On line degree questions
 

I'd like to hear some feed back about on line degrees.

I'm hearing allot of people in various forums discourage people from going that route. Some are claiming that getting an online degree, even from a reputable brick and mortar institution, will not be thought of in the same light by a potential employer as a degree earned at a brick and mortar classroom at the same institution.

I'd also like some opinions on institutions that offer exclusively online degrees. I'm not talking about degree mills. I'm referring to online institutions that are accredited by well known accreditation agencies.

I would like to add to my Bach's degree with courses needed to become a certified teacher. Supporting a family i simply cannot afford the gas to drive 30 miles one way. Plus it would have to be at night since I work during the day, part time sadly.

What say yall?

Re: On line degree questions
 

Contact your target employer and ask them about educational goals.

Re: On line degree questions
 

Thank you.

Re: On line degree questions
 

Very good advice.

Re: On line degree questions
 

In Texas, I was able to get a job as a teacher while completing alternative certification courses. No need to do it before. I had to pass a test first before I could be hired, but it wasn't a big deal. Texas is big into that, and Florida is, too, if you are bilingual and/or can teach math/science, for sure. Special education is another high-need area.

http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certif...athways-routes

Re: On line degree questions
 

Sadly my talents and interests are not in math or science. I'm looking at History, Government, Economics etc. I have been advised that puts me at a great disadvantage.

Re: On line degree questions
 

If you're willing to teach in a hard-to-get-teachers-for area, I'm sure something could be worked out. Obviously, I don't know the specifics of your situation.

Most employers, in my experience don't even get into whether your degree was obtained online or in a traditional setting. Obviously, if your degree is from the University of Phoenix, it may not hold as much weight as an online degree from a more reputable state or local college. Teaching is a very hard profession to get into right now. I've heard there are approximately 6 teachers for every available teaching job.

Re: On line degree questions
 

Yeah teaching is hard to get into right now, but God gives His children favor.

Going the reputable, public institution route (Valencia College, Seminole State) will be cheaper and give you guaranteed admissions to UCF.

If going online, this is the route I would take.

Re: On line degree questions
 

It largely depends on the institution's reputation and the type of degree. I don't know of any college that offers a teaching degree completely online or in evening classes, but I'm sure it depends from state to state and institution to institution. I'm currently getting an associate's degree online from a local college just to get my basics out of the way. After that, I'm planning on transferring to a different college to get a bachelor's in linguistics. It's all about what your goals are.

Re: On line degree questions
 

Male elementary school teachers are a bit rare, why not go that route or simply get certified to teach in math or science? Just because you're not talented doesn't mean you can't be certified.

Besides, if you were a history teacher, you'd be fired for your revisionist views if you strayed too far from your established curriculum. :)

Re: On line degree questions
 

I was originally certified as a bilingual 4th grade teacher and moved on from there. Got a job 6 months before graduating :) There are similar high-need areas out there.

Re: On line degree questions
 

I did my bachelor's exclusively online through a college that was accredited through the same agency as the one I got my associate degree through. Both of my degrees are in paralegal studies. I felt the courses complimented each other and was able to transfer many credits.

Attorneys, senior paralegals and HR professionals that I interviewed with mostly commented that they thought online college courses would be more difficult and require more discipline. They seemed to respect that I had done so and done well, even saying they didn't think they could do it. So, I had good feedback. However, I have no idea how those in the education field view online degrees. My suggestion is to do some networking and ask around. LinkedIn would probably be a great place to ask.

Re: On line degree questions
 

If teaching that the States were and are sovereignties make me "revisionist", then so was Madison.

Re: On line degree questions
 

Teaching math will make you employed.

Re: On line degree questions
 

If you are serious about teaching, get certified to teach History and then move to an area where you can commute to an inner-city and go teach there. After a couple years of teaching in the inner cities or even some rural areas, they will pay off your student loan debts. There are even places that will pay you to live in their town limits as long as you buy or build a house in their town. They will pay you and again pay off your student loan debt. Kansas is one of those states that will do that. I read it in Kipplingers earlier today.

Re: On line degree questions
 

I hope you give this some consideration. I think if you have the heart for it, you should be a teacher.