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According
to a 2009 study by the U.S. Department of
Education, one in six students in higher
education is getting their degree online.
Online education programs offer students a
flexible and convenient schedule that is
just not possible at traditional
brick-and-mortar schools. And faced with
little free time and a desire to advance
their education, more and more students are
choosing online degree programs as a way to
get the skills and training they need for
the jobs they want.
Especially ideal for full-time workers and
stay-at-home parents, online degree programs
allow students to complete their education
from the comfort of their own home. With
little more than a computer and an Internet
connection, students can access lecture
notes, reading materials and assignment
guidelines at anytime, day or night. And as
the popularity of online classes continues
to grow, more and more degree options are
becoming available from various online
colleges and universities. So, if you have
taken the time to decide that an online
education is right for you, then chances are
there is an online degree program available
to meet all of your educational and
professional needs.
But finding the best online degree program
for you can be difficult. There are lots of
schools that offer online degrees, and there
are a ton of phony degree programs out
there. Students can search the Internet for
listings of online education programs, but
they must be careful. Any student looking
for a specific online degree program should
ask themselves the following questions as
they begin their search:
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Is the school to which I am applying
accredited? An accredited school has
been evaluated by an agency with the
U.S. Department of Education to ensure
that it meets acceptable standards of
quality. The credentials of an
accredited online degree program are
generally more reliable, and it may be
more difficult to get financial aid,
transfer course credits and find a job
if your school does not have the proper
accreditation.
-
Is the institution reputable? It may
be hard to gauge the effectiveness of an
online degree program if it is
relatively new, but you should consider
the reputation of the schools to which
you are applying. Some online degree
programs have the backing of a
brick-and-mortar institution whose
background you can research. Other
schools, like the University of Phoenix,
have been around long enough that you
should be able to evaluate their success
rates relatively easily.
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What are the qualifications of the
instructors? It is important to find
out the credentials of professors for
any online degree program that you are
considering. You should check out their
degrees and work history as well as
their educational experience and
teaching effectiveness, particularly in
an online setting.
-
What is the feedback from alumni? A
great way to determine the effectiveness
and reputation of a specific online
degree program is to speak to alumni. If
possible, contact former students and
look at job placement rates among
graduates from your school.
An online
degree program can be a great way for
students to advance their education. Online
classes offer a lot of benefits, and the
flexibility and convenience they provide are
two definite perks. Students who work or who
need to stay at home with their kids can
complete a degree without having to leave
their house. However, an online degree
program is certainly not for everyone, and
the lack of face-to-face contact between
students and professors can be a challenge.
As with any college search, students should
take the time to determine if an online
education is the best option for them. With
a number of online degree programs in
existence, the perfect school is only a
mouse click away. And while bogus online
degree programs are out there, with these
tips in mind, students should have no
problem finding the right one to meet all of
their personal and professional needs.
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A Good Idea... Support for Students. |
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When
searching for an online degree
program, learn what support for
students exists. Without the
face-to-face contact of classmates
and professors, some students
struggle to complete their degrees.
A good program will foster fast and
easy communication between students,
professors and advisors and provide
access to important resources like
online libraries and databases. |
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