Online Degrees 101

By: Rick Duncan
Submitted: 2008-10-27 18:02:17
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Online degrees are all the rage these days as they rise in popularity with students of all ages. You might wonder what makes an online education so special; after all, when most of us think of college, we picture big lecture halls, cafeterias and dorm rooms. An online program is off campus, via the Internet, and this article offers an introduction into the interesting world of online college degrees.

An online program has some similarities to on-campus courses—for example, if you want to enroll in an online criminal justice program, you’ll take the exact same classes, read the same books, write the same papers and take the same tests as on-campus students. Most online degrees are comparable in cost to their campus counterparts, and once you graduate, your degree will look identical to those of students who attended a campus program. What you get is the same, but how you get there is quite different.

In an online degree program, you won’t come to campus for class. Instead, your course lectures will be delivered via email or in a web-based classroom interface. Rather than meet with your professor after class or during office hours, he or she will be available to answer questions via email or in an online chat program. You’ll discuss course topics with your peers in discussion boards and forums, and you’ll turn in assignments by uploading them to your virtual classroom or by sending them to your professor as an email attachment.

As an online student, your classroom is wherever you can find an Internet connection. For many, that’s at home, but if you have a laptop, you could attend class in your most comfortable recliner, your favorite coffee shop or an airport terminal while waiting for your next flight.

Not only are you free from commutes to campus filled with traffic and the hassle of finding a parking spot, you’re also unbound by a campus-dictated schedule. Instead of coming to class every Monday night from 6:00 until 9:00, you’re free to download your lectures and read the material whenever it’s most convenient for you – on your daily lunch break or maybe after the kids have gone to bed. Most online degree programs have some time stipulations, but generally it’s a requirement that you log onto your virtual classroom or that you contribute to your class’ discussion a specific number of times each week.

This kind of scheduling freedom is one reason online education appeals to so many people. It’s a great alternative for parents who can complete their schoolwork at home and save the time and money it takes to hire a babysitter. If you’re working a job, you may find that you can’t commit to a particular school schedule, but you won’t have to worry about job interference if you enroll in an online program.
Online education opens up a world of opportunity to people whose family and career commitments have previously made it difficult to go back to school. Now, all you need is a computer and a reliable Internet connection, and a college degree can be yours.

Article source: Expert Articles