I attend American Public University (AMU) and I really like it. I've already earned a AA General Studies and am now 8 classes from my BA in General Studies. The reason I chose General Studies is because I like learning from the various disciplines. Over the past few years I have learned so much. The courses have been challenging in a good way because I have been pushed to learn things I otherwise haven’t been interested in learning more about. Since I am in the military the price is right and since the school is online it is also a perfect fit so I can juggle the military with earning a degree.
They don't really teach here. It's more appropriate to call the instructors "Graders." I've been disappointed with the responses and lack of responsiveness from the instructors and staff in general. I'm an A student, but my grader's responses to questions for clarification include referring me to Wikipedia and the responses are only a few sentences at most. Then instructors make excuses about why their grades may be a few weeks late ("don't have the time because of kids at home, have to go to the gym, have to take my kids to festivals, I teach 3 classes," etc.). First, they're not teaching. They grade. You're teaching if you explain concepts. You don't teach when you just log in and grade work. As a paying student, I expect thoughtful, thorough responses and timely grading. Typically, instructors log in 1-2 times week at most to make a few comments to make it seem like they are being active. One instructor did not even know her own assignments when we asked her. Apparently another teacher set up the classroom and assignments. Unbelievable! Several of us students got together to figure out assignments on our own since we got no response from the grader for almost a week. Complete book chapters weren't properly provided so that we could do assignments either. Otherwise, the online technology is good and the tuition cost is low. It really concerns me when students make more of an effort than the instructors. Instructors also do not follow the school's own citation and plagiarism policy. They will copy and paste from books, online resources and even students' work and not even cite! They should be role models! Instructors have also taken points of here and there for no reason that they can't even remember or justify! Be sure to double-check your grades and ask about points taken off randomly. I dropped several courses because the instructor barely participated the first week of classes. However, since I am almost done with my degree, I will stick it out. I wished the school would monitor these instructors more closely because most of them seem to only take the job so that they can have an easy job and work from home. Too bad because this school has the potential to be better.
The entire process was very easy, from application through beginning the first class to the finish. The courses were rigorous - this is no walk in the park. But it is valid and very real. The professors were the best. The tuition rate is among the lowest in the online marketplace and this is very easily the most military- and veteran-friendly university system in the country, something that matters to me. The book grants, the financial aid process, the interaction with other students and the professors, and the quality of the delivery are all first rate. Excellent program.
I would like to give American Public University an A+, but it's not an option. I'm a full-time single dad of three school age children, and being able to go back to school to finish my BA in English Literature is a gift. No other, online institution offered a BA in English when I looked, and I'm about to finish in December 2012, graduating in February 2013. Online education in general is ideal for me, and APUS has made it possible for me to be successful across the board. I'm shooting for dean's list in my final semester, but I have a 3.54 right now. I blame my kids, lol. And being a veteran, it really attracted me that so many students were either in the military or were vets or dependents themselves. I recommend APUS to anyone seeking online degrees or certificates. It's worked for me.
Online philosophy classes are not long enough to really engage the subject or else they lack the lectures needed to really facilitate the lesson material.
This Philosophy program is excellent.
It steps thru the western philosophical tradition from the preSocratics thru the present. Not a heavily analytic program, but rather provides exposure to the various philosophical traditions.
Logic and Ethics are included as well, including a concentration in ethics if so desired.
I love the school and program. The programs are laid out and their "My Academic Plan" section is like having a 24/7 academic adviser with you. I am free to gear my sociology degree in the direction that I would like it to go into. It can be a broad overview of sociology, cultural, child and adolescent, family, or female. I love it. It is also the most reasonable private programs out there. We are getting a huge bargain!
I am in my 3rd semester and it has been great so far. Just like any other school there are professors which you like or dislike. Each professor teaches differently and has different expectations. My advise is to ask lots of questions and arrange your assignment schedule to ensure you are successful in each class. So far the courses have been great. I have been able to take both general education courses, major courses and electives.
Name: pagg
Post On: September 28, 2010
Grade: A-
This is the second online school I have attended. I like the classes and feel like I am learning the material. However, as a financial aid student I have to take two classes at a time, rather than staggering my classes like the military students usually do. It is hard to know which two classes to take. Some classes have much more work than others, and if you end up taking two of those classes together, it is almost impossible to do. However, that is the only downfall. The teachers are great and very easy to communicate with. Assignments are usually graded by the next morning. The material is interesting and they have some classes, like Psychology of Combat and Psychology of Disasters, that I have not seen offered anywhere else. The books for undergraduate are provided on a grant.
