Certification - June 2008 - (Page 22)

counselor of any institution they approach because many programs offer certification as part of the program; however, the degree of integration varies, including how program fees are incorporated. When examining a school’s value for your career, one of the most important things to examine is the level of accreditation of the school. There are six regional accreditation associations in the United States, and the school you are considering should be listed with one of them. Without regional accreditation, the degree or credits you earn with a given school may not be recognized by outside businesses or other schools. As long as the school has been accredited by one of these six associations, the degree you earn from their programs will have the same standing as a degree earned from a traditional university. When asked what caution he would have for a student considering an online degree, Pat Partridge, vice president of enrollment at Western Governors University, indicated that a student shouldn’t “think it’s easier. It’s generally not. Studying and preparation is still essential.” Many of these online degrees are focused on technology, and as a result, can offer a student a more comprehensive learning experience than some traditional university settings. By attending programs integrating additional components that go beyond the technology and general education focuses of many traditional institutions, students can gain exposure to many of the realworld scenarios they will encounter in the field. As part of this beyond-the-classroom focus, many organizations integrate information technologycentric industry certifications into their degree pro- There is the perception that an online degree is easier than obtaining a diploma in a traditional college campus setting. grams. Being aware of how an institution of choice uses certifications can help a student choose a program that will provide the basis to build a successful career right after graduation. Many institutions provide the learning necessary for a student to certify and then allow students to choose whether or not they would like to take that extra step on their own. Other programs integrate certifications as exams in technology-focused courses to provide an industry-based assessment of a student’s learning. An enrollment counselor at any university should be able to explain how certifications are integrated into the degree program. “Our programs are developed around core competencies recognized by the marketplace as being relevant,” said Ruki Jayaraman, director of the College of Information Technology at Western Governors University. “Unlike traditional degrees in [computer science] or IT, the degree programs at WGU are not only designed to develop hands-on skills and capabilities in current areas of information technology, but also help students become competent in project management, leadership and professionalism.” 22 CERTIFICATION MAGAZINE June 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Certification - June 2008

Certification - June 2008 Editor's Letter Contents Data Stream Tech Careers Academic Connection Dear Techie Virtual Village Online Degrees: Are They Right for You? Inside Certification New Opportunities and Challenges: Are Application Developers Ready? Interface Where Have All the Help Desks Gone? Ad Index Endtag

Certification - June 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.