Distance Learning Degree
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.
