Should ‘Life Experience’ Degrees Be Taken Seriously?
Jan 29th, 2007
A lot of people say no. And furthermore, they feel that degrees awarded fully or partially on 'life experience' devalue 'real' online degrees. With diploma mills already harming the online education industry, we don't need any more doubt.
The Web site for Ashwood University makes earning a college degree sound so simple.
"No need to study," it proclaims. "Receive a college degree for what you already know!"
Similar sites stress "life experience" and proclaim, "Get your college degree within nine days!"
It's the latest rage in the ever-growing world of online education, where all you need to obtain that college degree is an Internet connection, a few minutes and a credit card.
Web sites for obscure schools offer degrees based solely on your personal and professional lives. Transcripts and verification services are available, too.
Experts said there could be as many as 2,000 entities worldwide issuing life-experience degrees that are virtually worthless.
"This is a serious problem," said Judith Eaton, president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. "And the level of attention and concern is rising.
What do you think: does life experience deserve recognition, or does hitting the books make the real difference?
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