online degree vs. traditional degree

[maknithappen]

I read all of the previous posts and I just had to comment. Currently, I am the proud owner of a GED. I’ve had college courses and right now i’m in the beginning stages of pursuing a psychology degree at the ground campus of University of Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ. I’m not surprised to hear those who went the traditional route for their education pought and maybe look down at those who chose a less traditional route, but i have to say that as a corporate employee for the past 6 yrs i really haven’t noticed much of a difference in what i offer as an employee to what degreed persons offer.

Without a degree I have managed to climb the corporate ladder and at each step earned more money. Currently, I have a well paying position with in a well respected Aerospace company and i’m working side by side with college grads who have no idea that all I have is a “GED”. This tickles me to death….

Now don’t get me wrong, higher education is very important and without it i’m not sure how far I could actually go without years of experience, but note that i’ve made it very far without it. However, being that I have no interest in staying within the corporate world career wise, my only option was to go to school full-time while maintaining this job in order to obtain the career that i ultimately want as a psychiatrist….

In reality, I think that by not jumping right into school and taking my time to develope real skills necessary in the business world i have learned what it takes to be a serious student. Unlike, most people who did go straight into college after high school I’m not gonna drop out or change majors 20 times… Now, I am ready and I will not have to call my parents for help, eat roman noodles every meal, or take out thousands of dollars in student loans b/c there’s tuition reimbursements and a nice salary to support myself with.

[SGTIT]

For all the people who think less of online degrees here is a little something for you. I am in the military and I am a Information technology tech. I do the job everyday and on bigger networks than most companies. The US Army maintains networks from the whitehouse to the soldier in the field and our network has much bigger threats to it than most companies out there today. The US Army’s network is also more complex becuase of its nature, it can be moved on the drop of a dime half way around the world. A lot of my soldiers and myself take classes in the classroom and online. Do you think that someone who attends in a classroom is better qualified to maintain a network then one of my soldiers who attends online and works everyday to maintain a secure network from real threats. The truth is the paper the degrees are printed on is the same and in most cases look the same. Unless you back track and looked very carefully at where the person spent thier time you would never know. There are also traditional colleges and universities like the university of Phoenix that are not very selective when it comes to admissions. So think before you talk out of the side of your neck because there are many tradition universities and colleges that not great by any standard. If you go to traditional classes don’t think you have to justify your experience by putting other programs down. The person you talk about might be the guardian of your freedom!

[carolwhite]

Online degrees from accredited colleges are very much recognized and considered to be at par with on campus courses. When you want to take up a course while working or managing your home, online degrees are the best option for you. Now, colleges like Utah’s Stevens-Henager also offer courses that are a mix of online and on campus. It’s an accredited college so its degree is very much valued.

[mclovin85]

quote:

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Originally posted by carolwhite

Online degrees from accredited colleges are very much recognized and considered to be at par with on campus courses. When you want to take up a course while working or managing your home, online degrees are the best option for you. Now, colleges like Utah’s Stevens-Henager also offer courses that are a mix of online and on campus. It’s an accredited college so its degree is very much valued.

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Accredited by who? Do you get a commission Ms. Salesperson?

Who values this degree? What kind of recruiters does your school (don’t try to tell me you’re not affiliated with this school) attract? Does your school have high standards of admission or do you make a commission on new customers/students?

Look out guys. Something doesn’t smell right here.

[HistoryTeacherJack]

There is a problem with this entire forum. All of the arguments for the University of Phoenix are valid but still does not speak to the quality of education.

Somebody up there said 19, 20, and 21 is too young to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. You’re probably right, but going to University isn’t just about making money or getting the bigger cubicle. The University experience is suppose to educate the individual. One who goes to a college or university was once considered a learned individual. Now it’s all about the $$$.

The fact is, corporate America does not care. Some smaller employers may, but bigger ones don’t. That is because a 4 year degree does not mean anything in that world. It really doesn’t, it’s just a way to sort applications.

However, as far as academics go online colleges are and always will be a laughing stock. Try getting into a Ph.D. program for psychology or history (if online colleges even offer history degrees, which i doubt due to the actual research involved) with your background from University of Phoenix. Can anyone name me one professor at the University of Phoenix who is respected in his field?

My point is for the guy working at nextel/sprint, ( i worked at verizon wireless for 7 months months and had to walk out one day, realizing I didn’t go to school for this) you don’t need a degree to preform your job their, they just like it when you have one…from anywhere…it doesn’t matter. So UOP caters to that market. For the degrees that mean nothing. So, if you want a degree for your advancement at your current job, go for it. UOP is right for you. But if you’re looking for an EDUCATION then go to a real school.

[Sophie03]

quote:

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Originally posted by tdeancon

Do potential employers look disparagingly at online degrees?

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This is an excellent question, and one I found that most of the students I work with ask.

Employers want a good employee, this is the bottom line, they want to know that they are not getting an employee who cannot accomplish the tasks put before him or her.

The students on the other hand need to get the necessary education and still maintain their life, and current responsibilities.

The colleges which recognize this offer education with an online option. Colleges that are on the up and up elect to be Accredited, which means that their online classroom has to mirror the requirements of the physical classroom, and this is regulated by frequent check ups on the college.

If you are attending a regionally Accredited college, then your education will be the same as a traditional college or they would loose the accreditation and their reputation would be on the line.

Ask the college if the degree you recieve states the degree was online, the college I worked for had physical locations as well as an online option and the degree doesn’t say online.

I hope this is helpful.

Sophie,

[vehria01]

No one seems to be asking one important question, how do online courses know that its YOU getting the degree? I mean, i knew a guy that had his girlfriend get his GED for him online. And i knew another person that recieved a degree online from an accedited online school and she didnt do even half the work! she had family members do it for her! In a classroom setting you cant get away with this kind of behavior. But hey if the degrees are the same and jobs look at it the same then why doesnt everyone cheat the system? I mean it sounds sweet, you can get other people to do your work for you and you still get the degree, you cant beat that right?! You could just wing it when you go to your job cause like that one guy on here said, you just need hands on experiance. So i guess my really question is, if the degrees are the same, then why put your self through the stuggle of going to a traditional college where you cant cheat the system?

gigi

[vehria01]

Online colleges big solution to stop students from cheating the system is to make the course more interactive? I dont think this solution is a very good one, you could just get your buddy who already has a degree in the online field you want the degree in, do it for you. And when your friend finishes the course for you and you pay them 100 bucks or so, then the degree is yours! waa la! I really dont understand how online schools are able to be accedited if it is so easy to cheat and get a degree? Are the onlines school so nieve as to believe that people have high moral values? In this day and age? With corpoorate fraud and even government corruptions? I mean people kill other people over $20 now a days. So why would an online school expect anything less then people cheating the system? It makes no sense. Bottom line, if people can get something the easy way, they will. If they can hand out rewards like a degree online then they should also hand out punishments online, like instead of a person going to jail in person, they could just show up online!

gigi

[Corrine101]

I must say that the fact that you think an online degree is easy speaks volumes about the amount of research you actually put into your replies. Online school is very hard, harder if you ask many people. Distance Learning is a different way of learning and that speaks for itself. Not to mention that you must have the motivation and self discipline to complete your course. University of Phoenix is an accredited school, look it up.

As for getting someone else to complete their work, good luck. I do not know anyone who will do someone elses work for them just because. It takes an extreme amount of dedication and time to go to school online, ask anyone who does.

We are in the age of technology right now. So does it mean that if you order a book or clothes online that they will be pof less value of the ones you pirchased in a store? Everyone pays for their education.

Come on people, get with the new age, I mean seriously what are you afraid of?

And no I do not work for University of Phoenix to the imbociles taht will try that angle. I am a student and the work is not easy and yes I am proud to be a Phoenix!

Corrine101

[Corrine101]

One last thing, you can also get someone to do papers for you at a traditional school as well. These online schools have policies in place and sorry to say that if your homeowrk and quizzes don’t add up to your required participation as far as the level of knowledge obtained, you will be in trouble. Participation is required daily in discussions and I hardly think anyone has 15-20 hours a week to give away to get someone elses degree.

Corrine101

[Corrine101]

Thought this might put an end to the bs on this thread. A study that was conducted by the United States Department of Education:

“How competitive is an online degree in the job market compared to the traditional degrees?” This debate has been going on for far too long and that is why the United States Department of Education conducted a study to put to rest the curious minds of many. Results from the 12-year study revealed that online degrees which are as a result of online classes and examinations are somewhat more effective than the traditional degrees which are as a result of face-to-face tuition. Online classes are convenient, interactive, interesting (due to the audio, video etc materials used in teaching) and the fact that one has direct access to an assigned professor or lecturer makes it far much more effective than traditional face-to-face classes.

A 12 year study dtermined that online degrees actually are more effective than traditional ones. My answer is now supported by facts. Don’t believe me, do the research yourself, as any critical thinker should.

Corrine101

[Greeni2]

I think that it definitely depends on the person that is looking to hire you – some people do have strong biases towards online schools, traditional education, rankings, etc. But I believe that if you prove yourself a beneficial worker and positive asset to the company that something as miniscule as where you got your degree will not make or break if you get the job. Show that you have the skills they are looking for and be confident in your academic accomplishments!

[Author]

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