Dear suzannem,
Kaplan University, an educational institution accredited by the Higher
Learning Commission, offers a bachelor's degree that satisfies your
requirements.
Four years after opening its doors in Davenport with 200 students,
Kaplan College has graduated to become Kaplan University and
boasts an enrollment of 18,000 -- the vast majority of whom
never see its doors.
College officials announced Monday that Kaplan received formal
approval for the name change from The Higher Learning Commission
of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Quad-Cities: Kaplan declares university status
http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?t=Search&doc=/2004/09/28/stories/local/1036096.txt
The Association is one of six regional institutional accrediting
associations in the United States. Through its Commissions
it accredits, and thereby grants membership to educational
institutions in the nineteen-state North Central region.
Higher Learning Commission: About the Higher Learning Commission
http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/commission/
The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree is a four-year
program consisting of 180 credits, which break down as follows:
103 credits in computer science and programming;
32 credits in the humanities;
17 elective credits;
16 credits in mathematics;
7 credits in career-development strategies;
and 5 credits in economics.
I can tell you from personal experience that such a course composition
is perfectly typical of a four-year bachelor's degree in computer science.
Kaplan University: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
http://www.kaplan.edu/KU/schools/it/bsit/curriculum/default.aspx?Link=Curriculum&ProgramId=33309&MainTab=Program
Although the B.Sc. in IT is nominally a four-year program, it can be
completed in less time by virtue of Kaplan's flexible scheduling. Courses
are divided into weekly lessons that students can take at their own
pace. Thus, it is possible to complete more than one week's worth of
lessons in a single real-time week.
Kaplan University is a private institution owned by Kaplan Inc., a
longstanding and reputable academic-services company with whom I have
had some dealings in the past. Although I am not personally familiar
with this bachelor's degree and I know that Kaplan University itself
a relatively recent enterprise, I have faith in Kaplan as a company. I
believe that Kaplan University's programs are as good as those of any
other dedicated online university.
The chief drawback, as far I can see, is that completing Kaplan University
courses online is more expensive than the typical tuition fees at a state
college where students attend classes in person. The total cost of the
four-year program comes to $45,000, or $11,250 a year. In comparison,
the undergraduate tuition fees at Iowa State University are about $5,000
a year for Iowa residents (and about $15,000 a year for out-of-state
students). Kaplan University does not itself award financial aid to
its students, but the B.Sc. in IT does qualify for federal student-aid
programs.
Kaplan University: About KU
http://www.kaplan.edu/ku/aboutku/default.aspx?ID=About
Kaplan University: How Much Will It Cost?
http://www.kaplan.edu/ku/tutitionandfa/default.aspx?ID=Tuition
If you would rather take online courses from a more traditional
institution, you will be interested in Regis University, which was
established in Denver in 1877. Unlike Kaplan University, Regis provides
in-person courses on a conventional campus in addition to teaching the
same subject matter through online study.
Like Kaplan's offerings, the Regis University degree programs can be
completed in fewer than four years, although individual courses have a
less flexible timetable. Students may adjust the length of their degree
program to suit their own pace by choosing a lighter or heavier course
load in each academic period.
Regis University: Home
http://www.regis.edu/default.asp
Through Regis Online You Can:
* Take accelerated 8-week courses over the internet
* Read, study, and do research online
* Stay in touch with faculty and fellow students through Web-based
classrooms
* Participate in Class discussion and online exercises at any time
* Complete coursework from your home, at the office, or while
traveling, on a schedule that is convenient for you
* No campus residency requirements
With Regis Online, you receive the same high-quality education as
students who attend classes on campus. Classes are small, with 10 to
15 students. You receive individualized one-to-one advising from the
same distiguished faculty, and share the same curriculum. The important
difference is that you can learn when and where you choose.
Regis University: Undergraduate Adult Programs: Online Course Format
http://www.regis.edu/regis.asp?sctn=apg&p1=ua&p2=onl
The bachelor's degree in Computer Science consists almost exclusively of
computer-science courses, with three mathematics courses at the beginning
and only one required business-ethics course. Judging from the program
requirements, I would say that the Regis University degree in CS poses a
greater intellectual and technical challenge than the Kaplan University
bachelor's degree in IT.
Regis University: Undergraduate Adult Programs: Computer Science:
Program Requirements
http://www.regis.edu/regis.asp?sctn=apg&p1=ua&p2=cs&p3=mm
Regis University: Undergraduate Adult Programs: Computer Science:
Course Description
Tuition fees for the Regis B.Sc. in Computer Science amount to $43,520
for the entire four-year program, or $10,880 a year. This is slightly
less than the Kaplan tuition fees. Bear in mind, however, that most Regis
courses require students to purchase a textbook externally, whereas Kaplan
supplies all required course material online. Like Kaplan, Regis offers
no financial support, but the B.Sc. programs are of course eligible for
federal aid programs.
Regis University: Admissions: School for Professional Studies: Tuition
http://www.regis.edu/regis.asp?sctn=adm&p1=sps&p2=ug&p3=tf
Although Regis University courses offer somewhat less scheduling
flexibility than Kaplan, I think I would prefer the Regis B.Sc. based
on its more rigorous curriculum. On the other hand, Kaplan might be the
better choice if you're looking for more leeway. However you choose,
I wish you all the best in your future studies.
It has been a pleasant challenge to address this question on your
behalf. If you feel that any part of my answer is unclear or incorrect,
please advise me through a Clarification Request so that I have an
opportunity to fully meet your needs before you assign a rating.
Regards,
leapinglizard |
