CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The University of Phoenix expects to open a branch campus here, offering a bachelor's degree in business management and master's degrees in business and education.

Classes are scheduled to begin the week of Aug. 23, although the school is still seeking 4,500 square feet of space.

The programs will be offered through a combination of traditional classroom teaching and online instruction.

For the bachelor's program, for example, students would attend a traditional class about one night a month while all other instruction would be offered online, according to Veronica Pedersen, director of the Cheyenne campus.

"We're designed to be convenient for working adults to complete their degrees," she said.

The average student would take two to three years to earn a bachelor's degree and up to two years for a master's degree.

Pedersen said about 600 students in Wyoming are already enrolled in online classes through the University of Phoenix.

The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. With 201,381 students, it is the largest private accredited university in North America.

AP-WS-05-30-04 1311EDT