Empirical Study of Students' Perceptions of Online Courses

Abstract

The recent proliferation of availability of online courses and programs has caused some concerns related to ensuring that the time and cost investments provide beneficial results, both to students and the institutions providing the material. Students’ perceptions of these programs are likely to affect their interest in enrolling in them. Schools need an awareness of these student perceptions to determine if a need exists to modify the delivery of online programs. This study was designed to determine current perceptions of online programs by potential students, compared with the traditional on-campus environment. Findings indicate those issues that are most important to students in course delivery and their beliefs as to whether these issues are more likely to be delivered through online or through traditional on-campus courses.