Higher Educational Ground?

August 31, 2006 6:20 AM

After making a few dumb moves educationally in my 20s (one large useless degree) I enrolled in the University of Phoenix online Associate's + Bachelor's program. I'm within two months of completing the former, and have become disenchanted with UOP, and need advise on where to turn next.

I absolutely want and need to continue on to my Bachelor's, post haste, so that I can score a Master's in Psych or Counseling within 3-4 years. With work and life in general, the most reliable route to my Bacheor's is an online college. These have certainly become far more reputable, and I'm looking for a new one with either Human Service or Psych degree programs. Cost isn't really an issue as I've got loans (yay), but accreditation and good repute is vital (UOP's rather skeezy and ubiquitous advertising makes it really embarrassing to admit that that's where I'm going). Googling turns up a hideous amount of paper mills and UOP-owned domains and fronts (another annoying thing). So, I've got the credits, the GPA, and the ability, I just need a good, strong school. Thanks, mefites... you can email me at [e-mail].

posted by anonymous to education (16 comments total)

My university, Missouri Southern, offers a number of online degrees, but mostly in "professional" fields like business and criminal justice. Email me if you like.
posted by LarryC at 6:28 AM on August 31, 2006

University of Maryland, University College is legitimate, and since it's part of the U. Maryland system it would not be immediately obvious that you had gotten your degree online. I had a friend that graduated from there about 10 years back, she loved it and had only good things to say - although that was before online-only was an option, so she also had to attend some physical classes (which it doesn't look like is a requirement now).

You might give some thought to where you want to do your graduate work and then try to find out how well regarded a degree from UMUC would be when considering your admissions application.
posted by KAS at 6:34 AM on August 31, 2006

Oh, forgot to say that their website does say they have a degree in Psych available.
posted by KAS at 6:34 AM on August 31, 2006

You're not going to like this answer, but I think that you need to attend a REAL school. So please get serious about your education and getting an advanced degree. Go talk to the admissions people at a reputable university. Good luck.
posted by bim at 7:20 AM on August 31, 2006

I think that you need to attend a REAL school.

Bim, what exactly is your level of experience with either teaching or learning online that allows you to classify it as not real? Because I have been teaching online for six or seven years now, and I can assure you that my classes are real and my university is reputable.
posted by LarryC at 7:57 AM on August 31, 2006

For some people an on-line school is the best option. KAS's idea sounds good.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 8:02 AM on August 31, 2006

I think that you need to attend a REAL school.

Bim, what exactly is your level of experience with either teaching or learning online that allows you to classify it as not real?

Mostly agree with LarryC, with one caveat.
An on-line degree in Computer Science, or even graphic design, where you can work from home and upload digital work I don't think would raise red flags.
I think, although I do not know, that the same cannot be said for a Psych or Counseling degree where I would assume that there would be a requirement for live practice.

That being said, since whether on-line schools are good wasn't your question, have you looked into Empire State College? Part of the SUNY system, they offer on-line courses and degrees, and even not on-line where you meet with an advisor say once a month, (obviously, I have no idea where you live.) I've heard good things about it from people in similar situations to yours.
posted by xetere at 8:19 AM on August 31, 2006

the one thing I can add to this is that the few folks I have interviewed who came from online universities never seemed to have a comparable maturity to those that had run through a regular university. it was a different markup of people.

I think the brick-and-mortar route is better because unlike in an online enviroment you run into information by accident. you don't merely learn what you intended to learn, you don't just meet who you were scheduled to meet ... the happy accident factor is what makes the difference.

just my $.02
posted by krautland at 8:29 AM on August 31, 2006

Actually, Larry, I taught at couplel different colleges during my 10 years or so in academia -- most of it as full-time faculty. Since we're doing the mine is bigger than yours thing, Ph.D., Economics, Purdue. Good enough for you? And while I haven't taught online, I also taught many an evening class which was made up of mostly students holding down full-time jobs during the day. Some of which were damn fine students. And some of my most memorable and best students ever were transfers from community colleges. So I've got nothing against folks taking a somewhat less traditional route to getting a degree.

Now I have nothing against online education. I'm sure it can be a good thing and that there are some reputable universities offering this option. I've even enjoyed watching some of the course videos offered for free of classes at MIT and Cal Berkeley (cited many times on mefi and other places).

But I really don't think that you get the same quailty of an education taking a large chunk of your courses online -- particularly at a school of dubious merit such as the one the OP described. I just don't believe that the standard to which such students are held is the same as what's expected in a traditional classroom setting.

And I'm skeptical about the quality of the instructors teaching at UOP too. I could spend the day researching credentials, accreditation etc., but I've got other things to do.

I also would be leery of the quaility of a grad school that would admit and accept credits from such a place.

So your school, Larry, may offer some fine courses online. But my point is that for a student who has made "a few dumb moves" in his/her early educational travels and compounds them by getting a degree of dubious merit from a dubious institution and then hopes to get into a reputable grad school, yea, this person needs to get serious about their education.

I'll be damned if I'd want this person licensed for counseling.

p.s. As for Empire State College, I have a work colleague who finished his degree there and also then got an M.P.A. from Harvard in a condensed fashion after many years of work experience. I DO believe that this school is reputable. But then maybe I'm biased since I live in Albany. :)
posted by bim at 8:37 AM on August 31, 2006

typo-- first sentence should say "couple of different colleges."
posted by bim at 8:39 AM on August 31, 2006

Hi! I work for UMUC that KAS linked to above. Our Psychology program is actually entirely online, meaning that you can complete the degree without ever going to a classroom. I know we have a human resources program as well.

Feel free to ping me at the address listed in my profile if you have any questions.
posted by frecklefaerie at 9:52 AM on August 31, 2006

I worked for several years in the Health and Human Services school of Walden University. They are mainly graduate school but they were building more bachelors and bridging courses when I left to be an at home dad. They are accredited and reputable and the impression I got was that you could get a solid education there but you had to be willing to bring more to it personally than perhaps a traditional U required. It is worth looking into. I found the faculty/staff were sincere, dedicated people firmly grounded in traditional educational environments.

I do think the characterization between online and "real" education is false and getting more so. But I also think you should double check why you think online is the only way to go, because you should first and forwmost be seeking the best program for your goals and then assessing what it would take to make it possible - online is always going to look easier and more possible on paper, but a lot of people manage a traditional degree around work and life also.
posted by nanojath at 9:54 AM on August 31, 2006

I had a friend who went through National University. She was working at the time, and in her 40s. She had a good experience. I don't think she did her degree online, but I believe they have online options. She is now a licensed counselor in CA.
posted by eleyna at 10:29 AM on August 31, 2006

I'm beginning classes with Empire State College this November. From what I've seen so far it is a very well thought out program. I'm planning on a business or accounting degree and will be doing all classes online, after transferring in credits from my useless 1993 history degree. They also offer a human services degree.

It is a "real" school. They're part of the State University of New York system, and if you live in New York you can also cross-register at CUNY and SUNY schools. They are also affiliated with the Army and Navy to offer classes to active military.

Have you looked at your state university system? I think a lot of schools are looking to incorporate more online study and options for adult learners. That may be a better option if you want to be able to do local internships or group projects.
posted by saffry at 4:51 PM on August 31, 2006

BA completion program?
posted by serazin at 5:00 PM on August 31, 2006

But I really don't think that you get the same quailty of an education taking a large chunk of your courses online . . . I just don't believe that the standard to which such students are held is the same as what's expected in a traditional classroom setting.

And your evidence for this statement is....?
posted by LarryC at 1:57 PM on September 1, 2006