Online undergrad/grad degrees: equivalent to traditional in-person?

Sawfish

Sawfish

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These are especially in vogue now, after COVID.

Very many traditional colleges/universities now offer them, and the grant the same degree as for in-person learning, in most cases.

The method of delivery varies a bit. I don't purport to be well-versed, but it seems to fall out between "at your own pace" (AYOP), or "synchronized" (S).

AYOP means that the students are given an assignment with no firm due date. There is contact with instructors on request, but not otherwise, and there is little/no group discussion/participation. They are tested/monitored when ready, and proceed to the next assignment until they take a final exam and pass/fail the course. Grading for AYOP is often pass/Fail.

S starts at a fixed date and has either group attended web-meetings/lectures, and assignments and exams are due at predetermined dates. Progress thru such a curriculum is similar to in-person. Grading is usually 4.0 scale.

Have you heard of this? Do you have any 1st/2nd hand information?

What are your opinions on the general effectiveness of this type of edu as opposed to traditional in-person?

Do you think that employers, if they know the graduate obtained his/her degree in a non-traditional program, will value it as much as traditional?
 

JaniceM said:
"Been there, done that- twice."
Most employers seem to value it as much.

A concern I have, though, is some places claim individuals can obtain certifications/diplomas/degrees fully online whereas that's not the case at all.
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What actually happens?
 

JaniceM said:
Oh, I mean for example a person may be led to believe all they need for various fields are the online courses, but the fact is they do need some in-person training.
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What I've found is that a degree or certificate is a sort of "guarantee" that you have achieved competency in the basic practices of a technique or process of some sort. There's the added implication that you have enough perseverance to complete the program.

Then, most stuff is either true IP-type knowledge or informal IP (the "company way" of doing process X) so the on-the-job training, formal or informal, covers that.

I'd like to think that some fields, like healthcare, would actually have a fair amount of direct and repeated training, but things like SW, once you have a basic fund of experience, you can come up to speed very quickly on a new job.
 
At one point, in Riyadh, I temporarily assisted in reviewing submissions for an associated project.....it appeared that, in a city/country I won't name, they were churning out documentation on demand......"Oh, you're not looking for someone with 'these' qualifications? Hold on, I'll be right back".
 
I've never understood how people could get degrees through an online course. Even Masters degrees? What prevents them from cheating their way through the program? My daughter had to go to college for 4 years and then another 2 years to get her Masters. It would make me nervous knowing the nurse taking care of me in a hospital got her diploma while sitting home munching Fritos in front of her computer. That sounds a little harsh, I know, but that's what comes to mind when I think about online degrees.
 
Nemo2 said:
At one point, in Riyadh, I temporarily assisted in reviewing submissions for an associated project.....it appeared that, in a city/country I won't name, they were churning out documentation on demand......"Oh, you're not looking for someone with 'these' qualifications? Hold on, I'll be right back".
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You have just touched on a huge problem that the Canadian visa officers in our Embassies in the middle east face on a daily basis. Fraudulent education and identity papers. In some cases the country ( Nigeria ) is so infamous for this practice, that about 80 percent of the applications from that country, are denied by the Canadian Government on the basis of fraud. In India it is a way of life to "buy a degree " and in many cases buy a complete identity package, too. JimB,
 
jimintoronto said:
You have just touched on a huge problem that the Canadian visa officers in our Embassies in the middle east face on a daily basis. Fraudulent education and identity papers. In some cases the country ( Nigeria ) is so infamous for this practice, that about 80 percent of the applications from that country, are denied by the Canadian Government on the basis of fraud. In India it is a way of life to "buy a degree " and in many cases buy a complete identity package, too. JimB,
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Very true.
 
I graduated from a California university with a 4 year degree, lived at home and commuted on a motor scooter. My parents paid for it, but in those days it was cheap. In my opinion the advent of easily obtained student loans has driven the cost of a college education through the roof. On-line has got to be far less expensive. For that reason I suspect it will become increasingly well designed and attractive. Better? Probably not, but far more affordable and available, even if the social aspect of college is diminished.
 
I have taught online college classes hence my username but while it’s fine for some classes for others in person is essential. Some skills have to be learned in a hands on environment.
 
ElCastor said:
I graduated from a California university with a 4 year degree, lived at home and commuted on a motor scooter. My parents paid for it, but in those days it was cheap. In my opinion the advent of easily obtained student loans has driven the cost of a college education through the roof. On-line has got to be far less expensive. For that reason I suspect it will become increasingly well designed and attractive. Better? Probably not, but far more affordable and available, even if the social aspect of college is diminished.
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Sounds about right....
 
I knew a woman who went from an associates in nursing which was in person and got her BSN online. Now with that being nursing, she had to do some in person clinical hours also. But she was pleased with the education she got.

People go back to school later in life, they work, they have kids, lots of obligations. College is expensive. This gives them flexibility for less money. I say it's a good thing.
 
My granddaughter got her teacher's certificate online a couple of years ago, can't remember the details but she did this with the help of a college about 50 miles from here, they set it up for her...the online courses were from a state up north. She was working and doing this at night, it took her about 3 or 4 years....after she finished with the courses, she had to take a test from the state of Texas in addition to all the test online.
 
Sawfish said:
Online undergrad/grad degrees: equivalent to traditional in-person?
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Hard to say, different for sure, but equivalent, maybe, maybe not, maybe better.

No matter they are here to stay, and I suspect we'll be the better for it.

Missing out on dorm life and the partying would be one difference that comes to mine.

Do you know how they handle lab classes, like chemistry or biology. Seems like that would require some attendance...
 
Alligatorob said:
Hard to say, different for sure, but equivalent, maybe, maybe not, maybe better.

No matter they are here to stay, and I suspect we'll be the better for it.

Missing out on dorm life and the partying would be one difference that comes to mine.

Do you know how they handle lab classes, like chemistry or biology. Seems like that would require some attendance...
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I don't know if e-courses are offered for these kinds of majors. Seems impossible to me.

It implies a completely different college experience based on major, doesn't it? Dorms, frats for the sciences, online degrees in isolation for business, etc.
 
What troubles me today, is the fact that one can become and R.N. using the on-line path. Uh-uh. My course of study was in an accredited Nursing School in a teaching hospital. Each discipline required classroom, lab, and patient care work in that medical specialty. It is the absolute best way to guarantee one will become an extremely knowledgeable practitioner in the field of nursing. One takes one's chances on nurses today with such slip shod methods of obtaining a degree.

Imagine if doctors using on-line paths to gaining a medical degree. I shudder at the thought.
 
Alligatorob said:
Hard to say, different for sure, but equivalent, maybe, maybe not, maybe better.

No matter they are here to stay, and I suspect we'll be the better for it.

Missing out on dorm life and the partying would be one difference that comes to mine.

Do you know how they handle lab classes, like chemistry or biology. Seems like that would require some attendance...
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Back in the day, out of the Navy, with a degree in economics, I got into the Securities business, and then banking. That was the early days of computing, and I was interested. I attended a Novell class after work, but most was book study. I was tested on a computer in an office rented and supervised by Novell and was certified as a Novell CNE. Then along came Microsoft, and I got into building file servers and installing networks - all with little or no classroom experience.
 
Lewkat said:
What troubles me today, is the fact that one can become and R.N. using the on-line path. Uh-uh. My course of study was in an accredited Nursing School in a teaching hospital. Each discipline required classroom, lab, and patient care work in that medical specialty. It is the absolute best way to guarantee one will become an extremely knowledgeable practitioner in the field of nursing. One takes one's chances on nurses today with such slip shod methods of obtaining a degree.

Imagine if doctors using on-line paths to gaining a medical degree. I shudder at the thought.
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It's really gone THAT far- even R.N.?! Are you sure the degrees are valid, and the schools are accredited?

Yes, absolutely, even CNA requires classroom, lab, and field work, so R.N. certainly should.
 
Alligatorob said:
Do you know how they handle lab classes, like chemistry or biology. Seems like that would require some attendance...
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One GS is now in 2nd year Sciences. During Covid restrictions, most was done online but they had to attend for labs. Exams were in person too. He admits that it’s not as easy when not in a live class. There aren’t the questions and interactions. Even if you don’t ask the question, you learn from someone else’s.

JaniceM said:
Yes, absolutely, even CNA requires classroom, lab, and field work, so R.N. certainly should.
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Probably lots of mandatory attendance. Lectures could probably be done online/zoom. Even that saves money for transportation, lunches, etc.
 
Jules said:
One GS is now in 2nd year Sciences. During Covid restrictions, most was done online but they had to attend for labs. Exams were in person too. He admits that it’s not as easy when not in a live class. There aren’t the questions and interactions. Even if you don’t ask the question, you learn from someone else’s.


Probably lots of mandatory attendance. Lectures could probably be done online/zoom. Even that saves money for transportation, lunches, etc.
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But I've been wondering if "schools" that offer full certification/degrees online, without any in-person work, are only trying to scam people.
Edited to add: and health care is a top concern.

I do know that's the case with SOME online Driver's Ed schools.
 

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