Looking for a DL program/school that suits my needs

Here's my criteria:

1. Regionally accredited.
2. Fairly inexpensive.
3. Administered 100% online.
4. From a school that offers both bachelor's and associate's degrees. (Edit: Just bachelor's degrees would be acceptable too, I think.)
5. From a school that has on-campus programs and isn't solely known for DL.
6. Rigorous course offerings in math and natural sciences, with some advanced level courses
7. Doesn't make a distinction between its online and on-campus programs in any way (i.e., not on transcripts and documentation). This is because the four-year private college I'm looking to transfer to doesn't look favorably upon DL.

Also, I would prefer if the courses run on regular semesters with set deadlines instead of being self-paced.

I'm looking to take some lower level undergrad courses (freshman-sophomore classes, basically).

If you have any suggestions, please respond. Thanks.

 

The first place I would look is your local community college or state college. Have you explored that option? They may offer just what you need.

Here are a few programs to come to mind-
Dominguez Online
http://scs.indiana.edu/pdf/bgs_guidebook.pdf
Florida Distance Learning Consortium

 

I'm pursuing my Bachelor's through UT El Paso (UTEP). I believe it satisfies all of your requirements. The tuition will vary based on state of residence. As far as needing no DL distinction on transcripts or documentation, I have been told by my advisor that this is the case, but have no way of verifying this. To me, this was not hugely important, so I have done little research on the issue.

I'm sure I'm kicking a dead horse here, but it strikes me as worth mentioning. Attempting to deceive an institution to which one is applying strikes me as unethical at worst, risky at best. I understand that you are probably pursuing this more from a don't-ask-don't-tell approach. Just tread cautiously.

You can check out course offerings from the UT system here: https://tis.telecampus.utsystem.edu/Default.aspx?args=mQn8+8U/8mDQNcZSFf18Hvs5d0oRMmQHG0ybQsvIdxzkv2spLNwySGhwOSybKnfVyB9UbCRqQOYqFRpCmSvV058+rORDNVlSJzZ3dgxlPTdf9C/7tNtor0NE0oGaszqI+CXvRGBKqgU= There is a search option on the left-hand side of the screen. You can search for particulars, or just leave it blank and hit "Search" and it will show you all of the offerings. The results are about 95% accurate.

In my flailing about, I have also been very impressed with the offerings from SUNY. I don't know about their documentation (DL/B&M).

By the way, welcome to the boards!

 

Well what many would recommend will be based on entirely what degree you want! So if you can tell us what degree you want now or will be seeking later you might get more responses

 

Thanks for the replies. I'll check out those schools you guys mentioned.

Maniac Craniac:

I’m not sure what I want my degree in yet. I’m just looking to take a year’s worth of math, natural science, and social science courses. If I had to pick one now it would be engineering science or mathematics.

I’m not against doing an AA at all but my plan is to take a year’s worth of courses through DL, go to a two-year school for an AA (non-DL), and then enter a four-year college so I won’t be receiving a degree from my first school.

Randell1234:

Local options don’t work for me because I’m Canadian and the two-year school I’ll attend after my year in DL courses will only accept regionally accredited courses for credit.

emissary:

Thanks. I will be transferring to a four-year college as a student of a non-DL two-year community college so I’m hoping that won’t be a problem. I just don’t want my academic record to have any mention of DL just in case, though.

 

It almost looks to me like you just want to take a few classes before transferring to a traditional four year college. If so, Louisiana State University has about a zillion independent study courses that are very inexpensive.

 

I don't think it matters what degrees the school offers, the OP is simply trying to meet prereq courses before tranferring. I would recommend looking at state schools and community colleges in your area, as the school you're looking to transfer to will find it odd if you reside in the Midwest and have a transcript from a school on the East coast (since you don't want them to know you're studying via distance). I'll echo a previous poster here and advise you not deceive an admissions committee if asked what mode of study you earned the credits through. Also remember that a lot of schools look at extra culler activities/what organizations you are involved in on campus of their transfer students, which you won't have as a DL student.

 

It does matter though. If he has no credits then he can be guarntee that he will need at least 1 English, 1 math, 1 science etc but depending on what degree he will be seeking for example if he is going to be seeking a Math degree then he obviously should be heavy on math credits. What I would really recommend the OP to do is decide what 4 year school he intends to go to and base his lower division credits off of that but also call and speak to someone there and ask what prereq's they recommend!

 

I believe he knows where he is/wants to transfer to. If he is trying to do pre reqs it doesn't matter what degrees the school offers online, only that they offer 100 and 200 level courses. Obviously they need to offer math courses as the OP stated that, but it doesn't mean the school has to offer a DEGREE in math, only a solid offering of lower level math courses.

 

If you are interested in courses from Canadian universities, have you seen The Canadian Virtual University website? Canadian Virtual University It lists all the DL courses offered by B&M Canadian universities.

Good luck!