Online education, or e-ecucation, is a general term which encompasses any kind of learning that is done exclusively online. Online education is sometimes offered through free, self-study websites. Often, though, students learn through virtual universities such as the University of Phoenix and others. Many "land" universities also include online programs, sometimes called extension programs. The majority of online colleges feature some form of recognized accreditation. A growing number of physical universities as well as newer online only colleges have begun to offer a select set of academic degree programs via the internet. These programs range from Associate's degrees to Doctoral programs with available emphasis in everything from Business Administration to Criminal Justice to Nursing. While some programs requires students to attend some campus classes or orientations, many are completely online. In addition, several universities offer online student support services, such as online advising, student governments and student newspapers.

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