Distance Learning And Online Degree

Distance Learning and Online Degree:claim that you have a degree which rightfully you
With the advent of the Internet the mode ofare not worthy of.
education has changed drastically. From distanceYou are shelling out enormous money and the
education the word has changed to Onlinepeople who are scam artists can get away with it
Education where the method of teaching hasbut you can be victimized. The problem arises
become virtual.when this life experience is not acceptable by
Additionally, course materials will be sent by post,state and federal laws and you face a problem
which they can finish at home An online businesswhich acquiring a suitable job.
degree is best suited to working executives whoStudents might be thinking that getting a diploma
can finish their course at their own pace and dofrom an unaccredited university will save them
not need to lose work to attend classes.the drudgery of studying and they want to out
2. How will an online business degree help yourfor an easy way out by just paying some money
career?and buying a diploma.
An online business degree is one of the bestThe Diploma itself typically looks impressive and is
possible ways to enhance one's academicindistinguishable from a real college or university
qualifications. Many fortune 700 companiesdiploma. Clearly the diploma mills have no integrity
appreciate employees who have a higherand are not worried about the injustice to the
academic degree and consider such degrees as astudents like you who have worked hard for your
criterion for promotion. This means that even ifdegrees.
you work hard and exhibit good professionalThe fake degree may even lead to your
ethics, you may be sidelined when it comes toprosecution as in the case of a dozen teachers in
promotions and pay hikes.Georgia who claimed to have Doctoral degrees
3. Getting qualified through an online course servesfrom the bogus Saint Regis University were
three purposes:caught in 2003. Similarly in May 2004, nearly 500
1. It enhances your academic standinggovernment employees lost their jobs when their
2. It does not require you to lose your job indegrees were checked.
order to make time for learning.It would be sheer luck if you acquire a job in a
3. You can learn in your leisure time and use itFortune 700 company with the help of a fake
productively to enhance your career.degree as these companies undertake rigorous
Online Degrees are available all over the Internetinvestigation to check the authenticity of the
from valid accepted Universities to fake Diplomadegrees.
Mills that churn out diplomas without need forIf by chance you manage to get a job, you are
anything other than cold hard cash.always under pressure on when you might be
While the advantages of the Online Degreefired, if they get to know about the fact that
providing colleges are many the fact remains thatyour degree is a fake.
the fake diploma mills are adversely affecting theFake online degrees are a meaningless, waste of
reputation of the legitimate degree providingmoney because wherever, you use the degree; it
colleges.will be validated as 'fake'. Is that true?
Legitimate Online Degree College vs. Fake DiplomaGetting a fake online degrees is a meaningless,
Millswaste of money because wherever, you use the
Universities and colleges online have to bedegree; it will be validated as `fake'; this is true to
accredited and the best ones like Phoenixa certain extent.
University are, but there are again, the 'lifeThere are chances that you will acquire a job in
experience' degree providers like the Belfordsmaller companies who do not undertake rigorous
University that create fake accreditation agenciesscreening of certificates of their employees. You
and then accredit themselves, causing studentsmight get away with it for sometime.
looking for shortcuts to believe that these areHowever, as you go up the ladder or look for a
legit institutes and are merely showing them thejob in established companies you might come
way out.across the ground reality that your degree is just
However, when all online degree holders enter theof piece of paper. A fake online degree has more
practical world looking for a job carrying theirproblems than benefits. You will always be under
'online diplomas' these fake diploma holders causethe pressure that you would be caught for your
the legit degree holders to lose out as potentialfake certificate.
employers lose faith in the 'online degrees' soStudents might be thinking that getting a diploma
many of which are useless.from an unaccredited university will save them
The latest trend in education is distance educationthe drudgery of studying and they want to out
where you can attain an undergraduate andfor an easy way out by just paying some money
graduate, certification or professional degree withand buying a diploma.
the help of advanced technology of Internet.The diploma itself typically looks impressive and is
It is gaining popularity owing to the fact that itindistinguishable from a real college or university
can be obtained without leaving your job and candiploma. But the truth is employers know which
be done at your own pace. Owing to this suddendegrees are worth it and which have been
popularity in distance education, more and morebought.
universities are introducing online degree education.Some FAQs Accreditation and College Degrees
With the wave of intensive growth in distance1. What is accreditation?
education comes another problem which is that ofAccreditation is an assurance. It is a type of
fraudulent online degrees.authorization given by an authorized government
Universities need to make a profit in order toinstitute. The reason for accreditation is to give
sustain in the growing competition. The statisticsonline degrees required recognition. In addition to
behind online universities indicate that onlinethis, it is also to ensure the quality of the program
universities are growing by 33% annuallybeing offered.
[International Data Corporation Online].2. What are the types of accreditation?
The benefit that the universities offering onlineRegional accreditation boards provide the most
courses are that they need not worry aboutrecognized form of accreditation. For instance,
infrastructural expenditure and they can reach outHarvard and Ohio universities are regionally
to people across the globe.accredited. Stanford is also regionally accredited.
The difference between a fake degree online andWhenever you come across people asking you
a valid one is that fraudulent online degreewhether you have attended an accredited
universities are called 'degree mills' as their mainuniversity or not, they generally refer to regionally
focus is in fast production and distribution of fakeaccredited universities. Hence, regional
diplomas. They just offer credit for life experienceaccreditation is the most preferred form of
and if you pay your fees you get your diploma.accreditation.
You don't have to worry about practical3. What is the significance of accreditation?
experience. If you pay a little extra, you can evenAccreditation provides a public record of your
graduate with honors!degree. A degree from an accredited institute is
The problem arises when this life experience isrecognized by employers and companies all over
not accepted by state and federal laws and youthe world.
face the problem of looking for a suitable job.4. What are the six regional institutes for
A legitimate online college can be recognizedaccreditation?
against a fake one by checking out the actualThere are about six authorized units responsible
web address which is usually offered by Thefor accrediting online degrees. Namely they are:
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names andNASC - Northwest Association of Schools and
Numbers (ICANN), the international organizationColleges
that dispenses domain names (web addresses).NCA - North Central Association of Schools and
Accredited schools will receive the .eduColleges
designation. For example, Stanford University'sNEASC - New England Association of Schools and
web address is Stanford.edu which authenticatesColleges
that they are genuine online universities. Next youSACS - Southern Association of Colleges and
can also check from the list of accredited schoolsSchools
provided by US Department of Education.WASC - Western Association of Schools and
What is the 'The Diploma Mill Police'?Colleges
Diploma Mill Police is an online resource to identifyMSA - Middle States Association
if the diploma you have received from an onlineWhat is programmatic accreditation?
university is a valid one and is from a fullyAt times, the special departments in accredited
accredited institution.universities require special accreditation. The
To authenticate your degree, GetEducated.com,teachers licensing board requires a degree from
has launched a free online service, The Diploma Millaccredited universities. Also, to accredit certain
Police (TM). This is a free service offered by theprograms, the government requires a college to
website and helps students as well as employerbe accredited.
to put forth their grievances regarding theWhat do I need to know about State approved
accreditation of their online certifications.Universities?
All you need to do is to submit a query to checkPresently, there has been an enormous increase in
on the accreditation status of any online collegeState approved Universities. Many states have a
operating in the USA. A Consumer Seal oftest which a university has to pass, in order to be
Approval is also provided by which genuineapproved.
accredited colleges can use on their site afterThis process however is not equivalent to
being screened by an authorized deputy of theaccreditation. It simply means that the college is
Diploma Mill Police.approved to do business. The standard and quality
Is getting a fake degree worth the effort. Will itof the degree is not ensured.
get you a job in a Fortune 700 company?The above given FAQs comprise of basic
Getting a fake degree may cause lot moreinformation regarding distance learning. If you
problems than benefits. It is a very big risk to buychoose for an online degree, you should keep in
a fake degree from a diploma mill as well as tomind the above points.