Penn State or University of Alabama

I was wondering if anyone could offer information that can help me make a choise between these two Universities for an undergrad distance learning degree. Penn State and University of Alabama.

 

So you've narrowed it down to two former football powers, eh?

Seriously, they are both excellent schools and good choices for most people in most circumstances. It is probably politically incorrect to say, but one factor could well be the fact that you are in Georgia, yourself. I suspect that if there were ten people up for promotion in Marietta, Georgia, and five had Alabama degrees and five had Pennsylvania degrees, the Alabama ones might be more likely to make the short list.

John Bear, Ph.D. from another former
football power. Where is Duffy
Daugherty when we need him?

 

While both schools have outstanding recognition for their on-campus academics I think both fall short in the area of distance learning. From the selection of degrees offered, to the course delivery mechanism, to their tuition costs, it's apparent to me that neither school is really serious about distance learning. There are plenty of other regionally accredited schools that offer more convenience, flexibility and choice in an undergraduate DL program.

 

"I could have been a Rhodes Scholar, except for my grades."

Duffy Daugherty, head coach for the 1965 National Champion Michigan State Spartans.

 

I don't know about that, John. I think I can speak for most UGA alums that the movie Forrest Gump only reinforced our belief that Alabama routinely graduates half-wits.

 

I just finished Penn State's webmaster certificate program. The on-line courses were well designed & interesting, and the instructors were all very helpful. Student services tended to be a little slow, but I'm spoiled and have pretty high expectations.

I didn't look at their undergrad offerings, but I did get the sense that Penn State is very serious about DL.

Barry Foster

 

Actually, Forrest earned the Ph.D. from a degree mill located in Cyprus and Denmark. He received the degree based on a fee of $395.00, 20 years of life experience credit and a 14 page dissertation titled "The Socio-Economic and Ecological Implications of the Alabama Shrimping Industry." After a two minute oral defense Gump stated "thats about all I've got to say about it." The diploma arrived three days later.

Russell

 

Barry,

A friend of mine worked at Penn State for several years in the area of market and program development for distance learning. It was his belief that PSU wasn't seriously committed to embracing, developing and supporting distance learning within the PSU system. It could be that, given he had worked in the private sector for many years, he was expecting a faster, more aggressive pace. Nevertheless, in terms of funding, professor support, and administrative backing, he really felt that PSU was doing just enough to say they were into it - lip service, if you will.

There are many people at PSU working on Distance Learning. There is certainly no lack of money within the PSU system. Yet they offer only 3 AA degrees, no BS/BA, and only recently expanded their education graduate certificate program into an M.Ed. degree - the only online masters they offer. They do have a number of undergrad courses that can be taken. But, these are no more than home-study correspondance type courses. Two friends of mine completed several PSU courses in this way and were not very impressed - very little input/support from the instructor (although, this was several years ago and maybe this has changed since then).

Don't get me wrong, I think very highly of PSU as I did graduate studies there and my daughter obtained her BA at PSU as well - good experiences on both parts. But, compare PSU with RIT or UMUC or any number of other schools of PSU's size and quality that offer DL and see that for as much talk about DL as they do, PSU is really not offering that much in the way of online undergraduate or graduate programs.

 

Thanks to everyone who responded. I attempted college traditionally after high school. I did not apply myself, but I had a good time- too good of a time. Now it is time to get serious. If any one has any other sugestions on diffrent programs let me know. I am pleased that I found Dr Bears' book and this site.

 

Deputy:

You may also try the www.degree.net website for further opportunities. Once there simply click on schools, then on the degree level of your choice.

There are certainly many solid options for RA degrees, especially at the undergrad level.

Russell