Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

If I start my college career with online courses, will it hinder my ability to transfer to a four-year degree program in the future? Michael Farris talks about wise planning when using distance learning on today's Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Farris:


My guest this week has been Rich Shipe, the Director of Distance Learning at Patrick Henry College. Rich, if a student enrolls in the distance learning program at PHC, can he earn a degree this way?


Rich Shipe:


He can, Mike. It's through the Campus and Home program. It's a unique program that actually combines on-campus with distance learning. Because of Patrick Henry's unique emphasis on apprenticeship, it's nearly impossible to do some aspects of our degree program through distance learning, so students are required to come on-campus. The way the Campus and Home program works is that during the fall and spring semesters a student will take classes online, and then during the summer they come on-campus to take the degree courses and do the apprenticeship aspects of the degree.


Mike:


Now if a student wants to use distance learning programs for credit at a full-time enrollment at PHC or going elsewhere, can they do that?


Rich:


As far as transferring these credits to other colleges, yes, students can do that, because we have initial accreditation from two accrediting bodies. But students should always be aware the college they're transferring to always has to approve that transfer before it happens.


Mike:


So it would be a good idea for a student to check in advance if they have a particular school they're thinking of sending their credits to.


Rich:


That's right.


Mike:


Rich, thanks so much, and we're excited about the impact that these courses can make in the future of our country. I'm Mike Farris.