Are online degrees legit? As technology has increased so has accessibility of information. This has been the case with education as well.
The Value of Online Degrees Years ago it would have been absurd to think about getting an online degree but now it is becoming more and more common because of learning management software that is allowing schools to provide online classes. A major concern that is coming up though is whether or not the online degree is recognized in the real-world. It is very important to make sure that you are choosing an accredited online school when you are looking for an online education. There should be an official organizational accreditation backing your education and you can find out on the website or by calling. Even with the right accreditation many employers may turn their nose up at the sight of an online degree. It may be to your advantage to get an online degree that is associated with a brick and mortar institution.
Find an Accredited University Many employers feel like online degrees are not personal enough or applicable enough but if you find an accredited university to get your online degree with there is still required face-time. Things are a lot more interactive and require students to be much more invested. Many online credits don’t transfer because they are not recognized by other institutions. This can be in lieu of the fact that many feel that online classes are easier. This depends wholly on the institution that you attend and the types of classes they offer. Sometimes online classes are actually harder. This may not be seen by your employer which makes it imperative that you choose a recognized institution that is known for quality classes.
Online Degrees in the Job Market One way that an online degree may be seen as less than legitimate is that the student is not face to face with other students. This holds back learning and future networking as well.
Many online schools offer benefits in order to allow effective networking and face time but it is not the same as traditional students. There still is an extra needed effort but if students push themselves they will be able to succeed. While many of these things factor into employers seeing online degrees as less than up to par, there is still an influx of online degree recipients who are showing their abilities in the market place. Ultimately time will weed out those can’t use their education effectively whether that is a traditional student alumnus or online alumnus. The market is a perfect place to test the abilities of students who are choosing an online degree over a standard traditional one.
Concluding Thoughts So in conclusion, it really is important to check the accreditation of the school and institutions involved themselves. Also checking with your desired future employers to see if they have accepted people with online degrees before is important. Society can pre judge all they want but it is results that prove the efficiency and knowledge of students. There are more and more students contributing to the name of online degrees and this number will only continue to grow.