4 year degree question???

[DontFeedTheBear]

Just wondering if anyone has any good suggestions on how to get a four year degree online from an accredited degree program. I have a two year, airline and business work exp. I'm looking for a school that accepts some of this real life exp as credits. Thanks in advance.

 

[711-24-7]

Utah Valley State College! PM me if you need more info.

 

[wannabe22]

Search mode at top. This topic was just covered in here like a week ago. FWIW ERAU is a good program.

WB22

 

[Mr Wu]

Riddle just gave me 81 credits towards their PRO Aero degree. If you have lots of credits to transfer and can CLEP the crap out of exams, check out www.tesc.edu .

 

[PCL_128]

Excelsior College is also good if you want to test out of classes.

 

[prtyprtyprncss]

Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, NJ is another good option.

 

[5niner0]

www.excelsior.edu

 

[immelman79]

don't waste your time on an online degree, the majors will take the real degrees first. If you don't believe me, just wait and see what happens over the next fews years when pre 9/11 hiring returns.

 

[Caveman]

Also take at look at University of Nebraska Omaha.

 

[rickair7777]

don't waste your time on an online degree, the majors will take the real degrees first. If you don't believe me, just wait and see what happens over the next fews years when pre 9/11 hiring returns.

This is most likely correct. None of the captains on major hiring boards have online degress, and folks in that generation consider them to be basically fruadulent (I know better, I am just explaining what others think).

If you don't have time to actually attend a university, try to get an online degree from a a brick & mortar institution that offers traditional degrees also. In many cases there is NO WAY to tell how you got the degree, online or traditional.

But if your diploma says "Internet University of the Grand Cayman Islands"...you will probably get slotted in a ahead of the guy with a GED but behind the guy with an AA from ITT Tech.

Note: A significant aspect of the college experience is the social interactions and teamwork, so I would recommend a tradition education if practical.

 

[acaTerry]

Having been an interview board captain, here's my 2 cents...

Big helpers are military service (yes, enlisted counts too) and a real college degree. These are two very desireable items to have because they show that you are someone who can take on a lengthy committment and see it through to the end.
I know the regionals will take anyone with 500 to 1000 hours if they have a pulse, and many of the loudest posters on this board will disagree with me on this (note their spelling of such word as "looser", "moral", "thare" and "appon") but think...
You don't want to spend your life at a regional airline. You don't want to make $65,000 when you are 55, with two kids in college, a house payment, and no retirement fund. You will not stand a chance getting hired at a good major airline if you have that make-believe degree in video game creation technology and half of the words on your application are spelled incorrectly, with the handwriting of a 5 year old child.
Major airline jobs will be hard to get in the future. Don't be the guy who took the fast track to the regionals and blew the opportunity to get a better career because you chased a 2 year upgrade at a regional that will take you nowhere.

 

[Mr Wu]

acaTerry, I'm afraid that in spite of all your education, your post shows your ignorance of online college degrees. While it is true that there are sites where you pay your hundred dollars and a BA in Light Bulb Identification from the University of Baghdad is delivered to your inbox 10 minutes later, a large number of accreditated US colleges are recognizing that the value of real world experience is gaining iin popularity among their prospective students. Every year, more and more colleges offer their traditional programs through the internet. These classes usually take more effort on the part of the student than on-campus classes as there are no tell-tale hints from the instructor about what will be on the exam, no shortcuts through the book, and relatively little peer support. Truth be told, with the popularity of online degrees increasing at the rate they are, in 10 years you will probably see a shift in where you see degrees coming from.

 

[Ben Dover]

I'm going to have to agree with acaTerry on this one. If you get your diploma out of a Cracker Jack box, it will be obvious to future employers. Also, the spelling on this board is embarrassing. I'm not talking about the occasional typo. I'm talking about people who don't know how to spell. If you want people to take you seriously, educate yourself. Part of this means knowing how to spell.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

acaTerry, I'm afraid that in spite of all your education, your post shows your ignorance of online college degrees. While it is true that there are sites where you pay your hundred dollars and a BA in Light Bulb Identification from the University of Baghdad is delivered to your inbox 10 minutes later, a large number of accreditated US colleges are recognizing that the value of real world experience is gaining iin popularity among their prospective students. Every year, more and more colleges offer their traditional programs through the internet. These classes usually take more effort on the part of the student than on-campus classes as there are no tell-tale hints from the instructor about what will be on the exam, no shortcuts through the book, and relatively little peer support. Truth be told, with the popularity of online degrees increasing at the rate they are, in 10 years you will probably see a shift in where you see degrees coming from.

I have a degree in actuarial science and I wasn't offered any credits for being alive. If you're going for a Humpty Diddle degree in aviation management, or Phoenix University MBA, you may be in luck.

Online degree = easy way out

 

[hindsight2020]

Correct, a distinction has to be made in what the degrees are. It is a misleading proposition to equate an online bachelor's degree in anything aviation, or a Master's degree in anything aviation for that matter, with classical curricula like engineering, biology, economics etc. You'd be hard pressed to find reputable institutions offering fully-remote online degrees in these disciplines. The curriculum is just so damn loaded (I don't think it should be, but that's another topic) that one has to spend some considerable amount of time in campus just going through the motions of all these courses. For specialized technical course subject in engineering, at the graduate level, forget it, it's not gonna happen; besides the university is more interested in having you as cheap labor at those stages than just giving you a degree online which basically floods the market with their name and cheapens their reputation.

Now, if we are taking about the Masters in Interpersonal communication and the likes, then yeah, it is absolutely plausible and perhaps recommended, to be done on the cheap and obtained online. The affair is nothing more than box-cheking, they want the degree to check a box. That has been my experience with most online-degree holding peers in aviation, they have Bachelors and even Master's in humpty dumpty human resources, aviation switchology and moon-FMS alignment but don't even know what a thesis is, perhaps have never even written anything longer than double-spaced font 44 2 page cliffnote on how a GPS works, vaguely. And I love how these same people tell you with a straight face that they have post-graduate education. Yeah, it works great to check the box, but don't bank on that degree to pull you through should you need it, you'd see yourself going back to school, real school, faster than you can say Phoenix Univeristy. So be careful out there with online degrees.

 

[arthompson]

There are Online degrees and "Online" degrees. I have taken several internet classes as part of my degree because they are more convienient for me. However those courses have the exact same learning requirements that they would have had I taken the class in a classroom setting. When I was in school full time in a traditional university setting I still took one or 2 internet classes a semester. It allowed me to be able to have some flexabilty and control over my time.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Great post hindsight2020. I agree completely!!

You know, I never intended to become the "grouchy old man" of my forefathers, but I am appalled at the work ethics and instant gratification of the latest generation. I am appalled by the lack of spelling and grammar on this board. I'm not talking about an extra "L" or "R", I'm talking about Nuclular, and their, there, they're errors. When pointed out it is dismissed as overzealous "spelling police"

It seems I'm surrounded by people who are interested in "checking the box" and shortcuts/quick upgrades/online degrees in two weeks. There is another thread about the easiest regional to get hired by!! Not the best, or the best experience, or the best opportunity, just the easiest!! Makes me sick!!

Yes, yes, I'm sure the online degree in Airborne electronic applications management is quite impressive to your buddies working at the mall.

Good luck with your quick degree. In fact PLEASE do the quick version. Less competition for me.

P.S. I am not talking about legitimate online degrees from brick and mortar institutions, just Cayman Island based garage servers

 

[CX880]

don't waste your time on an online degree, the majors will take the real degrees first. If you don't believe me, just wait and see what happens over the next fews years when pre 9/11 hiring returns.

What are you crazy? With the way things are going they're probably going to beg for pilots. Number of individuals interested in being paid to fly is at an all time low, ever. Regionals are lowering their mins to 500 and still have trouble filling classes. By the way, stay in school kids.

 

[5niner0]

don't waste your time on an online degree, the majors will take the real degrees first. If you don't believe me, just wait and see what happens over the next fews years when pre 9/11 hiring returns.

Ignorance. There are plenty of legitimate online degrees out there. For example: Penn State has Bachelor's degrees that are entirely online from its World Campus, but what is written on the degree AND transcript for every Penn State degree is identical. Tell me that if you were hiring somebody and the only requirement was to have a degree from a regionally accredited institution, you would say screw the guy with the Penn State World Campus degree? How would you even know that it was from the online campus if they don't write which campus it was from on the paper?

Secondly, I have a B.S. in General Business from Excelsior College, its accredited by the same regional body that Penn State, Columbia, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, etc. (Middle States)

I have never had any question about the origin of my education or its quality. Just because the school is accredited by a recognised body, people expect them to follow the standard.

I know I studied my ass off for one. The main benefit of my degree was the ability to get it done so fast by working at my own (blazingly fast, might I add now that I look back) pace, not having to sit through classes an hour a week for 16 whole weeks.

 

[dingo222]

This is the biggest croc ever. You old dudes need to get with the times and learn something. My wife did her MBA at DUKE and it was all online. Is that a sham degree?? Was it the easy way? It took her three years of working full time and going online at night for class. Just like flying, some learned on steam guages, and some learned on glass. Same dang instrument, different method. There is a big difference between an accredited online degree program and some Sally Strothers Degree in forum posting. Every major university including the IV league schools has some sort of online or distance learning program. I'd love to see someone tell my wife in an interview that her MBA was a bogus degree! I'd have to bail her out of jail after she put somebody nuts in the back of their throat.

 

[slackass]

A degree is a degree is a degree. It IS a box to check. I agree that the age of online degrees has arrived and that attending a traditional dusty campus is just a way to stay out of the real world a little longer and ride on daddy's checkbook a little longer. Beats getting any real world experience slugging it out as a freight dog. Right now hiring boards can be selective and the only way you are going to get in at the majors is by knowing someone or being a second or third generation pilot. All this talk about unity and this being a professional organization is a bunch of crap. This is a labor union and you provide labor! Technology is fast on our heels and very well make the piloting jobs go the way of the buggy whip within our lifetime. Those that got theirs have no problem pulling up the ladder after themselves to keep what they got at the cost of those in line in behind them. Just look at the B scales of the past and purposed future B Scale at Frontier for new Captains. This industry It's nothing but a good ole boys club and the reason for a degree is because those before you had to have one. As flying increases and the pilot pool decreases they will hire anyone with a pulse as the regionals are doing now. Get some real world experience which will help in the decision making process and get the degree by whatever means you can.

 

[rickair7777]

This is the biggest croc ever. You old dudes need to get with the times and learn something. My wife did her MBA at DUKE and it was all online. Is that a sham degree?? Was it the easy way? It took her three years of working full time and going online at night for class. Just like flying, some learned on steam guages, and some learned on glass. Same dang instrument, different method. There is a big difference between an accredited online degree program and some Sally Strothers Degree in forum posting. Every major university including the IV league schools has some sort of online or distance learning program. I'd love to see someone tell my wife in an interview that her MBA was a bogus degree! I'd have to bail her out of jail after she put somebody nuts in the back of their throat.

This is mostly true. What you are leaving out is the fact that any "name" school is going to do several things:

1) Be very selective about who they admit (even for online degrees)
2) Hold their students to their traditional high standards

In your wife's case, the name of the school says it all. But that doesn't help any of these spikey haired gen-x gamer punks...there is no way in hell a real university would admit them to any post-graduate program with their online degree in plane-spotting from embry-diddle and their application full of grammar and spelling errors... "if excepted, i wood bring a lot of divursutie to to my felow student's"

I bet your wife knows how to spell.

BTW: I also have an online masters from a real university...this worked well because the field was very technical in nature so it was more about knowledge and technical work products than social interaction. But I would argue that a masters in music or drama would suffer in the online media. I also feel there is tremendous value in attending a traditional undergraduate program (assuming you don't spend the ENTIRE time in a drunken stupor). It's not only about knowledge, it's about social interaction and learning about yourself. If you can't due to life circumstances, fine, at least get some sort of four-year paper, but don't bad-mouth those who did it the old way.

 

[dingo222]

I agree, I did it the old way and you learn a lot outside of the classroom in college. There are some good online programs out there, and some scams. Nobody wants a degree in "liberal studies" from the international university of Liberia. I'm not debating the online vs traditional method. I just think that a lot of ppl look down upon online degrees which have come a long way in the last 5 years. For the working adult, it's a great way to finish a degree or go post grad. I probably wouldn't recommend it to an 18 yr old. There is just to much to do and learn as a traditional student.

 

[bravodude]

So let me see if i get this. I go to riddle and get an aero science degree or i do it online and get an aero science degree. The airlines love to see an aeronautical degree just ask the folks who do the hirring for CAL or WN. Some of us just are not as fortunate as you and cannot aford to go to a brick and morter college. I happend to have come here from another country when I was young and when it was my turn to go to riddle(i wanted to be a pilot so riddle was the logical choice) my parents said sorry we can't afford it. what was i supposed to do-quit flying. If you are going to be an economist or a finace major then go to NYU or Harvard if you are going to be a pilot then go to an aviation school. If you can't afford it then do it online. I have worked really hard to get my degree and it is an insult to have people like you tell me otherwise.

 

[Sonny Crockett]

JUST to SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!~

I know of SEVERAL TWA dudes that had Online Degree's and got hired at TWA in the LATE 90's.

I also just met a UAL guy who had ZERO college and went out and got an ONLINE degree, he WAS hired but he did have 10,000+ and a ton of PIC. He was hired when he was 32, I just spoke to him about this and asked him was it a problem? he said NO. I also seem to recall another guy I flew with back on the old B727 that finished his degree online a well, so UAL didn't have a problem with it. Come to think about it, neither does AA or CAL.

Most airlines look at the BIG PICTURE when they interview a Pilot. Say a guy has 5 years at a Regional and earned a Degree online, he is a GREAT candidate because he has some good flight time and went out and still got his degree part time while working. That speaks VOLUMES!

I would say that an ONLINE Degree is better then NO Degree. If I were a regional guy with 2 years of College or no Degree I would say go for it...it can't hurt you!

Most guys are just pissed becuase they spent $80K on a Humpty Diddle Degree that really is no better than an University Of Florida Degree.GO GATORS!

I am living PROOF of that.

 

[flyer7rm]

College

All I can say on the matter is if you don't have the degree it will very hard to get a major job. I know this from experince. I have to very good contacts one of which is on the hiring board at a major. I have 2000 turbine PIC and they can't seem to get me an interview yet. So I was told by them to get the degree anyway I can. So I am doing it online through Riddle and I will get that interview soon. So take it as you may I am sure that everyone has a unique view of what matters. I personaly do not think a 4 year degree will make me a better aviator, mabe a more rounded individual but that is it. You are who you are. Degree or not!!! Being a good and safe pilot starts with your personality and values.

 

[SERPICO]

This is horesh!t. A real degree vs an online version. Who gives a rats ass, I doubt a recruiter whom doe's not have one's head up their ass really cares. Those that try to distinguish the difference between the two well, you know what I think by now.
The university of Siberia vs Duke, yeah, maybe a difference, but did you on-campus nerds really work that much harder? I doubt it.
I left school almost 20 years ago and slightly regret skipping uni.
Life counts Bear, I owned my second business by the time I was 22 (Restaurant) after working my ring off since I left school. Now I fly, go figure.
Doing what I want though.
Get the degree Bear, good luck.
Spose I'll have to go online, after I learn how to spell.

 

[pgcfii2002]

I have an actual BA from Cal State and transferred those units, and those from my flight ratings towards a BS in Pro Aero from ERAU. It was online, and worth it....in my opinion.

 

[acaTerry]

acaTerry, I'm afraid that in spite of all your education, your post shows your ignorance of online college degrees. While it is true that there are sites where you pay your hundred dollars and a BA in Light Bulb Identification from the University of Baghdad is delivered to your inbox 10 minutes later, a large number of accreditated US colleges are recognizing that the value of real world experience is gaining iin popularity among their prospective students. Every year, more and more colleges offer their traditional programs through the internet. These classes usually take more effort on the part of the student than on-campus classes as there are no tell-tale hints from the instructor about what will be on the exam, no shortcuts through the book, and relatively little peer support. Truth be told, with the popularity of online degrees increasing at the rate they are, in 10 years you will probably see a shift in where you see degrees coming from.

...as I see now that the USA has the dumbest "educated" people in the civilized world...

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

aca Terry-

We agree for the most part......

Billy Mitchell was court martialed for telling the ol stuffy battleships types that air power was superior.....

With the internet becoming so standard in our lives, I can't see how online degrees won't become the norm. Consider when you got your degree.... You may be old school....

By the way may I suggest Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield for tonights movie....