Accelerated Online Degree Programs – Accredited

Saturday, April 7, 2012 posted by Grace Mueller

Searching for Accelerated Online Degree Programs – Accredited?

When choosing an online degree program, some students prefer an accelerated program to accomplish their degree more quickly.  Accelerated or traditional, students considering potential online schools should always verify that the school is properly accredited; accreditation of an accelerated school can make a huge difference in whether or not the online degree is respected.

Walden University

Accelerated Online Degree Programs - Accredited

Walden University is regionally accredited, the highest level of accreditation possible.

Accelerated degree programs: Walden University offers 8-week online classes. Since traditional semesters are usually 16 weeks long, you can see the benefit of enrolling in an 8-week class: you earn your college credits MUCH faster.

Walden University offers accredited online Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees online.

Over 50 online degrees in over 200 areas of concentration are available in fields such as:

  • Business / Accounting / Finance (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate)
  • Management / Leadership (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate)
  • Political Science (Bachelor’s)
  • Health Studies / Health Care Management (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate)
  • Psychology / Forensic Psychology / Clinical Psychology (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate)
  • Communications (Bachelor’s)
  • Child Development / Child Studies (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate)
  • Computer Information Systems / Information Technology (Bachelor’s, Master’s)
  • Criminal Justice / Homeland Security / Public Policy (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate)
  • Education / Teaching (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate)

Read more or get a program guide from Walden University.

Accelerated Online Degree Programs – Accredited

What are accredited accelerated online degree programs?

Accredited accelerated degree programs are programs that offer a degree more rapidly than traditional programs, over several months rather than several years; schools offering these should have received accreditation to ensure their quality and transferability.  These programs can be offered online to even further accelerate the degree process as degrees can be earned at the convenience of the student’s schedule.

What types of accreditation are there?

The two main types of accreditation are national and regional.  Regional accreditation is usually for non-profit public and private educational institutions.  National Accreditation generally covers for-profit educational institutions throughout the country including technical, career, or vocational programs.

Regional accreditation – the six regional accreditors

Regional accreditation is divided into six regions of the U.S., each having its own accreditation association as follows:

The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools covers Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.
The New England Association of Colleges and Schools covers Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools covers Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges covers Alaska, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges covers schools in the western region of the U.S.

Enjoying the rapidity and convenience of an accelerated online degree program really is dependent upon accreditation to ensure that the degree for which one worked so hard is accepted by future employers and institutions as well as respected as well it should be.  Without accreditation, the degree one earns might have been in vain.