With the widespread availability of electronic devices, distance learning in the past few years has gained a considerable amount of popularity amongst students. Although an amazing medium to gain education, a decision to enroll in a distance learning program shouldn’t be hasty. Choosing a distance learning course can often be a daunting task, with so many options available one might find it extremely perplexing.
It is of utmost significance that you consider all kinds of possibilities and consequences of the decision you make beforehand. All the distance learning courses vary from school to school. So, make sure your research is solid. Make it a point that you peruse through the websites and online brochures available. Also find reviews and if possible have a word with someone who has already enrolled for a distance learning program.
Verifying a school accreditation will help you decide if the course is worth your time. Make sure that the school you’re planning to associate with has proper certification and national recognition. This ensures that the course you aim to apply satisfies all legal requirements and quality standards. You can get in touch with the Department of Education to scrutinize the school on its accreditation. If there are is any other criteria in terms of regulations that you’re specially looking for don’t shy away from asking the student help desk for further information.
While searching for courses see what’s the best fit for you in terms of curriculum and faculty. Think whether you resonate with the course structure and what learning opportunities it can provide you with. When it comes to the faculty always ensure that the educational experience imparted is of excellent quality. Although distance learning is independent in its learning techniques, it is crucial to look out if there are well-qualified and helpful teachers. In case your course is a hybrid program, that is a mixture of a traditional classroom setting and distance learning, it is imperative that you inquire about the faculty.
There is an immense level of flexibility in a distance learning program but not completely. While choosing a course make sure you can prioritize your time. For example, if you enroll for a course with online classes, make sure you can dedicate a specific amount of time. The same goes for hybrid or blended programs where one has to attend classes on certain days. In this case, you will then be limited to a distance learning program located in your city.
How much will you succeed by pursuing a distance learning course primarily depends on your commitment towards it. You will have an immense amount of flexibility to handle all your tasks and assignments, but your will power also comes in play. As they say with great power comes great responsibility, so don’t forget to develop an ethic of self -supervision before enrolling for a distance learning course.
They say it is never too late to pursue your dreams. This is especially true when it comes to career and education. Unfortunately, not all can afford to quit their jobs and go back to school. This can make it difficult to pursue higher studies or certain courses that can enhance skills. Fortunately, there are several free online learning platforms that allow anyone and everyone to be able to have access to good quality learning resources.
Here are some of the best websites for free online education that you can sign up for.
Coursera
Coursera is one of the most popular platforms for taking free online courses. It features classes, both free as well as paid, on a variety of different topics. This platform is currently being used by over 35 million learners that have access to 150 university partners, 2,700 courses, 250 specializations, and four degrees. These courses are curated in partnership with leading universities and organizations from around the world, such as Stanford and Harvard.
edX
edX is a platform that was founded by Harvard and MIT that brings together top-ranked universities. This platform was founded to help eliminate the primary barriers that prevent people from pursuing education, i.e., cost, location, and access. Along with free courses, edX also offers certain specialized courses for a specific fee. The platform can be accessed by interested educators and technologists through Open edX if they wish to assist in developing new educational tools.
Udemy
Udemy is another online learning platform that is quite similar to Coursera in terms of the format of the courses. The unique aspect of this platform is that it allows users to build their own custom courses by compiling individual lessons so that these can be taught online. There are over 100,000 courses in 50 languages on this platform that are taught by 42,000 instructors from around the world.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed is a platform made by TED to help share ideas and knowledge from teachers to students. This award-winning platform has a global network of more than 250,000 teachers that teach several free courses on a variety of categories and themes. The lessons are taught using animated videos and interactive content so as to make them more interesting for the students.
If you are planning to pursue an accounting degree, you should consider doing it online. There are more than 580 institutions in the country that offer master’s degrees in accounting, and many of them offer their courses online. Therefore, you can pursue this course without shifting to a different state, and you can also continue with your current job. Here are the top picks of online master’s degrees in accounting that you can consider if you are interested in this field.
Auburn University
The online master’s degree in accounting at Auburn University is open for you if you hold a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business, and if you meet all the prerequisites for the business and accounting department. Students who enroll in this program receive study materials, instructions, and assignments that are similar to the on-campus course. The schedule is extremely flexible and can accommodate working professionals as well. Full-time students of this course can complete it within one year. They get to select electives like real estate finance and information risk analysis, among others. This course also prepares students for the Uniform CPA Exam. This whole program is available online, including the exam. However, students have to complete a three-day on-campus residency during their final semester.
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina offers an online Master of Accounting (MAC) degree through its Kenan-Flagler Business School. This school accepts students from all undergraduate backgrounds. However, students who have business or accounting backgrounds may get course waivers. Students who enroll in this course can choose a concentration in Tax or Audit. If you take up the full-time course, you can finish it in less than 15 months. You can start this course either in June or December. This way, even if you miss the application deadline for one semester, you do not have to wait for an entire year to enroll in the course. The MAC degree is entirely online, except for a one-week leadership immersion on campus, which is mandatory and takes place at the beginning of the course.
University of Connecticut
An online master’s degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut is one of the best online courses in the country. This university offers a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program. Full-time students can complete it in two semesters. Working professionals who enroll in this degree take two courses per semester. The University of Connecticut also offers you electives like Forensic Accounting, Disclosure for Not-for-Profit Entities, and Fraud Examination among others.