This paper, as the title suggests, presents a discussion of the dangers and possibilities of the external degree. There are 8 major dangers that widespread offering of external degrees might precipitate: (1) the deterioration of standards rather than quality education; (2) a proliferation of degrees that might debase the degree; (3) the use of the…

An external degree is one granted on the basis of academic work undertaken through independent and flexible study and pursued in whole or in part outside of the framework of existing college and university courses. A person's qualifications for an external degree are measured not by a list of accumulated formal courses taken and passed, but by an…

Though Columbus State Community College (CSCC) offers a full range of courses in child development, these courses are not always suitable for or accessible to persons who wish to obtain certification as Child Development Associates (CDA's). To meet these educational needs, CSCC developed the Competency-Based CDA Outreach Training Program. The…

This student handbook describes the process and components of Whatcom Community College's Individualized Degree Program (IDP), which offers students the opportunity to design an associate degree or certificate plan to meet their educational goals. After introductory material presents a history of the IDP's development and the purpose of the…

The development, implementation, and integration of a nontraditional adult degree program at Mary Baldwin College, a traditional liberal arts institution, is described. The adult degree program is designed for adult men and women who cannot attend classes in the traditional manner; it may involve independent study, courses at other accredited…