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FAQs:
How does online learning work?
Is online learning right for me?
Is an online college degree the same as a classroom degree?
Does an online college degree count in the real world?
How do I know an online school is accredited?
Will my online college degree credits transfer?
What’s an online class like?
When and how often do I have to be online for class?
Will I have to take exams to earn an online college degree?
When do classes start?
How long will it take to complete my online college degree?
Do online schools offer financial aid?
Does tuition cover course materials?
Are there admission requirements for an online college degree?
How do I get started on my online college degree?
While online college degree programs can vary by school, here are some general answers to the most FAQs:
Each online school uses its own combination of Internet tools to create
a virtual classroom such as web-streaming to present lectures or
videos, online class bulletin boards, online chat and direct text
messaging.
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To learn online, you should be self-motivated and be able to work
independently. You’ll have to manage your time to look at your class
materials every week, email your professor and participate in chat
rooms and blogs with your classmates. You’ll need a computer and should
be comfortable using one. You don’t have to be a computer “techie” as
most online schools offer technical support to their students.
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Most accredited universities and colleges make no distinction between
an online college degree and a degree obtained on campus. You can
transfer credits from one program or school to another. An online
college degree diploma is identical to its campus-based counterpart and
you may even participate in commencement ceremonies. With
video streaming, chat rooms, and other technological advances, an
online college degree can deliver as rich as an experience as classroom
degrees.
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As
corporations have become comfortable using online learning in their
continuing education offerings, they have become more accepting of an
online college degree. But, not every online college degree is equal,
because not all online schools are equal. To be a respected institution
of higher learning, an online school should be fully accredited to
award degrees or state up front that it is not accredited.
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Every school at EducationGuides.com is a leading, high quality institution whether they are fully accredited
or not. There are legitimate non-accredited schools that offer career
relevant classes or programs. A school may not be accredited because it
has not applied to an agency or it may be in the process of being
reviewed for accreditation.
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By attending an accredited college, the credits from your online
college degree earned at one accredited institution are generally fully
accepted in transfer by other.
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Just like in a classroom, you’ll receive a syllabus that will outline
what you will learn in the class and what the assignments are. Every
week, you’ll log onto your school's website to get your lessons and
assignments. Then, you’ll post your work online to be reviewed and
graded. You’ll communicate with classmates and your instructor via chat
rooms, email and online bulletin boards.
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Typically
an online class will require you to post comments and interact online a
few days a week at a time that is convenient to you, no “all-nighters”
required.
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Quizzes and exams may be a part of any given course and can be given
online or may need to be proctored. Many online courses do not require
testing of any kind because your grade is based on assignments that are
evaluated by the instructor.
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Unlike
a traditional campus setting with fall, spring and summer semesters,
many online college degree programs have ongoing enrollment, so classes
can start several times during the year.
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The
time will vary depending on prior coursework and transfer of credits,
whether or not you take time off between courses and the degree you are
pursuing. Typically students can complete their online college degree
in two to three years.
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Just like a traditional college degree, students who are earning an
online college degree have access to financial aid including grants,
scholarships, loans and even work/study programs. Many online students
are employed full-time and may be eligible for employer reimbursement
of their tuition.
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Typically
class materials like textbooks vary by class and are not covered by
tuition. Every online college degree program is different, so be sure
to get the entire cost of a course, up front.
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To offer an accredited online college degree such as a bachelors or
masters degree, online schools have varied admission requirements and
students are required to complete an admission application.
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Just complete our quick form
to get FREE no-obligation information for the top online accredited
schools. Every student is unique, so let us find the right schools that
match your different needs.
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Did you know? |
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the early days of online learning, there was some doubt as to whether
an online college degree was as good as a classroom degree. New
research suggests that stigma is fading fast. An in-depth study from
Sloan Consortium, discovered that an online college degree can be just as good as -- if not better than -- a classroom degree. According to the Sloan study:
"A majority of academic leaders (57 percent) believe learning outcomes
for online education are equal to or superior to those of face-to-face
instruction.” |
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What does fully accredited mean? |
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If you are looking for an online degree, it's important to know if a school is fully accredited. If a school is fully accredited,
it has earned a widely recognized form of university accreditation from
one of six regional accreditation boards. Each of the six geographic
regions of the United States has a non-governmental, regional agency
that oversees and accredits degree-granting institutions headquartered
in their areas.
The six regional accreditation boards are:
MSA--Middle States Association
NASC--Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges
NCA--North Central Association of Colleges & Schools
NEASC--New England Association of Schools & Colleges
SACS--Southern Association of Colleges & Schools
WASC--Western Association of Schools & Colleges. |
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