Customer Reviews

Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning

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Dr. John Bear has once again provided the distance learner with an excellent resource volume. This newest addition to the Bears' Guide collection is a must have for those interested in educational programs via distance learning. Co-authored by Mariah Bear, Tom Head and Thomas Nixon, "Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees" profiles over 350 fully accredited distance learning credential and degree programs, ranging from the bachelor's through the doctorate. An entire chapter is devoted to meeting teacher licensing requirements, along with contact information for all fifty states.

As in previous editions, the value and importance of a properly accredited degree is discussed. Since degree mills have become problematic, both in the US and abroad, a degree from a properly accredited school is essential. Accreditation by an agency recognized by the US Dept. of Education, or its foreign equivalent, assures broad utility and recognition of a degree. By profiling only schools with this type of accreditation, Bear provides the distance learner with credible, legitimate and substantive options.

Several specific areas are detailed in terms of degree emphasis and specialization, e.g., administration, educational technology, religious education, library science, special education, distance education, K-12 and early childhood education, curriculum, etc.

Without reservation, this book is recommended for anyone interested in distance learning educational programs, as well as for reference use.

I don't know why Amazon says this book is from January 2003, as the used one I ordered says 2001. I already had this edition and used it well to seek out a Bachelors completion program in 2001. I read it cover to cover and selected a school based on some of the more specific comments on completion programs - very good advice, and a very good school - great personal service. I also have Bear's Guide to Earning a Degree by Distance Education, which I used to search out an MBA in the UK, and I've loaned that one to friends. He does a great job. I've also read his work on accreditation extensively, since I work for a non-accredited school. Too bad this book isn't up to date as now I want an MSc in Education and Technology and there have been alot of changes in the past two years particularly in this area. For example, the London program I liked in 2001 has been discontinued and the new one won't start til 2004. I was hoping for more ideas on where to turn now.

I have a few of John Bear's books in my study and this book is a terrific publication. If you would like to earn your Education degree via distance learning...this is the book for you. You will find its authors have compiled an excellent resource pointing you in the right direction. Plenty of information is given concerning specific state certification and how you can navigate the need for student teaching via distance learning.

Buy this book if you are serious about earning an education degree!

The Bear's guide used to be an excellent resource. Now, it's been watered down into a series of books rather than all the needed info in one book, I presume to make obscene amounts of money. So, save yours! There's better info online, and it's free!

The book was alright. I felt that I have seen better but as a whole, the book was ok.

You can trust Bear to give you acurate, honest information on the schools he covers. This book is specifically written for anyone looking for a degree in the education field. Childhood development, elementary, ect. He covers it all including teaching credentuals, bachelor's degreees, master's degrees, and doctorates. I've bought other distance learning books but it's hard to go through each school looking not only for creditionals you can trust but also for the degree you want. I like the fact that this book only covers the type of degrees I'm interested in. Bear's also has several other distance degree books if education is not your field of study.