Five Steps to Figuring Out Accreditation

by Robyn Tellefsen
You've made the decision to earn your degree online. You know what you want to study, how you'll fit school into your busy work and family life, and you have some inkling of how you'll afford it. Here comes the hard part: How do you choose the right school? Ask anyone - it all boils down to accreditation.

Select Your Program:
Select Business Legal Education Healthcare Trade Hospitality Arts & Design Technology Nursing AdvertisementLearn the terminology.
Accreditation is a status granted to an education institution or program that meets or exceeds predetermined criteria of education quality. Basically, it's an academic stamp of approval. As of April 2006, there were 6,814 accredited institutions and 18,152 accredited programs nationwide. Schools that aren't accredited can exist legally by meeting their particular state requirements, and are known as "state-licensed" or "state-approved." Costs for such programs are comparatively low, and courses tend to be vocationally-biased toward adult degree completion.
Choose to go accredited.
Here's why: Accreditation ensures the quality of an institution or program and assists in its improvement. Plus, if you ever want to transfer credits to an accredited school, you'll have a hard time getting non-accredited coursework recognized. Other benefits of pursuing accredited education include eligibility for federal and state student financial aid; tuition assistance and/or credential recognition by employers; and eligibility to sit for state licensure examinations in professional fields.
Consult the experts.
Knowing a school should be accredited isn't enough, though. You need to find out who is conferring the accreditation, and if that particular accreditation is recognized. The recognizers? Washington, D.C.-based Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a private nonprofit national organization, and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). They each review the quality and effectiveness of accrediting organizations, recognizing many of the same ones, but not all. USDE recognition is required for institutions that seek eligibility for federal student financial aid, and CHEA recognition confers academic legitimacy.
Verify your program's accreditation status.
Don't let the name mislead you ; regional accreditation is the highest level of accreditation an online or brick-and-mortar institution can obtain, and is recognized throughout the country. Regional associations accredit mainly nonprofit, degree-granting institutions in specific geographic areas (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, or Western).
National accreditors consist of faith-based, private career, and specialized and professional associations.

Faith-based accreditors review religiously affiliated or doctrinally based degree-granting and nonprofit institutions. CHEA and USDE recognize four faith-based accrediting associations.

Private career organizations accredit mainly for-profit, non-degree granting, single-purpose institutions (e.g., education in Business or information technology). Of the seven associations recognized by the USDE, CHEA recognizes two: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools; and Distance Education and Training Council Accrediting Commission.

Specialized and professional associations accredit particular programs within a college or university, rather than an entire institution, with the exception of some single-purpose institutions. A school may be regionally accredited and also have specialized accreditations for its professional programs. As of February 2006, the most current data available, there were 46 accrediting bodies recognized by CHEA, and 41 by USDE (with some overlap), including the American Psychological Association Committee on Accreditation; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council Accreditation Committee.

Stay tuned for updates.
Think you've got it down? Not quite. As it turns out, the process of accreditation is a work in progress.
In September 2006, after a year of deliberation, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings' Commission on the Future of Higher Education submitted its final report on the role and performance of higher education in the U.S.

Now, the U.S. Department of Education is challenged to carry out the commission's work, and addressing accreditation tops the to-do list.

According to the commission, the accreditation system is falling short of its purpose - ensuring quality education. To make sure accreditation measures up, the commission has highlighted goals of determining, in comparable ways, how well students are learning; ensuring that these student learning outcomes are more central in accreditors' assessments of college performance; and making these learning outcomes and accreditation decisions public knowledge.

"The growing public demand for increased accountability, quality and transparency coupled with the changing structure and globalization of higher education requires a transformation of accreditation," the panel said in its report.

The ultimate goal? For colleges to better measure and report their successes and failures in educating students.

We'll keep you informed as this process unfolds. In the meantime, log onto www.chea.org or http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation to verify that your education program's current accreditation is legitimate.

What are the benefits of online learning?

Flexibility is one big benefit. With online learning, you set your own schedule, although you will still be responsible for maintaining assignment deadlines and courses along with may have set online chat times or other synchronous elements as mentioned above. Convenience is another benefit. Lecture notes are often available online, as are transcripts of class chats and discussions.

How can I earn a college degree online?
How can I earn a college degree online? Visit http://www.classesusa.com to find out more.

Are you cut out for the online classroom?
Going back to school has been on your to-do list for what seems like an eternity, and you're finally ready to do something about it, especially now that there's a convenient option like online learning. Of course, when it comes to recommitting yourself to higher education, there are a multitude of factors to consider. Make sure you're prepped and poised to make the move to the online classroom by taking this quiz.

What do you need to succeed?
The right attitude makes all the difference in taking online classes. "Are you disciplined? Can you set aside a dedicated amount of time? Are you a self-starter?" Find out how if online learning is right for you and if you have what it takes to succeed.

Can I transfer credit to or from online schools?edit to or from online schools?

Can I transfer credit to or from online schools?
Your ability to transfer credits is determined by the receiving school. If the credits are from a regionally accredited school, they will often be accepted. For additional information, please contact your school of interest via the convenient information request form.

Can I get an online degree if I live outside the USA?
Most of the schools listed on ClassesUSA are unable to accept inquiries through ClassesUSA from students outside the USA. If you reside outside the USA, please visit our International page for a list of schools that accept international inquiries.

Can I get a college degree based entirely on my life experience?
Legitimate colleges and universities will not offer a degree based entirely on your life experience. Some will allow you to test out of required courses by showing competence and passing a proficiency test. Further, some will offer partial credit for "life experience," but not without you completing a rigorous screening and evaluation process.

Social Science Degrees

Earn A Counseling Degree Online

With an online counseling degree, you may find yourself in a position where you can help others make life changing decisions. Counselors provide support to people dealing with mental health issues, marriage counseling, career goals, educational goals, and a number of other life issues. If you enjoy working closely with people and helping them to set priorities to shape their lives, then you may find an online counseling degree a rewarding opportunity for you. Be sure to check the qualifications of admittance for the online counseling degree program. In some cases, it may be required that you have a certain number of years experience in the field or in practical training prior to taking the online counseling degree courses.



Learn Psychology Online

If you enjoy studying individual human behavior, an online degree in psychology may be right up your alley. This degree allows you the opportunity to learn more about the field from child development and gender issues through death and dying. You will explore the impact that certain phenomenon have on individuals and learn how people cope. By taking online courses towards an associates, bachelors or graduate degree in psychology, you can prepare yourself to work in an exciting field thanks to the flexibility offered by psychology schools online.



Online Psychology For the 21st Century

The web has become quite a source of information for people in the 21st century. You can even diagnose medical or psychological problems all from the comfort of your living room sofa. However, to become more than a couch psychologist, you can take online courses in psychology. While many websites are very credible, you may not find all of the information you need for analysis on the Internet. To make up for that, you can learn more from your instructor in the online psychology class who has completed years of training to develop an expertise in the field. If you want to be in a position to accurately diagnosis psychological problems, complete your online psychology degree and gain a mastery in the subject.



Sociology Online

Earning an online degree in sociology can provide you with a better understanding of how people interact in society. In studying the various relationships people have, this degree can provide you with an opportunity to learn different viewpoints in topics that include gender and race. You may also have the opportunity to study the role of the family in society as well as various societal social problems. Since interactions occur even in an online environment, many sociologists have embraced the technology and offer online courses. Visit an online degree information site to find information on schools that offer an online degree in sociology.



Study Social Work Online

The requirements to become a licensed social worker vary by state. Before you start your degree in social work, make sure the program and any online social work courses will help you become eligible to be licensed. In addition, if you decide to seek a graduate degree in social work, make sure you understand the admission requirements. These may include having already completed a bachelor's degree in social work. To complete thed egree requirements, you may be able to find a number of online courses that lead to the completion of the social work program and improve your chances of a career in the social work field.

Online School Application Tips

Be Tech Savvy With An Online Application

When you apply to be admitted to an online degree program, show the college that you are technically savvy. If they offer you the choice between having an application sent to your home or completing it online, this should be a no-brainer. Complete the admissions application for the online degree program by applying online. While this is not a requirement, the online school wants to know that you are comfortable working in an online environment. For those students who lack the needed technical skills, don't dismay. Knowing the technology is not a must to get into an online program, but if you lack these skills you may need to participate in additional training when you enter the program to get up to speed.



Completing Your Essay For An Online Application

Some schools require you to complete an essay to submit with your online application for admission. If this is the case, print out a copy of the application before you begin filling it out. Review everything that is being requested by the school and take some time to think about your responses. You don't want to be rejected for admission into your desired program just because you didn't put any thought into what you wrote. Instead write your essay response using a word processing program. Take the time to make sure that it is complete and error free. You also should read through it a couple of times to make sure it answers what the college wants to know. Then when you are prepared complete the information for the online application by just cutting and pasting the essay response.



Fill Out Your Online Application Correctly The First Time

Every impression counts, so make sure your online application is filled out correctly the first time to help you get accepted for admission. To start, you should complete the online application completely and accurately. Read through each item carefully before responding to make sure you are providing the information they are requesting. If you don't understand what is being asked, then don't be afraid to call and ask for help. It is better to stop and ask to get it right than to be rejected because you don't understand what the school wants to know.



Follow-Up On Your Online Application

After you submit your online admissions application, don't expect an immediate reply from the school. Generally, the school will send an email verifying that the application has been received and may even tell you when to expect a formal notice indicating if you have been accepted. Do be patient and let them review your application. Only call the school if you did not receive verification that they received your application within a day or so of submitting it online. Also, wait to call and check the status until they have had time to process your information. If they are waiting for you to send additional information, then make sure everything has been forwarded to the school before checking. Admissions offices get a lot of calls regarding the status of applications from anxious students so expect it to take some time to complete their review of your application.



Send In All Required Admissions Information

When you apply for admission to a college program, there may be additional information that is requested that has to be mailed in separately. This may include transcripts from schools you previously attended. Generally, when you identify on your college application that you attended another college or university in the past, whether it was to earn other online degrees or not, it will be expected that you submit the transcripts by the application deadline. There may be other items as well that need to be submitted including an application fee. When you complete the online college application, read everything carefully, understand all deadlines, and send in all required materials in a timely manner. If you do not send in everything that the school requires, your application for admission may not even be considered.