What cannot be disputed is that online degree programs are gaining popularity with students. However, with this drastic change in the education system come many concerns. The most obvious one is how online degree programs compare with those offered at physical locations. Students are concerned as to how they will be rated compared with those gained at a traditional college campus.
The single most important issue is to ensure that the school you are going to work with has received proper accreditation. Avoid schools that are handing out diplomas with no accreditation attached; they are purely in it for the money and should be avoided at all costs. Generally speaking you only get what you pay for.
Look for colleges that offer the same degree programs online as they do at their traditional campuses. Some will require class attendance for certain projects and labs, whilst others will allow you to take the entire course online. Employers would be reassured to know that you had gained experience of working with others whilst still studying online. Some would even consider an online degree as a bonus in the more technical fields as this would suggest greater familiarity with computers and technology.
Frequently online schools require their teachers to have a Masters Degree or Doctorate in the subject they are teaching. This is good news for you because more highly trained teachers mean a better education, so look for lecturers with several years of experience in online training.
A common but misinformed view is that taking courses online requires less effort and commitment than an on-campus school. Certainly the student has greater flexibility in managing the workload, but usually they have to put in the same amount of study time and effort. And of course they only have themselves to rely upon for motivation, commitment and focus.
Another commonly held view is that students online do not get the experience of interacting with other students. However, colleges vary and some require attendance for labs and group projects, whilst others encourage study groups either in person or via email and chat rooms. And there are even specific websites for connecting distance-learning students to each other, which will then give you the possibility of meeting students world-wide.
When being interviewed for jobs you need to be aware that whilst employers may be familiar with online schools, they may only have a limited understanding of how they work and little knowledge of the quality of education you received. Be prepared and ready for questions and able to defend your schooling choice.
There are no guarantees in life, and so it is with an online degree; it will not automatically pave the way for a job. Some employers will consider it an asset, whilst others will still view it unfavourably compared with a traditional degree. Sound out business people in your desired career field to get their views and listen carefully to what they have to say. Finally, this is your choice and your decision, and having weighed up all the options only you can decide.
are online degrees as good as a degree from a campus college?
I would like to go back to college this fall. My problem is time, a few people I know are taking classes online. Will a degree from online be as good as one I get in a traditional college? How do employeers view an online degree?
Some of the schools are garnering more respectability and so more acceptance. I would check to see if good graduate school will admit students with a degree from an online school or if the credits are easily transferred to a traditional school. This will give you an indication of how they are viewed in the academic world.
But, if you are a young person going to college for the first time, there is a great deal that you will miss from attending classes on campus that can't be gained from an online school. It all depends on your paritcular situation. So, do what is best for you. Check to see about the credits transferring and how many of the graduates were accepted into respected graduate school. Also, call some the graduate schools admissions offices and see if they have accepted graduates of these schools.
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No! and don't ever try travelling to Europe with these degrees. They not worth the paper they written on. Most these so called on-line degrees courses are not even accredited.
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Be careful with the online colleges. Many of them are not accredited and without an accreditation the degrees from that school are all but worthless for any practical purpose.
If what you want to do is return to college research the programs you are interested in at traditional colleges. Many traditional institutions have recognized the need for online courses or even online programs, especially for adults that are returning to college or expanding their education. People in that situation need a flexible program that will allow them to either take classes at odd hours or take classes online. So with a little work you will find quite a few traditional, trustworthy institutions that offer online programs.
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Make sure the school is accredited by a regional accrediting body (if you're talking about a US school). If they don't list who verifies them, check them out, but be very suspicious.
It would probably be worthwhile getting one of John Bear's books on non-traditional schools.
Oh, and most online programs are harder and take more work than live classes if they are any good.
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John Bear
Not even close. An online degree is not as good as one from a four year college. If time is a factor, I would recommend a State College. They usually will offer night classes and it will be far more valuable and inexpensive than an online university. Plus online/trade schools are not properly accreditated. They say they are, but its from some bogus commitee.
Bottom line, save yourself the trouble and check into a "traditional university."
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I must respectfully disagree with some of the previous posters. I attend the University of Phoenix. It is a very respected school, it IS accredited, and I know has a lot of partnerships with major corporations. I work for a division of PepsiCo and work with many people who have attended or are attending the UoP.
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OK- yes, accreditation, and some online schools are more respected than your local community college. It's just as hard, but if you work full-time, this is a good choice.
One example is that the State u. of NY offers online AND campus degrees- it's still SUNY, respectable, however you did your exams.
Watch out for diploma mills- check accreditation through the department of ed (Middle states, southern states, etc.- see about.com for accreditation info).
Job prospects- consider getting a master's- that will up your salary if it's a professional degree (ie. counseling, social work, psychology, teacher ed, management, etc.)
Bucky, you just reminded me that I wanted to buy one of John B.'s books- they are fantastic and provide all the info. Thanks.
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Need extra classes, starting online in Sept.
Rafael V is quite correct. Most "online colleges" are not reputable.
However, many quite reputable private and state colleges offer courses online. They call it "distance education."
At the link below, you will find distance education programs offered through absolutely respectable and fully accredited universities like the University of Maryland, Penn State University, Indiana University, Iowa State University, New York University, University of California at Davis, and even Columbia University, Stanford University, and Cornell University.
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http://www.r1edu.org
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