Online learning has become ubiquitous in today’s education market. As a result, it can be difficult to sift through the seemingly countless options for pursuing online degrees. That’s why it is so important to dig a little deeper to unearth the finer details of a school’s online learning experience and find the one that meets your needs. When you do, you will discover that Ottawa University offers a number of unique benefits of online learning that set it apart from the one-size-fits-all online programs of many other universities.
Customized Online Courses
With the significant growth of online learning, a tempting trend for many universities has been to simply adapt face-to-face classes and offer them online. Ottawa University (OU) realizes that is a disservice to students, as the two present very different learning opportunities and obstacles. Instead, OU utilizes expert instructional designers who work with faculty to create online courses that offer diversity in how material is presented and assessed. This customized approach maximizes online learning success, as well as student engagement. “What we know from research is that effective online learning results from careful instructional design and planning, using a systematic model for design and development.” (er.educause.edu; The Difference Between Emergency Remote Teaching and Online Learning; March 27, 2020)
Flexibile Learning Schedule
When you learn online at Ottawa University, your campus is wherever you need it to be – at home, your office or a coffee shop. And to help you balance work, family, and community responsibilities, Ottawa University gives you access to your degree program lectures and coursework 24/7 so you can work on your courses at the times that are convenient for you.
In addition to a flexible schedule, Ottawa University understands that consistency of the education experience is also important. That’s why all of its eight-week online courses are designed to have the same start/end dates and course schedules, with discussion posts typically due on Wednesday, and responses and assignments due on Sunday. So, whether you are taking one course or three, you know the experience will be the same.
Relevant Degree Programs Grounded in the Liberal Arts
OU offers a wide range of online undergraduate and graduate degrees that are relevant in today’s ever-changing career landscape, from Business Economics, Elementary Education and Nursing to Public Safety, Human Resources and Addiction Counseling, to name a few. As a private non-profit university with a 155-year history, Ottawa University delivers an academic experience that has a Christian-focused learning tradition rooted in the liberal arts. The experience provides growth for the total person and equips you to make a lifelong impact in the communities where you live and work. For many students, one of the school’s greatest benefits is its atmosphere of free and open inquiry into all aspects of knowledge, with an emphasis on teaching you how to think, not what to think. Employers are looking for such critical thinking skills in a marketplace that is changing at warp speed.
Student-Centered Courses and Support
Ottawa University’s number one motivation is student success. To that end, it offers smaller class sizes for more direct interaction and feedback from faculty. OU also understands the demands on your time as an adult learner, so it does not require any outside study groups as part of coursework.
Ottawa University also offers caring, student-centered support throughout your online learning experience. It starts with a student success team that consists of enrollment, academic, and financial advisors who are uniquely qualified to advise you on your college admissions requirements, academic progress, and financial assistance. Online students also have access to the SmartMeasure Online Learning Readiness Indicator that determines your strengths and weaknesses with regard to online learning. Once enrolled, you can utilize OU’s 24/7 help desk, the student portal with real-time access to student services, and online tutoring services using NetTutor. Most importantly, faculty and advisors are committed to providing personal assistance to help you achieve your goals.
Affordable Tuition
Ottawa University’s online tuition is on par with other private institutions nationwide, which is currently around $12,000 per year for an undergraduate program. However, OU offers several benefits that can help reduce your tuition costs, often setting it apart as more affordable than other online universities. One of those benefits is a generous credit transfer policy from prior college credit, military service, credit by examination, and national registry/certification. Ottawa University holds articulation agreements with more than 50 community and technical colleges, making it even easier to reduce costs by ensuring courses are compatible and credits are transferrable. Many of the articulation agreements also include reduced tuition rates.
Accredited University
100% of Ottawa University’s online education degrees are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Faculty members are student-centered, subject experts with real-world experience who facilitate your education and recognize that you bring a wealth of experience from your personal and professional lives to the rigors of the classroom. Discussions often include practical application of theory to situations you are currently experiencing in the workplace. But it’s not a walk in the park.
Brent earned both his BA and MA in HR from Ottawa University: “I happened to work at a local university as well at the time, and although my education would have been a free benefit for me where I worked, I still preferred to study at Ottawa because of the high quality of the education. Sorry to disappoint some folks, but this is not a diploma mill; you will work hard for the degree! Worth the money and time for a great education."
Brent is not the only one impressed with the benefits of the Ottawa University online education experience. In fact, students like OU online learning so much that the University was recently ranked in the Top 100 “Best Online Universities” by the Online Education Database.
If you still aren’t sure that an online degree program is right for you, another unique benefit of OU’s programming is the opportunity to sample an online class first-hand as a guest through its Blackboard learning platform. There’s even a professor available to respond to your questions via email. The only question to ask now is, “What have you got to lose?”
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