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Online vs 'offline' MA

 
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Fat_Elvis



Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: In the ghetto

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:53 pm    Post subject: Online vs 'offline' MA Reply with quote

I want to get my MA in Applied Linguistics, but I'm not sure whether to get an online one or go back home and get one the old-fashioned way. Does an online MA in Applied Linguistics lack academic credibility, and therefore restrict me from getting a job in better universities?

I have a nice job here I enjoy, so it seems like an online degree was designed for someone like me but I don't want to limit future opportunities. What do people think?
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suneater



Joined: 04 Dec 2007

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Online vs 'offline' MA Reply with quote

Fat_Elvis wrote:
I want to get my MA in Applied Linguistics, but I'm not sure whether to get an online one or go back home and get one the old-fashioned way. Does an online MA in Applied Linguistics lack academic credibility, and therefore restrict me from getting a job in better universities?

I have a nice job here I enjoy, so it seems like an online degree was designed for someone like me but I don't want to limit future opportunities. What do people think?


Elvis - A lot of universities offer an online option for their MA programmes - but you'll probably need to let us know your nationality before advice is given as the fees are often (although not always) prohibitively exhorbitant if you're not a citizen of the country in which the university is located (is there an easier way to phrase that?).

I'm a kiwi and doing an MA TESOL distance through Victoria University in Wellington, NZ (would pref. to do MA LING but a core phonology paper is only offered in situ) - and odds are you're not a kiwi Smile

Apologies in adv. if your nationality is a well-known factoid on these forums!!!
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Fat_Elvis



Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: In the ghetto

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm an Aussie, and I know of a good online course offered at Macquarie University. That's not really my question, I guess it's addressed more to those who already have an M.A. or work at a university. Is there any prejudice against those who get an online MA? I want it so I can work at university; I've only ever taught adults and I figure at a university I can do the same thing but with more holidays and money.

I really wanted to post this on the Middle East forum as after I get my MA that's where I'm thinking of going but I wasn't allowed to post there for some reason.
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PRagic



Joined: 24 Feb 2006

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think that as long as you have the MA you should be fine, especially if you know someone at the university where you'll be applying.

In general, though, if it comes down to credentials in a resume shuffle, the bigger the name, the better.
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Thiuda



Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hold an MA in AppLing from UNE, which I completed online, and it's been worth every second and Won I spent on it. No potential employer has ever turned me down because of the fact that it was completed online, even though I state that my MA is a distance degree in my CV. On the contrary, its been instrumental in securing jobs at universities, colleges, as well as the Korean military. I would, however, advise you to complete the thesis option, as I have always been asked whether or not I had completed a thesis.

Based on personal experience, I would recommend UNE for an MA, rather than Macquarie. I did a PGC with Macquarie and found them to be less supportive than UNE. The standards at both universities were similar; high.
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zappadelta



Joined: 31 Aug 2004

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thiuda wrote:
I hold an MA in AppLing from UNE, which I completed online, and it's been worth every second and Won I spent on it. No potential employer has ever turned me down because of the fact that it was completed online, even though I state that my MA is a distance degree in my CV. On the contrary, its been instrumental in securing jobs at universities, colleges, as well as the Korean military. I would, however, advise you to complete the thesis option, as I have always been asked whether or not I had completed a thesis.

Based on personal experience, I would recommend UNE for an MA, rather than Macquarie. I did a PGC with Macquarie and found them to be less supportive than UNE. The standards at both universities were similar; high.


What is UNE?
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Tukkong



Joined: 27 Apr 2004

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

UNE - University of New England. They are well known for distance education as they were one of the first to do it.
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Fat_Elvis



Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: In the ghetto

PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the information.

Thiuda, I had a colleague doing her MAppLing at UNE when I worked in Singapore, and she seemed pretty happy with the whole thing too so I might look into that option. Thanks for the advice regarding the thesis too.
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laogaiguk



Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea

PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

UNE is a good program, but as of two years ago, their international department had their heads up their asses. It's probably been fixed, and this has nothing to do with the actual degree itself, which everyone I know of was happy with it. You just might have some trouble getting books and stuff if they haven't fixed the problem. It was 2 years ago though.
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Thiuda



Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.

PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As I've stated before, I really enjoyed studying at UNE - so much so that I'm continuing my studies. In the two years that it took me to complete the MA, I had not one problem. I would recommend, however, not purchasing the textbooks from UNE, it's faster and a lot cheaper to get them from people who have already taken the courses that you want to take. When you get admitted to UNE, you'll be able to log onto a common area where people often trade or sell books, so it's not very difficult finding what you're looking for. At Macquarie the books are included in your tuition and sent to you directly with all of the course materials.
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Fresh Prince



Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Location: The glorious nation of Korea

PostPosted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:14 am    Post subject: Re: Online vs 'offline' MA Reply with quote

Fat_Elvis wrote:
I want to get my MA in Applied Linguistics, but I'm not sure whether to get an online one or go back home and get one the old-fashioned way. Does an online MA in Applied Linguistics lack academic credibility, and therefore restrict me from getting a job in better universities?

I have a nice job here I enjoy, so it seems like an online degree was designed for someone like me but I don't want to limit future opportunities. What do people think?


Things are really changing fast.

A couple years ago, I visted a state in the U.S. that had no online programs. When I spoke with professors and researchers in the academic community they didn't think much of online degrees. Now, that same state has converted almost all of their education related masters degrees into online format. The classes are all online and the student works full-time at an unpaid teaching position at a public school while the degree is completed. I again spoke with professors and researchers and it was really surprising how much more mainstream online degrees have become.

I don't know how Korea/middle east will view online degrees in the future but I think they are fastly becoming more and more mainstream providing they are from legitimately reputable universities.
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Thiuda



Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.

PostPosted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree with Fresh Prince; online degrees are quickly becoming the way for working professionals to continue their education. As long as the education provider is reputable, so is the degree granted. Also, one should keep in mind that academic credibility doesn't just come from the degree one holds - it's a combination of a person's education, professional experience, research and publications, as well as one's network of colleagues.
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laogaiguk



Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea

PostPosted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thiuda wrote:
I agree with Fresh Prince; online degrees are quickly becoming the way for working professionals to continue their education. As long as the education provider is reputable, so is the degree granted. Also, one should keep in mind that academic credibility doesn't just come from the degree one holds - it's a combination of a person's education, professional experience, research and publications, as well as one's network of colleagues.


I agree they are quickly becoming very popular. They have also finally really gained standing with the old folk in universities. There is still a little stigma at times, but that is disappearing (luckily, it's incredibly elitist and stupid). Still, like Thiuda said, look into the school. Education is (sadly...) more of a business nowadays.
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