How efficient are Online degrees?
831662
Online degree programs are great for being efficient. You can usually work more at your own pace and are not dependent on being at a specific location. This saves you a lot of time and makes it easier for you to keep working while being in school.  Also, many schools handle assignments, notes, discussions, and quizzes over the web. This means that you can work and participate anywhere with an Internet connection, and turn in your assignments at any time of the day.\n\nThere are many benefits to get a degree online vs. in a traditional classroom setting. Here's a site with a lot more great information on some quality online schools and programs:\n\nhttp://www.college-scholarship-hound.com/index.php?t=onlineschools\n\nGood luck to you in your search!
344814
You can't get one totally on line...they want to meet you face-to-face at least a few times during your coursework, and you have to do practicums and your practice teaching at a school site. However, many universities offer a substantial portion of their textbook-type coursework online. Check with one near you, or look at one like the University of Phoenix...but be careful to be sure the ones you look at are legit. You don't want a "degree" that's useless when you go to get hired!
39251
I recently received my Master's Degree through Walden University. It is a completely online program. You read textbooks and articles, watch DVD's by the authors of the books and teachers of prestigious schools, write answers on an online bulletin board, and write a weekly paper or two of only a couple pages each. The best part of the program is that you use the knowledge immediately in the classroom. The students benefit. You benefit. And then, when you are all done, you get paid more. I also found it to be one of the least expensive programs that I researched. Definitely check this out. Very current theories and practices.
887533
Both my husband and I did AIU online and it was so easy.  It was 100% online and depending on what major you were in you either had 1 or 2 classes every 5 weeks, with some breaks.  I lvoed it!!!  Good luck!
350073
I have to disagree with some of the preceding comments.  I took courses online from UoP until I could no longer afford them, and then I transferred to a public university (from which I am graduating in 9 days).  The UoP curriculum for my area of study was much better than that of the public university.  Of course, that experience may be due to the major itself (Information Technology).  I can't swear to what other programs are like.  So, like everything else, your mileage may vary.
980720
Let me begin by offering this warning--BE VERY CAREFUL!!  Yes, there are some online colleges that are legitimate; and there are others that are nothing more than degree mills. It is very important to recognize that all of these colleges are private institutions and are usually for-profit. That makes a huge difference when it comes time to validate your degree to either your employer or to another college.\n\nThere are several factors that you must consider.  First, what exactly do you want to accomplish with your degree. If the answer is personal satisfaction or perhaps a raise or promotion at work, then online may be the way to go. However, if you are looking to advance yourself with a master's or doctorate degree, like I am doing, then online may not be a viable route. For example, there are at least three online law schools--none of which are accredited by the American Bar Association. Without ABA accreditation, you cannot practice in Florida, which is where I live. So, online is not a viable option for me. \n\nSecond are the cost considerations. Online schools are typically outrageously expensive.  And there is no benefit to paying that additional fee. \n\nIf you are interested in obtaining your degree online, start with your local community college. Most community colleges are facing a funding crisis that prohibits them from building additional classrooms. As a result, many have turned to online versions of thei9r classes. They carry full college credit (make sure that they are regionally accredited) and the cost involved are quite reasonable--in some cases as low as $30 per credit hour.  \n\nI would try this route first and see if it will allow you to achieve your goals. Good luck!!
346811
In my opinion, online education is only suitable for those who are very self-disciplined. It is very easy to fall-behind and then eventually become swamped, where there is no return.
662620
Depends on the school you end up attending. Now a days there are plenty of traditional schools that have online degree programs. The degree that you would get from those schools are the same as the campus degree. Schools with good reputations like Drexel University, University of Maryland, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of Baltimore....etc all have online degree programs that you can attend. Schools like university of phoenix I would stay away from.
268198
AIU Online (American InterContinental University) has a really good accreditated 100% online BA program. I am a student there in the BA program and I graduate in a couple of months! I also work there as an admissions advisor. I have already learned so much and it's actually kind of fun with all the other students.
813644
Trust me on this one -- I've been in the higher education business for decades.  Most online universities are NOT a good idea.  They are for-profit institutions making money from uninformed consumers, and from employers who subsidize their current employees' "educations."   People who are NOT currently employed will have a hard time getting prospective employers to take their degrees seriously, particularly if they come from University of Phoenix, AIU, Capella, or other for-profit schemes. \n\nIf you MUST work toward a degree online, the state university in your state is always the cheapest and best route. They are fully (regionally) accredited, and the degrees they issue are most often the SAME as the degrees awarded to students who study in person. \n\nIf your state university does not yet have a "distance education" program, then surrounding states will. Some of the best ones are:\n\nArizona State U\nColorado State\nKansas State U\nOklahoma State U\nPenn State (PASSHE)\nUniversity of Alaska\nUniversity of California\nUniversity of Florida\nUniversity of Illinois\nUniversity of Maryland\nUniversity of Michigan\nUniversity of Minnesota\nUniversity of South Carolina\nWashington State U\n\nCheck the website below for more info.
87842
Yes! Many community and 4-year colleges and universities around the country offer online or other format of distance learning programs. While you can pick virtually any school, residency requirements still affect tuition. Check with your local community colleges or regional accrediting agency for more info.\n\nThere are schools that operate purely online, allowing them to cater to specific niches and needs, but they tend not to be accredited. \n\nIf you know which university you may want to graduate from later, you can check with their registration department regarding transferring credits, and ask where many students transfer from.\n\nGood luck!
689909
I used to be a Director of a Transfer and Career Center at 2 different colleges in California, and my advice to you is if you have a vocational goal (some type of work you want to do, for example a writer, or a computer software engineer) then you really should talk to prospective employers and see what they think about on-line degrees. \n\nI know of University of Phoenix and more people are going that way, but my own philosophy is if you're going to do on-line work, combine that with standard in-person college work. Get at least 50% of your units in a well-known and respected college where you will actually meet with your instructor and class mates. Employers that I have talked to lately don't want to hire people with online credits only.
1038054
An online school?  Not likely.  Most of those programs are proprietary, meaning "for profit".  Often online programs aren't accredited.  Some schools have such lousy reputations that you'd be better off not having the school on your resume at all rather than naming a degree from them.  Thouroughly investigate any school you are thinking about and before investing one dime, call a few respected employers you'd like to work for and ask them what they think of the school you are thinking of attending and what they would recommnend in terms of schooling.\n\nSome state universities are offering their programs online--go with a state school over a fly-by-night internet only school.
1069909
I am going for a graphic design degree at Mt. Sierra and love it. I have a BA already from an on campus school and I have had a better experience with the online classes. About.com has some great information on distance learning and I would highly recommend doing research first and asking a lot of questions. About.com has a great suggestion list of questions to ask an admissions representative. It helped me immensely and I am 100% convinced I made the right decision.\n\nGood luck :-)
367296
yep, people do that all the time to save money on college. just make sure you go to an accredited university to get your bachelors, online degrees are sometimes frowned upon by some companies
1007319
The easy answer is: No.\n\nThe more developed answer is: they can be.  If you want to get your degree online, your best bet is to find out what traditional, accredited colleges in your area have online degree programs.  Find out whether your degree will be stamped, "online program," or not since employers are (rightly so) suspicious of anyone getting a degree online.  There are many diploma mills such as the University of Phoenix, which are not, in fact, quality educational institutions.\n\nIf you're looking to save money, going to school online usually costs MORE money than going to a traditional school, so I'd recommend comparing costs carefully.\n\nIn Wisconsin, we have programs via the University of Wisconsin system, and the University of Platteville, for example, has a complete online degree program that is offered in either online or correspondence course-based format (the latter does not require as strict of a timeline since you are not "in class" with students online).  It does not stamp your degree as being "online."  The University of Wisconsin also offers a two-year degree program online, but it is stamped as "online."  If you think you want to get your general studies courses out of the way and will do your last 2-3 years at a traditional university, this degree being stamped "online" may not matter much.\n\nCheck with your state or the surrounding states and see what options you might have.  Many of the traditional universities and even many private colleges (which have been accredited forever and are constantly undergoing review) will offer you an online program (or online courses to supplement a traditional program) and they will be a legitimate degree that is not a "diploma mill."\n\nCompare your costs.  Find out how much it costs to do the program in different kinds of schools.  Community colleges, if you have any where you live, are often a great way to get the "general studies" courses out of the way at a smaller, more supportive environment, and many tech schools now offer an associates degree program that transfers to a traditional college (with those general studies courses out of the way).  Tech colleges are often cheaper, too!  You might find an online program is cheaper, or you might be better off in traditional face-to-face classes (we're used to learning that way and many cannot learn effectively in an online format).\n\nFigure out first what you think you want to study, then do the work of comparing programs (luckily almost everything is online now).  Most schools will offer you financial aid as a full-time student, whether or not the school is online, but your safest bet is to make sure your online program is backed by a traditional university that has real buildings and real professors (not all part-time teachers).\n\nGood luck!
810297
Online degrees are a good way to keep your schedule flexible. Typically you can work from any computer with Internet access. You would most likely participate in class discussions via forums or emails. You could hand in assignments by email or by posting to a web page.\n\nHere is some more info about online schools if you're interested:\n\nhttp://www.college-scholarship-hound.com/index.php?t=onlineschools\n\nGood luck!