Trump opens online school

It was only a matter of time before real-estate mogul Donald Trump entered the world of higher education.

On Monday, Trump, who holds a degree from the Wharton School, formally launched Trump University, an online, for-profit business school that will offer six- to eight-hour classes in various business subjects. The first three classes, which could begin as early as today, will be in real estate, entrepreneurship and marketing. Eventually, Trump University plans to expand into more nontraditional subjects, like communication and leadership.

According to Trump University's Web site, courses will take a "learn by doing" approach to business education, putting students in imaginary real-world situations and having them work out the best course of action.

President and co-founder Michael Sexton said in a statement that "we are redefining the way education is delivered and consumed by offering a practical, outcome-oriented curriculum that blends the best of a traditional business education with the most critical real-world training."

Trump University will not offer business degrees or college credits and is not an accredited business school. According to Trump, though, that's not what he's after. "People are looking beyond the traditional business education model," he said. "Our aim is to give people the skills and knowledge they need to achieve success."

Classes at Trump University will start at $300 and feature video lectures by faculty from business schools as distinguished as Columbia Business School of Business and Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. Faculty members will monitor message boards, and even Trump himself will be available for occasional online seminars and a Q&A; feature called "Ask Mr. Trump."

Trump University's Web site already offers several of Trump's books and training videos, as well as logo-bearing shirts and baseball caps.

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