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Career Advancement Strategy: Earning Your Degree at a Distance
The Basics of Selecting a Distance Education Program
By Lorene Ulrich, Ph.D., TSA Career Coach
Have you heard the "rumor" that a college or a graduate degree may significantly expand your career options within TSA, with other Federal agencies and in the private sector? This rumor is absolutely TRUE. When we TSA Career Coaches recommend this strategy to our TSA clients, we often hear a silent pause, followed by "yes, I know that I should, but I just can't right now." We understand. Most TSA employees work full time and many are raising families – when is there time to complete a degree?
However, going back to school is now a lot easier. The growth and acceptance of internet-based "distance" degree programs provides a breadth of educational options to a busy person juggling family or work. If you're thinking of taking the next step, here are important things to consider.
ACCREDITATION AND REPUTATION
Not all distance educational programs are equal. Check each program's accreditation at www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
Be leery of online programs that have glitzy advertising focusing on how easy and fast it is to earn a degree. Contact the admissions office, or administrative office in your chosen field, and ask for some of the program's statistics:
- What is the program's graduation and drop-out rate? A low retention rate could mean the school is not doing a good job teaching.
- What is the average – and what is the maximum – class size? If the average size is 15 the maximum size could be 30, which is too large. Educational experts say that an ideal online course size is between 10 and 20 students.
YOUR CAREER NEEDS
Does the program meet your needs? Does it specialize in the major you want? Find out which universities have online programs in your target field of study (www.petersons.com can help). Research each program to determine which is the best in that field. Make sure classes are taught by full-time faculty members who are leaders in the field, or by adjunct faculty members who are experienced practitioners in the field.
If you're not sure which college major or graduate degree is best for you, a TSA Career Coach can help you with career and education planning.
If you are taking a course or a program toward a license or certification and the university is out of state, make sure the degree, license, or certificate is valid in the state in which you'll be using it.
COURSE SCHEDULE AND AVAILABILITY
Are courses in your area of interest offered every term and in multiple locations, including online and in a traditional classroom setting? Some schools have consortium relationships that allow students to take courses from a huge catalog. If courses will require all students to meet online at the same time – for live discussions or exams – does the class schedule fit within your work and family schedule?
Also inquire about:
- Transferring previous college credits to be applied to your new program;
- Earning college credit for your work, training, volunteer and personal life experiences, i.e., Prior Learning Experience (PLE).
STUDENT SERVICES
A distance education program should offer the same or better student services as a traditional university. This includes the library, tutoring, career services, and technology support.
- Will the library deliver books to distance students, secure books/publications via an interlibrary loan arrangement, and provide access to all databases?
- Is there a designated advisor to help you with issues like financial aid, veterans' affairs, or the library?
- Does the program provide a toll-free number for assistance?
- Does the program have 24/7 tech support?
COURSE DESIGN AND QUALITY
The design of a distance course is critical to student success because the physical cues and interaction of a face-to-face class must be translated to the online environment. Learners are increasingly expecting more than just a PDF file, a set of PowerPoint slides, and a few chapters to read, along with a discussion board.
Ask what types of media and interactivity are built into the program's courses. Are there podcasts, video or other interactive social applications woven into the learning experience (e.g., wikis, blogs)?
You should be able to preview a demo course, or be granted access to 'audit' an actual course session. The course they select might be better than the average, but it will give you some insight into what your experience will be like. When you review this sample course, focus on four elements:
- Learning goals/objectives – Are they stated upfront?
- Assignments and course logistics – Are they written clearly?
- Online community involvement – Do you see opportunities to interact with other students and the professor?
- Course content – Is the content easy to read?
Finally, remember there is no one "right program." First, find your area of interest. Second, take a look at various schools that offer distance programs in that area. Go online, review their website and course offerings. Third, talk to an admissions counselor, and if possible an academic advisor, about specific elements discussed above that are important to you.
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