Hi all -

 I posted a question somewhat similar to what i'm asking, but this time i'm going to be less specific - anyway i'm in the legal field and looking to get my degree in Paralegal.  No matter what career you are in, did your employer accept your online degree?  I don't want to jump into the convenience of an online degree and then learn that *poof* because i didn't graduate from a brick-and-mortar (even tho they have a brick-and-mortar campus in IA), it's worthless.

 Has anyone ever had an experience like this?

 Thanks in advance!

Katie

I work for the govt. and have had no problem with an online degree whatsoever.

I work in IT and I've had zero complaints about my online degree. In fact, my employeer mentioned that she admired the discipline it took to finish it while working full time at my previous employer.

 

 

Ok - that's good to know.  I mentioned something to my supervisor - she said she never heard of Kaplan Online, but most attorneys aren't tech savy nowadays.  I'm hoping to eventually get a job in NYC, so hopefully NYC employers will recognize Kaplan's name and give me some credit towards teaching myself per se.

 

I can't really speak for the legal professions, but I can make a comment about the enviromental management & safety professions.  I've recruited a few people with a distance education (typically certificates).  I've never been too concerned about it.  In fact, if they studied while working I actually give them a few extra "points" for it.  It's a demonstration of dedication and the willingness of work hard to add the necessary skill sets to succeed.  In fact, it's the crew that graduated from a traditional education and then stopped learning that give me pause.

If you're working now (and it sounds like you are), and your employer supports or aknowledges the education up front, then my best guess is future employers won't have trouble.  The education is just part of the mix.  The experience and personality is a bigger piece.

Later,

In higher education, it's evidently a very big disadvantage to have one's PhD by distance if you're interested in a tenure track professorship.  However, I think the faculty side is uniquely particular about this, as I'm on the staff side and no one has batted an eye at my degrees earned mostly online.  I also expect that this will eventually change even on the faculty side, as younger people take on decision making roles.

-=Steve=- 

I am a computer and business instructor at a community college and no one there has ever said anything about my online degrees.  There are quite a few of my colleagues who have online degrees from a variety of colleges.  If anything I have been tapped to help out with the development of online courses and training because I have experience attending college online.

I spoke to my employeer who is a large company of over 1500 workers and they said as long as the degree is from an accredited institution then they had no issues with online vs traditional.  It would actually show that if you can balance work and school at the same time your time management skills must rock.

LadyKT:

Ok - that's good to know.  I mentioned something to my supervisor - she said she never heard of Kaplan Online, but most attorneys aren't tech savy nowadays.  I'm hoping to eventually get a job in NYC, so hopefully NYC employers will recognize Kaplan's name and give me some credit towards teaching myself per se.

Hi LadyKT!

I've worked in NYC and the NYC metro area, and Kaplan advertises quite a bit around here, so it's recognizable. When I've conducted interviews and done hiring, I've always wanted to know about a person's current skills and work ethic. I can understand your concern, though. It would be really disappointing not to have your academic work recognized simply because potential employers aren't familiar with online coursework!

My employer pretty much takes the same stand as frogman's and I work for a very large company - they care more that it is accredited than where its from.  In fact, I interviewed for  a new role and it came up I was working on my Masters.  They asked where from, I told them I was getting it through Grand Canyon University via online.  Their response was that they felt that actually prepared me for the role as it proves I was able to multitask and handle priorities on my own.  I thought that was interesting.  Btw I did get that role.  

Jack Welch (former CEO of GE) was quoted by saying that sure, he would hire someone with an online business degree and he said sure, if the person was smart and talented enough.  He went on to clarify by saying that a person with an online degree who works all day and studies online at night has the kind of 'grrr' most companies can use.

I don't know what grrr is, but if Jack Welch likes it, it must be good.