Any "Affordable" Good Online Schools Out There?

This is probably because the Harvard ALM program is not really a DL program. You are required to take a significant number of "butt in the classroom" courses. You are, however, correct in saying that it's a good program.
Jack

 

Actually, UoLs law program has a "relatively" large number of students in the US (there is a US org which facilitates the degree and writing the bar where possible).

Last I heard Leceisters DL HRM degree is doing fairly well in the US also (they have a separate component to cover any US cultural differences).

Of course Heriot-Watts' success is known.

I believe the reason why UoL programs are not as popular as UoP, TESC, etc. is not cultural differences but a combination of ignorance (lack of knowledge) and desire (again... UoL students don't comment how easy there courses are and that they can be completed in 4 weeks).

 

Harvard, Duke & Warrington were examples.

Discussions focus on UoP, TESC, etc. not because they are the only, not because they are the best but simply because they are popular... so one may ask, why are they popular?

 

Which "traditional academic measures" are you referring to, precisely? Not quality of instruction, I hope.

To the best of my knowledge, neither SOAS nor LSE offer distance degrees.

And since the external programme degrees that I think that you are referring to are entirely examination based, you theoretically could complete them in 4 weeks if you already were very familiar the material and could somehow schedule all the necessary examinations during that period.

The point is that most TESC and University of London external programs are alike in that they are assessment degrees that involve minimal instruction. In both cases, the student is expected to learn the material on his or her own, in a variety of different ways depending on the individual. And in both cases, the examinations assessing that learning could at least in theory be completed in a month.

 

Me thinks Lewchuck has returned ?

Billy

 

Me too.

 

Because they're quality schools with flexible programs that can be completed at your own pace, from anywhere in the world. Isn't that the whole attraction & purpose of DL to begin with?


Bruce

 

In the case of TESC, one could argue that it is popular because it is the most flexible distance education school in the world. In that limited sense, it may well be the best.

TESC, along with COSC, seem to offer students the most options for earning and consolidating credit, and then for turning that credit into a fully recognized degree.

Many schools demand that you earn at least half your undergraduate credits with them. TESC lets you take classes pretty much anywhere (providing it's RA) and transfer the credit in. You can take individual DL classes from 20 different schools if you want.

TESC also allows you the full range of credit by examination and portfolio options. Most schools allow some of these things, but few give you as many options as TESC.

It has to be one of the most attractive schools in the world for an adult distance learner looking to earn an undergraduate degree unconventionally, by consolidating credit and demonstrating prior learning competencies.

But if you are looking for something else, such as a prestige college name, high student selectivity, superlative teaching, doctoral research or something, then there may be better choices.

 

SOAS has offered some DL postgraduate diploma and master degree programs through its Center for Financial and Management Studies (CeFiMS). The related link is: http://cefims.ac.uk/index2.htm

 

I just want to report back that Richard is not a phantom. He is real. We have exchanged emails and he provided his phone, address and employment to me. Case closed (or do I say opens).