Does this school look legit? (grad school)

[Criticalthinker]

http://easterncollege.us/

I am very interested in their Masters in Music, but am unsure about their accreditation in general.

Their coursework looks quite normal, but there seems to be a religious affiliation that is somewhat vague underneath it all, as well, not that being a religious school is a bad thing at all, it's just that their mission seems ambiguous.

Just not sure.

Thoughts and insights welcome.

Thanks

[ShotoJuku]

It looks like they are neither RA or NA......

[Criticalthinker]

Originally Posted by ShotoJuku

It looks like they are neither RA or NA......

What does that mean? Is that a type of accrediting?

Sorry not up on the lingo... I do appreciate you checking it out.

Sadly, I called and the phone was disconnected....not good.

[sirjake]

Originally Posted by Criticalthinker

What does that mean? Is that a type of accrediting?

Sorry not up on the lingo... I do appreciate you checking it out.

Sadly, I called and the phone was disconnected....not good.

Regional Accreditation or National Accreditation.

[Criticalthinker]

Originally Posted by sirjake

Regional Accreditation or National Accreditation.

Ahh...

Good thing that wasn't a CLEP question!

[Urbannaja]

This web page talks a little about the accreditation of the college you're looking at: http://www.degree.net/guides/non-gaap_listings.html

(which is "Southeast Accrediting Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Seminaries" from the website you gave)

It looks like that college is purely religious in nature and won't give you an academically acredited music degree. Like someone else mentioned above, you want to look for a regional accreditation (national is NOT better).

[ShotoJuku]

Originally Posted by Criticalthinker

Ahh...

Good thing that wasn't a CLEP question!

Hahahahaha - good one!!

[ShotoJuku]

Originally Posted by Urbannaja

.......Like someone else mentioned above, you want to look for a regional accreditation (national is NOT better).

This is true but not always correct insofar as an NA degree can fit the bill in many fields and/or employers requirements.

The bottom line is however without any form of RA or NA accreditation the "degree" is most likely from a degree/diploma mill.

Caveat Emptor - "Let The Buyer Beware!"

[Katterina]

Yep, I would say RA is more ideal for many because it is accepted in more situations (biggest is landing teaching jobs-- NA is generally frowned upon there). However, NA is accedited by the US Dept of Education, so many (if not most) private employers, government jobs, and military jobs also consider it accredited. Personally, I have my eye on an NA grad program because it suits my needs, plus my Fortune 500 employer considers it accredited and reimburses tuition for it. I may also go into government work later on, and I know that my field accepts it as well. It is situational: some jobs and state licensures do require a masters that is RA. Best to check into that before diving in.

[snazzlefrag]

Originally Posted by ShotoJuku

The bottom line is however without any form of RA or NA accreditation the "degree" is most likely from a degree/diploma mill.

This is also true, but not always.

Some legitimate schools provide an excellent education, but simply do not have regional or national accreditation.

This applies mostly to religious and/or vocational type schools. A diploma mill is a "school" that merely hands out a diploma to anyone willing to pay their fees, without requiring any actual work or learning.

Some schools fulfill a need to edumacate people for a specific position. The music school Criticalthinker mentioned might actually be a legitimate attempt to provide a good solid music education for potential religious ministry, without the student having to jump through the same hoops that RA or NA would require.

Then again, it might truly be a diploma mill.

One thing is certain though, a diploma from this school would NOT be sufficient to get accepted into RA/NA graduate studies, or to teach in the mainstream etc.

But, if someone intended to become a Minister of Music and work full-time in a church setting, it might actually provide that person with a strong foundation in music.

I studied full-time for three years in residence at a bible college that is highly regarded within related ministry circles. At the end of the three years, I received a respected diploma in Theology and Music, which opened doors for me to become a minister. It wasn't RA or NA, but the school required three years of INTENSE full-time theological study, internships, practicum, and a solid GPA in order to graduate. I certainly came out of the experience three years older, three years wiser, and much better prepared for ministry.

I earned 90 credits in the process, but obviously NONE of those credits could be used once I began studies for an RA degree.

Was it RA/NA? No!
Was it a dilpoma mill? Far from it!
Did it meet my specific needs? Absolutely!
Was the degree legitimate? Yes (within my specific field).
Are the credits generally accepted in mainstream academia? No!
Was it worthwhile? Totally!
Would I do it again? Definitely!

As you can see, even when a school does not have RA/NA accreditation, it doesn't automatically fall into the "diploma mill" category.

Most diploma mills are INSTANTLY recognizable, because they openly declare a price that you must pay to receive the degree. Pay X fee, get X degree! However, where such obvious "buy a degree" language is not immediately visible, further investigation might either prove, or disprove that the institution is truly a diploma mill.

Where a school is a diploma mill, it should be avoided at all costs. Where a school is legitimate but not RA/NA, extreme caution is advised. You would need to ensure that it will fulfill your specific educational and occupational needs, and you should fully understand that the degree may not be widely accepted outside of the field, and the credits may be worthless if you intend to pursue RA studies down the line.

Hope that helps,
Snazzlefrag