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Online degrees gain popularity among college students
By Lisa Scott
There are some people in the world who hold the opinion that online degrees are easy to obtain and not worth anything. For these people, getting an online degree holds a certain stigma. This causes some potential students to 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.
“I never thought to get an online degree because I heard so many negative things about them in the past,” said Cortney Crenshaw, a senior in dance and communication. “I was told that a lot of employers don’t take them seriously, so it never crossed my mind to seriously look into them.”
However, 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, almost overnight, making college available to almost anyone hungry for a degree, and the menu of majors and course topics is endless.
According to elearners.com, a website geared toward educating and connecting students to online education institutions, some of the most sought-after online programs are in the fields of business and health administration, nursing, and engineering. However, areas geared toward education are in extremely high demand.
Terrence Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer for eLearners.com, stated in one report that “Online education breaks down the barriers of traditionally delivered education. The classrooms and faculty are essentially limitless.”
Is it right for you?
Although there are many benefits to online degree programs, which offer convenience, 24/7 access, self-pacing formats, and enough interactive technology to keep one interested, the process is not designed for everyone. Most are found to be very challenging, demand participants work steadily toward a degree within a particular timeframe, and ultimately require that students possess 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.
Desiree Slaughter, a senior in microbiology, said that while online programs may be just as demanding as traditional curriculums, she believes that the social components of the university atmosphere make students more prepared to deal with the world.
“The college experience in itself prepares you for the real world,” Slaughter said. “Yes, online education will provide you with the knowledge you need to do well in your field, but interacting and networking with others at a university is a really strong advantage, and you don’t get that as much online.”
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. OSU even offers some online-based courses for students as an alternative to the lecture/recitation setting.
Some students even say that the social part of college, in terms of academics, is done more online than in the classroom.
“For group projects, we usually just email each other, and instead of going to office hours, it’s easier to just email the TAs, because you get a quicker response,” said Crenshaw.
However, 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 more lax in this area, as well.
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.
Online degrees gain esteem
A couple of decades 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 are these programs from small-town colleges with distance learning courses, but many elite universities, such as Harvard, Penn State, NYU, and Vanderbilt now host impressive online environments.
While the notion that an online degree is inferior may still be around, Slaughter had an optimistic view.
“An Internet degree is better than no degree at all,” she said.
Originally Published: Issue 657 - July 2, 2008
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