I like TUI's online format as it works very well for me. Each course is 12 weeks long containing 6 two-week modules. Modules 1-5 consist of a case study paper, a session-long project paper, and an asynchronous threaded discussion. Mod 6 is only one paper; a self-reflection essay about what you learned, concepts you found difficult, what area(s) you think you could have performed better, improvements you think would enhance the course, how you can measure your progress in the future, etc. There is no minimum/maximum word count; papers need to be at least 2-3 pages long not including the cover and reference pages, and must achieve the stated course objectives. Both papers are due every other Monday by midnight Pacific Time. All courses are set up this way, there are no surprises, and there is no group project work (AMEN!).
For the threaded discussion, a learner is required to make one post to answer the question(s) for the respective module (there is at least one question per module) and sometimes there is a requirement to respond to at least 1-2 of your fellow students' posts (this tends to vary by instructor/course). The instructors do not usually participate in these discussions; it's generally just the learners enrolled in the course.
I love the fact there are no expensive books to buy; everything you need is downloaded from their site. This makes it very convenient when traveling for one's job as course materials can be accessed from anywhere there is a WiFi available.
Besides the course format, other things I like about TUI include my academic advisor, who is always very prompt in answering my questions and she gets things done in very short order. The Registrar is also prompt. Financial Aid is somewhat slower to respond, but I think that's due to the sheer volume of calls and inquiries they receive, which has been the case at every school I have attended. And the tuition is much more affordable compared to other schools I considered.
I have taken online courses at other universities throughout the past ten years, including brick and mortars that offer online courses, and TUI has by far been the best format for me, but it's not for everyone.
I would only recommend TUI for those who are strong self-directed, independent learners who can read through each module's requirements, do the research to answer the case study questions, and then write the papers with little if any communication with the instructor -- TUI will probably be a very good fit for you... although some learners may dislike the lack of instructor-initiated interaction and it's possible that you may start to feel like you're in vacuum at times as you are pretty much on your own, but the instructors are just an email or a call away if you need them. I happen to like the on-your-own aspect as I greatly prefer working alone without interference, and I absolutely loathe group work and avoid it at all costs.
I would not recommend TUI for those who need a lot of attention and instructor support; in fact, online learning as a whole is probably not a good fit for you at all.
Name: Evan
Post On: December 19, 2009
Grade: A
Great school. Challenging. Hard Work. All Doctorate Staff. WASC accredited. Staff is supportive.
Name: Tom
Post On: September 27, 2009
Grade: A
TUI is a great school with a flexible staff. I currently work full time; I take 2 courses at a time and still have time for my family. This is a great program with the best accreditation.
