There are several things to consider when searching for the best online school to get your education degree. First, make sure the school, college or university has either a national or regional accreditation. This accreditation should come from an accrediting organization that is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. Do some research to find out the current status of the school, its history, and the reputations and credentials of instructors. Take a close look at requirements for admission, any residency requirements, course content, tuition fees and transfer of credits.
The next thing to look for in acquiring an online educational degree are the types and levels of education degree programs offered. Some of the larger online schools offer online certificate programs as well as online associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in education. Most schools specialize in certain areas of education. Doing a bit of research on different schools will identify which ones offer which specialized education degree programs. The best online programs will offer a wide selection of educational specialization courses.
Online education offers the distinct advantage of flexible scheduling of classes. The pace at which a student wishes to learn may dictate the time needed to earn a degree. For other online students, the level or difficulty might determine the amount of time necessary to complete coursework. Typically, online certification programs are completed in six months to one year. An online bachelor's degree takes about four years, and a master's about two years. Some students work through the courses quickly while others take some time off between courses. The time to earn an online degree depends largely on an individual's motivation.
Some of the more popular online education degree courses are child development, classroom management, special education, educational psychology and student coursework evaluation. Some specialized educational courses offered at most accredited online programs include distance education, early childhood development, special education, leadership in education, higher education management and multicultural education. Those who have earned a degree in education may move on to work as teachers, speech therapists or reading specialists. Those with an advanced online education degree may find positions as school principals, school directors, university professors or even school district superintendents.