Distance Learning Lab Credit - how does that work?

I noticed that some universities offer science classes WITH LAB online. Anybody here taken one of these? (Chemistry? Anatomy?)

How does it work? Are these credits universally accepted?

 

I had a introductory Biology course from CCCOnline (Pikes Peak CC) that had an "at-home" lab component. I ordered a lab kit from the school bookstore and performed several experiments in my kitchen and received credit by submitting a report.

The credit was later accepted by Excelsior and Fort Hays State.

There are some classes that have online/virtual dissections, etc.

 

I took a geology w/lab course from Kansas State. The lab was a box of rocks and a guidebook. In the end it was alot of fun.

 

Thank you for your answers! Very interesting.

Has anybody had any luck getting into the medical field (e.g. a nursing program) after filling major requirements through Distance Learning or Credit-By-Examination? I'm talking Chemistry with lab, Microbiology with lab, Anatomy with lab...

 

I think that in most cases the DL lab classes are general education things, the 'rocks for jocks' kind of classes. But they are generally less appropriate for majors in the laboratory sciences.

Taking your examples, introductory chemistry labs teach students laboratory safety, the proper use of equipment and so on. And anatomical dissection is a hands-on skill that is best learned by guided practice.

All in all, I'm skeptical of majors in the laboratory sciences doing their labs by DL. Of course there are exceptions such as employing facilities at remote-sites, applied-math-type classes running computer models and so on. Maybe a lot of computer science can be done remotely, I don't know. But chemistry or biology? I don't see it.

 

BillDayson is right as usual; you really NEED to become comfortable with lab technique. Physical science labs are all about the same, I think; there are skills that aren't necessarily part of the curriculum that you acquire in the laboratory "hands on" such as glasswork. You are also exposed to highly sensitive and very expensive analytic equipment that no D/L school is likely to ship to your home...

 

I've been thinking about the same lines. I actually have a bit of lab experience and I could not imagine getting lab credit without even touching the various glassware or smelling the chemicals. There are only so many chemicals you would want in your kitchen

Same with anatomy, even though I believe there is a big movement now to do everything on the computer instead of dissecting cats etc.

But that leaves the question who these courses and exams are geared at. For example, the TESC Anatomy and Physiology exam. Has anybody here taken it?

Is it a viable option to finish the "main course" by distance learning, then take the lab part at your local community college? (Anybody done this?)