Accelerated Master's degrees by distance learning explained

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Lawrie Miller, Apr 15, 2002.

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  1. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    .
    On the subject of low-cost, mostly professional accelerated master's degrees: their academic worth, utility, and transferability.

    I list a number of these on my web site. A quick straw sampling of the larger general population of master's degrees available via distance learning, indicates that at least half the total offered by institutions in the English-speaking world, are of the type and design characterized by some in this forum as pseudo degrees.

    Neither in my web site nor here do I make definitive claims to the quality of any of the programs listed (though I will address that in a forthcoming series, where I have first-hand knowledge of particular institutions and programs). The word "quality", where it appears, pertains to the lists of meta links I provide, and which I believe are among the most comprehensive, accurate, and informative, available.

    The only claim I would make and do make, is to the fundamental legitimacy of the institutions offering the degrees evidenced by their acceptance, and the acceptance of their wares (their degrees), within the general academic community. That acceptance is, in turn, an indicator of the basic utility of their degrees in the real world, in terms of acceptance by employers and other decision makers.

    I offer no pretense that we are aspiring to Olympian heights here in terms of academic excellence, but these institutions though, I suppose, run-of-the-mill, nevertheless, possess qualities that are the other side of that same coin, name they are solid, sound, and unpretentious, organs of higher learning.

    My lists primarily benefit those who require certification, immersion in a complementary discipline at graduate level, or who would like to indulge a passion for a pet subject at an affordable price. These schools and the programs they offer, fulfill those needs admirably, and function well on that level.



    The basic criteria for inclusion in my lists include:

    1. Legitimacy of the institution - defined as, state funded, and recognized by
    the government of the country as an institution of higher learning. In the
    case of US institutions, they may be public or private, but they must be
    regionally accredited. The requirement for regional accreditation has to do
    with ensuring maximum acceptance on the average, and nothing at all to do
    with the theology of accreditation. In that respect, I really don't care - each
    to their own.


    2. Programs must be truly distance learning programs. There must be no
    requirement for any visits to the administering institution or its agents,
    other than occasional local excursions for the purposes of writing
    proctored exams.


    3. Cost of program - must offer good value relative to degree utility, and
    price must make it accessible to working stiffs ("working stiffs" of
    course, includes homemakers). Although the Duke University DL MBA
    might offer wonderful utility, at $95,000, it is likely beyond the reach of
    the average visitor to my humble web site.


    4. Program(s) must be offered by an English-speaking university
    in a preferred country.
    Preferred countries include, USA, Canada,
    Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, Eire, other Western European
    countries (provided the offering institution's primary language of instruction
    is English).



    N.B. - BA in 4 Weeks accepts no advertising and receives no reward from
    any source for any endorsement, recommendation, or listing..


    Lawrie Miller
    BA in 4 Weeks - a non commercial resource for adult learners
    http://geocities.com/BA_in_4_Weeks
    .
     
  2. Kane

    Kane New Member

    Lawrie

    Thanks for the explanation or should I say disclaimer?
     
  3. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Re: Lawrie

    No, you shouldn't say that. If you have a point you should make fully and openly.

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  4. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Now this, Lawrie, is a noteworthy concept:

    1. What are the nuances of accreditation as viewed by God?
    2. How do the sacred writings of one's religious orientation address and engage the subject of accreditation--ethically, morally and socially?
    3. How does one resolve accreditation conflicts between the world's religions? For example, between Hinduism and Islam? Or, if a VooDoo priestess has a master's degree accredited by her theological seminary, what are the intracacies of using the degree for admission into a Doctor of Caste-ology program at the University of Baghavad Gita?

    Yes, I think a theology of accreditation will expand the issue of degree legitimacy to an even greater level.

    I like it! :)
     
  5. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Lawrie Miller wrote in a complementary thread:
    No lawyer is being produced in an LLM program, and no LLM provider pretends things are otherwise.

    James Barrington wrote in a complementary thread:
    The first clause is not entirely true. Certain U.S. jurisdictions allow a graduate of a foreign law school to sit for the bar if he/she obtains an ABA-accredited LLM degree first. In such case, then, the LLM program is indeed "producing" a lawyer.

    The ABA does not accredit LLM programs, James. Secondly, none of the institutions offering the LLM degrees at issue in the post you cite, are ABA accredited anyway, so far as I know. Specifically, Northumbria, De Montfort, and Robert Gordon U.

    To the particular anomaly you cite, which relates to certain schools with ABA accredited JD programs, who also offer LLM programs NOT accredited by the ABA, I'd be interested to know which wholly distance foreign LLM program, that requires no undergraduate law degree for entry, qualifies one to take US bar exams, and in which particular jurisdiction? These are after all the type of degrees at issue. That information would be really useful, if indeed such an arrangement exists.

    As it relates to the meaning and substance of the original post and the thread in which it appeared, my statement when not excised from its context, is entirely accurate.

    .
     
  6. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Re: Re: Accelerated Master's degrees by distance learning explained

    Dunno, but it appears everyone of every persuasion who has opined on this subject believes that God is on their side. The other guy, being of course, an infidel.
     
  7. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Re: Re: Accelerated Master's degrees by distance learning explained

    Well, first it is important to understand the context and history. Scholars remain divided, but this much we know. There are two main strains of the faith both based on the Word that was given to mankind by the hand of Ursa Major. And there was a great rejoicing upon the Earth and among the people.

    But then, the Great Schism, and the darkness ensued. And the AED was torn asunder and a great battle fought between the children of the Book FAQ and the children of the Book UnFAQ. And the children of the Book UnFAQ said unto the people, "Lo, in as much as Ursa Major hath revealed unto us his divine revelation, we shall smote the enemies of the one true faith, RA, and we shall bring unto them a great sorrow for generation upon generation until the end of days. For RA hath anointed us to be guardians of the Word, and he hath named us G of 6,

    As time passed, some of the faithful of the Book FAQ and some of the faithful of the Book UnFAQ forgot the word of Ursa Major, and took unto themselves many wives and went with the beasts in the fields and hath worshipped graven images of a false god who would be tolerant of their misdeeds and lax of their standards, and the name of the god was the name of the Beast and it was DETC.

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    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 15, 2002
  8. Kane

    Kane New Member

    Lawrie

    I would Lawrie but I am not in the mood to be insulted or patronized today.
     
  9. David Appleyard

    David Appleyard New Member

    GENESIS 101

    In the beginning God created the college and the university.

    And the schools were without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the student. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the distance learners.

    And God said, Let there be accreditation: and there was accreditation.

    And God saw the accreditation, that it was good: and God divided the accreditation from the unaccredited (darkness).

    And God called the accreditation Regional, and the darkness he called The Mill. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

    And God said, Let there be a Department in the midst of the schools, and let it divide the accredited from the “less-than-wonderful”.

    And God made the Department, and divided the “less-than-wonderful”, which were under the Department from the accredited which were above the Department: and it was so.

    And God called the Department the Department of Education. And the evening and the morning were the second day...
     
  10. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Re: GENESIS 101

    Such terms as infidel, darkness and Great Schism are descriptive of the jihad which is being waged. The infidels who reside in utter darkness are being infiltrated by the bearers of Truth and Light. These are the faithful, the few, the ferocious, the fearless, those who dare to fathom the the depths of false and fabricated credentials. Those who bear the Oracle of Illumination, dispel the darkness and expose the error of illegitimacy.

    Who are they? The small but significant group of registered constituents at DegreeInfo.com. :cool:
     
  11. Kane

    Kane New Member

    Jihad

    Holy war? I admit fighting against the evils of unaccredited institutions is noble. But someone must explain to me how war could be considered holy?
     
  12. David Appleyard

    David Appleyard New Member

    The "holy war" depends greatly on whether you believe that your form of religion is the "chosen" religion. All religions can take certain passages from their "book" and interpet the use of force to persuade others to see things their way. Consider this:

    In one instance, the Koran advocates doing a good deed for an enemy instead of retaliating against him. "We ordained therein for them: 'Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal,' " says Surah (Chapter) 5. "But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself."

    Just a few verses earlier is this harsh warning to infidels: "The punishment of those who wage war against God and His Apostle, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter."

    In Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Torah in the Hebrew Bible, Moses shares this fiery message from God as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land: "I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy."

    In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus amends an Old Testament call for vengeance with a pronouncement that might have been the source for the similar text in the Koran: "Ye have heard . . . An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on they right cheek, turn to him the other also."

    Yet a few chapters later, Jesus makes a pronouncement that has perplexed Christians for centuries. "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth," Jesus tells his disciples. "I came not to send peace, but a sword."

    Anyone can take a parable and twist it into anything they want...
     
  13. cdhale

    cdhale Member

    I never realized that accrediation had a theology.... This is much more serious than I had known.
    :)
    Thanks for the entertainment.
    clint
     
  14. cdhale

    cdhale Member

    Should have previewed the last post. I meant accreditation.

    I'm not sure what "accrediation" is.
    clint
     
  15. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    DEpending on which thread you are following, I am not sure everyone here even knows what "accreditation" is :rolleyes: :D :p
     
  16. cdhale

    cdhale Member

    Hey Mike,
    This is certainly a question that I don't want to get going on this thread.:)
    I have seen this topic get WAAAAAYYYY too heated for me to be a part of it. ha

    (I do get your joke, though)
    clint
     

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