ACCREDITATION

Accreditation by a recognised accrediting agency is an independent review of an online college or university’s programmes for the purpose of helping establish if education offered by the select institution is of uniform and sound quality. Accreditation is handled by ministries or departments of education or other government entities in the origin country. While the dynamics and differences may be diverse, most countries generally all have similar criteria in accepting institutions for accreditation (French course in Montpellier).

Accreditation assures students, parents and the public that the online college or university strictly adheres to high quality standards based on the latest professional practice. An accredited school must continue to develop not just maintain existing standards as reviews are done on a regular basis.

Obtaining an online degree or certificate from an accredited online school gives graduates a competitive edge in the job market. Some employers recognise degrees from accredited institutions when considering promotion, employment or salary.

In order for a student to qualify for government funded financial aid, the school of choice must be accredited by an accredited body recognized by the government.

Schools often recognise credits earned at other accredited institutions. Graduates from accredited schools are qualified to attend another accredited school to pursue higher or advanced studies.

PROGRAMME QUALITY

An accredited online college or university is committed to provide quality and relevant programmes to its students. To create a collaborative learning environment and engaging classroom experience, an online university provides a “virtual campus” designed to help and guide distance learning students. The “virtual campus” enhances electronic learning (e-learning) experience and provides support with online access to learning materials, course information, chat rooms, bulletin boards, useful web links and e-mail system to help a student communicate with instructors and fellow students. Once enrolled, a student gains access to the online university’s resource center, online reference library, online advisors and other resources.

A distinguished faculty who are active industry experts, researches, consultants, university professors and managers ensure quality and relevant course curriculum.

School alumni who are using the knowledge they learned at the online university to improve their careers and make contributions to the society speak volumes about the quality and relevance of the university’s different programmes.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Most online universities use e-learning tools such as eCollege, Blackboard and WebCT. Assignments are posted online and class discussions transpire as threaded postings. Most online courses require students to log in and contribute to discussions a number of times each week. In most courses, students can log in anytime, anywhere as long as they follow the course schedule. A student has to spend a significant amount of time reading, working on assignments, taking part in discussions and doing research projects.

The university, in turn, provides quality academic lectures, technical support, administrative assistance and access to faculty who are required to respond to student questions within a specified period of time.

Interaction in a virtual classroom peopled by adult learners with years of professional experience from various cultures is extremely dynamic. Students get to gain insights and perspectives of everyone in a diverse class, truly enriching. If you want to gain experience abroad, you can do a language course abroad: sprachreisen englisch Cork. You will not only improve your language skills but also learn a lot about the culture and people.

The initial step to obtaining your online degree is to apply in an online university. There are dozens of online universities to choose from. Do a thorough research of the universities offering your degree programme of choice. Once you have decided on a school; the application process comes next. Most universities have similar application processes but requirements may vary slightly.

First, you will need to fill out an application form, either online or on paper. Be sure to inquire about submission deadline. You will also have to pay a minimal application fee.

Together with the application form, attach the necessary supporting documents required by the school. All schools require original transcripts of records from all schools previously attended. This includes high school and college transcripts (if applicable). Some schools also require aptitude test scores and immunisation records.

All stated requirements should be met first before the school will consider your application. As mentioned requirements vary from school to school and may still vary based on your major. Many schools also set a minimum aptitude test score for admission. Non-traditional students are, more often than not, exempted. Non-traditional students are older students who have been out of high school for at least five years and have work experience. Student transferees are included in this category.

Most schools also require incoming students to pass the school placement tests before registering for classes. The placement exam usually consists of English and Math questions plus an essay. The purpose of the exam is to determine if prospective students have the needed English, Math and writing skills necessary to succeed in the chosen field of study. If you fail any one of the placement exams, you may be required to take remedial classes before you will be allowed to start your degree. The same requirement applies to graduate programmes plus some additional tests.

You may also apply for financial aid. Most online universities offer federal aid and scholarships. Start the process by filling out the application for financial aid. Generally, to be able to avail of federal aid and scholarships, the university must be regionally accredited. It always pays to enroll in an accredited online university.

Once you have completed all the requirements and taken the exams, you just have to wait for the results. Once accepted, you can then register for classes and map out a course schedule with the help of the admission counselor. Afterwards, you can get your books and attend an orientation class (if required) where you get to meet the instructors, staff and the other students. You will also be briefed about the technology to be used, available tools and resources available to online students.

The number of students enrolled in online universities has dramatically increased over the last decade. Online schools have become popular alternatives for people who wish to acquire higher education but lack the time and resources to attend a traditional university. Online universities are the new providers of quality formal education.

If you are planning on getting a degree or certificate while maintaining a full-time job, maybe it is high time you enroll in an online university. But before doing so, there are some important factors you have to consider before choosing an online university.

To be even considered, an online university has to be, first and foremost, accredited. Accreditation by an accrediting agency is a formal recognition that a school provides quality education.

Once you are certain of a college’s accreditation, you should then look into the track record of its online programmes. This is to give you an idea on the level of experience and expertise that the college has to offer. Some online programmes experience snags in their technology and format especially those in their nascent stage. A quality online programme incorporates sophisticated technology such as video streaming, whiteboard capabilities and video conferencing. Classes are conducted via proven technological tools such as an efficient e-mail system, websites and interactive discussion boards.

Check out the credentials and the degrees the instructors hold as well as their knowledge of online teaching. Instructors should at least possess a Master’s Degree in order for them to qualify to teach an undergraduate course. The quality and number of instructors will give you a good indication of the standards of the college.

Aside from that, find out the student to instructor ratio. As a rule of thumb, you should choose a small class. With fewer students, each student will be assured of having adequate time to work with instructors and also receive more attention from the instructor. A good online university ensures that it does not over-enrol students so as to maintain quality level of its education.

Select an online university that is customer-oriented, one that will assign a specific advisor who will be there to answer your questions whenever you need help.

Do a thorough research. The more you know what is available, the easier it will be to arrive at a decision. The best online university should be one that will provide you with quality education and at the same time fulfil your goals.