The Degree Debate: Online vs. Traditional

Jenna Lankford is a student of the future — and her future is happening today.

Born a Millennial, Lankford is from a generation equipped to multitask. She works full time for a professional artist management company while simultaneously pursuing her paralegal degree. Traveling with clients all over the world — to Kuwait, Japan and New York, to name a few — and maintaining her 3.8 GPA is challenging, to say the least. However, Lankford receives her education in what she said is the most efficient classroom: the virtual one.

"My job requires a lot of last minute meetings and traveling, which would make it almost impossible for me to attend a traditional university," she said. "Completing my work online allows me to pursue my educational goals while maintaining my full-time job."

By fall 2009, Lankford will have an associate degree from Los Angeles Mission College’s Paralegal Studies Program, bringing her one step closer to working on contract negotiations and intellectual property for an entertainment firm. Lankford said she has an advantage over traditional-degree students because she works in her industry while attending school.

"Online courses allow you to work full time and participate in other activities such as an internship," she said. "I most definitely will be prepared for my job when I graduate because I currently work in entertainment management and plan on interning at a similar firm prior to entering the workforce."

While Lankford sets an example for other students interested in pursuing online degrees, employers are becoming used to the idea of a competitive education offered in the virtual world. However, concerns remain: They question whether online graduates walk away with comparable experience and hands-on learning.

Practice, practice, practice

Whether students want to be doctors, teachers or writers, they need practice, said Charlee O'Reilly, the recruitment specialist for Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) in Ocala, Fla. Students master a profession by doing it, she said, adding that kids need teachers who have work experience and have developed the appropriate skills.

"Teaching is one of those professions that you really become an expert teacher by actually practicing and implementing all the tools," O'Reilly said. "And you need field experience for that."