Opinions on Distance Learning Courses?

I'm in the Air Force and realized that the only way I was going to get my Master's done was distance learning since I move every three years (actually, San Antonio is my next assignment!)Seems distance learning is gaining in popularity, but since I'm in such a program I'm biased.

Anyway, I'm in the Graceland University MSN program. They've even started a BSN to MSN program, so you can get the whole thing done at once.

For the MSN, you have to attend 3 two week residencies in Kansas City. For each residency you take seven hours (three classes the first residency and then two classes and a credit toward your graduate project the other two) Two classes are strictly correspondance (hope you like to write papers!) The hard part for you if you are going to be moving around a lot might be getting all the clinical done, but you don't have to do it all in one place.

The program is a little pricey, but for my purposes it has worked well (GI Bill money helps some). I hope to be done in Aug after I complete all the work associated with the last residency and successful (?!) defense of my graduate project.

They offer three tracks-nursing admin, clinical nurse specialist and FNP. Again for my purposes this type of program was ideal, but you need to be really motivated to stay with it, since you don't have the weekly push of a professor behind you.

Good luck!

PS All the programs are fully accredited

[This message has been edited by LoriUSAFRN (edited January 27, 2001).]

Just be careful that the school you select is accredited. The last thing you want is a diploma that isn't worth the paper it is printed on. Go to the following site for more information on accreditation:

http://distancelearn.about.com/education/distancelearn/library/blpages/blaccredassoc.htm