Distance Learning Center @ TestPrepReview.com

Earning a graduate degree is time consuming and intellectually difficult. A distance learning graduate degree provides an opportunity for students to earn the degree at their own pace, giving flexibility to the time constraints. Distance learning graduate degrees include both masters, which generally take 2 years to complete, and doctorates, which generally take 5-6 years to complete. There are many areas of study available through distance learning graduate programs. Most graduate students will either choose a specialized area of study in the career field they are working in or they will choose a general area of study leading to a different career path.

There are many factors to consider when contemplating a distance learning graduate degree. Masters and doctorate programs generally cost more than bachelor degrees. The potential student should determine if earning the degree will increase his or her earning potential more than the monetary cost of the education. Distance learning graduate programs generally cost the same as traditional graduate programs. The students who choose a distance learning format generally does so because they have scheduling conflicts with traditional schools like career or family. The potential student should investigate how the curriculum is delivered at each university and determine what program will fit best with his or her lifestyle. Some distance learning graduate degree programs offer the courses purely online, but most have residency requirements. There are distance learning graduate programs which require face to face classroom hours and require the completion of field work.

Distance learning education degree programs offer a wide range of career possibilities. A bachelors or masters degree in education can be earned through a distance learning education program which will prepare the student to teach at the kindergarten through 8th grade level in most states. To teach high school, a student would need a bachelors or masters in a subject area like Math, Science, English or History which can be earned through a distance learning education program. There are many private universities offering online distance learning education programs. Private colleges like Grand Canyon University Online, Western Governors University, and Ottawa University offer elementary and secondary education programs. Most state universities offer many of the courses required towards a bachelor’s degree through distance learning. The exception is that most require lab science and speech courses which have to be conducted on campus. Whether attending a private or public college, student teaching is a requirement of earning a bachelors degree in education. Student teaching must be conducted at a school and can not be done through distance education. Private and public universities will set up the student teaching for the student at a local school.

For people who have already earned a bachelors degree through an accredited university and wish to teach, alternative teaching certifications are available through distance learning education programs. Many community colleges offer 2 year programs through which a teaching certification can be earned. Some states will allow a person with a bachelor’s degree the opportunity to teach and earn a salary without a certification while completing the distance learning education certification program. A person with a bachelor’s degree in any area of study that wants to teach can choose to earn a masters in education. The masters in education can be earned through a distance learning education program and a teacher with a master’s degree earns a higher salary than a teacher with a bachelors.

Distance learning degrees are associates, bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees earned outside of a traditional classroom.  Distance learning degrees can be earned from community colleges and state universities. The coursework required from students earning distance learning degrees and those students earning traditional degrees at state universities and community colleges is exactly the same. If a lab is required for a class, it will be required whether the course is taken online or at the school campus. The benefit of distance learning degrees from state universities or community colleges is that they hold the same equivalency as traditional degrees when entering the workforce. If a person earns a bachelors degree in history from the University of Houston and completes most of the coursework online, the degree is exactly the same as someone earning the same degree in a classroom. The downside to a public university is there are few degree programs that can be completed completely online because exams or labs may be required which are conducted on campus.

Distance learning degrees can be earned at private universities. There are some differences between private distance learning programs and state distance learning programs. Private universities are different because they can vary in the classes required for a degree. Traditional lab science credits, for example, are not necessary at many private universities so all of the coursework can be completed entirely online. Distance learning degrees from private universities may not be as widely accepted as degrees from state universities by employers. The student needs to make sure the private university is nationally accredited.

The degree earned through a distance learning program is educationally equivalent to the degree earned from a traditional program. The main difference between the two degrees is the method of delivery of each type of degree. A distance learning degree program takes place outside of a traditional classroom and through the use of technology. The internet is the main method used to administer classes in a distance learning degree program and there are many benefits for a student to participate in an online course. An online distance learning degree program provides flexibility because the courses can be accessed at anytime. The online rather than traditional classroom forum means that the student saves time driving to and from campus and the student does not have to pay for parking at the university. In a traditional classroom many students are present that may compete for the instructors’ attention. The online distance learning degree program can offer more one on one time between student and instructor where the student has the teachers’ full attention. Most communication is through email although many instructors will provide a phone number they can be reached at for additional help.

There are some personality traits a person should possess in order to be successful at completing a distance learning degree program. The individual must be highly self-motivated and self-disciplined. While much of the coursework in a distance learning degree program is self-paced, there are many distance learning classes that have a start and end date which must be followed. The student must have good reading comprehension skills because he or she will not have an instructor verbally explaining all elements of the class. Visual aids are typically used by an instructor in a classroom to help explain ideas and these aids are frequently unavailable in an online or distance class. The student must possess some basic computer skills. The ability to navigate the internet and websites is extremely important in a distance learning degree program.

The value of a distance learning degree depends solely on the reputation and accreditation of the school offering the degree. The freedom a distance learning degree gives individuals is outstanding, but research should be completed before deciding where to earn the degree. There are schools termed diploma mills that offer degrees that have no value in the job market. Some of these schools tell the student he or she is simply paying money in return for a degree with his or her name on it. Some schools pretend to be accredited and worthy of attendance to gain students. The student may be unaware he or she is earning a worthless distance learning degree.

To avoid attending a diploma mill in hopes of earning a distance learning degree, one should keep in mind that there are 6 main national accreditation agencies. One can be sure that if the college has the accreditation of one or several of those agencies, the school has been well researched and the distance learning degree will have value. Another accreditation agency that s not one of the main 6 agencies is the Distance Education Training Council. The Distance Education Council issues accreditation to schools that specifically offer distance learning degrees. Not all courses from these accredited universities will transfer to traditional schools, so if one does intend to transfer, there is a database available to search universities accepting credits on the Higher Education Transfer Alliance Website. The student can search the college where he or she is earning his or her distance learning degree and ensure that credits earned can be transferred to a college approved by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education.

Common sense is an important tool when weighing where to earn a distance learning degree. Earning a degree should take time and effort. As the degrees become more advanced, such as masters or doctorate, the coursework should be more difficult and possibly require some training that can not be completed online. If a school charges a huge amount of money up front, rather than class by class, the course descriptions are vague, and the distance learning degree can be earned quickly, the college is probably not legitimate. If any of the above warning signs are present, the university may be offering an invalid degree.

Distance learning courses are classes taken through a process other than spending hours in a classroom setting with an instructor teaching lessons. Distance learning courses can be taken online, through the mail, print-based, via teleconferencing, via television, or via videocassette. Because the courses are not in a classroom, the students must be self-motivated and possess technical skills. Distance learning courses can be taken either one at a time, or several at a time. Some universities offer distance learning courses that are particular to their university and will not transfer to another college. They count for college credit towards a degree from the university the course is taken at, but will not transfer to another school. If the student plans to ever finish his or her degree elsewhere, he or she should make sure the courses will either transfer or not take them.

Although typically thought of as college level courses, high school distance learning courses can be taken to earn a high school diploma. Key Stone National High School is a distance learning program that offers high school diplomas and has 20,000 students attending. To attend distance learning courses through Key Stone National High School, tuition has to be paid, which covers access to certified teachers and new textbooks. High school distance learning courses require paid tuition. Advanced Placement and Honors distance learning courses can be taken through distance learning high schools. For high school aged students in rural areas, distance learning courses are a good option. Because of the rural locations of these students few elective choices are available, such as foreign languages. Few rural teachers are bilingual in multiple languages such as Russian, French, or German. Enrollment in high school distance learning courses can be year round. Most courses must be completed within a specific time frame.

The type of degree that can be earned through a distance learning computer college program is diverse. The programs vary based on the specific area the student chooses to study. Associate’s degrees in computer science or information technology are available through most online schools and the program can be completed in two years or less. A bachelor’s degree in business information systems or management information systems allows the student to enter the information technology career field with a computer systems education and general business education. A distance learning computer degree is available in web design and multimedia. If the student wants to be a computer programmer, a bachelor’s degree in information technology with a programming specialization is available online. Distance learning computer colleges offer master’s programs. A masters of science in information security can be obtained through the online Norwich University. Syracuse University has offered several distance learning computer degrees through the University’s School of Information Studies since 1993. Because all the above degrees are offered online, one can choose a school outside of his or her home of residence and still have access to the courses via the internet.

Distance learning computer certifications are available through many community colleges and other online universities. A+, Cisco, Oracle, MCSE, Network+, MCDBA, and CompTIA are just some of the certifications that can be obtained through online courses. The certification coursework can be completed through a distance education format, but the certification tests must be taken in person. The college often provides onsite testing.

Certifications constantly change as software changes so the information through an online source is likely to be better updated than a print source, which is a benefit of a distance learning college. Gaining distance learning computer certifications will enhance a professional’s resume or help a student obtain a job especially when the certification is coupled with a bachelor’s degree. Because there is such a variety of specializations and careers in the information technology field, a significant need is present for those who have specialized training and certifications.

Distance learning colleges are popular and relevant in today’s culture. High school graduates want to get an education, but for many, earning an income is equally important. Due to the high cost of living, people are entering the job marketplace and supporting themselves rather than going away to college after high school. People in the military are constantly moving, so a traditional degree program is not possible. Some stay at home moms can not afford to pay for daycare while they attend traditional class time. Distance learning colleges have provided an opportunity for people to remove obstacles to earning a degree and have provided a solution for many busy people. Many degrees can be earned at an accelerated pace because students can attend school year round, and take as many classes as they can handle. The actual period of time the student schedules to complete the coursework is completely flexible because distance learning colleges offer classes can be accessed anytime during the day or night.

Distance learning colleges are numerous in number and diverse in possibilities. Some, like many community colleges and state universities, offer online and traditional classrooms, and offer traditional semesters as well as summer courses through the distance learning format. Devry and University of Phoenix can be attended online year round. University of Phoenix starts all their online courses every Tuesday, so a person can begin taking a class almost immediately. The Baker’s Guide offers a list of Christian Distance Learning Colleges, if faith is a factor in ones college of choice. The directory provides a list of roughly 160 faith based distance learning colleges to choose from. There are distance learning colleges that provide education for nurses, like Excelsior College. Almost every degree and every college course is offered through distance learning colleges.

A person searching for distance learning colleges should be aware of scams. Diploma mill is a term applied to universities who are not accredited, thus providing a worthless degree. They may have similar names to distinguished universities such as Columbia State University, rather than the real Columbia University, so the student thinks he or she is attending an accredited university. To make sure distance learning colleges are accredited, one should check the following nationally recognized accreditation agencies: Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and School, or the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

A distance learning college degree has some similarities and differences with a traditional college degree. Associates, bachelors, masters, or doctorate degrees can be obtained through a distance learning program. As long as the university the student is earning a distance learning college degree through is accredited, a credible degree can be earned by way of distance learning. A distance learning college degree is earned through non-traditional classroom time. Most degree programs require an instructor, but coursework is completed virtually rather than in a classroom environment. Many public universities offer distance learning college degree programs so the cost is similar to a traditional program. Other distance learning programs are offered through private universities which often charge a higher tuition amount. Almost all types of degree programs are offered through distance education, but there are a couple of exceptions. Because a student trying to earn a teacher’s certification must student teach as part of the bachelor’s requirement, a teaching certificate can not be earned purely online. Many classes have a lab requirement which can not be completed virtually, so a distance learning college degree can not be earned when many of those types of classes are required. Unfortunately, not all companies give the same weight to a distance learning college degree as they would to a traditional degree. As distance education becomes more widely accepted, the trend will change. One should be prepared to discuss the coursework he or she has completed and the time spent on the degree in an employment interview. If the company is unsure about the creditability of the distance learning college degree, a potential employee should tell the company why and how the education was equivalent to a traditional degree.

A distance learning college will provide students with an opportunity to complete some or all of their coursework outside of a traditional classroom environment. Some universities offer both distance education and traditional education programs, while some are strictly online universities. One popular distance learning college, the University of Phoenix, offers degrees that can be earned completely online, but the university also has campuses where students can physically attend class. The benefit of a distance learning college like University of Phoenix is that a degree can be earned more rapidly than with traditional college. Students attend year round and can take two classes online concurrently, or take one class online and one on campus. A requirement to attending University of Phoenix is the student has to be employed full-time because much of the coursework relies on the student sharing real work experiences. The professor’s are required to work in the field they are teaching. Because a distance learning college like the University of Phoenix offers a virtual classroom environment, students who have busy lives can still earn a degree.

There are some drawbacks to attending a distance learning college. Many are private universities, so one should always check that the school has been accredited through the U.S. Department of Education. If the distance learning college is private, it can charge 3-4 times more for tuition than a public university. One must weigh the benefit of the flexibility of an online environment against the cost of tuition. Financial aid can be used at an accredited distance learning college to help pay for tuition. Another source of financial assistance can be a company’s employee tuition assistance program. A degree from a distance learning college may not be as widely accepted by employers as one from a traditional university, especially if the degree program is not accredited. To help alleviate this problem, one should look for an accredited distance learning college with a recognizable name such as Michigan State or Rice University that offers distance learning programs.