What you can expect from your first online course

Most, if not all, schools will require you to take a course, usually referred to as 'First Course', or something similar. The subject material may be something completely immaterial and will most likely have nothing to do with your intended course of study. The idea is to get you familiar with how online courses work and so you can get a feel for your study habits and how you need to allocate time.

One person reported that their first online course wasn't properly a course at all. It was more like an online discussion group, led by a friend who was familiar with the subject matter. Basically, he was guiding them through the classics of European literature, assigning projects to help the students to familiarize themselves with the material. It wouldn't have actually been held as an online class except for the fact that the students were also busy with their schedules. They only had time to meet about once every other week, and figured that an online course was the best way to go.

It worked very well! They had some pretty lively discussions and got to read some amazing books. More importantly, it got them thinking more about online courses. Many of the students had been contemplating taking an online college class or two for about a year by that point. They never had a chance to complete their college education, and knew that they wouldn't have the opportunity to go back and study full-time anytime soon. An online course seemed like just the way to go, but previously some had thought that they would not be able to really focus their attention on it. Without a professor breathing down their necks and a classroom to discuss things in, they could not see the hope of sticking with the subject matter.

This online course showed them that they were wrong. If they were really interested in taking courses online, they could do anything that they wanted to. Immediately, they started thinking about online degree programs. Earning a degree online made more sense the more they thought about it. After all, it would provide all the advantages of a college education without the drawbacks. They wouldn't have to rearrange their schedules, the tuition would be low, and they would still get a university degree that could help them get better jobs. If they didn't like it, they could always quit after a semester with very little time or money lost.

As it turns out, that online course was one of the best decisions each of the participants ever made. Now some have completed their degrees online, and it has opened up a world of possibilities for each of them. Although it wasn't easy finding good jobs, after several months those who were looking for new jobs found them. One stated "I am making more money than I ever have before, and best of all, I get to use my brain in my work."

Obtaining an Online Bachelors Degree

Attaining a degree has never been easier than it is now, with many colleges and universities now offering online bachelors degree programs. The internet has allowed students to study remotely at home and work at their own pace. When taking the traditional route, a bachelors degree takes a minimum of four years, and many times it takes closer to five and six years to complete. Some courses are only offered at certain times, putting you at the mercy of the school schedule, and that of your instructor. By getting your degree online, you can work as little or as much as you want, and many times can complete an online bachelor’s degree in fewer than the traditional four years. This type of convenience is needed to make higher education available to everyone. A great number of students are non-traditional older students, who are married and have families in addition to a full time career. Online bachelors degree programs make attaining an education possible to people who could not do it in the traditional manner.

Online bachelors degree programs offer a variety of curriculums to choose from, and offer many of the same types of courses offered by traditional four year universities. Two years or at least sixty semester credit hours of general education is required in addition to the sixty or sixty-five credit hours required for completion of a bachelors degree in any chosen area of study. General education credits include studies in the liberal arts and sciences, including sociology, mathematics, natural sciences, biology, communications, and the humanities. Online bachelors degree programs should be accredited and promote academic excellence; many are affiliated with traditional colleges and universities across the country, and others are online only. The credits earned at these online institutions should easily transfer to traditional schools, and a degree earned online should be treated as the equivalent of earning it in an on-campus setting. Therefore, it would serve as a prerequisite to pursuing a masters or doctorate degree, which you can also complete online.

There are many online institutions for you to choose from, and as an example, I checked out degrees available through the University of Phoenix, Capella University, Kaplan, and Walden University. The online bachelors degree programs offered include bachelor of arts, bachelor of science in business (in accounting, marketing, management, e-business, and administration), criminal justice, human services, nursing (RNs only), health care services, information technology, and general management. Fields of study that require hands-on clinical skill training like nursing cannot be taught via the internet, which is why for the bachelor of science degree in nursing, the student must already possess the skills and hold licensure as a registered nurse. Start looking around now if you are considering pursuing an online bachelor’s degree. Many online learning institutions offer courses like the ones I just listed, and others offer studies related to specific fields, such as computers, or graphic arts, or fine arts. In depth information regarding class curriculums, credit hours, fees, etc., and is available to help you make the right choice in selecting your online bachelors degree program.

Introduction to Online Learning

It used to be that education by way of online learning—or what is called distance learning or distance education--was implemented as a supplement to the brick-and-mortar classroom (or conference room) teaching and learning methods and materials. But technology as it is—progressive and multi-beneficial--online high school and online college courses have become sometimes viable sources of learning…without the student having to ever step foot in a classroom.

Contemporary learners taking online college courses can benefit in a number of ways that they otherwise could not, having no way to get to school, for example, or having no desire to attend an institution of higher learning. They might have children, a home, and one or more jobs that keep them from physically enrolling in or attending classes at a campus that might be too far away.

These individuals can make use of online college courses that feature lectures, video, audio, email, IMs, instant messages, bulletin boards and chat rooms, and online study and research sources that all comprise the online college courses—rather than serve as supplements to them.

For the home-schooled, the advanced placement high school student, for instance, who is now into levels that reach online college courses levels, the benefits of choice, segregation, or integration are available to those who prefer a particular curriculum that is religiously oriented or carefully monitored.

And for anyone, online college courses are equal opportunity—anyone of any race, creed, color, religion, location, learning ability or disability, or mindset can find the materials, sources, and lessons he or she needs or wants…many times accredited and transferable.

In the same respect, before applying, signing up, and paying, the learner who seeks legitimate online college courses should do a little background checking…to protect him- or herself from the beguiling and conniving that does sometimes happen. Some offering online college courses and other online courses are not qualified to do so. Some are not “accredited”. That is, if you are looking to use the online learning experience as credited coursework (to transfer, to get a job, to get a degree), be sure that the online college is one which meets the standards set by the state’s, province’s, or country’s accreditation body, agency, or board. In the U.S., for instance, the Department of Education (the DOE) oversees and regulates American universities, though each state is responsible for its own higher learning authorization standards.

This can be an arduous task by itself: unscrupulous and greedy money mongers can be “licensed” to run a business (in this case, the business of running a degree mill, a fake college)--because every state has different ways of regulating standards, and because con artists and scammers claiming to be legitimate e-universities will link their pages to the real sites of DOE or of the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), so when you are looking for an online degree you might be tricked.

You might read the website’s claim of being accredited—or will infer from the official links or the way the text is worded, in lies, or implications, that the institution is accredited when it is not—will pay unreasonably high fees, will sign the necessary and official-looking documents, but then will be required to do very little “work” and will “graduate” online…with a bogus degree.

So if you are looking into online college courses, the best way to go is through a legitimate college. And even then, if you are unsure, look for the distance learning college accreditation info. Or ask directly about it. When the said distance learning institution names an accreditation agency—whether it is DOE or CHEA in the U.S., The British Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in England, a named Private Colleges Accreditation Board in Canada, or any other Authoritative body—contact that named agency and check to see that the college is in fact accredited…NOT just licensed to do business.