Distance Learning Center @ TestPrepReview.com

Earning a distance learning master’s degree is an excellent way for working adults to increase their salary or change career fields. Most master’s degrees can be earned in 2 years and a distance learning masters program gives students the flexibility to complete the coursework online. Most distance learning departments of both traditional and private universities offer both a masters of arts and a masters of science degree in a variety of areas of study including business, information technology and health care.

Distance learning masters programs offer students the opportunity to earn degrees from other countries which is beneficial in a global marketplace. The coursework is administered through audio tapes, videotapes, and online. Some courses require in-person exams. Through the University of London’s distance education masters programs, these tests can be taken at the 150 testing locations nationwide. The University of London’s distance education masters programs include business administration, law, and human resource management.

Distance learning masters programs in the field of education are among the most popular distance learning degree programs. Distance learning makes it possible for teachers to work while going to school. Many teachers earn a distance learning master’s degree because they can do so after they are already employed. Teachers who have obtained a masters degree earn a higher salary that those with a bachelors. An advanced degree is one of the few ways a teacher can get a salary raise other than the standard district set annual raises. Coursework can be completed in 1-2 years and teachers can take a heavier course load in the summer when they have time off. The coursework can be counted towards the teachers’ occupational requirement to earn Continuing Education Credits.

Distance learning law degree programs are not as common as other distance learning degree programs because the American Bar Association will not accredit distance learning law schools. This does not mean that a distance learning law graduate can not become a lawyer. Each state has different requirements for taking the bar exam and has a board of examiners that reviews each applicant. A typical state requirement is a degree from an accredited law school and most states look to the American Bar Association for a list of their accredited law schools. This means that in most states a person who graduates from a distance learning law program will not be able to take the required bar exam. The only state currently allowing students who earn a distance learning law degree, or Juris Doctorate, to take the bar exam is California. Many students will attend a distance education college based in California, take the bar exam and practice in California. When one passes the bar exam, he or she is only permitted to practice law in the state where he or she passed the bar. Some state representatives are trying to pass legislation to allow people who have attended a distance learning law college, passed the bar and want to relocate to a different state to take the bar exam and practice in a different state. These attempts have so far been unsuccessful.

The California based Concord Law School was founded in 1998 and was the first distance learning law school. Although it remains unaccredited by the American Bar Association and State Bar of California, the Committee of Bar examiners of the State Bar in California allows graduates of the Juris Doctor program to apply for admission to the State Bar of California and take the California bar exam. The entrance requirements to the Concord distance learning law school include a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, passing an entrance exam, and a review by a board of school representatives. Tuition is $8900 annually and the program is 4 years in length. A traditional law college generally charges $60,000 for a Juris Doctorate but the Concord school is almost half making it an affordable alternative. For those students who do not want to take the state bar exam but want more legal knowledge, Concord offers a distance learning law degree called an Executive Juris Doctor. The program is three years in length.

The popularity of distance learning has grown worldwide and has become a popular source for education in India. Many people living in rural parts of India do not have access to an elementary education and adults find it difficult to travel to a university to continue their education into college. In September of 2004, a satellite strictly used for education made distance learning India courses available to more people than ever before. This educational satellite is the first of its kind and is dedicated for the use of educational information.

Meeting the demands of technology to bring distance learning India programs to the public has been challenging, but the colleges in India are making great strides to meet the challenge. The largest distance learning India College is the Indira Gandhi National Open University. The university realizes that most people living in rural India do not have access to televisions. Televisions are the instrument through which many of the distance learning India courses are administered. The university solved the problem by sending satellite links of distance learning courses to 2,000 schools and learning centers all over the country. For those students who can not travel to one of these learning centers and do not have access to television, the university created 12 FM stations where classes can be accessed. Most can afford a radio and this delivery of curriculum will greatly increase the distance learning India programs accessibility.

Another example of a distance learning India College is the Amity School of Distance Learning. The Amity School has been ranked number 1 in India by the B-school ranking survey. The school offers bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in the business and information technology fields. The school is similar to the format of distance education colleges in America and markets to working professionals, military members, and mothers staying at home with their children.

Most universities offer a distance learning history degree program because it is a diverse degree that can be used in many career fields. Through a distance learning history program, a student can major or minor in history and can work towards a bachelors, masters or doctorate. Most people who do not plan on continuing their education beyond a bachelor’s degree in history use the degree to teach at the high school level. The history portion of the degree can be earned through a distance learning history program. The student will have to fulfill a student teaching requirement at a school to earn his or her teaching certification so that part of the degree plan can not be done through distance education. Student teaching requires a semester of full time work at a school and the distance learning history program will coordinate the student teaching.

Many people will earn a bachelor’s in history as a stepping stone to further their education. Distance learning history colleges offer masters programs in specialized areas such as art history and military history. With a master’s degree, the graduate can teach at the community college level. Pre-law students can earn a bachelor of arts in history on their path to entering law school. Distance learning history doctorate programs are a good choice for working professionals who want to continue their education. To teach at a major state university, a Ph.D. is required. Many community college professors will continue their education through a distance learning history program so they can reach the university level. Ph.D. programs vary based on the college, but many offer Ph.D.’s in United States History, Latin American History, and Philosophy.

The American Military University is an example of a college that offers distance learning history degree programs that can be completed entirely online. The university offers both bachelors and masters in history and military history. The university is regionally and nationally accredited by the North Central Association and the Distance Education and Training Council. The university caters to working adults by providing classes that begin every month and classes that do not require the student to login at specific dates or times.

A distance learning high school is a new choice for students who can not attend traditional high school. Some reasons for the inability to go to traditional high school include health problems, transportation problems for those in rural areas, and students who work. Some students with attention deficit disorder simply can not stay on task in a regular classroom environment. Before distance learning, home schooling was the only option for many students with challenges prohibiting them from attending traditional high school. Because many parents work full time, home schooling was not an option. Rather than dropping out of high school and earning a GED, it is now possible for those students to attend a distance learning high school and graduate with a traditionally recognized high school diploma.

Finding a distance learning high school can be challenging. Many states have attendance requirements for their public school systems so distance learning high schools are not widely available. Some states allow for public charter schools, and some of the charter schools offer distance learning high school programs. Although these schools are only available in a few states, they are funded by the government making the education free just like with a traditional public school. Minnesota Online High School is an online charter school where students can get a high school diploma. The school has enrollment limitations, so they take those applicants who apply first. The school is online and can be attended by anyone, anywhere in the state of Minnesota. Some distance learning high school programs are private. Being private means the high school charges tuition and these high schools do not have to comply with government regulations. Because of this freedom, the parent or potential student should ensure the school is regionally accredited so the diploma is of value. There are state universities, like Indiana State University for example, which offer distance learning high school programs. Indiana State is accredited by the North Central Association, a regional accrediting agency. The Indiana State distance learning high school program offers the student access to the University of Indiana’s library and offers Academic Honors Diplomas.

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.