Capella University (Graduate) Reviews
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Capella is a good school.
School recommended by
Brad Wyatt
on
July 21, 2009
17/20 people found this review helpful
I have been a student at Capella. I earned a Masters in Human Services and am finishing up another Masters in Psychology now. Both are considered different disciplines and have been pursued for different occupations.
Courses at Capella are rigorous. The education process is much harder than a traditional school because you must be highly disciplined to get assignments and weekly discussions completed on time. There are massive amounts of reading and research involved which contributes to your overall education.
Instructors are sticklers for proper APA formatting and content which prepares you for research and publication in the future.
Some have suggested that you can plagiarize here. Not a chance. Instructors would catch that right away and you will be disciplined for such actions. Not that I have had that problem but have heard of others that have.
You will improve your writing skills, your research skills and you will become a more critical reader through well planned programs.
Instructors will work with you if you have any problem and the course room format is a breeze to learn. Learner Support is slow about responding to emails. Phone contact is good however. Skype would be even better.
Learn More about Capella University (Graduate)Business/Accounting - BA
School not recommended by
AC
on
June 24, 2009
8/11 people found this review helpful
After having taken 5 courses so far at this online school I am considering a transferr. I love the school, the course room is simple and the website is awesome. But the instructors are often giving work that would be given to a student going there due all by the end of the week.
For example: my last class we had to read three chapters by Wed. so that by Thursday we could participate in the graded discussion and then by Friday having to submit the assignments so that you could get feedback by Sunday to which all the work was due and your quiz. I am a full time mom, wife, and employee. I go to work 8 hours a day, come home take care of the kids, by the time they are asleep whatever little time I have left before bed is usually when I get school work done so I can get to bed at a good hour. But to have to read three chapters *and they were long ones*, on top of submitting two graded discussions by Thursday, 2 graded assignments by Friday and 1 quiz by sunday of the same week was really difficult.
The plus side to this for me is that I don't have to go to an actual school because Lord knows I don't have time. But if the instructors could lay out a simplier schedule of work it would be nice. Not to mention more than half of the instructors I have had already are terrible and do not care much at all. My advisor is nice and is very helpful, oh and do not bring up politics in the course room, I had a teacher tell me I can't talk about it at all. A lot of BULL S*** if you ask me.
Capella is wonderful
School recommended by
Jessi
on
June 03, 2009
16/19 people found this review helpful
I attended Capella for 2 years and obtained my MS in Counseling Studies. I was very nervous about on-line school; however, the first course I experienced was a lab which taught me how to navigate the course room, respond to fellow learners, post discussions, and submit papers. The instructors were very helpful and the other learners were very engaging. I had some of the most intellectual conversations at Capella. \r\nWith the good comes the bad. Every quarter it seemed like I was assigned a new advisor and getting in touch with him or her was so very time consuming. Also, I have learning disabilities and even though I was part of the Learning Center I did not have an advisor through the center. So I was constantly going back and forth. \r\nI will end on a positive note. Capella was the best decision for me. I was able to work full-time and take my classes. It was very difficulty and stressful but all of my instructors and fellow learners were there for me anytime I needed. \r\nI am currently trying to get a part-time job with Capella. I would like to give new learners what was given to me; confidence, strength and the ability to complete my Master\'s degree without ever entering a traditional classroom.
Psychology Program
School not recommended by
Mark
on
May 26, 2009
35/43 people found this review helpful
Capella University appears to be a conspiracy between a very un motivated and underdeveloped student body (everybody gets in) and typically uninterested instructors. Often, a major complaint, instructors do not show up to classes for weeks You will find the classroom little more than the banter you can get a beauty parlor, plaigerism to be rampant and ignored, and the classes in no way preparing you for your fellow students from brick and mortart schools. This is not a field for online studey. Be smart, take the necessary prerequisites, go to a real brick and mortar school, and work hard. By the way Capella PH.D.'s are not welcome in Tennessee and Idado--expect more to come. By the way--I got a hands down 4.0.
My Capella Experience: You should be so lucky
School recommended by
Yolanda
on
March 04, 2009
29/48 people found this review helpful
I will say only that I am a proud Capella graduate. Having earned an MA from Siena Heights in 2002, I began Capella in the summer of 2003 working toward a PhD in Organizational Management. I (finally) graduated from Capella Dec. 2008 instead with an MS in Organizational Management. Where I went wrong in my doctoral studies truly have nothing to do with Capella so I am quite thankful that the Capella faculty/staff stood behind me for all those years! If they will allow me back, I will still earn my PhD from Capella.
Ph.D. from Capella
School recommended by
Anonymous
on
October 17, 2008
61/67 people found this review helpful
I was at a local traditional university before Capella. I have to say it was difficult at the traditional university as there was not a one on one feel and balancing it with work was nearly impossible. When I searched online schools and narrowed it down to Capella, I was skeptical at first. I found Capella to be very rigorous and challenging.
For one you cannot be passive in an online course as you are in a classroom and it required at least 20-25 hours per week of preparation and research. Every online interaction at Capella must be well thought out and backed up with peer reviewed research. It was tough! The comprehensive examination phase is quite similar to many traditional programs and as in traditional programs, many people not get to the next phase and do not graduate(ABD).
I realize that Capella is for profit so that means that they take in more students than a non-profit school . I think the blogs of complaints are from those who feel that because they paid for an education they should graduate, well dream on. Nevertheless, the poor students are weeded out but they do get a fair chance.
I assure you this is not for everyone. I repeat it this is not for everyone. My degree has already helped me gain a competitive teaching position and I am on a tenure track. So of course, examine all universities when searching and consider Capella, phoenix etc. you will find that many traditional universities are modeling schools like Capella but cannot get away from the liberal traditionalism and get rid of the walls.
I believe Capella is best for those who have a solid work history and experience and need an accredited degree for promotion.
Capella graduate 2008
Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior
School recommended by
Marcy
on
July 14, 2008
36/39 people found this review helpful
I am in the Ph.D. program for Organizational Behavior with an emphasis on Leadership. Thus far, the program has been challenging, I have mixed reviews on the instructors.
I would not necessarily say the instructors are good or bad, but I do believe being more attentive and more willing to provide scholarly feedback is appropriate. The school as a whole is being attacked for the delivery methods, which I am not entirely sure, is fair. I have taken online courses with tradition brick and mortar campuses and I earned my MBA from a brink and mortar campus that started in 1877, so it had a long and excellent history. However, even their delivery format online left a bit to be desired.
I think Capella does the best they can with the learning environment and the real question surrounding the school may not be the quality of education as much as the format (it seems other brick and mortar campuses are having similar difficulties). From my early experience with Capella, the education is fine, but I will need more time to evaluate it. In the meantime, you must decide for yourself and realize that just because websites are started by a person does not mean that reflects the majority of students, alumni, and prospective students.
In addition, one site, http://www.capellauniversity.org/ and its alternate name http://www.capellauniversitysucks.us/, should tell you a lot about the intelligence level of the creator. Any person who has to use this type of propaganda and language to relay a point suffers from their own handicap.
Finally, these sites claim to be responsive to all viewpoints, but thus far, they have failed to respond to my constructive questions. I suspect this is because they see things only one way, launching a smear campaign against the school, shutting out any other opinion or viewpoint in the process. I do not put up with this in politics and I will not in school. However, I digress, and I encourage you to do you OWN research and talk with graduates and alumni from any school you are considering before making a final decision.
MBA
School recommended by
Thyra
on
July 14, 2008
33/36 people found this review helpful
Capella's MBA program was a great choice for me. Being a frequent traveler in my job made it impossible to meet traditional classroom requirements, but I found Capella's schedule, though rigoruous, encompassed all the flexibility I needed to complete a graduate degree.
I specifically enjoyed the variety of professors teaching the various classes in the program, who came from top ranked universities across the nation. I found their teaching styles to be stimulating and thought-provoking - particularly the professor from Stanford.
The courses in the program that sealed my belief in Capella as the right choice for me, were the in-depth courses in business ethics and diversity. The final project was an amazing experience; designing a company or division of a company from scratch, including creation of presentations to potential investors or board, an intricate detailed business plan and financial spreadsheets.
The research required for this final piece of the program was amazingly rigorous and included many visits via the Capella link to the library at Johns Hopkins University. The 2-year course demanded hard work, but I found the challenges and learning from the courses and the interaction with other students extremely invigorating and enlightening. I've also used many of the techniques and processes gained from the program in my current career.
I would recommend the MBA program to anyone with a bit of writing skill, as well as a lot of self-motivation and personal discipline. I wouldn't change a thing about the program I encountered at Capella.
PhD, Educational Neuropsychology
School recommended by
Fontaine
on
July 09, 2008
42/45 people found this review helpful
I received my PhD from the School of Education last June. Previously, I'd dropped out of two other doctoral programs: one at the University of Maryland and the other at George Washington University (both respected schools. I lost interest in the problem I originally wanted to explore.) So, I have some basis of comparison in terms of program quality.
I found Capella to be every bit as good--actually, better--than either UMD or GWU. However, online schooling is quite different from a "brick and mortar" school and I was in a different place in my life that made attending classes in my bathrobe with no commuting or parking hassles the way to go.
I did have one "luxury" (for which I paid a hefty price--heart failure) that allowed me to replace a job with school (work disability). Most learners have a problem balancing school, family, work, community, etc. I only had to stop to play with the cats! (I plan to teach at an online university. My mind's fine--it's just my body that's cranky.)
My program within the School of Ed is called Professional Studies. What that means is that you are allowed to take courses outside of education. I choose psychology courses and ended up with a specialization in educational neuropsychology--a new and rather demanding interdisciplinary subject I find utterly fascinating. Capella provided me with the freedom and support to pursue an area outside the academic mainstream. I couldn't have been happier!
Personally, I suspect that name recognition only counts if you're the grad of an Ivy League school. I read dissertations from graduates of Harvard and have no doubt (nor did my committee) that mine was as good or better. And Capella prepared me to be able to say that honestly. (Loving my topic so much didn't hurt either. I think that's a key to motivation and success). I can't imagine receiving the kind of support and flexibility I did in either of the other doctoral programs I was in. My mentor was and still is one of the "angel people" in my life.
Bottom line, I had a wonderful experience with Capella and recommend it without hesitation. But as all things in life, you need to be proactive about getting what you need and letting folks at the school know what that is so they can help you achieve it. I would only add the caveat that I graduated a year ago and since then, Capella has changed some of their program requirements.
