Can you answer Hi Billy Mays here!’s question about Degrees?:

^^As mentioned above. Looking for reputable, fully-accredited colleges that offer degree programs online for business admin/management.
Seriously, who cares? It doesn’t matter which learning format you used, what counts is that you’ve the degree.

Universities In Europe

As the demand for the online Bachelor degree rises, so do the number of fake colleges and universities.  Some actually offer diplomas for sale to potential customers through bulk emails.  However, many take advantage of innocent and unsuspecting students by offering lower than normal tuition fees, credit for life experiences, no tests, and an easy road to that coveted diploma. If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is the case.

So, how do prospective students determine whether an online college is accredited or only offering bogus online Bachelor degrees?  Especially for International students, it can be very difficult to determine a school’s validity. In most cases it is impossible for distance learners to visit the campus, so the website is the only point of contact before making the choice and enrolling, which makes it hard to determine credibility.

One of the qualifying factors that can be utilized by students to make correct enrolment decisions is by determining the type of college accreditation that has been received by their college of consideration. If the college vaguely states itself as having “nationwide or worldwide accreditation” without stating specifically which regional accreditation body it is accredited with, then most likely this college does not possess legitimate accreditation.

The six accreditation agencies given the authority to grant college and university accreditation are entrusted with governing the institutions within their geographical section of the United States as follows: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA), Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU). With specific states for each agency, it is easier to check whether an online learning facility is accredited and registered.

Another tell-tale sign of bogus online bachelor degrees offered is when the university advertises itself through mass-mailing email featuring university degrees for sale. Many bogus distance learning institutions prey on people who are desperate for a degree, but don’t have the time and money to go for proper education. That is why these colleges boast of degrees without any examinations, classes, studying or even waiting. There are even websites that offer online bachelor degrees for just a few hundred dollars which can be ordered and received within 7 days. Furthermore, some of them also have dubious accrediting links, stating accreditation from agencies which are not any one of the six listed above. Additionally, they offer fixed prices for their Master’s, Bachelor’s, and even Doctorate Degrees. Their justification for awarding degrees will be for giving credit to life experiences such as any type of work experience, any educational background, any workshops or community services attended as well as travel experience, hobbies and even on the number of books that a person has read!

In short, because of the influx of fake degrees, it leaves the employers worried about the legitimacy of online Bachelor Degrees. Thus to avert these fears and ensure you get a job with an online degree, it is imperative to carefully select a college that possesses all the support and resources to provide quality education approved by the U.S. Department of Education, and granted accreditation through one of the 6 designated agencies with the authority to award proper accreditation to legit institutions.



Thanks to M. Jackson for contributing this article to our Degrees blog:

Online Paralegal Degree

Like any other student, students of online courses also need constant tutor support in distance learning to keep themselves involved and motivated. In a physical classroom, the students can maintain eye contact with their teachers and ask questions promptly in case of a doubt; in contrast a distance learning student and teacher are physically away from each other. In such a scenario, using the technology available for imparting education effectively is the most critical factor. Technology now exists that allows teachers and students to communicate in real time.

Distance education also requires changes in behavior for both the teacher and the learner. The successful student develops persistence and self-motivation. The successful distance education teacher becomes fluent with new technology and develops new instructional styles for the benefit of the students.

Can Constant Tutor Support in Distance Learning be Ensured?

In earlier days, teachers involved in distance learning used to interact with their students through telephone, faxes or letters. The turnaround time between the students submission of work and the teachers corrections was relatively slow. However, today with the latest technology being employed for distance education courses, and the successful multimedia interactions between teachers and students, the communication is almost in real-time and sometimes even in real-time. Efficient tutor support in distance learning is largely dependent on how fast a distance education instructor can get familiarized with the technology being employed, devise new teaching methods, and manage student expectations.

Right Guidance Allows Distance Education Students to Perform Better

With the right amount of support from their teachers, distance learning students can perform as well as, if not better than on-campus students. The distance learning instructor has to ensure that his students are constantly involved in the course; the teachers have to encourage dialogues, debates and discussions amongst themselves and their students to ensure that the online students do not feel neglected or lonely. The virtual classroom has often been misconstrued to be a lonely place; however through high activity and collaborative learning, the virtual classroom can be turned into a think-tank of sorts which encourages freedom of thought and expression.

Through being enthusiastic and involved himself, any instructor can lend the right tutor support in distance learning courses. There is opportunity as well for individuals who wish to focus solely on providing tutoring to distance learners. Familiarity with technology, coupled with a genuine interest in the students’ lives brings enthusiasm towards teaching, and sensitivity towards the students’ backgrounds can help a distance education tutor a great deal.



Thanks to Jim Zorn for contributing this article to our Degrees blog:

Online Computer Science Degree

Online degree programs have gained in popularity over the past decade, largely due to the increased availability of computing and Internet technologies and the rising demands posed by work and family obligations. Online degree programs have certainly created greater opportunities for those seeking undergraduate degrees, but they have also expanded the ability of current degree-holders to pursue additional educational goals.

Many online degree programs at the graduate level are focused on furthering business or information technology skills. Both disciplines lend themselves quite well to distance learning methodologies, and provide adequate learning vehicles for the motivated student. As with any graduate degree-program, the challenges facing the student are significantly greater than those facing undergraduate students. Some schools have expanded program offerings to include nursing, educational, and even law-enforcement disciplines. One California law school allows students to pursue a law degree completely through online technology.

Acceptance into graduate-level online degree programs is on par with the entrance requirements of traditional schools, at least for the most part. Some schools have waived the requirement to submit results from a graduate entrance exam (the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the most widely used), and this may diminish the reputability of the school and program. Still, the relaxed entrance requirements can provide more students with the opportunity to pursue graduate-level studies, many of whom might not have such an opportunity in the past.

Regardless of which program and venue is selected, a graduate student can expect to face a tremendous workload and extreme strains on time and effort, certainly far more than those found in undergraduate coursework. Most graduate programs are designed to teach theory versus tangible skills, development of research techniques, critical thinking and problem solving abilities, and mastery of discipline-related literature. The difference between online and traditional degree programs at the graduate level diminishes greatly because of these goals, and a typical student can expect to spend a great amount of time reading, researching, and preparation of advanced written assignments.

Graduate level programs rarely allow for the transfer of outside credits or substitution of classes with comparable coursework or student experience. Most schools, online or traditional, require that a specific amount of graduate credits are earned at the degree-issuing school. By most accounts, this requirement varies from 60-80%, depending on the specific school.

Online students face a greater challenge in the pursuit of their graduate degree in that they lose the live interaction and debate (to some degree) found in traditional classroom environments. Many schools offering online degree programs have met this deficiency by creating more interactive forums and establishing online learning teams that are essential to the completion of complex projects. If you are seeking a graduate degree, you can expect that some of your learning experience (and grade) will depend on the collaboration and work with others.

While graduate programs complete online will vary from traditional or even weekend programs, the benefits are incredible. Many online degree programs at the graduate level are widely accepted by major employers, and can be the difference between a lower-level management position and a mid to upper level position within a company. While not regarded with the same weight and prestige as graduate degrees earned from top level and Ivy League universities, online graduate degrees can open many new career paths for the dedicated student.



Thanks to Keith Londrie for contributing this article to our Degrees blog:

List Of All Colleges Universities

Can you answer Bruce F’s question about Degrees?:

Oxford University offers “The Oxford Experience”, a summer continuing education program that additionally provides the opportunity to “experience” a world renowned university. What similar programs exist in other countries with other major universities?

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