There are many perks to taking an online degree program.
First, you can earn your degree without being limited by place or proximity. Second, if you are a family person who still wants to earn a degree without leaving your house often, this program can make it easier for you. However, many people still think that online degree programs are a bit risky, considering that they are very different from a normal education program. Furthermore, online degree programs had such limited options in terms of fields in the past.
Today, however, online degree programs have grown in both numbers and reputation.
We can choose from thousands of accredited online degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Although students should beware of diploma mills, legitimate online degree programs exist for almost every field of study. The flexibility of this program continues to become favorite among working professionals, military members, and parents.
There are several factors to consider before taking an online degree program.
Accreditation is, of course, the very first thing that we must consider. Students must make sure that the program they want to choose is legitimate and reputable. In U.S., for example, there are two kinds of accreditation for online degree programs, which are regional and national (DETC) programs. Both forms are recognized by the United States Department of Education. Regional education is the most widely-accepted type of accreditation and is sought by most traditional colleges. Online degree programs with DETC accreditation are also respected by many schools and employers.
Plus, to make it more suitable, each student should pay attention to the personal learning preferences.
Narrow your choices to online degree programs that will fit your schedule, your need for teacher/student interaction, and your preferred type of studying such as self-paced or in a study group.
Last but not least, consider positive recommendations or feedback from former students and the history of the program’s stability.
Do not consider online degree programs that make outrageous promises, such as mailing you a degree based completely on life experience or after only a week of work.
