Correspondence courses and external degree programs were developed for Americans who weren't able to come to a college campus. Correspondence study is appropriate for students who want to earn credit toward a degree, review for examinations or nondegree c
ertification, or expand their knowledge or skills in a specific area.
Correspondence courses are generally offered by an institution's continuing education program or independent learning center. Acceptance by either of these divisions does not mean that a student is formally admitted to the institution as a candidate for a degree. One must complete a separate application and fulfill the institution's admission requirements to become a degree candidate.
Some courses and programs have a structured format, guiding the student through the use of syllabi, directed study plans, assignments, and examinations. Others offer more individualized and independent study, where the student must set objectives and crea te his or her own study plan and syllabus. Printed materials, audio cassettes, telecommunications technology, or computers may be used as teaching tools. Single correspondence courses may take from a few weeks to a year to complete.
Sometimes correspondence course credit can be used towards a degree, and, in a few cases, it is possible to earn an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree by correspondence. However, most traditional undergraduate programs will accept no more than abou t thirty hours of correspondence course credit for a bachelor's degree. Students should check with the institution from which they hope to receive a degree to determine its policy on credit for correspondence courses.
Some colleges and universities offer "external degree" programs, where only some, often less than a quarter, of the credits needed for a degree must be taken on the institution's campus. A few have no residency requirement at all. Some institutions may ev
en award academic credit to an individual for practical work or life experience. Support services, such as academic advising and financial aid, are often provided for students in external degree programs, but some programs do not accept international stud
ents and may, in fact, limit enrollment to permanent residents of the state in which the institution is located.
The time necessary to complete an external degree program will vary, depending on the institution's policies and the student involved. As with other degree programs, accreditation of institutions offering correspondence education is given by regional or n ational accrediting agencies.
While correspondence education may seem like an easy and inexpensive means to pursue further study, it is not for everyone. Before an international student decides to earn academic credit by correspondence, he or she should answer the following questions:
* Do I have clear career or personal goals regarding the correspondence education?
* Do I have the equivalent of an American secondary school education?
* Do I have the aptitude for college-level work?
* Do I have the initiative, self-discipline, and motivation needed to structure a study program and complete courses within certain time limits?
* Is my ability to read and write English excellent?
* Do I understand the American university credit system?
* Do I have the financial resources to pay for a trip to the United States (to satisfy any residency requirement) and to pay for course materials, telephone calls, and postage?
* Does my country have dependable mail service to the United States?
* Do I have access to libraries, computers, or other resources I may need during my study?
* Will educational officials and prospective employers in my country accept credentials obtained by correspondence as valid?
Below are listed some resources that may be useful in gaining more information on U.S. correspondence education and in researching programs. Many of these publications may be available in your local educational advising center's library. Advisers there ca n also provide more information on study options.
Resources do not always indicate whether or not programs accept foreign students. Users should check with the institution for up-to-date information. Courses and programs often change from one year to the next.
"Adult Learner's Guide to Alternative and External Degree Programs" (1993). $40. American Council on Education, One Dupont Circle, Suite 20, Washington, DC 20036-1193; Telephone: (202) 939-9469; Fax: (202) 833-4760; Order from Oryx Press, 4041 North Centr al Avenue, Suite 700, Suite 700, Phoenix, AZ 85012-3397; Telephone: (602) 265-2651 or (800) 279-6799; Fax: (602) 265-6250 or (800) 279-4663. Describes approximately 200 alternative programs and 90 external programs. Includes information on geographic admi ssions restrictions as well as other details.
"Directory of Accredited Home Study Schools" (annual, July). Free. National Home Study Council, 1601 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009; Telephone: (202) 234-5100. Includes indexes of subjects taught, degrees offered, and courses available in Spanish.< P> "Guide to Distance Learning Programs" (1987). $15. Prepared by the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange; available from Information Exchange, Advising Quarterly, AMIDEAST, 1100 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-4601; Telephone: (202) 785-0022; Fax: (202) 822-6563. Based on a survey of over one hundred institutions; describes about forty university-affiliated correspondence programs that have residency requirements of less than one year and that have specific policies indicating that t hey will accept foreign students. Also contains list of programs that indicated they do not accept international students.
"Independent Study Catalog" (sixth edition, 1992). $16.95 plus shipping. Peterson's Guides, Box 2123, Princeton, NJ 08543-2123; Telephone: (609) 243-9111 or (800) 338-3282; Fax: (609) 243-9150. Secondary-, college-, and graduate-level correspondence cours
es offered by almost one hundred colleges and universities that are members of the National University Continuing Education Association.
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