elusive concept “research” at brick and mortar?

6) Convenience. As eluded to earlier, it is more convenient to get a degree anytime, anywhere. If you OWN any apple device, you can shut the hell up here, as you have no argument. (period, in case you missed it)

7) Let’s use logic. A school must pass rigorous standards to be accredited. Accreditation is a fairly rigorous/strict standard. UofPH is accredited. Ergo, UofPH had to adhere to and pass rigorous accreditation standards for both classes and curriculum. (It’s just simply logic, try it.)

8) UofPH prepares their students for a global economy in ways brick and mortar never could. UofPH require group projects and participation in every class (or nearly). Each group will consist of people in all stages and walks of life. Here is the difference: UofPH also has students in other time zones, in other cultures, sometimes even speaking different languages that all have to come together using all available technologies to complete the required tasks AND get graded AND peer reviewed (also part of your grade), so that slackers can’t easily skate. (for non-English majors, that was an intentional run-on sentence.) No brick and mortar education can prepare a student for that very real 21st Century Global economy with diverse locations/cultures/times/time zones if you all meet on Thursday’s morning, in class, after stopping to get your morning Starbucks across the street from Walmart, and the Apple-bee’s where you all ate at the night before to help “work on the project.” Don’t get me wrong, face time matters, but those luxuries are quickly evaporating with the state of the terrorist world.

9) On that point and lastly, for all of the safety nuts — It’s pretty hard to have “virtual” gun crazed assassins (Electronic Games excluded) in online classes.

Try using your brain, rather than “go red” or “go blue”

Well written!

I have 2 masters degrees – MS at a regular institution and MBA at UOPX. If someone doesn’t hire me because they see my UOPX degree, then I’m not missing out on that company. I wouldn’t want to be in a company that values labels more than a complete life experience. In my humble opinion, those kinds of companies are shortsighted and doesn’t have room for diversity. I worked hard for both of my degrees and a blog post can’t take that away from me.

You may want to consider not hiring any one that can’t spell “Pheonix”. The red line under the misspelled word in an indication that you spelled it wrong. Yes, you the one with the “brick and mortar” degree.

Perhaps you should learn to spell “Phoenix”, before you comment!!!

This is an easy one, I attended because the only other college in the area (Arkansas SU) played with my admission (even though it was completely paid for by the VA). I was treated with a lot of disrespect, the staff would not answer the phones, they got smart with me when they finally answered, fired the professor over the program I wanted to go in under and blamed him even though he was the only one I could reach/ speak with (the only one with home training). Don’t get me wrong I’m a vet, I’m immune to hurt feelings but I want you to understand that the closest VA is 80 miles from me (so it’s 80 miles there and back). I had to go through every step over again to get Voc Rehab clearance again under a new program (took months to get it the first time, driving 80 miles back and forth). They set me back months and a lot of money a recently medically retired vet didn’t have. By the way the UOP didn’t give me one problem , so to rap it up I would say because I didn’t have the time or money to play with other people because I already worked for my education.

But… it is not an all-online school. That is a misinformed comment. University of Phoenix was the first school to offer the online modality. It became very popular for the working adult. I would not want to work for your organization and I have degrees from both brick and mortar and University of Phoenix. People who think like this will get left behind in this new age of learning.

Because I was teaching at an inner city school 60 hours a week, trying to keep students from killing each other on top of taking care of my grandmother with colon cancer. Thanks for the white privelaged arrogant response.

Fyi if you graduated from UofP no need to tell us how proud you are. The fact you wasted the money you did on such a joke of an institution already makes it clear that you will have to pretend it is a real school to save face for the rest of your lives.

Uofp < school with standards for admissions beyond "do you have the money to pay for it"

Leo, I ask you as a history major working on his Bachelors and an IT degree in my Associates of Arts, what will another institution offer me over phoenix? My last class actually has me signed up for a free voucher to take a CompTIA test. Will Harvard pay for such a examination? When you work in the IT world having a degree doesn’t mean all that much buddy, I know you like to believe a Masters could mean something but everything changes in an instant. Darknet and Anon’s have changed the way we view the web in a matter of years. Not to mention this ‘cloud’ that is being taught has been around for YEARS… It’s called the INTERNET :/. Will brick and mortar education force you to pass CompTIA or Cisco examinations? Hell no. Studying will, pure and simple studying.

To my history bachelors, it is history-you read a book and absorb the knowledge in it. Rather it’s Harvard giving you the test or Phoenix it really doesn’t matter as long as you know it?

You would probably say Yale is above Phoenix yet George Bush Jr. Graduated there, hmmm. I’m not saying he wasn’t a great president but he performed terribly on stage in his speeches… One would assume Monkey’s were writing his script for him. But Yale it was…

I’m a graduate of University of Phoenix’s IT program, and I will not claim that UOP stacks up against every other institution. However, I put a great deal of effort into my studies by challenging myself to extract every drop of knowledge I could from my courses and to dig deeper. I do not believe that my UOP education was a waste of time and money, and I prefer to believe the old adage that you get out of education what you put into it. I’ve always believed that drive and determination are much more important factors.

Having a degree from UOP has not been a hindrance. Rather, it has become a complimentary tool in my tool bag. I’m certain that I would not have been able to obtain several positions without a bachelors’ degree, and I’ve never gotten the impression that my UOP degree has been issue. Also, it doesn’t hurt that I have 15+ years of experience in IT. Frankly, I could not care less what people think of my UOP degree, as I’m comfortable enough in my own skin.

I received my MBA from Belhaven University (small Christian private college). However, I did get my bachelors from University of Phoenix. I attended face to face classes. I obtained my MBA from a different school for 3 reasons: 1) expand my education discipline from another school. 2) wanted a Christian influence to study the servant leadership style based on the bible teachings. And 3) distant myself from the negative connotations University of Pheonix presented as a diploma mill. As with anything, what you put into is what you will get out of it. After getting my undergraduate degree from UoP, I was able to maintain my salary. After getting my MBA, I received a total of 55k more annually since graduating in 2007. I am an International Payroll Manager with a total of 18 years experience. I am an expert in my field. Every executive I have reported to over the past 10 years have all said it doesn’t matter where the degree is from as long as you have it. Proving your abilities, network, and who you know still out weighs the origination of your degree. How well we

How well we play the game of life is what really it amounts to in education. Getting a degree doesn’t mean you have solid work ethics. I know several people from the best colleges in the country, I would not want them on my team because they. Believe they are entitled to more money without having to work for it. Unfortunately, some of those people have obtain theirs degrees from UoP like all of those other more reputable schools. Take these comments as you will. I can say, I don’t have to worry about any of you all because I have a very specialized skill and that skill was developed before I went back to school. If you work hard enough, you will prevail. It is so much easier when you have GOD in your corner. God bless everyone and wish you all the best as your pride continues to overshadow your intentions. Show by actions rather than words is what it boils down to!! 🙂

By the way, my MBA from the private Christian college was more expensive than if I went to UoP. The undergraduate programs from the small private college is more expensive than UoP. So, whomever wrote that only ignorant people select UoP. If you focus on the persons work ethics, prove a skills, and other characteristics (that can’t be taught in school), you might find some really great people that you would want on your team. Usually the ones that have the most negative things to say, are the ones that can’t back up their own degree or more importantly their ability to perform at an expected level from their own college. I wonder if the real issue on this blog is around the adult learning methods, which has infringe on the economics of the traditional schools. Meaning, “these non traditional schools are gaining market shares”. Because the largest market for students is the adult learner and the traditional colleges are slow to compete to gain the market shares. After all, it is about money which is what everyone keeps saying regarding the “for profit”. At the end of the day, we are responsible for ourselves, our successes, and. NOT any college piece of paper. So , let’s stop debating and prove it out on the field, as they say in sports. Survival of the fittest or may the best man win (that job)!!

The point in all of this is that people who go to university of Phoenix fail to realize the relevance of where your degree is from in today’s market place. It’s a new age and the whole “it doesn’t matter where your degree is from” doesn’t fly. If you want a really good high paying job, uofp isn’t cutting it. As some have mentioned in this thread your resume wouldn’t even get considered in better jobs. Whether it’s the same curriculum as some said,I don’t know, but not in the eyes of H.R. If you want an average middle class job uofp is maybe going to get you there. You have to remember that online degrees are new to society and most people in higher positions attained their degrees at universities, which started the criticism of online degrees. That being said, after all the bad reviews and “scam” alerts for uofp, I would never want a degree from them.

“If you want a really good high paying job, UofP isn’t cutting it” is a confusing as a statement of fact. My total comp is $160k a year at a fortune 100 company and I haven’t completed my degree. They created the position for me because I fill a gap that couldn’t with other people. I’m getting my degree as it shores up requirements for my PMP cert, then I’ll move on to an MBA and possible an MSIS. ASU is a decent choice but it’s about 30% more expensive for an out of state guy, the local state colleges only offer hybrid opportunities to which I can’t attend because I travel for work extensively, and thus I’m left with online only choices. I had a bad experience with Capella a number of years back, UOPX seemed the obvious choice for someone in my situation. The don’t get me wrong, I think UOPX bachelor’s program is relatively easy (Business Management) and I will be applying to Ivy League’s for my PhD, but it’s not because UOPX is inherently bad, online schools don’t offer the meaningful faculty relationship during research projects that I would like Harvard/MIT/Duke are all carry a big name.

Hello all; I’m a current Doctor of Management student at UoPX. My previous education has been an undergraduate degree, grad degree, as well as an MBA, all from brick and mortar schools that each had some degree of distance learning. My MS in Information Management, in fact, was from Syracuse U., and is ranked in the top three for that particular program nationwide; that degree was largely online, with occasional onsite residencies like UoPX. So, I think it’s fair to say that an online degree from a reputable school is just as good as one earned on the ground. This should be evident to anyone that does a little research online, as so many brick and mortar schools now offer this learning modality.

I can’t speak to the MBA and other grad programs, or the undergrad programs, regarding their rigor or value as a student. As a hiring manager, I’d be much more inclined to look at an applicant’s overall experience, rather than the school from which they graduated. I think there may be a bit of a bias toward a more prestigious school if I was interviewing a candidate with no experience, right out of undergrad. In that case, I’d likely have a bias toward a grad from an Ivy, or other top-rated school as opposed from a tier-2 or tier-3 institution…provided the resumes were identical otherwise, and I had to choose. Aside from that, the interview and experience/references would hold much more sway for me. There are those hiring managers that are school snobs, and only hire from prestigious institutions. In that case, unless you’re from a top school, you’re sunk anyway.

In the case of the doctorate, my program is what’s known as a professional taught doctorate (PTD), (it’s abbreviated D.M. for doctor of management) and is in the same class of terminal degrees as the Ed.D. (doctor of education), Psy.D. (doctor of psychology), D.B.A. (doctor of business administration), D.S.W. (doctor of social work), D.N.P. (doctor of nursing practice), D.P.T. (doctor of physical therapy), and M.D. (doctor of medicine), in that it’s designed for working professionals who desire to leverage their degree in an applied versus theoretical manner, and who are not interested in pursuing a tenure-track professorship at a research university. These degrees still have dissertations, and quite extensive ones at that, but have more classroom time and less research. “Less” is somewhat relative, however, since even a PTD dissertation could span two years and run in the several hundreds of pages, with the entire program lasting 3.5-7 years. A Ph.D. is, by definition, research driven, and some Ph.D. candidates may only engage in a small number of credit-courses, with the balance of a five (or more) year program dedicated to research and teaching. For me, as a 19 year veteran of the IT industry, a DM was a much better choice to use in my profession; if I was pursuing this degree purely for the purposes of vanity, the Ph.D. is much more widely understood as “doctor.”

The program thus far (I’m 2.5 years in, with an expected graduation in summer of 2016), has been very informative and by no means an easy process. Some classes, particularly those in the IT domain, have been easier than others, such as qualitative methods and philosophy. The professors have been solid, and what you’d expect from any college experience…10% are exceptional, 80% are average to above average, and 10% could use some improvement. Pretty much a standard bell curve, for the most part. As an online program, there’s no question that you get from the program what you put into the program. It’s possible to get by with low to mid B’s, and remain in good standing, with a reasonable amount of effort, just as with most schools. For those that strive to keep an average at 3.5, or above, it requires the next level of dedication and effort. My previous two grad degrees were completed with GPA’s between 3.5 and 3.85, and I’m currently at a 3.8 at UoPX with just over 50% of my credits completed. The information I’ve learned has been helpful in my job, and I feel as if I’m getting good value from the program. The cost is about $750/credit, which is actually very reasonable for doctorate-level education. It’s not difficult to pay twice that, or more, even at a tier-2 school.

In terms of UoPX’s admissions and overall strategy, yes, they’re a for-profit school. Yes, I think they do admit people to the doctoral program that probably aren’t suited to a doctoral level of effort. These people hang on as long as they can, and then they fall by the wayside. This is not uncommon in doctoral programs, however, and completion rates around 50% are common. For a PTD, however, students avoid many of the pitfalls of a traditional Ph.D. programs (see the link at the end of this post) in terms of their career aspirations.

So, while I do agree that UoPX could use some work in their reputation department, I feel the level of education I’m receiving is good; not as good as if I’d gone to Harvard, but on-par with many middle-of-the-road schools, both for and non-profit. The opportunity to complete a doctorate primarily online, with once-per-year residencies is very convenient for fulltime professionals, and the degree provides a good balance between classes and research. Overall, I’m happy with my choice.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/12-reasons-not-to-get-a-phd/

So let me make sure I understand some of the prejudice here. UOPX is a bad choice for an Adult that had to drop out of high school, due to no fault of their own, received a GED, then tried to enroll at a B&M school, only to be told they do not meet the “strict” admissions guidelines for said school? That being said, the same person does enroll, attend, and graduate from UOPX with an undergrad, returns to the exact same school that did not want them in the first place and they accept into a graduate program at he same school that snubbed them in the first place! Yes that describes me. This is exactly what happened to me. The school that accpeted me after I finished at UOPX is #5 and #18 on this list: http://www.princetonreview.com/top-entrepreneurial-press-release.aspx . So Leo, Hayden, and Craig B., What a heaping load of !@#$. You either: a) Never attempted a class at UOPX b) Made the attempt and failed miserably because you couldn’t keep with pace. c) Lost out to a graduate to UPOX in the job market or d)Are the biggest bunch of snobs, bigots, whatever you want to call it. UOPX is fully accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (one of the six regional accrediting agencies) the same agency that accredits, Arizona State, Univ. of Arizona, NAU, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kent State, The Ohio State, and numerous other “Brick and Mortar” research institutes. All of them have the exact same accreditation as UOPX! The problem is with the stuffed shirt, snobs at these and other schools. They always ask and complain “What research has UOPX done?” If you spend you whole adult life learning about a tiny slice in specific field you can be PhD. You can then turn around and teach in the field you learned in, without having any practical experience at all. I call this “diluting the curriculum!” There is also a adage for these pompous people: “Those who can do (producers), those who can’t teach(Users or leeches really). The folks that facilitate at UOPX have actual real world experience in the subject they teach. So instead of teaching what some “theorist” thinks the world needs to know, they teach what actually has been tried and found successful in real world applications, not some pointless survey done within a very controlled environment. People want to complain about the dollars spent on UOPX? Complain about the life sucking leeches that are tenured. All they do is pass their ideology on and never really do anything else except corrupt minds and explain to everyhow how the government owes them something even though they never really contribute.

Now those are the facts! I got a tear in my eye! Awesome rebuttal! (happy dances. .)

I think it’s funny that people want to ridicule some one for where they graduated college from. I’ll tell you that after 10 years in the work force at a consulting firm I promise that we don’t care where you went to college. It’s about a body of work, and being a well rounded individual. If you went to Phoenix while you were getting valuable work experience (like me) you will be happy with what your Phoenix degree offers. When some one says they would never higher a Phoenix grad I can pretty much say they don’t do the hiring for anyone. No boss is going tolerate an interview which is that narrow minded. In a lot of cases it shows going the extra mile to better yourself while working full time and employers do take stock in that.

Let’s see, I spent $120K on my bachelors, $110K on my first masters, oh yes…only $20k for a second masters and my PhD… Kinda kicking myself in the A$$ for spending $230K at a private U and an Ivy League U. You have to remember guys, people make institutions, rules, standards, which influence perceptions…all of this was made up…UofP is no different than any other U. They take your money to evaluate you…it’s just not as expensive; and they have a physical campus that has been accredited since ’78. Bottom line is you don’t have to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars to get the same standard.

Working for the Department of Justice and Homeland Security for 19 years and 7 years in private sector. I have hired many Harvard, Stanford, and other ivy league attorneys. Many of their superiors graduated from online schools like UOP. It really does not make a difference of where you graduate when landing a job. Its what you have done with it that matters.

Yes, ivy league universities stand out in a resume. But so does having a degree from a credited college coupled with experience (foreign service).

Everyone has their bias, but just ask those unemployed brick and mortar applicants with no experience why they are not selected. Personally speaking to those online grads, they have the experience but required the graduate level degrees to make upper management (many with families). Its impressive how they balance the two. As an alumni from Berkeley / USF it was hard landing a job with no experience, but after working my way up it was worth it.

Again, as a hiring official for many years, it really makes no difference.

Roland: UOP is not an acronym. I guess your “real” school failed to teach you that.

I received an MBA from UOP in 2010 after getting my BA from a traditional school in Florida. I choose UOP because I had been out of work for 5 years and really did not feel comfortable sitting for the GMAT to apply to UCF. To be honest, I would be lying if I said UOP stacked up to the my brick and mortar school. In the brick and mortar, I had a rigorous diverse curriculum led by great instructors. They were entertaining and engaging. I wrote papers, completed projects, worked in teams, and studied hard for multiple exams every semester. My favorite experience was my internship in the HR department of MetLife my last semester. I still remember many of the things I learned WHR pursuing my BA 10 years later. UOP was a joke by comparison. UOPs curriculum consists of papers and team projects. They overuse the team learning. Every class has 1 or more team projects. We had 1 person in our team who wrote no better than a middle school student. She had no understanding of APA format. I heard many horror stories of people forced to carry bad team members. With no admission standards other than a BA, I can see how this could become a problem. There is no real world experience at UOP. We worked on fictional companies. I had a few good instructors but the majority were terrible. Its one thing to know something but its another to be able to teach it to someone else. Most of my courses were very boring. My program had no quizzes or exams. I don’t believe tests are the only measure of knowledge but I do feel some testing is a part of a well rounded education. I feel my UOP experience was more about getting through it than learning. I don’t think my UOP degree will help me get a decent paying job. I lost my job 2 years after finishing my MBÀ. I now work part time making $12.50 an hour when I use to be on salary for $45,000 with just a my BA. I heavily regret my UOP degree and wish I had put in the work to prep for the GMAT and apply to UCF. I would have a respected degree and would be in less debt than I am now. Hindsight is 20 20. I apologize for any spelling or weird text. Writing this on my cell phone with a very small keyboard.

I would absolutely like to defend University of Phoenix. I currently work the world leader in automotive engineering equipment, operating out of 100 plus countries, and growing daily. The Board of Directors for the organization I work for have degrees from Princeton, Berkley, and Harvard, and have all made me feel that my degree is worth something to them, and has reimbursed fifty percent of my tuition since my associates program. I am just finishing my MBA with a concentration in accountancy, and not long after receiving my BS in accounting, I was promoted to one of their main accounting positions, trusting me to see highly confidential financial information of the organization, since the organization I work for is privately owned.

I would also like to mention I am in line to step into my boss’s position as accounting supervisor over general ledger accounts when he retires in a couple years after over 40 years on the job.

Having said all of the above, I think it is absolutely ridiculous to criticize people attempting to better themselves. Also FYI, I could have went to a more traditional school, and chose UOP due to the outstanding assistance from the enrollment counselors, and constant one on one guidance from my academic and financial counselors. I would also like to mention my employer would not reimburse tuition for Kaplan University for a colleague of mine, but did for UOP due to their proper accreditation. Two of my boss’s, one the Treasurer and Controller, the other the VP of Finance, wanted me for the job, and makes my degree feel valued.

Therefore, all of you people out there ragging on a school solely off the bias comments, and negative connotations you see associated with the school are the most ignorant on this thread. You want to reference intelligence, your displaying such a low level of intelligence, and class calling UOP a fake ass school, wow you sound uneducated and unprofessional using that language. For those of you stating you would not hire someone just because they went to University of Phoenix, I would suggest your HR department let you go as you are a liability to the company for a discrimination lawsuit, and if you had any intelligence whatsoever, or even knew any of the laws and regulations set into place, you would not even openly admit to discriminating against applicants.

My cousin also rags on University of Phoenix, and do you know why? It is due to her slacking, and that she flunked out. It is obvious, anyone ragging on University of Phoenix solely on the basis of it being a for profit organization are the ignorant and uneducated ones. Don’t believe everything you read ignoramus’s, or were you not taught how to identify a credible source for research? I was taught this at University of Phoenix even-though according to you I must not have learned anything at all. I guess that is also why so many traditional schools now offer distance learning to complete with University of Phoenix, why would they do this, if University of Phoenix was a fake school. I would just like to reiterate once more, all of you low lives ragging on people working hard to support their families while bettering themselves should be ashamed of yourself, and I would not hire you based on your unprofessional-ism, linear way of thinking, and ignorance!

I would also like to further mention Olivia, having a degree does not guarantee you a job, but your experience, professionalism, and personal ability to sell yourself, and prove you are worth something to the organization is what gets you the job. Please do not blame UOP of your low paying job,especially since you stated you do hold a BA from a traditional school, this should prove your degree from UOP of not the only thing holding you back. I graduated from only University of Phoenix Associates, Bachelors, and now MBA and make over twice the amount you do and I am only in my twenties. Maybe focus more on what you can give personally, and not how a degree can sell you and do all the work for you in landing a good job. Good luck to you!

Wow, the level of ignorance and youth is so apparent within these posts. I can determine easily that so many responders have yet to experience a true career interview. Let me help you. You are presenting yourself as a package to employers and if you think you will solely secure jobs based on where you attended school, please understand that this is extremely shortsighted. Be prepared to discuss your experience, not your school. If I’m interviewing you for a management position and you want to impress me with your school that you attended, you unfortunately will lose out on a job opportunity. I attended a traditional university for my undergrad and UOP for grad school. Many of you need to understand that there were not many choices to continuing education online in the early 2000’s. I researched my options for post graduate study at the time and UOP, for me, was the best option. At the time of this decision, I was traveling extensively, building what I know now was my foundation of experience that would be the beginning of my career. Hindsight, 16 years later, I wouldn’t change a thing. Throughout my many organizations I have been affiliated with, I found myself working with local university staff on a scholarship program. To this extent, I worked with one professor that was

Also adjunct faculty at UOP. He explained to me how tough it was for him to secure his UOP teaching opportunity and he was impressed with the curriculum. Always good to see and know there are different perspectives.

I recommend getting your undergraduate at a brick and mortar, you can go to UOP after that and use the excuse that the curriculum was just as challenging at UOP. I’m an engineer and as long as your BS is from an ABET accredited school UOP will ‘fly’ after that!!

Regardless if you are earning your degree online, traditionally or in a hybrid format, all learning institutions use a digital learning management system: Blackboard, MOODLE, CANVAS etc… I have read most of the posts regarding this topic, and truly the only difference between an online and traditional school is the lecture. And we all know that most students if given the option would not attend an in-person lecture anyway. The other difference is learning is a a self-directed process, meaning you come to class or log on to a learning management system ready to get something out of the course you signed up for.

To be honest, I am sick of signing up for traditional courses with allegedly college ready students who do not know how to use the computer(i.e. a learning management system, Microsoft office) or think critically beyond their own hand.

So the talk about the online degree versus a traditional degree is irrelevant. Education in the 21 century is about flexibility, people have busy lives and should not have to stop working to go back to school. The American education system is broken and archaic and highly political.

Omg! I never KNEW how easy it is to be a nurse im going to get my msn from uofp!!! Ill just get my mom to do it for me or pay some one to do it, then I will get a sweet ass job and take care of your hospitalized loved ones!! Whoop whoop!! Maybe ill go for nurse cardiology, or just go straight to being a doctor!! I cant WAIT to perform surgery on you!!! I mean everyone says the education is the same and so many people back up uofp so I really hope they show their true dedication and sign up to allow me to be thier doctor!! 🙂

You might consider learning how to write a coherent and spell-checked sentence first.

Oh, GiGi. How cute! Let me educate you a little bit on how health care licenses work. Yes, if you want to pay for tuition and then pay for someone to take classes under your name, go for it! Seems like a lot of money, but that’s your choice. However, when you have to sit for the licensing exam so that you actually can do that ‘surgery’ you so cleverly spoke about, you can’t have your hired student do it for you. They actually make you prove you are who you say you are. You have to show them picture IDs and everything. Go figure!

So, your master plan of hiring someone to do your education for you has now backfired. You are not only out a copious amount of money, but also the opportunity to learn. You have paid for someone else’s education, and they will probably move right into that position your witty little comment spoke about.

Oh, and here’s a fun fact: Your IQ will not take you as far as your social and emotional intelligence. Proof you ask? Remember the Unabomber? Remember how he taught at Harvard? Now, remember how he blew people up? Yeah, very high IQ. Very poor social skills. Something to ponder.

I got an MBA at UOPHOENIX. I was 42 with 5 kids. I also taught there. When it came to Telecommunications and networking, there was no professor at any Ivy league college that knew more than I did on the topic. I taught the daily networking issues and solutions that no college knew like I did.30 years in the industry, I knew the history. I was a pro on the front lines. As far as my MBA, I spent 20-25 hours per week doing the work and earning it. I knew a Harvard MBA who reported to me that had no common sense and no leadership skills. It is more the individual than the school. Ambition, experience, and common sense cannot be taught.

Do you know what they call the person with the lowest GPA in the Harvard Doctor of Medicine graduating class? That’s right…Doctor.

Do you know what they call the person with the lowest GPA that attends the brick and mortar school and is in the nursing graduating class? That’s right…Nurse.

Now, let me explain the difference to you just because you are evidently really, really mad about this. It doesn’t matter the school from which a Doctor or Nurse graduates, they cannot legally practice without a State License.

A Masters in Nursing allows greater potential to work on the healthcare administrative side of healthcare instead of the bedside side of healthcare.

Apparently from your post and your wealth of knowledge on the subject, you already knew this.

I would like to take this moment to look at, and appreciate, the comment by Kahlil Northcross:

“I am a u of p alumni and proud pf it. Gteat school”

I can understand common gramatic and spelling errors such as alumni, instead of the correct use of alumnus or alumna. The rest of the statement speaks for itself.

Hey Ghost before you call out someone else for spelling errors might want to check yourself, pretty sure grammatic has two m’s

I like University of Phoenix* (so sorry University of the Pacific for using UoP, like ever!). I went to community college here in souther Cali. The classes are 16 weeks long. What!!??!?! My buddies going to State U’s (taking the same classes I took at the CC) complain even though their semesters are shorter than CC semesters, and…….they need me to tutor them! University of Phoenix is straight to business. No joke. I’m tired of people talking down that school. I will go to a State University when I really, really, really, want to WASTE MY TIME. Face it people, our real course work was done when we took our Gen Eds (Sociology, Psychology, Statistics, World History, Anthropology, Humanities). You apply that shit to how you treat people, as well as animals. Fix the world people!

All the bashing is pointless, and I suspect those that say you wouldnt hire someone with a phoenix degree isnt actually in a position to hire anyone. I work at ASU in HR and am the lead HR systems support analyst for the university. I can go to school for nearly free here and I chose to get a Phoenix MBA over an ASU MBA simply because I enjoy the environment of the class structure over what ASU offers. As an HR professional I can tell you with 100% certainty we hire professionals with UoP credentials with no discrimination even over our own. You CANT do that and be in legal compliance. If the candidate meets the minimum qualifications for the position and is the top candidate, they are chosen. Its that simple.

The UOP programs are not cake walks. Think about his for a moment. Statistics happens to be one of the hardest classes most students take in any education setting. At UOP its crammed into 5 or 6 weeks depending in what program. Compared to traditional programs the same class tenure is months long. I truly hated the subject but in my MBA program I learned to respect it and later loved it. Here is why, They call him Doctor Dot out of Woodland Hills, California. He truly taught us the subject, he taught us real life experience because he perform statistics daily in his professional career. My eyes were wide open. I departed the class with an A- and confident I could perform any statistical challenge placed before me in the real world. I know for a fact UOP challenge my entire MBA class group. We faced deaths in families, marriages, divorces, births, lost jobs to new jobs ect.. not easy. As a group we endured the countless chapters of reading requirements, not to mention what seems like hundreds of papers written and I can’t forget this one, how about the relentless constant presentations. UOP in my opinion prepares their students for real world settings. I can’t say what another college or university does is good or bad, up to or below the standard. But I did witness many of my classmate accelerated in their chosen career fields because MBA program we completed. I know many who are easily making well into the 6 digit income area’s and even some 7 figure earners. Never judge a book by it’s cover, always open it up and get “Eyes Wide Open” first. Yes I am a Phoenix

Hello all. Just to level-set, I have a BA from a NJ state university, a grad degree from Syracuse University earned through a hybrid on-campus/online program, and an MBA from a private (small) brick and mortar university. I’m currently in my third year of a Doctor of Management program at UOPX. I’ve been in the IT industry for 20 years and currently serve in a IT Director’s position at an Ivy League institution.

I can’t comment on the undergraduate or graduate level programs at UOPX, as the doctorate is my only experience. Thus far, the program has been rigorous, and I’ve learned a lot. Some classes are easier than others, some professors are better than others, and I definitely feel I extract from the program a proportional benefit to what I contribute to the program. While the workload is heavier in a doctoral program, I would report that my level of satisfaction with the professors and organization is the same as my satisfaction with my previous “traditional” schools. I’ve had no major problems, though (just as I had to do with other brick-and-mortar institutions I’ve attended) I’ve had to be persistent with the administrative staff to resolve a few relatively minor scheduling and financial issues. I do have the benefit of requiring only a small amount of financial aid assistance, as my employer has a generous tuition reimbursement program, and I’ve made up some of the rest out of pocket. I know there have been some complaints about how UOPX handles their financial aid. My recommendation there is to manage your funds on your own, to ensure they are applied when and for what classes you desire.

My goal is not to pursue a professorship at a research university, but rather to continue my career in my field based on my expanded education, as well as teach, author, and consult. In this career path, the doctorate is helpful, but certainly not required. It is for this reason I chose a practitioner-focused doctorate, the DM, rather than a PhD. The practitioner doctorates, such as the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Health Administration (DHA), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) are focused on those that will continue in industry, rather than dedicate their career to research. This is not to say a PhD can’t work in industry, many do, but rather the practitioner doctorates skew toward more practical knowledge and research, while the Doctor of Philosophy degrees (PhD) skew toward the research and philosophical aspects of a particular field of study. Both require significant research projects (the dissertation) and both can take 3-7 years to complete, based on a multitude of factors.

UOPX, in fact, has a more stringent dissertation process than many public and private “traditional” schools, primarily because they seem sensitive to their reputation challenges, and want the dissertations to be well-formatted, well-reviewed, and contribute to the body of research knowledge. It is, by far, not a perfect process, however in speaking with many doctoral-degree holders at my job (an Ivy League University), every one of these doctors has told me the doctoral/dissertation process is long, arduous, complicated, frustrating, inconsistent, and an exercise in both academic rigor and perseverance. Thus far, I’m happy with the progress, but know there will be many hoops through which I’ll have to jump to produce a quality research outcome (the dissertation) and complete the degree.

I agree with the opinions that for-profit schools may need additional regulations, oversight, or some other intervention to ensure the needs of stockholders are not advanced at the expense of students.

Regarding the validity of degrees, I would agree that (in most cases) if you have no experience, and expect to emerge from an undergrad or grad program from UOPX and assume you’ll be taken seriously, you’re wrong. I don’t view this as anything unusual, as I don’t generally take anyone straight out of school very seriously, as they (for the most part) have no clue how the world, business, or their industry of focus works. This comes with experience and real-world effort applied to real-world problems day in, and day out…not from working in a classroom. There are exceptions, but they are just that…exceptions. I personally know of a UOPX student that completed his MBA degree at UOPX, and is pursuing the same DM degree as I am. He’s easily one of the most motivated and intelligent individuals I’ve ever met, and I asked him specifically why he chose Phoenix instead of a more prestigious school. He could have very easily gone elsewhere, but he chose UOPX. His reasoning was just as I’ve described…it’s more about how you use the knowledge than from where you obtained it. He’s very successful, has held a number of top management jobs, written a book, and hold several patents. A good example of applied knowledge.

as I’m reading these posts I realize that it depend on the job, or position. I am currently attending University of Phoenix and the courses are not easy at all. I want to pull my hair out many times bit to say that people who choose this school in general are igorant shows how ignorant you all are. I haven’t received the mba yet but I am receiving a promotion mod HR manager for payroll, benefits, and administration. So no one can speak on another’s achievements. I know many people who graduated from harvard, etc and just as dumb in common sense. Speak fromantic your own experiences no one else’s.

Just pick an AACSB school I go to WTAMU-MBA. It is challenging but you will have the satisfaction of the accreditation!! Don’t have to worry about for profit stigma! If you have an undergraduate GPA of over 3.85 you should get accepted with a GMAT score of over 550.

Let’s see. I’m currently deployed overseas and serving in the U.S. Navy. I am an E-8, and I hold various senior leadership positions, some which are equivalent to an GS-12. I recently graduated with my MBA in Science Management from UofP with a 3.7 GPA. UofP for the most part pushes you to learn on your own. Yes, there are professors available, but there were many late days and nights where I would spends 8 hours on a quiz or 5 hours on a paper. My job is extremely demanding, and I’m in charge of 35 command personnel as well as civilians. On top of everything you have to maintain an B average or more, and some days I was wondering if I would actually pass the course because of how demanding it was. From statistics to advance math, all were challenging! I’m glad I went with this school, and it has instilled in my vast managerial knowledge and people skills which is important being a senior leader in the military.

University of Phoenix is ranked in the top 100 online universities by US News and World Report.

Not getting into the whole “real school” BS (but if anybody knows of a non-Ivy degree that “guarantees” a well-paying job on graduation, please email me), just want give some advice:

If you truly are someone in a hiring position who refuse to hire an applicant only because of the college they attended, I hope you know a lawyer who went to a “real” school, because you’ve really put your foot in it. Enjoy your law suits!

I am currently attending Kaplan University for my Business Degree. Yes, it is a for-profit and I understand that for-profit schools have a bad rep. I am a full time U.S. Marine Officer who decided that college was a very important goal. I went back and forth between UoP and Kaplan before finally resting on Kaplan. I have friends who attend UoP and enjoy it very much. I would love to have the money and time for Harvard or Stanford, but lets face the truth…not everyone does! I believe that anyone seeking higher education these days is smart for doing so and should be praised for the decision instead of scrutinized for which college they decided on. Good for anyone seeking higher education! Just remember to ensure the credentials of the school are legitimate and yes, UoP is legit!

It is all about accreditation. I earned my doctorate in Management from UoP. UoP business school is fully accredited through ACBSP. Larger schools tend to have the AACSB accreditation. The biggest different between the two accreditations is the amount of money the school puts to research. Each accreditation requires a rigorous process. Profit verse nonprofit is an unfounded argument. My professors taught at the finest and biggest universities in this country and even one from England. So if you think professors from University of Texas, Pepperdine, University of Tulsa, NC State, VA Tech, just to name a few represent terrible schools, then I guess we are all doomed. Do not assume prestige is the only was to earn a quality education. I earned my doctorate because I worked for it!

As someone with a Ph.D. in a physical science discipline, I have to say that I was not too pleased with the University of Phoenix. I took an Environmental Law class that was taught by someone who only had a Bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, this instructor did not seem to know how to write in a coherent manner. Among other things, she seemed to have no idea about where to place a comma. I don’t understand why a person like this should be teaching at any reputable place that is conferring graduate degrees. Furthermore, the grades seemed to be based more on following instructions that on whether the student has any real grasp of the material.

So you base your opinion of the UOPX on one instructor who was inferior to your knowledge base? What an elitist attitude you have. Perhaps you should apply to teach and see if you get any interesting feedback regarding your teaching style. I bet if you did, you would quickly find out that you’re not as perfect as you make yourself out to be…

The University of Phoenix (UOPX) Business school is wonderful. I went to the University of Washington for my undergraduate degree and graduated with a 3.89 GPA. I have worked many years in my field of study before going back to complete my Master’s degree. I was accepted and attended a Master’s program at the University of Washington, but soon dropped it for the UOPX because it was much more convenient to take classes while still working. The UOPX program is much more challenging than I expected, and only the smart and focused get through the program. There are a lot of students who enrolled in the UOPX thinking it would be easy, but they are no longer part of it. Don’t knock the UOPX program unless you try it. Oh, and I see many UOPX graduate credentials on successful career profiles on LinkedIn too.

I have been to both brick-and-mortar University and online school. I earned my double major Bachelor of Science from Kaplan University online, and I found it to be just as every bit challenging and in some cases, even more so than a traditional brick-and-mortar University.

I went the online route, because I became disabled and it was very difficult to physically go to the campus. A new study by the Department of Education study has come out and said that online school is every bit as reputable and equal in quality to that of Traditional School.

In some cases, they find that it’s even more challenging and harder, because it takes self-discipline and the ability for a student to buckle down and focus to get their work done. dome students need a sit-down environment in order to focus because they don’t have the discipline. One thing employers should know about online college graduates is that they have the ability to take on a goal and work independently on their own and focus on a task to get it done.

I’m a current UoPX doctoral student, pursuing a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership. I’ve been in the program about four years now, but about nine months of that was time off due to a job change.

I think, as with most contentious topics, there’s a middle ground. I was very hesitant to pursue a doctoral degree at a for-profit school, having earned an undergrad and two graduate degrees from very traditional schools. Even in my traditional university work, the modalities varied, and included instruction that was 100% classroom-based, classes that were 100% online, and classes that were of a mixed-modality that incorporated a mix of online and classroom instruction and group project work.

I think the question of UoPX relates much more to the quality of the education, rather than the modality. Online education (similar to online dating) was once regarded rather poorly, lacking the equivalence of a more traditionally delivered degree. This seems to have changed dramatically, as many traditional non-profit schools now offer many programs 100% online.

I can only speak on the doctoral program, as I have not pursued a master’s or bachelor’s degree from UoPX. My degree is a professional taught doctorate, similar to a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD. These terminal degrees involved a significant amount of research, and are targeted more at working professionals that seek applied knowledge to use in their careers. These degrees differ from Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees, in that the Ph.D. degree is generally designed to train an individual to be a researcher as part of their career, and is much more applicable to those seeking specific careers (Industrial and Organizational Psychology, for example), or those that seek an academic career in a college or university.

I hoped to gain both theoretical and applied knowledge from my doctoral program, as well as conduct a research project (dissertation) that would both contribute to the body of knowledge around a topic, as well as further my effectiveness in my career. I also wanted the flexibility of the online modality, and the ability to start/stop my classes as needed. My experience thus far, with most of my course work completed, and my dissertation in progress, is that the program delivers on its promises. I have gained a plurality of knowledge in a number of areas, and have been trained in the research process and the way in which said research is documented and peer-reviewed. The content has been very worthwhile, and I am able to apply this knowledge to my professional career. The facilitators (and yes, this is the term many colleges and universities are begining to use to replace “teacher” or “instructor”) have fallen on the same bell-curve of quality that I’ve found in every degree I’ve ever completed. A small minority are very poor, for one reason or another, a small minority are outstanding, and the rest are average and perfectly adequate.

The dissertation process is uniquely UoPX, and that’s because almost all dissertation processes are uniquely tailored to their institution. There are very few standardized aspects of the process. In talking with doctoral students from other, traditional schools, it’s clear that all doctoral students must navigate their university’s unique process, which is often times frustrating and inefficient.

What I have found in all online courses I’ve taken, regardless of the institution, is that the online modality generally provides a level of independence to the student that isn’t found in the classroom. Conversely, this freedom comes with a cost, and that is the student must exhibit more initiative, time-management, and self-directed participation than in the classroom. I’m not sure the online modality is effective for an 18 year-old high-school graduate seeking a bachelor’s degree; few of us are very disciplined at that age. However, as a mid-career member of the workforce seeking a new career, it may be ideal.

Overall, I have been happy with what UoPX delivers in the doctoral program I’m pursuing. I tend to be independent and self-directed, so the format has worked well for me. The for-profit nature of the school does lend itself to a different set of goals from the institution’s perspective, as profits are important. For this reason, I do feel that I’ve been in classes with students that probably aren’t ready for the doctoral journey. This is one aspect of the program I do wish they’d adjust. While the doctoral program does eventually cull those that may not be ready for it, it would be more helpful for the student to know this sooner, rather than later, and either get the necessary extra assistance to excel, or choose a different path.

If I had to do it all over again, I’d absolutely make the same choice in schools, as the flexibility of the program, and the program quality to date, are what I expected. I can say, for all the detractors, that while this is not Harvard or Princeton, the doctoral program is rigorous, and it’s not something an unqualified person could easily traverse. As a hiring manager, I would not (and have not) excluded anyone from employment consideration as a result of their education, whether it was the level of education, the institution they attended, or the modality in which it was delivered. I work in an academic environment, and higher highly technical people. I’ve found that I must consider the entirety of a resume, to include education and experience, in order to make a decision to interview a candidate. For those employers that take a more rigid approach, you will likely miss out on very qualified candidates who’ll I’ll very happily consider in my organization.

I just graduated from University of Phoenix yesterday with a Masters of Arts in Elementary Education. I worked very hard for this degree and completed a 16 week student teaching internship along with a seminar course that went along with the student teaching experience. I am very proud to be a Phoenix and I earned my Bachelors Degree at Ashford University, which is another online degree school. I worked hard and had to be very disciplined in both schools. I am a mom and wife, working full time while attending this online school. My family and friends were very supportive and helped me get through both degrees. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ashford University with a 3.85 GPA, and I graduated from U of P with a 3.96 GPA. I could not afford a traditional brick and mortar school and was glad for the opportunity to attend both schools. I know both are for profit, but they are fully accredited universities. My sister- in -law also received her Bachelors and her Masters from U of P and has worked ever since and received a new position and salary increase when she received her Masters. I will start off at a higher rate of pay this next year by having my Masters and they accept a degree from U of P along with my experience. My last supervisor got her Masters from U of P as well and is now in a highly paid administrative position. I am so tired of the naysayers who make it sound as if any online degree is “fake” or “easy”!!!! University of Phoenix is a great opportunity to improve oneself and move up in any career with the degree and experience one receives from the University of Phoenix.

I dropped out of school in my early-20’s because I really didn’t have any sort of direction or solid plan. I got a job working as an intern for a healthcare software company and later began to ascend the ranks. I knew I would not continue to advance and remain competitive without a degree, so I looked around for bachelor’s degree opportunities in my related field.

I chose UoP for several reasons: (1) Schedule flexibility it provided by being able to attend on-campus classes at night. (2) The opportunity to learn alongside other professionals with practical experience. (3) The benefit of learning from instructors who actually worked in the field and didn’t just speak from theory.

UoP differed from my previous college experience by emphasizing critical thinking, the ability to work in a team environment, and conflict resolution skills. I was also forced to put myself out in front of people more and take on leadership roles through the various team activities and presentations we had to execute. Those soft skills are sometimes much more important and woefully underappreciated.

I graduated with a 3.83 GPA and a BS in IT. Attending UoP did not hurt my career financially or otherwise; in fact, it probably enhanced it. I have not made less than six figures in over seven years, and I feel better equipped to handle situations at work than some others who attended more prominent schools.

No doubt, there hard work is involved in the curriculum offered by the University of Phoenix. No doubt the students do work posting discussion forum postings every week and by completing essays but what about exams? I have heard that most courses at UofP and other online “colleges” do not require exams at all, nor or the exams administered in a testing center. This is a problem with online colleges because how do you know the student is actually doing the work and how are the online colleges accessing the student?

I am a senior at UoPhx in the IT – Advanced Networking undergraduate program and am still maintaining a 4.0 despite a few close calls. I think there are a number of reasons why people think lowly of this University, most of which are unfounded or at least misguided.

First, people see how easy it is to get in. That is simply a direct result of it being a private for-profit University. They pay their bills by having a high acceptance rate, and part of the reason is due to the lower graduation rates. With fewer students completing the programs, that loss of tuition income is compensated for by a regular supply of new students.

Another reason people think lowly of it, is because the online degree structure seems way too easy on its surface, compared to a traditional brick and mortar (B&M) University semester structure. When someone reads that it’s one class at a time, 5 weeks per class, and only a 3 day minimum weekly attendance requirement, that seems too good to be true, so most will assume it is.

The early classes ARE very easy, a fact which can give students a false sense that the University’s standards aren’t up to snuff. Truthfully the classes are just as demanding as B&M classes, it just seems easier due to the one-at-a-time format. All of my general education classes except for 2, were transferred to UoPhx from 3 different B&M institutions I had attended previously. Looking back, my freshman classes were in fact, incredibly easy. B&M freshman may not realize how easy their classes are at the time, because they either started out with too high of a class load, or they had poor time management/discipline. Shortly after my upper division classes started at UoPhx, I notice a sharp increase in the amount of studying and effort I had to put in to get high marks. In the beginning I could easily put everything off in favor of work and family, and get my 3-day participation and assignments done in the Sat-Sun-Mon part of the week. Now, I need to put in at least 2 hours per day, 5-7 days per week to keep my grades up (always more on week 5).

There are fewer exams, but what people don’t realize, is that it translates to more assignments such as essays, research papers, and labs. The class I am in at the moment requires successful completion of 5 labs every week on top of the reading, discussions, quizzes and regular assignments.

The #1 reason why I switched from B&M schools to UoPhx’s online program, is due to the one-at-a-time structure for the classes. My biggest complaint when taking B&M classes was not being able to fully immerse myself in a subject. The last B&M class I had was at a local community college, and their coordination was so bad that shortly before midterms hit, I was having to study for a MAJOR lab test or lecture exam every single week all the way through finals. It was extremely stressful, sapped all of my free time, and I gained a good 20 lbs. Even though I got straight A-s, I retained very little thanks to the constant stress and subject overlapping. To say that such an approach is superior, is laughable. The amount of dedication and effort it takes to maintain a really high GPA at a decent B&M University in a challenging degree program (e.g. STEM programs) is stressful and unhealthy, and practically impossible for older students with jobs and families (which make up the majority of UoPhx students).

Traditional schools hold your hand through everything. Instructors take attendance, issue homework and go over it with the class, and if you have a question all you need do is raise your hand. At UoPhx everything is on the student, so there’s a much higher level of discipline and personal accountability required. You have to schedule class time yourself, seek out the assignments, reading materials, quizzes, and the professor (to answer questions) all on your own. Attendance requirements are more difficult when people don’t physically notice you missing from class.

People should also remember that your degree is just one little blurb on your resume. There is far more that goes into landing a decent job than simply having a degree with the right University’s name attached to it.

I currently have 33/36 credits completed in the MBA Program with the University of Phoenix and it has been anything but easy. For most everyone here to simply have word wars is simply ridiculous in my opinion. Furthering ones education is not for everyone so the individuals that can should…support each other and rise together to make a better way for all…Be kind! Thanks for Your Time

Yes, I used the word simply 2x in the same sentence I was not able to edit it…

A business professor told me a story about a company looking to hire a high level employee. They sat down and discussed what qualifications the applicant needed to be hired. One of the companies executive said we should look for a prospective from Harvard or Stanford. They also considered other high level colleges. Then one of the executives brought everyone in the room back to reality. He posed this question. If we set the bar so high by only considering individuals from Harvard, Stanford, etc. would any us sitting at this table now have been hired. The room went silent. Reality set in, and the field of applicants open up.

I am just now enrolling in UOP, and am really excited about it! I know that they have received some bad press, but I feel it’s the best option for me right now. I am already employed at a company where I am looking to advance, and am using this as a strategic move. I know that, within my company, the director of my department has a masters degree from UOP, and she has a great career. So, it is very possible to get a promotion with a degree from UOP. I feel, though, that you need to have a plan for how it will fit into your career. And it helps to already be established at a company where you are planning to advance. My company is placing a lot of emphasis on furthering our education, and they provide tuition assistance. So, I am not losing anything by furthering my education online. As a full time employee, this works around my schedule. I am looking to advance to a management position in HR, currently working in billing for commercial accounts, and I feel that getting a degree through UOP will work in my favor. And for how I am planning my career trajectory.

AACSB, founded in 1916, is considered the gold-standard when it comes to business school accreditation. The nation’s top business schools, including Harvard, UPenn, Stanford, MIT, and Columbia are all AACSB accredited.

UoP is not AACSB accredited. Instead they are accredited by ACBSP, which was founded in 1988. At a time when ACBSP accredited only 15 percent of business schools across the country, ACBSP was able to offer its own less selective, arguably 2nd class accreditation to those schools who could not get AACSB accredited.

So, while UoP does not have the same level of recognition or accreditation as the Wharton School, a majority of the country’s business schools don’t either. But, it can be argued that UoP at least lives up to some accreditation standard, if not the most highly regarded one.

Did anybody really learn anything? Move this boulder and go in any direction you like.

LMAOOO at these clap backs. At least UoP graduates can actually see what major they studied on their diplomas. As a UoP senior, I have to say that out of all the scams I’VE SEEN out there, Harvard Extension School is one of the worst! They can’t even admit what their students actually studied as they STILL (in 2022) put “in Extension Studies” on their diplomas. WTF is Extension Studies? That is not a major. Do better, Harvard. Just rip the bandaid off with your online students, and tell them blunty, that they’re not REAL Harvard graduates as much as they like to believe they are. At least when I graduate from the UoP is isn’t considered a separate entity with a whole different emblem, nor would my classes be segregated from full-time on-campus students if I decided to go in-person. Since Harvard wants to stir the pot I’m here to spill it.

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• ONE Championship

Shaquille O’Neal, PhD in Education, Went From “I Got 4 Rings” to “I Got 4 Degrees” When Challenged for a Spelling Bee in No Time

Shaquille O'Neal (Credit- Twitter & Inside the NBA)

There have been many NBA players who have made a huge impact on the league. However, there are certain individuals who still have the same impact right now as they did during their player career. One such player will be the great Shaquille O’Neal. The former LA Lakers star has made a name for himself as one of the greatest players.

Shaquille is a huge businessman as well. He utilized the platform his playing career gave him. Shaq was smart enough to turn hundreds of millions into a business empire of the court. His net worth stands at $400 million as of 2022. Apart from being a business tycoon, O’Neal is also an educated person.

He has always publicly emphasized the importance of education. In the past, the 50-year-old mentioned that his children would have to focus on education in order to benefit from his riches . In addition to that, Shaq has also boasted about his educational qualities very recently.

How many degrees does Shaquille O’Neal have?

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If we run it back to the time Shaq featured on Inside The NBA ’s Spelling Bee Competition, DJ Diesel would have let the world know of what to expect from him. The host played a video of a young Shaquille O’Neal asking someone if they could spell the world “Podiatrist” . When Shaq was asked to do that, he said, “You really want to test my four degrees?”

Since many may not know, the former Lakers center does have a few degrees. He received his Bachelor’s from Louisiana State University in 2000 when he was a young player in the NBA. Afterwards, O’Neal managed to attain a Master’s degree from University of Phoenix.

Mohamed Rizvi

Mohamed Rizvi is a senior editor at Sportsmanor, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from SRM University. Rizvi joined the site in 2022, and his coverage includes NBA, Soccer, and F1.

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Shaq’s No Fool! Higher Education Has Been A 20-Year Priority

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Former NBA superstar-turned-epistemophiliac Shaquille O’Neal has been on the down low about trying to obtain his doctorate and he has finally achieved his dream. On Saturday, Shaq received a Ph.D. in leadership and education with a specialization in human resource development from Barry University located in Miami Shores, Florida, reports ABC News .

SEE ALSO: Beyonce’s Award Draws Fire

Apparently, Shaq left Louisiana State University early in order to pursue a career in basketball.  The 7’1″ hoop star, who is currently an analyst on the TV program “Inside the NBA,” was drafted by the Orlando Magic as the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft.  Despite his windfall, Shaq made a vow to his mother, Lucille Harrison, and stepfather, Dale Brown , that he would obtain his undergraduate degree, a promise he did fulfill all while playing ball professionally.

Shaq completed his degree by attending summer school during the basketball off-season as well as through an independent studies program. “The Big Aristotle” then went on to get a Master’s degree online in 2005 from the University of Phoenix and is the only current NBA player with an MBA (Master of Business Administration).

As the recipient of numerous accolades during his 19-year playing career, his latest educational accomplishment is one of his proudest moments but getting back into the swing of school wasn’t easy.  Shaq told ABC News, “The hardest part was getting back into high school mode. You ever have that high school teacher that says, you’ve got to read six chapters over the weekend?”

Athletes and their diplomas are oftentimes seen as antidotes to statistics nationwide, indicating that players in men’s basketball and football graduate at rates significantly lower than the general student body.  So Shaq’s latest accomplishment is undoubtedly quite a notch in his suspenders.

What exactly does Dr. O’Neal plan on doing with his educational credentials a year after his retirement from the NBA?  Motivational speaking, of course!  He also wants to go to law school.

So how does Shaq want to be addressed from now on?  Well, he wants to make sure that no one gets it twisted!  “Only the children can call me Shaq, the adults have to address me as Dr. O’Neal,” he said.

Does Dr. O’Neal miss his stellar NBA career? “No,” Shaq says, “because I got a new walk, a doctor’s walk.”

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20 Things You Didn't Know About Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal, a name synonymous with basketball dominance, has intrigued fans with his on-court prowess, multifarious off-court ventures, and personality quirks. Here are twenty lesser-known facts about Shaq, shedding light on the depth and diversity of his life and career.

Dominance from the Start

Shaquille O'Neal's tenure at Louisiana State University (LSU) was marked by a meteoric rise to prominence from his very first year. Initially making a splash as a freshman, O'Neal's sophomore year catapulted him to national attention.

In the 1990-91 season, he averaged an astounding 27.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 5 blocks per game, leading the nation in rebounds and earning him the SEC Player of the Year, a consensus First Team All-American spot, and the SEC All-Defense honors.

The Dream Team Snub

In 1992, despite his burgeoning talent and eligibility, O'Neal was controversially omitted from the original Dream Team roster for the Olympics. This decision was a significant point of contention and disappointment for him, fueling his competitive spirit and drive for success in the subsequent stages of his career.

Collegiate Challenges

Despite O'Neal's brilliance at LSU, his teams experienced limited success in the NCAA Tournament . They never advanced past the second round during his tenure, reflecting a gap between individual and team achievements in collegiate basketball.

Early Aversion to Alcohol

O'Neal's early dislike for alcohol was shaped by an unpleasant experience enforced by his father. The early life lesson ironically did not prevent him from endorsing his line of vodka later in his career, showcasing his complex relationship with the substance.

Friction with Kobe Bryant

Shaq's relationship with Kobe Bryant is a well-documented saga of NBA history. Their tenure together on the Los Angeles Lakers was marked by both on-court success and off-court discord, which overshadowed some of the team's achievements with their feud.

Career Beyond the NBA

Shaq's NBA journey spanned six teams, demonstrating his adaptability and influence across the league. His ability to remain a central figure in multiple teams underscores his significant impact on the sport​​.

A Singular Three-Point Achievement

O'Neal's NBA career featured exactly one successful 3-point shot, underscoring his traditional focus on paint dominance rather than perimeter shooting. The moment remains a notable anecdote in his storied career.

Vertical Leap Record

Shaq's pre-draft workouts revealed his exceptional athletic ability, recording the highest maximum vertical reach ever measured at the time—12 feet, 5 inches.

Law Enforcement Ambitions

Shaq's affinity for law enforcement is well-known. He participates in training and serves as an honorary U.S. Deputy Marshal. These efforts reflect his commitment to community service and interests outside of sports.

MMA Enthusiast

Beyond basketball, Shaq has a well-documented interest in mixed martial arts (MMA). He trained during his NBA days and expressed a desire to compete.

Moreover, his interest in MMA led to many fans watching MMA games. The recent legalization of sports betting in various states also contributed to this increasing interest in the sport. Fans interested in betting on MMA can check the Best DFS Sites for betting options.

Platinum Rap Career

Shaq's transition into the music industry was a testament to his diverse talents and a demonstration of his capability to reach the pinnacle in arenas other than basketball.

Filmography and Rap Albums

Shaq's career in entertainment includes four rap albums and several movie roles, contributing to a diverse portfolio that spans sports, music, and cinema.

Decorated Athlete

Shaq has won multiple NBA championships, an MVP award, and several All-Star appearances, solidifying Him as one of the most decorated athletes in the sport's history.

WWE Appearances

Shaq's entertainment appeal extended to WWE, where his appearances, including a memorable encounter with The Big Show, showcased his flair for showmanship and cross-platform appeal.

Hook Shot and Number 33

Inspired by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaq sought to emulate Abdul-Jabbar's iconic hook shot and wear the number 33 to honor his legacy, paying homage to one of the game's greats.

Academic Pursuits

Despite leaving LSU early for the NBA, Shaq highly valued education. He later completed his Bachelor's Degree and earned a doctoral degree, showcasing his commitment to lifelong learning.

Family Life

Raised in a diverse religious household, Shaq's openness about his family, including his marriage and children, highlights his role as a committed family man.

Real Estate Ventures

In addition to his sports and entertainment careers, Shaq has delved into real estate , demonstrating his business acumen and investment insight.

Charitable Endeavors

Through his work with the Safe Surfin’ Foundation, among other initiatives, Shaq has dedicated efforts to making a positive impact off the court, emphasizing his commitment to philanthropy.

Unique Nicknames:

Shaq's various nicknames, from "The Big Aristotle" to "Shaq Fu," reflect his multifaceted personality and diverse interests, contributing to his status as one of sports' most memorable figures.

Final words

These facts reveal Shaquille O'Neal's persona as multifaceted and deeply engaging, extending far beyond his undeniable basketball legacy. His life and career encompass a breadth of achievements and interests, from sports to entertainment and beyond, each reflecting the unique character of one of basketball's most unforgettable figures.

You can also read:

• Shaq Net Worth 2023: Unveiling the NBA Legend’s Fortune
• How Shaquille O’Neal Became a Successful Entrepreneur
• 10 of the Most Inspirational Quotes by Shaquille O’Neal

Written by  Allen Lee

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Why (and what) NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal will be performing at Kauffman Stadium

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Get ready for a “Shaq-sized” event at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Royals announced that NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal will hold a postgame concert on Friday, Aug. 9 at The K.

O’Neal is set to take center stage as “DJ Diesel) following the Royals’ I-70 Series matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I looked it up and found out what his show is, and it’s cool,” Royals second baseman Michael Massey said. “Anytime you get a name like Shaq to come out, it will be a fun night.”

O’Neal is four-time NBA champion and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He starred at LSU and then played 19 illustrious NBA seasons, most notably with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

And O’Neal has continued to perform off the court in various ways since his retirement as an NBA player in 2011.

Along with doing regular NBA studio commentary for TNT, he’s a successful actor with multiple movies and TV shows to his credit, a product pitchman ... and a musical artist. His first album, “Shaq Diesel” (released in 1993) sold more than a million copies.

Now, O’Neal will share his love for music with Royals fans. He has performed multiple dance-music sets as a DJ, with a setlist that has typically included hip-hop, EDM and rap elements.

“It’s pretty cool to see him come out there,” Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

O’Neal will perform following the conclusion of the Friday evening fireworks display on Aug. 9 at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals are making a limited number of field passes available for $25.

Fans can purchase single-game tickets (which include the postgame show) or the field pass on the Royals’ official website .

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