The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and is an acknowledged leader in online learning that offers education equal to that of a traditional campus. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, all accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Distance learners can study at home but also supplement their studies by attending classes at one of the 200 University of Phoenix sites around the country. The introduction to philosophy course comprehensively covers the development of Western philosophy and its main branches, as well as looking at Eastern philosophical influences. Another course looks at philosophical methods of debate and the application of philosophical methods to real life situations.
The online division of Florida Institute of Technology, an accredited campus university, offers an associate's degree in liberal arts that includes studying aspects of philosophy that develop problem solving skills and critical thinking. As this course takes no more than 18 months to complete, this may be an ideal introductory course for anyone considering studying philosophy but who feels unsure if it is a suitable subject for them.
The University of Illinois online offers a bachelor's degree in philosophy. The course studies the core areas of analytic philosophy including philosophy of mind, ethics and political philosophy. It also gives students a grounding in the history of the subject and covers the main schools. Applicants need a minimum of 30 hours of credits at sophomore or freshman level and must have completed three hours of English composition. The university only takes 25 students each year with admissions in the fall and spring semesters.
One of the benefits of online learning is that students are not limited by geography, and students from all over the world take Pathways' courses. The Pathways School of Philosophy offers a philosophy degree and diploma from the University of London, one of Britain's top universities. The bachelor of arts degree is accredited by Birkbeck College, a traditional provider of degree studies for external students. The course content is identical to that offered to internal students attending London University, and is of a high academic standard. Pathways offers full tutorial support to any student taking this degree.