Penn Foster College
Overview
Formerly known as the International Correspondence School, Penn Foster College is a popular and renowned post-secondary distance education institution. As the world’s leader in at-home education, Penn Foster has kept its tradition of academic excellence for over 100 years. The College provides potential students with a choice of 20 Associate Degrees. The programs are designed to give students the skills they need for a career in today’s fastest growing employment fields. The method of study depends on student preference. Students have the option to study online, in print, or an arrangement of both.
History
In 1890, a newspaperman by the name of Thomas J. Foster realized that working adults needed a more convenient way to learn advanced skills. He developed the distance-learning method as a way of helping coal miners become mine superintendents and foremen. The school quickly became a success. More than a quarter of a million students enrolled in its first decade. By 1945, 5,000,000 students had enrolled in Penn Foster programs. The College was established in 1977 by ICS and was known as The Center for Degree Studies which was located and operated from Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 2006, it was renamed Penn Foster College and relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona.
Academics
Penn Foster College offers Associate Degrees that employers look for. Penn Foster offers degree programs designed to give students a competitive edge when seeking a job or applying for a promotion.
The Penn Foster College is designed to meet the needs of today’s busy students. Once students are enrolled in an Associate Degree program, all of the learning materials and supplies will be shipped directly to them. As well, students can login through the Penn Foster College website. All courses are designed for independent study. However, if a student has any questions or concerns, there is an instructional support hotline where Faculty will provide support. Students can also contact their instructors by e-mail or regular mail.
At the end of each lesson students are required to take an exam. Exams can be completed online or by mail. As soon as students pass the exam, they move to the next lesson. New course material will follow as exams are completed. A proctored final exam is required at the end of each semester.
Students must pass all courses and achieve a cumulative Quality Point Average (QPA) of 2.0 or higher in all studies to graduate and earn their Associate Degree.
Associate Degree Programs
Accounting courses include: Financial, Managerial and Cost Accounting, Mathematics for Business and Finance, Principles of Management, and Financial Management.
Business Management courses include: Mathematics for Business and Finance, Business Communications, Principles of Management, and Business Law.
Civil Engineering Technology courses include: Technology Orientation and Technical Mathematics, Engineering Mechanics and Land Surveying, Engineering Materials and Technical Writing, and Highway Construction and Design.
Computer Information Systems courses include: PC Applications and Web Development, Network Protocols and Internetworking, Database Technology, Systems Analysis and Design, and Java™ Programming and Visual Basic® .NET.
Criminal Justice courses include: The workings of the courts and criminal justice system, Police management and law enforcement, Police studies and psychology, Security and crime prevention, the juvenile justice system.
Early Childhood Education courses include: Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education, English Composition and Computer Literacy, Child Psychology, Language and Literacy Development in Young Children, and Curriculum for Early Childhood Education.
Electrical Engineering Technology courses include: Fundamentals of Electricity, Electrical/Electronic Measurement and Instruments, and Electric Motors and Controls.
Electronics Technology courses include: Fundamentals of Electronics, Electrical/Electronic Measurement and Instruments, Circuits and Components Testing, and Applications of Industrial Electronics.
Finance courses include: Financial Management, Accounting, Principles of Management, and Business Law.
Graphic Design courses include: Graphic Design Theory and Practice, Format and Design, Electronic Publishing, Corporate Design, Streaming Technology, Multimedia Development, and Animation, and Portfolio Development.
Health Information Technology courses include: Medical terminology, Anatomy and physiology, Law and ethics in medicine, Medical coding, and much more.
Hospitality Management courses include: Introduction to the Hospitality Business and Basics of the Catering Business, Principles of Management and Hospitality Engineering Systems, Beverage Operations and Hospitality Purchasing and Storage, and Hospitality Marketing and Advertising, and Hospitality Law and Insurance.
Human Resources Management courses include: Employee benefits, Compensation management, Labor relations, Interpersonal communications, and Business and technical writing.
Industrial Engineering Technology courses include: Manufacturing Processes and Engineering Materials, Physical Science and Technical Mathematics, Quality Control Systems and Technical Writing, and Operational Analysis and Industrial Safety.
Marketing courses include: Principles of Management and Mathematics for Business and Finance, Principles of Marketing and Financial Accounting, Advertising Principles and Business Statistics, and Marketing Research and Business Law.
Mechanical Engineering Technology courses include: Technology Orientation and Technical Mathematics, Engineering Mechanics and Mechanical Design, Fluid Mechanics and Technical Writing, and Drafting.
Medical Assistant courses include: Law and Ethics in Medicine, Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Coding, Confidentiality of Health Information, Clinical Procedures Theory, and much more.
Paralegal Studies courses include: Legal Terminology and Thinking Skills, Interpersonal Communications and Ethics, Legal Writing and Research, Civil and Criminal Litigation, and Family Law, Real Estate Law, Wills and Estates.
PC Maintenance Technology courses include: Installing, troubleshooting, and operating software and hardware, performing maintenance tasks on computers and networks, working with notebooks, laptops, and PDAs, working with Internet applications and Internet security, learning programming in CGI/Perl and Java™ and advanced database technology.
Veterinary Technician courses include: Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Mathematics, Veterinary Office Management, and Animal Nutrition, Reproduction, Genetics, and Aging.
Graduation
Upon completion of all the required courses, students will receive a diploma from Penn Foster College.
Financial Aid
Tuition Reimbursement: All Penn Foster programs are affiliated with DANTES, which qualifies U.S. military personnel for tuition reimbursement.
Military Education Benefits: Many Penn Foster programs are approved for U.S. Armed Forces veteran’s education benefits. Reservists may also qualify for veterans education benefits.
Tuition and Fees
If you would like to learn more about tuition and fees, please fill out the following form and you will be provided with detailed information about the costs and fees associated with attending Penn Foster College.
