Non-traditional education: an important option for changing times.

Selecting a Non-Traditional Degree Program

This article is the last of a series of four articles on nontraditional education. It considers how to evaluate a program of study and concludes with a listing of universities offering reliable non-traditional programs which I would recommend based on my research in this area. Please note that the schools listed are not the only ones out there, and there are likely several good schools which my research did not consider. The discussion below which considers how to select a degree program should be undertaken for every school a reader may be considering regardless of who recommends them.

Program choices range from the relatively inexpensive to the very expensive. Within this range of costs are both programs offered through accredited institutions and those offered by unaccredited institutions. The most important question to ask yourself when deciding which program to follow is what do you intend to do with your education in the longer term? A number of unaccredited institutions offer very good degree programs but the likelihood of a degree issued by an unaccredited institution being accepted for entry to more advanced study at an accredited institution, while not entirely impossible, is, by and large, not terribly promising. On the other hand, if you are training for job-related purposes only, then accreditation may not be an issue. The point is, a degree from an accredited institution may provide more flexibility in the future, and so it is vitally important to be certain on what you intend to do with your education in the future before you commit to any program of study.

The following guidelines should assist potential students in determining which program is a match to your current situation.

1. As emphasized above, determine what you may wish to do in the longer term and how your education will fit into the picture.

2. If you are currently employed and seeking a degree program for development and possible promotion, speak to your supervisor and your personnel department to help you define the type of training to which the company or organization will respond favourably. Show them the information relating to a few programs you are considering (both accredited and unaccredited) and obtain their views. If you are unemployed, consider what career path you wish to follow and speak to people who are already doing the job to determine what program is optimal.

3. Determine how much money you can realistically afford to apply to your studies, and determine whether your company will reimburse you for tuition and related costs.

4. Research the institutions that you are considering carefully. This can be accomplished through a number of steps:

Obtain a copy of a book which has researched a number of schools and determine whether any previous research and history exists on the schools you are considering. One of the most comprehensive guides on the market today is "Bear's Guide to Earning College Degrees Non-Traditionally" by Dr. John Bear. This 300-page book provides details of well over one hundred schools offering non-tradition degree programs and is available for a nominal cost by writing C&B Publishing, P.O. Box 826, Benicia, California, USA 94510.

* Obtain full details on programs directly from the institution and take the time to telephone and speak to an admissions counsellor.

* Check out the institution with a government agency. Almost every state in the U.S.A. has an agency responsible for overseeing higher education. These agencies can provide information on the legality of an institution and/or its right to award degrees. In the United Kingdom, the body responsible for this type of inquiry is the Department of Education and Science, Elizabeth House, York Road, London, SE1 7PH; Secretary of State for Education and Science. In Canada, provincial ministries of education can assist students in this process.

* Check out the school yourself by visiting the campus, if possible. In discussing your plans with the school, a number of key questions should be asked including the number of students enrolled, the size of the faculty, acceptability of the degree, the school's legal status, and the number of degrees awarded in the past year. You may also ask to be put in touch with some recent graduates. Don't rely exclusively on slick glossy brochures - do some research!

For readers who are interested in pursuing degree-level non-traditional study, the following are some reliable programs which potential candidates may wish to investigate and consider further (all the programs listed are accredited):

BACHELOR PROGRAMS

The University of the State of New York Regents College, 7 Columbia Circle, Albany, New York, U.S.A., 12203-5159 Tel: [phone]

Ohio University Independent Study Office, 302 Tupper Hall, Athens, Ohio, USA, 45701 Tel: [phone]

Athabasca University Box 10,000, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada, T0G 2R0 Tel: [phone]

British Columbia Open University Box 82080, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, V5C 6J8 Tel: [phone].

University of London, The External Program Room 264, Senate House, Malet Street, London, England WC1E 7HU Tel: [phone] ext. 3150

MASTER PROGRAMS

Heriot-Watt University Distance Learning MBA (Scotland, UK) Canadian Distributorship, Suite 204-120 Robertson Road, Nepean, Ontario, Canada, K2H 5V1 Tel: [phone]

City University Washington 14510 N.E. 20th Street, Bellevue, Washington, USA, 98007 Tel [phone]

University of London (see above)

Athabasca University (see above)

California State University Dominguez Hills, External Degree in the Humanities, SAC 2-2126 1000 East Victoria Street, Carson, California, USA 90747 Tel: [phone]

DOCTORATE PROGRAMS

The University of Sarasota 5250 17th Street, Sarasota, Florida, USA, 34235 Tel: [phone]

The Fielding Institute 2112 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, California, USA, 93105-3538 Tel: [phone]

Nova SouthEastern University 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, 33314 Tel: [phone]

The Union Institute 440 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, 45206-1947 Tel: [phone]

David Jones-Delcorde has published several articles in business and education in professional journals in Canada and the United Kingdom, and has completed considerable research on non-traditional education options and institutions in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A chartered secretary and professional accountant (UK), Jones-Delcorde holds two undergraduate degrees in business and an M.B.A. An experienced college instructor holding a diploma in teaching adults, he is also a Fellow and Licentiate of England's Royal College of Preceptors.