Accreditation

There are several factors that should be considered when evaluating and selecting an online school as your choice for undergraduate or graduate degrees.

Accreditation is perhaps the most critical factor in selecting an online school. You want your degree to be respected by potential employers and have validity in the marketplace. It’s important that you research this before you pay any money, and also ensure that the accreditation has been granted by a qualified agency. Before a school is accredited, its programs and procedures are thoroughly reviewed and must meet certain minimum qualification criteria. The purpose is to protect the students and ensure that the education they receive meets the standards established by the granting agency. There is no point in spending your money on a degree given by a “diploma mill” that will not be recognized by those who might otherwise offer you a job.

The most widely accepted is regional accreditation that is offered by these six organizations: New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. You want your school to be accredited by an agency approved by either the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U. S. Department of Education. Some online schools are accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council. While this is recognized by many employers, it’s not as universally accepted as regional accreditation which assures transfer credits between most schools.

Faculty and Staff

Any school is only as good as the people who run it and do the teaching. You should look for online schools that have educational credentials comparable to any normal college or university. Most professors have a doctorate in their area of expertise, or they are on their way to obtaining one. You want the people conducting the online discussions and grading your assignments to be very capable and knowledgeable. They should be participating in continuing education programs that keep them up to date on their particular specialty.

You also want to make sure that the teachers have full support from the school’s staff. This includes the necessary funding and latest tools to facilitate the instruction process. Another aspect of this is the student/teacher ratio. If your teachers have too many students, it will be impossible for them to give you the kind of personal attention necessary to be successful. The staff is responsible for ensuring that every teacher’s workload does not create an oppressive burden on their available time. The better schools will offer “virtual office” hours that are set aside for students who have questions or need special assistance. They will also provide various ways to communicate including email, instant messenger, and telephone.

Coursework and study plan

Your search for the right school must focus on the course of study that you want to pursue, since not all schools offer the same programs or degree levels. The school should be able to furnish you with a curriculum or syllabus that details the proposed plan of study. This should be reviewed thoroughly to ensure you are getting the type of coursework and content that you expect to receive. The school should also be able to provide you with a booklist so that you can estimate the added cost of purchasing the proper textbooks. Some schools are equipped with a multimedia platform that is targeted to people who prefer an auditory and visual learning environment.

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Depending on the school, you may have some flexibility in the course schedule. Some require active and regular participation in virtual classes and have established completion dates for assignments. Others permit you to work at your own pace and may allow you to finish your degree requirements in less time than is normally allocated. If you are working full time or have other personal obligations, you should determine in advance what the specific policies are for the schools you are interested in.

Online and Offline Support

Before considering an online school, make sure that you have a computer with adequate speed and memory to handle large files, videos, and other multimedia. Find out if the school requires special software and whether or not they offer discounts through licensed downloads or quantity purchases. At a minimum, you should have the Microsoft Office suite or comparable word processing and spreadsheet programs. You may want to set up special email and instant messaging accounts so that all your school affairs are in one place.

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Another important consideration is your study environment at home. If you don’t live alone, you will need privacy and quiet time to participate in online activities, study, and complete your assignments. Ideally you will have a separate office space with your computer, printer, phone, and fax machine. If that’s not possible, do your best to carve out an area where you can be alone for as much time as needed without frequent interruption.

Make sure the school you choose has a firm commitment to open and regular two-way communication with all the students. If you are stuck on a problem, you don’t want to be in a position where you have to wait days before you can get someone to help you. Do plenty of research and seek recommendations from those you trust that have experienced online education firsthand. Once the school has your money, it’s very difficult to step back and start over. Lastly, find out how successful the school is at placing its graduates in steady jobs. That’s a very good indicator of the quality and reputation of the school and its graduate community.

Selecting online schools is somewhat subjective, but these ten are worth a look.

· DeVry University (http://www.devry.edu) – offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business management, telecommunications management, computer information systems, electrical engineering, and technology management. Interact with both students and faculty, and extensive job placement assistance.

· University of Phoenix (http://www.phoenix.edu) – wide variety of both onsite and online classes. Offers associate through doctoral degree programs. Areas of study include criminal justice, health care, nursing, human services, education, business, and technology.

· American Intercontinental University Online (http://www.aiuonline.edu) – offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice, information technology, business administration, education, and visual communication.

· Kaplan University (http://talent.kaplan.edu/home.aspx) – offers associate’s through master’s degrees in business, paralegal studies, arts & sciences, health care, criminal justice, and information systems & technology.

· Capella University (http://www.capella.edu) – offers bachelor’s degrees in business and information technology and master’s degrees in human services, education, psychology, business, and information technology. Also available are career counselors and enrollment advisors.

· Colorado Technical University Online (http://www.ctuonline.edu) – offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Disciplines include information systems and technology, criminal justice, public administration, health sciences, and business management.

· Keller Graduate School of Management (http://www.devry.edu/keller) – graduate level management degrees in project management, accounting & finance, business administration, public administration, technology management, and human resources.

· Keiser University eCampus Online (http://www.keiseruniversity.edu) – offers associate’s through master’s degrees in various disciplines. Areas of study include health science, criminal justice, business, nursing, public safety, accounting, and computer technology.

· The Art Institute of Pittsburgh (http://www.aionline.edu) – offers degree programs in graphic design, interior design, digital design, web design, game art & design, interactive media design, advertising, residential planning, culinary management, and hotel & restaurant management.

· Westwood College Online (http://www.westwood.edu) – offers degree programs in computer networking, information systems & technology, accounting, marketing, design, business administration, fashion merchandising, and criminal justice.