Online Degrees

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Monday, December 31, 2007

Why Choose Online Adult Education

After you've been out of school for a few years, the idea of taking adult education classes can seem intimidating or even scary for many people. After all, most people have their life somewhat organized after they've been out of school a while. They may have a job, a family and children, and feel quite secure in their role as an adult. So going back to school can in some ways be seen as a step backwards, away from the reality and security of adult life.

But the truth is, deciding to attend adult education classes can be a big step forward in your life, even though it may not seem that way at first glance. Continuing or completing your education as an adult is richly rewarding, and we'll give you the satisfaction of having achieved something important in your life -- a type of milestone.

One common reservation about going back to school is finding the time in your busy life for study. But with a little commitment and preparation, all of us can find creative ways to free up time during the week. Perhaps you will need to cut back on your extracurricular activities, or delegate certain responsibilities to your spouse for a period of time. But as someone once said, anything worth achieving requires sacrifice.

If you're interested in continuing your education, but nervous about the concept of going back to school, there's good news: it is now possible to attend online adult education courses, bypassing the traditional classroom altogether. Online learning also is easier to work into your schedule for several reasons.

You see, unlike traditional classroom education, online learning is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are normally no fixed times when you must "attend" classes; instead, you are presented with a series of tasks, which you can then complete on your own time frame.

Even those of us with hectic job and family schedules can find a few minutes here and there to study online. And the more you get into it, the more you will find creative ways to make the most of the time you do have available during the week. Online education conforms to your specific situation -- not the other way around, and is without a doubt the best way to go back to school as an adult.

But besides being able to work your studies around your schedule, online education saves you time and money in other ways. For example, you never have to rush home after work, just to grab a quick bite to eat and then rush back out the door to drive across town for a class. This saves you gas money, a great deal of stress, and makes the most of the free time you have, so that you can continue to have a life while you study.

And Internet educational resources have developed to the point where you can study for a wide range of adult education degrees online. Many people also find this way of studying easier, because classes are normally presented in video format, which means that you can watch them over and over again as many times as you like until the information "sinks in."

If you have been considering adult education, but were nervous at the prospect of going back to school, online adult education could be a perfect solution for you to advance in your career and life.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on online learning and a distance learning college at http://www.ultimateeducationguide.com

Monday, December 24, 2007

Online Degrees Are Attractive For Busy Lifestyles

Online degrees are now more popular for anyone who needs to continue their education and maintain a job or look after the family all at once. They are offered from a vast selection of sources ranging from accredited universities to fake 'diploma mills' that give out certifications with no requirements other than cash. Online education programs originated from something referred to as 'distance learning', which was initially available at colleges that had several campuses. Courses of study include business, accounting, health care, e-business, computer science, criminal justice, online marketing, and general education.

Internet Education Versus Customary Programs

Those that have been away from schooling for a spell often believe that online degrees are not as well looked upon as normal on-campus credentials. But, they are currently getting more favor as institutions discover that their employees who aquired their credentials on the Web are just as equipped as those who aquired them in a traditional academic atmosphere. Because of this, in the present day dog-eat-dog career market they are a brilliant investment in yourself and your future.

Online degrees and continued learning plans are available in many areas. Programs range from arts to sciences, from very practical degrees to PhDs. In addition to the flexibility, they normally offer lower tuition than a college campus. If you are only shopping for the speediest and least difficult way to aquire a degree to put in your portfolio, you'll probably want to seek out a school that has minimal requirements and is kind to the pocketbook.

Online learning started with certification programs, and escalated to associates and bachelor degrees. It's vital that you find the right program that meets your career goals. Whichever institution you select, make sure that it is accredited; such as the University of Phoenix. This will help when a prospective employer researches your credentials to determine if they are valid. You can look into the accreditation at the U.S. Department of Education website.

Deciding on the best program is easier than ever. Many folks lately have relished in the advancement opportunities and learning possibilities they afford them, and it's possible you should, too.

Once you have done your research on the many colleges and universities and select the one that is the best fit for you, take the initiative to hanker down, and treat it just as you would a regular campus. Once you've accepted that distance learning is a good alternative for you, dig into to the program and you'll have a degree in no time.

Bobby Ivie is the owner of OfficialOnlineDegree.com and OfficialOnlineDegree.com Blog

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

The Many Different Online High School Courses

If you did not finish high school, you may be contemplating getting your high school diploma through an online institution. If this is the case, be prepared for some of the online high school courses that you will need to take in order to receive a diploma. Many people have found that they can get their high school diploma by taking these courses, and that passing them is a surprisingly simple process. Still, a little information never hurts, and it would benefit you to know which courses you are going to be taking.

Depending on the diploma you are going to receive, you may have to take two courses of a foreign language. Spanish is the most common choice for these types of programs, though other languages are available at some schools.

Math is another of the online high school courses that you will have to take. Algebra, pre algebra and geometry are common. You can also take other math courses like trigonometry and calculus. You will find that these courses are easier than you may remember from your high school days.

Another required course is English. You must take four separate classes of English. You will also probably have to take courses in literature, as a complement to the English.

Also, think about other online high school courses like physical science and biology, as well as other math classes and electives. Many students are pleasantly surprised to learn that these courses are actually quite easy to pass. Visit ContinentalAcademy.com to learn more about these.

The Continental Academy is a prestigious online high school that offers an accredited high school diploma to its students. To learn more about this great educational opportunity, go online and visit them at http://www.continentalacademy.com/.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Choosing the Right Online Degree

If you have made the decision to study for an online degree, you need to make sure you choose the right online school and course. Of course, this will be determined by your ultimate goal, for example entry into a specific career or access to an educational course at a higher level, such as a master's degree.

The first step therefore is to write down your long-term goal. So if it's a high-powered job in a particular industry, your first job within the sector is likely to be a graduate trainee position or internship. You then need to ask: Is the online degree I'm considering good enough to get me that post? If you make a mistake at this stage, you could cause yourself a lot of heartache and expense. Studying for four or more years only to find you have the wrong qualification is something you'd rather avoid.

How do you know that your chosen course will prepare you adequately for entry into your preferred career? The first thing you can do is make sure that it is properly accredited, whatever your end goal. Even if you aren't looking for a high-powered job now, you might have a change of heart further down the line. And it's always a good idea to aim for the best education you can get. So before you look more deeply into things, confirm that the course has accreditation.

Once you've established that an online degree has proper accreditation, you need to find out if it is going to take you one step closer to your goal. So if you want to work in a particular industry or company, will this degree give you a place on an internship program or at least a foot in the door?

Check out the educational background of people already doing the job if you can. If you happen to know someone who is already doing it, this is a great opportunity and you should take them to lunch. However, most people aren't so lucky and you might have to do a little digging around first. Try looking at company websites and checking out their recruitment strategies. Which posts are they advertising and what qualifications are they asking for? If you can, talk to someone in HR about the type of degrees and the universities they deem acceptable. It might even be possible to arrange a meeting or a chat with a graduate trainee.

If you can't manage to find someone prepared to chat to you face to face or on the phone, get hold of job applications, which are usually downloadable from the organization's website. This will give you some good clues well in advance, enabling you to choose your course of study wisely. If you are entering a profession which has a regulating body, their website is likely to be the best source of information for your needs and you should also be able to contact them with questions by email or phone.

If there is no professional body you can turn to, other sources of help are careers advisors, and specialist careers libraries. Alternatively, you can find information about most careers freely available online. You'll find an article with some useful websites here: How to find careers information. Whichever source you choose, make sure that your information is up to date - as technology progresses, qualifications are changing rapidly.

© Waller Jamison 2007

Waller Jamison is a careers advisor and teacher. Find out how to check if your college is an accredited online school. And get some free tips on effective essay writing.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Affording An Online Degree

Embarking on any degree program is a major commitment in terms of time, energy, resources, and even money. Degree programs have typically been an expensive undertaking, but many programs exist that can help defray (or at least postpone) these expenses. Costs for undergraduate and graduate degree programs have grown at an alarming rate in the past decade, further limiting the choices available for many students. Because of the amount of money involved, it is no wonder that the choice of a reputable, affordable degree program is of greater importance now than ever before.

Many people assume that online degree programs are more expensive than those offered at traditional schools. Performing a strict comparison on the cost per credit hour for each program can be a good basis for financial evaluation, but this should not be the only comparison made. In many cases, you might actually find that these costs are comparable with local campuses. I compared credit hour costs among eight different schools and the online campus that I had selected, and found that the costs were relatively similar.

Yet, there are additional costs that should be factored into the equation before making a final decision. Many traditional schools add additional fees for parking, medical services, and library and computing resources. Often, these fees are not necessary for online degree programs. Additionally, such "soft costs" such as gas and wasted travel time should be considered.

You should also consider books and course materials. Traditional schools typically have bookstores on campus to provide the required course materials. Sometimes, used books may be available, thereby reducing the overall expense, but in many cases, new books will be required, particularly for upper-level course work. Some campuses have begun offering downloadable electronic books (E-books) that can provide some cost savings. Online campuses will occasionally have book stores for specific course materials, requiring the student to order the required materials far enough ahead of time to enable the student to meet course deadlines. Many more online campuses have begun offering materials strictly via online delivery, often at a flat-fee per course (somewhere between $70-100 per course, depending on the course level and school). Naturally, such materials cannot be resold as hard-copy books can.

Financial aid resources can help many students meet these financial obligations once a program has been selected. Schools that offer federal financial resources are typically reputable; be wary of those schools that simply offer private financing options, as these schools may not be accredited. Many online campuses will also have a list of grant and scholarship opportunities available. Finally, if you have served in the military, a reputable school will allow you to use your veterans' benefits; be warned, certain benefits do have an expiration date. Ask the school for a breakdown of costs over the course of your program if you have questions so that you can determine how much financial aid will cover and you can plan accordingly. In some cases, undergraduate studies may not be fully funded by these financial resources, though graduate programs may be fully (or over) funded.

Keith Londrie II is the Webmaster of http://best-online-degrees.info/ A website that specializes in providing information on Online Degrees that you can research on the internet. Please Visit http://best-online-degrees.info/ now!

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Earn An Online Degree To Save Your Time

Every high school student wants to become a graduate. It can bring in major changes in your life. Till today, there was only one way to become a graduate. You have to enroll yourself in a four year college course. With information technology, it has become easier to earn a bachelor degree online. We are talking about online universities, which award online degrees in various studies to aspiring students. The universities working online are in no way differing from their traditional counterparts.

Popular online degrees

Undergraduate students can earn an online bachelor degree, associate or masters degree in any of the studies. Determined students can even go for higher studies such as PhD. from an online university. Law, Medical, Computer (Software and Hardware) Engineering, Bachelor of Business Administration, Economics, Fine Arts, Master of Business Administration, Accounts, Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelors of Computing (B.Comp.), Bachelors of Divinity (B.D.), Bachelors of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) etc. are some of the popular online courses.

The need for online degrees

It is not necessary that every high school graduate should pursue an online course. There are some reasons, which compel a student to enroll in an online university. Let us discuss some of the reasons in this article.

* Universities, working through internet, offer a wide range choice to students. You can find out thousands of bachelor degree courses.

* Time invested in earning a bachelor degree is most important for any student. You spend four years in a traditional college to become a graduate but an online university gives you the liberty to become a graduate in less than two years.

* Universities available on the internet charge much less fess as compared to traditional one. Students, which are unable to pay the huge fees of a traditional college, can easily arrange funds for cost effective degree courses on the internet.

* Classrooms are organized on the internet and students can chat with the professor. You can attend classes when you have enough time to devote. It gives students liberty to do anything in their free time. They can earn their bread and better. Working students find it much easier to pursue their studies through the internet.

* Information technology has made the admission procedure for these universities easier. The process goes on 365 days a year. You have to log on to fill the enrollment form and the rest of the task is completed by university officials. Students with lower GPA can also get enrollment.

* Students with physical disabilities get more than they desire form these universities. They pursue their graduation without stepping into a classroom.

These are some of the reasons why students prefer to study through the internet.

Students must earn only an accredited online degree. You can go for higher studies or apply for jobs only after earning an accredited online degree. So before investing your time and money to pursue an online course verify with the United States Department of Education whether the university is accredited or not.

I will throw light on various university degrees online in my next article.

Arun Lakhera is a professional journalist and copy writer. He writes contents on education such as online degree courses for http://www.DegreeAuthority.com You can get more information on why and how to become a graduate on www.DegreeAuthority.com

Monday, December 03, 2007

Starting A New Degree Or Certification Program Through Online Education

If you are considering pursing a college degree or in need of additional certification, check out the available programs through online education. Pursuing a degree online can ease much tension and apprehension that might be hindering your return. You may have heard some myths about distance education; however, the truth is an online degree is just as effective as a brick and mortar degree. In fact, you can earn the very same degree in a shorter period of time if you pursue it online.

First, you need to identify which online degree program or online certification program you are interested in. Do you have a passion for something in particular? While certain programs are not offered online (i.e. nursing, human services), distance learning can still allow you to take several core classes online that will count toward your overall degree. Core classes are classes that everyone has to take regardless of their program.

Once you have chosen an online program, start to explore various colleges that offer your degree type or degree subject. Colleges and universities that host online campus typically have a program schedule available online for your access. Contact their registrar's office either by email or phone and discuss with them class registration options, tuition possibilities and the application process. You will soon discover that the whole process was no where near as dreadful as you may have thought. In fact, it can all be completed online.

Once enrolled in a particular online program, you should expect to attend an online orientation, which in some cases can last up to 3 week. Online orientation is geared toward introducing you to all the different functions of your online course and to ensure you know how to maneuver yourself around the classroom. Often you have to conduct an exit and entrance interview if you are going to be using government loans to assist in paying for your tuition. Basically, those interviews, which are also conducted online, prove that you are well aware of the financial obligation that you are about to embrace and all that surrounds the agreement, such as, interest, payments, hardships, etc.

Each college will differ with their online education policies. Generally, once you have enrolled in an online course, you will be ready to begin your classes without any delays. Books for your online class, if necessary, can be ordered online and shipped directly to your doorstep.

Most colleges hold two six-week sessions back to back. This way you have the option to take two classes in the first session and then one second session to make up your 12 credit hours, which then classifies you as a full time student. However, this is just an example. With online education, the courses fit to your schedule. Most colleges maintain fall, winter, spring and summer terms, making it possible for you to start your online degree or online certification program anytime throughout the year. The convenience of pursuing your degree online going back to college hard to refuse.

Looking for an Online Degree? Learn more at eLearnportal.com!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Pursuing An Adult Online University Degree

Importance Of An Online Education

After assessing the level of success you can achieve, you should be more than eager to pursue your studies. The confidence that accompanies the thought of a college graduation is enough to motivate anyone to enroll online for one of the many university degrees. A university degree can assist you to access good positions that offer attractive compensation and job satisfaction. Education helps you to gain an extra edge with his employers and helps you to be able to earn enough to make a good living.

Why An Online Education

Working adults who want to acquire a university or college degree and yet continue with their day-to-day work can pursue an education online. Today, many good universities and colleges offer online education. By simply entering a search for university degrees available online, a list of institutions offering online degree courses from basic degrees to MBAs and even doctorate PhDs are available.

For adults who are working, taking time off for classroom sessions is unfeasible. This may be the reason why many adults, stressed out by their responsibilities, are deprived of pursuing a good education. By providing tutorials and lessons online, colleges and universities are able to serve these adult students.

Since most famous universities provide long distance online courses, now people can simply log on the Internet, contact these universities and begin taking courses immediately. This convenience makes earning a degree affordable and less time-consuming, since the courses provided by these universities do not require coming to campus for questions, classes and exams. Besides this, most online universities provide their long distance students the same standard of education, curriculum, faculty and resources, as offered on their college campuses.

Advantages Of An Online Education

Many online universities offer underprivileged students financial assistance and even flexible payment plans. You can check with the university your preference about the various categories of financial aid available. One of the major advantages of acquiring a degree online is the flexibility of study time. Now, a person can study without wasting quality time, since there are no time targets for lessons, tutorials and projects. The examinations held are open book examinations that can be given with the help of textbooks, research papers and guidance from seniors. Online universities also provide their candidates with the luxury to take these online courses at the time and place most suitable to them. All students need is a computer, a good communication device that is either online or offline and a good, reliable Internet connection, preferably broadband.

Online universities also provide several opportunities to interact with other professional teachers to discuss theories, debate issues and to learn from their experiences. No matter what the degree course a person may have applied for, these instructors are equipped to provide guidance and feedback on their progress.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

How to Successfully Complete Your Online Degree Program

Online education has become so popular especially among working adults to earn as many degrees as they like to help bringing their career to next higher level without the need to quit their current job or interrupting their current lifestyle. The advantages of online education have made it the best option for you to pursue your career related degree online, but the question is: are you the right candidate to be an online student? Before you even consider pursuing your degree online, this is the first question you need to consider and here are some guides to help you find your answer.

Try to evaluate yourself whether you have mindsets or behaviors below:

1. You think pursuing a degree online is easy

Online education has advantages of flexibility to plan your learning schedule and convenient because you can attend the online classes from your comfort home. But, it does not as easy as you think because your need to manage your time between your work, family and study. In many time, you may lose focus on your study if you are too busy with your works or you are unable to mange your time probably to allocate enough time for your study. If you are in this situation, your priority on work and family may cause you to drop or delay your degree program.

If you decide to pursue your degree online, you must be prepared to face the challenge during the online learning process and be consistent to stay in focus on your online learning.

2. You have less self-motivation

Online education allows you to study at your own pace, which means that you must be self-motivated to plan your learning schedule and push yourself until your complete the whole program. If you are a kind of person that prefers motivation from other persons to push you to complete a certain task, then, you might be at risk of potentially unable to complete your online degree program.

If online degree program is your ultimate option, then your need to change your behavior meet online student characteristics, or you can get help from your family members especially your spouse as your mentor to motivate you along your online learning process.

3. You Prefer To Listen to the Lecture

In the traditional campus-based classes, when a lecturer is teaching, you are listening to it. If you are comfort to this learning environment, then you might have problem to adapt to new online learning media. Although, there are material in audio or video format, but most of online learning materials are still in text formats which require you to read it instead of listen to it. You must adapt to this learning environment if you want to success in your online learning.

4. You Prefer Face-To-Face Communication

Online chats and discussion forums are the key communication media for online learning. If you are not comfortable to discuss or ask questions through these media, then, you might have difficulties to convey your questions if you face any problem during online learning process. Although, there are some learning and discussion sessions may involve video conferencing, but you still need to familiarize and adapt yourself with the key communication channels which are mainly text format.

Summary

If you find yourself have thinking and behavior above, you may face problem in becoming a success online student to complete your online degree program. What you can do if you are deciding to earn your degree through online education is change your behaviors and mindset so that you are integrated with the success characteristics of an online student and earn your degree finally.

Amelia Turner, an educational article writer for http://www.your-online-degree.info You can find more details information and free resources about online degree programs, about how to success as online student, financial aids and other accredited online education programs that can help you to make decision to earn your degree online.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Online Degree Programs Require Self Discipline

Online degree programs are growing in popularity by leaps and bounds. In fact, by 2008 it is estimated that one in ten college students will be enrolled at least part-time in online coursework. It sounds great; flexibility, lower costs and the chance to attend class in the comfort of your own home. However, it takes a special kind of student to really make an online education work.

People sign up for online degree programs for a variety of reasons. They may already have a job, they may have a disability or a transportation problem, or they may simply want to save some money. Online colleges are less expensive than their bricks and mortar counterparts. One thing most people have in common is that they understand the allure of working on your schoolwork at your own pace in your own environment. There is, however, a down side to the self-paced style of online degree programs. Although they are more flexible, most have time limits on specific projects and on the amount of time allowed to finish your required courses. Being successful in an online college program requires self-discipline and determination.

There are several things you should do when you enroll in an online degree program to make sure you don't fall behind or lose track of your progress. Most of them are relatively easy to implement, but a surprising number of students don't think about them until they've run into trouble with their classes.

When you receive your course assignments and class schedules, mark down everything on your calendar. This includes scheduled times to log into class sessions, due dates for assignments and when you will be taking online exams. Post a copy of your calendar next to your desk so that you can glance at it any time you want without having to boot up your computer. This will get you in the habit of glancing at it before you go out, etc. to refresh your memory of important dates.

Have a clearly designated area in which to work. It is best if you have a desk to work from. If you don't, carve out some space somewhere for your computer, your study materials and other supplies. Use this area only for studying so that you see it as your classroom and aren't tempted to waste away valuable time on activities that will distract you. Habitually studying in the same area will get you in the proper mindset for your work.

Set aside specific times and dates for studying and writing papers. Ideally, you should set aside several hours each week that are specifically for your homework. Make the time a priority and mark it on your calendar in ink so that you can't change it. And don't reschedule your time unless a true emergency has come up.

Save everything. Back up your computer. Print out if you feel it's a good idea. Online instructors aren't happy accepting excuses like a hard drive has crashed when assignments are due. Back up all of your work, and make hard copies as well. In fact, hard copies of your papers are a great way to proof read your work as things look different on paper, and you may catch some mistakes you'd otherwise miss.

Allow quiet time for your schoolwork. Let your friends and family know that you don't want visitors and won't take phone calls during not only scheduled online class times, but during your study hours. Time can slip away and leave you with unfinished work if you chat during your homework time.

If you use these simple study aids, you'll be successful in your classes and soon be the proud recipient of a degree from your online degree program. Good luck!

Andy West is a writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers many Online Degree programs. Visit Virginia College Online at http://www.vconline.edu to select the online program that is right for you.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Earn An Online College Degree Through An Accredited School

Information technology has made it easy for students to earn an online degree. Now you can pursue course in your favorite stream through internet. There are numerous colleges available on internet. One can say that every accredited university is going online for awarding college degrees in various studies.

Advantages of an online college degree

An online course can bring in many advantages to students. Some of the advantages are listed below.

* An online course will make you eligible for higher studies such as Masters and PhD degree.

* You can get lucrative job offers, increments and promotions with an online degree.

* Students spent less time in pursuing an online college course than a traditional one. They can use the spare time in their personal development or working part time.

* Students can earn an online degree with the speed they feel comfortable. You can complete your course in four years. Laborious students can even earn a degree in merely eighteen months.

* Students pursuing an online college course are at liberty to attend classes. You can attend an online class in weekend or any time your feel free.

* Liberty in attending classes gives students enough time to understand the concepts better.

* Online college courses are recognized by employers and you become at par with other students, who have graduated in traditional way.

The advantages of an online college degree run parallel with the advantages of a traditional college degree.

Popular online college degree courses

Masters of Business Administration (MBA) is the most popular of courses available on internet. This is post globalization effect. Masters of Business Administration course makes you eligible for global postings. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is second most preferred of college courses among high school graduates. Engineering students too can earn a college degree through internet in Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. Medical students can pursue specialize medical courses from accredited online universities. An online course in Law will make you eligible for becoming a magistrate.

Jobs for an online college degree holder

Chief Executive Officer, Manger, Executive Engineer, Doctor, Legal Advisor, Teacher, Lecturer, Professor, Researcher, Supervisor are some of the jobs available for a college degree holder. Employers give increments and promotions to their employees, who sharpen their skills by earning a degree. Job seekers can enlarge their search for a lucrative job by earning college degrees.

What is new in an online college degree?

Enrolling in an online course is much easier than enrolling in a traditional college course. Online universities enroll students for various courses throughout the year and round the clock. It is not the case with traditional universities. Students have to wait for a semester end for enrollment in a traditional university. www.DegreeAuthority.com and other such universities available on internet offer cost effective courses. You can browse different web pages for selecting cost effective courses.

Online university degree is the topic of my next article. I will explain the role of online universities in awarding degrees in my next article.

Arun Lakhera is a professional journalist and copy-writer. He writes on education related topics for www.DegreeAuthority.com. Follow this link to find out all new online courses.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Online University Degree and Why You Need One

There are many people who get an online university degree these days. The Internet has permeated to every aspect of our lives, and that includes our education.

The reasons that people want to get an online university degree vary widely from person to person. Some feel that their lives are just so busy that it would be impossible for them to attend classes in a traditional way.

That is why the Internet is so great. You can sit at your computer in your pajamas and earn an online university degree! There is no need to put your life on hold while you further your education.

Advanced degrees are practically essential these days. Where a high school degree would land you a good job a couple of decades ago, most careers now require a bachelors degree or higher. There is no better way to prove yourself to employers than to get an online university degree.

Even well established universities are getting in on the action. Almost two thirds of brick and mortar institutions now have fully online university degrees. They are noticing the trend of people wanting to learn from the comfort of their home, or in their spare time at work.

You may want to look into getting your online university degree from one of these well-established universities. There are some employers who are not quite with the times and are a bit wary of online degrees. Once they see a recognizable name attached to your degree, they will be a lot more likely to respond favorably to your application.

The first thing you'll need to do when you're considering getting an online university degree, is to choose your focus of study. There is an online program out there for nearly any degree you'd want to pursue!

That's one of the great things about the Internet, even if the physical school is located very far away, you can still take advantage of their program. You can find degrees in business, nursing, law, criminal justice, writing, and many more. The possibilities for furthering your career are truly endless. Always consider the reputation of the online university degree program. There are definitely schools that are better than others. You will be paying a lot of money for your education so you'll definitely want to take a look at what is out there before you make any kind of decision.

One important thing you'll need to make sure of is that the online university degree program is regionally accredited. A regional accreditation is recognized by other universities and looked more favorably upon by employers. You never know what may happen in the future and if you'll need to transfer your credit. It would be a shame to lose all of the hard work you did for your online university degree.

After you've made sure you have found a great program you'll need to work very hard. At first glance it can seem like getting an online university degree is a piece of cake. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to maintain your focus when you're calling the shots. If you know that you do better with constant supervision and person-to-person encouragement, you may want to look into a more traditional setting

For the majority of people, earning an online university degree will be the best way to fit a quality education into a very busy lifestyle. Even if you are unsure of your ability to focus on your own, there are many counselors and advisors the college will provide you with.

Not only can an appointed advisor help you focus on your online university degree, they can help you choose the best program for you right off the bat. Make sure that the online university you're considering has such support programs in place.

Getting an online university degree is a superior way to save time while still getting the best education you can get. Make sure that you are signing up with a reputable university so that other schools and employers will recognize your efforts. Always remember to maintain your focus, and get help when you need it to succeed beyond your wildest dreams!

Find accredited online degree programs and top online colleges by using our top ranked online college directory. Find reputable online schools and start your online degree fast and easily.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

How to Select Online Degree Program for Your Human Services Career

The field of human services is so broad, it allows for almost limitless career opportunities in providing services to those in need. If you are planning to make a success career in human services field, your career future is almost guaranteed. There are many human services related degrees offered online and you can utilize the advantages of online education to earn a degree to enable you to kick start your human services career. Here are some tips to guide you in selecting the related human services online degree program that is inline with your career goal.

Before you start searching for any online degree program, the first question you need to ask yourself is what area of human services you are interested to start your career with. The field of human services is so broad; some areas need specialty of knowledge and skills such as psychology and counseling while other may just need a more general education qualification for you to start your human services career.

Common human services careers and their related online degree programs are:

1. Careers in Social Work

Social works involves helping people to regain and/or improve their ability to live happily and successfully. In addition, some social works may also include helping individuals, families and community groups to shape their society so that they can achieve their goals.

The famous online universities that offer social work online degree programs are:

* Walden University offers online Ph.D. in Human Services with Specialization in Clinical Social Work that prepares you with the required knowledge on public services.

* Bellevue University offers online Bachelor Degree in Human & Social Services Administration, a degree focus on internal and external operation of non-profit organization.

* Capella University offers both master and doctorate degree programs in human services. A bachelor degree in human services will enrich your professional knowledge on human services while a doctorate degree advanced your knowledge and leadership skills to prepare you for a managerial position.

2. Careers in Counseling

Counseling is a career designed to prevent, diagnose and treat mental, emotional, physical or behavioral disorders. As a professional counselor, among your jobs are helping people overcome a specific crisis and/or problem and help them to develop goals and objectives that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Most universities offered online master and doctorate degree in counseling as most counseling jobs required a minimum of master degree for qualification. If you are interested in pursuing a counseling degree online, these are accredited online universities that offered related online counseling degrees:

* Walden University offers bachelor degree for mental health counseling degree and doctorate in counseling psychology.

* University of Phoenix offers various master degrees in counseling with specialization in marriage, family and child therapy, community counseling, mental counseling and school counseling.

3. Careers in Psychology

For those who are interested to pursue a career in psychology, you have over 20 different specialties to choose from. However, majority of students tend to lean toward careers in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. In term of education requirement for career in psychology, most states require you to have a minimum of master degree in psychology but if you are holding a Ph.D degree, you will have advantages over the other competitors with more options in starting your career in this competitive field.

Popular online psychology degree programs offered by prestigious universities include:

* Walden University offers various online Ph.D in psychology with specialization in Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Health Psychology, Organizational Psychology and School Psychology.

* Capella University offers both master and doctorate degree in psychology. Besides covering those popular online psychology degree programs offered by many of online universities, Capella University does offer Sport Psychology program for those students who are interested to pursue their psychology career in sport related fields.

Summary

The field of human services offers the prestige of an established profession, a wide range of interesting duties, a good financial opportunities and career satisfaction. There are many different specialties of online degree program offered for human services careers for you to choose from, what you need to do is select one that is inline with your career goal.

Amelia Turner, an educational article writer for http://www.your-online-degree.info You can find more details information and free resources about human services careers, online psychology degree, financial aids and other accredited online education programs that can help you to make decision to earn your degree online.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Online Degrees in Construction Management

Getting your online degree in construction management may be much easier than you think. If you are ready to enhance your career opportunities and are interested in construction management jobs, an online degree in construction management can be achieved on a very flexible schedule that works for you and your time commitments. You can take classes at night and on the weekends and complete tests online when it works for you - all in the comfort of your own home. You can even specialize your online degree in construction management by selecting construction management courses focused on topics like financial management, site planning, contract administration, cost estimating and engineering or architectural sciences.

Construction project management has become an increasingly popular career choice for those graduating from college today. This is partly because the industry has started to recognize how invaluable solid project management for construction sites is - especially considering the growing complexity of major construction projects and the many laws that must be taken into account. The people who are hired into construction management jobs are ultimately responsible for the entire project's success or failure, which is why the not only requires a specialized degree, but also exceptional interpersonal communication and management skills.

Although these types of jobs can be complicated, they also have a fairly high level of compensation. A traditional or online degree in construction management can help qualify you for positions that pay as much as $63,000 per year, which was the industry average for those jobs in 2002. When you couple that with on-the-job construction management training, your earnings potential can increase dramatically as you move up the company ladder into higher-level positions. To help fast track your career, you could also search out a part-time apprenticeship or internship while you are still working toward your online degree in construction management.

If you are ready to start your search for the best undergraduate program offering an online degree in construction management, you can start by researching what online universities offer variations of the degree. One important piece of criteria is that the school you choose for your online degree in construction management must be an accredited online university. This essentially means the school has been evaluated by an independent committee to determine that the curriculum, staff, facilities and technology are up to current university standards. It also means that you should be able to easily transfer your credits to another university (if need be) and that all companies requiring a traditional or online degree in construction management for new hires will recognize your degree.

As a career advisor, Anne Harvester has seen an increase in people interested in pursuing construction management jobs. For those interested in construction project management Anne recommends on the job training combined with an online degree in construction management.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Affordable Online College Degrees

If you are working on a budget but still want to go forward in your education, then you might want to consider affordable online college life experience degrees. There are several offline, brick-and-mortar schools that have already been approved to conduct lessons and classes online, and these same schools can give you an online diploma in a degree befitting your workload and learning at the end of your online term.

Affordable online college degrees can help you do more things with your career, and perhaps earn you more money. As more and more colleges turn out thousands upon thousands of students with undergraduate degrees, the job market is all the more competitive and unforgiving. If you want to get a good job today, a high school education will often not be enough.

To help you still save money, there are affordable online college degrees that can help you earn your diploma in a wide variety of fields. Whether you are after a short certificate program that will get you working immediately, or a graduate degree that can help you get promoted in your line of work, you may be able to find affordable online college degrees from accredited universities.

There are several degrees available, as well as several possible career paths. You may want to take up art and design courses to help you through the demands of modern day graphic designs. You might want to earn your MBA or advanced degree in accounting online. You may even earn certificates in criminal justice and law that can help you carry out administration and peace and order better.

These are only a few available affordable online college degrees. For more information, look through accredited sites until you find the degree that you want and need.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

Charlene J. Nuble is a healthcare professional who loves writing about women's issues, parenting, education and other health related stuffs. To learn more about Affordable Online College Degrees... Click Here!

Monday, November 05, 2007

How to Choose an Online Degree Program

Online Learning Sounds Right For Me! How do I choose a program?

Ready to dig into the details and choose the online learning program that best fits your needs and circumstances? Trying to choose the best online school for you? Since geographic location is not part of the criteria, you literally have thousands of programs and online universities to choose from. However, you can't depend on name recognition alone. Remember, online schools vary in what they offer and how they deliver education. And price is not a reliable indication of an online univerities's value. So here is some helpful information to help you choose the best online college for your online degree.

Start with Statistics

Track Record

An online university can have glitzy advertising about how easy it is to earn a degree, but its graduation and drop out rates tell the true story. If retention rates are low, it probably means students are not being taught well at that particular online school.

Experience

It has taken years for online universities to learn how to best design courses, train faculty, and serve online students. Quality institutions continuously learn about and develop new methodologies. Some major universities have the name recognition, but do their online programs have the recognition, too? Be sure to choose your online college carefully.

Number of Students in Classes

In face-to-face classes, you can see how many students the professor has to accommodate. Online universities who have a low student-to-teacher ratio will proudly publicize it. Those who cram online students on a teacher's roster will keep it quiet.

Standards and Practices

When an online college promotes its standards and best practices for quality online education, there has to be some accountability. Ask about standards the online univerisity has adopted and then check out the organization that awarded them. Diploma mills are quite clever in assigning themselves accreditation and stamps of approval--caution is necessary if you want the best online degree available.

Will This Program Meet Your Needs? Does It Specialize in the Courses You Want?

Some online colleges are strong in business courses, others in engineering. Take the time to research each online degree program thoroughly and make sure it has what you need. Be sure to find out if the courses taught focus on what is currently relevant to that technical field-it won't help you to graduate without the most up-to-date knowledge. When it comes to licensing or certification, it's even more critical. If you take courses toward a license or certificate from an out-of-state online university, make sure the degree, license, or certificate is valid in the state in which you will use it.

What Is the Policy for Transferring Credits?

Transferring credits between institutions has gotten better since online education has become more accepted. However, not every institution will accept online credits.

What Happens if I Need to Leave a Course Partway Through?

For online students with jobs and families, life sometimes unexpectedly gets in the way of studies and the only way to deal with it is to leave a course. Before enrolling, ask what provisions the online degree program makes if you have to drop a course in the middle. Can you get a refund? What are the policies for readmission?

Does the Online Degree Program Have Services for Students with Disabilities?

A program's brochures, Web site, and course catalog can give you a lot of information on how the online degree program handles accessibility issues. Some programs have a disabilities coordinator. Ask about policies and accessibility. What kinds of accommodations can students with disabilities expect, such as taking longer to complete tests?

Consider Who Will Teach You: How Do Teachers Respond to Students?

Every teacher has a different teaching style but in online classes, how each teacher teaches is crucial. Student success, in part, depends on the instructor at online universities. Ask questions such as "How long have faculty members taught online?" and "How long does it take to get homework back?" and "Do professors answer e-mail frequently?"

If at all possible, view a portion of the online course before deciding to take it. Note the instructor's writing and teaching style and expectations. Be sure there is a clear plan for content presentation, interactivity, communication, and assessment.

How Are the Teachers Trained to Teach Online?

Find out how much emphasis an online college gives to training since institutions have very different ways to train. For-profit online institutions usually have control over faculty members and can require their training. However, in institutions with a strong tradition of faculty and/or union control, such training may be suggested but not required.

Are Teachers Certified and Experienced in Their Fields?

Some online universities use adjunct faculty members who are practitioners in their fields. For instance, a marketing class in health administration might have the CEO of a health group or a person running the health-care system of a senior center develop and/or teach the class. Students would work with the CEO to develop a proactive marketing plan so that they not only learn information but also use it in real-life situations.

How Is the Curriculum Developed?

Don't assume that just because a history teacher is a terrific professor in a face-to-face environment that he or she has any idea how to transfer that same course information to online classes. The design of an online course is crucial to student success because the physical cues and interaction of a face-to-face class must be built into the online environment. Well-designed courses combine the talents of faculty and professors, hands-on teachers, graphic designers, instructional designers, programmers, animators, and experts in web programs. All of these components are extremely important in providing successful online learning.

What Does a Well-Designed Course Look Like?

o Clear organization

o Clear goals and objectives

o Thorough instructions for all assignments and other course logistics

o Instructionally appropriate media (graphics, audio/video, animations, etc.)

o Opportunities for interaction

o Activities that encourage students to be active learners

o Student resources (library, tutoring, technical support, etc.)

o Clear content that's easy to read and aesthetically pleasing

What Does a Poorly Designed Course Look Like?

o Unclear content organization, unclear navigation

o Incomplete or wrong information in the syllabus

o Unclear expectations and learning objectives

o Incomplete or missing instructions for class participation, homework assignments

o No clear communication plan

o Few opportunities for students to interact with other students, instructors, or the course material itself

o Poor content presentation (typos, errors, text-heavy and difficult-to-read materials, technical problems, etc.)

o Assistance and/or resources for students are incomplete or missing

*List created by Jennifer Freeman, Course Development Team Leader, University of Texas System TeleCampus

Are Student Services Set Up for Online Students?

Since you most likely can't physically walk into an office to get what you need, services for online students are an essential component to your success and satisfaction. Though you have to be more of a self-advocate than a face-to-face student does, the online degree program you are considering should have someone designated who can help you or point you to someone who can, whether for financial aid, veterans' affairs, or the library.

Look to see how clear and accessible information on the online school's Web site is for prospective and current students. How responsive is the online degree program adviser to your calls or e-mails? Does the program provide toll-free numbers for assistance?

What You'll Probably Ask a Student Advisor

o Is the degree program totally online? Students want to confirm if they are required to be on campus for some periods of time during the course.

o Is the degree the same? Students want to be sure their diploma doesn't say something different from diplomas for on-campus students. Occasionally, a campus that is part of a consortium might have a different degree plan.

o Do I have to take entrance exams? Students assume that online education is different. Most likely you will need to complete campus admission requirements identical to face-to-face students.

o What degrees do you offer? Lots of online students think they should be able to get any degree that is offered for face-to-face students. Because of the use of development resources, not every institution can offer every on-campus degree online.

o How do I register? Each online program is different. The information for registering should be on each institution's website.

o How long will it take to get my degree? How long it takes to complete the course work depends on whether the student attends full- or part-time, and on the requirements of the college.

o How will I be tested? Students want to know if they will have to take proctored exams and where their grades will come from. This information should be clear in the course information.

Will You Be Able to Get Tutoring and Mentoring Online?

Students who have been out of school for a long time have a learning curve to climb. Writing papers does not come easy. They get discouraged and feel they can't keep up with the homework. Foreseeing the problems of many new online students, some online program providers contract out online tutoring services in math or English composition. Others have "dial-a-tutors" available in different languages for students.

Does the Library Provide Services for Online Students?

Students on campus spend a lot of time in the library. Digital libraries can be confusing for those not accustomed to them, so quality online programs have librarians dedicated to helping their online students acclimate to their system. What if you are looking for a specific journal? You should be able to get in touch with your institution's librarian to find it online or have it mailed or delivered to you or a library near you. Faculty members teaching online courses should work with the librarians to make sure the resources needed for their classes are available online.

How Helpful Is the Help Desk and Other Technology Questions

Be sure to research the technical and technology requirements for online students at each online university you are considering. Some programs send enrolled students a CD with free software or provide all the materials needed to download from their Web site. A few require students to buy supplemental software, such as microphones. Your ISP should be able to support being online for long periods of time. You do not want to be halfway through an essay question and get bumped off because you have timed out. Ask if there is a tech fee. It is usually not much, but you will want to know about any extra fees.

Will You Get Tech Support When You Need It?

Online learning programs cannot afford to let students spend hours on the phone trying to fix a software hiccup. Since students tend to do assignments at odd hours, tech support should be available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

http://www.educationonline.com/choosing-an-online-school

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Graduate Degrees - Earning an Online Masters in Nursing

Earning a masters life experience degrees online today is a great convenience to both your work day schedule as well as your family and loved ones. You are more than likely a major contributor to the structure of your family, and if you are married with children, that demand is even more necessary.

There are more colleges and universities involved in online education than ever before. That would make perfect sense, as most institutions have only recently embraced online education after the verdict has been returned by those institutions with a resounding confident yes. Online degree programs Have firmly established their place in the education landscape. As more and more graduates meet the demands of their chosen field after graduation and succeed and exceed, the powers-that-be have taken notice.

CEO's, supervisors and hiring managers alike have given their resounding approval of the quality of graduates and the competency they display under the demands of their work.

Online graduate degrees are by far and away, the leader in the three degree race between, Associates, bachelors and masters degrees. Why? Because the medium and format of online education matches the ideal online student to a "T". Age, career level, and prior education level are all logical markers of a collegiate graduate who is now seeking the next level. Family status and geographic availability are sometimes the defining elements that help steer a potential student towards an online degree program. In the end, it just makes sense.

An online masters degree, is just one such degree that more and more working adults are turning their attention to after being confronted with both work and life events that require them to advance their education in order to advance their position ad salary earning potential. Of the many quickly growing fields due to the advances in the quality of online education is the field of nursing. The convenience of time probably plays the biggest roll in this type of degree attaining such growth. The majority of candidates, being women, and more than likely having children at home has made earning an online masters in nursing such a prudent decision and a such highly valued degree.

More and more colleges and universities are growing their online programs and creating online classes to meet the need of people that have the defining elements of the ideal online student. Ultimately, dedication to the course work and discipline to adhere to the structure and time demands of the program determine the success, but for many student ... where there's a will, there's now an online way.

Digby Downs is an online education professional with eLearners.com. eLearners.com� -- Where Learning Begins -- has been successfully connecting learners to online education, including online nursing degrees and masters programs, specialized training, and a variety of online courses. For prospective students, eLearners� provides a powerful search engine of online offerings as well as extensive educational resources, available at no cost. Log on: http://www.elearners.com/

Monday, October 29, 2007

How An Online Psychology Degree Might Be The Best Choice For You

There are many advantages to getting an online psychology degree. First of all, there are numerous prestigious universities and colleges that offer online psychology programs that are taught by the same faculty who also teach in their classrooms. The online psychology degree offers through the online range from the Bachelor degree to the MBA to PH.D.

One advantage of earning an online psychology degree is that it is flexible enough for the working or the busy people to earn their degree online without having to stop their current job or work. Second, you will have to check into the expense of earning a psychology degree online. It may be a good deal cheaper than attending a regular college or university.

You have many majors in online psychology that you can choose from. Specialization can be in fields such as counseling psychology, clinical psychology, general psychology, organizational psychology, health psychology and school psychology.

Here are a few online psychology degree programs that you can consider:

The University of Phoenix offers an Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology. Courses focus on positive psychology, human sexuality, diversity, social interactions, theories of personality, the neurological and physiological basis of human nature and psychological disorders. Students will analyze the differences as well as the interrelationship of fundamental psychological theories as well as critically evaluate the robustness of a variety of psychometrics.

Ellis College offers a BS in online psychology. The specialization in psychology provides a solid foundation in the methods and theories of human behavior, development and learning. Students become familiar with the practices and the tools of psychology as they pertain to education, business and professional practice.

Kaplan University Online - This online college offers more than 350 online Associate of Applied Science degree, Bachelor's degrees, certificate programs and diplomas. With this BS in psychology, you will be prepared to work in different agencies, organization and research settings. You will prepare employees to learn how to assess people in a proper manner and manage interpersonal relations. This bachelor's degree will prepare you for studying psychology at the graduate level which will offer a wide variety of specialized career choices.

Now that you have decided that you want to go for a bachelor's degree in psychology what kind of jobs will be available for you? You will be amazed to know that about 40% of psychologists are self-employed. That is four times the average for the professional work force.

Most psychologists will need further education in order to open up their own practice if that is what they wish to do. They will probably need both a Master's degree as well as a Doctorate degree.

There are various fields that psychologists can go into. There are school psychologists, industrial-organizational psychologists, counselors, clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, developmental psychologists, social psychologists and experimental or research psychologists.

The list is almost endless as to the professions you can go into with a psychology degree and graduate study afterwards. Even with an online psychology degree it will take a lot of hard work, but when all is said and done, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you will be doing something very rewarding with your life.

Nic Haffner likes to give this readers information about online education. You can go to the website online accredited degrees for more.

Friday, October 26, 2007

How To Get A Fast Online Degree

Is it possible to get a fast online life experience degree? Many people today are beginning to realize how advantageous it can be for their careers if they have several degrees to their name. But since we now live in a fast-paced world, majority would rather not spend years trying to get their degrees. Instead they want to get their degrees quickly, and preferably online so all they have to do is get on the Internet from their computers at home. For this reason, many schools began offering online degrees and other accelerated programs. However, before you jump in on the online degree bandwagon, there are a few things you need to know.

First, because of the high demand for fast online degrees, many shady companies are trying to cash in on this demand. These companies are more commonly known as degree mills. They offer online college degrees to anyone who is willing to pay. The catch? There aren't any coursework, so what these degree mills do is basically sell degrees to anyone willing to shell out the dough. These degree mills have ala carte options too. For additional fees, your degree can come with honors, transcripts and even employer verification.

So now you're probably wondering how these degree mills can give you a degree. They actually give you credit for your "life experience." There are many legitimate schools that do give credit for life experience but that's in addition to some sort of coursework that you have to do still in order to get an online college degree. Degree mills, on the other hand, will simply give you all credits on the basis of life experience.

Be aware that many employers don't accept "degrees" earned from degree mills. Sure, you may have extensive life experience and you may know as much, or even be better, than your degreed co-workers, but a degree from these degree mills just won't cut it. In fact, it is illegal in some states for employees to use unearned degrees in order to get hired or promoted for a job. Employers look at the practice of getting degrees from degree mills as unethical. Case in point: Laura Callahan, the former deputy chief information officer of the Department of Homeland Security, is one of the many government employees currently under investigation by the Senate for including unearned degrees in their resumes and job applications.

So now you know that buying a degree from degree mills is not only unethical, but can also get you in a whole lot of trouble when you're found out. This doesn't mean, however, that you can't get a fast online degree legitimately. There are reputable and legitimate institutions that offer fast online degrees. It pays to do some checking on schools and other institutions that offer online degrees. Use the following as your guideline:

1. Evaluate the degree program being offered. Find out the graduation requirements, how many credit the school will grant you for prior learning and what exactly does the school consider as prior learning. Most reputable and legitimate schools that offer fast online degrees will typically give you at most two years' worth of credit for prior learning. This may or may not include your life experience.

2. Evaluate the institution offering fast online degrees. Is it a reputable school overall? What is the profile of the school's graduates? Are graduates of the school able to get into graduate schools? For a list of "substandard" schools, check out the database by the State of Oregon: www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.

3. Evaluate the teaching staff. Find out what the student/faculty ratio is. What percentage of the teaching staff has doctorate degrees? master's degrees? In terms of publication, what types of work and how any have members of the faculty published, and where?

4. Check accreditation of the school. You want to get your online degree from an institution that is duly accredited by a legitimate state-approved accreditation body. The Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA) and the Board of Online Universities Accreditation (BOUA) are not considered legitimate accreditation bodies, so keep this in mind if you come across institutions stating they are accredited by either the UCOEA or BOUA. Visit the website of the Council for Higher Education to check a college's or institution's accreditation: www.chea.org/institutions.

It is possible to get a fast online degree that is both legitimate and acceptable to current and future employers. You simply need to take the time to thoroughly study each institution and program to make sure you won't be paying for something you won't be able to use to advance your career.

Nic Haffner likes to give this readers information about online education. You can go to the website online accredited degrees for more.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Is A Career Degree Online Your Best Option?

This is one of those questions with an "It depends" answer. Getting a career online Life Experience degrees online may be the only realistic choice for people in some situations. For others, it may be smarter to take a more traditional approach. Some areas of professional specialization really require hands-on work under supervision or using specialized equipment. Certainly an accredited online degree program often includes periods where your physical presence is necessary - some subjects require laboratory work for example.

In considering a career degree online you also need to be honest about your own skills, attitudes and habits. Not everyone can make themselves do the work needed to complete a degree without a strong external support system that keeps them focused. Think about how many students start college and disappear after the first semester. It takes discipline and a willingness to sacrifice some immediate pleasures to successfully complete an online degree or certification course.

If you are working and are looking to improve your prospects in that same career area, you need to evaluate the value of any online program carefully. A career degree program has to be an accredited online degree program. This is not to say that you can not learn from an unaccredited program, but how much value do you think an employer will put on an unaccredited degree? You may have learned and increased your skills, but getting that recognized and accepted may not be easy. Some employers will also help with your costs, but generally only for an accredited program - and it needs to be one which will make you more valuable to them.

In a way, it is misleading to speak just of career degrees online. There are also a large number of online learning programs that offer certification of various kinds. Depending on the issuing organization and any accreditation or approval from state agencies or acknowledged professional oversight authorities, these can also be great career boosters.

For older students already working to support themselves and their families, taking time off to attend a college or a certification program is rarely a realistic possibility. And while many colleges and universities offer evening and weekend courses, these can become a major source of stress as one tries to fit into a fixed schedule of classes and cope with the demands of work and home at the same time. Learning and keeping up with the work can be hard enough without those additional stresses.

If you can discipline yourself and can find a quality accredited online degree program in your chosen career area, the marvelous thing about the internet and online degree study is the flexibility you gain. Work at the times you choose, on your own schedule, in your own home. Plus, the ability to replay a lecture or listen again to a seminar is a priceless advantage. If you do have a family, of course you will need their support and understanding. Just because you are sitting at home and at the computer does not mean you are fair game for any and all interruptions. Everybody may need to sacrifice a little to support your earning a career degree online. But thanks to the internet, many people who simply could not have managed to further their education before now have options that can really improve their lives.

Start building your tomorrow today by visiting http://Tools-for-Learning.com for more information and articles on learning through an accredited online degree program for your career degree.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

10 Online Colleges Offering Credit For Life Experience

Life experience degrees we have all heard of them. But do they really exist?

Yes and no. Many reputable colleges and universities allow you to earn credit for life experience. They do not, however, allow you to earn your entire degree through life experience. Only diploma mills make those kinds of promises!

How credit is awarded and assigned varies widely by university, but there is always a specific limit to the number of alternative credits you may earn toward your degree. Most of the colleges listed below offer a combination of credit by examination, military training credit, and portfolio credit.

Most individuals interested in gaining credit for life experience use the portfolio credit method. Using this method, colleges and universities evaluate your life experience, professional training and certifications, and so on. For example, if you are a small business owner, you may be able to get management and accounting credit, depending on your institution. If you are a human resources manager and have had formal management training, you might be able to receive portfolio credit as well.

Important considerations

* Carefully compare programs; all portfolio credit programs are not created equal
* Colleges and universities vary in their treatment of CLEP exams. Review your college's CLEP policies to find out what exams you may take, the scores you must receive to earn credit, and any applicable deadlines/requirements.
* Never assume that your credit will transfer to another university. If you plan to transfer, check with that institution to see if they will honor credit for life experience awarded by another university.
* Certain colleges and universities do not always award portfolio credit, but they will accept portfolio credit awarded by another university
* Ensure that the institution you plan on attending is regionally-accredited

Listed below are ten colleges and universities currently offering some form of credit for life experience:

1. Dallas Baptist University
2. University of Wisconsin
3. Columbia College
4. University of Massachusetts - Amherst
5. Champlain College
6. Central Texas College
7. Western New England College
8. Liberty University
9. Malone College
10. Western Governors University

If you feel that you have experience for which you should receive credit, then make that one of your criteria in selecting an online college. It will save you time and money!

Joy Miller is an educational writer for http://www.online-college-blog.com, a free online resource written by students, for students. Find information such as online course demos, online college reviews, and an online learning assessment quiz, as well as other valuable articles geared specifically for students desiring an online degree.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Benefits Of Online Education

A balance between constructivist and behaviorist objectives and methods probably needs to be determined for your institutions programs. Educators certainly must be actively involved in determining the appropriate pedagogical approaches for their market of students and the types of courses that they teach. Providing an effective learning environment to more students worldwide certainly is an altruistic objective, one that can promote educational ideals that in itself is at least a theoretical benefit to online education.

Practical benefits, particularly convenience, also attract students to online programs. Learners who work well on their own, are computer literate (or can quickly develop the required computer skills), and have access to the Web are likely to be interested in online education. Because these learners can take classes anywhere, at almost any time, the convenience factor attracts new students who want to try online courses.

For their educational pursuits to be successful, however, learners must be prepared to work online. Helping learners to use the technologies and structures found in online courses and socializing students to work with others through the Internet are necessary components to success. Effective online curricula include classes or at least modules that help students become acclimated to electronic education.

Another benefit to online education is the possibility of working with more learners, teachers, and subject matter experts outside a students limited geographic area. Collaborating with people from different cultures and levels of experience is a potential benefit that can enhance the learning environment and provide learners with a wider network of contacts. Online classes may offer special benefits to learners who are shy, have difficulty keeping pace with other students during a face-to-face class, or need time to express themselves effectively. Learners may feel more confident in an online class, even during a real-time chat session, because they perceive that the online venue creates an equal playing field. Learners who look or dress differently from others are treated equally online, because other students cannot see their peers in a text-based course. Learners who may need more time to express themselves can take that time before they post a bulletin board message or send e-mail. The quality of the work, not the appearance of the learner, is what is evaluated.

Online courses can increase participation among all learners. During a chat, for example, all students are encouraged, if not required, to participate. Everyone has a chance to be heard; it is difficult to hide at the back of the classroom.

Students have noted that the feedback they receive online is more often positive and supportive. Comments like good point, I never would've thought of that, or great idea are often more common online. Even if learners in a traditional classroom agree with a speaker, chances are that they will not speak up to make a positive comment. A nod here or there is more likely to be the only positive reinforcement given to in-class speakers. Seeing several written positive comments gives online learners a boost in morale.

Some learners feel uncomfortable speaking up in a traditional classroom because other learners give negative nonverbal cues, like frowning, rolling their eyes, sighing loudly, crossing their arms, or shaking their head. Online, even if other learners feel negatively about a statement, the learner writing the comment gets to complete the thought before someone else posts a reply. Plus, learners at least in a print-based chat session do not get the chance to see or hear each other during a chat. The impact of negative body language or censuring tone is missing from an online written chat.

For learners to reap these benefits, however, teachers must create a supportive, professional, yet personal atmosphere in the online classroom. Having access to a variety of materials and being able to communicate with people internationally through e-mail and chat are wonderful benefits provided by Web-enhanced courses. However, these benefits are only realized if learners feel comfortable using the tools and working together to build an online community of learners.

Teachers can only create a supportive, creative environment if they are given the tools and time to develop meaningful materials and activities, as well as learn how to teach online. Administrators and technical specialists must provide this support, which requires a high-level institutional commitment not only to the infrastructure of online programs, but to faculty training and development. Many teachers are concerned that they may not have this support, because course development, facilitation, and maintenance are time-consuming activities that involve a team of technical and pedagogical specialists. Making sure that teachers develop course materials and are actively engaged in creating programs is imperative for successful, beneficial online programs.

In addition to these loftier benefits, cost factors may also be beneficial. Students educational costs may be lower, if they already have access to computer technology required for their online courses. Activity fees, on- campus or nearby housing, parking, and other costs associated with attending classes on a physical campus may not apply to online learners. The fee structure can be a benefit to some online learners. Economics is an important element in the success of online programs and the reason why many institutions first decide to jump into online education. However, if online courses do not attract students or make enough money, the university or college is likely to drop them. The costs associated with maintaining the technology and keeping up the level of innovation may be higher than the institution is willing to invest. However, at least theoretically, online classes can attract students around the world, opening the institutions programs to a wider market. As well, depending on the amount of interaction required for an effective learning situation, some highly automated classes may be able to accommodate many more students in one session than could possibly fit into an on-site classroom guided by one teacher. Making online programs fiscally viable without sacrificing quality is a challenge, but online courses can bring new monies to the institution.

Go to http://www.tulasicorp.com to learn more about online tutoring and watch a sample versions of materials inside of our site. All tutors are screened, qualified and ready to help your child get better grades!

Monday, October 08, 2007

Nursing Education for a Wonderful Career - 4 Online Options

Nursing must be the only profession in the United States right now where you can pack up your bags, jump on a plane, and move out with confidence to pretty much any city you like across the nation. The chances are, not only your well-paying job, but even your well-decorated (and free!) house or apartment will be waiting for you.

Given the incessant demand for nurses of all specialties in the foreseeable future, it is one of the best career advices one can give today to those looking for a secure job with good pay.

The only precondition to nursing is training a good education covering the basics of health care is a must for certification. But it does not stop there. The field is deep and wide, and the terrain is changed frequently by the new technologies. That's why a nurse's education never ends.

Online education is an attractive alternative for those nurses too busy to take the time off to acquire a college online degree.

Here are four alternative schools to get your nursing degree online, with a study schedule flexible enough to accommodate your full-time job commitments.

University of Phoenix (UP)

UP allows you to earn a B.S. in Nursing or an M.S. while specializing in Health Care Education, Integrative Health Care, Health Care Management or Health Care Administration.

According to the University, the graduates of the B.S. or M.S. programs find employment as "registered nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, occupational therapists, physical therapists, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, and social workers as well as a variety of other specializations."

*** Kaplan University (KU)

KU offers an "RN to BSN degree completion program" for the Registered Nurses to get their Bachelor's degrees. Although most of the classes are available online, the program has a prerequisite clinical course. KU emphasizes the leadership dimension of professional nursing and provides career planning for job placement as well.

The curriculum covers "health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, information and health care technologies, ethics, human diversity, management theory, and health care system and policies." Click here for more information and registration:

*** Jacksonville University School of Nursing (JU)

JU, the main campus of which is located in Jacksonville, Florida , offers a similar online "RN to BSN" program for Registered Nurses. The students are provided 30 credits for their active U.S. RN licenses. They can transfer "approved credits from other degree and diploma programs," which helps.

The best part is, you can "complete your labs and practice projects without setting foot on campus." JU's Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is CCNE-accredited.

*** South University (SU)

SU also has an "RN to BSN" online program with no campus residency requirements.

The only prerequisite for the incoming students is that they should be a Registered Nurse with either an associate's degree from a school of nursing accredited by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or hold a diploma from a school of nursing accredited by the NLNAC.

The curriculum covers "innovative health care concepts, palliative care, gerontological nursing, and complementary and alternative nursing methods."

U. Akinci is the Editor of Nurse Recruiter Newsletter (http://www.nurse-recruiter.com/newsletter/index.html) published by Nurse Recruiter (http://www.nurse-recruiter.com/index.html), the award winning nursing job board, employment & career site, founded in 1999 by a nurse to help other nurses find the jobs that perfectly match their qualifications and needs.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

The Advantages To Earning Online Degrees

There are several reasons why increasing numbers of people are choosing to earn online college degrees. In fact, as computers and the Internet become more and more a part of people's lives, online schools could well be the future of education. While there are some subject areas such as performing arts, team sports and sciences requiring hands-on lab work that are completely inappropriate to online learning, many others are. These include a great number of online degrees that qualify people for a wide variety of jobs and careers.

The biggest advantage to online degrees is that they can be earned at home. Additionally, such programs typically offer flexible scheduling, giving a student up to one year to complete requirements for a given class.

With college costs spiraling ever upward as one U.S. Administration after another diverts money and resources away from education to private corporate interests, the idea of going off to a traditional college or university has become out of reach for many. While tuition and cost of books for an online university is comparable to that of a traditional brick and mortar university, the traditional student will avoid many extra incidental fees frequently charged by such institutions. Such a student can also save on living and travel expenses by remaining at home. (An online student can also be more productive; one thing that online virtual university lacks are the beer parties and other types of distractions that can cause traditional students to have problems).

There is another secret of online learning that can help one earn a $22,000 degree for little more than the cost of a widescreen digital television. That is the College Level Examination Program, or CLEP. For under $100, the online student can test out of a course on nearly any subject in which s/he has competence, earning up to 12 credit hours. When one considers that the average cost of a single credit hour at a traditional university can cost over $200, CLEP credits are an attractive bargain indeed.

In fact, increasing numbers of traditional brick and mortar universities are offering online college degrees for a wide variety of programs and levels from the Associate's all the way to the Ph.D. Currently, there are 162 institutions across the nation offering such online degrees.

Some hesitate to enroll in online schools. This is understandable; like the airplane and the automobile over a century ago, online learning something quite new, and like those whose battle cry in 1900 was get a horse! there are many who are skeptical of the value of online college degrees.

In defending online degrees to prospective employers, those who earned such degrees can point out that (1) online universities are accredited just like their brick-and-mortar counterparts, and are usually closely associated with such institutions; (2) completing online degrees requires uncommon time management skills; and (3) these programs give students tremendous experience with new software programs qualifications that are definitely valued by employers.

Susan Slobac is a returning student who chose an online degree because of the many advantages that online schools offer. Online college degrees have many advantages for students including flexibility and affordability. Susan offers advice to the increasing numbers of students investigating online college degrees.