Distance learning degrees and transcripts

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by degree, Oct 27, 2016.

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  1. degree

    degree New Member

    Just a quick question - Do distance learning degrees and transcripts look the same as a B&M? Most of the traditional B&M's including some of the top ones have some kind of distance learning programs. Does the degree or the transcript say anything about it not being "traditional"?

    Also, do any of you guys say anything on the resume about your degree being a distance education degree? I am planning to get a distance degree and I don't plan to put anything on my resume. Most resumes don't clarify that their degrees are traditional B&M. I don't mention that I got my bachelors from a B&M, so why would I specifically mention that my other degree is? As long as its an accredited university, it hardly matters - according to me. Now if someone specifically asks me, I would tell but them but until then it would be just like any other degree. What's your take on it?
     
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Typically not. This stopped being a big deal a whlie ago now.

    That's what everyone does. Again, this was a much bigger deal like ten years ago than it is now.
     
  3. Fortunato

    Fortunato Member

    My transcript doesn't say that my degree was earned via nontraditional means, but anyone who bothered to glance at my resume would immediately understand that I was working in North Carolina while going to school in Wyoming. But to be honest, I don't really get asked about it. I think that we're getting past the point where there is a stigma attached to nontraditional degrees, especially those earned at well-known schools. Almost anyone who finished college after 2000 or so probably took substantial amounts of coursework online, even if they were pursuing their degree on-campus.
     
  4. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    Sometimes you'll see tells if you're looking (are people looking?)
    PSY101 might say PSY101OL or something similar on a transcript. I have an "OL" attached to my sciences I earned at Ocean County College via distance learning. The degree shows no distinction, the transcript does in this case.

    You should absolutely without hesitation call the registrar's office of every college you're considering and ask them directly. It's a fair question, and I promise you it's already been asked by the guy in front of you. EVERYONE wants to know the answer to that question before they enroll.

    Something like 5 years ago the percentage of public colleges offering at least 1 distance learning course was 98%, simply, distance learning has exploded. So, if you consider the availability of things like night courses, Saturday courses, full or mini semesters, etc. there is simply no reason for YOU to supply information that the college doesn't see necessary to supply. In other words, your TRANSCRIPT isn't going to say that you took night classes instead of day classes or Saturday classes instead of M/W/F classes because your college doesn't see them as being different.

    For a college to create a different course code for a distance learning course, there has to be a reason. Sometimes there are reasons, and if that's the case, it's a good idea to know that ahead of time. I'm trying really hard here not to use Harvard College and Harvard College of Continuing Ed as an example, but that's what's coming to mind. I have a graduate bio credit from the continuing ed college, and it's tagged something like BIO999X the "X" is the indication that it's from the continuing ed college. I don't have the good fortune of also having BIO credit from Harvard College to compare, but I'm guessing there is no "X."
    In the event of it all coming from the "same place" it's usually going to be identical. My CC that I taught for didn't indicate distance learning in any way on a transcript (same teachers, same courses, same department)

    You were right when you said you wouldn't dream of adding "B&M" to your resume for your first degree, there really isn't a reason to add "DL" to this one unless it puts you at an advantage for the job - and even then, I'd mention it in a cover letter instead of next to my credential.
     
  5. degree

    degree New Member

    I'm thinking of getting my masters from either Northern Arizona or WGU. If I go WGU, then it might be pretty obvious but then again it depends on if the interviewer really knows or cares if its a online only college. But I don't think I would mention it on my resume or even cover letter. Even if I'm asked, I would just say yes I got a XX degree from YY University. Unless a follow up question is asked, I don't see any reason to volunteer the DL information.

    In any case, I am thinking that 10-12 years from now this might end up be the most preferred way of education with video conferencing classes etc. Even when I was in school, 3 of my courses for fully online....no actual class attendance. Im thinking its even more common now.
     
  6. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    The poster above duly noted that some schools may designate "OL" for online courses.

    On all of my degrees, nothing is said about the degree being earned online. Here is a sample:

    https://www.scribd.com/document/329228497/Sample-Transcript

    It states basic information, such as:
    - name of student
    - type of degree awarded
    - courses taken
    - etc.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 28, 2016
  7. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I have no evidence to support this but my general sense is that there continue to be some schools that make the distinction both on transcripts and diplomas but there are fewer now than say, 10-15 years ago. It would seem a simple matter to just ask the school itself.
     
  8. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Unless you go to solely distance learning/online college/university likes Western Governors University, Capella University, Northcentral University, Colorado State University - Global Campus, and etc. Otherwise, you won't see the distinction between brick and mortar campus or online degree. However, if it does not require someone with a rocket science degree to tell whether your degree is online or not by looking at your working location and-and the location of the school itself likes Fortunato.

    If you attend good school via distance learning/online is a big plus for your resume. Nowadays, employers do not care as long as it is an accredited degree. As for me, I would favor for those with good reputation school degree earn via distance learning than some decent schools on campus. It shows you work hard and commitment while working full-time.
     
  9. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    No school I've ever attended made such a distinction and that's been quite a few schools. There was a time that it was quite common for it to be on transcripts, diplomas, and even the name of the school program. But for the most part, none of that is common anymore and few people really care besides the edusnobs.
     
  10. TomE

    TomE New Member

    Hmmm...courses specified with "DL" or "OL" seem a bit exclusionary. Can skill players take them i.e. PSYC1101RB or PSYC1101QB??!!

    In all seriousness, I know that there are many highly ranked MBA programs that have online options that specify in their FAQs that no distinction is made. Although the clues mentioned above will probably always exist, I doubt that many universities will explicitly distinguishing between the formats (on diplomas, at least) within a very short period of time.
     
  11. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    To be honest, does not matter what learning methods. However, if the credential specifies online, distance learning, and not from the original school turns off. This is the reason why I don't spend money on CourseRA certificate, EdX Micro Master, Udacy MicroMaster program. I have a stack of IT certifications, and now I feel most of them are useless.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    The top one is not bad because the average person doesn't know what Coursera is.

    The bottom one is not so great because it specifies the word "online". However, being a certificate from a place that only issues certificates is not a big issue. Now, if it were a degree then I'd see it differently.
     
  13. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    My opinion, they are all bad. Because it does not seem to have any value of the certification. The contents of the courses are great, but just the credential itself. If the certificate of the specialization is issued by the institution, i.e: Johns Hopkins University for Data Science instead through CourseRA on the certificate. Everyone knows CourseRA, UDacity, FutureLearn, and EdX are online learning.
     
  14. GeeBee

    GeeBee Member

    I saw a job listing once, for a data analyst at a Federal Agency, that specifically mentioned the Coursera/Johns Hopkins Data Science Certificate. Persons who had earned that or a similar certificate were credited with an extra year of experience for determining their starting pay grade.
     
  15. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  16. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    A path backwards, to be sure.
     
  17. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    That may be entirely true. But, I'm speaking only about the cert being easily identifiable as an online program vs. not being easily identifiable as an online program.

    That I'm not so sure about. The average employer can't even tell a real degree from a milled one. However, I think the names could make one suspicious enough to ask if it was earned online.
     
  18. FTFaculty

    FTFaculty Well-Known Member

    One of my degrees is online and from UMass, can't tell it's online from either the diploma or the transcript. If anyone wants to know how I got it, I tell them online, and use it as a selling point, because most universities want profs to be able to teach online as well as onground.
     

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