Distance Education and Online Business Degrees

Online Classrooms

Online classes are generally hosted on a website. The instructor posts lecture materials and assignments to this site, and there is usually a bulletin board or other discussion forum where students may post comments and questions.

The instructor may occasionally designate a specific login time for an online chat session, but otherwise you may log in and work at any time.

Assignments are emailed to the instructor, usually on designated "due" dates. For many online classes, written course work takes the place of traditional examinations. When this is not the case, examinations may be offered online, or they may be proctored; many schools provide students with listings of suitable locations in their area where tests may be taken.

On-Campus Requirements

Some schools may require students to spend a few days or weeks on campus, but many have no residency requirement.

Complete Classes at Your Own Pace

While some online classes or degree programs allow students to complete course work at their own pace, many programs affiliated with traditional universities require online students to maintain the same quarter or semester schedule as on-campus students.

Many online classes are structured around a series of assignments and examinations, much like traditional courses. While some classes and degrees may be completed at an accelerated pace, classes are usually structured in such a way that they require a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks to complete.

Start Anytime

If the class or degree program you're enrolled in is self-paced, you'll probably be able to start any time. However, many online classes/degree programs are structured like traditional classes/degree programs in that groups of students are scheduled to take a class/go through a degree-program together. When this is the case, there is generally a designated start date.

Working With an Academic Advisor

If you are enrolling in an online degree program, it's highly likely that you will work closely with an academic advisor to plan your curriculum. If you're enrolling only in an online course or two, you probably won't work with an advisor.

Benefits of Online Learning

Many working people with family responsibilities cannot afford to work less while attending school. Though online education is no less demanding than traditional education, the option of learning online allows you to earn an advanced degree at home, completing course work at your convenience. This saves on travel time—which is particularly useful for students living in rural areas that are not close to any schools.

Online vs. Traditional Educational Experience

Although online course content is generally the same as that of a traditional course, many prospective students worry that by taking courses online, they will not receive the benefit of personal interaction with their instructors and fellow classmates.

However, although students who take courses online usually do not meet face-to-face with instructors and classmates, communication via email or online discussions often proves to be just as rewarding. Students who take courses online also usually have the advantage of receiving instructors' lectures in written form.

Computer Requirements

This varies from program to program, but students planning to enroll in online classes should expect, at minimum, to be required to have regular access to a computer with an internet connection and to have an email account.

You should check with the school in which you are planning to enroll in order to find out what more specific requirements might be. Some questions you might want to ask are:

• What version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer or other internet browser do I need?
• How fast should my modem be?
• Does my computer need to be IBM compatible?
• Do I need to have Microsoft Office software?

If you have a computer, access to the internet and an email account, chances are you'll be able to take a course online. Many schools that offer online courses have a simple test page that allows you to determine whether or not you have the right equipment to take an online course. If this isn't the case, you can always call or email the school to find out what equipment you'll need in order to get started.

The Cost of an Online Education

This varies widely by school and degree program. Students should expect to pay anywhere from a little less than $100 to more than $300 dollars a credit, with average tuition for online programs sponsored by public universities generally falling in the $110-170 range. Additional registration or enrollment fees may also be charged. One advantage of taking classes online is that out-of-state tuition is not typically charged.

Scholarships

Students enrolled in online degree programs are often eligible for the same types of scholarships and financial aid as are students enrolled in traditional programs.

Credit for Work Experience

Students seeking to receive credit for work experience generally have one or two options, depending on the school they're planning to attend. Many schools allow students to complete proficiency exams such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) in lieu of course work in areas in which they have work experience or knowledge gained though independent study. Some schools also allow students to turn in a portfolio (officially documented) listing experiences for which college credit may be awarded.