Drexel eLearning Minute
How to compare and select an online college degree program
Congratulations. You’ve taken an honest look at yourself and decided that advancing your education is in your professional and/or personal best interest. The next step is to research and compare the hundreds of different online degree programs available on the Internet, and ultimately select the one online degree program that most closely fits your needs and goals.
Let’s start with a few tips on comparing online degree programs. While they may all appear very similar, they all vary to some degree by they way they are delivered, the quality of the faculty and students, the availability of academic and tech support, and the accreditation of the institution and/or academic program.
Delivery of Instruction: Rule #1: Not all online degrees are created equal. Some online courses are delivered asynchronously (meaning you can work on the course at anytime and place), synchronously (meaning you have to be in front of your computer at a certain time and date, in order to participate in the course), or both asynchronously and synchronously. Other online courses simply send you a CD-ROM containing all the lectures and notes, and some online courses require you to participate in daily online text discussions and periodic video chat sessions.
Online degree programs may also be considered “blended”; namely, they require a few courses be taken on-campus, in addition to the required online courses.
The point is you need to determine the method of delivery that best fits your learning style and time commitments (work, family, recreation, etc.).
Additionally, some colleges will waive certain required courses based on your “life experience” (work, travel, course previously taken, etc.). Therefore, it’s a good idea to check the college’s website for their policy on awarding academic credit.
Quality of the Faculty and Students: Rule #2: Not all faculty and students are created equal. It’s important that you create a profile of the faculty teaching the courses, and a profile of the students enrolled in the program. Click around the program’s website to find the qualifications, accomplishments, and specialty of the faculty. Are they all or mostly adjunct/part-time instructors? Are they all or mostly full-time instructors? Do they hold terminal degrees in the area of interest to you? Are they active within their professional association, and to what extent are they known and respected by their professional peers? When in doubt, e-mail a set of questions to the academic director of the online degree program.
Likewise, you’ll want to assess the students you’ll be interacting with in class projects and discussions. To what extent do they have experience in their respective fields? What are the completion rates (course and program) for students? How many students are typically enrolled in a course? Again, when in doubt, e-mail a set of questions to the academic director of the online degree program.
You might also ask the college for the names and e-mail addresses of a few students enrolled in the program. If provided, e-mail the students about their experiences with fellow students, faculty, and the administration. No one knows more about the academic program then a student currently in the program.
Academic and Tech Support: Online students should be entitled to the same academic and technical support services as provided to the on-campus students….and at no additional cost. Your tuition should include access to online academic tutors (writing, math, etc.) and 24/7 technical support. The bottom line: You need to know that if your computer isn’t working, a person will be available to help at any hour of the day or night.
Accreditation: Any college you are considering should be accredited by one of eight
regional accreditation organizations
recognized by the United States Department of Education. Moreover, and whenever possible, the online degree programs and/or academic department you’re considering should be accredited by an academic association or Board within that field. A degree from an unaccredited school is worthless.
Making a Final Decision: Apply anywhere from two to four different online degree programs. Once accepted, you’ll have to make a decision on which degree program best meets your immediate circumstances and long-term goals. As with any tough decision, it’s a good idea to solicit the opinions and recommendations of friends, family, and professional colleagues. You might also consider e-mailing people who hold the degree you are seeking to ascertain their thoughts and recommendations.
I’m Dr. Ken Hartman for Drexel eLearning.
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