Monday, January 2, 2012

Should You Consider an Online Masters in Education?

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. This education setting has advanced, allowing students to earn their master’s diploma completely via the Internet.

Part of the appeal with online masters in education programs is the flexibility in time as you can schedule your own classes. Anyone can take advantage of this opportunity, from full-time moms, professional with full-time jobs and those wanting career changes. Apart from the fact that it tends to be cheaper than the conventional on-campus education, it lets students be taught in a more straightforward and personal environment.

While there are many people who believe in distance learning at such a high level, others point out the limitations of such systems. For example, some people cannot get motivated to work consistently when they don’t have to attend actual classes. However, the biggest drawback is the fact that you might get 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. The accreditation process means that the course has been evaluated in terms of the standard of education that you can expect to receive. The main purpose of accreditation is to make sure that the program has met an acceptable standard of quality, and is recognized and accepted from an accreditation-giving body.

The problem starts when the student ends up taking up a master's program from a non-accredited school. 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. Also, your boss doesn’t have to help you with your tuition fees if you are not working on a recognized degree.

Remember that not all accreditations are equal, and some are government approved while others are not. Across the United States there is a separate body that controls the accreditation process - it is not run by the Department of Education. However, the government checks the quality of these accreditation-giving agencies through the Council of Higher Education Accreditation and US Department of Education.

When you are comparing online masters in education learning options, you also have to consider the aspects of national, regional and specialized accreditations. You will find that in general, graduate education programs only have regional accreditation. Reputable online schools who offer a master's in education program will display their accreditation proudly.

The most common scam involves diploma mills, where 'schools' give instant diplomas for cash. Scams can be recognized by the fact that they give 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.

Keep an eye out for low admission standards or shortened course duration. In the event that an online master's in education can be earned in a single semester, without past course credit, you need to recognize that you are involved in a scam. False accreditation agencies are sometimes set up to add to the appearance of professionalism.

You could be rewarded by taking an online masters in education, but always do your research beforehand. Always check the URL of the site that you are consulting, as bogus schools cannot get a valid address. Keep an eye out for the '.edu' suffix that denotes a legitimate academic institution.


When in need of reliable info about masters degree in education , do not hesitate in hitting the links.