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Capella University Expands Its Offerings of FlexPath Direct Assessment Online Degree ProgramsMINNEAPOLIS --(Business Wire)-- In August 2013, the U.S. Department of Education approved the innovative FlexPath direct assessment programs for Capella University (http://www.capella.edu), a regionally accredited online university* that offers online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their careers. This made Capella the first university to offer competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs that utilize an approved direct-assessment learning model as opposed to the traditional credit-hour standard. Approval from the Department of Education allows students enrolled in these programs to receive federal financial aid. The two Capella programs approved to operate under the FlexPath model are the Bachelor of Science in Business and the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Expanding on Capella's FlexPath offerings through its Bachelor of Science in Business and Master of Business Administration online degree programs, Capella is now offering three additional business specializations within those degrees:
"Programs like FlexPath, that measure the learning acquired instead of the time spent, represent an enormous opportunity for higher education," said Scott Kinney, president of Capella University (News - Alert). "Students are able to move through their degree program at a pace determined by their ability to learn and demonstrate competencies in real-world applications, rather than a pre-determined and uniform time designation. This has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of a college degree while maintaining the quality and integrity of the academic model." The FlexPath model provides a revolutionary step into more innovative approaches to higher education. It allows Capella to focus on learning outcomes rather than time spent learning. In an era of free and open content, this is an important innovation that will help drive down costs for students while still making Capella University instruction available for those who will benefit from a more traditional approach. Faculty remain at the heart of this model as they design the curriculum and assessments, as well as provide instruction through feedback and guidance for students working to demonstrate and master competencies. The true success of this innovative model depends on rigorously articulated and well-developed competencies. Capella has an extensive record of developing and offering curricula that are competency-based. As of Dec. 31, 2013, approximately 35,000 students were enrolled at Capella. A snapshot of Capella and what makes it unique is available through the university's infographic. The learning and career outcomes of Capella's students and alumni can be found at www.capellaresults.org. For expense, completion and outcome information, visit the following web pages:
About Capella University Visit the Capella Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CapellaUniversity. Follow Capella on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CapellaU.
*Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and
is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
(NCA), www.ncahlc.org.
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