The employer's view on online degrees

[feline]

Here are some of the views of employers on online degrees:

* Twenty-six percent believed that online bachelor's degrees were as credible as traditionally earned bachelor's degrees, while 37 percent believed that online graduate degrees were as credible as traditionally earned graduate degrees. This perhaps follows the idea that people seeking graduate degrees are doing it online because it's their only or best option due to current job demands. These people may be seen as more driven and self-motivated.

* The most commonly cited drawbacks of online education were the lack of social interaction with peers (61 percent), lack of data about the effectiveness or quality of the education -- it's too new to gauge (53 percent), and loss of real-time teacher/student exchange (39 percent).

* The three industries most likely to embrace online degrees were Internet/New Media (70 percent), Technology (46 percent), and High Tech (44 percent). Media and Marketing (29 percent), Telecommunications (29 percent), and Consulting (22 percent) followed.

* The three industries least likely to embrace online degrees were Medicine (68 percent), Law (56 percent), and Health Care/Bio Tech (52 percent). Academia (44 percent), Government (22 percent) and Finance (18 percent) followed.

Source:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/online-degree1.htm

[Riggy]

Thanks for supplying the enlightening facts on this subject. One can certainly discern an upward trend in the growth of online education. I believe in the past that there had been somewhat of a stigma associated with it....the belief that it was somehow not as valid. Having obtained education personally both in the 'traditional' sense by way of a major University, and also by further education via the internet I have come to value both. There are certainly ups and downs with online education. For myself I never found learning by myself minus peers to be a problem as I am highly self-motivated. Again, this would depend upon the individual if learning this way is feasible.

Riggy

[LyricB]

Does a person even need to reveal that their degree program was through distance learning? I mean, I know some instutitions are known solely for online classes, but other established ones also offer them.

[kelkat]

Some of the fields that weren't likely to accept the degress suprised me, others not so much. You can't really learn medicine from a computer - but academia? Come on now, that should be allowed atleast to some extent.

[Slashmire]

I'd have to agree...it's more and more acknowledged (such as the Phoenix one) but I kind of understand the skepticism of certain employers.

[karenlyn]

Wow, this is really useful information. But I think Lyric has a good question. Do you need to tell potential employers that your degree was obtained online? It seems to me that you shouldn't have to.

[DJDizzy1]

Twenty-six percent is lower than I expected. I hope in a few more years as more online degree programs become popular and commonplace employers will warm up more to the idea.

[jpsn]

I think you'd almost have to. What would you say to your potential employer when questioned "what school did you go to" and what would you put on your resume? I think if you don't list what school you went to.. that might raise questions in itself.

I think employers should embrace online learning. It is just going to get more and more popular. These are new times.

[tater03]

This was a good link with alot of information. Thank you. As for weather employers would basically look down on an online education I guess it would depend on what field you are in. The employers that don't think these are reputable might be changing their mind in the near future. This is starting to become pretty big in the education industry. Alot of colleges are offering or planning to offer online degrees from what I have been reading.