What would be really useful, which no one has yet put together, is a list of TRUE DL programs. That is, DL program that have honestly, openly, completely, absolutely no residency requirements. Personally, if I wanted residency I would have began looking into alt.education.ineedresidency. Second, virtually all residency consumes unacceptable amounts of vacation time and the personal budget. I don't know about anyone else but I have been frustrated by finding "great" programs, only to discover unacceptable residency requirements or to have programs which are not clear regarding residency requirements.
Dear Lewchuck, Hi! Yes, I agree with you. However, I still think that it would be helpful to have "optional" residencies for those who want them or can afford them. With that said, again, I agree that no "required" residencies should be, well, required. In this vein, with other things being equal, foreign programs with no residencies at all should look attractive for Americans with no intentions to do any residencies. My best regards, Karlos Alberto "Mr. Caballero" Lacaye [email protected]
Lewchuk writes, What would be really useful, which no one has yet put together, is a list of TRUE DL programs. That is, DL program that have honestly, openly, completely, absolutely no residency requirements. Hmmm. That is certainly what we tried to do in Bears' Guide, dividing schools into Chapter 18 ("Entirely by Distance Learning" -- about 200) and Chapter 19 ("...Short Residency") Perhaps Lewchuk is thinking of those schools where literally you never have to leave your home, cell, or bed -- programs generally of interest to the incarcerated or the severely handicapped. Since exams usually need to be taken somewhere other than home, there are many fewer of these.
I love the guide but regarding this issue perhaps you didn't try hard enough. You have "Accredited Schools with Degrees Entirely by Distance Learning" but not what degrees from those schools can be earned entirely by distance learning. Conversely, you have some schools under "Accredited Schools with Short Residency Programs" which clearly offer some degrees without any residency requirements. I realize that segregating the distance programs would be difficult but your guide definetly does not answer this issue. Actually John, I am thinking of those schools where I am certain that my education budget would not include an airline ticket. PS. I am rather disappointed in your comment... you are beginning to sound like Levicoff in his aed days (i.e. pre conversion).
Lewchuk writes, I realize that segregating the distance programs would be difficult but your guide definetly does not answer this issue. Admittedly, when a school has 117 degree programs, some 100% non-resident; some requiring one meeting on campus (but if you ask, they will fly the professor to you); some where the exams can be taken in 10 or 100 or 300 cities, but not elsewhere -- it is true that we cannot describe every aspect of every program. Well, we can, I guess, but not practically, either given size of book (a publishing issue), or budget for research (an internet issue). Nonetheless we really did try to address this in the 27-page subject index that Tom Head prepared, in which each level of degree in each subject is listed as either non-resident or short residency.
John: You have been reprimanded for not trying hard enough, now be a good boy and try harder next time (15th Ed.)! Seriously, I think the 14th Edition of BG differentiated quite well the various programs. To have a chapter on degrees earned entirely via DL seems clear enough, i.e., the degree can be earned "Entirely by DL." Entirely would seem to imply, at least this is what I saw in the title, that there is absolutely no residency requirement. Perhaps a chapter for the 15th Edition could be titled: "Degrees Earned Entirely Via Distance Learning, With No Residency Requirements, No Time Spent On Campus, No Loss of Vacation Time, No Cost for Airfare/Auto Rental/Trainfare/Carpoolfare/Lodging/Meals, etc., and Negotiable Residency." Russell
Jonathan Liu has a pretty good list at: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Haven/2386/distance.html It helped me find just the right program.. ended up being almost in my backyard as a matter of fact. Thanks Jonathan! ------------------ Two molecules were talking. The first molecule said, "Something terrible has happened. I've lost an electron!" The second one said, "Are you sure?" The first molecule replied, "Yes, I'm positive."
To have a chapter on degrees earned entirely via DL seems clear enough, i.e., the degree can be earned "Entirely by DL." Entirely would seem to imply, at least this is what I saw in the title, that there is absolutely no residency requirement. My intent was to not to rag "the Guide" but if you read closely you will see that the chapter is not on degrees that can be earned entirely via Dl... it is on schools that offer some degrees that can be earned via DL. Hence some of the degrees noted in the chapter actually have a residency component. Conversely some of the schools mentioned in the "short-residency" chapter actually have non-resident degrees. I am not sure why John chose some of these schools in one category versus the other. I hear people saying "give me an example". Probably the largest DL program from Charles Sturt is their MBA... no residency required, yet CS is profiled under "short-residency" (it does offer short-residency programs also) and hence the MBA is incorrectly included in the "short-residency" pile. Again, my point is not to rag on the guide (I think It is great) but I would find it more useful if it focused on programs and residency rather residency and school.
