With a full-time job, endless chores, and the other minutia that's part of life, it's hard to consider pursuing an education. But Pat Criscito, author of "Designing the Perfect Resume" and "Resumes in Cyberspace" has a new guidebook that lets the classroom come into your home.

Barron's "Guide to Distance Learning" is a college guide for those who are interested in taking a class or obtaining a degree without sitting in the traditional classroom. The book profiles more than 800 colleges and universities that offer certifications and undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs via distance learning through the Internet, real-time chat, electronic classrooms, email, CD-ROM, videotape and other resources.

Not only does Criscito's guide list resources, but it provides information geared to let the student judge if distance learning is a practical alternative to a standard classroom education.

The following is an edited transcript of a chat with Criscito held on Tuesday, April 6, 1999.

Pat Criscito: How is everyone this evening? Are you ready to go back to school? Great to be here.

Chat Participant: So, is distance learning becoming popular?

Pat Criscito: Popular is an understatement! There are more than 800 colleges and universities profiled in my book. A recent survey estimates that 65 percent of all colleges are offering courses over the Internet in 1998, and they project that the number will exceed 80 percent by 2001. In the book, we chose to profile only regionally accredited colleges in Canada and the U.S.

Chat Participant: Is it possible to receive a degree online or only take courses?

Pat Criscito: That's a great question, one that we asked each college to answer in our survey. More than 95 percent of all of the survey responses we received indicated that a student could take a single course without being enrolled in a full degree program.

Chat participant: One issue with distance learning is accreditation is some accreditation agencies are allowing member schools to experiment with on-line learning. How do you think the academics will compare distance learning with traditional on-site learning?

Pat Criscito: Accreditation is the key to quality in distance learning. Not all distance education is created equal. Accreditation of a school ensures that the quality of the courses, instructors, materials, exams, papers, theses, and dissertations are the same as their on-campus counterparts. The way education is delivered (video, computer, correspondence) has little effect on a student's achievement, provided the delivery method is appropriate to the course.

Chat Participant: How about library access? Clearly on-site students will have an advantage over their on-line counterparts

Pat Criscito: You are quite right. Many colleges have online library resources that accompany their study plans.

Chat Participant: Do you progress at your own pace?

Pat Criscito: There are many programs that allow students to progress at their own pace. They develop learning contracts for what is known as individual study.

Chat Participant: Have you heard of the GSAMS network in Georgia? GSAMS - Georgia Statewide Academic and Medical System - is an outstanding Distance Learning system

Pat Criscito: We didn't receive a reply to the survey from GSAMS, but I hear it is good. Do you know if they are regionally accredited?

Chat Participant: Yes, they are accredited - and the system is used most often for Continuing Education for nurses and nurse practitioners, but they have expanded their offerings dramatically since I worked there, which is one thing I like about distance Learning; very flexible

Pat Criscito: Thanks for the info. I will be sure that I follow up with GSAMS before we update the book.

Chat Participant: Are the requirements for acceptance to an online degree program similar to those as a traditional program?

Pat Criscito: Yes, the requirements are the same, in most cases. The only differences are the technology requirements. The competition might not be as tight for some of the more well known schools, like Purdue, SMU, Auburn, etc., because the distance learning programs may not be as tightly scheduled with students. Degrees from distance learning institutions, provided they are regionally accredited, are no different from campus-based programs. 

Chat Participant: Are you required to attend exams/tests at the School?

Pat Criscito: There are on-campus requirements for many of the distance learning institutions. Sometimes it is for exams and other times it might just be for an occasional seminar.

Chat Participant: Many students find that a majority of the learning occurs "in the hall" i.e., while discussing the class subjects with fellow students. How does on-line learning provide that particular aspect of education?

Pat Criscito: This "in the hall" learning takes place in chat groups on the Internet.

Chat participant: Like this place. :)

Pat Criscito: In fact, studies have shown that distance learners in virtual classrooms spend about 50 percent more time collaborating with each other than other students in a traditional classroom.

Chat Participant: I took a job in a very specialized field (transportation planning) before completing my degree. Can I find an institution where I can complete a degree in this field?

Pat Criscito: Graduate or undergraduate?

Chat participant: Undergraduate

Pat Criscito: No transportation. Sorry.

Chat Participant: Is the fee for distance learning cheaper than traditional campus-based classes?

Pat Criscito: The fee for distance learning is usually the same as for campus-based classes, but it's a wonder it isn't more expensive. There is no overhead for classrooms, but there is a lot of technology support and special training required for the professors. There are exceptions, of course. I have seen some distance programs much more expensive than their campus-based counterparts. The book outlines each.

Chat Participant: What kind of support can distance learning students expect from their chosen schools?

Pat Criscito: Accrediting agencies require that schools provide the same support for distance learners as their on-campus counterparts. So they develop innovative reference systems that combine online resources with special librarians who send things through the mail, which means you have to plan ahead if you are distance learning.

Chat Participant: Which school offers the best/most advanced distance learning program?

Pat Criscito: Believe it or not, there are many doctoral programs available via distance learning. I was surprised. You can't teach surgery over the Internet, though, so there are some subjects that are not suitable for distance learning.

Chat Participant: I would think this requires a great deal of self-discipline and planning.

Pat Criscito: In fact, it is self-discipline that is the key to success in distance learning. Successful distance learners tend to be self-motivated, disciplined, and higher achievers. Generally, distance students are voluntarily seeking further education and have set goals for themselves that make success more likely. They are usually employed in a career where advancement can be readily achieved through academic achievement. The most successful students initiate calls to their instructors for assistance and possess a more serious attitude toward their classes. 

Chat Participant: How are the various occupational fields accepting doctoral graduates from on-line universities?

Pat Criscito: There are doctoral programs in everything from acupuncture to training and development. Education, psychology, and ministry programs are the post-popular doctoral studies.

Chat Participant: Do you know of graduate programs in Music Theory and Composition?

Pat Criscito: There are distance learning music programs offered by Duquesne, Luther Seminary, and the Open Learning Agency.

Chat participant: Do you have a Web site?

Pat Criscito: There is a companion web site for the book. You can find it at http://www.thespringsmall.com

Chat Participant: Do the distance learning Graduate programs offer scholarships?

Pat Criscito: Many distance learning programs qualify for federal funding, scholarships, and grants. You should ask the university's financial aid department before you enroll in a program.

Chat participant: I am wondering about the respectability of a distance degree. How does the student/consumer know which schools are merely degree mills and which are respectable institutions?

Pat Criscito: Regarding the respectability of distance learning, it is human nature to be suspicious of anything new. As student testing proves that innovative new programs are just as respectable, those suspicious are put to rest. Actually, distance learning has been around for a lot longer than most people think. External degrees have been offered in Europe, Canada, Africa, and Asia for more than 100 years. In Australia, the University of Queensland offered an external degree program as early as the 1890s. Distance learning is only "new" in the United States. Even though more than 100 million Americans have taken courses at a distance since 1840 (mostly by correspondence), it wasn't until 1970 that SUNY developed an exclusively distance degree program. Regarding diploma mills, it is important to check for "region" accreditation of a school. It isn't difficult for an institute to develop it own accreditation association, so you can not rely simply of a statement that the school is "accredited". I have devoted an entire chapter in the book to regional and specialized accreditation that can help you make sure you are not dealing with a diploma mill.

Chat Participant: Can you begin a program at any time of the year or are there "start dates"?

Pat Criscito: Many of the programs are open ended and set up for individualized study. Others are just like traditional colleges that begin at fixed times.

Chat Participant: What about experience? I am a crusty middle aged broad, with lots of work experience in my field, but no degrees. A "101" course might just kill me. Can a person zoom past the basics in getting a DL degree?

Pat Criscito: Distance learning is made just for you and us crusty middle-aged broads! It is possible to use experiential learning and examinations to earn credit for what you already know, and many DL institutions accept such standardized credits. You simply need to ask the registration office of the school.

Chat Participant: I'm enrolled in a DL doctorate at the present time.

Pat Criscito: Where are you studying?

Chat Participant: Uni. Of Sarasota, FL, regionally accredited Ph.D. I need to go there for summer courses, but the bulk of the work is done at home (Japan for me)

Pat Criscito: Sarasota is profiled in the book. It's a good school.

Chat Participant: Yes, I based my choice with a lot of weight on your profile, thanks!

Pat Criscito: Great!

Chat Participant: Are the distance learning programs open to people outside the US?

Pat Criscito: Absolutely. There are some that give preference to residents, but most are available to anyone. Some of the best and oldest DL programs are actually overseas. Because only a few are regionally accredited by the U.S., we don't list very many of them in my book, but my research turned up oodles. The biggest consideration you will have is whether or not it meets your industry's or U.S. College accreditation requirements. If not, you have wasted your money.

Chat Participant: Are you seeing a trend in Ph.D. programs joining in the virtual world?

Pat Criscito: There are, of course, many more undergraduate and graduate degree programs than doctoral, but it is definitely a growing trend.

Chat Participant: How does U of N.D. rank?

Pat Criscito: We didn't rank the school, but UND has some great full-fledge graduate and undergraduate degree programs (MBA, Education, Public Admin, Social Work, Nursing, etc.).

Chat Participant: Do you think the online Ph.D. will be regarded with equal integrity as a resident Ph.D. program?

Pat Criscito: Your diploma will be identical to your on-campus counterparts. No one will ever know the way your study was delivered unless you choose to tell them. There are, of course, some people who have not yet accepted these "new" means of delivery education, but many of them are in the "old guard" at universities that are fighting the trend because it endangers their tenure!

Chat Participant: When I checked with my employer, the main thing was accreditation. The fact that my degree will be by DL has not been a factor.

Pat Criscito: You are exactly right. A DL graduate shouldn't face any prejudices. From a regionally accredited college or university, a degree is a degree is a degree.

Chat Participant: What's the average cost per year?

Pat Criscito: That's a tough question to answer. I have found community colleges that offer residents of their states $56 per credit prices and high-profile schools that charge $1,000 per credit!

Chat Participant: Do you give advice on overcoming any prejudices a DL graduate might face, i.e., the impact of a good resume and preparing for the interview?

Pat Criscito: For the resume you simply need to list the degree and the name of the school. Nothing else matters.

Chat Participant: Does your book offer any statistics as to how many students are currently studying on line?

Pat Criscito: No one is gathering those stats at the moment. It is rather scattered. The closest you will come to getting those numbers is at the Web site of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Check it out.

Chat Participant: Does the guest believe that the Internet promotes "literacy"?

Pat Criscito: I do believe the Internet promotes literacy. You can't participate effectively on the Internet without reading and writing skills.

Chat Participant: DL is great for folks who don't have a car or any public transportation nearby.

Pat Criscito: DL is indispensable for those who live in remote areas. That's why Canada and Australia have such advanced DL programs. When I interviewed colleges in preparation for the book, I found a trend that avoided set "class" times. The schools are finding that DL students need more flexibility because of their work and/or travel schedules. They will, instead post their assignments on a Web site, accept them back via E-mail, and let students schedule chats among themselves or with their instructor(s) to answer specific questions.

Chat Participant: A problem with DL is motivation. I think people that do a DL degree must have a high level of self-motivation to do the work without a lot of supervision. Would you agree?

Pat Criscito: Self-motivation is critical to success.

Chat Participant: Some colleagues of mine started a degree and gave up because they couldn't get the work done!

Pat Criscito: That is one of the most common misperceptions about DL. Someone enrolls and thinks it will be "easier" than sitting in a traditional classroom. Think about it, instead of sitting in a room with 300 students where you can get lost, turn in a little homework, and pass the class. Instead you must "work" on reading, writing, and communicating every day with both your instructor and fellow students.

Chat Participant: As a graduate student who is studying to be an instructor at a community college in political science, the teaching of online courses are things I've noticed have been ignored by the university departments, but embraced by early adopters in the field and at community colleges where space is at a premium.

Pat Criscito: You are correct. Community colleges have taken the lead, as have corporations that have formed consortia with schools and technology companies to provide DL.

Chat Participant: Some of the schools I've looked into for Ph.D. programs are schools I've never heard of. Where would I find rankings of certain programs at certain schools (Rankings regardless of DL)?

Pat Criscito: I don't know of any rankings for DL programs, KO. In my book, however, I have listed the University of Idaho, Nova Southeastern, Fielding Institute, Leicester University, Regent University, Purdue, and other well-known colleges. Yes, Barron's does rank colleges, without regard to DL. You can find their "Profiles" in any major library or bookstore.

Chat Participant: I wish this had been available when my children were growing up. It was just grueling, trying to be a mother, wife, and full time student.

Pat Criscito: That's is one of the most wonderful things about DL. In fact, the average age of students in any college program is growing older every day. In fact, the DETC surveyed DL institutions and found the typical students was 31 years old, 48 percent were male, 90 percent were employed, and 31 percent had their tuition paid by their employer.

Chat Participant: Does DL also enables people to study in their native languages...

Chat Participant: Many American programs require that students participate in English.

Chat Participant: What about not going to school at all; Studying on your own?

Pat Criscito: If you have gained a lot of knowledge, either through independent study or through experience, experience learning credits are your way to go. Regents College has a great program for gaining credit for what you already know, and these credits are almost 100 percent transferable to other schools.

Chat Participant: Why should that be? Isn't Spanish a rather large proportion of the population base in the US now? Surely tertiary institutions can cope with that type of tuition

Pat Criscito: It would depend on the part of the country. In California or parts of the American Southwest, there would be many more choices for Spanish speakers. In my research, though, I found that most of the schools required TOEFFL exams.

Chat Participant: What can you tell me about California Coast University?

Pat Criscito: California Coast University is not listed in my book, which means is probably is not regionally accredited.

Chat Participant: It isn't? John Bear rates it fairly well, but I did extra research, and it appears to be "state certified." I think state-certified = not accredited

Pat Criscito: California has notoriously weak accreditation requirements. They are getting better, but California was once known as Diploma Mill territory.

Chat Participant: Name me a Canadian university that has DL program please!

Pat Criscito: How many would you like? Give me a second. Which province?

Chat Participant: Anyone in Ontario

Pat Criscito: Ontario has Lakehead University, Laurentian University, Queen's University, University of Guelph, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario, University of Windsor, Wilfrid Laurier University, and York.

Chat Participant: thanks for the INFO

Pat Criscito: Besides a guide that profiles 800 colleges and universities and colleges in the U.S. and Canada, "Barron's Guide to Distance Learning" also helps you determine whether DL is right for you (there is a test!), talks about accreditation and gives you resources (government) for checking on a school's accreditation, how to get credit for what you know, and financing the cost of DL. You can find the book at any major bookstore, at Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com on the Internet.

Chat Participant: Your book will perhaps become THE source for on line learning!

Pat Criscito: It had better!

Pat Criscito: Thanks for some great questions, everyone. See you online. Pat