Distance Learning Basics
Are you considering enrolling in a distance learning program but aren’t sure where to start?
If the idea of distance learning sounds either very appealing or frightening to you, let us help clear up any questions you have with Distance Learning 101.
Walden University
Walden University offers accelerated classes: 8 week online classes.
At Walden, giving quality education is the top-most priority with academic programs designed to fit the needs of every student. We offer over 60 online degree programs with more than 300 specializations and concentrations.
- Accounting – General
- Business Administration (7 concentrations)
- Child Development (4 concentrations)
- Communication (6 concentrations)
- Computer Information Systems (7 concentrations)
- Criminal Justice (5 concentrations)
- Educational Studies
- Forensic Psychology (4 concentrations)
- Health Studies (7 concentrations)
- Healthcare Management
- Information Technology (5 concentrations)
- Instructional Design & Technology
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Political Science (6 concentrations)
- Psychology (8 concentrations)
- Child Development
- Health Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- MBA (10 concentrations)
- Accounting (7 concentrations)
- Information Technology (3 concentrations)
- Information Systems Management (5 concentrations)
- Public Administration (13 concentrations)
- Healthcare Administration
- Public Health
- Adult Learning
- Career Counseling
- Criminal Justice (9 concentrations)
- Early Childhood Studies
- Education (16 concentrations)
- Forensic Psychology (5 concentrations)
- Clinical Psychology
- Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (3 concentrations)
- Mental Health Counseling (2 concentrations)
- Health Informatics – General
- Higher Education (6 concentrations)
- Human Resource Management (3 concentrations)
- Instructional Design and Technology (3 concentrations)
- Leadership (8 concentrations)
- Management (10 concentrations)
- Nonprofit Management
- Project Management
- Psychology (12 concentrations)
- Master of Science in Nursing (8 programs)
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Global Supply Chain Management
- Information Systems Management
- International Business
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Self-Designed
- Social Impact Management
- Technology Entrepreneurship
- Administrator Leadership for Teaching & Learning
- Higher Education & Adult Learning
- Higher Education Leadership
- Special Education
- Teacher Leadership
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
- Education Specialist (Ed.S.)
- Counselor Education and Supervision (6 concentrations)
- Education (12 concentrations)
- Health Services (9 concentrations)
- Human Services (17 concentrations)
- Management (14 concentrations)
- Psychology (7 concentrations)
- Public Health (3 concentrations)
- Public Policy and Administration (27 concentrations)
Walden University is regionally accredited, the highest level of accreditation possible in the United States.
Read more or get a program guide from Walden University.
Distance Learning: What is it?
Distance learning gives you the opportunity to educate yourself in a structured curriculum without having to set foot in a classroom. Many schools have offered distance learning courses for years, however the last fifteen years or so have given way to e-learning or online learning.
Previously, students would have been required to watch television programs on PBS to receive the visual learning for their courser studies and read along in the textbooks that were required for the courses. Students were required to register for the classes and had the choice of putting these classes towards a degree or take them one at a time for general knowledge.
How does distance learning work?
Distance learning in today’s tech-savvy culture takes place in the comfort of the students home using a computer and some sort of broadband or wifi connection. Each student has their own unique user ID and password that becomes their passport to education.
Once logged in to the learning portal, students select the class they want to work on and complete the coursework, watch lecture, participate in classroom discussions or take exams. Like regular college courses, they must register for the class beforehand. The course instructors interact with students via email and chat, sometimes by video chat depending on the technology used.
Distance Learning Myths
There are many myths to distance learning. One of the biggest ones is the concern that the degree from an online college program isn’t worth the same as a traditional degree program. Fortunately, that is truly a myth.
As long as the degree is coming from an accredited college or university, the degrees are worth exactly the same. In fact, no where on your degree will it say that it was earned online, so the only person who may need to know is you.