Job Discussion Forums

[solareyna]

I am currently getting my bachelor's degree online through Kaplan University which is primarily an online college. Has anyone been accepted or rejected for an ESL program because they got their bachelor's online? Does anyone have any idea if they are looked at differently than an on-campus degree? Thanks,

[coledavis]

Hi. (Credentials: I used to be a careers adviser/educational guidance officer, but I'm a bit out of touch.) This is an interesting question.

Merely being online is not a disqualifier in any way: people with a degree from the Open University, for example, are well thought of, both for the grit of studying while working and because the quality of the teaching materials etc is high. The same, arguably with knobs on, in cases such as London University's External Program, online courses at Birkbeck College, the distance applied linguistics MA at Birmingham University, etc.

At the other end of the chain, you get University of Phoenix and other internet-marketed universities. Some are diploma mills (watch for 'use your experience for accreditation' type marketing), some merely with poor reputations.

Now, Kaplan is an interesting case in point. It is new, hence won't have the cred of OU, London, etc, BUT it does look like it's taking things seriously.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/nov/21/highereducation.newuniversities19922012
My personal knowledge of them is that they teach ACCA (accounting courses) and the teaching is apparently good.

SO. It's not a total no-no, but it's worth checking if the degrees are recognised in your country. Maybe go to the horse's mouth, e.g. CELTA courses, and see if it's welcome. It's also worth comparing prices with established online providers such as the OU ( www.open.ac.uk ). If you're committed, you're committed; if you're only part way through, you could even see if OU will recognise what you've done with Kaplan and try a CAT swap (i.e. transfer to the OU degree with exemptions).

[Anda]

Taiwan will not accept knowingly an online degree. They must have rocks in their heads there as one normally sits the same exams and writes the same essays as a normal Uni student. One of the best universities in Australia the University of Southern Queensland is held in low regard here in Asia because they are recognized as an online Uni.

[coledavis]

Good point. So look at the attitude of the country you're interested in. If super conventionalists, as pointed out in the last message, then don't apply.

[Justin Trullinger]

That's the thing- I'm starting a masters program soon, and weighing up the pros and cons. And it's true that some countries, and some people within some countries, scoff at distance learning. You need to look, specifically, about the kind of work you want to do, and where.

No problem for me, as here in Ecuador, a distance degree is held in the same low regard as most other degrees- if you did the work, it was because it was easy. If the work was hard, you probably bribed the prof.

(I'm not condoning this- but the system needs a lot of work. I'm trying, I'm trying!)


Best,
Justn