Quite a fascinating discussion. I haven't really followed this topic in...years now (god, where does the time go) but the debate is still interesting. I used to be fairly defensive of these online schools and online programs in clinical psychology, but I have had a bit of a change of heart. After actually receiving graduate level, clinical training, psychology and otherwise, I don't see how you could do it online. So much of this kind of training involves face to face interaction, a trusted expert monitoring you, correcting you, in real time. How can you get that over a computer or at a few weekend seminars? How can you develop those interpersonal skills, the professional skills, the confidence, the judgment of correct and incorrect, if you are working mostly on simulations in front of a computer screen? How can you feel confident, as a clinician, sometimes dealing with life and death issues, if that is your training?
And one thing I didn't understand when I was an undergrad, defending online training, is the time commitment of this type of training. I am no longer involved with psychology but in my current program, between classes, studying, clinical training, I am spending 65+ hours a week on school. How can you learn the necessary skills and have a thorough understanding of the science behind them, if you are also holding down a full time job that has nothing to do with your future career? It might work if you were getting your B.S. in psychology but earning a doctorate is nothing like that.
Can we really say that you can spend your day working as an accountant and spend your evenings and weekends training to be a psychologist? This isn't like learning how to play the guitar. Becoming a psychologist isn't a hobby or a side project. The idea that you work full time and earn your PsyD is completely ridiculous. Even considering that is nuts and actually doing it is quite scary. The point is, in order to be good at what you do and even to just be minimally component, you need to be fully immersed in your training. You can't have your attention scattered in 10 different directions.
Now, I am sure there are some doctorates you could earn online and it would make no difference. Maybe getting a doctorate in art history or something online would be good enough. And I certainly think there are some limited aspects of becoming a health care professional, psychologist, medical doctor, dentist, whatever, that could be done online. We dont' have to shun online training 100%. Maybe a few courses or something but the whole damn thing? I can't see how that would actually work well. There is a bigger picture. It isn't all about you, the student, and you fulfilling your life time goal of getting your PsyD or whatever. Other people's lives are at stake. Your clients, their friends, their family, their children. All of that has to be taken into account, as well. Sure you can get your degree and earn that fancy title but what about the people that will depend on you? You need to wonder if that online training you get, will help them and if not, then your what you are doing is quite dangerous.
End rant.
I also have this interesting video, if any of you have never seen it. It is a PBS documentary about for-profit colleges. It is probably a bit more negative than it needs to be but still some relevant insight into discussions like this.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/collegeinc/view/
Don't get me wrong - I've learned in my classes. I think there should be minimum standards for classes. But in the end, research research research.
