07-12-2006, 12:43 PM
SimonTam Wrote:I accept your challenge. FSU (Florida State University, you may have heard of them) offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Sciences which can be done ONLINE! I'll accept the fact that you cannot 'test out' of this degree. However, it can be done at a distance and the degree is no different from the traditional degree. BTW, FSU's School of Engineering is ABET accredited. EDITED (added the following): Also, this is more than just looking at a website. I have a friend that is currently IN this program. :END EDIT
Now, the accreditation that most of the others here have been trying to explain to you is what is known as regional accreditation. This type of accreditation covers the entire school. I agree that ABET accreditation is important for an Engineering program at a school, but that doesn't mean that a regional accreditation is useless. For your information, regional accreditation authorities are not 'made up' by the schools. They are verified to meet the standards of accrediting organization under the CHEA. Excelsior received it's accreditation from the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (http://www.msche.org). BTW, this is the exact same accreditation organization with which Princeton University (you may have heard of them too) is accredited.
There are some accreditation bodies that are 'made up' by degree mills and accreditation mills. To verify that a school is a legitimate school, you would have to ensure that the CHEA first recognizes the accreditation organization and then check with the accreditation organization to see if the school is truly accredited.
Hope that clears it up for you.
Notice how I said test out of. But I would still like to see where it says you can complete the ENTIRE IT degree online at FSU. So, please link me. No one goes by that accreddiation, practically every school atleast state funded recieves this accrediation (tax breaks etc). This has no bearing on industry standards or anything else. Employers are going to look at your specific program. COMMON SENSE: If you have a IT BS, the employer is not going to look and see if the nursing department is accreddited.