It is not fair!
Is an online degree, really equivalent to a traditional degree?
This question has been on my mind for a while now. When online degrees were first introduced, they were mainly for Information Technology programs.
The programs mainly focused on degrees dealing with technology. Online degrees don’t seem legitimate to me. Everyday I receive a bunch of spam mail in my inbox.
Among the ridiculous Viagra, male enhancement and cheap magazine subscriptions lay the online degree opportunities.
Personally, I believe that an online degree is not equivalent to a traditional degree.
Going to a conventional university is more difficult than just sitting at a computer. You have to deal with fickle teachers, slow financial aide and set schedules.
Some may agree, that it is much easier to get an online degree. With online degrees, you don’t have to sit in a classroom waiting on your teacher, there is no set time to do your work and sometimes, the program is less than four years.
I believe that the more you struggle, the more your successes are calculated.
Having to find work where your university is located is an important issue that online college students may not have to worry about.
In order to make more money, some universities are adding online degrees at the bachelor and master’s level. From the mid-1990s the number of people enrolling in online courses have risen dramatically.
This alone, may cause American students to become lazier. Students are always trying to find the easy way out, but at what cost?
I personally, would not want a doctor who received his master’s degree online. There are certain subjects that cannot be taught by computer.
I think it would be wise of an employer to choose a graduate with a traditional degree. Studies show that an employer is more likely to choose a candidate whose online degree came from an accredited university.
Truth be told, learning is a hands on experience. In order for people to understand something, they have to practice and physically complete the task.
For instance, if someone was receiving an online culinary degree, how well do you suppose his or her skills would develop?
What would happen to the economy if online programs replaced all universities?
Professors, administrations and other university employees would probably be out of jobs.
If the majority of students resorted to online degrees, college memories like frat parties and national organization meetings would deter, and the essence of good internships would probably never come about.
As a college student at four-year university, I do not think it is fair to declare an online degree as equivalent to a four-year university degree.
Cora Wilson is senior public relations student from Gainesville. She can be reached at famuanopinions@gmail.com.
24 comments
are looking for the easy way out. Plus, I wanted to see my profs face to face. Do you really think onliners get the same attention, NO, you are just a type written faceless email address that just adds up to dollars in the banks of your profs. Heck, I enjoyed the arguments with my profs, made me stronger, made me learn how to think and debate, what are you gonna do, have a two minute arguement by chat mail?
Winer, Russell S. Marketing Management, 3rd Ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall; 2007.
As for that nonsense of not wanting a doctor to be educated online - I am sure they still have to be present for their labs - as for how they learn theory - who cares - as long as they know it.
Online classes are also very structured and have deadlines - like I said it is more work than usual degree programs.
Now that I'm finishing my degree online, I can avoid those distractions and concentrate on learning.
Yes, many universities have begun their own programs for the revenue it helps create, but I would say that almost all of them are responding to the demand from the marketplace - people want and need online degree programs and will employ those programs over traditional methods time and time again.
Online degree programs - those that are fully accredited - are not a walk in the park, and certainly do not promote laziness as the author portends, in fact quite the opposite. You have to have a lot of self-motivation to succeed within an online program. I would argue that if some is lazy, they won't make it in an online progam, while they might slide by in a traditional one.
Online Degrees are legitimate!
www.onlinedegreedorm.com