Highly disciplined students who desire a United States degree without leaving their home country for long periods of time are not disqualified from a U.S. education. This section explains the new trend of distance learning .

What is Distance Education?

Distance education is a type of formal learning in which the student and the instructor are not in the same place at the same time. It may be synchronous or asynchronous. If distance education is synchronous, instruction is given at a particular time and, usually, at specific locations. If distance education is asynchronous, instruction can be received by students wherever and whenever they desire, as long as they have access to the Internet or, in the case of correspondence education, to the mail.

Distance education can be accomplished through one or more of the following means:

Many distance education programs also require occasional attendance by the student on the campus of the college or university offering the program.

Why Choose Distance Education?

Students enroll in distance education programs for many reasons:

Skills Needed to Succeed

Experience shows that those most likely to succeed in a distance education program are students who like to work independently and who have some degree of privacy. With today's heavy reliance on computers and the Internet, certain technical skills also are required. More than a few students do not complete their distance education programs or transfer to more traditional campus-based degree programs, because they do not have the necessary skills and a suitable working environment. Potential distance learners should do an honest and thoughtful assessment of themselves in relation to the requirements for the program. Ask yourself the following questions:

Choosing a Distance Education Program

Most successful distance education students have done plenty of research to find the program that is right for them. Some of the points you need to consider before applying to a program include the following:

What Types of Programs Are Available?

Whether you are looking to improve a particular skill, improve your general knowledge, earn a certificate, or earn an undergraduate or graduate degree, there are programs available that will serve your needs.

Distance education is constantly expanding, and many institutions see it as a form of education that can be adapted to suit many of their programs and degree offerings. New programs are coming on-line each day.

What Type of Institutions Offer Distance Education?

The institutions that offer distance education programs are almost as varied as the programs themselves. Programs are available through traditional U.S. colleges and universities, "virtual" universities, two-year junior or community colleges, and professional bodies, as well as through private corporations and other organizations. Virtual universities offer no campus-based programs at all; every program they run is a distance education program. The number of virtual universities is increasing all the time, and most hold the same kind of accreditation as traditional, campus-based institutions. (See "Accreditation.")

Costs for distance education vary considerably depending on the type of program you choose. Distance education can save you the expenses of travel, room, and board, but the actual academic fees usually correspond to those of traditional learning.

If any period of residency on campus is required during the course of the program, you should include those costs in your budget as well. You should also inquire about the costs of the learning materials needed to complete each course, and allow for the shipping fees and import duties that you might face. For further information on calculating the costs of studying for a U.S. degree, see Undergraduate Study and Graduate Study.

If there is any campus residency requirement for your program, you probably will need a student visa to travel to the United States . Confirm what type of visa is required with the institution you are interested in attending. Contact an EducationUSA information and advising center and the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country to find out about the requirements for applying for a U.S. visa in your country and any costs involved. For further information, see Predeparture Information.

Distance education and correspondence education differ mainly in the method of instruction. Correspondence education is a form of distance education that deals with students primarily through the mail and on a one-to-one basis, with no semblance of a classroom setting. Students in correspondence programs must complete the work assigned within a specified time frame.

Other forms of distance education can simulate the classroom experience through Internet chat-rooms, video-conferencing, and net-meetings in which the students can all join in to discuss topics and get immediate feedback from the instructor. Work for the course may require that a student be present at a given time for group or individual discussion.

Whatever form of distance education you choose, it is important to find out how the materials will be delivered to you so that you can plan how you will fulfill the requirements for participating in class and for completing and returning the coursework.

Some people believe that distance education programs have no requirements for admission or that there are no prerequisites for an on-line degree program. Although this might be true in a very few cases, application procedures for enrollment into a distance education program are usually the same as those for an on-site program. In fact, if the institution offering the distance education program also offers campus-based programs, the requirements for applying will be exactly the same for both.

For admission to distance education programs, many institutions require satisfactory scores on admissions tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and/or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Application forms, similar to the ones you would fill out for an on-site program, are often required, along with transcripts showing your past educational performance. Letters of recommendation, application essays, statements of purpose, plus some other requirements, which vary from program to program, are often mandatory.

Many programs, before they accept applicants, require them to complete surveys and exercises in computer literacy. Consider spending some time practicing or refreshing any skills that you will need.

Once you are accepted into a program, it is important to find out what the arrangements are for receiving course materials and what the requirements are for promotion to the next level. Depending on the number of credits you transfer into the distance education program, you should be aware that, in general, completion of the program will take at least as long as completion of a program at a land-based site.

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