Any advice on the 10 best non RA individualized DLP

Especially, schools making a legit effort in providing flexible, affordable and individualized programs for the professional learner?

 

I don't think that there are ten. If you're considering a bachelor's degree, there is no unaccredited program that is worth your time. Why? Because there are many better, less expensive to choose from.

Perhaps, at the graduate level, one can make an argument for unaccredited programs due to the cost. But at the undergraduate level, there doesn't seem to be any reason to do so. I have yet to find an unaccredited program that offered something that you couldn't do at an RA school. Okay, within reason: no B.A. degrees in Underwater Basketweaving!



Tom Nixon

 

I must apologize... my interest is in graduate DL programs, cost is a huge factor for considering non RA schools.

 

Re: Re: Any advice on the 10 best non RA individualized DLP

In what academic field? At what level? What is the cost cut-off point?

 

Individualized, professional programs (arts/sciences), Master's/Doctorate, ??? under $8000

 

Here's the ideal example: OU of Israel
The Open University offers a program of study leading to a Master's degree in Biological Thought. This program combines ideas and approaches from the field of biology with philosophical and historical concepts.
Check it out at: www-e.openu.ac.il/academic/2179.html#top

Sounds, like what I'm looking for in a program, but I now zip about OU of Israel. OR....
California College HS - Master of Science in Health Services, but only offer concentrations in: Community Health - Wellness Promotion.

Now, wouldn't it be fanatastic if one can take the core from both of these schools and customize a program.

 

If money is the problem then go to South Africa.
Jack

 

South Africa is credible and affordable, however, one must be aware that there are structural changes in the works for most of South Africa's universities.

 

If you want a legitimate degree then it needs to be accredited. If in the US then most likely RA perhaps DETC. If overseas then the appropriate validation. Properly accredited schools are available in the same price range and often cheaper than the unaccredited schools. There are some very minor exceptions that are seldom called for. They do NOT include CCHS, CPU, CCU, etc. The near degree mills like Century, Fredrick Taylor, etc should be avoided at all costs. From the posts of others it is clear that a person never knows what path they will follow in the future and a unaccredited degree is a problem waiting to happen.

 

If an inexpensive RA master's will better meet your needs, than check out Amberton University's M.A. in Professional Development. You can view the degree plan here :

The program is designed to be flexible enough so that adult learners can select the major requirements from the following areas: Business Administration, communication, counseling, human behavior and development, human resources and training, psychology, religion/ethics, and/or sociology. Only 24 credit hours must be completed through Amberton, so it appears as though you may be allowed to transfer up to 12 credit hours from other schools, probably with the provision that they be RA.

According to the fee sheet, tuition cost per credit hour is only 165 U.S. dollars. That means the entire 36-hour RA program can be completed for less than 6,000 U.S. dollars (not including books, fees, etc.)

Tracy<><
B.S. Individualized Studies, Charter Oak State College, Nov '01

 

Hmmmmmmmmm . . . Isn't that like asking, "Which is the best gun with which to shoot yourself in the foot?"

BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

 

OK! I get the drift now.

Then what is the point of some schools like California College HS claiming some form of accreditation >>>> http://www.cchs.edu/geninfo/acrdtd.html.
Is RA then the ONLY index in the US system of education to measure quality?

 

A suggestion... Are all unaccredited schools conferring illegitimate degrees? No. Are state-approved/licensed schools illegitimate? No. Seems like the only generalization that could be safely made is to say that unaccredited (i.e., not regionally accredited) schools are issuing degrees that are not widely recognized in their respective disciplines. Moreover, you may learn something by pursuing a degree from an unaccredited school but your time and money might (probably) be better spent at a regionally-accredited school, because of academic discrimination. Review the programs at all regionally-accredited schools before looking at programs offered by unaccredited schools. My take, at least. Hope it helps...

Cheers,

Dave

 

Hmmmmmmmmm . . . Isn't that like asking, "Which is the best gun with which to shoot yourself in the foot?"

BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA

That's just not funny

 

Qoute from NFIL-IN-OZ
"Then what is the point of some schools like California College HS claiming some form of accreditation >>>> http://www.cchs.edu/geninfo/acrdtd.html.
Is RA then the ONLY index in the US system of education to measure quality?"

Your question is not clear. If you mean why does CCHS make every attempt possible to seem acceptable and as main stream as possible they do it to sell as many courses as possible. If you mean does it help the student the answer is no. Many jobs and certainly admissions to other degree programs will specify that they require RA. If your program is DETC accredited you at least have a legitimate reason to explain. If the program is only state approved or is unaccredited you probably would not want to waste your time. If you are taking the program only for the education and not for the degree you are better off designing and excuting your own program. It will cost less and you will learn more. To answer your last question RA is THE standard in the US when it comes to judging legitmacy of any College/University program. DETC is a secondary group that does provide at least some validation. Nothing else comes close to these two.

 

I still don't know what it is that you want.

What field are you interested in? Your examples were from health, but that's pretty broad. What is it about health that interests you? The subject takes in everything from laboratory sciences, through stuff like health care administration, to philosophy and the history of ideas. Psychology and even religion programs aren't unrelated.

You say that you want an "individualized" program. What do you mean by that? A totally self-designed major? An interdisciplinary major? If you want these, you will have to be clear abut your proposed area of interest. A more formal major with the opportunity to choose your own electives? Are you willing to take classes, or do you want all tutorials?

Is your objective to earn a degree, or are you interested in learning for its own sake? If you want a degree, why do you want it? If your purpose is to get the recognition of others, you will need to choose a program that will get you that recognition. But if you just want the opportunity for personal self-improvement, then accreditation is probably far less important.

If you earn a degree, how do you intend to use it? You use the phrase "professional degree". What profession are you contemplating? Does it have any licensing requirements? Are there any customary qualifications that practitioners of that profession normally have? I think you are going to have to be very careful of this stuff if your field is health.

 

Oh, I found it to be at least a little bit funny.
Jack

 

Howard - you are correct on all three points, however, I'm not certain that I would use the restructuring as a reason to avoid that system. I am, it seems, still idealistic enough to believe that they would "take care" of anyone who was a matriculated student - allow them to complete the program they had signed into (or the equivalent). Besides, it is clearly the most affordable educational system on the planet.....with the possible exception of.....
The Free International University of Moldova
http://ulim.moldnet.md/
They state explicitly that their program can be provided free of charge to persons who meet certain specific criteria. I also remember seeing references to "correspondence degrees" somewhere on the site. Regardless of anything else, they look like they're trying hard.
Jack

 

I had to give it a chuckle!

John

 

An outstanding example . . .

Actually, Maven, it is funny. And, IMO/FWIW, accurate.

You have provided an excellent example of the syndrome that comes along with having one or more unaccredited degrees. (In your case, as I recall, from Frederick Taylor University.)

You could have let my little joke slide, but you felt compelled to respond. Why? Because you obviously took it personally. Again, why? Because it was applicable to you.

And "therein lies the rub," or at least one of them, of having an unaccredited degree. You may say that you are satisfied, you may even hype or puff your program to others (as you have on this forum), but when the rubber meets the road, you feel compelled to defend your credential.

Those with regionally accredited degrees do not feel that need. Even on the rare occasion that someone comes along and questions an RA/DL degree (and I hold three of them), the holder should be happy to explain the nature of the degree and answer any questions. But it does not have to be accompanied by an apologia about the lack of legitimate accreditation.

'Nuff said.
Oh, except for . . . BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!