Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

I've been searching for online distance programs, and the one from the University of Illinois sort of freaked me out once I started asking questions. Perhaps I worried needlessly, but I'm not sure.


Red flag #1 -- the distance education site looks different than the main university site. Logos are different, layout is entirely different, etc.. It left me with the feeling that something wasn't right.

Red flag #2 -- The counseling staff for this online program was available from 7am to 7pm. What university employs staff members to work these hours? It felt like a sales job.

After calling them, and talking for a good 20 minutes, I became very excited about the program. It sounded like a perfect fit, although the cost was 20% higher than most schools I'd been looking at online. The University of Illinois has a good name, although that uni is confusing to me, because they seem to have multiple campuses spread-out over different cities. I was about ready to apply.

Then I started telling the lady about my concerns as to whether or not they would call this a distance degree if some university in Korea were to call them to verify it. I am very sensitive to this issue, because I know KAIST refuses to accept online MA's, and with so many people getting them, I fear that other universities will one day online no longer consider non-online degrees. I asked her a very simple question:

"What happens if a prospective employer calls the University of Illinois to verify my degree? Will they learn it's a distance degree?"

Her answer, "Well, they would be transferred to our office."

That made me a bit uneasy, so I dug deeper to verify, "So you're saying that if someone calls the University of Illinois, then the main registrar will not be able to verify my degree -- it won't be listed there?"

She answered, "No, she would transfer you to our office for verification."

Then I asked, "Well, if it's a University of Illinois degree, then why can't they verify it along with everyone else's degree?"

She said, "Because we're offering this degree online, and they must contact our office, because the degree is online."

I replied, "Is your office even on campus?"

She answered, "Well, we're in the same city."

So I followed with, "I'm sorry, but this is a big red flag for me."

She basically ended the conversation, said goodbye, and hung up on me.



If you're searching for an online degree program, be very careful out there.... do a lot of checking to make sure it will fit your needs. I'm finding that some schools (even reputable ones) are contracting-out distance learning programs to companies. The thing is, how they verify these degrees once you have it seems to be a convenient way of separating you from the non-distance degree holders (at least at the University of Illinois). I get the feeling like with such an MA, I wouldn't be in the same boat as the other on-campus MA's -- I'd be tethered to the boat with a rope, and thus considered separate.

Ask A LOT of questions.

[jinks]

Try Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand). Their distance MA programmes are the same as those offered on campus - at least with their MATESOL.
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/home/

[spliff]

Seems to me a majority of Asian's that have advanced degrees here and in Thailand have them from this school. Many of them couldn't speak a lick of English. Could be a diploma mill or a real easy money maker for the school. I wonder if they look the other way to plagiarism...

[yingwenlaoshi]

I don't understand why you'd get an online MA anyway.

Live a little...

[bassexpander]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Dude, there are so many crackpots on this board with opinions about online degrees that it really isn't a great place to come for advice. I should also warn you that I really am sick to death of Korea, ESL teaching in general and talking about online learning but here goes:

1. You aren't going to be able to hide the fact that it was a distance degree forever.

2. Yes, the online office is part of the University.

3. Many universities are not "campus universities."

4. 7am-7pm? Could that be because they have clients in time zones around the world?

5. Yes, being a counselor for online learning is not a glamorous job.

6. Who cares about KAIST? I know people with online degrees at Yonsei, Hanyang, and Korea Univ. and they are getting along just fine.

[moosehead]

the very FIRST question you need to ask regarding anyone's online program - regardless of whether it's a Master's, Bachelor, whatever -

Are these classes transferrable to on-campus classes for credit? that is, if I decide to finish the program on-campus or transfer to another uni (assuming they have similar courses as to what I've completed) will my coursework be transferable?

Next:

What kind of accreditation does this program have?

Next:

How long have you had this online program in place?

and so on.

most of your questions such as above should be answered on the website of the uni's program - if it's not, that right there is a red flag.

the program I'm in presently is accredited, my coursework is all transferable, and I'll be relocating to finish on-campus in 2009. I don't have to, I am choosing to do so.

Something easy to do - check the course catalog - in my school, courses are listed together and have a designation as to whether someone can take it online or not - in other words, if a student is on campus they can still choose to take the class online for whatever reason.

A good program is a LOT of work - don't fool yourself - it's intense, difficult and challenging. IMO, however, it is definitely worth it.

As for people who appear to scoff at an online program - let them - just present it as a regular program and if they ask how do you attend, oh, my classes are online -

many uni's are going this route, top schools btw, one has to sort thru them, some will sink, some will soar, just make sure you are not on one that will sink.

good luck!!

[Justin Kimberlake]

It's kinda funny, some of the online degree naysayers act like it's 1997, and haven't the foggiest idea that most of the top schools have distance options--even for people living on campus! If a student misses a class or whatever at Berkeley, they can just log on and load up the lecture. It's 2008, people.

Incidentally, some of you who plan on teaching, and getting a MA, would do well to consider an Educational Technology Master's, or some derivative thereof cuz I'm pretty sure there are gonna be a LOT less teachers standing in front of kids the way we're used to education being presented.

[moosehead]

good point Justin -

at the uni where I do my program there is only one course schedule - online courses have the same number and designation as on campus - only the section is different - so if you want to take ABC 601 you decide do you want to take ABC 601 Section Online as opposed to ABC 601 Section 3-4 on Tues and Thurs. That's the only difference so you KNOW it's good to go towards a legit degree.

[esetters21]

[jkelly80]

Bassexpander--


Did you apply to U. of IL-springfield? I also did, but I got rejected. I was under the impression that most of their online coursework is a new thing. As I'm an IL resident, I also contacted UI Chicago and they said they'd accept my coursework from UIS (I was looking into the MPA program). So if you were to try to transfer your work within the U of IL system, I think it'd be OK. It sounds like you're over here for a while, though, so that probably isn't going to work.

[bassexpander]

No, it wasn't Springfield.

It was one of the other cities.