Let's talk online universities....

[Cuda1447]

I know I know... what a ripoff. Right.... right?!!??

Perhaps its just my desire to do more with my life, but also realizing my limitations due to life... but I want to believe pursuing a higher education through an online, accredited school is possible.

For instance, I am considering going back to school and getting a masters in I/O Psychology. The problem is 1. I'm not willing nor able to relocated. 2. I'm not able to go to school 8-5. I have a wife, a house and bills to pay. In other words, I have to have a job.

So what are my options? Really my only realistic option is pursing a masters degree online.

Now at a very basic level, there shouldn't be anything wrong with this. If the coursework is the same, the ability to be taught the material is the same and the teachers grading my shit is the same, outside of the risk of a student online cheating much more easily... why can't an online degree be just as effective?

That said, do online degrees still hold a hugely negative stigma? I'm not talking about Phoenix online, but accredited institutions? From what I've read there are a number of regular schools (University of Indiana for example) that offer their same exact program online as well and make no distinction on their diploma.


So... anyone have any more detailed experience with this? Is it a realistic option yet... or are they still basically worthless once you get into the work world?

 

[xeemzor]

I know when I went to school they offered a lot of online courses. They tended to be the larger general education level courses though. I'm not sure how much graduate level coursework would be available online. The best place to check would be with the big local state school near you.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Yeup; the wife and I are looking to going back to school and we're potentially taking the online courses option through our state university, not that phoenix online junk; my wife worked there for a few months actually - not at Phoenix, but another for-profit university. I would definitely recommend you look at what online courses your state school (or heck any state school; it's online after all) offers.

 

[amdskip]

Yeup; the wife and I are looking to going back to school and we're potentially taking the online courses option through our state university, not that phoenix online junk; my wife worked there for a few months actually - not at Phoenix, but another for-profit university. I would definitely recommend you look at what online courses your state school (or heck any state school; it's online after all) offers.

This man speaks the truth.

 

[Wyndru]

I'm not in AZ, but a lot of universities and state schools in NY have online options. You need to participate and be attentive though. I took a business course where it was a forum based collaboration, and I guess I didn't post enough with my group and almost failed. My posts were long, informative and helped the group a lot, but there weren't enough of them apparently.

I also took a java course online that was easy. Both courses counted toward my BS in CS from SUNY.

 

[Cuda1447]

Like you guys I have taken some online courses through my state university as well. They offered maybe 20% of all the classes available online, so I took advantage where I could.

From the checking I've done my state school doesn't offer a masters in psychology so they are out. I've done a bit of looking and it looks as though my best option is going to be one of those mostly online schools. I do have a meeting with an adviser from my state school next week though, so hopefully they can give me some more insight.

 

[Wyndru]

Like you guys I have taken some online courses through my state university as well. They offered maybe 20% of all the classes available online, so I took advantage where I could.

From the checking I've done my state school doesn't offer a masters in psychology so they are out. I've done a bit of looking and it looks as though my best option is going to be one of those mostly online schools. I do have a meeting with an adviser from my state school next week though, so hopefully they can give me some more insight.

I don't know, you might be out of luck looking for grad courses online. I've never heard of any online courses above the bachelors level. Maybe in psychology it might be different though (although schools around here are actually cutting psychology programs due to lack of demand/available jobs).

 

[sourceninja]

As long as you check that they are locally and regionally accredited and not for profit you will probably be ok.

I work for a college (we do not do online courses, but we do hybrid courses). My wife is going to a 100% online school because she can't do a schedule that will allow her to come to a physical location. I've been monitoring her education and so far it's 100% legit. In fact some of the material is better than what we are doing (Using real life certifications as the final for many IT classes).

 

[IndyColtsFan]

As others have said, many state schools (such as Indiana University as you mentioned) have some online programs. There is also a non-profit university called WGU (Western Governor's University) that was founded by the governors of 19 states and has a lot of corporate backing:

WGU receives grants from state and federal agencies, for-profit corporations, and nonprofit foundations. It is self-sustaining on tuition and does not rely on state or federal funding for its operations. Corporations and foundations supporting WGU include AT&T, Dell, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation for Education, Sun Microsystems, HCA, HP, Microsoft, Qwest, American Express, Simmons Media Group and Zions Bank.

Not sure about WGU, but I am researching it and looking for opinions as the tuition is very low and it might be a good compromise for some degrees.

 

[kranky]

One thing that occurs to me is whether a hiring manager would harbor a bias against online degrees. If you have worked in Colorado for years and during that time you got a masters from a school in Virginia, someone with a bias might assume it was online because of the distance from your location.

If the masters was from a school in your state/area, there would be no reason for them to assume it was online.

 

[sourceninja]

One thing that occurs to me is whether a hiring manager would harbor a bias against online degrees. If you have worked in Colorado for years and during that time you got a masters from a school in Virginia, someone with a bias might assume it was online because of the distance from your location.

If the masters was from a school in your state/area, there would be no reason for them to assume it was online.

I've never read where a person got their degree when I look at them during hiring. I only read if they got a degree. Most of the time a hiring manager won't even care what the degree was in. It's just a filter on a spreadsheet.

Yes, if you are getting a masters degree, PHD, engineering, law, etc then you probably want a top notch school. If you want a BS in Info systems or a business degree, it probably doesn't matter.

 

[sourceninja]

As others have said, many state schools (such as Indiana University as you mentioned) have some online programs. There is also a non-profit university called WGU (Western Governor's University) that was founded by the governors of 19 states and has a lot of corporate backing:



Not sure about WGU, but I am researching it and looking for opinions as the tuition is very low and it might be a good compromise for some degrees.

WGU is actually the school my wife is attending.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

WGU is actually the school my wife is attending.

Cool. I have heard good things about it and am considering an MBA. At this point in my career, where I get the MBA from isn't as important as having it and the tuition is low enough that I think my employer would pay for all of it. Any other tips/feedback about the school?

 

[Cuda1447]

For what it's worth, my degree will actually mean something. The reason I want to go back and get a masters is so that I can get involved with doing counseling, whether that be mental health counseling, student counseling or family counseling. A masters is a required at a minimum for any of those types of jobs.

 

[highland145]

For what it's worth, my degree will actually mean something. The reason I want to go back and get a masters is so that I can get involved with doing counseling, whether that be mental health counseling, student counseling or family counseling. A masters is a required at a minimum for any of those types of jobs.

Wife is a family/marriage counselor. 20 to 25 hrs/week and she's on the edge of burn out all the time.

 

[waggy]

the local CC has a bunch of online courses. Granted you can only go so far with a CC.

I'm not sure what the local college (NIU) does. I do wish more would offer online classes. i wouldn't mind taking one a semester for fun. I took an English class on Sci-fi writing. Kinda useless but it was rather fun. I wouldn't mind takeing a another crack at Calc 3.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I work 8-5, and go to the U of M, luckily it's close...I have all night classes, and a few online courses.

I'd stay away from those online uni's, AFAIK...bad stigma.

 

[Drekce]

My brother in law is currently working on a "Software Engineering" degree at University of Phoenix. I have a BS/MS in Computer Engineering from a state school, so I know engineering coursework well.

His is a joke. No math or physics for starters (so it's instantly not a real engineering degree). I would have thought that being "Software Engineering" they would be learning about software lifecycle processes, design, Java or equivalent programming, etc. There is none of that. It is more focused on web development. HTML, some database stuff and a little php. I feel bad for him because he thinks he's going to jump into a job developing smartphone apps when he finishes school, but he will have never actually written any real code. I keep telling him to start learning Objective C and/or Java on his own time, but he keeps saying that work and school takes all his time....

 

[Cuda1447]

Wife is a family/marriage counselor. 20 to 25 hrs/week and she's on the edge of burn out all the time.

What burns her out if you don't mind me asking?

 

[gorcorps]

What burns her out if you don't mind me asking?

Seems pretty obvious that listening to couples fight all day would burn anyone out rather quickly. I'd want no part of that noise.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Check with state schools that offer online course and/or full programs.

First, check in your state (tuition rates)

Phoenix has developed a reputation that may be well earned no matter what their ads show.

There may also be others out there like Phoenix - search online for reviews/comments about any school that you are considering.

 

[highland145]

What burns her out if you don't mind me asking?

Clients have the whole range that you can think of:
Petty issues that need the drill sergeant treatment
Adultery that causes pain/trust issues in marriage
Molested as children so adulthood is messed up
Messed up parents so the grown children are messed up
Selfish assholes
Bat shit crazy

A lot of people are broken and hurting inside. She gets to hear all the crap and try to help them overcome/handle it. I believe she's pretty good at it but how long can you take it. Most agree that people like Sandusky need a bullet but that doesn't help the molested children. I would not like to be their counselor.

 

[Cuda1447]

Clients have the whole range that you can think of:
Petty issues that need the drill sergeant treatment
Adultery that causes pain/trust issues in marriage
Molested as children so adulthood is messed up
Messed up parents so the grown children are messed up
Selfish assholes
Bat shit crazy

A lot of people are broken and hurting inside. She gets to hear all the crap and try to help them overcome/handle it. I believe she's pretty good at it but how long can you take it. Most agree that people like Sandusky need a bullet but that doesn't help the molested children. I would not like to be their counselor.

Yea, I guess I can understand that. Perhaps that's why I want to get into counseling. I very much enjoy listening and helping people. As a person, its kinda what I do.

Only working 25 hours a week, does she get paid decently? Was it worth it to her? And does she just have a masters? Sorry for so many questions, I just really appreciate the insight.

 

[TecHNooB]

I think you miss out on A LOT by getting an online degree. Even part time is better than online.

 

[boomhower]

My state school offers several graduate programs online. When I get the motivation in a couple years I'm going to do a masters in public admin. Right now I don't have the time nor motivation.