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Online vs. Traditional Degrees?

Posted by Cliff on from the prestige-and-perception dept.

Justin Rainbow asks: "As a computer science student, avid internet user and full-time programmer I find it very appealing to finish my CS degree online. Finishing at least a year early and studying whenever I want are just a couple of the draws to the online campus. However, are these internet degrees even worth the paper their printed on? Is an online degree just a waste of money? Can an online degree give you just as many opportunities as a traditional university? Has anyone in the Slashdot community graduated from one of these online schools? Did it help or hurt your career? What about graduate school admissions? Does an online degree hurt your chances to get into a great graduate school?"

5 of 467 comments (clear)

  1. Classes offered online by ITchix0r · · Score: 4, Informative

    There are other options too. Some major universities offer courses exclusively online in addition to the traditional classroom so you may want to consider that.

    1. Re:Classes offered online by bcrowell · · Score: 3, Informative
      Some major universities offer courses exclusively online in addition to the traditional classroom
      It's not just major universities, it's also community colleges. I teach at a community college, and although I haven't taught an online course, I know many people who have. Most of what I hear is pretty negative -- the students are typically taking it online because they think it'll be easier if they don't have to show up to class.

      I don't understand how they can offer an entire degree online. For instance, there's typically a ged ed requirement for a B.A. that you have to take a physical science course with a lab. How the heck are you going to do a real college-level physics lab course, for example, if you don't have any of the expensive equipment? What would a chem course be like? "OK, now mix some baking soda and vinegar, and post about what happened."

      --
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    2. Re:Classes offered online by Lateralus462 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well, I am a computer science student at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) and there is a robust computer science department along with software engineering and the likes. I can obviously attest to the challenge and effort needed to obtain my degree, and I just don't see how you could possibly do that all online. Like someone mentioned a lab science class, obviously it would not be the same online. Theres a lot more to a good degree than reading the right books. At RIT we go on a full year of co-op. Thats paid work experience with placement among lots of companies. Just yesterday reps from IBM were standing in the lobby of the Comp Sci building looking for co-op students. I woulld have looked into it but I'm not ready to go just yet. Anyway, I just don't see the quality matching a traditional university degree.

    3. Re:Classes offered online by macrom · · Score: 4, Informative

      I have looked at 3 online degree programs in recent years: Florida State, University of Hawaii, and New Jersey Institute of Technology. The downsides to these programs :

      1. FSU had a requirement that you MUST take Florida government classes. At the time I inquired, they would not substitute these classes for something else (like government classes from your own state).

      2. U Hawaii required that you take final exams on site. If you can afford 2 trips a year to Hawaii, then this is a great option. Oh damn, you MUST go to Hawaii twice a year! What a HORRIBLE degree plan!

      3. NJIT seems to have pulled back what they now offer for someone seeking a CS degree. In addition, NJIT had the highest tuition of these 3 programs.

      Ultimately, here is my take. A degree is a degree. Obviously the more recognized the name the better, but don't fret over that too much. Try to avoid programs that give "life credit" for working in a real job, or offer things like "Bachelor's Degree in Computer Studies". These things look funky on a resume, especially if you apply at a prestigious company or university. You may also look at local schools in your area if you live some place with choice. Here in Dallas, The University of Texas at Dallas offers many of their CS classes at night, and if you take your basics at night at a local junior college you can get through while still working. This is obviously a tough path, and one that will take many years of hard work.

      Good luck to you!

  2. They can be by restive · · Score: 4, Informative

    Depending on what kind of degree you want to pursue, an online degree definitely can be equivalent to a "traditional" degree. I have a B.S. from Rochester Institute of Technology, and completed my entirely at night through their Distance Learning program while I was working for a software company full-time. Because it's an accredited school and my degree was "work related," I was even able to use tuition reimbursement from work to pay for it.

    When I decided to go to law school (2nd tier), the fact that I had earned my distance learning degree wasn't even mentioned (yes, I was accepted). In my case, there is no difference between my degree and the same degree earned on campus.

    I'm certain there will be a lot of naysayers who are convinced that all online degrees are worthless, but it's not true. It depends on the school (accredited, etc.) and the type of degree you're looking for. Even if you're just looking for a way to get some extra credits, most schools will let you take DL courses from an accredited school and transfer them into your program.

    Do your research and you'll find there are a lot of legitimate options out there. John Bear has written some good books about where to get quality distance learning education.