Strayer University Online

Highlights

• Online program arm of Strayer University
• More than 25,000 online students from worldwide locations
• Online courses first taught in 1997
• Accreditation with Middle States Commission on Higher Education, one of the U.S.'s six regional accreditation agencies

About the School

Strayer University Online is an integral part of Strayer University, a large higher education system with over 50 U.S. campuses and founded in 1892. Strayer University Online offers degree programs via the Internet in business, education, information systems, and public administration. The university's focus is on practical undergraduate and graduate education for working adults who are seeking career advancement. Approximately 70% of all Strayer students take at least one course online.

Academic Programs

The University is organized around several schools, each with many degree program options. These include:

• School of Business – Strayer's Business School seeks to ready students for management in dynamic business settings by teaching critical management, communication, and analysis skills. The school's coursework covers economics, human behavior, business ethics, finance, accounting, information systems, decision analysis, and business operations.
• School of Information Systems – The school targets working IT professionals and those readying themselves for entry level positions. Programs emphasize the interrelationships between information systems and computer technologies. Topics of study include: software development, database design and development, Web development, IT networking, systems security, information systems, and more.
• School of Arts and Sciences – This school gives students the opportunity to customize their curriculum to fit their interests and goals through its General Studies program. Students can select from a wide mix of courses in economics, English, foreign languages, history, humanities, mathematics, political science, psychology, and sociology. The school's Master of Education degree facilitates new opportunities for those in education, training, human resources, and career development fields. The Master of Public Administration degree helps students move their careers forward in government and non-profit organizations. The Master of Health Services Administration program helps students take on new leadership roles in such health services organizations as hospitals, medical facilities, nursing care facilities, and social service agencies.

Learning Options

Strayer University Online offers the flexibility of taking online Web courses in real-time with the instructor and classmates (synchronous classes) or at any time of day or night (asynchronous classes). It all happens over the Internet using free software. The school has online support to help with technical issues.

With synchronous online courses teachers and students meet at the same time every week, just like with on-campus classes. Synchronous courses are typically held evenings and weekends. During these classes the professor speaks live and interacts with an “online blackboard” that shows presentation materials and notes. Students can ask questions and communicate with the professor and classmates in real time. Strayer began its online synchronous programs in 1997.

Asynchronous classes are available on-demand 24 hours a day and every day of the week. Students have access to recorded lectures, videos, and other materials. Students can also interact with peers with real-time chats. Strayer launched online asynchronous classes in 2001 and reports that participation in these has grown rapidly.

With either style of online classes professors are available via email and phone during designated hours. All Strayer students have access to online tutoring for base-level courses

As both an online and onsite campus institution Strayer University students have the option of taking all their courses online or blending them with on-campus classes. The school structures the online and onsite courses to be of comparable levels of comprehensiveness and challenge.

Faculty

The University hires faculty who have the necessary academic credentials, professional experience, and motivation to teach working adults. Strayer limits the number of courses taught by professors each quarter and annually to help ensure their focus on teaching. Each full-time professor is scheduled weekly to be available for eight hours of student counseling and support. Faculty is encouraged to strengthen their credentials through Strayer's reimbursement of their advanced degree studies.

Student Life

Most Strayer University Online students are employed and are completing their degrees at a part-time pace. Typically they are pursuing a first college degree with a goal of career advancement.

The student population is diverse; it includes students from abroad, a strong mix of ethnic backgrounds and genders, and military personnel.

While Strayer recognizes that most of its students are current employed it also recognizes the importance of career services for helping students achieve their individual career goals. The University supports both current students and alumni with job placement and career planning. Strayer's career services staff conducts quarterly workshops on career topics including those related to resumes, interviewing, and employment searches. The staff also aggregates job listings and sets up on-campus interviews. Twice a year on-campus career fairs introduce students and alumni to hiring companies and government agencies.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Admission criteria varies by program and takes into account an individual's unique qualifications. As a minimum, undergraduate candidates need a high school diploma or equivalent. Graduate program candidates need at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. International student candidates must meet these same requirements as well as show adequate command of the English language for college-level studies.

Financing of a Strayer University Online education can draw upon a variety of sources. Strayer's Business Office is available to help students understand these options and their education costs. The majority of Strayer students receive some type of financial assistance. Many students take out bank loans with the partial backing of government-guaranteed loans. Other sources include employer reimbursements, tax credits and deductions, scholarships, grants, and assistance programs from U.S. Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense, state governments, and private organizations.