Are online degrees getting the respect they deserve?

We can't assume, but, upon examination, we can CONCLUDE that certain opinion is not supported by rational, empirical evidence, hence must be due to a personal bias (or lack of information). In my opinion , the whole "all opinions are equal" argument is just bad philosophy.

 

Okay, so we've discussed (and discussed within the discussion) opinions and rights to the same regarding DL degrees. Closer to the issue (if not the original point), has anyone on this forum actually experienced any bias or employer prejudice as a result of presenting a degree obtained via DL?

Dave

 

I have personally observed bias against a person with a PhD from a well known DL program. The Client's requirements were that the candidate needed to have a PhD in their field. After submitting the CV of the individual for a consulting project, the feedback from the client was "give me someone with a real PhD" (client's exact words).

The case and person mentioned above helped peak my interest in a PhD via Distance Learning and I have been researching the field for about 2 months now and considering working on a PhD myself.

 

Good question!

Eric, thanks for your response... any others?

Ann

 

Let me second Ann's thanks, Eric. I'd really like to hear any other positive or negative experiences out there.

Dave

 

I work at a newspaper. In a conversation with our Executive Editor, we began to discuss my education. I told him I began the Regis MBA program in Colorado and transferred to the online program when I moved to Pennsylvania. He instantly discounted the quality of the Regis program as an "online degree".

A great sociologist name W.I. Thomas once observed...
"That which is perceived as real is real in its consequences"

 

At the risk of sounding like a shill I can honestly say that most of the reactions that I've received were positive. In fact, many prod for more information to consider as a possible academic path for their own careers and/or include in corporate learning opportunities. The worst critics: people on this board and my mother-in-law

Susanna

 

I look at the title of this thread, particularly this part: "...degrees getting the respect..." and I ask, "Is it the degree that should get the respect?" The degree is a concept, a grade, a level -- it's the person who earned the degree who ought to get the respect for having earned it. ('T ain't easy.)

Then I look at the above anecdote. Yes, perception is heavy. But if we live our lives based upon the perceptions (real or imagined) of others, we will have achieved an exterior existence. If we totally ignore orthodoxy, though, we might have little time left to practice our own particular heresy, as said Chesterton.

Some balance must be achieved between what we want out of life, and how we wish to be perceived. We may never be perceived the way we wish to be. L'enfer est l'autrui.

 

Very well put. In business, I genuinely believe ability is more important than experience or education.

 

Where I have noticed that education can come into play (in the software world) is in the area of methodology. Those with at least a master's may very often approach problems in a much more methodical way than those with raw, unmethodological talent. I've no empirical data on whether or not one reaches the solution more quickly or precisely than the other, but direct experience with both types in the industry hints that the degree holder often at least has a better "case" in the end.

In my last position, I very often asked for "proofs-of-concept" when debates arose as to the "best" way to tackle a software problem. If someone believed threads, or the operating system, or whatever, behaved in a certain way that may affect the outcome of some subsystem -- I wanted to see it proven in isolation before I signed off on the proposed solution. Those with at least master's degrees understood why without hesitation -- those without sometimes questioned the need for such proofs-of-concept. ("Just doooo it.") Sometimes upper management thought such POCs a waste of time, too.

Also, the POCs were placed in an archive. Then, when it came to pass (and it sometimes/often did) that someone would say, "But threads/the OS behave(s) such and such a way" I would rely on the POCs to determine whether or not this was indeed the case -- it reduced overall repetition.

Of course, those without degrees of any kind can engage in the same kind of methodological approach to matters -- it's just that they aren't necessarily familiar with such from the get go.

 

The paradigm shift is the dumbing-down of American culture. On-line, for-profit education is quite appropriate in the new paradigm.

 

I have to agree with jtaee. The means of learning isn't the issue - all other things equal, there is "no significant difference" between on-line and on-ground. However, rarely are "all other things equal".

DL has done a lot to open access to students, myself included. However, when on-line programs operate with open admissions without standardized admission tests (which most effectively are) you're not likely to get any better results than when you do open admission in on-ground programs.

Does the average Harvard graduate (business school, undergrad, etc.) have a let up on the average graduate of an open admission on-line program? Probably. It is pure folly to argue to the contrary. Harvard's ability to be selective (they admit around 9% of their undergrad applicant), not to mention the mention the nature of their academic requirements almost certainly leads to stronger graduates.

That having been said, DL isn't all bad. It opens doors to lots of folks - and that's good. If only DL programs focused more on academic rigor and less on selling "earn a degree fast and in the comfort of your living room", they might come out looking better.

Regards - Andy

 

I earned a BSc/MSc in chemistry at the UW in the early 1980's. I earned a MBA from the Edinburgh Business School via distance learning in 2000, paid for entirely from my own pocket, while raising a family and working full-time at a demanding professional job. So far, all the responses as to how I earned my MBA have been positive, with most people commenting that 'it must have been far more difficult that way'. Well, yes, it was.

 

This makes me ask if anyone else has encountered what I sometimes have: "Where do you find the time to do it?" (The implication being that one must be neglecting other aspects of one's life and career.) This particularly because my research was not in the same areas as my career specialty. (Public access computer security in my career, parsing/grammar theory in my research.)

My standard reply was/is: "The time found me."

This is perhaps another negative perception of doing an online degree that others may have encountered. Anyone else come up against this wall of perception?

 

I'm asked this all the time...my response is "I make time".

 

I agree with Andy that the rigor must be maintained. I don't agree that it is maintained with admissions, however. As long as admissions standards are sufficiently high enough, I like to see schools accept all comers, if possible.

A failure at this is the Universit of Phoenix. (Uh-oh, I'm criticizing a school with whom I have a relationship! Learn something here, shills!) They admit everyone. I'm convinced they admit people who are not ready to take the degree program. This either (a) pushes up attrition rates (resisted heavily by UoP's sales force) or (b) dumbs down the classroom. I think there is a little of both. I do believe those that make it through are worthy of their degrees, but I also feel some of the classes are not very good while waiting for the unqualified to either get up to speed or drop out.

But I will contend that there are many not-for-profit schools that operate in this fashion, too.

 

I don't suppose you would care to back this argument up with any type of logical argument?

Right now it seems that the given body of knowledge in America, (at least what is available) doubles every 3 years due to the increases in technology and communication. I would hardly argue that this is “dumbing-down” of Americans. An informed decision, which disagrees with your opinion, is still an informed decision. It's the thing that makes this country great.

Given the rapidity of expanding knowledge, wouldn’t you concur that it is therefore impossible to argue the “dumbing-down” of Americans? That is unless you are of the opinion that the knowledge to which most Americans are exposed to is simply incorrect gibberish….in which case, I can’t help you there.

 

Rather pedantic for someone with only an associate's degree. When you grow up you will learn that it is not necessary to argue to make a point. By way of example -- have you read the work of Albert Camus? Evidently you got my point quite well enough.

 

This is an insulting remark and serves as a good example of how threads deteriorate into mudslinging. I am asking that people not follow this trajectory.
Jack

 

What can I say? I come from solid stock. Don't mistake my getting a late start on a formal education as a sign of being simple. ;-p

As for "When you grow up you will learn that it is not necessary to argue to make a point. " ---you are absolutely correct. It is much more grown up to simply pop into a discussion with a blanket statement concerning the ignorance of an entire nation and then not back up such a remark with any attempt at logic.

I doff my hat towards someone of your apparent discernment and maturity. I've always thought that making blanket statements was a foolhardy endeavour and thus an action only a fool would take; you sir, have proven to the contrary.

Please forgive us young, un-weaned pups who attempt to back up any type of argument (that would be a conversation in which one takes a side) with logic as no doubt someone of your superior intellect needs not "argue" (that would be a conversation in which one takes a side) with any type of point as self evident as this one.

I stand in your debt; you have shown me the light.

As for Mr. Camus, I have not read his work that I can immediately recall, but I await the applicability of his writings with baited breath…

…please do share.

Edited to add smiley face.

Sorry Jack....I couldn't resist....