online college

online college questions and answers

Interested in purchasing advertising for online college ? Scroll down to learn more.

Q: Online College?
I am a mother of 5 girls- the oldest just finished her first year at college and the youngest will be starting kindergarten in the fall. I have a BA and am considering going back to school to finish my masters and getting a teaching certificate. I have been looking into online schools and am wondering if anyone has had any experience with this? Did you feel you were missing out by not being in a classroom setting? Are online degrees as respected as traditional college degrees? Is there any advice you can give me based on your experience? Thanks!

A: In my experience online degrees are treated basically the same as a degree from a campus program. Although, just like campus programs some schools, programs and degrees are viewed more fondly than others. I would make sure that any schools you are looking at are accredited and I would look into a number of schools so that you can decide which one is the best fit for you, your tuition requirements, schedule and reputation. I did a search for accredited masters degrees in teaching and this site appears to have good information and some schools for you to check out.

Q: What is the best online college to earn a liberal Arts degree?
My son wants to study online and wants to have an online degree for Liberal arts. Which college would be best for him? He lives in Hong Kong now, so which college would be best for him to study Liberal Arts online? Thanks.

A: Hello As it is important to access reputable institutions, have a look at http://www-icdl.open.ac.uk/ for details of some distance learning databases and providers. An increasing number of UK universities also provide study by distance learning; for information on providers see http://www.ucas.com/students/beforeyouapply/faqs/choosingcourses/distancelearning. As other answers suggest, it is possible for your son to study, through 'supported open learning', with The Open University as an overseas student. •To find out about The Open University and ‘supported open learning’, see http://www.open.ac.uk/about/ou/ and http://www.open.ac.uk/about/ou/p5.shtml. •For details about study from overseas, see http://www.open.ac.uk/new/study-overseas.shtml. •For a list of courses available to students living in Hong Kong, see http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/countries/HongKong.shtm (just click on any course of interest to get a detailed course description). •For contact details of The Open University educational partner in Hong Kong, see http://www3.open.ac.uk/contact/details.aspx?countryid=29 - from this site it is possible to view the list of courses available through the educational partner – these courses include Chinese Humanities. •If your son would like to look at some course materials to check if the content and the level are appropriate to his needs, he can go to the OpenLearn site at http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/home.php (for example, click on ‘Browse Topics’, choose Arts and History from the subject area, and scroll down until pages 3 and 4 where he will currently find 4 modules from A103, the Level 1 Arts and Humanities course. Module 1 on page 4 provides an introduction to this area of study). Although I have given A103 as an example, he will need to check if this course, or an equivalent, is available in Hong Kong when he is ready to begin his undergraduate study – it is probably best to speak directly to an adviser there to discuss the best way to complete his degree. I hope this information is useful and I wish your son well in his future study.

Q: What is the best college or university to take online college fully accredited college courses?
These courses are for my wife. We just had a daughter so she will have to stay home for a couple of months, she would like to make the most of her time and take some courses online. We are looking for the best place to take courses online that will be accepted by any college or university in the future. Thanks in advance. sorry I typed this quickly didn't proof read...couple of little errors

A: It was really wise of you to ask this question before you threw away your hard-earned money. You'll need every cent now that you have a new little one! :) The ONLY online degrees that are valued in academia in the US are those offered through REGIONALLY accredited schools. U of Phoenix (and Capella, and AIU, and all those places that advertise all over the web) are not regionally accredited. They are "distance learning accredited," or "nationally accredited," which means nothing in academic circles. They are for-profit business that make their money from companies that pay for their employees to take courses. Because these companies pay for the courses, they are usually accepted within each company, but not elsewhere. Degrees from state-university administered distance education courses are much less expensive than those offered by those fly-by-night diploma mills, and the course credits are universally accepted, and *transferable* from university to university. (Diploma mill course credits are not.) I've placed some superb links below to help you. Bravo for asking the question, congrats on the new baby, and best wishes to you and your wife in your search for a quality education!

Q: Are there accredited online college courses that you can sign-up and start quickly?
I am one class shy of graduation with a Bachelor's in Business Administration. I have to take a Business Law course and have a little over two months to complete the course. Do you know of an accredited college that offers online courses, has a fast registration process, and would let me take one course at my own pace and be done with it?

A: If you are a good test taker and if your college will accept it, there is a CLEP exam for Business Law. I didn't find this one all that demanding and was able to pass by studying an inexpensive study guide and reading the web. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/ex_ibl.html If that's not an option, and only if your college allows you to take outside courses this far into your program (I'd get that in writing before you take a course) then Louisiana State University offers Business Law online (http://www.is.lsu.edu/courselist.asp?cat=Business+Law&nid=102&pg=) (they are AACSB) and their cost is very reasonable. They have rolling admissions to classes as opposed to the semester system so you can do it now. They require proctored exams and the courses are rigorous - this isn't an easy way out but would meet the demands of most colleges. Make certain that you can even do this at this late stage of your degree program before you attempt anything that costs time and money.

Q: Online colleges. Does anyone know anything about Westwood College? How about others?
I'm looking for an online college for my son. I have come across many. Has anyone tried to get a degree online? Does anyone know anything about Westwood College? How about others? Is this a worthwhile effort (getting a degree online) versus attending a college?

A: Generally, online schools have a lot more students drop out than brick and mortar schools. I think it's because of what the above poster said - you need an extreme amount of self-discipline in order to complete the diploma. Why are you looking for online schools, rather than brick and mortar? Normally I recommend brick and mortar for everyone unless they physically can not attend a scheduled campus class because of schedule or distance or other factors. If he must attend online, then I recommend that he look only at schools that have a brick and mortar campus as well, and where their brick and mortar program has a good rep. That will translate into a good rep for their distance program as well. And accreditation - very, very important! I can't emphasise that enough. The first place to start looking for distance learning programs is your own state college system. If they have an online or distance program, he may be able to have the in-state tuition rate, which will save you $$$. If that's not an option, some great universities that offer online degrees include: University of Massachusetts at Amherst Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Denver University of Maryland Duke University Drexel Carnegie Mellon Penn State Ball State U Nebraska - Lincoln Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Q: What are the pros and cons of online college?
I am thinking about doing an online college. But what are the pros and cons of doing this and if at all possible could you give me some good online colleges. If you have completed college online could you tell me of your experiences? Thank you.

A: The key is to make sure the college/university is accredited. I have three basic recommendations for everyone looking into online/distance education. They all have to do with exploring; after all, you have to defend your assets. 1. Make certain that you have triple checked their accreditation. First, they tell you what it is, then you go to that accrediting body’s website (not through the link provided by the school), and thirdly you would visit the department of education to see what they have to say. Do your diligent research into the institutions once you have narrowed down to a couple. You can look at the Better Business Bureau for more information on the college. 2. You must have extreme self motivation and be able to teach yourself per say. This means that you will not have someone telling you verbally, so it is up to you to get the information from the course room, text, and other resources. The best way to look at it is like a guided independent study course. 3. Review your goals, personal and professional. Make sure that the school that you are going to offers the programs that match your goals. Do not settle. There are many programs that are similar, but you have to make the ultimate decision. Do not let it be based on finances and length of program, but the fact that when you are finished or near finished you will be able to assume your proper place in the career field sought. You should market yourself and not the degree or university. There are many traditional universities offering degrees that can be earned through online methods. Distance Learning Alliance has a list of these traditional online schools. Look at that if you are truly concerned with the name of the school. Good luck on your search!

Q: What are the pros and cons of taking online college schooling?
Im looking into online college schooling, but im a bit skeptical. Can anyone tell me what are the pros and cons? If you have any idea of the best online university out there it would be very helpful.

A: Pro would be convenience. Con would be you must be self motivated. Another con would be the cost - online programs cost way more. A possible pro -- see if a local community college offers online classes. You may be able to get a good chunk of those credits for a LOT less and still have the convenience of online. A possible con -- even though many online colleges are accredited, many of those accrediting bodies are not respected by grad schools and hiring institutions. So you need to ask around in the field you want to enter to see if the school you want to attend has accreditation that is RESPECTED in the field. The school will tell you everything is great -- they want your money. But you don't want to spend all that money -- and it's ALOT -- only to find out your degree won't get you anywhere because no one will actually hire a grad from that school.

Q: How would I find out if an online college is a trustworthy institution to preceed with my studies?
I'm interested in persueing a BS through an online college. I have contacted a few and discussed classes, books, fees, and various other things concerned. All of them seem ok but how do I know for sure who I'm talking to and if they are on the up and up?

A: 1) Is this institution REGIONALLY accredited? (National accreditation from a distance learning agency is worthless.) Here are the regional accreditation associations: Middle States 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 Western Association of Schools and Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 2) Is this institution a real, brick-and-mortar state university or private college with a real-world campus and a respected reputation? Or is it a for-profit business? If it is not a distance learning program that is administered by a state university or a reputable private college, I strongly advise you to look elsewhere.

Q: How to pick a respected online college?
I want to further my education online, but don't know which ones future employers are going to recognize as a true college. There are so many that are nationally accreditted, but does that mean that employers have to recognize that colleges diplomas?

A: Although on-line learning is still not looked at as being a "mainstream" education, if it carries genuine, recognizable accreditation, it typically won't matter. Many times, there will be no distinction as to how the degree was obtained - if it is truly accredited.

Q: Is there online college to just get your GE done?
I see a lot of online colleges, but they're all usually specifically for certain degrees. What if I just want to get some GE out of the way for another college?

A: If you are already enrolled in a college, get permission to do work as a "visiting student" before you do this or your classes may not transfer. If you're planning ahead and just want to do some general education classes to transfer later, make sure that the school you pick is regionally accredited. If it's a state college, even better. This will maximize transferability. Among people interested in distance learning, two colleges are relatively inexpensive and get maximum transferability: Louisiana State http://www.is.lsu.edu/ Brigham Young http://ce.byu.edu/is/site/ You can take some classes via community college but most 4-years limit the transferability of community college credits to lower level with a max 60 hours. The same limits don't apply to courses at regionally accredited 4-year colleges. If you're really brave ☺ Harvard and UC-Berkeley have some outstanding courses taught online. Very few colleges will refuse to transfer in courses from these. Harvard Extension - http://www.extension.harvard.edu/2007-08/DistanceEd/courses/ UC-Berkeley Extension - http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/online/ make sure you take the "for-credit" option and expect that these are far from easy. All of that said, most colleges will allow you to enroll as a non-degree seeking student for the purpose of taking a few classes. If there's a school you'd like to take classes from but don't want their degree, you are usually allowed to do that. There is little to no financial aid for non-degree seeking students though. Don't forget to surf over to the web pages of your local state u and search for their online offerings. Almost everyone is teaching online these days. This is probably the least expensive option. And, if there's a college you're particularly fond of - see if they offer classes you want to take. The heavily advertised "as seen on TV" colleges aren't your only option - they're actually minor players in online college these days. You can take your classes at the best colleges in the world now and not have to visit them. You could even study history or literature at Oxford U. http://onlinecourses.conted.ox.ac.uk/

Q: What is a good online college to consider?
I am looking for an online college other than the University of Phoenix, any suggestions on a good one?

A: There are plenty. Harvard, Oxford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, U Florida, Duke, Florida State, UMass, Johns Hopkins, SUNY and thousands of others all teach online these days. Your state U and local community college also probably teach online now. Almost everyone is teaching online and very many have their whole degree online. My favorite search tool for online programs is at Petersons.com http://www.petersons.com/distancelearning/code/search.asp You have far more choices than those "as seen on TV" colleges. You can pick the best colleges and universities in the world. Since you asked "what is a good..." -- http://www.extension.harvard.edu/2007-08/DistanceEd/courses/ Harvard is outstanding http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/online/ Berkeley has an oustanding rep too. If you study music http://www.berkleemusic.com/ Berklee is among the best in the world If you're looking for a full degree at a good price from a great school, I like UMass http://www.umassonline.net/Home.html

Q: What is the best online college for video game design?
I am considering either The Art Institute Online or Westwood College Online. I really want to be able to get into the industry so that I can one day get a team together to make my own massive multiplayer RPG. I have some really great ideas that haven't been thought of, and I just want to get my foot in the door. I figure getting a degree will get me a portfolio that I can take to a company and get hired on a game design team for whatever. Maybe that will get my foot in the door? Has anyone here taken gotten a good job through one of these online game design courses? I really need online courses so that I can work while I go to school.

A: Interesting question. Actually, I have an MA in Education and blog about online schools so I know a bit about this. ITT Tech has great programs. Colorado Tech does to. The absolute best suggestion I can give though is to check out a new, little-known of free service that matches students with the right online school for them. Their unique because they do a very in depth personality and goals test then they direct you to the schools that fit all your needs. There are alot of smaller online schools that do Video Game design but they don't have the big budgets to advertise that the larger online schools do so it's hard to find info on them ---don't let that stop you. The important thing I always tell people is to get info from the schools directly. Yahoo Answers is great but you have to get the course catalogs, read through them thoroughly then even talk to some of the career counselors and teachers if you can. Good luck! I'll look forward to buying one of the games you created sometime in the future.... PS Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/3bno4h Takes about 45 seconds or so to get all the info you need.....

Q: How long does it take to complete an online college class?
I'm taking an online college class this semester. I'm taking intro to Philosophy. I'm taking it as one of my high school classes. If i stay on a decent schedule, do you think i can finish it in 9 or 10 weeks?

A: Most online classes have a specific start and end date. Some colleges offer accelerated terms... 5 week, 6 week, and 8 week terms being the most common. I attend Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri and my classes last 8 weeks. So, completing an online college course in 9-10 weeks is certainly possible. I'm assuming since you do not know the end date of your course that you are taking an online correspondence course which allows you up to 18 months to complete the course? If so, there is typically a maximum number of assignments which may be turned in per week. If that is not the case, your completion speed is only limited by how many hours you are willing to put into the class per week. Hope that helps!

Q: What are your experiences with online college courses?
I work full time and I've been thinking of taking some college classes online. Is it easy to get started? Do I have to take any general courses before I start the classes (I'm interested in Real Estate) I'm interested in? Any input is appreciated. Thank you!

A: the school you go to and program you choose will determine what pre-requisites, if any, you have to complete here are some things to consider when looking into online classes: - make sure the school is accredited - very important: most of the reading/work will be done on your own so you have to be a self-starter and be self-motivated, you have to be able to learn from what you read and shouldn't be a person who prefers to be "taught" the material - you should be 100% comfortable with computers and the internet - you should have a reliable computer and DSL access from home - you need to make sure that you have "alone time" to dedicate to your class... doing schoolwork while the kids are around or when you are at work or when the kids settle down (at 11pm) will never work

Q: How do colleges feel about online college courses taken while in high school?
I'm a rising senior in North Carolina and I'm taking three online classes this year through UNCG's "iSchool." I also took 2 as a junior. The credits transfer to any college in the UNC system... is this favorable or unfavorable? Thanks for any advice. The classes I'm taking are psych, soc, and anthropology. I took US history 101 & 202 last year.

A: It shows motivation which is good. As long as the "iSchool" is accredited the clases will transfer. Now, they may be considered "remedial" by some colleges and not Freshman level coursework. That depends on where you are transferrring and you need to talk to them. I know that none of the colleges where I am at participate in this kind of program so they would look skeptically on the credits if the school isn't accredited. But if it's not costing you any tution or anything it certainly can't hurt! At the very least you'll know everything when you take the "real" class and do better on the SAT/ACT or entrance exams. Watch the course numbers. For instance here opening History is HIST 1010. For you it's History 101. When the course numbesr don't match exactly the schools look at the description and may ask to see some of the work you did to make sure that you learn everything they want covered, so save that stuff when possible. Here's some information on iSchool transferring: http://ischool.uncg.edu/dcl/web/ischool/youth_ff_transfer.asp Many of those schools are "big names" and not near Cali. I say the program is legit and saves a ton of money so keep up the good work and take as many of them as you can handle!