The Internet revolution has changed the way we live, work, and especially learn. The process of receiving and imparting knowledge and information has become almost effortless. This progress has also introduced the system of online education from various universities thereby making it possible for many students/working executives to pursue their interests from reputable universities, making it affordable and time saving. Nevertheless, there are some factors that you must verify before selecting degree programs from online universities for further education.
Accredited Online Degrees: Six regional accrediting associations (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, Western) grant membership to various reputable universities in the US. Find an accredited university that offers your degree/program of interest. A non-accredited university implies that the institution does not comply with the current educational standards.
(Verified) Online success: It is imperative to choose a program and an online university with a good track record in terms of online success. Technical support should be available 7 days a week without any software crashing. Students who have already completed degree programs from that university can verify this from various testimonials. The online university should offer support through e-mails, video conferencing, video streaming, bulletin boards and websites with user-friendly software.
Online faculty: You should check who the faculty members are, the student-professor interaction method, whether professors are trained in instructing online classrooms for the chosen degree/program, and if they can be contacted at any time.
Financing: You should make a note if an online university participates in the funding process, if there is any other way to fund the course, or if the tuition fee is reimbursed by your own employer (for working executives).
Customer service: The online university should be customer-oriented. To avoid confusion, effort, and waste of time, you must select that online university that provides an administrator who can assist you in the enrollment process.
Graduation schedule: You could also check the curriculum and graduation schedule from the online university beforehand to avoid extending timelines. Even on a part time basis, an individual must complete the degree in two to three years.
Alumni: It is usually a good practice to meet some alumni to know the success and satisfaction provided by the online university in their chosen degree programs. You can also visit the campus to meet students and understand their level of satisfaction and experience with the university; and read reviews and opinions of the alumni to better understand the online universityÕs functioning.
Small classes: You must ensure that the online universities offering their degree programs have a lower number of students per class to ensure better interaction with other students and the professor in charge. Conversely, you must check whether the online university receives large enrollments for particular online degrees. This enhances the credibility of the course as well as the institution.
Pursuing online degree programs requires effort and time, just like any traditional campus-based course. Hence, it is imperative to know your field of interest and long-term goals since, although online universities degree programs provide convenience and flexibility, they do require commitment.
