Direct Education Associate Degrees

Hello,

This is my first post in this great forums. I have a high school only and I don't have any expereince about Acredditation. I want to go for an Associate degree in Applied Computer Science from Direct Education because I heard it's very good. Here is a paragraph of thier website about Acreddication:

Education Direct is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Education Direct and the Center for Degree Studies are licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools.

In fact, i don't know if that is enough Accreditation or not. can anybody help me?
Also I want to know if I can tranfer thier Associate degree 60 credits to complete a Bachelor degree from a recognized University?

Great forums and keep the good job.

Thanks for help
Michael

 

Welcome, Michael.

Education Direct is probably the oldest distance learning company in the United States, founded as International Correspondence School more than 100 years ago.

While DETC accreditation is recognized and absolutely legal, not all schools accept it. When I did a survey of US registrars in 2000, I found that about 20% will accept it regularly, and another 20% sometimes (on a case by case basis).

So you will surely find some good schools where you could go on for a Bachelor's after this Associates, but the simple fact is that you would have many more choices with an Associates from a regionally-accredited school. The 'big 3' of Edison, Excelsior, and Charter Oak are very popular choices.

John Bear
Co-author, Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees
by Distance Learning

 

Thanks John

Hello John,

Many thanks for your reply. First of all I must tell you that I'm not living in USA. I'm from Egypt and I think Nationally Accredited or Regionally Accredited will not make such a diffence because both are legal and when I go to the US Embassy I can get a document that certify that I hold this degree right?

Anyway, all the problem was If there are universities accept DETC accreditation of Education Direct? I found that Ashworth College is the same as Education Direct because both of them recognized by the DETC and Nationally Accredited right? (please tell me if I'm wrong).

I found that there are many online universities will accept thier (Education Direct and Ashworth College) credit transfer.

You have told me about good univeristies but I can't afford it because I'm in Egypt.

Thanks for your help John and I'm waiting for your reply.
Michael Joe.

 

Good questions... reply.

I am glad that you have asked these good questions and are checking on accreditation. First, it would from what you're telling me be best for you to attend Education Direct. Let me tell you what the difference is between Education Direct and Ashworth. While both are DETC accredited, Education Direct takes it a step further. They're ACE (American Council on Education) accredited. This accreditation gives you more leverage because many colleges do not accept DETC, but will accept ACE, because they publish a guide on College Recommendation, and thus give college officials the equivalent of what a course from Education Direct, would be to say an Accounting course at college level. So, this would definately put Education Direct at more of an advantage for you. Plus, Education Direct, has been around for a longer period of time and is more well known. I think you will find that Education Direct is much more worth the cost and also in terms of the colleges that John Bear mentioned, they will accept DETC accreditation, so you will save much money and time by completing your degree through Education Direct, and then if you want to transfer, there should be no problems. As far at the United States Government is concerned, as long as the accreditation is recognized by the United States Department of Education, which both DETC and ACE are, then that is the key. They meet the national accreditation standards. I hope that this helps you, and honestly, if I had a choice between Education Direct, and Ashworth, I would definately recommend Education Direct. I have seen college admissions people who evaluate credits say that they will not take DETC accreditation, but if ACE is mentioned, then they will. That can make much difference and you want a degree that is going to give you more advantage in the end. Good luck.

 

Thanks philosophy. Another Question please

Hello again,

many thanks philosophy. I was a great help. as I said in my second post I'm from Egypt and in fact I don't want any recognized degree in Egypt because we have a very bad eudcation system. I'm Microsoft Certified Solution Developer for Microsoft.NET, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Microsoft Certified Database Administrator and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator. You can say that I'm one of a few people around the world ( about 3,000 to 5,000 Developer in the world with the same certifications) and I have a good job in a good company but in Egypt you will not get people respect until you have some degree and in the same time our salaries are not good (I take 400$ monthly) so I can't afford Capella or any other online University but I can afford Education Direct. I want ask you about

1- where did u read that Education Direct is ACT Accredited?
2- because I don't know about credit transfer process (we don't have it in Egypt) so do you think that they will transfer my Microsoft Professional Certificate into my Associate Computer Science's courses?

Thanks for your all
Michael Joe

 

Re: Thanks philosophy. Another Question please

Hello Michael,

You may check this out:
Credit for Certification at Excelsior College

I'm just not sure if same credit transfer will do at Education Direct.

Regards,

 

thanks Philip.

Thanks Philip and I will check it now

 

ACE accreditation

ACE is (American Council on Education). There web site is:
www.acenet.edu.

They are a body that recommends college credits for non-traditional education such as technical schools and on-the-job training. It also helps with some courses taken through distance education. What they do is look over the course materials for each prospective school or training facility, and then decide whether it is comparable to college courses or other educational credits. As far as your Microsoft certifications or training, I am in no position to know whether or not Education Direct accepts any of that with the Associates degree. You should contact them on the phone or else write to them. They do have an e-mail address at [email protected]. It will probably take a little time for them to answer you, but be assured that they will.

I really like Education Direct because I have been a student there. They have really shaped into a well respected school, and there marketing has improved immensly. Hope that this helps. I would also like to keep in touch with you. Since you are from Egypt -- does Mahmoud mean "Grace?" The reason why I ask this is because I know that names are associated with some kind of meaning most of the time. I hope to be able to keep in touch with you and am glad that you are continuing on with your education.

 

Education Direct

I wanted to let you know that if you do decide to further on with your education in the United States, that there will be some college or university that will usually take credits from Education Direct. They are really good education and I just can't say enough good things about them. It would definately be worth your while to check them out. I am not sure how they work out with regard to international, but they have had students from many different countries. So, let me know how you make out. Good luck to you.

One last point that I would make is that tuition at most traditional schools and regionally accredited schools are going up quite high. So, if you get your two years of education from Education Direct, and then transfer, you will save yourself much money. There programs are generally around $800 for a semester. The only issue for you may be the cost of postage. However, I think you will find that you will still save a considerable amount of money. Plus, you have the conveinence of doing your assignments when you want to and not having to do it on a tight schedule. These are things to think about. Enough said... you can tell that I definately like Education Direct.

 

Philosophy's thoughts on the ACE process are good ones. There are indeed schools that willl accept ACE-evaluated credits that would not accept just DETC accreditation . . . but it is important to note that ACE does NOT do accreditation. That word is very precisely used in the US. ACE does equivalency evaluation.

John Bear
[email protected]
Publisher's site: www.degree.net

PS: Hey, buy me a cup of coffee in Cairo and we can talk about these matters. (My wife and I are making our first trip to Egypt late September/early October.)

 

Thanks John, Philosophy.

hello guys,

I hope to meet you in Cairo John. It will be great and here's my e-mail if you want to keep in touch with me .

Philosophy I'm Egyptian but I'm not Arabic so I'm not Muslims so I don't know what Mohamed Means . I'm coptic Christain ok? I really like US people because they are very good and the great thing is that you like other people too. I hope that we can keep in touch and welcome to Egypt anytime.

John, Philosophy here's my e-mail : [email protected] and here's my phone number too 0020121184414.

Ok guys do u think that Eudcation Direct is good? how much does it will cost for 2th, 3th and 4th semesters? i know that the first one will cost around 807$ as they say that but I'm afraid that the second will cost me 2,000$+ and so on .

Oh Guys I wish that I can come to USA. You are really good people and you hep me without even know who i'm WOW .

If you want know more about me just search google for "Michael Youssef " and check the pages about IT only.
Thanks
Michael

 

still waiting !!!

Hello I'm still waiting for your posting my new friends