The American Education System
Overview
If you’ve never studied at an American University, you probably have some questions—we've got you covered. Learning about how the American education system works and the unique terminology is a great way to start preparing to join UoPeople. Discover why an American education is considered high-quality and what you can expect when you study with us.
If you’ve never studied at an American University, you probably have some questions—we've got you covered. Learning about how the American education system works and the unique terminology is a great way to start preparing to join UoPeople. Discover why an American education is considered high-quality and what you can expect when you study with us.
Quality You Can Trust
As an American university, UoPeople is recognized by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. UoPeople adheres to all DEAC Standards and Code of Ethics. University of the People has also been recognized as a Candidate for Accreditation by WASC Senior College and University Commission. Learn more about our Accreditation here.
Our programs and curriculums have been carefully crafted by industry leaders and world renowned academics to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge you need for real world success. Our academic leaders come from such well-known institutions as NYU, Princeton, Harvard, and more. Learn more about our Academic Leadership here.
As an American university, UoPeople is recognized by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. UoPeople adheres to all DEAC Standards and Code of Ethics. University of the People has also been recognized as a Candidate for Accreditation by WASC Senior College and University Commission. Learn more about our Accreditation here.
Our programs and curriculums have been carefully crafted by industry leaders and world renowned academics to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge you need for real world success. Our academic leaders come from such well-known institutions as NYU, Princeton, Harvard, and more. Learn more about our Academic Leadership here.
Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s: What’s the Difference?
We know that everyone may not be familiar with the most common American degree types. What differentiates an Associate’s from a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree? Read on to find out.
Associate’s degrees generally take less time to complete than a Bachelor’s, and provide a foundation of general education and a few specialized courses. At UoPeople, we offer Associate’s in Business, Computer Science, and Health Science. Some students choose to complete an Associate’s degree first, then transfer their credits toward a Bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor’s degrees are the most common degree awarded in the U.S. They take longer to complete than Associate’s, and offer a more in-depth study of a specific field. A Bachelor’s degree is required before studying toward a Master’s Degree. At UoPeople, we offer Bachelor’s in Business, Computer Science, and Health Science.
Master’s degrees are useful for people who want to become experts in their field, and are completed after first earning a Bachelor’s degree. They generally take less time to complete than a Bachelor’s, because they include only high-level courses without general education requirements. At UoPeople, we offer a Master’s in Business Administration, Information Technology, and Education.
Associate’s degrees generally take less time to complete than a Bachelor’s, and provide a foundation of general education and a few specialized courses. At UoPeople, we offer Associate’s in Business, Computer Science, and Health Science. Some students choose to complete an Associate’s degree first, then transfer their credits toward a Bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor’s degrees are the most common degree awarded in the U.S. They take longer to complete than Associate’s, and offer a more in-depth study of a specific field. A Bachelor’s degree is required before studying toward a Master’s Degree. At UoPeople, we offer Bachelor’s in Business, Computer Science, and Health Science.
Master’s degrees are useful for people who want to become experts in their field, and are completed after first earning a Bachelor’s degree. They generally take less time to complete than a Bachelor’s, because they include only high-level courses without general education requirements. At UoPeople, we offer a Master’s in Business Administration, Information Technology, and Education.
Who are Deans, Instructors and Advisors?
Understand the difference between Deans, Instructors, and Advisors as well as the important roles they have at UoPeople.
Our Deans are prominent academics who provide leadership and guidance to ensure UoPeople offers the highest quality degree programs. Each Dean is responsible for a specific academic area in which they are an expert: Business, Computer Science, Health Science, or Education. Each of our Deans oversees the academic programs in their area.
Our instructors come from a wide range of backgrounds, from retired university professors to industry experts. They’re responsible for teaching our courses—crafting the syllabus, posting assignments, and providing feedback on student work. Their vast knowledge is key to providing our students with the know-how they need to become leaders in their fields.
Every UoPeople student is assigned a supportive Program Advisor that sticks with them all the way until graduation. Advisors provide guidance and advice to students in need and are there to answer questions about registration, graduation requirements, or any issues that arise.
UoPeople does not tolerate plagiarism of any kind. It’s important that you submit your original work. To ensure academic honesty and better serve its rapidly growing student body, UoPeople has chosen to combat plagiarism with a multi-faceted approach. This includes not only Unicheck’s unique technology, but also the provision of new tools for student education and awareness, and a dedicated academic oversight board to review and handle all instances of plagiarism. While plagiarism is a major issue for every higher education institution, UoPeople is equipped with Unicheck technology that aims to eliminate the phenomena from its education experience entirely.
Your grade point average (GPA) is an indication of academic achievement over time. GPA is the calculated average of all a student’s grades, and is presented in the form of a number from 0.0 (lowest) to 4.0 (highest). Some universities require a minimum GPA for admission, but that’s not a UoPeople requirement. Check out the UoPeople Catalog for more information, including a complete UoPeople grading scale.
Our Deans are prominent academics who provide leadership and guidance to ensure UoPeople offers the highest quality degree programs. Each Dean is responsible for a specific academic area in which they are an expert: Business, Computer Science, Health Science, or Education. Each of our Deans oversees the academic programs in their area.
Our instructors come from a wide range of backgrounds, from retired university professors to industry experts. They’re responsible for teaching our courses—crafting the syllabus, posting assignments, and providing feedback on student work. Their vast knowledge is key to providing our students with the know-how they need to become leaders in their fields.
Every UoPeople student is assigned a supportive Program Advisor that sticks with them all the way until graduation. Advisors provide guidance and advice to students in need and are there to answer questions about registration, graduation requirements, or any issues that arise.
UoPeople does not tolerate plagiarism of any kind. It’s important that you submit your original work. To ensure academic honesty and better serve its rapidly growing student body, UoPeople has chosen to combat plagiarism with a multi-faceted approach. This includes not only Unicheck’s unique technology, but also the provision of new tools for student education and awareness, and a dedicated academic oversight board to review and handle all instances of plagiarism. While plagiarism is a major issue for every higher education institution, UoPeople is equipped with Unicheck technology that aims to eliminate the phenomena from its education experience entirely.
Your grade point average (GPA) is an indication of academic achievement over time. GPA is the calculated average of all a student’s grades, and is presented in the form of a number from 0.0 (lowest) to 4.0 (highest). Some universities require a minimum GPA for admission, but that’s not a UoPeople requirement. Check out the UoPeople Catalog for more information, including a complete UoPeople grading scale.
Build a better future for yourself and your family.
