Accreditation: the Key to a Quality Online Program

<h1>Accreditation: the Key to a Quality Online Program</h1>Author: <a title="Justin Mongiardo" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/justin-mongiardo/74500.htm">Justin Mongiardo</a>  
Accreditation: The Key to a Quality Online Program
Justin Mongiardo Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Before you sign up for an online degree program, it is important to make sure your degree with be accepted by employers and other academic institutions. With all the programs out there, it can be difficult to know which ones have the best reputations. However, there is a way to check the reputation of an online program. By reviewing a school’s accreditation, you can be assured of its credibility in the professional and academic world.
Accreditation is the process by which educational institutions are evaluated. Several standards are set that an institution must meet to be accredited. Although standards vary, most focus on a school’s stated mission, available resources, faculty quality, and student admission requirements. The accreditation process is usually conducted by faculty members from other accredited institutions. Its aim is to provide an objective, peer-review process.
Online institutions are held to the same high standards as physical universities and colleges. An online school should clearly state its accreditation information and the agency who certified them. Avoid any institution that does not use the term “accredited.” Other synonyms, such as “certified” or “licensed” do not mean the same thing. You should also stay away from schools who are “seeking accreditation” as this means they have not yet been approved.
Even if a school is accredited, it may not have been evaluated by a quality agency. Thus, you should always check the credentials of the accrediting agency. Some schools have actually been known to make up fake agencies to make themselves seem more prestigious. Some of the most credible agencies have been evaluated by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accrediation (CHEA). For schools outside the United States, the CHEA also maintains an international database to verify an institution’s credentials.
The most widely accepted accreditations are those granted by one of the six regional accreditation agencies in the United States. These agencies are responsible for most college and university accreditation, and are widely recognized for their quality evaluations. Which agency an online program is accredited by will depend on the location where the program is based. Some schools that offer online programs may be accredited by Distance Education Training Council (DETC). This is another quality accreditation agency and most employers will recognize it. However, other institutions may not accept credit from those accredited by the DETC.
Why pay for a course that isn’t considered worthwhile? Obviously that is a waste of both your time and money. That’s why it is imperative that you consider an institutions accreditation prior to enrolling in an online course. By choosing a quality program, you can be assured that you are getting the most of your educational experience.
 About the Author: Justin Mongiardo 
Coquitlam, British Columbia, CanadaArticle Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/accreditation-the-key-to-a-quality-online-program-545859.html" title="Accreditation: the Key to a Quality Online Program">Accreditation: the Key to a Quality Online Program</a>

Accreditation: The Key to a Quality Online Program

Justin Mongiardo
Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

Before you sign up for an online degree program, it is important to make sure your degree with be accepted by employers and other academic institutions. With all the programs out there, it can be difficult to know which ones have the best reputations. However, there is a way to check the reputation of an online program. By reviewing a school’s accreditation, you can be assured of its credibility in the professional and academic world.

Accreditation is the process by which educational institutions are evaluated. Several standards are set that an institution must meet to be accredited. Although standards vary, most focus on a school’s stated mission, available resources, faculty quality, and student admission requirements. The accreditation process is usually conducted by faculty members from other accredited institutions. Its aim is to provide an objective, peer-review process.

Online institutions are held to the same high standards as physical universities and colleges. An online school should clearly state its accreditation information and the agency who certified them. Avoid any institution that does not use the term “accredited.” Other synonyms, such as “certified” or “licensed” do not mean the same thing. You should also stay away from schools who are “seeking accreditation” as this means they have not yet been approved.

Even if a school is accredited, it may not have been evaluated by a quality agency. Thus, you should always check the credentials of the accrediting agency. Some schools have actually been known to make up fake agencies to make themselves seem more prestigious. Some of the most credible agencies have been evaluated by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accrediation (CHEA). For schools outside the United States, the CHEA also maintains an international database to verify an institution’s credentials.

The most widely accepted accreditations are those granted by one of the six regional accreditation agencies in the United States. These agencies are responsible for most college and university accreditation, and are widely recognized for their quality evaluations. Which agency an online program is accredited by will depend on the location where the program is based. Some schools that offer online programs may be accredited by Distance Education Training Council (DETC). This is another quality accreditation agency and most employers will recognize it. However, other institutions may not accept credit from those accredited by the DETC.

Why pay for a course that isn’t considered worthwhile? Obviously that is a waste of both your time and money. That’s why it is imperative that you consider an institutions accreditation prior to enrolling in an online course. By choosing a quality program, you can be assured that you are getting the most of your educational experience.

Justin Mongiardo
Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

Rate this Article:

5 / 5 stars - 1 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/accreditation-the-key-to-a-quality-online-program-545859.html

Article Tags: Accreditation: The Key To A Quality Online Program

Related Articles
Related Q&A

Latest Information Technology Articles
More from Justin Mongiardo

Toshiba Regza 37XV635 LCD TV Review

By: Scotty Hughes | 06/01/2010
Toshiba has come up with the cutting-edge in LCD television engineering with the Toshiba Regza 37XV635.It easily merges a stylish blueprint with state of the art technology. You will be astounded by this unmatched television system. The Toshiba Regza 37XV635 is equipped with the latest in TV technology known as the MetaBrain. It controls certain TV functions in order to achieve better performance. Features such as Active Picture Processing, Resolution+, AutoView function and Dolby V...

Examsoon 000-284 test questions

By: Adela1987 | 06/01/2010
000-284 test questions from Examsoon will be the most reliable source for a good quality. With much thorough analysis of the feedback from thousands of certified experts, we are able to determine which providers will provide you with updated and relevant 000-284 practice questions and good quality 000-284 practice test.

Pass4side 000-543 braindumps

By: Adela1987 | 06/01/2010
Pass4side Practice Exams for IBM 000-543 are written to the highest standards of technical accuracy, using only certified subject matter experts and published authors for development.

Examsoon 000-154 braindumps exam

By: Adela1987 | 06/01/2010
We provides high quality IBM 000-154 braindumps exam. It is the best and the lastest IBM Practice Exams. Furthermore, we are constantly updating our Examsoon 000-154 Exam. These Exam Resources updates are supplied free of charge to Examsoon customers. If you have any question about Examsoon 000-154 braindumps, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Examsoon 000-936 exam Guide

By: Adela1987 | 06/01/2010
The IBM 000-936 exam Guide in pdf format that can also be downloaded from our training package. The IBM 000-936 Braindumps are also available for free in our training package to practice for the exams. These Braindumps can be really very useful to prepare exam. You will find on Braindumps are given by people which have gone through the same exam that you are about to do. They are seasoned experts and know the ins and outs of various IBM 000-936 Exams and others to give you an added edge when yo

Examsoon 000-817 exam

By: Adela1987 | 06/01/2010
Examsoon 000-817 study guide will introduce you to the core logic of various subjects so that you not only learn, but you also understand various technologies and subjects. We guarantee that using our 000-817 practice test will adequately prepare you for your 000-817 exam, and set you up to pass your 000-817 exam the First Time.

Examsoon 000-101 Exam Objectives

By: Adela1987 | 06/01/2010
You can find a better solution to your 000-101 preparation needs than Examsoon Links. Our 000-101 Free Notes, IBM 000-101 Sample Questions and 000-101 Brain dumps are reliable and are updated regularly with the changing IBM 000-101 Exam Objectives to give you the most accurate 000-101 Study Material possible. You can trust on our 000-101 Free Notes, IBM 000-101 Sample Questions and 000-101 Free Notes for a successful preparation of IBM 000-101 Certification Exam.

Examsoon 006-002 exam Trainings

By: Adela1987 | 06/01/2010
Examsoon 006-002 is written to coincide with the real test by the experienced IT experts and specialists. With the complete collection of Questions and Answers, Examsoon 006-002 is high enough to help the candidates to pass this exam easily without any other study materials and no need to attend the expensive training class.

Windows Vs. Mac

By: Justin Mongiardo | 03/09/2008 | Operating Systems
The debate between Windows and Mac users has been raging for years. However, no definitive conclusion has been reached. Ultimately, both systems have their benefits and drawbacks. Choosing between the two is simply a matter of personal preference and usability needs. Thus, it is important to consider the real differences between these two platforms when deciding which to use.

Will Xbox Join the Casual Gaming Revolution?

By: Justin Mongiardo | 03/09/2008 | Video Games
The Xbox 360 is one of the top video game consoles on the market. However, it faces tough competition from other systems, like Nintendo’s Wii. One of the major arenas where the Xbox 360 faces trouble is in casual gaming. More and more players are opting for these “pick up and play” games rather than those with in-depth plots and complex storylines.

Why Viral Content is Great

By: Justin Mongiardo | 03/09/2008 | Ethics
The term viral content may conjure up ideas of computer hackers and crashes, but it is actually a positive feature of the web. It refers to information published on the internet that can be easily spread across the globe. Such content can take almost any form and include media substance beyond basic text. However, it must be something that others want to view, talk about, and share.

Vancouver Preparing for Next Olympics

By: Justin Mongiardo | 03/09/2008 | Causes & Organizations
With the Summer 2008 Beijing Olympics finished, the world has now turned its attention to the next global games. The upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver, Canada. With only two years to go, the city has already begun preparing to do its duty as the host location. With lessons learned from this past Olympics, Vancouver is sure to pull off a successful set of winter games.

Vancouver for the Environmental Enthusiast

By: Justin Mongiardo | 03/09/2008 | Wellness
Vancouver may be one of Canada’s largest urban centers. However, this does not mean it is a concrete jungle with congested streets and excessive smog. In fact, Vancouver has a lot of great ways to get in touch with nature. With all its parks and gardens, Vancouver could be the dream locale for an eco-friendly vacation. Vancouver’s mild climate has allowed for the cultivation of a wide array of both indigenous and imported plant life. No matter what season, the city always has a great display

Vancouver’s Diverse Economy

By: Justin Mongiardo | 03/09/2008 | Economics
Vancouver has one of Canada’s most diverse and thriving economies. Its location and population make it an ideal spot for an array of productive industries. From its centuries-old shipping industry to modern film production, Vancouver can host it all. This means more jobs and a more stable monetary flow both for the city itself and for Canada as a whole.

Turn a Web Design Hobby Into Profits

By: Justin Mongiardo | 03/09/2008 | Web Design
If you enjoy designing websites, you can turn your hobby into a profitable business. There is a great market for web design companies as more and more people are turning to the web to promote their ideas. What’s more, web design companies are relatively easy to start and operate. All it takes is some basic planning and you could be on your way to making great profits right from your computer.

The Future of the Xbox 360

By: Justin Mongiardo | 03/09/2008 | Video Games
When it was first released, the Xbox 360 game console was truly at the top of its field. However, competition in the video game industry is fierce, and developers must constantly work to improve their designs. Thus, Microsoft is making strides towards improving its most powerful game console and bringing the Xbox 360 one more step into the future.