degree

online degrees

online degrees questions and answers

More information about online degrees at Education News.

Q: Are there any online degrees that lead to real jobs?
I want to go to college, but going online would be the only way I could do it. I want something to either do with psychology or social work. I know many schools offer psych degrees, but can you get any kind of job with them?I don't want to waste my time and money! Thanks in advance.

A: I think as long as it's an accredited online school, the degree is just as acceptable as one you've received from a traditional college. Right now I'm working on a master's degree from an online university in education, and my mentor even checked to make sure that it's going to be useful to me in my state. There are even many traditional universities or colleges that offer online programs, or offer some courses online. So, you could go that route and check with a local school.

Q: Employers - how do you feel about online degrees?
I'm doing a debate on the pros and cons of online degrees and getting hired after you get them. How do you really feel about them?

A: For the debate, you should prepare a definition of "online degree". Various highly credible universities offer degree programmes by distance learning. Distance learning is something you should research because most people who use that facility are attracted to it because (a) they are full-time, mature employees who can't attend an overseas university (b) because of the first reason, they would rather study part-time and do 3 or 4 year programme, rather than a 2 or 3 year full time programme. The costs, content, and degree conferred are usually the same as the on-campus, full-time version. Also the independent bodies that give accreditation to university degrees give the same credit to a distance learning degree (from approved universities) as they do to the on-campus version. The "online" bit refers to using the internet to access the universities private network for course content and reference materials e.g. the research library and journal databases. See the links for examples from the University of Edinburgh and The Open University.

Q: What reputable colleges/universities offer online undergraduate degrees?
I am currently working full-time and would like to earn my undergraduate degree online from a reputable institution. My goal is to eventually take a break from work and relocate in order to get my master's/doctorate from an Ivy League/Top 10 school. Would it be feasible for me to get into one of these schools with an online degree? Can anyone recommend some good schools that offer online degrees that would look good when I apply for graduate school?

A: These days, many quite reputable private and state colleges offer courses and even degrees 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. However, I would still advise you to be careful. Many graduate programs are still extremely skeptical of online education. Contact the particular graduate programs in which you are interested, and make sure they would look kindly upon coursework taken online. Best wishes to you. http://www.r1edu.org

Q: How are strickly online degrees viewed in the "working world" verses degrees from physical universities?
I'm a single mother of a young child and I work a full time 8-5 job. I want to earn a degree in human resources, but with my already jam packed schedule, attending classes will not work for me. I am concerned that I will put time and money into an online program/college to obtain a worthless degree. What online colleges/universities actually supply positively recognized degrees?

A: I wouldnt do it, they price is so overated, they almost got me before i caught myself and realized i was going to 54, 000 in loans for a paralegal degree that i could get at a community college for 3, 000.00

Q: Are online degrees worth the same as a regular degree?
Will an employer give you a job for getting one of those cheesy online degrees such as from the University of Phoenix? Do those have tests are do you just write papers?

A: The key is to find a program that is fully accredited. Is it worth it? YES. My career has boomed since my MBA at nearly 4 years ago. I haven’t finished my PhD through distance education, and I am at the job that I want. I know I wouldn’t be here without the education. If you are looking at work in the U.S., then you need a school that is accredited by the Dept of Ed. I can give more info on that later. You should market yourself and not the degree or university. There are many traditional universities offering degrees that can be earned through online methods. Look at that if you are truly concerned with the name of the school. Good luck on your search!

Q: Dont you think that online degrees aren't as good as in class degrees?
Nowadays you can get your doctrate online! My brother took online classes and when you take a test all you have to do is google the question and get an answer...I just don't think online degrees should be considered as good as in class degrees. Agree?

A: Like the responses before me, I disagree with your assessment of online degrees. I earned my bachelor's degree through an online program and was very pleased with the whole process. I took classes from two different programs and found them to be very different. I'm sure there are excellent online programs as well as mediocre online programs. Neither program I took classes from had online testing where it would be possible to google a question. The main thing people should make sure of is that whatever program they sign up for is accredited. A degree from an accredited online school is just as good as a degree from an accredited brick-and-morter school. Despite having an online degree, I had no problem getting accepted to law school... so the degree must not be completely worthless!!

Q: How good are those online degrees in the real world?
I want to go back to school, but I work 30+ hours a week and I have my two toddlers at home, and I don't want to be away from them more than I have to. I've been thinking about online schooling, but how much cred do they really get compared to an actual college degree from some university. And if they are pretty good, which online schools are the better ones to go with?

A: An online college or graduate degree needs to be accredited by a regionally accredited organization recognized by the department of education. Examples of such names are: The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Southern Association of Colleges and School. There are six such accrediting organizations. I have listed them below: The six regional accreditors are: Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools www.msache.org New England Association of Schools and Colleges www.neasc.org North Central Association of Colleges and Schools www.ncacihe.org Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges www.cocnasc.org Southern Association of Colleges and Schools www.sacs.org Western Association of Schools and Colleges www.wascweb.org

Q: Does employer look down on online degrees?
Does and employer look down on online degrees? Has anybody ever gotten a degree online and gotten a better job from your current employer or a new employer?

A: Hi, As another person has said, as long as you get the degree from an accredited college, then an employer is going to respect it just as much as if it came from a "traditional" school. Actually, many of the same schools that offer traditional degrees also offer online degrees. The only problem you'd ever run into is if the school was a "diploma mill," meaning they aren't accredited and don't issue legitimate degrees. There are a couple great resources online that walk you through the whole online degree evaluation process. You can find just about anything you need to know here... http://www.squidoo.com/what-is-distance-learning/ ...which is my personal favorite. There's another great guide to distance learning and online degrees over at Scribd as well. Here's the link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/468150/What-is-Distance-Learning Hope that helps.

Q: Are online degrees valued the same as conventional degrees by employers?
I'm interested in attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh online but will only do so if I'll have the same job opportunities as those who attend conventional schools. I'm very interested in hearing from people who've received a degree from an online college and their experiences.

A: The key is to make sure the college/university is accredited. I have three basic recommendations for everyone looking into online/distance education. They all have to do with exploring; after all, you have to defend your assets. 1. Make certain that you have triple checked their accreditation. First, they tell you what it is, then you go to that accrediting body’s website (not through the link provided by the school), and thirdly you would visit the department of education to see what they have to say. Do your diligent research into the institutions once you have narrowed down to a couple. You can look at the Better Business Bureau for more information on the college. 2. You must have extreme self motivation and be able to teach yourself per say. This means that you will not have someone telling you verbally, so it is up to you to get the information from the course room, text, and other resources. The best way to look at it is like a guided independent study course. 3. Review your goals, personal and professional. Make sure that the school that you are going to offers the programs that match your goals. Do not settle. There are many programs that are similar, but you have to make the ultimate decision. Do not let it be based on finances and length of program, but the fact that when you are finished or near finished you will be able to assume your proper place in the career field sought. You should market yourself and not the degree or university. There are many traditional universities offering degrees that can be earned through online methods. Distance Learning Alliance has a list of these traditional online schools. Look at that if you are truly concerned with the name of the school. Good luck on your search!

Q: What do prospective employers really think of online degrees?
Are you an employer? If you had two equally qualified applicants and one went to a brick-and-mortar college and the other earned an online degree, which would you hire? Or have you earned an online degree? If so, what has been your experience in finding good employment? If not, why have you opted not to earn an online degree? Share your stories either way? Thanks. If you have earned an online degree, from which institution have you earned it? Your experiences with that particular institution? Thanks.

A: As an employer, if the degree were required for the job I would want to ensure it was earned through an accredited university. I can go on-line and purchase a PhD for a couple hundred dollars, but an honest education will come with an honest diploma. I have friends that have both earned degree's on-line and teach courses on-line. It's really the way to go in my opinion for most course work.

Q: How do employers view degrees/certificates from online schools?
Do online degrees, particularly those from schools that are primarily or exclusively online, carry the same weight as a traditional degree?

A: Honestly, it depends on the employer, the position, and what you hope to do with the degree. If you want to move up within your own company, in all likelihood an online degree will help you. It won't hurt you. However, if you plan to change employers, some employers do not consider certain online degrees on par with degrees from brick-and-mortar universities. To be completely blunt, if I were looking at your resume, and you had an online degree from some online school, there is no way I'd hire you. However, if you had an online degree from a reputable university, like RPI - they have a great rep as a brick-and-mortar university, and so that carries over to their online degrees - I'd hire you. Likewise, an online degree from UMass, I'd hire you. But from U Phoenix? To be quite honest, I'd pass.

Q: How recognised are online degrees?
Are online degrees recognised for employment purposes or is it better to be an on campus student? I am currently employed but would like to widen my horizons and expand my opportunities by pursuing higher degrees. But I do not wish to give up my employment. I wonder if online degrees are recognised and accepted and if so, is it only recognised in some places?

A: Yes, there are many accredited colleges and universities. Just be sure to find out if the school [and program] are recognized at the national and state level. A good school will have that information readily available including the accreditation dates. Many of them will also be regular colleges with online options.

Q: Do you think online degrees are looked upon as credible by potential employers?
Would you hire someone who had an online degree?

A: Many brick and mortar schools now have an online division as well. Employers like online schools because the employee can work a traditional 9-5 schedule. Remember, you can get your degree anywhere and it won't do you a bit of good if you don't learn how to market yourself.

Q: Employers and HR people - How do you REALLY feel about online degrees?
I'm thinking of finishing my degree online. Is it worth it? Should I go back to school? I would, but it's really hard for me to do. An online degree would be great, but just how valid is it?

A: Unfortunately, there are too many bogus 'diploma mills' out there that give the industry a bad name. I don't care if you come from Harvard, South Dakota Tech, or Bubba's Online College of Piano Repair, you will have to prove yourself competent and qualified in interviews and testing before I approve your hire. Sadly, too many people only look at the resume and the name of the school, not the quality of the person they're reviewing. I have someone working on my team who is from Harvard, and he's just barely competent, and I have another who went to a community college and did not graduate, but is one of our top performers.

Q: Can you list some online degrees that you can actually get a job with?
Also, if it is possable to get a job with an online degree, what affordable school would you suggest?

A: How about: Master of Studies (MSt) in International Human Rights Law from U. Oxford (yes, THE Oxford) offered online. http://humanrightslaw.conted.ox.ac.uk/MStIHRL/ Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) in Information Technology from Harvard University offered substantially online. http://www.extension.harvard.edu/it/ Duke University offers their MBA online. Johns Hopkins does Public Health online. The options are countless. The second part of your question about "affordable" is the kicker. You see, the best colleges in the world tend to charge pretty steep tuition. So, maybe you'd prefer the tuition at your State U. Almost every college in the US is teaching online these days. You can get a degree online from UMass, UTexas, Florida State, plenty of colleges. That's the key. Pick a college that has a decent reputation and you'll do fine - pick an "as seen on TV" and you'll probably pay too much for a lowly regarded degree. Know ahead of time; online courses at real colleges are harder than the same course in the classroom. This isn't the easy or fast way. It's harder and takes longer. Unless you pick one of the bottom-feeder colleges - in which case, your degree has no real value.