Colorado Technical University

Is taking online classes at graduate school a big NO NO?

The program I wanna apply to says you can take some of the classes online instead of at campus. i like online classes but someone said that if u wanna apply for a doctoral degree after you're done with this degree, they will look at the transcript and wont take u as seriously cause you didn't attend face-to-face classes. what do you think?

Public Comments

1. Online classes can be fun. The problem is with the university system and then with the employer where you will be applying. They usually judge you according to where you went to school. For example if you go to a the University of California, this degree will be more valuable than one from a state university. My personal opinion is that an online degree isn't worth much for the reasons already explained.
2. Check to make sure taking the classes online wouldn't mess up any residency requirements you have, because they may want you physically present in classes while you're still under that rule (often the 1st year). But other than that, if its allowed, you should be fine doing it. And I don't think it will show on your transcript one way or the other. The transcript will show you took the class, and unless it's a class only offered online, and they bother to look this up, I don't think they would know the difference. But again, you could check with your department to see if the classes offered online show up differently than those offered physically.
3. Simply not true. If the online courses are offered at the same college then it makes no difference. In fact, you cannot even tell through the transcript. The most important factor here is to ensure you do a thesis based master program if you plan to do doctoral level program later.