Accredited Psychology Degree OnlineYour Educational InsuranceWhy get an accredited psychology degree online? To answer this question, we first have to discuss the importance of accreditation, followed by a discussion on the benefits of online learning. What is Accreditation? Will you receive an accredited psychology degree online is the first questions you need to ask when considering an online psychology degree. It is your way of knowing that the education you are getting has met standards set by the government and experts in the field of post-secondary education. The process of accreditation involves the process of an outside, non-profit organization studying the curriculum, programs and major educational goals offered at a college or university and, once finding the schools meets a benchmark of educational standards, granting the school a stamp of approval. Why is getting an Accredited Psychology Degree Online Important? Accreditation is the first thing you should check when searching for an online degree program. It is extremely important and we can’t stress this enough! Accreditation guarantees that the online degree you receive will be honored by future employers, and other schools. Types of Accreditation There are a number of layers to the process of accreditation. At the top of the layers are the government agencies that govern the associations. These are the U.S Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education Association and the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors. These three major government agencies govern smaller associations that then oversee accreditation at the school or program level. The main accrediting types that can be awarded are: Institutional Accreditation – looks at the school/university as a whole, rather than the specific program within the educational organization. Institutional accreditation can be regional and national. Regional accreditation is the most esteemed and highly regarded accreditation in the US. A total of eight regional accredited associations govern the six regions of the county. The regional accredited associations are non-profit, non-governmental agencies and include Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA); New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC); North Central Association of Colleges and Universities Higher learning commission (NCA-HLS); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Schools (NWCCU); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges Commission (WASC). This type of accreditation is usually awarded to school with a more general, education programs, like liberal arts as opposed to a career specific education mission. With a degree from a regionally accredited school, you could transfer from school to school easily.
National accreditation also evaluates the entire educational institution, not a specific program within the school/university. This type of accreditation focuses on more specialized schools, like vocational schools/programs rather than the more general institutions with broad education span. Schools are evaluated on a set of standards set nationally, and these standards are set high in order to promote the authority of education. Bottom Line on Accreditation Receiving an accredited psychology degree online ensures that you are getting a quality education, that the schools programs have been evaluated and checked by a recognized body of professionals in the field of education. It ensures that the schools mission, goals and objectives, resources, student admission, requirements, faculty quality and support services are up to standards. Researching a schools accreditation status is not hard at all – don’t use this as an excuse to skip this critical step in selecting an online degree program. Most often, schools will have their accreditation information listed on their website and in any informational materials they send out. You could also go to the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and look up your school of choice. Research the school’s accreditation council as well as the school’s accreditation status to make sure they are being accredited through a viable accreditation agency. Aside from regional and national accreditation organizations discussed above, there is the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) specializing in evaluating institutions that specialize in distance learning as well as department specific accreditation.
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