Saturday, January 13, 2007

Reach Your Educational Goals without Commuting

Here is an interesting discussion about earning a college or university degree online. There are many top tier accredited colleges and universities that now offer the same curricula and programs as they offer to on-campus students.

Online Degree Courses"If you would you like to reach your educational goals without commuting to lectures, hiring a babysitter, or living on campus, then an online school may be the best option.
The internet has revolutionized the old-fashioned correspondence courses to create distance learning choices that suit every budget and lifestyle.
You can take classes in the convenience of your home with little expense and hassle.
With e-mail, fax, internet access, and media player software, your online school can be a one-person academy in your home or office.
One of the best things about online school is the flexibility that it provides, and you may be able to pursue a full-time job while attending online school in your spare time.
Online school is for a particular kind of student, and not everyone would prefer to take classes at home. If you are an independent-minded person who can organize your time well, then online school is a good option. A student who takes classes online must have the self discipline to view lectures and to complete homework assignments without external pressure. Others might find that online school is lonely, and may prefer the hustle and bustle of activity that is characteristic of typical campus life. However, for those who want a no-nonsense course without the hassles of traveling, then online school is ideal.
Many kinds of courses are available at an online school, but degrees that rely heavily on practical instruction, such as driving, culinary arts, and nursing cannot be taken exclusively online. However, there may be a good portion of these courses available online, and the student who learns from his or her computer may be able to complete about half the coursework online, and half at a school where the practical aspects of the course are taught. Some courses may be available exclusively online. Many humanities courses and business degrees can be obtained through distance learning. Others requires some on-site work as well as home study.

If you have a home office with the basic features and a computer with a good modem, you can easily begin learning at an online school. You will want to ensure that the school is accredited and that your degree will be recognized in your state or country. You can download lectures to your media player program, or you can purchase DVDs. Once you have seen the lectures, you may be able to ask questions of your instructor via e-mail or cell phone. There may be an internet chat between the instructor and his or her students in which you can participate and ask you questions. Homework assignments can be produced on your word processor and turned in via e-mail attachments or fax. The internet has made distance learning easier and an achievable goal for many.
Final exams may require you to travel to a certain site or other specifications to prevent cheating. However, some online courses rely heavily on papers rather than exams, and these papers can be handed in like regular homework. Some instructors might want to give an oral exam over the telephone, while others prefer more traditional exam conditions. Make sure you understand the rules and regulations about qualifying exams before applying to an online school, because you will not want to be surprised halfway through a course. While going to a campus occasionally may be an option for some, other students manage to earn a degree at an online school exclusively by using their home computer, and these schools vary in their requirements.
As long as your online school is accredited, your degree should be accepted like any other degree from an equivalent institution. Many people who have put off continuing education in the past because of travel difficulties or work conflicts have been able to complete their degrees by applying to online schools. "

Take a look at all of the great accredited online degree programs listed at eLearningYellowPages.com. You may be surprised at how many top tier schools are listed. At most schools, you can apply and start immediately. There is no wait.

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