online degree programs psychology | Declare Your Independence From On Campus Degrees
Happy Birthday America!! 
And for you, my little dorm room buddy - here’s some interesting news about the growing acceptance of online degrees by those who have been the most critical - college students.
Of course there are still some people in the world who think that online degrees are easy to obtain and not worth the paper they are printed on. So no matter what, for these people, getting an online degree holds a certain stigma. So they shy away from online programs because they are afraid that employers will think that they did not work hard or learn the right information from an online degree.
And college kids especially tend to fall into this group. They’ve been conditioned to “go to school” which means on campus.
Now, I have to admit, all three of my daughters have or are attending on campus schools, and in fact it’s much more expensive in some cases to take online courses from the same university where one is enrolled. So there is not much incentive here. But the tide is certainly changing.
In recent years a number of students and employers have moved past this old-fashioned way of thinking and embraced this technology as a legitimate means of educational advancement.
According to recent reports from the Sloan Consortium, an association of online learning institutions, enrollment rates at online schools have increased at an annual rate of 9.7 percent, compared to an overall rate of 1.5 percent for all colleges combined. By their count, almost 3.5 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2006 term, and participation in online learning is increasing by 400,000 students a year.
Congress even lifted a rule limited the number of online students eligible for student financial aid, making the transition both convenient and affordable for the masses.
Because of this new mindset and expanding opportunities, online education seems to have come of age, making college available to almost anyone hungry for a degree, and the menu of majors and course topics is endless.
So if you’re a up and coming college student, or some one who has finished their undergrad degree and thinking about your master’s degree you have to decide one main thing - Is an online degree right for you?
While there are many benefits to online degree programs, such as convenience, 24/7 access, self-pacing formats, and more, the process is not designed for everyone.
Most online courses are very challenging, and demand that you work steadily toward a degree within a particular timeframe, and require a serious degree of self-motivation.
As students ponder the pursuit of an online degree, there is more to consider than whether or not they will earn a solid education.
Some students believe that the college experience is something that they would rather not part with, when preparing for their future careers. I can completely understand that. But from my experience with three daughters, some took very well to the dorm and college lifestyle, while others did not. Some think that the social components of the university atmosphere make students more prepared to deal with the world.
However, colleges and universities are slowly putting this idea to rest, beginning to set aside previous notions about online learning, and embracing the new technology. Some students even say that the social part of college, in terms of academics, is done more online than in the classroom.
But it seems that in terms of employment opportunities, students still believe that the name of a standing University or college will provide them with a better chance at employment upon receiving their degrees. But employers are slowly becoming less interesting in this.
In one survey by Eduventures, a research and consulting firm focused on education, only one in three students thought an online degree was comparable to a traditional degree, while 62 percent of employers believed an online degree was equivalent or better.
20 years ago, the only brand of online education in existence was by a familiar set of online universities. But they have increased substantially in recent years, and carried over into traditional environments.
According to elearners.com, there are now approximately 175 accredited online colleges and schools available for prospective students. Not only from small-town colleges with distance learning courses, but many elite universities, such as Harvard, Penn State, NYU, and Vanderbilt.
So it’s time to give it much more thought, I’d say.
later…
Ben
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