Thanks to the internet, it seems that online learning has replaced distance education, and that it is here to stay. Distance education allows students wishing to pursue a Masters in Education degree to attend classes without the need to physically be inside a classroom. Thanks to advances in the internet, you could now complete your masters online.
One huge benefit of completing your online masters in education is that you have the freedom to schedule your own classes. Because you can fit in classes when you have time, anyone has the ability to finish this kind of program - from moms to businesspeople. Another advantage of doing your online masters is that it will be cheaper than traditional options, plus you get direct, personal attention.
Just as there are people who believe in online learning, an equal number of individuals stress that the design of e-learning for graduate education students has many limitations. Some students struggle with the responsibility of meeting deadlines when it comes to assignments and logging on for class. Arguably, the major drawback to online programs is the possibility of being scammed.
The first thing that you need to look at is whether or not your chosen online master's degree in education program is accredited or not. All good courses go through this test process which evaluates the standard of education that you can expect to receive. This process means that all courses have met a certain standard, and the accreditation body has found that the course is acceptable.
Many students experience problems because they enroll for courses that have not been accredited. The major problem with this situation is that potential employers won't recognize the degree, and you cannot transfer with the credit that you have earned. A secondary problem is that you won't get any kind of financial assistance from your employers if you study while you work.
In some cases, the government itself can approve a course. There is a separate body in America that deals with the whole accreditation process - the local Department of Education is not involved at all. The Council of Higher Education Accreditation and US Department of Education do have the final say though.
When you are comparing online masters in education learning options, you also have to consider the aspects of national, regional and specialized accreditations. In most cases, regional accreditation is the standard for graduate education. Most legit online schools that offer a master's in education program will present their accreditation information in a way easily noticeable on their website.
One of the biggest scams regarding online masters in education program is the phenomenon of diploma mills, or the so-called schools which give students an instant diploma in exchange for cash. In general, these programs involve little or no coursework. They tell the students that they can complete the degree by using their work experience or personal career for course credit.
Another sign of trouble is lax admission policies, or very short courses. So, if you get offered an online master's in education that you may complete over one semester without previous course credit, something is wrong. The worst thing they may do is to create their own ‘accrediting agencies’ to encourage public confidence.
Before you agree to any online masters in education, you need to do some thorough research so that you reap real rewards. A final giveaway is the URL of these bogus schools, as they often miss this minor detail. All URL's that end in '.edu' are indicative of a genuine academic institution.
When in need of reliable info about masters in education programs, do not hesitate in hitting the links.
