online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

I was on FB and on the side of my screen there was an ad for a Masters degree program with the same accreditation as the degree I received the old fashioned way, in person

I am wondering what other people's experiences have been or how they view these degrees? How are these degrees viewed by employer's?

I am NOT looking to knock online degrees as I say I really do not know much about them, I am just asking out of curiosity.

Message edited 6/11/2010 8:46:13 PM.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

I don't think an online degree is any different from a degree from the brick and mortar school.

And I don't think it will take too much longer for a completely virtual school to be viewed the same as B&M.

just think, HSers who were born in 95-96 were born when the internet was public. they learn completely different from how we learned. This is all they know...It's the older generation that needs to conform and change our thinking.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

As long as the degrees are from and accredited school, I think they are the same as traditional degrees.

I took a bunch of classes through SUNY's distance learning center and I found them more difficult then sitting in a class. You need the discipline to do the work, it takes a lot of time (I spent more time on online classes then I ever did with a traditional class) and you have to be able to work independently. There is guidance by the professors and your can discuss issues with your classmates but most of it is on the student.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

My husband is an accounant. He got his MS through SUNY IT. It was completely online. He said it was hard, but convenient.

I don't think it has had an impact on his career at all because I am proud to say that at 27 he is pretty successful. (Director of Accounting) at his company.

I also wanted to add, last night we had this conversation with some friends of the differnece of where you get your degree from. Like is someone who graduated with a BS in accounting from Hofstra a better option vs. someone with a BS in accounting from Briarcliffe?

My husband is very good at what he does and he has no "good" school behind his name. Suffolk, Briarcliffe, SUNY IT.


I am actually starting my MS in accounting through them also in Sept.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

I would think for certain degrees (like the MSW program I was a part of), going the traditional route MAKES the program. I cannot imagine doing my MSW degree online and not having the interaction of the other students to discuss issues with.

It's hard enough now being a social worker and not having support of colleagues to turn to often (I work in a for-profit host environment where social workers are not really valued).

I can't imagine being new and starting out and trying to go at it all alone.

I do understand that for many, this is the only option though.

Before online became "the norm" I know the social work school I graduated from started a program (that is still in effect) for students who lived in places where social work schools didn't exist, could come and complete their classes during the summer, and do their field placement in their area the rest of the year.

I also wonder, just throwing this out there, why this may be yet another reason newer grads are having difficulty finding work? Someone said it above about us "oldies" needing to learn to change our thinking about degrees and how they are earned.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

When I got my degree, some courses were offered online and they were very convenient. But for most others, I definitely felt the experience and anecdotal stories from the professor were invaluable, in terms of 'what would you do in this situation?. I dont think that would come across in an online class.

ed: I also got my internship placement, and ultimately my first job from a contact I made through one professor. She went out on a limb for me and recommended me because we had made a connection and she saw my work ethic. I would imagine that type of networking would very different had we not had face to face contact every week.

Message edited 6/12/2010 9:19:06 AM.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

DH did his MPA online with Marist College. It was pretty tough. Lots of deadlines for papers and weekly assignments. The teachers are able to log on and see which students are logged on and participating in the assignment. Not a place for slackers.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

I think getting an online degree from a "regular" college is different then some of those ads. Some of them are for schools that are online only.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

I also wanted to add that my husband and I both teach online courses for University of Phoenix - Axia College.

If you have specific questios send me a PM I can tell you how the classes we teach are ran.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

i got my degree from university of phoenix online

mba/accounting i loved it

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

I am glad that you posted this question. I have thought about taking online classes and wondered how my degree would be 'judged'.

I am also glad that people who did take online classes found them to useful and they graduated.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

DH is going for his degree in Funeral Directing and it is almost exclusively online. They also have a traditional classroom based curriculum, but with only 50 or so colleges in the country offering the degree, it made sense for them to put it all online.

Obviously, there are some classes that just can't be taken online (for DH this will be his embalming/restorative arts course.. the hands on part, the classroom materials are online)

His schedule is very strict, the deadlines are tight and the courses hard. Like a prior poster stated, self discipline is a must. He can't cheat/open book on finals either, they're proctored remotely with a 360 degree camera (with sound so nobody can be in the background calling out answers) and special software which can tell if you leave the screen you're on (so, no having a small window open under the test etc)

As far as his degree goes, no one will know whether his degree came from the AAMI online or traditional program.... if the school you're going to has both brick and mortar and online degrees there is no difference in them. There's no asterisk after an online degree........ so unless you offered the information that it was done online, how could anyone judge?

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

I think they are slowly becoming more legit. I used to think online degrees were a joke, but now they are gaining a reputation. The only thing I do not like is the fact that anyone can do them, they pretty much accept everyone. Especially for an MS in accounting.... no GMATS. Which is a great thing, but it also makes it a degree that pretty much anyone can get now.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

DH is doing the cert. in administration at Stony Brook - some of his classes are online, some are on campus. He says the online classes are much harder because you have to do everything yourself.

in the end, his certification will say from Stony Brook, no one will care if its online or not.

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

Re: online degrees vs. traditional degrees?

I took classes online with The Art Institute for a few years. It was pretty hard to do while working full time. Attendance is a huge thing with this school. You have to log in a certain amount of hours a week and there were even some group assignments where you had to work with your classmates. The school is amazing though! You have access to your class roster with your classmates email addresses so you are able to talk to everyone if you need help. Same goes with the teachers. They are totally accessible if you need them. I ended up leaving a year before I would have graduated because I decided to do something else but it was a great experience. The only bad thing was how expensive it was