The question that is often asked is whether a degree earnedthrough an online institution is worth as much as a degreeobtained from a traditional university. Recent studies,including one carried out by the University of Phoenix, haveindicated that there is no significant difference betweendistance learning and classroom learning.

However, an online degree has its share of pros and cons. Theobvious advantage of an online degree program is that thestudent can be located anywhere in the world, and yet enroll andpursue a degree course at a leading educational institution,such as the University of Phoenix Online. There are no fixedclassroom timings, and it is up to the student to decide andpace his or her degree program. The student accesses all studymaterial online, and interacts with the faculty through simpleemail messages.

It is sometimes argued that in an online degree program, theclassroom environment is missing, and the student either dependson material that is supplied by the University, or needs toreach out to the online resources such as online libraries.

The success or failure of an online degree program also dependson the student's self-discipline. While a traditional classroomsituation ensures that the student adheres to the timetable, anonline program often leaves it to the student to define thetimetable--if the student is unable to exert self-discipline,there is a possibility that the course might overrun theacceptable timeline.

There are also some doubts expressed about the value of anonline degree as compared to a traditional degree. However, ifthe institution imparting online courses is trusted in theacademic world and accredited, an online degree is held in highesteem. The University of Phoenix is both trusted andaccredited, and has an experienced faculty that is able tocommunicate effectively with students online.

The study conducted by the University of Phoenix compared itsown campus-based students to distance learners and came to theconclusion that the current online format is the most effectivevehicle for distance education. But while this study revealedthat on campus learning at the University of Phoenix provides nosignificant advantage over with that sameUniversity, it would be presumptuous to assume that the analogyalso extends to other online universities.

About the author:Hal McIver is a proponent of higher education, especially atonline universities. See Online University Reviews for moreinformation on an