Courses taken through distance education can range from single courses taken for pleasure to a series of courses designed to meet the requirements for a degree. Taking courses via distance education is less expensive than on campus classes and you can take them as either the need or mood arises.
Accreditation
If you are taking distance education courses with an eye toward one day earning a degree then you will want to make certain that the courses come from an accredited institution. Accredited degrees offer you the most flexibility.
All colleges and universities that offer federal financial aid are accredited.
Types
The coursework itself is much like on campus classes. There are assigned textbooks, reading assignments and often homework or papers. You will also take exams.
The courses themselves may be completed through assignments that are emailed to the instructor and an online exam, or there may be online video components that you watch when time allows. Each course is individually designed and there will be slight variations. These variations will be mentioned in the course outline before you enroll.
Time Frame
Most courses take about 12 weeks to complete. Because with distance education you move along as quickly as you are able, it is normal to finish some courses earlier than others. It's up to you to set your own timetable.
Overall, if you are taking coursework in a degree program you should expect to spend at least as much time working through distance education as you would if you attended classes on campus.
Benefits
While the savings in cost is usually seen as the greatest benefit to distance education courses, the other benefits are equally important. You are able to take courses without taking time away from your career or family obligations. You may set your own pace and you may take breaks from your studies whenever you need to do so and then pick them up again at a later date.
Trends
London University reports that its distance education program now has more students than their physical campus. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Education predicts that distance education will continue to expand and grow for at least the next decade before leveling off. This is due largely to the growing acceptance of distance education as a valid educational method. This will likely continue, leading to more universities and colleges making their course offerings available through distance education and thus allowing more people to attain a higher education than ever before. (source: ehow.com)
