The Education Support for Non Traditional pursuits ran by the Defense Department is commonly referred to as DANTES. The DoD created Dantes to assist and help Servicemembers who wish to pursue their educational goals after being in the military. Dantes will also assist Servicemembers who wish to pursue education while still serving in the military.
Traditional education usually involves a classroom, students, desks, and books. The new Non- Traditional approach does not involve having to sit in the classroom, it is a flexible system that will hopefully fit your schedule and goals, and works with your existing lifestyle. In the different programs that Dantes offers, there are tools and opportunities for you to be successful and achieve some of the existing educational goals that might have escaped your grasp up to now. Some of the non traditional delivery methods that Dantes uses are courses and seminars taught through the use of CD-Rom, Email, Internet Courses, Audio Cassette, VHS or DVD video tape courses, printed correspondence courses, and satellite television.
The Dantes programs offers solutions to your educational needs. They are able to match your interests and career goals with information, resources, and support programs, in additional to their direct educational offerings. Some of the different types of programs offered by Dantes include: Distance learning programs, Credit by exam (CLEP testing), College Credit for Service/Military Evaluation of Transcripts program, Troops to Teachers Program, Career Guidance Programs, Certification Programs, Informational Videos, and the Servicemember Opportunity College program.
When there is a test called for in the materials, the tests can be taken often at the local education center, or proctored through a local school. At times there is limited space in the Dantes program on a pay as you go basis. Dantes maintains three independent catalogs online that list the different distance programs and learning courses. They include:
-Dantes External Degree. This catalog lists the normal courses from accredited universities and college that have very little or no residency requirements for degree completion. Degrees and certificates in undergraduate degrees, and also graduate, postgraduate and terminal degrees (PhD) are offered in this catalog.
-Dantes Independent Study. More than six thousand high school, and post secondary programs, courses, and examinations are listed. This is the catalog for students seeking very specific courses to graduate or meet a degree requirement.
-Dantes Nationally Accredited Distance Learning. There is a cornucopia of courses and programs, courses from Repair of Appliances? to the study of Judaism and Zionism in the State of Israel. There is a little bit of everything in this catalog, something for everyone.