Peer online degree programs, No in-person class -- Good idea?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the viability and quality of online degree programs in STEM fields, particularly for individuals in the military seeking flexible education options. Participants explore the challenges and potential benefits of pursuing degrees in areas such as Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science through online platforms.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to pursue an online degree due to their military commitments and seeks recommendations for reputable programs.
  • Another participant questions the worth of online degrees in the specified fields, suggesting that previous discussions indicate a lack of quality.
  • Concerns are raised about the articulation of military training credits into academic programs, with some participants suggesting that these credits are often not recognized by reputable institutions.
  • One participant recommends taking classes at local community colleges instead of pursuing online degrees, emphasizing the potential for better credit transfer later.
  • There is a sarcastic exchange regarding the perceived quality of online degrees, with one participant asserting that all online degrees are of poor quality.
  • Another participant reiterates their preference for online education despite the criticisms, seeking further insights from others.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the value of online degree programs. There are competing views on their quality and effectiveness, particularly regarding the recognition of military training credits and the suitability of local community colleges as an alternative.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the articulation of military training credits and the overall quality of online degree programs, indicating a need for further exploration of these issues.

AKing2713
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Hello all, I just had a few questions about online degree programs and was wondering if they can be done/are worth it. First let me explain my situation as to why I want to do online school as opposed to a brick-and-mortar school.

I'm currently in the military and as you can imagine its pretty hectic not being in one place for very long. I'm generally deployed 6 months out of the year with occasional out of country trips while I'm state side. I currently just signed up for another 4 years and want to make the most of it by going to college while doing my job. However I really don't want to have to deal with going to a physical class while I home. That being said I was wondering if there were any degree programs in the STEM field that can be done solely online from a reputable school.

In the military my job is fixing jets(avionics and electronic warfare to be exact) and I want to continue doing what I am doing now once I leave the military. Either that or something similar(jets, spacecraft , etc) so I am looking for a degree that would help me in that field. I currently have an AAS in Avionic Systems Technology that I got from the military's community college(Basically, when you get trained for your job in the military; depending on how long/difficult it is, you are awarded with college credits. These credits can then be turned into a AAS in my case if I get the gen eds out of the way). So I hope to use some of these credits to put towards a BS.

Some degrees that currently interest me are Aerospace or Electrical engineering, Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science. Pretty much any of these I would find interesting enough to peruse a degree in. I just haven't seen a lot of programs out there that offer a peer online approach to these sorts of subjects(or there are some but they don't offer a lot of confidence when it comes to the quality of the degree program.)

tl;dr Are there any good peer online STEM degree programs and can anyone recommend some?

Thanks for reading!
 
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AKing2713 said:
Hello all, I just had a few questions about online degree programs and was wondering if they can be done/are worth it. First let me explain my situation as to why I want to do online school as opposed to a brick-and-mortar school.

I'm currently in the military and as you can imagine its pretty hectic not being in one place for very long. I'm generally deployed 6 months out of the year with occasional out of country trips while I'm state side. I currently just signed up for another 4 years and want to make the most of it by going to college while doing my job. However I really don't want to have to deal with going to a physical class while I home. That being said I was wondering if there were any degree programs in the STEM field that can be done solely online from a reputable school.

In the military my job is fixing jets(avionics and electronic warfare to be exact) and I want to continue doing what I am doing now once I leave the military. Either that or something similar(jets, spacecraft , etc) so I am looking for a degree that would help me in that field. I currently have an AAS in Avionic Systems Technology that I got from the military's community college(Basically, when you get trained for your job in the military; depending on how long/difficult it is, you are awarded with college credits. These credits can then be turned into a AAS in my case if I get the gen eds out of the way). So I hope to use some of these credits to put towards a BS.

Some degrees that currently interest me are Aerospace or Electrical engineering, Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science. Pretty much any of these I would find interesting enough to peruse a degree in. I just haven't seen a lot of programs out there that offer a peer online approach to these sorts of subjects(or there are some but they don't offer a lot of confidence when it comes to the quality of the degree program.)

tl;dr Are there any good peer online STEM degree programs and can anyone recommend some?

Thanks for reading!

Are any online degrees worth it in the listed areas? Probably not, you can do a forum search and read some of the other discussions on the subject to see what I mean.

You don't have an associate degree, military training credit suggested on the smart, or whatever they call it these days, is rarely articulated at any school worth going to.

I recommend you take classes at a local community college where ever you're stationed, then when you end your enlistment you transfer those credits to a university.
 
Student100 said:
Are any online degrees worth it in the listed areas? Probably not, you can do a forum search and read some of the other discussions on the subject to see what I mean.

Im guessing others have asked this question before and you are trying to say, no, there are no online degrees worth a crap? Because that would of been a bit more helpful.

Student100 said:
You don't have an associate degree, military training credit suggested on the smart, or whatever they call it these days, is rarely articulated at any school worth going to.

Sweet thanks for that insight bro!

Student100 said:
I recommend you take classes at a local community college where ever you're stationed, then when you end your enlistment you transfer those credits to a university.

Ya, but you missed the part where I said I want to do the exact oppisite of what you are suggesting. But thanks anyways.

Anyone else have some insight?
 
AKing2713 said:
Im guessing others have asked this question before and you are trying to say, no, there are no online degrees worth a crap? Because that would of been a bit more helpful.

All online degrees are crap, is this explicit enough?

Sweet thanks for that insight bro!

Glad we cleared that up. Sarcasm aside, I was also in the miltary and have experience in this matter. So you can believe me, or choose to answer with sarcasm - your choice.

Ya, but you missed the part where I said I want to do the exact oppisite of what you are suggesting. But thanks anyways.

Anyone else have some insight?

Yeah, but you missed the part were there is no good alternative.
 

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