Michael Myers, who works in Oregon’s Employment Department, told The Register-Guard that he expects the service industry to recover from the economic downturn in the coming years. There are many “higher-paying jobs that require a college degree” in this industry, he said. “In leisure and hospitality, for example, there are entry-level management jobs.” 

In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job opportunities for food service managers are expected to be good in the next eight years, and the demand for these professionals will increase by 5 percent. 

As a result, budding hospitality managers may want to consider enrolling in some online courses while working at a restaurant, as completing an online degree program could increase their chances of earning a promotion. 

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Distance learning is on the up and up. Not only are a record number of students engaging in higher education online-more and more college officials think distance learning is as good as or better than traditional classroom learning, according to a recent study. 

But are online degrees, and particularly those earned through online MBA programs, worth the same as traditional degrees? 

Yes, many experts say: there’s no difference. According to some proponents, online distance learning is more rigorous than classroom learning, and draws more disciplined students. 

Experts see the uptick in online distance education as a good thing, especially for busy working professionals who want advanced degrees but don’t have time or money to leave their jobs and families for traditional classrooms. 

“A lot of traditional schools require students to take a year or two off. But a lot of adult learners can’t break from everything to go back to school,” explained Dr. Rebecca Sidler, faculty chair of the MBA program at Walden University’s School of Management. Founded in 1970, Walden is a distance-learning institution that offers doctorates and master’s degree programs in a variety of disciplines, including education, management, and psychology, among others. 

Dr. Diana G. Oblinger, vice president of Educause, a nonprofit group focused on advancing higher education through technology, said online MBA programs have limitless possibilities. 

“You have the ability to bring in experts that you’d not be able to bring into a classroom. You’d be able to integrate people from around the world,” Oblinger said. “Online MBA programs have begun to do some very creative things because space and time aren’t limiting the programs. If I wanted to bring someone in from China, they’re not going to be up at 2 a.m. talking to me, but you can record the information and distribute it to people and have an online discussion.” 

Do Employers Accept Online MBA Programs? 

While distance education has been scrutinized in the past, experts say it’s more widely embraced nowadays, including among employers. 

“There is no unique difference for an online grad versus a fixed facility grad for similar degrees,” said Michael P. Lambert, executive director of the Distance Education and Training Council, a nationally recognized accrediting agency for online institutions. “There is no difference where they will end up working or [what they'll end up] earning because they learned it online.” 

Chris Consorte, who teaches both online and traditional MBA students, agreed. 

“In my experience there’s no difference in salaries. I find it depends on the person. A very aggressive student usually leverages his or her degree and finds a job making more and more money,” explained Consorte, who teaches at Iona College, Mercy College and Long Island University, all in New York state. 

Pluses and Minuses of Distance Learning 

Though online distance learning is enjoying broader support, there are some drawbacks. 

A Sloan Consortium study cites barriers to the widespread adoption of online distance learning. Topping the list is the concern that “students need more discipline to succeed in online courses”-64 percent of all institutions see it as a significant hurdle. The number-two concern is the extra time and effort that online faculty spend; 32 percent of schools think this is a problem. 

Other disadvantages include lack of face-to-face feedback and in-person activities with peers, and loneliness, according to DETC’s Lambert, who also said, “The few drawbacks are more than offset by the convenience features.” 

Experts say benefits of online distance learning include savings on time and money-no commuting, gas money or parking fees are required. And some students just function better online. 

“Online there’s anonymity, you can interact and participate, and you can be whoever you want to be. For some people it’s a more comfortable environment for them to study in,” said Walden’s Sidler. 

Another plus is the increased earning power an MBA brings. According to 2007 statistics from the Graduate Management Admission Council, a nonprofit group that owns the GMAT, MBA graduates who have gotten job offers typically earn 58 percent more than before they got their degrees. 

PayScale’s MBA salary data shows the median salary for individuals with MBA degrees is $78,782. 

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. 

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Columbia is one school that currently offers students the opportunity to earn an engineering degree via online classes.? While it offers a multitude of other courses that can contribute to a BA, currently there are limited options for a full degree program in the arts.? Harvard offers many students similar options as Columbia; while there are no full degree programs that are offered through its distance learning program, the school still offers many different courses without the full degree.? 

Earning a BA online from an Ivy League school is one such hope for many online students who want to put this on their resume.? Thus far, however, it still remains in the future as many Ivy League universities are hesitant to offer an entire bachelor’s program through the internet.? Dartmouth is another school which offers limited online enrollment through its Tuck Business Bridge Program that allows its liberal arts graduates to gain “total immersion” into business programs.? While this type of program is only available for professionals hoping for a better understanding of the business world, it is a sign that Dartmouth at least is on the way to offering a full degree program online.? Yale is one school that surprisingly has yet to offer a BA through its online course listings.? This Connecticut Ivy League school was one of the first to jump on the distance learning bandwagon, and even offers “open courses” (free courses) to students around the country who wish to gain a deeper understanding of a specific subject.? However, the school has not yet offered any degree programs online and seems stuck in its offerings from years ago, rather than offering new courses with each semester. 

We have yet to truly appreciate the offerings Ivy League schools have to give us, but as the years pass, we can only hope that they let down their walls and allow online education in.? Earning a BA from an Ivy League university is an acclaimed feat? for any person, and allowing degrees to be offered to students across the country will be an even larger feat for the university to accomplish, not to mention the joy it would bring thousands of students.? 

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Without a doubt, nothing remains the same, and often learning something new can be the impetus for a renewed sense of interest in our careers. Rather than remaining stagnant, why not enroll in an online degree program to become familiar with current best practices and trends in your field? An Online MBA can stimulate new and innovative ideas which can affect your current position and help you prepare for future career advances. 

Accredited-Online-Colleges.com offers a directory of online degrees in a wide range of fields to help you prepare for the career you want.? Whether you want to earn your Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree or you’re ready to take your degree to the Master’s level, you can find many accredited programs to help you reach your goals. 

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Online students are no different than students at campus-based universities.? They have tons of questions regarding particular classes and what they entail.? The first thing students should do is to carefully read the online course catalog for information.? It should give a fairly detailed class description and requirements.? If you still need answers, don’t even think twice about contacting your academic advisor.? That’s what they’re there for.? You can e-mail them, or in some cases you may even be able to have an online chat with them.? When you’re talking to them, make a point of talking to them about which classes are going to fulfill your general education classes, so you don’t waste time taking the wrong classes. 

When you’re conversing with your advisor, you can even talk to them about classes that can fulfill not only Gen Ed requirements, but your major requirements, too.? It’s a great way to get what’s called a double credit fulfillment, but there are certain requirements that may be specific to each school.? It may mean that you have more free credits to take classes that hold special interest to you. 

Even though you’re going to be going to school in the virtual world, be sure to take the time to talk to people who have been influential in your real life.? If you just graduated from high school, take some time to talk to your high school teachers because they can probably give you some good general information on college courses.? If you have questions about a specialized subject, talk to someone who has specific knowledge about it.? For example, if you can’t decide to take a literature class or a writing class, talk to your old English teacher.? Your high school teachers will likely be more than happy to see you again and give you advice about your future. 

Most online schools have chat rooms or discussion boards for students; if there’s one for incoming students, be sure to utilize it.? You can talk to other students and get knowledge about classes they might have already taken, and they might even have the low-down on particular classes or instructors.? You might be surprised to know that some web sites even give student based ratings on different professors (but they might have a slight bias one way or the other).? It’s a really great idea to talk to other students who might have already taken a class you are interested in, because they can tell you about teacher expectations or teaching styles, or maybe even give you tips on the kind of work that’s expected. 

Whatever you do, don’t forget about the Internet.? It’s there to be used, and you should use it to research what you can about certain subjects, classes, or fields of study.? You just might gather enough information that will help you make the decision to take the class, or walk away without looking back if a certain class really makes you cringe. 

You have the power to create an educational plan that will fit you, your schedule, and your lifestyle to a T.? Be sure to embrace your ability to be in control, because it will make you more certain about the decisions you make.? With so many avenues to help guide you, from advisors, other students, to the Internet and old teachers, make sure you enter the arena full of information.? It will make your online educational experience that much more fulfilling. 

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