Distance Learning
As technology improves, U.S. higher education institutions can effectively deliver classroom instruction to learners around the world. More than 90 percent of all accredited U.S. colleges and universities with 10,000 or more students now offer distance education programs. With distance education programs, the students and instructor are not in the same place. However, students must meet school admission requirements and the coursework is as demanding as in-classroom instruction.
Here is some helpful information about getting a U.S. degree or certificate without leaving Iraq.
What to Know:
When you start to research distance learning programs, there are some key questions that you will want to ask of a program. Dr. Amy Kirle Lezberg, accreditation expert, gives some tips in her article below, What To Know Before Enrolling in Distance Education©.
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What Program are you thinking of enrolling in?
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Are there any residency requirements?
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What other institutions offer similar programs and do they grant the same credential for similar work?
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How does the variety of courses offered compare with similar on-site programs?
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How are the course materials made available to students?
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What arrangements have been made for you to complete any required laboratory requirements?
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Who Designs, Delivers and Monitors the Program?
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Who designs and delivers the program (and if they are different, how is the delivery controlled)?
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Where can the qualifications and current professional activity of the faculty be found in writing?
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What arrangements are made to ensure faculty-student and student-student interaction?
Other Expectations of the Institution and Available Student Services
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What academic, linguistic, and technical skills does the institution require for students enrolling in this program?
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What equipment must I have access to and how will the institution help me in any problems that arise concerning the interface between my equipment and their offerings?
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What counseling, career, financial aid, or other non-classroom services are provided for distance education students?
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Is there a student handbook for distance education students? If not, where are these issues addressed? What is the process for filing complaints?
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What is the institution’s refund policy if I should have to withdraw from this program?
Final Check on the Integrity of the Degree
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How can I assure outsiders that the degree represents an assessment of my work rather than that of someone else?
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Where is there official representation of faculty qualifications, the program’s course sequence and requirements, the nature of student/faculty interaction and assumptions about technical skills?
Finding a Program
With so many distance programs to choose from, it can be difficult to find the right program for your specific needs. Here are some search engines that can help you narrow your options. Remember that you may want to think about accreditation, method of delivery, cost, type of program, and residency requirements (time that you must be at the U.S. campus for specific instruction or testing).
Resources
If You Want to Study in the USA: Short Term, ESL, Distance Education and Accreditation Click here for English (PDF 1.06 MB) and Arabic (PDF 2.96 MB)