This is the VOA Special English EDUCATION REPORT.
This week, we continue our series of reports about how people
from foreign countries can attend a college or university in
the United States. A copy of this report can be found on the
Special English web site at www dot voaspecialenglish dot com.
One way to earn a degree at an American college or university
is to stay at home and use a computer. American universities
have been offering classes online for a number of years. Students
who have taken online classes say they like them. One reason
is because they do not have to travel to a building at a set
time to listen to a professor. Professors say they have better
communication with students through electronic mail notes than
they do in many traditional classes.
Some colleges offer academic degrees online. One is Jones International
University in Englewood, Colorado. Its web site says it is the
first fully online accredited university. It offers both bachelor¡¯s
degrees and master¡¯s degrees.
The University of Phoenix in Arizona has been offering degrees
online since nineteen-eighty-nine. University officials say
they try to provide students with a social experience as well
as an educational one. For example, in some programs, groups
of the same six students progress through all their classes
together. They communicate by computer.
Another online school is Cardean (CAR-dee-an) University, near
Chicago, Illinois. It began operations two years ago. It is
offering online classes leading to a Master¡¯s of
Business Administration degree. Cardean University uses a problem-solving
method of teaching. Students attempt to solve real problems
in their classes online instead of reading information.
Anyone with a computer can find information on the Internet
about these schools and others. You can use a search engine
such as Google or Yahoo. Type ¡°online education,¡±
and choose from a list of schools. Each will provide information
about its programs and costs.
However, experts say you should not send money to any school
that says you can get a college degree without doing any work.
These are illegal operations. Experts also say that you should
find out if such college degrees are recognized in your country
before you decide to get an education online.
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This V-O-A Special English Education Report
was written by Nancy Steinbach, courtesy of VOAnews.com
