University of Phoenix-Houston Campus (UPHC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Founded in 1976 by Dr. John Sperling, the University of Phoenix is the largest private University in North America. The university was designed for working adults who wanted to return to school but felt they didn’t have the time. Dr. John Sperling decided to assist adult learners who wanted to return to school by establishing a school that would accommodate their work schedules and busy lives.

Since that time, the University of Phoenix has established schools all over the United States. The multiple University of Phoenix campus locations include Houston, Texas. Houston is the most populous city in the state of Texas. Due to the size of the city, the University of Phoenix began to believe that one campus could not service as many students that it would like to. Due to its growth and notoriety, the University of Phoenix developed over nine learning centers in the city alone. The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.

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Information Summary

Ranks 238th in Texas and 4041st overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	20.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$11,320
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	307 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	39% / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	1,841

Academics

Offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees, the University of Phoenix-Houston Westside Campus offers working adults the opportunity to pursue a degree on campus, online, or through their learning centers. University of Phoenix allows working professionals to advance their careers through an educational system that works with their schedule while remaining employed. University of Phoenix offers degrees in business management, criminal justice, human service and a host of other areas of study. The available business degree programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

To further accommodate the needs of the students, the university offers daytime, evening and weekend classes on site. Unlike many institutions of higher learning that require a specific number of courses or credit hours be taken each quarter or semester, the University of Phoenix only requires that a student engage in one course at a time. The student attends class once a week, with the course lasting approximately 5 to 6 weeks.

Campus class sizes are kept to a minimum as the university believes that a smaller class ensures academic success. A smaller class allows both the student to interact successfully with the instructor and their fellow learners.

Online classes are available for those who are busy with life’s obligations. These adults need a way to continue the pursuit of their educational goals but on their own time. The University of Phoenix offers 100% online courses, which means a student can receive a degree without ever stepping inside a traditional classroom. Online courses are just as rigorous as traditional courses, and students are expected to maintain a high level of virtual course room involvement in order to successfully engage in an online education.

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Admissions

To be accepted at the University of Phoenix-Houston Westside Campus as an undergraduate student, an application for admission must be completed online or in person. The student will need to request that an official copy of high school transcripts be sent directly to the school. There are no minimum test scores required nor is a minimum GPA required. The University of Phoenix has enrollment specialists on site to walk a potential student through the enrollment process.

To be accepted at the university as a graduate student, the student must also complete an application online or in person. The student must also submit official transcripts from all colleges attended. Again, there are no minimum requirements regarding test scores or GPA.

The University of Phoenix also accepts transfer students and their accompanying credits. All students who may be interested in transferring to the University of Phoenix must submit an application for admittance online or in person. The student must submit all official transcripts for each school attended. If eligible, the students’ credits received may transfer to Phoenix and be credited toward the degree of study.

The University of Phoenix also takes students’ line of work into account, as students’ experience may also count towards college credits. Corporate trainings, certifications earned on the job and other types of professional trainings may transfer into college credits.

Students may also be able to earn college credits through National Testing and military experience. For additional information regarding the credit transfer process or any questions regarding admissions in general, prospective students are encourage to visit the campus website or contact the Office of Admissions.

Financial Aid

The University of Phoenix understands the financial sacrifice that comes along with paying for a higher education. There are several ways a student can finance their education. This is possible through financial aid, financing options, and company funding. The University of Phoenix participates in federal aid programs that include Stafford loans, Plus loans, and Pell grants. To qualify for these programs, the student must fill out the FAFSA to determine their eligibility. This application is conveniently located online and can submitted online or via mail.

Student Financial Aid Details

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Students

University of Phoenix-Houston Westside Campus believes in servicing their students, so much that they have dedicated an entire department to student services. Some of the services offered are technical support, academic help, and graduation team support.

Each student at Phoenix receives a graduation team. The graduation team helps to keep the student on track for graduating at the onset of admittance. The graduation team consists of the students financial aid advisor; who will particularly assist the student with any financial need; the students’ academic advisor; who will make sure the student is taking the necessary courses to meet the requirements for graduation; as well as an additional faculty member from the school of study who can speak specifically to the students successful transition into their chosen career.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Faculty

The faculty at the University of Phoenix-Houston Westside Campus are seasoned professionals who on average have over 10 years of experience in their chosen field. They bring real life experiences to their students and their lectures are based on a theoretical framework that can be applied to the lessons learned. The University of Phoenix values their faculty members and supports them in their teaching strategies. The University also has a monthly published publication written by many of the faculty members that details pertinent experience with their students, careers, and their relationships to the community at large.

Additional School Information

Since its inception, Phoenix has received many accolades for their contribution to higher education. The university has been recognized worldwide for their commitment to academic excellence.The council on Higher Education Accreditation recognized The University of Phoenix as one of the best Universities for providing quality in distance education. In addition, the university was recently selected for “Excellence” in undergraduate studies.

Bibliography

University of Phoenix – Houston Westside Campus. University of Phoenix – Houston Westside Campus Admissions. Web. 22 July 2011.
University of Phoenix – Houston Westside Campus. University of Phoenix – Houston Westside Campus Academics. Web. 22 July 2011.
University of Phoenix – Houston Westside Campus. University of Phoenix – Houston Westside Campus Faculty. Web. 22 July 2011.

University of Phoenix-Houston Campus