Stratford’s courses are vocational--that is, they are intended to help students advance their careers. Many students use the courses to launch a new career or to move ahead in their current field.
The school offers nearly 60 courses in a wide variety of topics, including accounting, creative writing, early childhood education, psychology and social work, veterinary medicine, and wedding consulting. The courses are divided into general categories: business, computer technology, counseling/education, creative careers, legal, medical and vocational trades.
Stratford also offers a course leading to a high school diploma..
To enroll in Stratford, students can sign up online, send an enrollment form in via mail or contact a representative by phone. The school will mail out the first set of course materials within 24 to 48 hours of enrollment. No educational background is required for enrollment--only a “desire to learn and a willingness to succeed as a professional in your field of study,” according to the school.
Tuition for each course averages approximately $1,000, although the school was offering $300 off as of July 2010. The tuition fee covers textbooks, study guides, learning aids, exams, online tools, a personalized diploma and a toll-free phone number to reach instructors with questions.
The school requires a small down payment at enrollment, typically $10 or $20, and offers a no-interest monthly payment plan.
Distance learning offers an alternative to the traditional method of classroom teaching. Students can learn at their own pace and according to their own schedules.
At Stratford, students must complete exams periodically throughout a course. The tests are either taken online or taken at home and submitted by mail. Once the exams receive a passing grade, the school ships out the materials for the next module. Successful completion of a course results in a career diploma from Stratford.
Students can sign up for two courses at once, but the school “strongly recommends” that students only take one course at a time. Most courses are designed to take one year to complete, and Stratford expects students to complete a course within two years at the most.
Stratford Career Institute was founded in 1991 and boasts more than one million students enrolled. The school is privately owned. While it offers diplomas in its various fields of study, Stratford does not confer any degrees upon its students, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
The institute is a member of the United States Distance Learning Association, the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education and the International Council for Open and Distance Education.