How Do Online Education Degrees Work?

Online education is diversifying and expanding at an astounding rate. A 2008 study by the Sloan Consortium found that online enrollments grew by 12.9% over the previous year, an incredible pace when compared to the 1.2% growth in overall enrollment in higher education. The growth in online education has spread to brick-and-mortar campuses as well: more and more traditional colleges are making existing courses available online or starting entire online degree programs of their own.

The Advantages of Online Learning

The explosive growth of online education makes sense given its many advantages. Online courses are extremely flexible in terms of when you take them. Though some courses have real-time discussion or lecture components that require you to log on at a certain time, most coursework can be done at any time of day or night. This flexibility makes online degree programs extremely useful for working students or students with children.

Online degree programs are also much more accessible than traditional academic institutions. Students no longer need to live near campus or commute to class, a fact that makes distance education more affordable as well as more convenient. Online degree programs also let students learn at their own pace—they can listen to lectures when they feel attentive and prepared to learn, or take tests when they feel alert, rather than at an appointed time.

The Disadvantages of Online Learning

Online degree programs do have some disadvantages as well. For example, online education can be too flexible: for some students, structure, deadlines, and close teacher supervision are important to their academic success. It can also be harder to access student support facilities, such as academic advising and career development counseling, in an online university than in a traditional school. There is also much less peer interaction in an online university than in a traditional academic setting, with its extracurricular activities and student clubs. How significant these disadvantages are depends on the student; online degree programs are ideal for self-motivated and independent students, and less so for students who require discipline and structure. It is important to know your strengths and weaknesses as a student before deciding whether to enroll in an online degree program.

The Structure of Online Learning

The increasing number of online degree programs means that it is becoming easier to choose one that fits your specific needs. If you're worried that distance education might be too isolating, many online programs offer “synchronous” courses consisting of streaming video and live chat discussions. If you like to make your own schedule, many programs are completely asynchronous—that is, you can do your coursework any time you like. Most online degree programs will use both types of courses. Some courses will have recorded audio or video lectures followed by exercises or quizzes. Other courses will provide text online and then require the student to complete essays and send them to the instructor. Many classes will have a discussion component. In asynchronous classes this discussion will consist of a message board, with students posting their thoughts and responding to others over the course of several days. In synchronous classes discussion will take place using a designated chat room or instant messaging.

How to Pick the Right Program

When exploring online degree programs, you should first make sure that it is run by an accredited institution. Next, you should see whether there are traditional student resources such as student advising and career counseling and how distance learners can access them. If your prospective degree program is part of a traditional, brick-and-mortar institution, check to see whether you can take all the courses necessary for your degree online. Finally, you can contact alumni and ask about their experiences.

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