Three Reasons to Become a Paralegal Associate's Degrees: The Fast Track to Returning to the Workforce The Two Biggest Reasons to Become a College Administrator Three Hot Jobs in Education Administration With an Education Degree, the World is Your Classroom

Fast Track Degrees: Too Good to Be True or Truly Good?

By Wendy Croix
Learning & Life Columnist

Imagine getting a technical certificate in a matter of weeks, an associate's degree in record time, or an advanced business degree in months rather than years. Though it sounds too good to be true, some fast track degrees are legitimate.

How do they do it? With some combination of weekend, evening, or online education. Fast track programs particularly appeal to the half of American adults who have no formal education past high school. If you're pressed for time and money, a legitimate fast track degree can help you exchange your low-paying job for a genuine career.

Accelerated Education

Pressured by financial demands and the need to find better jobs, minority and economically disadvantaged students are attending community colleges in record numbers. For example, community college teaching program enrollments have spiked in recent years, as students increasingly opt to enter the teaching professions via two-year college degrees and certificate programs. At career schools, accelerated courses meet weekly for four hours, compressing the traditional 15-week class into five weeks - as university summer mini-sessions do.

Fast Track MBAs: Lite or Legit?

Known as "drive-through MBAs" and "MBA lites," accelerated MBAs can be earned in half the time of traditional degrees. Today, American universities are imitating top European business schools that grant MBAs with 10 months of intensive study. Rutgers, in New Jersey, even offers a 12-week mini-MBA certificate that can be applied toward its MBA.

Don't Get Caught in a Diploma Mill

Accelerated degree programs have nothing in common with their evil twins, the "diploma mills." These fraudulent schools pay kickbacks to equally fraudulent accrediting agencies. To get a genuine accelerated degree without getting taken, you'll need to verify the credentials of the schools that interest you. A call to the information desk of your local public or university library or a visit to your state's Office of Degree Authorization should be enough to accomplish this. If your program's legitimate, you can get your education and get on with your career in record time.

Sources:

• "Bogus College Degrees Cost Government Dearly, GAO Says," by Zach Patton. Congress Daily, 11 May 2004
• "Degrees of Preparation," by Ed Finkel. Teacher Magazine, Oct 2005
• "Picking Up the Pace," by Lindsey Gerdes. Business Week, 24 Oct 2005
• "Sink or Swim?" by Alana Klein. University Business, April 2004
• "Too Fast, Too Furious?" by Lydia Lum. Black Issues in Higher Education, 3 June 2004

About the Author
Wendy Croix, Ph.D. is a freelance writer, cultural critic and university professor. In her twenty years as a professional educator, Wendy has guided hundreds of students toward the careers of their dreams.

More Online Learning Articles

Add to My Favorites

	Location: --- All Locations --- Online ------------------------ Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico ------------------------ Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland Northwest Territories Nova Scotia Nunavut Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Territory London Degree: --- All Degrees --- Associate Bachelor Master Doctoral Diploma Certificate Coursework Subject: --- All Subjects --- Architecture Arts and Design Beauty and Cosmetology Business Communication and Media Computer Culinary Education Engineering Health and Clinical Legal and Law Enforcement Liberal Arts and Humanities Other Science Social Services Travel and Hospitality Vocational/Technician Program: --- Select a Subject ---

	AA in Accounting AA in Communications More Programs Associate's (AABA) - Criminal Justice Administration Associate's (AABA) - Healthcare Administration More Programs Game Art & Design Graphic Design More Programs

	Earn a degree in your own time. Discover your online degree options.