Are Online Degrees Valid to Prospective Employers?

By: Rose M

Online distance learning has gained rapid popularity with the advent of the internet, which has proven to offer great supporting facilities and convenience for online education. However, just like everything else with pros and cons, the internet has also opened doors for the widespread sale of bogus online degrees. According a report by USA Today, there were already 400 diploma mills in the year 2003 and the numbers are rising. In fact, many of these unscrupulous operations are run by organizations in an industry that is worth $500 million a year.

However, amidst the negative hype about online education, there are actually many distance learning colleges offering valid degrees and diplomas. These institutions do not sell bogus certificates, but actually aim to provide quality education as alternatives for on-campus higher education. Valid online courses with online video lectures as well as online library facilities and test examinations conducted are often deployed to ensure that students truly qualify in their areas of study and graduate legitimately. Sadly though, many employers only see the negative side of things, and easily brush off online education degrees as equivalent to bogus degrees.

In view of the confusion, the National Education Board of the U.S. government has authorized 6 accreditation agencies to provide institutional accreditation to education institutions, as a measure to differentiate legitimate universities from the crooks. This means that students choosing their universities will be assured that these universities would have met minimum criteria set forth by these agencies for learning institutions. Additionally, there is also The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) which provides accreditation specifically for distance learning institutions. The DETC is an accreditation agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Furthermore, there is also specialized accreditation for specific programs of different areas of specialization. These programs which are found to have attained excellence will be awarded accreditation by various professional accrediting agencies depending on the area of specialization. For instance, the International Association for Management Education (AACSB) gives accreditation to accounting related programs while health programs are accredited by the American Health Information Management Association. It is also important to know that only accreditation agencies recognized by the Department of Education or CHEA are considered accreditation agencies which are acknowledged.

What does accreditation mean to a student? An institutional accreditation agency evaluates the various aspects of universities or colleges against minimum standard criteria to determine if the particular institution meets their list of basic requirements and quality of education. College accreditation is necessary to ensure that the education, facilities and support provided by a college or university adheres to basic levels. On the other hand, specialized accreditation evaluates excellence in individual program regardless of which institution the program is being delivered within. In this type of accreditation, course content and program curricula is evaluated against pre-set standards of the institution.

All accreditation does is to assure employers, students and parents that the graduates who are awarded degrees from accredited colleges have undergone quality and adequate training in their respective areas of specialization. This also means that colleges that are not accredited by the proper accreditation body would not have met the standards imposed by the agencies. However, courses taken by prospective employees that are accredited by the respective agencies would have met standards imposed on the respective specialized areas.

It is totally up to the judgment and decision of the employers on evaluating the validity of an online or on-campus degree. With the recent hike in bogus degrees, employers can't help but be stringent in their applicant screenings and consider those with degrees that have been accredited. This may prove tedious and sometimes employers may get confused. Therefore, if your accreditation is provided by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education, then you will need to explain to your prospective employers on the background of the accrediting bodies. This way, you can avoid employers from sidelining your application based on something that they may be unclear about and increase your chances of being short listed for a job interview.

About the Author:

Rose Musyoka is the editor of http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com where you find answers, information and advice on distance learning colleges, accredited online degrees and online courses. See more related information on distance learning colleges and why college accreditation is important.

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Online Degrees A Smart Way To Educate Yourself

It has been quite a few years now that people have experienced a revolutionary change in the education industry. It is the online mode of education. Unlike the earlier days where you needed to go to colleges in order to pursue a degree, nowadays, an alternative has come out, especially for the working professionals who do not have enough time to attend regular classes. Here come the online degrees. Online degrees are the college degrees including high school diplomas and non-degree certificate programs that can be earned through internet, from the comfort of your home, and without attending regular classes. Online degrees are tailor-made for those who are currently working somewhere or have some other engagements, but want to pursue higher education without hampering their present work. It has become an increasing trend to enroll for online degrees, as thousands of students throughout the world are going for these. To meet this high demand, a number of colleges and universities all over the world have also come up with a wide range of online degree courses.

There are several reasons why you should go for online degrees. First and foremost is its flexibility. You can control your own pace while pursuing degrees online. You do not have to attend regular classes, which means, you can continue with your current work while pursuing your course.

Online degrees help to increase your educational qualification, which in turn, brightens your career prospect and increases the probability of getting a better job. You can pursue more than one degree concurrently from different university, which means, you can increase your educational qualifications in a faster way.

Online degrees are more often less-costly than the regular ones. In that way, it saves money also.

Online degrees can eliminate distance between you and your university. You can enroll for an online degree from the university of your choice, no matter where you reside at.

Finally, online degrees could also be pretty good for the students for the fact that, getting admitted to an online degree course is much easier than the regular one.

In order to get proper value and recognition from the degree, one should always go for online degrees that have proper accreditation. There are educational accreditation boards in every country that regulates the education system of the respective country with a goal to ensure acceptable levels of quality of educational programs provided by various institutions. In United States, there are six regional accreditation boards, which include Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. There are also Department of Education, Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which deal with accreditation for distance learning institutions and online degrees.

There can be several levels of online degrees offered by various universities, which include Associate’s degrees, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees, Doctorate degrees, and also some certificate programs, and high school diplomas as well. In most of these degree programs, students can choose a wide range of subjects that may include Arts & Design, Business, Education, Engineering, Healthcare, Humanities & Social Sciences, IT & Computer Science, Law & Criminal Justice, Science etc.

There is no dearth of universities that offer online degree programs. You have a huge list of universities to choose from while selecting one. Kaplan University, Baker College Online, Bellevue University, Ashford University, Ashworth University, California Southern University, Capella University, AIU Online, DeVry University, Ellis University, Edinburgh Business School, Columbia Southern University etc. are a few to name.

So rip the benefits of new age education and go for an online degree in order to enhance your educational qualification. It helps your career in a great way.

About the Author:

Gaurav Kasera is an experienced education consultant who has been in the industry for quite a few years. Working as a consultant, he also has written a number of articles on education. For more Details about Online Degrees and online Degrees Universities and Colleges please log on to Online Zoology Degree

How To Improve Your Life With An Accredited Online College Degree

By: Andy West

With the information super highway raring full steam ahead, quality accredited online college degree or Online Diplomas programs are becoming a more plausible way to get an education. Now more than ever, time is becoming a huge factor in people's lives. Balancing personal and professional lives on top of school is becoming increasingly difficult.

Therefore, many people are choosing to get the education they deserve without sacrificing the other important areas of their lives. It is now possible to receive the same credits that you would get from attending full-time classes at a college from the comfort of your own home.

There are a lot of things to consider when deciding if accredited online college degrees are the route that is best suited for you. It takes quite a bit of self-discipline to do well in an academic setting. However it takes even more to be able to do it from home.

In a class setting, a routine will be set that will involve the students and the instructors getting together several times per week. But if you are learning online, it is up to you to decide what times are best for you and to make your schedule accordingly.

There are also a few other things to take into consideration before deciding on this method. Basic computer knowledge and a reliable computer are absolutely essential to successful online learning. You will be using the computer to access your assignments, to send them in and also to conduct research. If you are not comfortable with computers, or you don't have a dependable Internet service, then you might find it exceedingly difficult.

It is also imperative to be comfortable with the written language. Almost all of your communications will be in writing, so that is something that is very important. There is virtually no personal contact, so proper writing and communication skills are essential.

A few years ago, online learning was not as broad as it is now. There were only a few select courses to choose from and it was difficult to find the one you want. But these days you can get almost any degree you could ever dream of without ever having to leave your house.

Whether you have an interest in law, accounting or health care you are bound to find the perfect course for you. And most accredited online college degree course can be found at the bachelor, associate and graduate levels. Therefore, no level of education is out of reach.

One of the major costs in attending school is the textbooks. After a full program, you would normally have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on textbooks alone. Not the mention the cost of tuition.

Many accredited online college degree programs include the cost of the textbooks in the tuition. Well balancing a work life and a school life, every penny saved adds up in the end.

One of the best features of any online learning program is that it suits your schedule. You can learn and study any time of the day and on any day. This is a great benefit for those who wish to continue working full-time and earning their degrees in the evenings.

The appeal of learning online is being realized by more people every day. The sheer convenience is reason enough to motivate you to earn the degree that will land you your dream job. So, make that dream a reality with one of the many accredited online college degree programs.

About the Author:

Andy West is a writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers many Accredited Online College Degree programs. Visit Virginia College Online at http://www.vconline.edu/index.cfm to select the online program that is right for you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/how-to-improve-your-life-with-an-accredited-online-college-degree-93567.html

Online MBA - An Analysis

By: Anand Srinivasan

How does Online MBA Degree Work?

An MBA has become a necessity to get yourself promoted in the modern corporate world. However, for most of the adults today, managing your career along with equipping yourself with the necessary education has become a challenge. To help you overcome this problem, many reputed universities offer MBA degree online so that you may earn the degree even while you work.

Advantages of earning an MBA Degree Online

The first and foremost thing is convenience. You may study at your own convenience of home and time. You also save on money since you can afford to get lesser loans owing to the fact that you are still earning. And yes, the most important advantage is you do not waste your precious years of experience by opting out of work. Thus you earn extra years of experience than the person who opts to pursue degree on campus.

Are Financial Aids available for Online MBA Degrees

Financial aids help you to cover the cost of earning your online MBA Degree. While some schools offer aid to students, some do not. You will have to contact the respective schools to know about their private policies on this matter.

Final Say

Once you finish your Online MBA, you can expect an immediate hike in pay or can expect a promotion on your job as the demand for MBAs is steadily increasing over the years.

Anand Srinivasan is a Financial and Education expert. Visit his site http://www.xooxonline.info/xtras/onlinemba.html for more information on the topic.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Real Degrees From Real Colleges on the Web - Really!

By: Scott McQuarrie

A national poll from 2006 revealed that only 60% of Americans believed that young people should be taught the value of hard work and studying. One writer commenting on this statistic tried to spin it positively, by revealing that the figure was less than 40% among Europeans. But there is one group today where just about 100% would support the notion of hard work and study - people who are working for an online college degree.

With the explosion of the "virtual world" of the Internet over the past decade and a half, we have witnessed the construction of a whole parallel world, except instead of brick and mortar and 2-by-4's, the buildings are made of bits, bytes and computer graphics. The grocery store down the street, the movie theater downtown and the bookstore at the mall all have counterparts, as well as competitors, in cyberspace. And now that colleges have made the move, people have a choice of sitting in class for two or four years or studying in a more flexible way, from home, to get an online college degree.

Brave new world, indeed.

Getting a college degree is not an easy thing to do, online or on campus. The research indicates that a person who goes to an online college for a degree is less likely to drop out, gets higher grades and has fewer disciplinary issues. These were the same findings some 30 years ago when an educational research group studied junior college students. Because they were older, more settled and knew what they wanted to do, junior college students, like today's online students, were more motivated, focused and, ultimately, successful in school.

There are economic and practical reasons that getting an online college degree is becoming a more popular option. People who previously could not afford college are finding lower-cost online alternatives. Parents of young children who could not get away even to a nearby campus can now study from home. Workers who had to keep their jobs and support families are scheduling their classes for evenings and weekends.

Online colleges, trade schools and training institutes have actually performed a remarkable public service by making higher education, in the form of an online college degree, available to more people. This in turn increases the talent pool available to American industry and, along with continuing technological advances, raises worker productivity, economic forecasts and, ultimately, the gross national product.

An educated populace is required for the survival of any free, prosperous nation. America is fortunate that, even though some 40% of the population no longer respects the value of hard work and study, there are enough people who do to keep us going and growing. Those are the kind of people who work hard, get an online college degree, get back to work - and then make a difference.

After founding his first security firm in 1990, Scott McQuarrie built several security-related companies into regional and national powerhouses over the ensuing years. Since 2000 he has focused his sales and marketing efforts on the Internet, which opened up a virtually unlimited, international market for his flagship product line, EZWatch Pro.

The EZWatch Pro brand has come to stand for world-class expertise in electronic security, video surveillance and the myriad technologies involved in both fields. From small houses to gigantic international airports, there is an EZWatch Pro solution to meet any and every residential, business, commercial and government security challenge.

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