As a CAF (Certified Advanced Facilitator) for The University of Phoenix, he facilitates several classes under the universities’ Humanities umbrella along with the, New Student Workshop, UNIV100.  Dr. Durham has similar roles with Troy University (Alabama), and Kentucky Wesleyan College Online. Dr. Durham is also certified to write online courses for Learning House and SAVAT where he is currently creating an online course in World Literature.

Editor:  Is it still true that today’s online students are going to be a little older?

Dr. Bob:  Not necessarily. I’ve been teaching online for six years. Online students six years ago were those who could not go into the traditional classroom for various reasons such as locale, physical disability, or they couldn’t qualify for the traditional classroom.  That has all been turned around to completely the opposite, mainly because online learning has gained the respect of respect of academia, individual colleges and universities, and the accrediting associations. The grandfather of online education, of course, is the University of Phoenix.  It’s the third largest university in the world.  Not only does it have an online presence, but also a physical presence in many major cities.  The University of Phoenix has two campuses here in Atlanta. Students are able to do all of their courses online or do a combination of online and attend a physical campus.

Most of my students now are the students who can attend universities, but they can’t take the time away from full-time employment to go to school full time.  With online education they can work full time and go to school full time.  However they aren’t going to have a lot of down time and they are going to be busy.

Editor:  For those of us who have been out of school, out of practice for a while, what about the fear of grammar usage?

Dr. Bob:  The first courses you take online as you enter college are English 101 and English 102, and they are going to help a lot.  The difference is you can’t “skate” through a test online as you might on campus.  Every time you type something and post, the class sees it along with your professor.  But, let’s say you have completed a two-hundred-word post but haven’t sent it yet, the software tools provided by colleges and universities will point out your errors, correct your grammar and spelling before you hit the send button and everyone sees your piece. One of the ways you learn is by seeing and making those corrections.  In addition, Microsoft Word is excellent if you go into the settings and change it from casual language to formal English.  Word will correct 95% of your grammar and spelling.  There is also a setting in the software for research papers that will assist with citations.  In short, there are many online tools provided by colleges and universities that will assist the student at every stage of writing.

Editor:  What about the success rate of online students?

Dr. Bob:  The dropout rate is higher because we don’t play around.  If you miss class in the traditional campus setting, you might be able to go and talk with the professor and hopefully he or she will understand, if you have legitimate reasons for missing.  Online, if you miss so many classes, the server will kick you out.  There is the ability, of course, to make provisions for those challenges we all run into as a course of life.  There is compassion, but you have to be upfront about it.  You can’t miss classes and go back; you have to say upfront, “I have a problem next week.”  Ninety-nine percent of the time the facilitator will work it out.  The only thing you can’t override is the lack of attendance.

Universities.com was able to sit down with Dr. Bob Durham and gain some intriguing insights into the world of online education from his perspective as both an on campus and online professor. Dr. Durham (Dr. Bob to his students) graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College with degrees in Psychology and Sociology, and holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.  He is the author of three books, lecturer, and speaker, on campus Adjunct Professor/Course Creator at Reinhardt University and on line facilitator, faculty member for Axia College of the University of Phoenix.

As a CAF (Certified Advanced Facilitator) for The University of Phoenix, he facilitates several classes under the universities’ Humanities umbrella along with the New Student Workshop, UNIV100.  Dr. Durham has similar roles with Troy University (Alabama) and Kentucky Wesleyan College Online. Dr. Durham is also certified to write online courses for Learning House and SAVAT where he is currently creating an online course in World Literature.

Editor:  Is there a difference in the student/teacher relationship between on campus and online education?

Dr. Bob:  Education is a personal journey.  Online is perfect for that.  The professor takes on the role as a facilitator.  My certification with the University of Phoenix is that of a Certified Advanced Facilitator.  It is fun for the professor, the facilitator, because you get to watch each individual student learn.  It is great for the student because it is not about pleasing the professor so “I hope I get a good grade.”   It is about your personal learning and recognition that you earned that grade.   In the traditional classroom the student relies on the professor’s lectures, handouts, and study guides. In the online classroom it is all about the student. The professor serves as a “facilitator,” facilitating the student’s learning.

Editor:  Do you think online education is equal or better than on campus?

Dr. Bob:  My fellow on-campus faculty would shoot me, but yes, I do think online is better.  I believe that five years from now most formal education will take place online.  For some the question is, “Why should I graduate from high school and spend four years of my life sitting in a classroom when I could be gaining income and experience in a job and go to class online?”

Editor:  What motivates your students?

Dr. Bob:  The majority of students who are online now understand that college will enhance their careers.  The students have a purpose.  They have decided they don’t have the time to go on campus and now, and as online education has the same accreditation as on campus, they have a choice.

A large number of moms, now that the kids are grown, have decided, “I’m going back and finishing my degree.” There are a large number of moms and dads who have been downsized and want to use their time wisely.  So they go back to school to get a second bachelor’s degree or to attend graduate school.  They retool themselves by getting that degree and they can now do that online.

Editor:  What are the most prevalent misconceptions regarding online education?

Dr. Bob:

1. Taking a course online is not a correspondence course.  You don’t do it at your own pace.  There are set weekly goals that must be reached or you lose points toward your grade.
2. Because you don’t have to sit in a classroom and take notes, you will have more work to do online.  You will have more discussion with students and professors.  And you will have more assignments to complete weekly.  There is a lot of work when you receive your education online.  It’s convenient, but not easy.

Editor:  Could you describe teacher/student interaction in an online environment?

Dr. Bob:  In the beginning of online education, the first reaction from the traditional campus professors was that we were going to lose contact with the students.  But for us who teach both online and on campus, we see that online we have more daily contact with the students than a professor does in the classroom.  In a classroom I’m up there lecturing a room full of students who are taking notes.  There is some interaction, but the personal interaction happens only with a few.  For instance, in an online class in response to discussion questions, you submit a two hundred-word answer.  Then other online students post their views and the professor chimes in with his or her views and comments.  There are also individual forums where only the student and the professor see what is being discussed.  It is much more interactive.

Students have been the target of many illegal scams, but sometimes all it takes is a good salesman to legally take advantage of those who may be less experienced in life and finances.  Until the United States Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (also known as the Credit Card Act) mandating that people under 21 may not be issued credit cards without either a co-signer or proof of the ability to make payments, college campuses were a hot arena for competition among credit card companies.[1]  Students were continually bombarded by representatives attempting to persuade them to fill out credit card applications and often offering gifts to those who signed up for cards.[2]  What were the results?  According to a 2008 study conducted by Sallie Mae, the average credit card debt of graduating seniors was $4,100 and 19% graduated with a balance over $7,000.  As well, only 2% of students had no credit history.[3]  Schools were partnering with banks to market cards to students, even cards with extremely troublesome terms such as the ominous “double cycling,” where higher finance charges result from calculating interest every two-months, rather than the typical one month cycle for cards.[4]  As we know, students desperately need money, but it is important to remember that neither your school, nor your bank is looking out for your best interests – it is entirely up to you.

With the Credit Card Act securely in place, the evolution of partnerships between schools and banks now focuses on giving that one bank almost competition-free access to solicit the entire student body, staff, and alumni with product offers such as student checking accounts, debit cards, loans or credit cards.[5]  In exchange for millions of dollars, colleges will allow a bank to handle student aid refunds and grants.  The banks then offer students the ability to obtain their refund quickly if they activate a debit card, which often times also serves as the college ID card, complete with school logo.[6]   Card activation initiates an account with that bank using the refund money as the opening balance.  Some students are outraged at how their student refunds are being slowly eaten up by any range of fees that come as a result of breaking the terms of the bank account.  For instance, the partnerships allow the banks to set up ATM’s and branches on campus for convenience, yet students are not always on campus and the availability of ATM’s and branches throughout the city or town can be very limited.  We have all experienced the consequences of not using our bank’s ATM machine, yet given the limited availability of ATM’s off campus, some students have complained of being waylaid by charges of $2.50 per transaction at another ATM, plus whatever the other bank charges.  Some of the partnered banks are charging $.50 each time students make a debit card purchase using their PIN, rather than a signature.  Other reported account terms from school partner banks include being penalized $19 a month for nine months of account inactivity.[7]  However, students are in no way forced to enter into any financial relationship with the schools partnered bank. They can wait for a refund check by mail or choose to have the money directly deposited into another account, which does not take very long.  Those who are impatient and unwilling to do a little research could lose precious dollars on a monthly basis.  Therefore, it is up to you to find out the account terms and, if unsatisfactory, choose another bank such as a national bank that has wider ATM availability.  Most big banks will offer student checking accounts.  But beware, not all student checking accounts are equal.  Again, it is up to you to research and choose wisely the terms that suit you best.  Once you find the bank for you, you can have your student aid refund check directly deposited into that account.

First, it could be beneficial to find a bank that has branches in both the location of your school and your home town, as many travel home for holidays and summer vacation.  Many big banks have student checking accounts available that waive the monthly checking account fees that non-students often pay.  However, many banks may have different stipulations accompanying their free accounts.  Minimum balances, overdraft fees, and a host of other terms must be carefully weighed by students and compared to the terms offered by the school’s partner bank.  The Wells Fargo checking and savings College Combo account waives the monthly service fee if students maintain a balance of at least $500.  If not the fee is $3 monthly.  Bank of America’s ebanking student account will waive the monthly fee for those who choose paperless statements and conduct all of their transactions online, without the use of a teller.  There is no minimum balance, but overdraft fees are $35.   U.S. News and World Report’s top pick for those seeking checking only is the Chase College Checking Account.  It only takes $25 to open and the student may enjoy no monthly fee for up to five years as long as they are enrolled in school.[8]  Credit Unions generally offer their members some of the best terms and interest rates available.  Yet they usually have much less availability of branches and ATM’s.  They also have a criteria for joining that varies widely between credit unions.  Some are established by people who live in a certain neighborhood and all one must do to join is reside there.  Others are set up for certain employees of particular companies or federal employees.  Some of these will even allow relatives of those who were employed there to join.  Therefore, it may be worth a look around to see if there is a credit union which you have the ability to join.  For those who are severely struggling and must turn to credit cards or private loans, a credit union will likely offer much better rates and terms.  Make a list of what your needs are.  Ask yourself if you might be more prone to bouncing checks, or if you are a frequent ATM user.  Is your account likely to go below a minimum balance?  One you’ve been realistic with yourself about your needs and habits, find the account that is likely to cost you less in the end.  Only you can know.

The cost of textbooks is so outrageous that the government has become involved. In 2008, congress passed legislation forcing publishers to release information justifying their pricing and requiring that they sell books separately from bundles. Dozens of states have even introduced various legislation, with only few, however, actually approving it.[5] While economics and political science majors can hash out whether the government should be involved in the market or whether companies should create monopolies instead of riding the highs and lows of market demand, not to mention, have the integrity to bear the costs of their own risks, others are creating new markets. While many may still be ordering reasonably priced used books online at ebay, half.com, or amazon, others are increasingly renting books. Renting books is easy and cheap. The hardest part is shopping around.

Shopping around for the best prices on textbooks can be done for you by websites like Alibris Textbooks, Textbook Rentals, Direct Textbook, Big Words, or RentScouter. Enter an author, title or ISBN number and these sites will search and provide all of your options sorted by a variety of chosen criteria. However, regardless of how many sellers and how low the price, all textbook rental company practices and terms of use are not equal. The variations in “fine print” are an essential consideration while shopping around. Some offer free shipping both ways, some only one way, and some for orders over particular amounts. Textbooks.com only offers free shipping for orders over 25 dollars, yet allows customers to earn $5 for every friend referred to the site, while Ecampus’ free shipping is on orders over 59 dollars, but they offer digital ebooks for both onlline and offline viewing. Some allow extensive highlighting and some very limited.[6] Some have wider variation in availability. BookRenter and Chegg boast as many as 5 and 6 million book titles available for rent, respectively. They have been voted the top two rental sites for textbooks by students participating in the vote at About.com’s College Life Reader’s Choice Awards. They were also rated the top two in MakeUseOf’s list of ten best textbook rental and purchase sites. BookRenter came out number one in both contests. Yet BookRenter also has some pretty stringent late policies to consider. It is very important to check out the late fees or the consequences for badly damaged or lost books. Depending on the terms and situational circumstances, it can get costly if you are not careful.[7] However, assuming no accidental circumstances crop up, renting is a great money saving idea. Campus bookstores are even jumping on the rental market. The number of campus bookstores participating rose from 250 in the 2009-2010 school year to 1,300 in 2010-2011. Chegg also is now partnering with campus bookstores.[8]

Another way around the high cost of textbooks is the ebook option. Ecampus, Textbooks.com, and CourseSmart are offering digital books for rent or sale. However, those socially minded, politically active students who feel good about not handing their money to the powerful publishing companies should be aware that CourseSmart is brought to you by a teaming of the top five textbook publishers that have digitized their books to compete in the online market. Those who are not concerned with such issues may enjoy their offline reading and 10 page at a time printing options.[9] Inkling is even offering an ebook option to buy only the chapter or chapters students need. Amazon is now renting etextbooks. Etextbooks can be accessed by any device that can access the Internet. Ebooks generally will allow note taking and highlighting right on the screen. One thing to be aware of is that ebooks could be lost due to viruses. It would be wise when shopping around to find out policies if this occurs.[10]

Although ebooks are instantly downloaded, the good news for physical book renters is that the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 requires that state schools publish textbook information prior to student registration.[11] Therefore, students will know which books they need and have time enough to get their rented textbooks in the mail. In reality, however, this process is often complicated by what actually appears on the syllabus, so it is also advisable to try to wrangle a syllabus as early as possible from the professor to see exactly what readings and chapters you will be responsible for. There is also, if need be, always an expedited shipping option. For others, it may be simpler to rent from the campus book store. Either way, students looking to save money on books should consider their options.

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1 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/17/AR2010011703282.html, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/how-to-save-money-on-college-textbooks-rentals-tablets_n_923914.html
2 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/11/student-advocates-sound-alarm-on-textbooks_n_924536.html
3 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/11/student-advocates-sound-alarm-on-textbooks_n_924536.html
4 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081903230.html
5 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081903230.html
6 http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/sites-college-textbooks-cheap-rent-buy/
7 http://www.debtfreescholar.com/2009/06/7-common-textbook-rental-questions/
8 http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-08-17-RentingTextbooks17_ST_N.htm
9 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081903230.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/how-to-save-money-on-college-textbooks-rentals-tablets_n_923914.html
10 http://textbookpricecompare.com/
11 http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html

Community colleges have less rigid admission requirements. This makes them a great place for students to pull up their grades if necessary. Community colleges are also plenty, and evenly distributed throughout most metropolitan areas. This means they generally require less of a commute for many students. Most strikingly, however, is the affordable price tag on community colleges. Figure 1 below shows that for the 2010-11 year, average tuition and fees for public two year colleges were at $2,713 compared to $7,605 for four year public schools and $13,935 for private for-profit schools.[3] Graduating high school students with the ability to continue living at home while attending community college could have an even greater advantage.

The affordability of community colleges makes them a more attractive option as tuition costs continue to rise annually (in large part due to state cuts in funding for schools). Figure 2 below demonstrates that in the last decade, the average annual percent increase for public two year schools was only 2.7% where public four year schools raised tuition and fees by 5.6% yearly.[4]   However, it is important to note that there is much variance between states in the cost of tuition and fees at community colleges. For instance, the average published price for two year public schools in California is $820, where New Mexico averaged $1,326, North Carolina $1,773, Minnesota $4,936, Vermont $6,250, and New Hampshire as high as $6,258.[5]  One state’s in-state cost may be similar to another state’s out-of-state cost. It could be advantageous for some students in high cost states to pay the out-of-state cost for the first year and enjoy in-state costs in a lower priced state after establishing residency that first year. There are certainly many things to consider when choosing schools.

Attending community colleges can be a promising option, but one that is not without it drawbacks. Demand on community colleges is predicted to be increased by job creation. According to 2005 data published by the Bureau of Labor Statics, 18.9 million new jobs will be created by 2014 – sixty-three percent of them will require some postsecondary education.[6]  There is already a reported 17 percent increase in community college enrollment from 2007 to 2009.[7]   The climate of rising tuition can also be credited for placing a greater demand on community colleges. The problem of state budget cuts, however, is creating great difficulty for these schools. Increased demand dictates that schools need more funding to expand, yet as they receive fewer and fewer state dollars, they are cutting their already existing programs, and unbelievably, community colleges are forced to turn down applicants. To avoid this reality, some community colleges are finding creative ways to draw funding. Some are petitioning their top donors and local business CEO’s for help. Others are partnering with local industries and even Microsoft is joining in.[8]   Hopefully these creative measures will help two year schools expand, yet either way a student who chooses community college as their path should not be deterred by these reports and must apply regardless.

One last thing that students seeking a four year degree may consider about community colleges is the choice between knocking out a few of the core classes and transferring the credits, or completing a full associates degree and moving on to a four year with the core considered completed. What some students don’t realize when they enter community college is that they must look at the core requirements at the school they plan to transfer to and be sure to fulfill classes that will transfer to the degree program they will be entering. Some students lose credits on classes that will not transfer or won’t count toward fulfilling any of their degrees requirements. This wastes time and money. It may also be the best course of action for some students to finish an associate degree at a community college first, rather than simply taking a few classes and transferring those credits to a four year. For example, a history degree at a community college may require only one lab science while a history degree at a four year university may require two lab sciences. A common mistake is that some students think they have their core completed judging by the community colleges requirements and are surprised when they are required to take more classes at the four year school after they have transferred all of their credits. However, it is usually the case that if a student completes and graduates from a community college with an associate degree in hand, they can enter a four year school with the core considered completed just by ownership of that degree, regardless of differences in requirements. It is extremely important for students who transfer with an associate in hand to keep in mind that if the core is completed, then all of the classes left to be taken after transfer will be the more stringent upper level major courses. A full-time student taking four or five classes per semester will possibly find themselves with four or five classes at a time of heavy reading and four or five large end of semester final projects or papers. There will be no intro level or easy core classes to intermingle with the harder ones. There are many factors to weigh when considering if a community college is right for you. It is best to be informed of the benefits and drawbacks, and view them alongside a good understanding of yourself and what you are capable of handling both financially and academically.

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[1]   http://www.hfcc.edu/atd/FactSheets_files/fs-challengebenefit.pdf

[2]   ibid

[3]   Sandy Baum, Kathie Little, and Kathleen Payea

“Trends in Community College

Education: Enrollment, Prices,

Student Aid, and Debt Levels”

within The College Board’s Trends in Higher Education Series 2011

[4]   The College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2010

[5]   ibid

[6]   http://www.hfcc.edu/atd/FactSheets_files/fs-challengebenefit.pdf

[7]   http://www.governing.com/topics/education/community-colleges-struggle-keep-up-demands.html

[8]   http://www.governing.com/topics/education/community-colleges-struggle-keep-up-demands.html

Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving at Carnegie University, Andrew Shaindlin, summarizes that “alumni are organizing – without alumni organizations.” Yet he is confident that alumni associations can make the transition to having a less authoritative, more participatory role. This simply means that associations will now equally contribute to online discussion by utilizing accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter rather that trying to compete with them via exclusive online alumni software packages. Many are even taking advantage of offering their own YouTube channels and iTunes listening for alumni to access faculty lectures and various performances. Alumni associations also schedule face to face social events around town for those still living in the city they graduated in and looking to exchange business cards. Yet, membership in alumni associations carries benefits beyond social networking.

Alumni associations work with affinity partners, through which alumni can receive a whole range of discounts. Given that there are thousands of universities, each with their own association, the benefits vary. If you have a list of universities you are considering, maybe a Google search of their alumni membership benefits could tip the decision for you. Many schools offer graduates continued access to career services and learning through workshops or lectures. Some provide great discounts at restaurants, hotels, travel, car rental, banking services, and some have even worked out discounts with local gas and electric companies for cheaper utilities. Most have partnerships extending some form of insurance package to alumni ranging from home owners, automobile, short and long term health, travel and disability insurance. Some of the more impressive benefits available include Yale University’s alumni association offering access to a digital archive (JSTOR) of more than one thousand academic journals and one million primary resources, and the University of Kentucky’s offering membership in the University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union. Perhaps one of the longest lists of discounts is offered from the My Carolina Alumni Association for graduates of the University of South Carolina boasting many local restaurants, newspapers, magazines, shops, and even discounts on utilizing the university’s conference center, gym and classes at Carolina’s Wine and Beverage Institute.

Keep in mind that alumni associations are not simply a fountain of benefits to graduates. There is a great philanthropic aspect. Associations promote the philosophy of “giving back” and encourage graduates toward volunteering both money and time. Preferably graduates will possess great affection for their alma mater and provide support. Associations act as middle men, bridging a continuing relationship between the University and its graduates. For those who are inclined to participate, adding a schools alumni association to the list of research items may be something to consider.

Bibliography of sorts: List of some of the sites for gathering information on the range of school benefits

http://www.unf.edu/ia/alumni/Affinity_Partners.aspx

http://uconnalumni.com/affinity-partners.html

http://www.herdalum.com/s/1269/index.aspx?sid=1269&gid=1&pgid=378

http://www.untalumni.com/affinity_partners.php

http://www.westfieldalumni.org/page.cfm?p=374

http://netcommunity.gsu.edu/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=269

List of association mission statements: http://www.alumnifutures.com/missions.html

—————————————————————————-

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/04/25/know-networking-job/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-shaindlin/alumni-associations-facebook_b_1375765.html

http://www.aya.yale.edu/content/online-learning-resources

http://www.ukalumni.net/s/1052/index-no-right.aspx?sid=1052&gid=1&pgid=305

http://www.mycarolina.org/s/842/twocol.aspx?sid=842&gid=1&pgid=348

http://www.napagroup.com/pdf/Alumni%20Association%20Funding%20Survey.pdf

The College Board’s 2011 Trends in College Pricing report records that from the school years 2001-2002 to 2011-2012, published tuition and fees at four year public schools saw an average increase rate of 5.6% per year beyond the rate of general inflation.2  The average published cost of tuition and fees for four year public schools increased from $6,591 in 2008-09 to $7,020 in 2009-10, and again to $7,605 in 2010-11.3  CNN’s Money Magazine estimates that the 2012-13 year will find tuition and fees up to $8,600.4  So, what is going on?  Many have blamed it on what Robert Archibald and David H. Feldman call the “dysfunctional narrative,” in other words, it is a result of inefficient and wasteful practices employed by schools.  Yet, in reality that is only true for a few select elite schools rather than the majority.5  In their book Why Does College Cost So Much?, Archibald and Feldman instead argue that schools are effected by the same rapid technological changes that have been reshaping the whole of industry in the global economy for the past century.6  It makes sense that in order for schools to train people effectively for employment in the real world they must train them on the actual equipment in use in any given discipline.  However, this is only part of the story.

A main contributor to tuition increase is cuts in state funding for schools.  In the mid 1970′s, the cost of a year of college was split between the student, the state government and the federal government with 33% of the cost on the student, 7% on the federal government and the bulk of the cost being placed on the state at 60%.  Today, the state’s share is down to only 34%, while the student carries 50% and the federal government holds 16% of the cost (the federal government is only temporarily taking 16% in response to the 2008 financial crisis, generally it covers around 10%).7  New York Times economic reporter Catherine Rampell explains that typically a recession puts pressure on states to prioritize spending as tax revenues fall and demand for services rises (Figure 1 below demonstrates the 25 year trend of what students actually pay in tuition after receiving student aid, and what the state pays per student).  Yet, even though state revenues are recovering, the cuts in dollars for public schools are remaining in place so states can prepare for fulfillment of state pensions and retiring baby boomers.8  It appears that if prices continue to rise at current rates, we can expect to see annually at least a 3% rise in private school costs and a 5% rise in the cost of public school.

These realities are hitting people hard, but there are a few possible strategies to lessen the impact.  It has now become essential to assume that tuition at public schools will rise 5% for every year the student is enrolled.  Although community colleges too are reeling from state budget cuts, they are typically much cheaper and may be an option worth researching for completing an associates degree or some of the core classes before transferring to a four year school (click here to read more about Community College).  Trade schools also offer alternatives to 4 year degrees that may be worth a look for some who are more mechanically inclined.  Another avenue to research is the varying costs in different states.  It is very likely that states with large budget deficits will pass the cost on to students each year.9  This option of course, must be considered alongside of out-of-state tuition costs.  Students may also aim for finishing in less than 4 years.  According to data reported by The College Board, on average, it takes public university students six years to complete a degree, while private school students are taking five years.10  Often this occurs because students change their major.  Therefore, any student trying to graduate in as few as 3 years must have a clear, well researched major decided upon.  Some high school students have built college credit through Advanced Placement tests while also taking some college courses while still in high school.11  This can knock up to a year off of college.  Finally, the last option for finishing in less than 4 years is the three year degree offered by a handful of schools.  This is only attainable for those who are extremely focused and do not change their major (see video below).  Whichever course the student chooses, a well informed plan is the best strategy against the reality of rising tuition’s.

Video: Three Year Degree CNN News Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viopkJ1pDpM

Figure 1: Figures are per full-time equivalent student, in constant 2010 dollars adjusted by SHEEO Higher Education Cost Adjustment (HECA).

Sources: State Higher Education Executive Officers

Fantastic.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all occupations are projected to see an average growth rate of 14% between 2010-2020.  Growth rates for electrician jobs are predicted to be 23%, while plumbing will grow at 26%, and heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (HVACR) are predicted to grow an incredible 34% –  all three well above the average growth rate for all occupations.[1]  Great, right?  So let’s get down to what we really want to know – what’s the pay?  2010 median pay for electricians was $48,250 per year, with the lowest 10 percent earning $29,400 and the top 10% earning $80,890.[2]  Median pay for plumbers was $46,660, with $27,580 being the bottom 10% and $79,920 the top 10%.[3]  For HVACR the top 10% earned $66,930, the bottom 10% earned $26,490, with a median wage of $42,530.[4]  If this sounds good to you then it may be time to do some research.

The first thing to think about with these careers is that they usually require entry into an apprenticeship program.  An apprenticeship program is basically on the job training with an experienced electrician, plumber, or HVACR technician who takes you on as an apprentice and teaches you all about the trade, including the business aspect of it.  These programs vary in length, electricians apprentice for 4 years, plumbers for 4 to 5 years and HVACR for 3 to 5 years.   These programs will also require a certain amount of trade specific classroom training from either a technical college or a community college.  What’s great is that these classes culminate into at least a certificate, while some apprenticeship programs allow you to transfer up to 60 credit hours toward completion of an associate or a bachelor degree.  Apprentices earn an agreed upon percentage of what their employer makes, with increases as you progress.  Apprenticeship programs can be sponsored by state/federal government, unions, businesses, or non-profits such as the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (click   http://www.njatc.org/about.aspx) offering apprenticeships to aspiring electricians.[5]  To find all apprenticeship possibilities, do a search for your chosen trade and apprenticeships.  You can start by checking with the U.S. Department of Labor. (click http://www.doleta.gov/oa/apprentices.cfm) Apprentices can start as early as 16 years old with parental permission and take the trade/vocational school classes while still in high school.

A concern, however, is that government is cutting finding for tech-prep programs for high school students.[6]  As well, federal judges are currently considering regulation on vocational schools desiring to offer student aid money.  Much of the blame is going to private for-profit trade schools that are charging exorbitant amounts of money and delivering less than satisfactory skills.[7]  In fact, in California where the state must approve a private school, it has been discovered that 130 vocational schools are operating without state approval.[8]  This leaves students without consumer protections, Jennifer Gollan, writing for the New York Times, asserts that “without state oversight, students cannot be sure that their schools are making accurate claims about job placement rates or other fundamental measures of competence. Students may be barred from transferring credits to other schools. These vocational schools are the springboard for a broad spectrum of workers, from dental assistants and security guards to paramedics, putting consumers at risk if the graduates are not trained properly.”[9]  Therefore, it is crucial to do extensive research on the technical school you choose to complete your required classroom hours.  Perhaps start by checking with apprenticeship sponsors for suggestions on reputable schools.  So, do not let a few greedy private schools scare you off, it only takes a little thorough research to get you on the way to a specialized skill that will keep you earning a great living for years to come.

Federal Student Loans

Federal student loans are a way for the federal government to help students pay for school, regardless of bad credit or low income and other variables that might make it impossible to borrow from banks or credit unions.  Federal loans make an education attainable for more citizens.  They offer lower interest rates, less stringent repayment terms, and more benefits and options than a privately owned bank.  Students can apply for these loans by submitting a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA).  Students should always turn first to federal loans and, if absolutely necessary, obtain a private loan if the federal loans simply do not cover all of the costs.  This is because federal loans offer benefits no bank would.  One of these benefits is loan forgiveness.  The government will actually cancel part of an educational loan, reducing a students bill by thousands of dollars, if the student, after graduation, engages in certain volunteer work or military service, or teaches or practices medicine in specific types of communities of need.[2]  Loan forgiveness for federal loans also occurs if the borrower has made 25 years of qualified income based repayments.  The remainder of the loan at that point is completely forgiven, regardless of the unpaid balance.[3]  Another benefit is the ability to postpone payments for some months (up to three years for persons who are unemployed) if a student falls on hard times or goes back to school.[4]  One of the greatest benefits to federal loans is that they allow borrowers to set payment amounts based on their income.[5]  It is very unlikely a bank will trouble itself with individuals circumstances in this way.  Additionally, most federal student loans generally have fixed interest rates.  A fixed rate is preferable because it will remain the same throughout the life of the loan.  A variable rate fluctuates based on the market rate of interest, which can be good when the rates are low, but when they rise, a borrower’s payments could become too expensive to handle.[6]  Subsidized federal loans will not accrue interest while the student is in school while an unsubsidized federal loan continually accrues interest even during the years the borrower is in school.  The fixed rate for all undergraduate federal subsidized loans was set to rise to 6.8% from 3.4% on July 1, 2012 for new loans, but Congress voted to extend the lower rates for another year. [7]

Private Student Loans

Although private student loans generally have variable rates, in 2011 banks began to offer fixed rate student loans. Wells Fargo offers student loans with a fixed rate as low as 5.72% for undergraduates attending a 4-year school, and Sallie Mae offers a fixed rate loan  as low as 5.75%, both with no origination fees. [8]  These loans should only be considered after federal loan dollars are exhausted.  Unbelievably people are turning to private loans first, forgoing any possible grant money which requires no repayment, and the benefits that federal loans offer.   In fact, over 50% of private loan borrowers did not max out their federal loan dollars while 25% never even took out a federal loan.[9]  Needless to say, variable rates should be avoided at all costs.  Yet, students are increasingly turning to them.  In the 2003-2004 school year, 5% of undergraduates obtained private students loans.  By 2007-2008 that number rose to 14%.[10]  Consequentially, in 2012, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has reported the results of 2,000 comments received by student loan borrowers petitioning for government intervention, many who are trapped under monthly payments that have risen into hundreds of dollars monthly due to variable rate increases.[11]

Submit a FAFSA, Then Consider Carefully

2012 cuts in federal funding, particularly surrounding changes made to the Federal Pell Grant Program will affect an estimated 140,000 students.  Students with income less than $30,000 were able to obtain the Pell Grant; now that has been decreased to only those with less that $23,000 in income.  As well the grant is available for 12 semesters only, down form 18.[12]  Meanwhile, state funding cuts are creating unprecedented high tuition and fee rates.  These realities combined will likely play out in increased loan borrowing.  The worst disservice students can do to themselves is to fail to submit a FAFSA.  Many who fail to submit a FAFSA have cited that they either believe they are not eligible or the application is too difficult.[13]  The application is not terribly difficult. It just requires gathering the right information, such a tax records among other similar things, and there are available checklists and other assistance online.  It is certainly not more difficult than the work a student will have to do in college.  It just simply must be done.  When considering loans, students must understand that by law private student loans will never go away until paid.  Both federal and private student loans cannot be erased through filing bankruptcy.[14]  There is no legal way to avoid these loans.  Making informed educational decisions can affect the next 25 years of a student’s life, including the ability to afford a house or children. Students should also consider attending a college that is more affordable to reduce the need to borrow in the first place.

Student Deals on Technology

Computers and appropriate software packages are a large expense for many students. The good news is that it is not very difficult for students to find student deals on electronics. Some manufacturers, such as Apple, Dell, Hewlett Packard, and Sony, offer discounts to students that are willing to buy directly from them.  Because they are continually upgrading and purchasing new computers, colleges have contracts with technology manufacturers.  As a result, students should price computers and software through any special education discounts that their school may be able to offer.  Another great place to find student deals on technology is Academic Superstore. This is a site that offers thousands of quality hardware and full-version software titles at discounted prices exclusively for students, teachers, and schools.  Like most schools, they can offer student deals because they too partner with technology manufacturers.[1]  The online Microsoft Store has discounted Office software packages for students and even offers Office for Mac at a 70% discount.[2]  Search and compare student deals also at Dell University, Apple Store for Education, Adobe Education, Sony Education Store, or HP Academy.

Knowing the Best Time to Get Student Deals

Knowing where to go can save hundreds, but knowing when to go can save even more.  Back to school computer deals begin hitting the advertisements around June, but consumers in 2011 who jumped on early student deals would have fared better had they waited until August.  Laptop prices were 13% cheaper in August than in June.  In fact, sale-tracking site DealNews.com predicts the same for 2012.[3]  2012 June student deals have already been released but experts advise waiting until August for the best prices.  Late July to early August also brings in the season of sales-tax holidays in some states.  Smart Money reports that computers are generally eligible purchases for tax-holidays, regardless if they are on sale.  Usually they can even be purchased online and still receive the tax break.[4]  Tax-holidays average a savings of 4%, so those who are able to take advantage of this should consider waiting to purchase a computer.  If these options are still too expensive, shop around for refurbished computers and laptops; some manufacturers such as Dell have online outlets with refurbished products.[5]

Student Deals on Books and Much More

There are countless other items and programs discounted for those who are willing to find student deals. Amazon Student is a free membership program where students can get six months of free two-day shipping with the option to extend prime shipping at $39 a year for up to four years.  Generally, for non-students the Amazon Prime program costs $79 a year.[6]  However, be aware the Amazon will automatically roll the free student six-month program into the $39 program if you do not cancel after the free six-month period.  The same holds true for those in the $39 program; it will automatically be rolled into an Amazon Prime account and you will be charged $79 if you fail cancel at the end of the four years.  So take care to pay attention to your dates of service and act accordingly.  Student discounts can be found on entertainment, travel, cellphone service, gyms, retail stores, and restaurants.  Participation varies on national chains, so it is best to get in the habit of asking about student discounts wherever you are a customer.  Check out these additional companies that have offered student discounts:[7]

Entertainment – AMC movie theaters.  But why not check with all of your local movie theaters.  Many museums and related entertainment venues will usually have a student discount.

Travel – Take a look at STA Travel and Student Universe for travel deals.  They both have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.[8]  You may also check student travel deals from Travelosophy or International Student.  Deals for students who prefer to go by bus can been found at Greyhound and CoachUSA/ShortLine.

Cell Phone Service – Look for student deals from AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint.  Each varies in discount percentage and discounts usually are for those who go to particular schools.  It won’t hurt to check it out.

Insurance – Check with Allstate, Geico, Esurance, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Travelers Insurance for student discounts.  Generally, you have to be under 25.

Retail Stores – It is best to just ask everywhere you go, but definitely check with Ann Taylor, Ralph Lauren Rugby, The Limited, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Sally Beauty Supply, Jo-Ann, and Urban Outfitters for varying locations and days.

Restaurants – Again, ask everywhere, but look for participation at your local Arby’s, Burger King, Chik-fil-A, Chipotle, Dairy Queen, Domino’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Subway, Q’doba, and Waffle House.

Club Memberships–  Sam’s club has a college membership. There are also membership cards, such as the Student Advantage Card or International Student Identity Card that have a yearly fee, but flashing their card gets you deals with participating sellers.  Some schools participate in the Student Savings Club that also offers deals at participating localities near the school.  Also certain gym memberships offer discounts.  However, before you join a gym, keep in mind that student fees usually cover free usage of the schools fitness center and pool. Don’t waste money on things you’ve already paid for.

And don’t forget – one of the best ways to save money is to go to college online. Cut your commute and save on gas and parking and your most valuable commodity – time. Do your research – check out some great online schools at Universities.com.

Types of Psychology Degrees

So you want to be in the helping profession as a counselor of some sort…? Here is a snapshot view: For some people the word psychologist comes to mind. You will at the very least need a masters degree and pursue a doctorate in order to provide diagnostic testing and research. There is the PsyD degree which in essence is a doctoral degree in psychology but with more of a focus on working with clients directly as opposed to being on the research side of things. Another of the many categories is that of Master of Social Work degree (MSW) which is usually found under the School of Social Work section of a university. However, to make matters more confusing some schools have social work under the School of Public Health. In order to provide private therapy you will have to work in an agency or under supervision for a minimum of 2-full years (in most states) and pass a licensing board exam. There are a variety of counseling degrees that might be listed under the School of Education. There is a masters level degree in Mental Health Counseling (MHC), as well as Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) which will require post-graduate intensive supervision and a state board examination as in the MSW degree. There is also the EdS which is a specialist degree after the masters degree.

Practical Thoughts for Choosing a Psychology Degree

WHAT SHOULD I DO? FIRST THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE DOING 5 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION. Consider writing out what you would like to be doing. Talk with someone who is actually in the field you are contemplating and ask why they chose their particular type of psychology degree. What is realistic and feasible for you? Don’t sell yourself short. If you think you would like to be in private practice down the road choose the path that will provide you with that opportunity.

Tune in next time for the realities of making a living with the different counseling degrees in the private practice arena. What are the different post-graduate licensures? What does it all mean? What are some insider tips? Send us your questions, and we will get you some answers.

School Selection and Personal Resources for Financing College

The first aspect of financing college that must be well researched is the choice of school. Connected to this, however, is the ability of the student to be realistic about a true estimate of the personal resources they have. It cannot be stressed enough how, without a paid financial planner keeping the student in check, that students must choose colleges that are within his or her financial reach. Do not expect that a financial aid counselor at any school is going to suggest, given your financial resources, that it will be wiser for you look at another school that is less expensive. New York Times “Your Money” columnist Ron Lieber urges students to realize that college’s financial aid counselors are “in the enrollment business, not financial planning.”² Schools are vastly loosing state funding and raising tuition. Student themselves must care for their own best interests as state cuts place more of the financial burden on the student while leaving schools desperate for enrollment. Therefore, know how much you have, and choose a school accordingly.

Federal Financial Aid for Financing College

FAFSA

Next, a student absolutely should go through the financial aid process and submit a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA). There are three types of financial aid available as a result of this process: federal loans which must be repaid, grants and scholarships that do not have to be repaid, and employment programs where students can earn money and obtain job experience while still in school.³ When the results of a FAFSA application come back, a student will learn if they are eligible for a Pell Grant and how much federal student loan money they may borrow. Given the current climate of job competition facing many students after graduation and the monstrous student loan debt looming over the heads of countless graduates, it is important to avoid student loans for financing college unless absolutely necessary. If a student’s (or a dependent student’s family) income does not exceed $23,000 dollars, they could receive the Pell grant which will pay up to 5,500 dollars a year for a limit of 12 semesters.⁴

What is unfortunate is that many students are not filing the FAFSA. Every year, about 1.7 million students do not apply because they mistakenly believe they are not eligible for aid.⁵ In the school year 2007-2008, at least 2.3 million students who failed to submit a FAFSA would in fact have been eligible for a Pell grant, which does not even need to be repaid.⁶ Equally surprising, 56.3% of the 1.7 million who believed they were ineligible expressed that they were willing to take on debt.⁷ It only takes a small amount of time and effort to make the best decisions for financing college. Those willing to exert some effort will come out ahead.

Federal Grants

The U.S. Department of Education offers about 200 grant programs, with varying eligibility requirements that students can research and apply for separately from the FAFSA.⁸ After applying for as many grants as possible, students can check into federal employment programs, or what many have known as “work-study” programs. Federal dollars for these programs are currently available at 3,400 schools. Students can work at the school itself, a federal, state or local public agency, or private non-profit or for-profit organizations, as long as at least 7 percent of the work is allocated toward community service jobs, such as reading or math tutoring for school children.⁹ One thing students must be wary of is scams. The College Board warns students to never give out personal information to anyone via a phone call or email for a financial aid offer. The federal government does not charge fees for processing loans, grants or applications, so anyone asking for bank account information is attempting to scam the student. Identity theft has been reported as thieves have posed as government, bank, or business representatives to gain personal information on students.¹⁰ Assuming all grants are legitimate, if a student is still falling short of funding once they have exhausted every avenue to secure any and all monies that do not require repayment, it may be necessary to borrow the rest in student loans.

Tax Aid for Financing College

One last way to be smart about financing college is to know what tax breaks are available for students. Of course, taking advantage of tax breaks comes only after you have already paid for school, but it never hurts to get a little something back at the end of the tax year. At irs.gov students can check their eligibility for The Hope Credit or the Lifetime Learning Education Credit. A temporary modification to the Hope Credit, The American Opportunity Tax Credit, extends the length one can claim the credit and increases the amount they can claim. Beginning in 2009, this credit is only available through 2012.¹¹ There is also the Tuition and Fees deduction which allows students to reduce the amount of their taxable income by up to $4,000. The difference between a tax credit and a deduction is that a credit reduces the amount of tax you may owe, where a deduction reduces the amount of income that is taxable.¹² Furthermore, a student will have to choose between claiming either one of the credits or the deduction; you cannot claim both. As well, if you choose to claim the tax credit, you can only claim one of the credits, either The Hope or the Lifelong Learning.¹³ Calculating both of the credits to see which one will be most beneficial, and then calculating the deduction to see if that would be better than the credit is a daunting undertaking. For those who can afford it, a tax preparer will do this. However, most tax software and many of the free or low-cost online tax programs will also calculate the best education tax options.

____________________________________________________________________________________

1  http://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2012/02/03/ny-times-is-wrong-about-maximizing-college-aid-chances/
2  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/your-money/student-loans/02money.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
3   http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/financial-aid
4   http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PellGrants.jsp
5   www.finaid.org/educators/20110118nofafsareasons.pdf
6   http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-money/2011/01/14/fafsa-submit-early-to-max-out-your-financial-aid/
7   www.finaid.org/educators/20110118nofafsareasons.pdf
8   https://answers.ed.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/22/session/L3RpbWUvMTMzOTc4MjA5OS9zaWQvM29PUlFLLWs%3D
9   http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fws/index.html
10   https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarships-and-grants/how-to-avoid-financial-aid-scams
11   http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199791,00.html
12   http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch03.html
13   http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211309,00.html

Earning an Online Masters Degree : the Pros

We’ve already pointed out the convenience factor but what other compelling reasons should you consider?

Flexibility

Online masters degree programs are designed with the working professional in mind. They allow you to continue working while applying practical work experience to your studies and vice-versa. They are also lifestyle-friendly allowing you the leeway to study how, where and when it best fits your schedule.

Many online masters degree programs don’t require on-campus participation. A select few do offer 80/20 models that combine an online component with Saturday and Sunday on-campus classes a few times a quarter. These generally are reserved for lectures and/or group projects.

Career Advancement

One of the main reasons some choose to complete an online masters degree is to move ahead in their career. Pursuing a master’s degree is usually the avenue necessary to move into upper level positions. Whether your goals entail taking on a supervisor or director role or teaching position, a master’s degree will help provide you with an edge in today’s very competitive job market.

Education Pays

Want more money? Increasing your income requires an investment. Earning a master’s degree is just that, an investment. In fact, as a master’s holder, over your work lifetime, you can expect to earn nearly $400,000 more than a bachelor degree holder. Plus, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2011 master’s holders enjoyed a low unemployment rate of 3.6%*.

The Cons of Earning an Online Masters Degree

Lack of Technical Savvy

While pursuing any higher education online doesn’t require you to be a technophile; you should have a reasonable level of comfort using computer technology and software, and online forms of communication like blogs, vlogs and email.

Time Management/Self Discipline

If you are not one who easily grasps the concept of time management and prioritization, pursuing a degree in an online format may not be for you. However, many colleges offering online masters degree programs understand that prioritization can become a hurdle, especially for the traditionally educated student. Some offer a time management component with each course to help students adjust to the distance learning format.

Active Learning Class Model

Students unfamiliar with online learning mistakenly believe online degree programs are easy. The online learning format requires a student to be an active learner. In addition to research papers and the requisite testing, online courses include lectures, discussions and group projects. If you have a passive learning style, distance learning is not a good fit for you.

The Last Word… Almost

The pros and cons outlined in this article are a few of the more popular observations to consider when you begin your research. Ultimately, your decision will include other important factors such as how an online masters degree will help you meet your career goals or your further graduate study such as online Ph.D programs.

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* Bureau of Labor Statistics – Current Population Survey Chart 001. **All answers subject to approval and must meet Universities.com terms and conditions.

Once you’ve solidified your decision to pursue grad school, the next question you’ll entertain? Where should I apply; online college or traditional university? Depending on the concentration you pursue and its requirements, there may be a wealth of online colleges and on-campus choices to consider. In addition, some brick and mortar institutions offer Ph.D degree programs that combine online study with periodic residency at specified times throughout your program.

Online Ph.D Degree Programs

Much progress has been made in accepted accreditation of distance learning programs as a whole and online Ph.D degree programs in particular. Some are accredited by recognized regional bodies (which also accredit brick and mortar universities), others by bodies that specifically accredit distance learning programs such as the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Are Online Ph.D Degree Programs Right for Me?

Online Ph.D degree programs are a great option for those who want to return to school but need flexibility. Considering it could take from 4 to 8 years or more to complete your doctoral degree, it may be impossible to keep a full-time job and attend a traditional doctoral program. Online Ph.D degree programs offer students the flexibility to start anytime and study where and when it’s convenient for them.

What Online Ph.D Degree Program are you Considering?

Generally, Doctoral programs consist of coursework, residency, internship/practicum and original research in the form of dissertation or thesis. While on-campus Ph.D degree programs are teaching and research-based, online Ph.D degree programs are typically research-based only. However, this distinction has begun to blur as more online colleges with brick and mortar locations offer a residency component to their programs.

Some very competitive programs are not offered online because residency is required by the college. It is important to note that as a Ph.D. student, you are being groomed to teach or conduct research and it is felt by many academics that one learns best by doing.

But, this does not mean there are not viable options for those considering a distance learning model. The following are some common online Ph.D degree programs:

• Education
• Psychology
• Nursing
• Engineering
• Business

Popular Colleges and Universities that offer online Ph.D degree programs:

• Walden University
• Florida Tech University Online
• Western Governors University
• University of Phoenix
• Northcentral University
• Liberty University Online
• University of Liverpool
• Capella University

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*All answers subject to approval and must meet Universities.com terms and conditions.

This article outlines 5 important tips you should employ when choosing a Ph.D Ed program that suites not only your needs but your future aspirations as well.

Review Career and Salary Info

It is important to be aware of salary and career options for those that hold a Ph.D in Education. The National Education Association is an excellent clearing house featuring the most recent articles on national education news, legislation, careers and salary, and other issues.

Survey Career Demand

The Chronicle of Higher Education is an excellent source for reviewing the demand for education Ph.D holders in non-traditional careers and well as within academia. Surveying job postings in education, industry and government sectors will keep you informed of career options that may be available to you in post-graduate life.

Compare On-campus and Online Ph.D in Education Programs

Do extensive research including reviewing school websites, or education websites like Universities.com to compare and get information on on-campus and online programs. The average time required to complete a Ph.D in Education is about 5 years.

Since pursuing your Doctorate in Education will most likely leave little if any time for a 9-5 job, key program benefits to consider are opportunities for fellowships and teaching assistantships. During your first and subsequent years of study assistantships or fellowships will become your major means of support.

Once you’ve done your due diligence, narrow your choices down to a minimum of 3 and maximum of 5 schools and request application forms for each.

Register for the GRE (Graduate Record Exam)

Just as you did before taking your SAT and MAT, you’ll register with the Educational Testing Service to take the GRE or Graduate Record Examination. This test is part of the application process in any Ph.D in Education program. You can get free study aides at the EST website and of course, for a fee, through bookstores and libraries.

Complete the Admissions Process

Now you’ll dive into the paperwork! Complete your applications; include your GRE test scores and order transcripts for each institution you’ve attended. Ideally, if you hope to enroll and attend in the following fall, you’ll need to complete your portion of the admissions process by December of the year you apply.

What to Expect after You’re Admitted

Congratulations! You are well on your way to achieving your goals in the world of academia. Once accepted, you’ll complete the required courses; you’ll conduct research, function as an adjunct professor during your assistantship and finally prepare and defend your dissertation.

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Goooooaaals! Career Goals that Is

Graduate school is a major commitment, not-to-mention an investment in time and money. It’s important that you clearly define how a Master’s in Psychology will best propel you toward your career goals before applying to any grad program.

Money, Money, Money

While most graduate students continue to work and earn an income while pursuing their M.S. in Psychology, you should also expect to take on more debt by way of student loans. Take time to consider your finances and the long-term impact earning a graduate degree may have on your future financial health.

Commitment

Typically earning a Master’s degree will span the duration of about 2 years. While defining your career goals, you should also factor your non-education goals into the decision process. For example, will other facets of your life such as family or relationships suffer if you are a student for a prolonged time? Taking the time to clearly understand the time commitment earning a graduate degree entails will ultimately allow you to get more out of your graduate program.

Traditional Campus vs. Online College for a Master’s in Psychology

After you’ve considered your overall expense and time commitment, what other factors should you carefully take into account? Seeking a learning environment conducive to your time and level of commitment is paramount to your overall success as a graduate student. Bear in mind that earning your graduate degree at a traditional college campus or by way of one of many accredited online Master’s in Psychology programs is as much a matter of expense and time. Why? Online programs tend to be a better fit for the working professional since the bulk of your coursework is administered online allowing for assignments to be completed with minimal classroom face-time.

Professional/Family Pressure

Lastly, be careful to avoid deciding to pursue a Master’s in Psychology as a result of pressures you may feel from outside forces. Entering a M.S. program because your family thinks it’s the next logical step or because other colleagues have post baccalaureate degrees and not because you have clear goals set is a waste. After all, would you spend time and money on something you really knowing you wouldn’t be happy? Your grad school experience should be a meaningful one; one that ultimately presents you as a professional individual ready to make a good impression in the field of psychology.

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*All answers subject to approval and must meet Universities.com terms and conditions.

Why Online College?

Flexibility – Online education programs afford mil spouses, active-duty, veteran and reservist students the flexibility to study when and where they want; in the living room, during a soccer game, after the kids are in bed, you name it!

Portable – PCS? Schmee CS! No matter where you are in the country or the world, you can continue your education with the push of a button. In other words, have computer – will travel!

Affordability – Most online programs accept your military education benefits toward the completion of a career diploma or an Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree or Master’s Degree with little to no out-of-pocket costs to you! That’s right; Uncle Sam will foot the bill for your education! Here are but a few of the many programs that offer military education assistance:

· Military Spouse Career Advancement Account or MyCAA
· The Post-9/11 GI Bill Program
· The Montgomery GI Bill Program
· The Yellow Ribbon Program
· The Spouse Tuition Assistance Program
· The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program
· The Coast Guard Mutual Assistance program or CGMA

Already have Some College Under your Belt?

There are programs that will assist with transferring class credits you’ve previously earned. For example:

· The Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOCAD) Program
· The Service Members Opportunity Colleges Program for the Navy (SOCNAV)

Both programs are part of a consortium of over 1500 colleges and universities that offer associate and bachelor degrees in the US. And, both programs transfer credits within the consortium allowing students to continue with their studies without retaking courses.

You can have it all – PCS and Get your Education!

Maybe you added going back to school to your long-running to do list ages ago or perhaps you only recently considered getting back in the thick of academic life. Doing a bit of research on military-friendly online colleges and taking advantage of your military education benefits can put you on the road to future success in a career that moves with you – every time you PCS.

Rewards are Great!

What are your reasons for getting a college degree? Tell Universities.com why and you could receive your choice of a complimentary $10 Starbucks or Amazon gift card, or we’ll donate $10 in your name to charity.*

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*All answers subject to approval and must meet Universities.com terms and conditions.

As we’ve discussed in the blog: Accredited College Degree Online Programs, accreditation is the operative word when searching for an online college. It’s a vote of confidence in a school’s performance and capabilities and that it meets the high standards set by the U.S. Department of Education and others in academia.

In order for an online college to receive accreditation, it must meet standards in 11 specific areas. The Following infographic, created for Colorado Technical University is a great primer for understanding accreditation, how an institution becomes accredited and retains its status and the differences between regional and national accreditation.

Do your Homework

Whether you’re considering an associate, bachelor or master’s degree, make sure to research accreditation before attending or transferring to an online college or on-campus college or university.

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Infographic Courtesy: Colorado Technical University online college

Applying to college and waiting for decisions is a nerve-wracking experience. With the arrival of spring, on-campus colleges and universities across the country release welcome, rejection and waitlist letters to their undergraduate applicants. Wait, back up; waitlist letters? Ah yes, the waitlist letter, a close relation to the rejection letter… and you thought you either got in or you didn’t. So, what is it? Well, colleges realize that not every student they send acceptance letters to will choose to attend. They need to meet their enrollment goal, and waitlists are a way to ensure every spot in the incoming class is filled when their first choice students opt to attend other institutions.

The letter usually goes something like:

Dear Student,
Thank you for your interest in AB University. While we were impressed by your credentials, we are unable to offer you admission at this time. We would like to offer you a place on our waitlist with hope that we can find a place for you in this year’s class. Please respond of your interest in placement on our waitlist by XX date.

Once you’ve received a waitlist letter, what you do next depends on a few factors:

- Even though you’re reeling from the pseudo-rejection, if you’ve applied to other institutions, you’ll still have viable choices of schools to attend.

- If this is the absolutely one and only school you could ever imagine attending – not to mention the only one you’ve applied to – it’s definitely time to develop a back-up plan.

Now What? Next steps for the Waitlisted
Do a little soul-searching. Before you immediately choose the waitlist option, ponder a few questions. Is this really the school for you? Reevaluate why attending this school is important to you. Really take a good look at the schools that accepted you right off the bat. Ask yourself what you brought to the table that made you stand out?

Be realistic. If you accept the waitlist offer, you should know the reality is that your chances of getting into your school aren’t great. According to a survey of admissions officers, fewer than 30% of students who accept waitlist placement go on to attend that school.*

Make a commitment to another school. Choose from the schools that accepted you and commit to one. Most schools have a deadline date which all deposit monies are due.

Don’t say YES when you really mean NO. If you’ve initially accepted waitlist placement, don’t remain on the list if you no longer have any interest. Doing so only takes a spot on the list from another student. Be kind and alert your admissions officer to remove your name. If you hope to try your first-choice college again the following year, consider attending a local community college. There are also many online colleges that are great options in the interim.

Gap Year; Do I or Don’t I? What if you aren’t certain about attending any of the other schools where you’ve been accepted? Taking a gap year could give you an opportunity to become more independent, travel, or just plain mentally prepare for college. What a gap year is not is an extended vacation. Whether you work, volunteer, or take courses at your local community college, the gatekeepers in admissions want to see that you can apply what you’ve learned during your gap year. We’re pretty sure there isn’t a “Chill by the Pool” concentration, so you should be prepared to show admissions officers how you’ve grown and what assets you bring to your future academic career.

The Rest of the Story

If the letter you receive begins with “We’re sorry to inform you… you’ve been waitlisted”, take a breath then relax, relate and release. Whether you accept a spot on your school’s waitlist, choose another school to attend or take a gap year, set aside time to evaluate and understand your options and make the best choice to set you down the path toward getting your bachelor degree.

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* Source: The Wall Street Journal, Graphics and The colleges, 2011-2012 Common Data Set

Do you have the time to successfully attend the school and complete the assignments? If it has been more than a few years since you have had a homework assignment, maybe you’ve forgotten how much time it takes to write a 3,500 word research paper. Getting to and from classes in traffic may be a challenge. Finding a babysitter or day care can be complicated. Working a full-time job takes a lot of energy. The time you spend with your spouse or partner will be reduced. Devoting the time to your education will certainly pay off down the line, but in the present, it may be difficult.

Online universities offer accelerated courses, designed to mesh with the schedule of a working adult. Flexibility is a major benefit of these programs. You can study at home on your computer. If you have a laptop you can study on the bus, at lunch, or at any number of places. Every aspect of earning a degree online has been carefully thought out by these brilliant universities. Many offer virtual libraries, online book ordering, and even online learning teams that you meet with for study sessions.

Keep in mind that there is more writing involved in an online education than at a traditional college. This is mainly because communication is conducted in writing via e-mails and discussion boards. Some students prefer face-to-face interaction, while others find the somewhat anonymous online experience more calming than being in a classroom.

Education is an investment. Financial aid is available for most online universities, as are special loans and grants. Larger companies sometimes offer tuition reimbursement as a benefit to their employees. Sometimes education is a legal tax deduction. Where there is a will, there is a way. The amount of income you earn after obtaining a degree will pay for the cost of your degree program in a short amount of time.

Perhaps your reason for wanting to return to school has to do with moving into the career you have always wanted. Many adults are finding that even with a degree, their work experience is not specialized enough to provide them with a stable career. The model for adult education was created with practicality in mind; adults do not return to school to please their parents (most of the time). Adults return to school because they want to have more earning power and stability in the workforce. Online universities who cater to working adults base much of their curriculum around realistic situations in the workplace rather than using exercises in a textbook. Time and time again, applicants with many years of on-the-job experience are passed over for applicants with degrees. Upon graduation, you will get a degree and some practical, industry-specific knowledge.

The career of your dreams may be closer than ever before.

The Real Deal

In reality, online master’s degrees received through accredited institutions are just as informative and valuable as those garnered via brick and mortar universities. The same amount of preparation and study is required, the same amount and type of information is covered, and students learn the same set of skills. There are even teacher conferences, classroom chats, and group presentations; the only crucial difference between an online and physical university interaction being just that one is online, and the other in the flesh.

The Way Things Used to Be

In the past, people have been wary about getting their master’s degree online because of the possibility that potential employers might not regard distance education as a legitimate way of attaining such an important certification. These people have been right to be leery, as previously there were not as many accrediting organizations or efforts by the government to make sure these agencies were legitimate as there are today.

Popularity, Enlightenment, and Acceptance

Now, however, distance education has become an increasingly popular method of higher learning for people who don’t have the time to be physically present at a brick and mortar institution, both employers and, consequently, graduate students, are treating the idea of an online master’s degree with much more gravity than ever before.

Online Master’s Degrees: More Desirable than Brick and Mortar

Employers realize that students who earn degrees online must by nature be more self-motivated and independent than their comparatively teacher-coddled counterparts. Additionally, those who earn their master’s degrees over the internet are at least as technologically savvy, if not more so, than their peers who went to brick and mortar institutions. An online master’s degree is an automatic way for graduate students to prove to potential employers that they are aware of technology and capable of operating effectively with little or no supervision, all before such employers view the rest of their resume.

Online Master’s Degrees Signify Independence and Strength

Employers of all stripes are looking for strong leaders, and getting an online master’s degree is the perfect way to immediately and clearly show your independence and self-sufficiency. The focus and motivation it takes to successfully pursue an online master’s degree without the physical guidance and inspiration of a teacher and fellow classmates is a commendable feat. Employers realize the extra work involved in following an online master’s degree through to completion, giving those graduate students a leg up in the job application process.

Online Master’s Degrees Are Highly Valued by Employers

While some people may waver between getting their master’s degree online and going to a brick and mortar institution because of lingering doubts about the willingness of employers to accept online degrees, most graduate students realize the immense benefits of the virtual route. The convenience of an online master’s degree, combined with the widespread employer appreciation of online degrees, as well as the merits of those who attain them, make them the ideal option for graduate students from all walks of life.

1) Increased opportunity: A college degree provides access to more money and increases your ability to obtain a higher-level job. Increased education is especially helpful if you are in a career that requires a college degree or increased training for advancement.

2) Career change: Further training and education can provide access to another job or allow you to pursue another career.

3) More money: A college degree or advanced training could possibly lead to increased earnings in your current field or industry.

What to consider?

More than anything, what is your purpose? Why are you doing what you are doing? What is your passion? What do you love? The answers to these questions should lead you in the right direction that will guide your educational journey. If not, ponder the following:

1) Start small: Take one class at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed with trying to figure everything out at once. If you cannot even think about adding another thing to your already hectic schedule, consider taking an on-line class to get your feet wet.

2) Obtain advice: Community and on-line colleges are excellent places to begin. Usually, they are more cost-effective than larger colleges. They offer both training programs as well as foundational courses that can lead to or be transferred into a more traditional degree program. Quite conveniently, they also offer day and night courses to accommodate most schedules and often have counselors that can assist you with the re-entry process that includes admissions and financial aid.

3) Plan: You will need to think, imagine and create a schedule that will work for your life. If you take one class, there is commute, class and homework time. You will need to consider what kind of impact this additional time and energy will have on your family, your job and your life.

4) Timing: Make sure the timing works for you. You will need to feel comfortable, safe and secure in your decision, hence, starting small helps you to think about if this is the best route for you. Don’t get bogged down in how long a program or a degree will take. The most important thing to realize is that your education is a journey. It begins with one step and you are the creator and captain of that journey.

You’ve spent the bulk of your middle and high school years immersed in one of the performing arts. Combining your raw or honed talent and passion with college level studies seems like the next logical step right? Now more than ever, many colleges and universities offer Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees that are tailored to students that wish to pursue a working careers in dance, music, theater and the visual arts. In 1985, a little less than 40,000 students graduated with a BA or BFA from performing arts programs. Between 2008 and 2009, that number had more than doubled to almost 90,000 graduates.*

So, where to start researching? Many students look for campuses near large metropolitan areas that offer hearty arts communities and opportunities to interact with members of the arts community at large. Internships, student-teaching, private instruction and additional technique classes offered through consortium programs are some of the advantages to seriously consider when researching the numerous performing arts colleges and universities across the U.S.

Many performing arts colleges and universities facilitate engagement between prospective, current and working alumni. This allow students a realistic observation of what to expect not only from a curriculum viewpoint but from a performance experience as well.

Typically, Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree programs require prospective music, dance and theater students to audition for acceptance and placement. The following is a short synopsis of Bachelor of Art degrees and a bit of the typical curriculum one can expect from fine arts education programs in theater, dance and music.

Bachelor of Fines Arts in Dance
BFA programs in dance focus largely on grooming the performance skills of the student. In addition to courses in dance pedagogy, curriculum usually includes liberal arts subjects that relate to dance. Additional coursework could include courses in Kinesiology, Body Dynamics, Labanotation and Eurythmics to name a few.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music
Music performance BFA programs provide a centered focus in music combined with a general liberal arts curriculum. Students will specialize in performance areas including, Opera, Vocal Performance and Musical Theater. Those students who play an instrument will focus on programs that pertain to their instrument of choice. Many colleges and universities also offer programs that focus on the business side of the music industry as well.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater
BFA programs in theater performance focus on theater craftwork as well as liberal arts courses as they relate to theater. Curriculum often includes the history of drama, theater speech, movement and dance, socio-political studies, analysis of classic and contemporary plays and scene studies among other courses. Just and dancers and musicians choose specialties, theater students will choose from specialties that include acting, directing, stage craft as well as set and costume design.

It is important to note that Bachelor of Fine Arts programs typically also include one or more “business of the business” courses that prepare students for work in their prospective professions as well as courses in general liberal studies such as foreign languages, language arts, creative writing and more.

Light the Footlights and Raise the Curtain

While choosing the right performing arts college to best grow your performance skills while obtaining a quality liberal arts education is important, it is also important to understand that equal weight should be placed on the quality of student life and post-college career success as well.

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Source: Digest of Education Statistics, 2010.

Fast forward to 1970. Though higher education was more accessible; most high school graduates choose immediate entry into the labor force over attending college. In fact, most jobs simply didn’t call for a degree of any kind. Just over a quarter of middle-class workers held a college degree. Since the 1980’s, the income gap between those holding Bachelor’s degrees and high school grads has doubled.

Students Who Learn More, Earn More
30 years ago, a full-time worker with a bachelor degree made 40% more than the average high school grad. Today, college grads make 83% more. With companies choosing to outsource skilled jobs to other countries and digital workflows completing routine office tasks, the more educated a worker is, the more they are valued.

A College Education Pays…
There are long-term gains those with college degrees have over high school graduates. In fact, College graduates have greater advantages in almost every aspect of life according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here’s how:

College Grads are less likely to be unemployed. From 2008-2010, 90% of college grads were employed while only 64% of their peers not attending college had jobs.

College Grads have greater earning ability. In 2010 the median weekly income of college grads with a masters degree was $1,272 and $1038 for those with a bachelor degree compared with $626 for those with high-school diplomas.

College Grads earn more during their work life-time. Over the average 40-year career life-span, those with bachelor degrees will earn nearly $1.2 million dollars more than their peers not attending college.

College Grads are more likely to live longer. According to a study commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, college graduates can expect to live at least 5 years longer than those who have not completed high school. Why? More education is linked to higher-paying jobs, access to health insurance, healthy foods and health-promoting environments.
College Grads accumulate more wealth. Degree holders build 10 times more assets and investments (Home ownership, 401K, Stocks, Bonds, Education Funds, etc.) than those with high school diplomas.

Whether you are considering an associate, bachelor or masters degree, it is clear that obtaining more education after high school will only lead you to greater success and stability in the future. Universities.com helps you connect with over 4,299 online and 143,916 on-campus degrees. Learn more about associate degrees, bachelor degrees, master’s degrees and doctorate programs today!

* Source: American Higher Education Leadership for the 21st Century by James B. Hunt Jr.

There are different master degree programs when looking for a Christian master degree education online.

A Master of Divinity is a master degree where you will study doctrines of Christian faith, bible prophecy, the major and minor prophets, personal evangelism and biblical history. The Master of Divinity degree can be a necessary degree if your goal is to be ordained.

Another Christian master degree education online is a Master of Arts in Christian Religious Education. Here you will learn education theory and practice.

You may also find a Master of Arts in Christian Marriage Family and Child Counseling. With this degree you will learn about biblical counseling, theories of Christian marriage, ethics, group dynamics and other subjects that will support duties in counseling.

A master in religion will typically take between two to three years for completion. Since a master in religion deals with the study of faith, it is recommended that you are indeed interested in the subject. Most religious leaders hold masters in religious studies.

Getting a Christian master degree education online is a great way to earn your degree because of the flexibility in scheduling. You can complete your assignments and connect to your class at any time of the day.

The drawback of getting a Christian master degree education online is that you may not have a strong opportunity to build a relationship with a mentor.

If you’re interested in getting a Christian master degree education online, do some research on the different programs and requirements for admissions. You may find an online Christian master degree program that’s right for you.

Online Education
Now that you know what an associate’s degree entails, how do you search for associate degrees offered by accredited universities? It is almost as easy as making any other online purchase, except with much more importance! You want to focus on online associate degree programs that hold your interest, whether for a career or a future bachelor’s degree, and you must review the accrediting agency. The accreditation is the stamp of legitimacy!

Online Classes
Going to school online makes you the micro-manager of your own education. Once you’ve chosen your major of choice at an accredited university, you can choose where you want to go to class; whether you want to wake up and crash out on your couch with a laptop, or you want to shower, get dressed and sit down to a desk in a quiet, focused atmosphere. As long as you are comfortable in your learning environment, you are setting yourself up for success! Establishing discipline and excellent work habits in your pursuit of an associate degree education online, will continue with you into your future job or bachelor’s degree program.

Getting the most out of your online education might entail more than simply attending your classes and doing the work. Since you are paying for the education, you might as well do your absolute best. Follow as many of the following tips as possible to enhance your online educational experience.

1. Attend the initial class session if possible. Occasionally, online courses offer an introductory meeting so that the professor and students can meet in person. If the distance isn’t too far, attend the meeting. It will give you a clearer idea as to what to expect during the class schedule including tests, quizzes, assignments, projects, and the manner in which the class will be conducted.

2. Attend all of the scheduled classes. If you miss a class, you can fall behind in your work as well as the knowledge that you need to continue. If a scheduling conflict causes you to miss a class, see if the class is offered at an alternative time. Some classes have more than one session and you might be able to attend one of these.

3. Participate in class discussions during the class as well as outside of the class. Most online courses provide for threaded discussions for several reasons. These discussions help to keep the students involved. They provide support for homework and other assignments. Plus, the ability to maintain conversations with others enrolled in the class helps to keep students engaged in the work.

4. Avoid technical difficulties from the beginning. Install any software that you will need prior to the course’s first session.

5. Keep up with your work and the reading of the course materials. This helps to set the stage for productive habits as well as helping to avoid any problems understanding the course material.

To achieve a successful experience with the online course that you enroll in, stay focused on the class work. Place the class at the top of your list of priorities. If this is to be your first online course, consider taking something on an introductory level to avoid too much work for your first course load.

Think about it: it makes sense that online study is the perfect method to get a degree in information technology or take computer courses. Learning to interact with fellow students and instructors via online technology will sharpen your computer skills even more than if you were in a traditional classroom. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a degree in computers or just taking a few quick courses to get you up to speed with today’s technology, check out the degree programs and computer education you can find online.

You can find online computer education for every degree level. You can earn certificates, associate degrees and bachelor degrees in computer science. Completing a computer science degree online will make you a great candidate for many jobs in different businesses and industries around the world. Working computer science professionals enjoy a high median salary and work in comfortable environments.

If you’re not interested in becoming a computer science professional but would like to update your computer skills, you will find many sites that will help you get up to speed with today’s technology and computer applications. Computer education online is a great way to keep current for business and personal computer use. Whether you want to specialize in computers or just learn about general computer topics, getting a computer education online is a great way to enhance your education with flexible and convenient computer education courses.

To be sure you’re being prepared properly as an educator, you will only want to consider accredited online colleges and universities. To begin your bachelor studies online for elementary education, you will be required to complete a very similar curriculum to that of any state or private university. And a good way to be sure is to grab a catalogue from another ®traditional® university to see what they require.

Once you’ve chosen a college or university to pursue your online bachelor’s degree in elementary education you’ll begin courses in general studies such as English, math, a variety of sciences and probably something in the world of the arts. This will immediately begin to help you establish a well rounded education that will eventually translate to your classroom.

One thing that is incredibly important when pursuing your elementary education bachelor’s degree online is to stay in excellent communication with your online university. Before you can begin your career as a teacher, you’ll need to receive your appropriate teaching certificates, and though the requirements will be fairly consistent throughout the United States, they will vary from state to state.

Right out of the blocks, you want to find an accredited university or college that offers an online art education degree. There are several institutions that specialize in the arts; from fine arts to art education to graphic arts, they’ve got it covered! Consider schools such as The Art Institute Online (www.aionline.edu) and Belford University (www.belforduniversity.org) to take a look at some possibilities.

Accredited degree programs are a must to receive the respect you deserve in the job market. You will find all levels of education from a bachelor’s, master’s, to a doctorate, and the accreditation of the college or university will also serve as your seal of approval in the public domain, so be sure to put some time and effort into your search!

Now, what do you do with an art education degree that you receive online? Unfortunately, as most students studying the arts will tell you; you don’t get the same respect as someone studying pre-med, but just remember, the doctors are always the individuals giving their money to the arts! If you love teaching and love the arts this could be the right rewarding career for you.

Career planning is an exercise that is well worth the time invested in it because it sets you going on the path that leads to where you would like to go. You need to understand the art of career planning even before you begin to look for job openings.

info@job-employment-guide.com

The Art of Career Planning

Career planning is an exercise that is well worth the time invested in it because it sets you going on the path that leads to where you would like to go. This exercise provides you with a lot of clarity regarding your career objectives as well and it best done before you embark on your job search.

Often most people get stuck at the very beginning of the planning process itself. There seem to be too many choices that are throwing themselves at you with all kinds of material gains, fame and wealth, comfort and luxury, glamour and beauty. From acting to singing, writing to banking, software programming to business, choices confuse you. Naturally feelings of self-doubt might creep in at this stage. Am I good enough for that, you may ask, or how do I become successful at this. After some time of pondering over many career paths you may end up thinking that maybe you are no good for any of these things after all.

Here is where a bit of career planning helps. There are two ways of starting off. One is to find out what you really like doing and do it irrespective of the gains and growth patterns and the second is to find out what really motivates you, find out which among the careers gives you what you want and build up competencies for it. Either way you will get what you want – in the first method the journey itself is your reward (though many will discourage you on this path, but don’t worry, many have tread this path and quite successfully at that too) and in the second you are carefully working your way to your reward which could be clearly spelt out to be a consequence of your work or occupation.

Whichever path you choose, it is most important to know your individual strengths and weaknesses. Sit down and assess yourself honestly. Think of all your accomplishments, of all the compliments you got, of all the work that really inspired you, of the times when you worked with passion at and jot them all down. You will find that as you note down your victories, your achievements etc a pattern will emerge. You can find that you are good at organizing, at making people comfortable, at leading, at solving puzzles, at physical activity, at playing music or games. Each of these represents a career option by itself or throws up some characteristic in you – qualities that could be good assets in your future career options.

Now list out things that motivate you, that you aspire for, your dreams – things you would want more than anything else in the world. Find your fit between the person you are and the dream you wish to achieve. As this picture gets clearer you become more aware, confident and purposeful. Attributes that serve you well along the way. You have now formed a sharp picture of yourself with specific saleable qualities.

Based on your aspiration level and your aptitude, you can also identify the careers that offer the kind of lifestyle or returns that you wish. If you wish to frequently travel and be in command of a dynamic business you can zero down to careers in marketing with a goal to set up your own firm or to head a large company (the same may not be possible if you inherently like to paint for long hours).

It is best to be honest with yourself at this stage because most people take decisions based on glamorous misconceptions about certain careers and later change them. For example if you wish to be an airhostess, check out the sources available to the kind of work that is associated with being an airhostess. Only if you really enjoy doing that kind of work and the rewards that come with it must you opt for it. Else look further for what really fits you. Growth, rewards, recognition and most importantly job satisfaction and a good quality of life come from one thing -loving your job.

Having decided on a particular direction, build competencies. Specific careers need specific education and training. Whichever area you choose to be in, you will fare well if you strive to be the best in it. Leave your individual brand on it. Learn the ropes by acquiring information, by taking up courses, by taking up internships and summer jobs, by learning the economics of the job, by adding special skills that help in handling the job with greater proficiency.

All careers without exception would certainly require a good writing and verbal communicating ability so please work on that, a pleasing and well-mannered personality, a professional work ethic and good inter-personal skills. Work on these important soft skills along with as you plan your career.

A final word! If you have a goal then be clear about it and start walking towards it. You will learn along the way. You will acquire skills and competencies that help you along. The important thing is to start the journey.

Good luck!

Pursuing your degree online equates to you being able to work or develop your own personal business plan while attending classes at your leisure, and from the location of your choice. You might even decide to go to class everyday while you’re on your lunch break! Multitasking is a definite key to success in the business world. And learning to do so while working toward your bachelor business degree will only help you get a head start on any future competition.

One thing you should keep in mind when looking for an online bachelor of business degree program, is that you’ll need a degree from a reputable and accredited online university! You shouldn’t worry or fret, because there are so many fine institutions available you may have trouble choosing; regardless, you don’t want to skimp on your education because you think you found a better bargain at a new online college! Research all of your options and compare the curriculum’s before you make any final decisions.

A business bachelor degree online will prepare you to compete in today’s contemporary job market. Without a doubt, so much of business is about team work, but it will be completely necessary to compete for a spot on that team at some point in your career. Earning a degree is a sign to a potential employer that you can complete a task when it is presented and you will see a project to its completion.

Studying for your degree online has numerous advantages. Some of these advantages are:

1. The classes can be scheduled as you like. Studying can be scheduled at a convenient time for you. If you are a daytime worker, you can take classes at night or on the weekend .

If you have a family in addition to a hectic work schedule, it is tough to combine a working life with a learning life-especially if you have to commute to campus for scheduled classes and meetings.

Online degree programs let you study on your own terms, develop your presentations, or take exams when you have the time and energy to do so.

2. Over enrollment of students in classes is a common problem encountered at universities and colleges. Over enrollment in classes is usually not a problem when you pursue an online degree.

3. Students enrolled in an online degree program do not worry about being bumped out of classes.

4. Since you can take all your classes at home, there is no need for a costly commute to campus. The student never has to sit in traffic, wait at a bus stop, or contend with foul weather.

5. An online degree program is adjusted to your needs, as opposed to campus-based programs, in which classes are organized around the schedules of staff and faculty.

One of the best ways to enhance your career opportunities is to enroll in an online degree program. Online degree programs offer great flexibility; they combine online lectures from qualified business leaders with routine class meetings.

More than ever, companies are paying part or all of tuitions for employees who pursue graduate degrees in their field. From a cost-benefit perspective, online learning looks like a wise choice.

For more information about an online degree, visit http://www.onlinedegreeanswers.com and http://www.onlinedegreeprogramguide.com

Associate degree programs are often offered at junior colleges as well as specializing two year institutions that operate as subsidiaries of larger state and private institutions. But being the 21st century, you can’t stop without mentioning the possibility of pursuing and receiving an associate’s degree from an online university. This offers a prospective student the opportunity of going to class from their favorite place to connect to the Internet.

Associate degree programs offer a wide array of potential areas of study, whether you want to jump start your education in business and transfer to your dream college, or you want to obtain your degree and get right to work building your own business, you can most certainly do either. If in fact you do want to move into a bachelor’s program, then you will most likely want to pursue an associate of arts or science degree to help you transition smoothly into the bachelor’s degree program of your choice.

Pursuing an associate degree program online is also an excellent way to establish disciplined study habits if you are undecided on how far you want to take your education. If you enjoy it immensely, you’ll find that options are available to continue your educational process online, or to transfer those credits to a large public or private university so you can cheer for your favorite football team from the student section on Saturdays! Whatever the case may be, again, an associate degree program truly offers the prospective student a stepping stone to a new direction.

Good News! U.S. News and World Report listed civil engineering as one of the 50 best careers, and predicts the strong growth of the industry over the next decade[1]. If you’re interested in becoming a civil engineer, think about getting a civil engineering degree online. A civil engineering degree online allows you to learn the theories and practices of civil engineering while keeping your education flexible.

Online education is a great way to earn a degree while you work. Not many students are able to leave their positions to go back to school. Attending a campus-based class may not fit into a regular work schedule. That’s why getting a civil engineering degree online could be your ticket to a new and rewarding career with an associate’s degrees and/or bachelor’s degree.

You will study subjects such as physical hyrology, water resource planning and management, infrastructure engineering management, linear programming and network flows, engineering decision support and expert systems and other interesting civil engineering topics.

If you are a working civil engineer and want to advance your education, there are many master’s degree programs in civil engineering. Advancing your education with a civil engineering degree online will let you learn new subjects that you can apply in your job instantly.

Getting your civil engineering degree online is the perfect option for working professionals. The flexibility in scheduling and the freedom to work at your own pace is an advantage to anyone seeking to further their education.

1. http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2010/12/06/best-careers-2011-civil-engineer

I tell myself that when I have more time, lose weight, find the right guy, make more money, feel more secure, get a new job, walk on water – then I’ll finally be worthy of making my dreams come true. In the meantime, however, I take comfort in knowing that I’m just not “there” yet. Wherever that may be.

Eventually, though, the nagging question inevitably arises: What if I never get “there”? What if I never make more money, feel more secure? Will the right time ever come to pursue the longing of my heart?

And sometimes, just when I build myself up to a crescendo of self-doubt, a quiet whisper gently soothes me. What if I’m already “there”? Maybe, just maybe, I’ve been in the perfect place, at the perfect time, all along.

If I take the time to listen to the quieter voice, the one that comes from a deeper place, I realize that all my goals and aspirations are right here for me. The very fact that I have them means that I am also inherently worthy of living them as my reality, right now.

Our dreams, our fondest wishes, arise from the very stuff inside of us that allows us to manifest them in our lives. Our aspirations show us the way to the infinite possibilities that life holds for us. Our dreams let us know what we are capable of and show us the treasure of our worth. So, jump in, my friends. You are in the perfect place. The time is now.

In most cases, a bachelor’s degree in social work is the minimum requirement for an entry-level job. To stay competitive in the career, many social workers opt to get a master’s degree in social work. If you are planning to get a degree in social work to start your career or if you are looking for an advanced degree in social work, consider getting your social work college degree education online.

Getting your social work college degree online gives you the flexibility to earn your degree at your own pace. If you are currently working and find it impossible to take the time to attend campus-based classes, getting your social work college education online is a great option.

You will find many social work college degree programs out there for bachelor’s, master’s and even doctorate degrees. You will learn skills that will prepare you for working in case management, clinical sociology, community development, counseling and more.

Getting your social work college degree education online is the first step in starting a rewarding career or furthering your opportunities in social work where your every day goal is to help people and make a positive impact in their lives.

When considering the course development of your online education in business, a clear focus will help you achieve your educational goal. If you have yet to establish an educational goal; what are you waiting for? Whether it’s to own and operate your own business or to take necessary classes to become eligible for a promotion at your current job, you can find opportunities abounding through many accredited online universities!

As mentioned earlier, degree programs are available to fulfill the requirements for associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s (including an MBA) and doctorate degrees. The development of specific areas of study such as accounting, marketing, administration, etc. have helped to offer courses specific to each individuals online business education. And if you are only looking for particular course work that is needed for a promotion, you can find that the most popular, reputable and accredited online universities offer individual classes to those that are interested.

If interested in the development of a course load in online business education, surf over to the Liberty University Online or Florida Tech University Online just to give yourself a headstart in considering all the different options that are currently available. If you are simply scratching the surface and only considering a possible future investment in your education, there is a good chance that in another year there will be even more online business education opportunities available to choose from. It is an exciting time in the world of education!

The person working full time and desiring to improve his or her career opportunities could have and often did attend night school to complete his or her college degree.

But as any parent will tell you, making room in one’s schedule to attend night school, could be very difficult. Between homework and extracurricular activities, the average parent finds him or herself constantly on the run, carrying the children from one activity to the next.

Adult continuing education requires a commitment, not only from the student, but also from the family of the student. Children often have to give up baseball practice or band practice, in order to allow a parent to attend night school, as a requisite to advancing his or her career.

During the late 1990s, adult continuing education websites were starting to pop up here and there. However, those early online colleges struggled to get accreditation for their online course work.

Before the turn of the millennium, about the only online masters degree that a student could acquire was a degree in basketweaving. Basketweaving is the right career choice for some students, however, for some unknown reason Fortune 500 companies frown on any student who pursues a masters degree in that profession.

After the fizzle of the Y2K scare, online colleges began to get the recognition they deserved from the U.S. Department of Education. Finally, students had a choice as to where and when they would attend school, in an effort to obtain an online masters degree in a field of study that could truly forward one’s career.

When the US Department of Education finally opened the doors to accreditation of online coursework, recognized colleges began the transition to being able to offer online coursework to their students.

Students around the United States, and around the world, are flocking to the Internet to pursue an online masters degree, sometimes an online PhD program, in order to further the student’s career.

Beyond vocational fields, online colleges are currently offering accredited coursework for degrees, such as: an online masters degree in business, an online masters degree in psychology, and an online masters degree in education.

Although certain degrees require lab work on site at the college, such as some fields of medicine and other scientific fields of endeavor, students may be pleasantly surprised to learn that even most of these career fields will allow a certain portion of the coursework to be completed online.

In some cases, online students will choose to pursue an online education with a local college or university. But, in other cases, students will prefer to pursue a distance learning degree with a college or major university, halfway across the country.

Regardless of the college that a student may choose, most degreed courses will permit all of the college coursework to be completed online.

Generally, so long as a student is not pursuing a degree in a scientific field, accredited online degrees can be acquired from the college or university of choice. Having said this, one should not assume that a desired degree in a field of science cannot be be completed online.

In fact, it is far better to manually review the various online masters degrees being offered by colleges and universities around the country. You may be surprised to learn that some colleges are offering an online masters degree in biology, nursing, and engineering. Rather than to assume that some fields of study will require on-site lab work, one should do their homework and get the facts as to whether a desired field of pursuit can be completed through online coursework only.

The best thing about doing online coursework with an accredited college or university is that accreditation provides additional benefits. For example, accredited coursework will often qualify for student financial aid. Not only will your online masters degree be recognized by a future employer as a legitimate degree, the federal government will be happy to assist you in your quest to pay for your online education.

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If you’ve been thinking about going back to school to get an masters degree or PhD, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that many colleges and universities are now offering an online masters degree or online PhD program in your chosen field of study. Further information about an Online Masters Degree is available. Written by Matthew Osborne for http://www.universities.com/

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Registered nurses are required to take continuing education and these courses can either be completed online through live lectures or in person for contact hours. A CEU is usually equal to 10 contact hours (or a CE). Make sure that you, as a registered nurse, check with the accrediting body or organization before you sign up for your continuing education online RN courses. This will put your mind at ease and allow you to enjoy your convenient classes in the privacy of your own home and in your own free time.

Be sure you understand the difference between CEU’s and CE’s necessary for your qualification, then find an online course that will satisfy your obligations to continue a rewarding RN career. Do not allow yourself to get confused on what you need to do to move full steam ahead with your career. If you feel concerned, you can always contact the virtual school or organization that is providing the continuing education online courses and/or the regulating body for your registered nursing credentials. When you know all that you can about the prospective continuing education online RN course, then you can be on your way towards an exciting educational cyberspace adventure on which you maintain your professional registered nurse status!

Although some organizations and institutions offer continuing education classes during the weekend and evenings, part time continuing education is the most flexible and convenient method of all. Thas is because you can take your continuing education online program any time you want, day or night. Say it is the middle of the night and you feel like doing some learning. No problem! You just need to log on and check out your online program. It is such a simple and easy way to keep your professional status in the world. There are virtually thousands of part time continuing education programs options available! Another bonus of continuing education online is that you do not need fancy equipment. A simple Internet connection and, of course, a computer is usually all you need for your online education. There are, however, some courses which you might benefit from having books and manuscripts or a fast Internet connection. But with all the part time continuing education online programs out there, you have so much to choose from!

What does all that mean? Quite literally, as easy as it is for you to check your email from home, you can go to class, study and stay in contact with your professors. There are several accredited online schools that offer online master educations in Health Administration. A master’s education is a way to maximize pay opportunities as well as learn the skills necessary to run a successful business; in this case in the health care industry, where you just might find some job security.

One very important thing to consider in seeking an online master’s education in Health Administration is the accreditation of your institution as well as the degree program. In order to compete in the job market for the best possible pay in a fulfilling position, accreditation is your seal of approval on your resume and in your job application process. More than likely, all prospective employer’s will take the opportunity to ask you about your education during the interview process. Being able to tell them a quick anecdote about your undergraduate studies, and how focused you became while pursuing your online master’s education in Health Administration will certainly offer an excellent first impression!

For example, consider a degree in business. At most state and private universities you are probably obligated to serve 3 to 5 years of full class loads to complete a degree program. In that time you may wish that you could work much faster than your professors and peers. You love to read the material and study continuously throughout the duration of each course, so when it’s time for each exam you are ready and waiting. Pursuing an accelerated degree program online will allow you all of these luxuries at your own pace, whether you desire a degree in accounting or psychology.

Most accredited online universities are eager to work with individuals to find the best and most efficient path to success! And if you desire an accelerated degree program, often times the only thing necessary is to ask. Bottom line, your education should be about quality, not quantity. An accelerated degree program can offer the prospective student just that. Use the search box at www.universities.com to find the accelerated program right for you!

If you are already a counseling assistant and are already working in the counseling arena, you can benefit from a master’s degree online program in counseling. Usually, a master’s degree online program will require about 48 to 60 semester coursework hours and 600 hours of supervised clinical experience. During your counseling master’s degree online program, you will learn about the following topics: Human growth and development, professional identity research, program evaluation assessment, career development, group dynamics, cultural and social diversity, and relationships. Do you wonder what you have the potential to earn if you get a master’s degree in counseling? You can explore salary information as well as online counseling programs at www.universities.com.

If you have a question you raise your hand, and when class ends you leave your assignments on the teacher’s desk. Simple enough, but what if you’re taking an online class?

In this guide, distance-learning expert Michael R. Simonson answers some of the most common questions about distance learning.

Q: For distance learning classes, how is homework usually submitted?

A: Most often, assignments are sent as attachments to e-mail messages or are posted on a Web site where they can be retrieved by the instructor. Some organizations ask that copies of assignments–especially major or final projects–be sent via the postal system, but most of the time e-mail attachments are the standard medium.

Q: What do I do if I need help with my homework or have a question about an assignment?

A: The most obvious place to seek assistance is from the course’s instructor. Be sure to establish a personal relationship with the instructor: Contact him or her routinely and be proactive in seeking advice on homework and other assignments. Many quality distance education degree programs also have help desks or counselors to assist students. Many online courses also require students to form study groups. I personally feel this is the best route to take, but be sure to first check with your instructor about the rules regarding student interaction on projects and homework.

If you’re taking a self-paced, instructorless class, you’re on your own. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get help. Try searching the Web for information about the topic you are studying or asking a question in a topical chat room, such as those on MSN People & Chat! The Internet is a vast storehouse of information. The answer is out there somewhere–you just have to track it down.

Q: Is it easier to cheat in distance learning courses? How do instructors prevent this?

A: Cheating has always been fairly easy for the determined person, and distance education is no different than regular education in this respect. Increasingly, we are seeing quality degree programs that offer education to distant learners moving away from objective testing (such as a multiple choice exam) to more comprehensive methods of student assessment. Objective tests have always been the target of cheaters.

When I teach, I like to use a live audiobridge (similar to a telephone conference call) to question students about key ideas. These sessions are a little like verbal quizzes, and while students can and often do have notes in front of them, their understanding of the idea or concept becomes apparent relatively quickly.

Student assessment in a distance learning environment needs to be redesigned for the distant learner. Some methods of assessment are easier to implement than others, but almost any strategy to determine student learning is possible in a well-planned distance education environment.

When instructors give objective tests, the tests can be delivered online in either a timed or untimed environment. Some instructors ask onsite verifiers to certify that the student took the test according to the rules of the examination. Instructors increasingly use objective tests primarily for student self-assessment and use other assessment activities to determine the course grade.

Q: How do I know how I’m doing in an online course?

A: In a well-run online course, students should receive regular feedback. If you do not receive feedback you should contact your instructor and ask for information about your progress. It is a bad sign if the instructor cannot or will not provide feedback. In such a situation, you might want to consider enrolling in a different course.

Q: In a distance learning course, how can I make up a missed class?

A: Many courses don’t use a traditional schedule, so there is nothing to miss. Instead, virtual learning usually offers asynchronous classes, in which students can learn at the best and most appropriate time for them. Other online classrooms permit recording of the interactions and instructional events that may have already occurred. This is an important advantage of online learning. If these options are not available for your particular distance learning course, talk with your instructor to find out what other make-up options are available.

It’s no secret that more and more people are looking to the internet for a convenient way to further their education. Online classes are a great way to obtain an accredited college degree from home and continue to work a full time job. Many times a student can attend classes from their computer and schedule those classes around their job. Some schools allow the student to login to a class at their convenience. Imagine taking a class from the comfort of your own home and not having to deal with parking problems, child care, lunch, or transportation expenses.

You can also get an online degree from top, accredited online colleges and online schools that may not be available in your local area. An online education is also a great option for non-traditional students, the handicapped, people in remote areas, and people with a full-time job or a schedule that doesn’t allow for a traditional education.

Distance education can be delivered in several ways. We will examine two of the many ways education can be delivered via the internet.

One of the most common is through live media. In this type of online classroom, students typically login to a chat room type environment that allows not only for text chat but also live audio chat, similar to many of the popular “instant messaging” programs that are widely used today. The lecture can be heard through the computer speakers or through a set of headphones. The students communicate with the teacher and other students by text chat or simply by talking into a PC microphone. The teacher can also allow students to view him/her in a smaller window on the monitor via a webcam. The lecture can also be recorded and posted to the school website to allow students to listen to the lecture and review the material at a later time according to their schedule, and as many times as necessary. This type of online class makes it necessary to be at the computer at a scheduled time each day.

One advantage to this type of online college classroom environment is the student receives live instruction with structured classes. It is well known that students working within in a structured setting have a higher probability of success of finishing their degree. An obvious disadvantage would be lack of scheduling flexibility.

Another variation of the online classroom setting involves text messages such as email and message boards. Each class may share a group mailbox or a message board system, which becomes the “electronic classroom”. The instructor generally posts lectures on the topic of study, posts the assignments, and provides discussion questions related to the topic. The student can view lectures, notes from the instructor and other students, and assigned projects. The student can also post messages or questions to the instructor and other students.

One advantage of this system is 24 hour access to course materials and the ability to work at one’s own pace without regard to scheduling. A disadvantage would be lack of direct contact with the instructor.

In both scenarios students are expected to logon to the class site a certain number of days per week. Students also can contact the instructor via e-mail to ask questions or receive answers. When assignments are due, students send them to the instructor online or by email, where they are graded and returned. Students may also have access to their individual performance reports by logging in to a website where that information is posted. Test may also be taken online. Typically, online classes last five to six weeks.

Although the degree of difficulty is the same for the online classroom as in a traditional setting, the internet has broken down many barriers and is providing educational opportunities for people worldwide that were not previously thought possible.

Tim Arnold has recruited online students for http://www.acit.com and also recruits students via his online college portals at http://www.all-college-degrees.com and http://www.finding-a-college.com/.

Timothy D. Arnold is arguably one of the most prominent experts in the site promotion area. You can visit his site at http://www.free-text-link-exchange.com

Distance Education is fast becoming a great way to get a college degree. Online college classes are the way for a non-traditional student to earn a college degree at home. But how do these classes work? Exactly how do the students interact with the instructor and fellow students? Discover how technology has changed the delivery of education.

If the time has come for you to obtain the needed professional qualifications so that you may continue on with nursing, you will want to visit the Internet and locate the needed classes.  There is never a limit to what you can find online. Since nursing is such a vast field with numerous specialties and branches of nursing, there is a lot to learn in terms of online nursing continuing education. The spectrum of online nursing continuing education can include such courses that will teach you on subjects such as: precepting, celiac disease, child care, radiological terrorism, cardiology, bioethical terrorism, legal issues, and more. Additionally, you may find courses that include: updates in perinatal nursing, complementary health care, community nursing, women and health, and medical and surgical nursing.

The nursing field spans such a wide range of specialties that in order to fulfill everyone’s specialized needs for their continuing education.  Online continuing education courses can give you the flexibility to help you meet your requirements while keep your work schedule.  Browse www.universities.com to see what courses are offered by your school of choice. It’s just a matter of knowing what you need and finding the perfect class syllabus!

Most business programs include international business education in their curriculum. These programs can be found in colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s and masters degrees in business. With the Internet being such a friendly tool for learning, many schools now offer business education online. You will find many programs that offer International Business degrees taught over the Internet.

Students of international business will gain a foundational understanding of marketing, trade, and finance in the international business context. You will learn about trade policies of different nations, currency matters, and also cultural etiquette. When searching for international business education online, you will find graduate and undergraduate degree offerings. A Bachelor of Science or Arts in international business will help you obtain entry level positions in companies. You can also earn a Master’s Degree in International Business that can help further your career in this exciting field.

If you’’re already a working professional in international business, you may want to consider getting a graduate certificate in international business or trade. This can help you sharpen your skills and gain new knowledge regarding theories and strategies in the international marketplace. Earning an international business education online qualifies you to gain jobs in companies that deal with international markets such as manufacturers, distributors, bankers, and other businesses. You can also enter foreign services where you will be assigned to different countries where you can utilize your international business education. There are many opportunities out there for graduates with an international business degree. Furthering your international business education online will help you reach your goals with quality education that can be achieved on your schedule.

Most business schools offer a masters degree in business. If you are working or have other responsibilities that make attending normal class hours impossible, consider furthering your business education with a masters degree online.

Many students opt to further their business education with a masters degree online because of the convenience that online education provides. Learning online allows your classroom to be a computer, an internet connection and whatever setting you decide. You can connect to your virtual classroom at home, at work, at the library or maybe your favorite coffee shop. The best part is that you learn on your own schedule. No more commute time to classes and making your work schedule fit into your schedule of classes. With furthering your business education online, you decide when you “go” to class.

Furthering your business education with a masters degree online doesn’t mean that you give up the quality of your business education. Many schools have the same rigorous business education program that translates well to the virtual classroom.

When furthering your business education with a masters degree online, you’’ll find the same areas of study that you find in a traditional classroom program. A masters degree in business is typically two years of full-time study. You will be able to choose from concentrations such as Finance, Accounting, Consumer Behavior, Organizational Behavior, Information Systems, Marketing, Communications, Public Policy, Product Commercialization, Supply Chain Management, Health Systems Administrations, Quality and Applied Statistics, Insurance Management and more depending on the different programs.

Furthering your education with a masters degree online is the next step in gaining your desired position, moving upwards in your company or changing your career direction altogether. Research the programs that are right for you and you’ll be on your way

Use Your Voice!

Remember, this is the way to introduce yourself to the admission officers. Without a face-to-face meeting, your personal essay is the only way to supply a first impression. Your essay reflects your own person style and voice, qualities otherwise lost in monochromatic applications.

You need to seriously consider your personal views of the world, your passions, your experiences with friends and family, and your ambitions in life. These type of considerations will help determine what your essay will be about, and what kind of tone and attitude you will use when approaching the essay.

This is how to generally approach writing a personal essay, but there are also some fundamental elements that need to be addressed.

The Basics of Good Writing

Make sure you answer the essay question and exactly follow the provided instructions.

Your opening paragraph should be strong! Remember, you need to hook the reader immediately.

Don’t get in over your head. Your writing style should be true to your voice. It’s very obvious when someone is writing in a voice that is not their own. The style should be your own, and also suit the subject you’ve chosen to address.

Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Make sure you know what you want to talk about. Avoid the “Amazing Wandering Premise.” Choose a topic and stick to it throughout your essay.

If you decide to write an essay chockfull of interesting facts, crosscheck your research! If you mention specific events, places, people, and dates, make sure they are correct so as to avoid embarrassing mistakes.

Read your essay to other people. While your essay may be clear and flow nicely to you, other people may find parts confusing or muddled. Reading your essay for other people will help you approach the essay from fresh viewpoints, and provide insight into how other people receive your personal essay.

Be succinct. If the university provided a recommended length for the essay, adhere to the guidelines.

Always type your essay and use black ink.

Remember: this essay is a reflection of YOU. Any typos, messy layouts, or rambling sentences make it seem like you don’t take the essay (or university) seriously.

What Do I Write About?

Some applications provide prospective students with the topic. However, if the topic is not provided for you, there are literally hundreds of ways to decide what you should write about. Here are a few suggestions:

What are your interests? Think about your favorite after school events, or hobbies you participate in. These are subjects you should consider addressing, since the university application may otherwise neglect these personal interests.

Do you participate in community charity work? Are you an activist? Remember, your passion for certain pursuits will come across in your essay, and possibly spark the interest of the admissions officers. Universities want committed, impassioned students, so don’t be afraid to reflect how strongly you feel about your extracurricular work.

Consider the global events of the time. Officers look for conscientious individuals. If you feel strongly about world events, consider devoting your personal essay to some aspect of global news.

If you feel particularly engaged with a specific school subject, write about! Has this interest caused you to pursue your interests outside of school? Officers want to see that you desire to engage in intellectual prowess during and AFTER classroom hours. Unlike high school, college does not provide its students with strict study time. Students are expected to passionately pursue their own academic learning, so officers want to know you are serious about your education.

Handling the Topic

Oftentimes, an application will ask that you write about a life experience, achievement, or someone who heavily influenced your life. When an application begs this kind of question, the officers want to know the WHY over the WHAT. It’s important to retrace the exact experience, but also consider larger questions. Why did this life experience change who I was? Why is my mother my role model?

Remember: the personal essay is the university’s way to explore who you are as a person, rather than another generic application. Take advantage of the freedom provided in the personal essay. Your personal style can be used as leverage to ensure you stand out in the crowd of other applicants.

Continuing education for paramedics online provides interesting topics for you to learn at your own convenience. You can learn on shift or in the comfort of your own home. You will need a personal computer and a solid Internet connection. All you have to do is connect to your online course provider, read through the material and take a test. When you pass, you will receive a certificate to keep for your renewal application.

You will find interesting and informative topics such as abuse and neglect, advanced cardiac life support, chest decompression, infectious diseases, mass casualty incident, weapons of mass destruction, medical emergencies, neurological emergencies, traumatic brain injury, pediatric advanced life support, psychiatric emergencies and much more.

Be sure to check with your licensing board to find out how many hours of continuing education you need for renewal. Also be sure to check if there are any mandatory topics that must be completed.

Completing continuing education for paramedics online is an inexpensive and convenient way for you to learn in a fun and independent environment. You can purchase individual topics or pay a yearly subscription fee to access every topic offered. If you are looking to advance your level of education, do your research on online and on-campus degree programs to find the right program for you.

Survival in the global economy for those residing in developed countries means a transition to the service sector. The Service sector produces services, or intangible goods. As manufacturing of products or tangible goods has moved to developing countries, the service sector has replaced the industrial sector as the leading sector in the U.S. economy. By 2004, the service sector consisted of 44% of the workforce in the United States, while the manufacturing sector fell to 26%. Estimates show, that in 2000, 73.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) came from services, with only 24.9% from industry.

Service sector jobs include:

administrative and support services; government; healthcare/hospitals; public health; waste disposal; education; banking; insurance; legal services; consulting; news media; hospitality (restaurants, hotels casinos); tourism; retail sales; franchising; real estate; rental and leasing services and sales; securities, commodities and other financial investment services; truck transportation; messenger services and warehousing; information sector services; professional, scientific and technical services; and arts entertainment and recreation services.

Some potential problems with a service sector economy are that a portion of service sector work can be part-time or low paying. However, a key finding by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states that, “while the strong growth in service sector employment in the United States over the 1990s was accompanied by some growth in low-paid jobs, a much larger expansion took place in jobs in relatively high-paying occupations and industries.” Ultimately this has to do with the acquisition of skills. Higher paying jobs are found by people with higher levels of education and skill sets. In fact, according to World Bank “Producing services tends to require relatively less natural capital and more human capital than producing agricultural or industrial goods. As a result demand has grown for more educated workers, prompting countries to invest more in education – an overall benefit to their people.”

The best way to prepare for survival in a global economy is to either pursue a career or shift careers into any of the service oriented industries. Heading back to school for a bachelor, master or even a certificate in any type of business, legal, information, technical, or health related program is a great start. Any degree or skill gained in the entertainment, culinary, sport/fitness, or media industries would be another option for those who do not prefer the business environment.

1. http://www.dailyiowan.com/2011/07/28/Opinions/24344.html
2. http://coevolving.com/blogs/index.php/archive/talent-in-the-new-service-economy-creative-class-occupations/
3. http://fractal-vortex.narod.ru/productive_forces_social_revolution/theory_of_progression_of_economy_Eng.htm
4. http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/service-sector.asp
5. www.oecd.org/dataoecd/11/15/2079411.pdf
6. www.worldbank.org/depweb/beyond/beyondco/beg_09.pdf

It seems Surowiecki’s assessment may be correct. Jobs recovery is dependent on people researching and gaining new skills. There is steady growth and a large demand for workers in many fields, particularly healthcare occupations. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010-2011 Career Guide to Industries reports that 10 of the 20 fastest growing occupations are healthcare related. Due in part to aging Baby Boomers, they project healthcare to generate more new wage and salary jobs than any other industry – 3.2 million between 2008 and 2018. Furthermore, there is a wide range of qualification levels in the industry, from certificates, through associates or bachelors, and up to masters or doctorates. The Career Guide states that most healthcare jobs require 4 year degrees or less, while opportunity exists for highly educated individuals who practice diagnosis and treatment.

The U.S. News and World Report Heatlthcare category of their Best Careers of 2011 list advocates 13 healthcare professions rife with opportunity. They include:

Athletic Trainer – Athletic trainers held 16,300 jobs in 2008, and by 2018 that number is expected to climb to 22,400, a 37 percent increase, far greater than the average increase for all professions, according to the Labor Department. A bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum requirement, but many athletic trainers hold a master’s or doctoral degree.

Dental Hygienist – In 2008, hygienists held 174,000 jobs, according to the Labor Department, and by 2018 that number is expected to climb to 237,000, or 36 percent. Most of the 300 or so accredited dental hygiene programs grant associate’s degrees. After graduation, you’ll need to pass written and clinical exams and become licensed.

Laboratory Technician – Job growth is expected to be faster than average, with the number of clinical lab workers rising about 16 percent between 2008 and 2018, adding about 25,000 jobs, according to the Labor Department. For entry-level work, you’ll likely need to have an associate’s degree or complete a certificate program. It’s possible to learn some of your skills on the job.

Massage Therapist – Employment is expected to grow faster than average—19 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the Labor Department. Most states require massage therapists to complete a formal education program and pass an examination to earn a license, but standards and requirements vary widely.

Occupational Therapist – Demand for occupational therapists is expected to swell going forward, with employment increasing 26 percent between 2008 to 2018. At a minimum, occupational therapists need a master’s degree or higher in the field.

Optometrist – The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects more than 24 percent growth, or 8,500 new jobs, for the profession through 2018. There are only 20 schools that teach optometry in the United States and Puerto Rico. These are four-year institutions at universities that all require a bachelor’s degree for applicants.

Physician Assistant – The volume of jobs is expected to grow by 29,200, or 39 percent, by 2018. The path to a physical assistant job first requires completion of a two-year program at a school of allied health, a medical school, or four-year college. After graduating from an accredited school, you’ll need to pass a Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination.

Physical Therapist – Employment of physical therapists is poised to grow by more than 56,000 jobs, or 30 percent, between 2008 and 2018, according to the Labor Department. You’ll need at least a master’s degree from an accredited program and a state license, and perhaps more. More states are requiring a doctorate of physical therapy (DPT).

Physical Therapist Assistant – Between 2008 and 2018, the field is expected to grow by 33 percent, adding 21,200 jobs, according to the Labor Department. Many states require assistants to hold at least an associates degree from a two-year program. Some states also license physical therapy assistants.

Radiologic Technologist – Radiologic technologists and technicians held about 215,000 jobs in 2008, primarily in hospitals, and the Labor Department projects that number will shoot up more than 17 percent to 252,000 positions by 2018. A two-year associate degree program is the most common way to become a radiologic technologist or technician, but a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree in radiologic technology is preferable if you hope to move up to a supervisory, administrative, or teaching position.

Registered Nurse – Nursing has flourished throughout the recession. The country is expected to add 582,000 new R.N. jobs by 2018, a growth rate of more than 22 percent. The most common path to an entry-level nursing job is a bachelor of science degree in nursing or an associate’s degree.

School Psychologist – The Labor Department projects that the number of jobs held by clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will jump 11 percent between 2008 and 2018, creating 16,800 more positions. Most states require school psychologists to have earned a specialist degree in school psychology.

Veterinarian – Employment is expected to grow by 19,700 jobs, or 33 percent, between 2008 and 2018, the Labor Department reports. Demand is especially strong for those who can provide services in rural areas. Vets must graduate with a doctorate of veterinary medicine (DVM) from a four-year program at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. There are only 28 such programs in the United States, so competition for slots is intense (just one in three applicants is accepted).

1. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-recession-ended-june-2009-nber-says-2010-09-20
2. http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2011/may/30/adam-hasner/hasner-says-post-recession-job-creation-worst-grea/
3. http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2011/01/03/110103ta_talk_surowiecki
4. http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm
5. http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2010/12/06/best-careers-2011-healthcare-jobs

What are your natural talents?
When we use our natural talents, time moves fast and we tend to receive compliments for our abilities What do you always enjoy doing, and how can those skills be applied to a job?

What’s your work style?
In which environment do you tend to thrive? A flexible work environment or a structured environment that requires specific deadlines and strict guidelines?

Where do you like to work?
What’s your preferred work location? Your preference could vary from a small regional office to corporate headquarters to a home office, an airport hotel in Buffalo or a beach suite in South Florida. How often do like to work away from home? Do you mind traveling for your job?

Do you enjoy social interaction?
Do you like working with others, as part of a team, or behind the scenes – without the complications of interacting with colleagues and clients?

How important to you is work-life balance?
Do you value a short commute and a home-cooked meal every night? Do you prefer regular hours and little to no requirements to work overtime or on weekends?

Are you looking to give back?
If it’s important to know that your hard work makes a difference in the world, you should choose a career that has a component of giving back.

Are you comfortable in the public eye?
If you’re a spokesperson or your company’s representative at trade shows or special events – How does this strike you, as an opportunity or an obligation?

Do you deal well with stress?
If you thrive under the gun, you may do well in a high-stress career. But if stress makes you want to run the other way, look for jobs that are more laid-back.

Many advise self assessment or career tests to help answer such questions. However, organizational development consultant who specializes in leadership and career development, Gayle Lantz, warns that assessments must be used in conjunction with other activities to create the best career path. Lantz claims that “What is most important is making sure you understand the purpose of the assessment and work with a professional who is skilled in helping interpret results.” Steve Boller, the director and head career coach of a career guidance program named The Oxford Program, points out that “Most career tests measure one aspect of a person, such as interests, personality or aptitude, and the results are merely suggestions based on that one area of assessment…just because a person has an interest in marine biology doesn’t mean he or she has the natural abilities for the work.” Yet, as career consultant Andrea Kay discovered, career tests “can be effective in giving people ideas of possible careers that might match their skills and interests, get them thinking about how well-suited they might be for a particular career, and measure their interests, skills or values.” Free career tests can be found on the
Internet.

Another good step is to research your career ideas in the Bureau of Labor Statistics current Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ooh_index.htm). Besides an in-depth overview of the nature of the work, the future outlook for the job, and current wages, the handbook gives a current assessment of the qualifications necessary to gain employment in the field. Many careers in today’s service economy require higher education. The outlook handbook will inform you if you need a degree higher than a bachelor, for example to be a physical therapist, or simply a certificate you could use to become a paralegal.

1. http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2010/12/06/how-to-choose-a-career-thats-best-for-you
2. http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/tp/Career-Choice.htm
3. http://articles.cnn.com/2007-09-21/living/cb.career.tests_1_career-paths-career-assessment-personality-or-aptitude?_s=PM:LIVING

The answer is yes. According to dice.com, the career hub for tech, as of May 2011 Boston area IT job openings are up 19%. The Boston Business Journal suggests this indicates a shortage of talent coming out of colleges and universities. Although Massachusetts is only ranked 5th on the list of Top 10 ‘shortage states’ for tech jobs in a report by Dice entitled “America’s Tech Talent Crunch.” The number one state for tech shortage employees is California, followed by New Jersey, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Washington, Connecticut, Virginia, and 10th is Washington D.C.. Shortages like these mean a bright future for tech employees, however, it is imperative to remain smart and informed because new technologies are continually reshaping the technology sector. To avoid being left behind it is best to keep abreast of changing technologies and engage in continuing education to keep your skills up to date. In TechRepublic, Jason Hiner stated that “Most IT departments are a shadow of their former selves.” Hiner predicts that most of IT jobs will move into development, programming, and coding. He also sees a trend toward outsourcing traditional IT administration functions to third party consultants, and IT workers not in development, programming, and coding transitioning to project managers. How accurate is Hiner’s assessment?

It seems there are others who agree. Research at Stanford University led by William Miller confirms that software is now the driving technology in the computer industry. The Stanford paper reports that “From the evolution of the UNIX and Windows platforms, we have seen that applications and markets are defined by software, rather than by the hardware in place, as had been the case with earlier platforms… Moreover, we have been told in our interviews that as much as 70% of the cost of developing a new hardware system is actually spent on software development. Our research also confirms that 80% of the lifetime cost of purchasing and upgrading a computer system is actually spent on software purchase, license, development and maintenance.” Four career picks in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Careers of 2011 list are computer-related jobs. First, computer software engineer employment is expected to grow by 32%, adding 295,200 jobs between 2008 and 2011 according to the Bureau of labor statistics. These jobs will require a bachelor degree in computer science or a related field and more complex jobs will require a masters. The important thing is knowledge of programming languages. Another career pick is computer support specialist. It is expected to increase employment by 14% or 78,000 jobs. Most employers will require an associate or bachelor degree. Also picked is computer systems analyst. The expected growth is 20% or 108,000 jobs. Most employers will require a bachelor degree in a relevant field such as computer science, information science, or engineering. A final pick is network architect. This field is expected to grow 53.4%, adding 155,800 jobs. This job usually requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or management of information systems.

(certificates in languages)

1.http://ivythesis.typepad.com/term_paper_topics/2011/05/the-future-of-the-computer-jobs-industry-research-proposal-paper.html
2.http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2011/05/24/report-mass-seeing-severe-it-talent.html
3.http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=99&ArticleID=14273
4.http://news.dice.com/2011/08/01/soon-it-will-offer-just-three-kinds-of-jobs/
5.http://www.stanford.edu/group/scip/sirp.html
6.http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2010/12/06/best-careers-2011-technology-jobs

Business Pundit reported in February of 2011 that business majors are one of the fastest growing and highest paying majors. Many industries are choosing to hire business majors with a specialization in their specific industry because they place high value on business acumen. However, success in business today means innovation and design. A 2007 survey revealed that when recalling the last time they saw a product that they just had to have, 7 out of 10 American consumers said it was because of the design. Furthermore, 47% of rapidly growing businesses rank design as their number one success factor. However, Mary Neumeier writes in Bloomberg Businessweek that “…products – technological or otherwise – are not the only possibilities for design. Design is rapidly moving from posters and toasters to include processes, systems, and organizations. Design is the accelerator for the company car, the power train for sustainable profits. Design drives innovation, innovation powers brand, brand builds loyalty, and loyalty sustains profits. If you want long-term profits, don’t start with technology—start with design.”

Brand does indeed build the loyalty that sustains profits. In fact, many forward thinking leaders in business are finding social media the key to a loyal base. Normal consumers are often keeping tabs on the brands they love through dozens of social sites like Twitter or Facebook. In turn, many brands are encouraging the trend by optimizing their marketing and PR strategies to welcome such behavior. As of June 2011, 43 percent of US companies and 47 percent of companies worldwide claim they are successfully gaining new customers through social networks.

Forward thinking business majors can incorporate innovation into any field of business they choose. Although, keeping up with current trends also includes knowing which fields of business are projected to grow. U.S. News and World Report’s list of Best Careers in 2011, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, includes nine careers in the business and finance category. They include:

Accountant – Projected accountant and auditor employment growth of 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, adding 279,400 more positions. A bachelor’s degree is the first prerequisite. To work as a public accountant, you will probably need to become a certified public accountant. Most states require at least 150 hours of related of coursework before you become eligible to take the exam. That’s one reason why many aspiring accountants choose to get a master’s degree in accounting.

Actuary – Actuaries held 19,700 jobs in 2008, and that figure should grow by 4,200, or more than 21 percent, over the next decade. You’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree with a strong finance or math concentration. Consider majors in mathematics, statistics, economics, or even a degree in actuarial science, which is offered by about 100 schools.

Financial Advisers – Projected growth rate is more than 30 percent between 2008 and 2018. Advisers must develop and maintain sophisticated skill sets. Expertise is central to an adviser’s appeal to potential clients. A bachelor’s degree is necessary, and an advanced degree can be an effective marketing tool. Obtaining and maintaining the certified financial planner designation is recommended, as is membership in the Financial Planning Association or other industry groups.

Financial Analyst – Employment of financial analysts is expected to grow by 20 percent between 2008 and 2018. A bachelor’s degree is a must—preferably in finance, business administration, accounting, statistics, or economics—and many financial analysts pursue a master’s degree in finance or business administration. A license may be required, but most are sponsored by an employer.

Logistician – Employment should increase by 20 percent between 2008 and 2018. You’ll need to start with a bachelor’s degree in a field such as business, supply-chain management, process engineering, or industrial engineering. As logisticians rise into the management ranks, many get an M.B.A. or certification in various specialties.

Meeting Planner – The Labor Department projects that the number of meeting planner jobs will jump 16 percent, thanks to the growing importance of meetings to increasingly global companies. A bachelor’s degree is generally the preferred academic education. Some schools offer meetings management degrees, but real-world experience may be the most important factor in getting a job.

Public Relations Specialist – Employment of public-relations specialists is expected to increase by more than 66,000 jobs, or 24 percent, between 2008 and 2018. Most PR specialists have bachelor’s degrees in communications, journalism, public relations, or relevant fields.

Sales Manager – Employment of sales managers is expected to increase by 51,800 jobs, or 15 percent between 2008 and 2018. A college degree is mandatory – and a master’s degree in business administration is sometimes preferred – but this is a profession that tends to value experience over education.

Training Specialist – Employment is expected to jump by 50,500 jobs, or more than 23 percent, to 267,000 jobs by 2018. Requirements vary widely among those who enter the field. You’ll most likely need a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field, with classes in training and development. Internships will be helpful in finding your first job.

1. http://www.businesspundit.com/career-outlook-2011-should-you-switch-majors-now/
2. http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/aug2008/id20080813_677771.htm
3. http://www.cmo.com/social-media/why-do-people-follow-brands-infographic
4. http://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2011/5355/more-brands-using-social-networking-to-win-new-business
5. http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2010/12/06/best-careers-2011-business-jobs

Choosing some interesting subjects is an important first step to the whole process of deciding just what program you’d like to take in college or university. Without thinking this one over carefully, you could find yourself in a course that you really don’t care for, and for obvious reasons you probably won’t do so well in. This is the downfall of many students.

To give yourself a better chance at picking the right courses for yourself, when it comes time to apply, there are a few things you should consider:

• What are your likes?

• What are your dislikes?

• What were your favorite subjects in high school?

• Were there ones you’d rather avoid?

• What can you see yourself enjoying five years from now?

What are your likes?

So you are stuck when it comes to deciding what kind of program you want to get into, huh? Don’t worry about it. You certainly aren’t alone. This is a common problem for many high-school students (or even adults) trying to decide upon a new career.

Well, where should you look for inspiration as to what you might want to be in your future? A good place to look is to your hobbies. Think about something that you do already, and like it enough that you don’t even think about getting paid for it? Really… take a minute now and think about it.

Now just imagine if you could do that same thing (or something very similar) and make a living at it? Wouldn’t that be perfect? You like cooking? Why not consider becoming a chef? You like writing? Why not look into some courses in journalism? What about helping people with their problems? If you do, consider a career in social work.

Obviously, the choices are going to be very different for everyone. The most important thing to remember is if you like it, and you like it enough to be doing it already, or you’ve always had a passion for it, and wanted to do it in the future, that could be a good subject to look into for yourself.

What are your dislikes?

So, you haven’t been able to narrow down your choices enough just yet? That’s okay. We’ll just take a different approach to the subject and see what comes of it.

This time, instead of things you enjoy doing already, I now want you to think of things that you can’t stand. This way, you’ll know what kind of career paths you might rather avoid. Not to say that you have to avoid it completely… if you are the kind of person who likes to overcome certain things – say their fear of math, then by all means, enroll in accounting if that is your life’s goal.

Now, if it’s the thing you dislike that is keeping you away from the subject you were thinking about enrolling in, is there a way that you can change the circumstances slightly, so you can still do what you enjoy, without doing the part that you’d dislike?

For instance, let’s say you really enjoy helping people learn new things, but you hate having to go to the front of the class where you are the center of attention. So, becoming a teacher is probably not for you, but how about something with fewer people? What about becoming a tutor? Now all you have to do is decide what subjects you’d like to tutor people in. Those subjects would then fall into a specific course that you could apply for in college or university.

Again, everyone’s opinion as to what they like and dislike is going to be very different, so you are going to have to sit down for a while and really think about it before you come up with an answer.

What are (were) your favorite subjects in high school?

If you’re still stuck as to which courses to apply for in college or university that’s okay, I’m not giving up on you yet. I know you can do it! And couch potato isn’t a valid career unless you have been assigned the duty of testing out the new factory merchandise. That would be like becoming a professional ice cream taster. Two valid life choices, but I’m afraid I don’t know of any courses you could apply for in those fields.

Anyway, back to the lesson. How about this? Do you have any of your old report cards still kicking around somewhere? Better yet, can you remember how you did on them? I’m hoping you were able to answer ‘yes’ to at least one of those questions, because otherwise this next section might not help you out to much.

Anyway, which subjects did you excel in? Could you be a history genius in the making? You never know, you could be. If you are enjoying (or did enjoy) it in high school, and didn’t do half badly at it, perhaps a BA in History has your name written all over it. What about math, or auto shop or computers? What was your ‘thing’? Chances are they have something along the same lines in college or university.

What are the subjects you’d rather avoid?

Another approach to think about would be figuring out what you want to do, what you think you can do, and what you think you can’t do. Knowing the subjects that you just aren’t good at, or you would just rather avoid is just as important as the ones that you do like and want to pursue. This way if you have too many possibilities, it can help to narrow down the list a little more.

Tip – If you are still stuck, a good place to look is to a college’s or university’s course calendar – many of these can be found online. Just search for institutions in your area and take a look at what they are offering. You can usually also find lists of all the courses offered and often the subjects are required as a prerequisite to the specific courses. Also a little description of what you can expect during the course, and what careers are possible after graduation.

What can you see yourself enjoying five years from now?

So, with all the choices you have before you – the old ones you thought up on your own, and the new ones you read about in either a course calendar or online at an college or university website (you did read about some courses, right?), you may be wondering about some ways to narrow them down.

If that is the case, ask yourself this question – Can you see yourself in five years still liking the career you’ve chosen? How about in ten years?

Really, it’s not the end of the world if you choose the wrong course for you your first time around. Many people do it, and transfer into another course the next year. The only problem with that is tuition can be expensive. For some people, very expensive, so making the best decision early on is always best. So if you really can’t see yourself in a certain career five or ten years down the road, you might as well scratch it off the list now, instead of paying out thousands of dollars to decide halfway through the school term that the path really isn’t right for you.

You also have to take into account that the schooling itself for certain careers can take a wide range of times to complete. Some can take as little as a year, while other professions, like for instance law or medicine, can take several years. So, if you really aren’t in it for the long haul, then perhaps it’s also best to think about other options.

Continuing education classes are typically taken by adults who have finished high school or college and already begun their careers. Usually classes are taken in the evenings by working people who want or need to learn a very specific topic to advance their career. There are two basic program types: degree-based programs and non-degree training or workforce development programs. Some careers require it in order to keep licensed. For instance, doctors, dentists and nurses will keep their licenses current or earn additional certifications. Accountants must keep up with tax code and regulation changes. Engineers and lawyers must stay current to industry regulations and laws. There are a vast many fields where continuing education is key. Among them are criminal justice, sales, teaching, business, psychology, writing, sciences, and workforce training. Although many fields may require continuing education, employees who are not required, yet are ambitious enough to engage in it, are most likely to succeed in finding jobs in a competitive environment, or remain in jobs while many around them are being laid-off.

Competitive innovation is projected to produce hot jobs in the future. Technology forecaster Paul Saffo asserts that “This is a brain race. It is no longer warm and fuzzy. Lifelong learning will be a forced march. If you stop learning, you will become unemployed and unemployable very quickly.” A 2007 study by the Society for Human Resource Management concluded that “Workers skills must evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly globalized, technology-driven workplace. Skills training and professional development can provide not only the skills needed by the organization now but can also address anticipated future needs.” Continuing education is a mutually beneficial endeavor; the more knowledgeable the employees, the better the organization or institution will perform while employees gain an increase in wages and job satisfaction.

World renowned Internet marketing consultant Dave Synder advises on where to focus as you continue in knowledge, he writes “First, place your current knowledge status, and for God’s sake be honest with yourself. If you are new to the game then embrace that, if you are a ten year veteran embrace that. There are resources out there for every learning level.” A good second step is to look into a local community college’s offerings. Rick Osborn, president of the Association for Continuing Higher Education, explains that “In general, community colleges have been more receptive to listening to what businesses want, and tailoring programs to those needs.” It’s a new world we live in, business is anything but usual, but those with the drive to survive will prosper.

1 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Importance-of-Continuing-Education&id=1017765
2 http://www.onlinecontinuingeducationhelp.com/
3 http://education.careers.org/topic/92-continuing-education
4 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20284970/ns/business-future_of_business/
5 http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/12/07/focus4.html?b=1260162000%255e2527741&ana=e_vert
6 http://stephanienorsworthy.com/the-importance-of-continuing-education-in-health-care/
7 http://www.blueglass.com/blog/the-importance-of-continued-education/
8 http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/12/07/focus4.html?b=1260162000%255e2527741&ana=e_vert

Textbooks priced for the American market can often be found at online stores without the pricing constraints found at U.S. booksellers. Your local campus bookstore could be buying discount textbooks from an internet bookseller located in the UK or Canada and then reselling them to you at a profit!

So… why not cut out the middleman and buy your own books overseas? Sounds easy enough. However, before buying textbooks from overseas websites, several factors need to be considered:

1) Not all textbooks are available at overseas sellers.

2) Editions may vary, books may be softcover instead of hardcover, copyright dates may be different etc. Students need to check with their professors and make sure which versions and editions of a specific book are allowed in class.

3) Currency exchange rates may vary. This will affect how much you actually pay for the book.

4) Books published in other countries may be tagged as not for resale in the U.S. Therefore students may not be legally able to resell the book after completing their semester.

4) Shipping is always more on overseas purchases. (Buying more than one book at a time may save on shipping though).

Even considering all these factors, textbooks can often be had at a 25% or more discount from overseas booksellers.

Where to start? AmazonUK is a good place to begin looking. Or try a search for U.K. and Canadian booksellers.

One final point. Regardless of whether you buy your textbooks from overseas sellers or not, it’s always a good idea to to check online prices (new and used) before buying a book.

Find more Personal Financial Tips at pftown.com

A degree can get you everywhere and it can get you into better-paid positions than you might otherwise be able to reach. However, the number and variety of degrees available today is bewildering, so it’s advisable to do some research before deciding on your options.

Studying for a degree entails responsibility, as you will be devoting several years of your life towards a qualification that will benefit you in years to come. Time management skills are important, especially if you already have a full-time job and family. Even if you don’t have many prior time commitments, earning an education can be expensive. At the very least, a part time job will help to keep finances manageable and debt to a minimum, but many students don’t have the capacity to hold down a job and do well with their studies.

More importantly, you need to understand the goals of obtaining your degree. This is vital in order to select the right program of study. Sometimes this will be obvious. For example, if you want to become a fashion designer you will need a degree in fashion design. Other times, you will need to do career research to determine the best degree for your educational goals. If you’re not sure exactly what career you wish to pursue, your aim should be to acquire a broad range of skills by choosing a degree that can be applied to a wide variety of careers.

There are many different styles of online classes, but there are few things that are constant among all classes. Learning more about the basics of online classes can help you decide if they’re right for you, and once you enroll, let you get the most out of the experience.

Getting Started

Before you even register for a class, there should be a website that lists any technical requirements. Especially take note of any required software. For instance, one professor required us to download a particular application so that we could listen to recorded comments. Several other classes asked us to post assignments to the web, so web-authoring software was helpful. Knowing about these technical requirements ahead of time will prevent any unnecessary stumbling blocks as you begin your new learning adventure. Don’t miss out because your outdated browser can’t support features on the class website or e-mails are going to a school account you haven’t activated yet.

The Class Website

All online classes will have a class website that serves as the class meeting place. Some schools use commercial products like Blackboard (http://www.blackboard.com), while others create their own interface (http://angel.msu.edu). The instructor will post readings and assignments here, you’ll have class discussions, and you might even upload your homework to this site. Once it’s time for the class to begin, the first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with your “classroom.” Check out the site’s features and make sure that you can perform required tasks like posting to a discussion board or opening up the chat room. Consider the time you spend just exploring the class website an investment in your future success with the class.

Assignments and Deadlines

Of course, in addition to getting used to all the technical features of your class website, you should also read the syllabus and assignments to get a sense of upcoming work and deadlines. Notice whether class readings will be provided for you online or if you will need to purchase any textbooks. Readings and assignments are usually organized by week, just like in a face-to-face class. Depending on the class, there may also be deadlines within each week. For example, you may be asked to read several articles and post a response by Tuesday, post a reply in the discussion forum by Wednesday and then write a summary of your thoughts by Friday. While staying organized and being aware of deadlines is important for any class you take, it’s even more vital to an online class because you won’t have any in-person reminders.

Online Community

Many class websites have a place for you to upload a picture and personal profile. Some classes will turn introductions into the first assignment. Take full advantage of any official tools like this, and if your class doesn’t provide a getting-to-know-you assignment take the initiative to say hello through e-mail or a post on the class discussion boards. It takes a little more effort to get to know your classmates when you can’t just turn to the person sitting next to you and say hi, but it’s definitely worth it in terms of the connections you’ll make.

In many online classes, the instructor will divide the students into smaller groups, in some cases to complete a group project and in others to simply discuss issues with each other. Working with a group online can be intimidating at first, but it is certainly possible. Just remember to keep the lines of communication open, do your part in group activities, and check the website and/or your e-mail frequently enough to be a resource to your group members. There is nothing more frustrating than being held back by a group member who just won’t respond. At the same time, working together to create a final product can be highly rewarding.

Outside of small groups, the discussion forums and chat rooms are the most vital part of building community in an online class. There can be problems with the asynchronous nature of the discussion forums, but in many cases, students can develop a lively and thought-provoking discussion as the class progresses. The most important thing is to not be afraid of responding to others’ ideas. Don’t just post your required piece and leave … read what everyone else has to say and comment, comment, comment.

While earning my degree, I worked with students from Norway, Switzerland, and Brazil. If you’re the student in the US, it can be great to come in contact with such diverse classmates that you wouldn’t necessarily find in a traditional class. If you’re the potential student in Hong Kong or even just hours away from your school of choice, your location doesn’t have to get in the way of earning the degree you want. Scheduling group chats around different time zones can be difficult, but otherwise, online learning knows no geographical boundaries.

Time

A great advantage of online classes is flexibility. You have a certain amount of work to do each week, but you can schedule it at your convenience. You don’t have to worry about blocking off three hours to attend class every Thursday evening. The disadvantage to this is that since you don’t have a set time for the class, it might get pushed aside with all of the other commitments begging for your time. The old saying “out of sight, out of mind” can lead to danger in an online course. If you are going to take an online class, you must be disciplined enough to make yourself work when there is no teacher standing directly over your shoulder, and you must be able to dedicate the time necessary to visit the class website regularly and be a steady contributor to the class.

The Instructor

The final piece of an online class that we’ve only mentioned briefly is the instructor. Each one will have his or her own way of running the class, just like in classroom instruction, so make sure that you understand each particular instructor’s expectations and deadlines. You’ll hear from your teacher at the beginning and end of each week/module/unit with assignments and summaries, but you’ll just as often see them posting right alongside you in the discussion forums. It’s a great opportunity to draw from their wisdom and experience. If you want more direct feedback from the instructor, you’ll need to initiate the contact through e-mail – a bit more impersonal than office hours, but available around the clock.

The Bottom Line

Online learning is what you make of it, and just like with any class, what you take away from the experience will be directly proportional to what you put into it. In the end, the most important thing to remember is that an online class is different from a face-to-face class and different from other forms of distance learning. There are advantages and disadvantages, and you have to weigh them against your situation and your personality to decide if online learning is for you.

MSU’s Online MA in Education – http://ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/onlineedu/

University of Phoenix Online Programs – http://online.phoenix.edu/

This question is often a very important consideration for any student contemplating additional schooling to advance their education further.

They simple answer is: it depends…

The answer is that it depends on your field of study and where you may live in the country. It will also depend on who your employer may be.

To put this into better perspective, according to recent polling conducted by the job search site, Indeed.com, a person living in New York City, who possesses a bachelor’s degree will not receive an increase in pay if they were to only increase their degree to a masters degree. However, the same student living in the same city could expect a $6000 per year increase in salary, if the student were to pursue a PhD. Furthermore, the same student who finished a MBA program could look forward to a raise in salary of roughly $26,000 per year.

In San Jose California, another student in the same position would see the same level of salary increase for the same degree pursuits, although the jobs would pay roughly $6000 less than the same position in New York City.

Of course, these numbers are based on an average scaled across several employers within the same marketplace.

The truth is that IBM may actually pay considerably more money then one of their competitors, or vice versa.

It should be noted that these numbers as referenced are not all-inclusive. These numbers are actually just a snapshot of one industry, in two cities, during 2008.

For example, a PhD in medicine is worth far more than a masters degree in medicine. Depending on the specific medical specialty, the difference in salaries between an employee with a masters degree and an employee with a PhD can usually be calculated in multiples of two to four. In other words, the person holding the PhD could legitimately earn two-times to four-times as much as his or her counterpart, who holds only a master’s degree.

As to this particular question, the answer is not one that we could develop in this article for all industries, and all locations, across the country. Instead, in this article, we can only speak to generalities.

One should do their homework – no pun intended – when it comes to answering the question about whether additional coursework could significantly increase one’s salary.

It is not uncommon for an individual to complete a bachelor’s degree or a masters degree in a particular field, and then to change majors later when he or she returns to school. Often times, the question of whether one could increase their salary with additional education will lead a person to change career fields, once the answer to the question is known.

For example, let’s take a quick look at the 2006 salary numbers for a person who holds a degree in sociology, according to the US Department of Labor:

* Rehabilitation counselors typically earn a median annual income of $29,200. These positions are typically held by a person who holds a bachelors degree in sociology.

* A substance abuse counselor is generally required to hold a masters degree in counseling and earns a median annual salary of $34,040.

* Also requiring a masters degree in sociology, a marriage and family counselor had a medium annual income of $43,210, an income that was generally shared by school counselors.

* For those who desire to earn a good living as a counselor, a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) is required for an individual to enter into private practice. Private-practice psychologists earned a median income of $69,510 in 2006.

In the case of the person holding a degree in sociology, a PhD program in sociology could enable a person to double their salary, as compared to a person holding a masters degree in sociology.

When considering the difference in salary between a bachelors degree and a master’s degree in sociology, an individual may opt to switch careers rather than to pursue adult continuing education. However, if one is willing to increase their goals to pursue a PhD in sociology, one can literally expect to double his or her income as a result.

Other fields of endeavor typically offer the same level of financial rewards to the person willing to pursue a PhD program in his or her chosen field. Notice: do your homework to be sure that your field of pursuit will offer this level reward to the person achieving a PhD in their field.

Adult continuing education is a tough pursuit for any person who has a family at home. The needs of children often complicate the lives of the parents, making it even harder to make time to attend a local college or university.

In recent years, many online schools have received accreditation from the US Department of Education, to offer online PhD programs to their students.

One of the greatest advantages of pursuing an online PhD program, beyond the financial rewards of acquiring a PhD, is the fact that a student can attend class at a time that is most convenient for him or her. For example, with young children in the home, the children are often shuffled to bed around 8:30 in the evening. This gives the parent a few more hours in the evening to complete his or her continuing education course work, after the children have gone to bed.

Once you have determined that it is in your best financial interest to pursue a PhD in your chosen field of study, you will find a wide selection of online PhD programs, from various colleges and universities around the country.

—

If you’ve been thinking about going back to college to pursue an online PhD program, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that many colleges and universities are now offering an online a wide variety online PhD programs in your chosen field of study. Further information about online phd programs is available. Written by Matthew Osborne for http://www.universities.com/

1. Call your assigned roommate sometime during the summer. Get to know them a little bit, their personality, their likes and dislikes. If you live close to one another, possibly arrange a time to meet and spend a day together to get to know one another better. Find out what they plan to bring so the two of you don’t get stuck figuring out where to put the televisions you each brought.

2. Dormitories (“dorms”) are known as residence halls at some schools. Make sure you call them what they’re supposed to be called because some schools look down on the word “dorm” because it can have a bad connotation. Look it up on the internet or talk to someone else who’s lived on campus to make sure.

3. Dorm rooms are TINY, so make the most of your space by finding ways to optimize your storage system. Closets are perfect for storage. To add storage space underneath your bed, raise it using cinderblocks. If you have a loft style bed (bunk bed over a desk), use the space underneath the desk for storing things. Anywhere you can put something, put it.

4. Cardboard boxes are nice for moving, but trunks and storage tubs are worth the money. They don’t require packing tape, they’re relatively inexpensive, most come with handles, and they don’t have the risk of tearing and spilling all of your things all over the ground. Another plus: they’re reusable from year to year and storage tubs are stackable and can be stored in one area.

5. Don’t bring too much stuff with you. If you can go home a few times throughout the semester, don’t bring your entire bedroom with you to school. You may think you’ll need it, when in reality you won’t. Before you take it to school, ask yourself when you’re going to use it. For example, if you know your dorm room already has a light, don’t bring a floor lamp to light the room. If your room comes with a desk, don’t bring your own, because you have to find somewhere to put the one provided. Minimizing is key.

6. There are things that you’ll see others with and wonder: “Why didn’t I think of that?” Here are a few common things that can come in handy throughout the year:

–A clip-on light for your bedpost so you can study/read in the dark without disturbing your sleeping roommate.

–If you’re in a bunk bed, a pouch that hangs from your bedpost. You can store glasses/contact cases, remote controls, pencils/pens, or anything else that may come in handy while you’re up in your bed.

–A small supply of nonperishable food. If you’re lucky enough to be on a campus that has a dining hall, still have some sort of food with you. Sometimes things come up and you’ll miss a meal, so it’s better to have something on hand.

–Folding chairs. You know, those chairs that fold up into a 3-4 foot tall cylinder shape? Have one or two of those handy. They can be used as guest seating or lounge chairs for television watching or studying.

7. Make friends with the local bulk-food stores, office supply stores, fast food restaurants, and stores like Wal-Mart. Bulk food stores provide food at bargain prices, so when your food supply in your room runs dry, replenish it at one of these places. Office supply stores come in handy when your printer runs out of ink and you need a cartridge NOW. Know when the different fast food restaurants close so you know which ones to go to when you want to satisfy those late night cravings. Stores like Wal-Mart have everything you’ll ever need at relatively decent prices.

8. If you’re allowed to, post things on your door. A whiteboard is beneficial. People can leave notes for you that way, and it’s a good way for people to get to know each other. Post a picture of yourself and your roommate so people can put faces to names. If your resident advisor hasn’t done so, make nametags and put them on the door. Decorate half of the door your way, and let your roommate decorate their half the way they want. It shows that you are two different people, and lets the other residents get to know your unique styles each time they walk by.

9. Make a point to get to know the people in your hall. If that seems like too many, get to know the ones who live closest to you. Two doors on either side is a good rule. When you see them, greet them by their name. If they’re free and you want to go to dinner, ask them to accompany you. It’s a good way to make new friends, especially if you both haven’t lived away from home before.

10. Call your parents at least once a week, preferably more right after you leave. You may feel that you’re over whatever separation anxiety you may have had, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t. They worry about you, and calling to check in shows that you care.

11. When scheduling classes, have a map of the campus handy. Place your classes close together so you’re not sprinting across campus three days a week.

12. Participate. During the first few weeks of school, many organizations are holding activities on campus. Take a look at them and find some that you think you’ll like.

13. Don’t come to school with the ideas that fraternities and sororities are all about having parties and coming to class drunk. Most fraternal and sororal organizations are not social, meaning that they provide something beneficial to the school. If you’ve chosen a major already, look around the department to see what the organizations have done there.

14. Go to class. Get to know the teacher’s teaching and testing style. Find out what’s needed to get a decent grade in the class. Keep the syllabus that they hand out at the beginning of the year.

15. If you choose not to go to your classes, you’re putting your grade at risk. But if you insist on missing classes to do other things, here are a few tips to keep your grade up:

–If attendance is mandatory, don’t miss the class at all.

–If attendance is not mandatory or you’re in a big lecture hall where attendance cannot be taken, attend class at least once a week.

–If you have a friend in the class, take turns going and trade notes with each other to keep up.

–Find out when tests and exams are so you don’t miss them.

16. Don’t do anything dumb that’s against the law. You’ll get in trouble, and possibly kicked out of the school.

College is all about having fun while going to school. Keep these tips in mind, and your first year will be one to enjoy.

A 2008 study conducted by Lisa Jiang of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania reported that revenues of nonprofits have increased 144 percent in the last two decades and the number of nonprofits increased 115 percent from 1977 to 1997. Jiang explains that “Research suggests that there is a growing leadership deficit in the nonprofit sector due to the retirement of the baby boomers, the changing nonprofit environment and the growth of the sector. A survey by Bell, Movers and Wofred (2006) found that a quarter of executive directors were planning to leave their positions in the next five years and 9 percent were already in the process of leaving. Even more alarming, the study revealed that of those who intended on leaving, less than a third had discussed succession planning with their board. Thomas Tierney (2006) suggests that, in order to support the sector’s growth, nonprofits will need to recruit and develop 640,000 new senior managers – nearly 2.5 times the number currently employed in the sector for the next decade (Tierney, 2006). Beginning in 2016, 80,000 new executives will be needed each year in nonprofit organizations (Tierney, 2006). These upcoming leadership demands have raised concerns and have placed an even greater emphasis on leadership development.”

This means, not only will the nonprofit sector need more leaders, it will need more professionalized leaders. Professionalizing entails hiring highly qualified professionals with degrees in as wide a range of fields as there are a range of nonprofits. Nonprofit missions vary and include such interests as environmental preservation, the arts, health education, and youth recreation.[5] In order to compete with the for-profit sector, nonprofits must be effectively and efficiently managed and marketed. Business professionals with MBA’s, masters in finance and in marketing are continuing to find employment in the nonprofit sector. Often, after some time working in nonprofit, such professionals will enter schools of public administration or social work and earn degrees or certificates to enhance their work performance and pay scale. Some options include a nonprofit certificate or a masters degree in nonprofit management, public administration, public policy, urban planning, or social work.

Other fields where highly-skilled professionals may find employment in nonprofit include psychology/counseling, health care, museum studies and technology. Competition also drives nonprofits to keep up with the latest technologies and even strategies such as social networking.

[1] Jeff Cain, “What’s drving non-profit sector job growth in a down economy?” Philanthropy Daily 31 May 2011.

[2] Richard C. Feiock, Jang H-S. (2008), “Nonprofits as Local Government Service Contractors”, Working Paper, Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University.

[3] Katalin Dobrai and Ference Farkas, “Growing Professionalism in the Services of Nonprofit Organization,” Review of International Comparative Management Dec. 2010 V. 11.5. 894-902.

[4] Lisa Jiang, “The Nonprofit Sector: Examining the Paths and Pathways to leadership Development.” The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania. May 2008.

[5] Elizabeth Boris, “Myths about the Nonprofit Sector,” Charting Civil Society No.4 July 1998.

Never before has online education been more esteemed than today. In most circles online learning is haled as a viable alternative to traditional classroom settings. Not long ago, distance learning was perceived as trendy, faddish and nuvo. What’s happening to change that?

The driving forces behind the online education phenomena are convenience and demand. Two reasons you can obtain an education and “have it your way.” How are the terms demand and convenience important to online education? Let’s take a look. As we take the opportunity to explore the up-trending in online education you will easily see why these terms are important to it, and why so many Americans are turning to classes offered via the internet to fulfill there educational needs.

Demand. Demand here implies that a need is being met. This is important because without the need for online education programs they simply wouldn’t exist. Schools are adding online educational opportunities at a rate of 10 to 15 a month. That’s quite remarkable considering

10 years ago, distance learning via internet was scoffed at. Neither educators nor students are laughing now! Hundreds of students are completing their e-classes online in virtual class rooms each month, they are obtaining an actual degree their own way, and upon doing so, receive their diplomas and transcripts as proof of their hard work.

Numerable online programs are awarding their students with earned authentic degrees that they will utilize to gain employment or improve and increase the wage they currently receive from their present employer.

Convenience, the second force that makes online education work is no less important. Because colleges online are so convenient, Americans can have education their own way, and students from all walks of life can be reached.

Distance learning degrees are available to the stay at home parent, the single parent, the working parent, working class men and women of all ages, and home bound men and women as well. If you are unemployed or under employed distance classrooms are just the thing for you. Did you think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from an online program? An online degree can make a difference.

Today, potential students are not limited to community classes, universities housed on large campuses, or night school. The anywhere, anytime convenience of education online is waiting for you. Online degrees aren’t limited in subject content, either.

Virtually any subject you wish to study is becoming increasingly available on the internet. Do you have an interest in a foreign language? Have you ever wanted to study the arts or sciences? Is computer technology your field of interest? What are you waiting for? The market is right for you, employers are looking for someone like you, and there is a program that is convenient enough for you.

Now you can see how online degrees have become so prevalent. First, we need them. And, secondly, we want them. So many of us in today’s world require a user friendly way to obtain additional education, that it just makes sense. Investigate what an online degree can do for you. Search for a degree that interests you. Then see what everyone is talking about. Receive your online degree today, get your education and have it your way.

Timothy Arnold is an college recruiter and presently recruits college students via his college portal http://www.finding-a-college.com/ and http://www.choosing-your-college.com/

Once look at the application form, and a potential student may see the parity of what they have to offer in comparison to what some of the colleges and universities expect. On one side of an 8 x 11 sheet of paper, they are asked to include their activities for school, community, and service. There are enough lines available to list thirty to fifty activities if you include them as a series of activities. College candidates may feel their chances of being accepted by a good university are small when they look at their past accomplishments.

On the flip side, colleges recognize the need to draw exemplary students to their campus more than ever. After all, the students, in part, determine what the campus will be like in coming years. This is part of the entire school experience and it will either draw students to the school or send them to look elsewhere.

Colleges, usually list statistics on their current students including SAT scores, nationalities, class rank, percentiles, and more. In fact, the average range of SAT scores for current students is listed along with a variety of other details. Partly, this is done to enable students the opportunity to determine if this is indeed the correct campus for them. Then again, it is also done in part to draw students of similar caliber to their doors.

It’s important for students to realize that they must begin preparing for college long before their senior year, or even junior year, for that matter. In fact, most colleges ask for a complete record of a student’s entire high school career. A student must provide a high school transcript, a list of all school activities including the years of participation, and a list of community activities when they want to be considered for acceptance.

If a student does not begin looking toward the future when he or she first enters high school, then he or she will be looking forever backward and wondering why he or she didn’t do something earlier when it might have made a difference. After all, if a student has not joined a single club, activity, or sports team, until he or she becomes a senior and suddenly starts joining everything, this will likely be recognized for a ruse.

Parents need to assist their children with the skills they need to ensure that they have no trouble getting into college. They need to teach them how to study properly, to encourage them to try new activities, and to support them in their efforts to do well. If a child believes that something is attainable, then it will become attainable. If a parent guides the child with the belief that anything is possible if he or she wants it badly enough, then the child will be motivated to succeed at getting into the college of their choice.

To get into a good college, a student must have more than good grades or a gifted skill for a particular sport. Service and leadership are important as well. Does the student volunteer his time or services to help those less fortunate? Does the student present any initiative in leading others in a particular endeavor, school or otherwise? Has the child participated in scouting, choir, play, or 4-H?

Moreover, whether a student has a job is a factor in the college admittance scenario. Does the student have a part-time job? Has the student shown any initiative in beginning a new activity or club at school? Has she done anything extraordinary such as inventing something or winning special awards or commendations?

However, don’t be fooled into thinking that the more a student can list on their application, the better his or her chances are for getting admitted into the college. The quality of the activity is often more important than the quantity. Participation in activities outside of the high school environment is also valued highly by colleges, as this shows a motivation to find something to do beyond what the school offers.

Additionally, scores are a critical part of the whole decision making process. Therefore, early preparation can be helpful. While studying alone may not help the student to achieve perfect scores, it can help to improve his or her scores. In fact, today the student is able to take the SAT several times before applying to the college of their choice. Moreover, additional tests such as subject tests are available for the students so that they can show off their area of expertise.

Getting into college shouldn’t be a chore. Never lose sight of the fact that high school should be enjoyable as well as informative or preparatory. Students should only join those activities for which they have an interest. Moreover, if their schools do not have any clubs or activities that interest them, they should look elsewhere. Becoming a well-rounded individual is a unique process that will enrich a student’s life well beyond college.

We all know the story, the uber-successful guy with only a high school diploma. While anecdotal evidence may suggest otherwise, hard data indicates: a four-year degree can indeed pay off. Improved marketability, increased wages, and enhanced job satisfaction are often attributed to a degree.

Not all degree programs are created equal—certain majors are more in demand than others, and lower-cost university programs offer better cost-to-value ratios than pricier institutions. Learn the facts about the real value of a college education below.

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Every year, students look for ways to make their applications stand out from the crowd. The underlying assumption seems to be that if you aren’t accepted, it’s because all those other applications put an unfair burden on the admissions officers’ memories. It isn’t that the other applications are better than yours. They simply overwhelm yours with their sheer numbers. Here are five surefire ways to ensure that your application will be remembered.

1. Hire an admissions consultant

While the consultant will not enhance your application in any concrete way, he or she will charge you an exorbitant amount—and we all know college doesn’t cost enough on its own.

2. Disregard the application directions

When applying to an institution of higher learning, nothing gets attention like demonstrating your inability to follow basic instructions. One popular strategy is to leave out a required document because you waited until the last minute to pull the application together.

3. Exceed the word count on your application essay

More is better, right? Surely the decision makers who are reading thousands of essays on the same old topics, year after year, will appreciate your willingness to offer even more of the usual tripe.

4. Miss the application deadline

An application that comes in late screams, “Look at me! I’m so special that I don’t have to follow the rules!”

5. Dress down for the personal interview

Ripped jeans and a rumpled shirt will show that you are not intimidated. Interviewers will certainly notice that you are so confident that you feel no need to show deference or respect.

Oh wait—you want to get accepted?  Well, that may take a bit more doing. The fact is, decisions are based on factors that are too late for you to change: grades and SAT scores. They need to be higher than the other applicants’ grades and scores.

So let’s assume you make it onto the short list. Now a memorable application will count for something, right? Wrong. When the decisions get down to a matter of decimal points, colleges try to foster diversity by selecting students from different geographic regions and backgrounds.  In any given year, the pool of applicants will have many differences. Thus, you have no way of knowing whether your address, gender, socioeconomic status, or ethnicity is a benefit or liability.

By the time you fill out your application, you’ve already done what you can to affect the outcome of the decision. The best you can do now is to present a complete and accurate representation of your performance and accomplishments.

If students know about scholarships, they can apply for them, but many students do not know that college scholarships exist. Most students do not understand that there are scholarships obtainable to them, which could pay a major part of their education. In fact, the college scholarship can be used for any educational opportunity. This is includes private or public college, junior college or four-year universities, graduate or certificate programs.

What are college scholarships?

College Scholarships programs come in a variety of forms, which are normally considered free college money. College scholarships, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Scholarships can be awarded directly to students in a form of a check or to the school itself. You can receive a scholarship from any of the following types of organizations: charitable foundations, businesses, schools, universities, government agencies, and sometimes-even clubs or groups within the school.

Who can get college scholarships?

Although many scholarships are granted based on grades, this is a misconception. There are scholarships for less than perfect academics as long as you meet the other requirements. They range from athletic scholarships, to community service scholarships.

Many scholarship providers want to reward students for choosing a particular school or state. It is believed by older students that only college-bound high school seniors can apply for scholarship awards, this is not true. Scholarships are accessible for all levels of college study, from freshman undergrads to graduate students. You will need to make sure that you check the requirements for each scholarship for which you apply.

How do students find college scholarships?

It takes some time and energy to find and apply for scholarships, but the hard work will most likely pay off. You can sometimes find them by asking department heads if there are available scholarships, in the department you will major in.

Some student’s use highly regarded and accurate scholarship search services on the Internet to save time in the searching process. This is highly recommended. Online resources are a good idea as long as the website offers updated, current data and a way to match the student with the scholarship.

High school students can ask their guidance counselors about their eligibility for local or state scholarship awards. You should also make sure that you contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, to see if they qualify for awards issued by the school. Finally yet importantly, students should ask their parents and friends to be on the lookout for scholarships, while always checking local bulletin boards and newspapers for additional scholarship listings.

For more information, visit http://www.collegescholarshipinfocenter.com

1. You are paying for research.
A May 2011 policy paper from the Center for College Affordability and Productivity reports that at the University of Texas at Austin, 20 percent of professors teach 57 percent of the student credit hours. The author of the report, Dr. Richard Vedder, argues that if the bottom 80 percent of the professors taught as many students as the top 20 percent, tuition would be cut in half. And while these results are preliminary, they are typical of colleges across the U.S. And no amount of analysis or number crunching will change the fact that a large part of the tuition you remit to the college of your choice will be used to pay professors who are doing more research than teaching.

2. You don’t necessarily get what you pay for.
College professors are not required to take any education courses. While they are experts in their field, they are not necessarily expert teachers. They have not taken any coursework to prepare them for most effectively delivering instruction, measuring student progress, or remediating when students have difficulty. Paying for a high-quality education carries an implicit promise that you will receive high-quality teaching. Instead, it has become a sink or swim proposition.

3. They don’t care how long it takes.
To generate income, colleges encourage high enrollments. However, as crowds of students progress and declare majors, many find that they are increasingly shut out of required courses. Colleges are investing more in popular low-level courses and offering fewer and fewer segments of the in-depth higher-level courses. There simply aren’t enough spots for the students who need the courses. Because of this imbalance, many students need five to five and a half years to complete a four-year degree.

4. You may not have their full attention.
According the 2010-2012 Occupational Outlook Handbook of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many faculty members supplement their incomes by consulting, doing research, writing for publication, teaching at other colleges or doing other work. Colleges are trending toward more “part-time” professors. For example, in 1960, 75 percent of college instructors were full-time. Currently, only 27 percent of the instructors are full-time professors. The rest are graduate students or adjunct and contingent faculty. In other words, teaching you may be a part time job for them.

Although these four facts are not secrets, they are not widely discussed at college open houses or in the glossy brochures that come in the mail. If they were, more people would see that the bricks under the ivy-covered façade are crumbling. Students at traditional colleges are investing more and getting less. As a result, many students are taking advantage of on line education options where the efficient and economical transfer of knowledge and skills is the primary goal. And isn’t that what college should be?

1. They may use test generators.
Many college professors use electronic test generators provided by the textbook company. Test generators can have a useful role, but they place an inordinate emphasis on textbook content. The price tag at brick-and-mortar colleges and universities suggests that live instruction is a unique benefit. However, if you are evaluated primarily on your ability to regurgitate textbook content, you have to wonder how much that face time at traditional colleges is really worth!

2. They might let a computer grade your paper.
Professors may also use technology to grade exams and even papers. That’s right, that paper you sweated over might not even be read by your professor! Most experts agree these programs are no substitute for a professor’s thoughtful reading of your work. In an article in the Chronicles of Higher Education, Dr. Dennis Baron, professor of English and linguistics at University of Illinois writes, “such programs are neither necessary nor effective.”

3. Your grades might be influenced by political pressure.
In recent years, many universities and colleges were suspected of inflating grades. In the ensuing media storm, many colleges are attempting to “recalibrate” the grading system to reestablish credibility. Some prestigious colleges are even setting grading quotas. For example, “Inside Higher Ed” May 2011 reports that Princeton University hopes to reduce the proportion of A grades to less than 35 percent. Princeton’s dean is quoted as saying that the university should have not trouble achieving that goal. When your goal is to get an A, and the university’s goal is to withhold the A, which goal do you think the professor will prioritize?

4. They don’t have to follow rules for grading.
Except for the aforementioned pressure to give lower grades, traditional universities rarely set any other parameters for establishing a consistent grading policy. One of the most egregious examples is the infamous “attendance” grade. Students at Bridgewater State University report that some professors add almost a whole letter grade as a “bonus” for good attendance. Other professors penalize poor attendance by lowering the grade. If you are paying for a traditional college education, shouldn’t the grading policy be more sophisticated than the one your teachers used in grade school?

5. Your grades bore them.
Record keeping is an onerous and boring task. Some professors put off recording grades until the end of the semester. Even when they keep up with record keeping, it is frighteningly easy for a number or letter to be entered into the wrong column or row. There is a strong potential that a professor will at some point succumb to the error-inducing effect of a mind-numbing grid of grades.

Unfortunately, traditional colleges are increasingly staffed by professors for whom these five issues are standard operating procedure. A growing number of students recognize this and are giving up the cozy campus for a more contemporary model of education. Wherever you attend, stay alert and make sure you get your money’s worth.

Even for teachers straight out of college, the starting pay level for teacher who holds a Masters in education can be as much as $16,000 higher than the teacher with a bachelor’s degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, teachers holding a bachelors degree generally start at $31,000, while teachers holding a Masters degree generally start in the range of $48,000 a year.

Simply put, a Masters degree in education (M.Ed.) will allow teachers to continue their careers in the grade specialty that they have chosen. A Masters in education will not force a teacher to abandon elementary, middle or high school teaching positions, but it will allow the teachers who hold that degree to earn more money for the same work.

It is true that someone only needs to hold a bachelors degree in education in order to stand in front of the classroom. But, the bachelors of English curriculum includes only the basic knowledge that an individual need in order to serve as an effective teacher for his or her students.

However, the curriculum for the Masters degree in education will deliver a more advanced understanding of classroom management skills, the required curriculum for students, and the students themselves.

A Masters degree in education has many specializations that a teacher may consider. For example, a teacher can focus his or her education on the art of teaching, adult education, curriculum and instruction, special education and other specialties.

The Masters of education curriculum focuses on a more comprehensive study of research methodology, critical discussions about the reading materials, applied classroom learning practicum, classroom management, and student psychology.

The Masters of education curriculum will also introduce the teacher to a more in-depth view of the history and theory of K-12 curriculum. You will also be taught early childhood education theory, the principles of supervision, diversity issues in the classroom, and a variety of trends and teaching methods.

The teacher, who has achieved a Masters degree in education, has a better understanding of the teaching vocation. With a Masters in education, one will be better able to relate to students, to receive respect from the students, and to be able to easily control the classroom.

The teacher, who possesses a Masters in education, brings with him or her a deeper understanding of every aspect of teaching, which enables the teacher to create a more rewarding experience to both the teacher and the student.

As a general rule, the teacher who holds a Masters degree in education will be better prepared and better equipped to bring a well-rounded and more in-depth understanding of the curriculum to his or her students, despite any challenges the teacher may face.

In accordance with No Child Left Behind Act, facilitated by the Department of Education, the United States government has made the commitment to close the education gap between students, giving every child the opportunity to receive a top notch education in America’s public schools.

Teachers who are willing to invest in their own adult continuing education, by making a commitment to earning a Masters in education, will be contributing more to the greater good by ensuring that he or she will be prepared to overcome any challenge in the process of giving every child an equal opportunity to acquire the education that he or she will need to be successful in this lifetime.

The Department of Education has further committed to implementing statewide Higher Teacher Quality (HTQ) improvement programs, to recruit and retain the best qualified teachers to serve in our public school systems. It is advised that teachers should pursue a Masters degree in education, to ensure that they continue to meet the highly qualified teacher status, as required by the Department of Education.

For those who would prefer to pursue a career in school administration, the acquisition of a Masters degree in education is a prerequisite for obtaining those jobs.

The Masters degree in education also opens the door to teachers who desire to teach at the post secondary colleges and universities. Post secondary teachers can look forward to flexible work schedules, intellectually stimulating work environments, and more lucrative job opportunities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2006, the annual median salary for post secondary teachers was $56,120. Yet, those teachers who ascend into the top 10% in their fields can look forward to annual salaries in the six-figure range.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be 382,000 new jobs opening up for post secondary teachers, between 2006 and 2016.

Those who are willing to pursue a Masters degree in education also open opportunities to themselves, to enter into administrative roles in the education system, in positions such as principals, assistant principals, academic Deans, and school superintendents.

The median annual salary for those who work in the educational field as school administrators is $77,740 per year. However, some people in this lucrative field of endeavor are earning $140,000 per year.

The good news for the teacher that desires to improve his or her education is that many accredited colleges and accredited universities are now offering accredited courses for an online Masters in education.

Online masters programs and online PhD programs are very commonplace today. In fact, most colleges and universities will offer such courses to their students, so it may be possible to get an online masters in education at your alma mater. If your alma mater is not yet offering the online masters in education, there are still many respectable colleges and universities that are doing so, so it should be pretty straight forward to find an online college or university that will be able to serve your needs.

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If you’ve been thinking about getting a masters degree in your field of study, there are many online colleges and online universities available to offer you an online masters in education or an online PhD programs in education. Further information about Online Masters in Education is available. Written by Matthew Osborne for http://www.universities.com/

1. Build a network within your current job.

Get to know people in other departments, particularly departments with whom you regularly interact as a part of your daily responsibilities. Ask questions about what they do and how they do it. Expanding your knowledge of the skills and competencies required for other departments will benefit your work in your current position and prepare you for increased responsibility down the line.

2. Build a network within your field.

Find groups and associations related to the work you do. Networking outside your place of employment exposes you to different perspectives on your work, which in turn can help you more effective in your own job. Most fields have online groups and associations that can be joined for free, and with little time commitment. Members interact online, sharing ideas, news and innovations.

3.  Use Technology Such as RSS Feeds

Set up RSS feeds for sites and news related to your work. While we all have good intentions of keeping up with new developments in our professions, few of us have the energy at the end of the day to actively search for the latest news. By activating a feed, news and alerts will be automatically delivered to your inbox, keeping you up to date with minimal effort.

4. Subscribe to publications.

Like the feeds, a subscription to a publication brings regular and reliable news to you on topics related to your work. If you have joined an association, check to see if any publications are included with your membership. In addition, search for online newsletters and e-zines that have relevance to your profession or job. Publications often provide information about resources, supplies, equipment and events.

5. Take classes.

Additional education can improve your performance at your current job. It can also inspire you to consider related fields that you may have previously dismissed because you lacked qualifications. Think about the aspect of your job that you find most challenging or most intriguing. Then search for course offerings and accredited degree programs related to your area of interest. Whether you take a few courses or enroll in a full program, you will be engaged in a learning experience that can reignite your passion for your work.

If you have not been promoted for several years, and colleagues with comparable performance and years of service have been, there might be some factor you have not considered that is preventing your advancement. Obviously, you have to evaluate advancement in the context of the economy, company performance and company policy. Some companies proactively promote from within, while others hope to infuse new ideas and energy by filling open positions from outside the company. Determine whether your failure to advance is based on temporary corporate belt tightening, deeply entrenched corporate policy or gaps in your experience or qualifications.

2. Self-Limiting Career Paths.

Some career ladders are self-limiting. The skills and abilities that contribute to excellence at one level do not necessarily translate into success at the next level. For example, many excellent teachers are passed over for administrative positions because they lack requisite qualifications. Worse yet, their dedication to their jobs, which contributes to their excellence, leaves them little time to pursue acquisition of the additional knowledge and skills that would qualify them for supervisory positions.

3. Non-Transferable Skills.

In some companies, the responsibilities of certain positions are extremely position-specific. An employee may spend years perfecting the performance of certain tasks, only to find that they have little application in other areas. This makes mobility from company to company difficult. As with self-limiting career paths, dedication to the job can hamper an individual’s ability to prepare for a broader range of opportunities.

4. Unsung Excellence.

It is an unfortunate fact that many managers may generously praise a subordinate for a job well done, but fail to credit the employee’s input at higher levels. These managers are loath to lose a capable employee, and therefore do little to enhance the employee’s ability to move forward. Pay attention to whether your efforts are noticed by your manager’s managers. If it seems that nobody other than your direct supervisor is aware of your contributions, you may be passed over when promotions are considered. Don’t let being a team player hamper your chances for advancement.

5. Lack of Confidence.

Some individuals do not believe they have the capability or qualifications to handle increased responsibility. They do little to market themselves either internally or externally. Believing that their current position is all they are qualified for, they undermine their own chances. Take an honest inventory of your accomplishments and goals. Honestly assess whether you are taking advantage of opportunities to broaden your experience by taking on new challenges or whether insecurity is holding you back.

Overcoming the Obstacles

If you determine that your career has reached an unacceptable plateau, determine what you can do to change the situation. Often, investing in additional education can help you overcome the obstacles to advancement. Continuing education is an opportunity to enhance your current job performance and prepare you for new challenges. Fortunately, many schools offer programs that allow students to organize their schedules around a full-time work schedule. Investing in additional education can mean the difference between merely holding a job and building a career.

1. Read. Believe it or not, most students are arriving in college completely unprepared for college level reading. According to ACT, half of the high school graduates are unprepared for college-level reading. Certainly, if you scored above average on the ACT and have a 4.0 you will have absolutely no difficulty maintaining a 4.0 throughout college, correct? Wrong. The College Board estimates that over 40% of college students will have to take a remedial course. This is due, mainly, to the simple fact that students either cannot, or are not accustomed to, reading and analyzing college level material. Colleges expect you to be capable of not only reading college level material, but also capable of completely comprehending the reading material without participating in a complete recap of the assigned reading during class. Most high schools do not adequately prepare high school students. The best way to prepare is by reading. Colleges expect incoming students to have already read the classics and to be able to recognize references to them. Ask your local librarian for a reading list or go to google.com and search for “Books for college-bound students”.

2. Begin forming healthy eating habits now. I am positive you have heard the horror stories surrounding the freshman 15. It is true; many college students gain a considerable amount of weight during their first year of college, which can often lead to more serious health problems down the road. Though the weight gain is often blamed on lack of money and a busy college schedule, the truth is that most students just have trouble making healthy choices. The cafeteria at your college will offer just as many healthy foods as they do “unhealthy” it is all about picking the right combination. Even the fast food restaurants offer healthy, low calorie options if you choose wisely. However, most students have little or no experience making these choices until they reach college. Additionally, learn how to cook healthy, easy, inexpensive meals. By developing healthy eating tendencies now, paying attention to what the pyramid has to offer, and implementing exercise into your busy schedule now, you will improve your chances of continuing those habits throughout your college years.

3. Watch & Learn. Being a college student usually means independence. However, being on your own also means doing your own laundry, washing your own dishes, paying all of your expenses, waking up on your own, motivating yourself, purchasing your own groceries, etc. Chances are, many high school students already partake in some of these chores. If not, now is the time to learn. And if you already know how, now is the time to start observing the tricks your parents have gained from their age-derived wisdom. The more knowledge you have, the better and easier, college life will be.

4. Practice Restraint. For some, restraining from purchasing items that one feels they desperately want can be incredibly difficult. In high school, many students become accustomed to having their own money and spending it on whatever they please. Living on your own means having to pay for all of your own needs, not just the “wants”. Instead of only purchasing a few meals a week at the restaurant of your choice, you will have to purchase every meal that your body needs each day. You will need to provide yourself with the basic necessities rather than picking up an adorable shirt or piece of jewelry here and there. If it is difficult for you to choose to save rather than spend, start practicing before you get to college. Next time you go to purchase something that you really do not need, ask yourself how many times you will use it. Do you really need it? If not, put it back. You will be amazed at how much longer your money lasts if you exercise sensible spending.

If you’re going to get a college degree through distance learning, there are a few things you need to consider. This has definitely become a legitimate academic option, but there are still some less-than-reputable schools out there. There are also pitfalls that students can fall into when they don’t have the structure of a campus-based education. With dedication and diligence it’s possible to find a great school and make the program work.

Here are a few facts to consider if you’re thinking of getting a certificate, associates degree, bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD online:

• Degrees for Every Level – Whether you’re fresh out of high school and looking to get a professional certificate in a year or less or returning to school for a masters or PhD, you can find a degree program at your level online.

• Accreditation – If you want to get a legitimate education from an online university, you have to make sure your school is accredited. Regional accreditation is widely accepted, and national organizations such as the Distance Education and Training Council are becoming more accepted as accrediting agencies as well. If you want to find a list of accredited universities, you can visit a website such as universities.com.

• Private or Public – There are both public and private universities offering distance learning degrees, so you can choose which is right for you.

• Programs Tailored to Your Learning Style – Online universities are all set up in different ways, and there are programs designed for all sorts of different learning styles. With a little research you can find a program that will be right for your personal style.

• Transferable Credits – As long as you attend an accredited online university, the credits from your undergraduate or graduate coursework should be transferable to other colleges and higher learning institutions.

With online learning, you can choose what kind of school you want to attend and what kind of program you prefer and make many other personal decisions to make sure your education is exactly in tune with your lifestyle. An online university might be the right option for you or it might not. One thing is certain: it definitely is not a taboo option any more.

Degree Specialties

There are many different degree specialties for graduate students in the field of education, such as the following:

• Curriculum
• Diversity and Equity in Education
• English as a Second Language
• Instruction
• Literacy Studies
• Special Education
• Teaching

When you choose your specialization and get into the Masters degree program of your choice, you will begin doing in-depth study of that specialty while building your skills in leadership and communication. The coursework will depend on your chosen area of expertise, but you can expect to take at least two years of upper level courses, do research about education-related subjects, complete exams and write term papers. Masters programs also require the completion of a thesis, which is overseen by a faculty adviser. Internships and other special assignments may also be required.

What to Do with Your Masters Degree

Once you have your Masters in Education you will see your career options expand. Some Education Masters degree holders choose to teach students at community colleges or in Bachelors programs at universities. Or perhaps you want to go into the administrative side of things and have the opportunity to increase your salary by as much as $10,000 a year. Applicants for assistant principal, principal and superintendent also need to have a Masters degree to apply in most cases, and the salary range for these jobs can be anywhere from $56,000 to $140,000.

How to Get Your Masters Degree

Some students go straight from an undergraduate degree and certification program right into their Masters program. Other students get their Bachelors degree, get certified and begin teaching full time, then return to school for their Masters later on. Now that students can get their university education online, it’s also possible to complete a Masters or PhD in Education while continuing to work full time. Websites such as universities.com make it easy to find the right school whether you’re planning on going to a traditional campus or doing it online. A graduate degree in education is a goal that is well within your reach, and the benefits of continuing your own education more than make up for the investment of time and money you’ll make.

A great alternative for the person who desires to attend college classes is to go the route of an online accredited degree. This is a degree from a college or university with accreditation, which means it meets the state’s guidelines and is deemed to be every bit as credible as a brick-and-mortar earned degree.

The programs offered in the form of online degrees very greatly. It is advised that anyone pursuing this avenue of higher learning do their homework and learn as much as they possibly can before making their decision as to which classes to pursue. There is ample information to be had, so by all means request as much as you feel is necessary to obtain the information that you’re after. We must remember that there are so many degrees offered through the online accreditation process that your choices are becoming ever more diversified. Degree levels include Associates, Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates.

The advantages to getting an online degree are virtually endless. You do not have to commute and there is no need to schedule classes and reshuffle your life around someone else’s schedule. The only thing you really have to do is be on yourself to stay disciplined to get your work done.

I will again repeat what I said earlier because of its great importance. It is absolutely paramount that you make sure that the degree that you are pursuing and the classes that you are taking are indeed accredited. There’s nothing worse than wasting your time and money taking classes that you will not get credit for, unless of course you are doing it for your own edification.

If you were ever considering getting a degree to improve your chances of landing a job, or getting paid more, or even to perhaps change careers completely, now is the time to do it. The future is promised to no one and now with the advantages of online accredited degrees, there really is no excuse for not pursuing these wonderful opportunities. Most of these online classes are delivered by way of computer. Don’t be intimidated by this if you are not computer savvy. A simple computer and Internet connection will be more than enough to get you through. So now you know. No excuses, get out there and get it done.

John Higginbotham has been on the internet for over 6 years and has extensive knowledge on internet marketing as well as obtaining an online education. You may visit his website at http://www.degree-online.info/ .

If you have already obtained your bachelor’s or master’s degree, it can still be a good idea to continue on to an online PhD degree. Those with doctoral degrees often earn quite a bit more than those with lower level degrees in the workforce, and with the flexibility of Internet-based learning, obtaining an online PhD has never been more convenient.

Subject Variety & Schedule Flexibility

Websites, such as Universities.com, make it easy to find a variety of degree types and corresponding schools that can fulfill your needs. These sites list lots of different schools, from on-campus universities to completely Internet-based colleges. You can choose from taking traditional classes only, just online schooling or a combination of the two, depending on which learning style works best for your schedule and preferences.

Although only a limited number of subjects were offered online in the past, now there are hundreds of specializations available. You can obtain your doctorate through online PhD programs, or if you are just starting your college career, associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees are also available. The diverse roster of subjects to study includes the following:

Accounting
Business and Administration
Clinical Psychology
Health
Education
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
And Many More!

Online studies also make it easy to still have a life and get the degree you want. You can use your home computer or one at a library to type up coursework and submit it whenever you have some down time, which is much easier than rushing to a regularly scheduled class after work. Take the courses you need when you want to, rather than dragging yourself to an 8 a.m. prerequisite course on campus. Simply buy the books and materials you need and bring them with you throughout your busy day—you can work whenever the mood strikes you or when you know you will have peace and quiet.

Financial Stability & Savings

With a higher degree you will be eligible for more positions in general, and also higher paying jobs. However, the financial burden can sometimes be hard for someone with children, a house or other expenses. Luckily, employers value higher learning, and they may even finance your education if you are getting a job-related degree. Find out if your company offers tuition reimbursement to attend college at a reduced cost or even for free. In the end, it may be that your employer pays YOU to get an education, when it comes down to tuition reimbursement and the potential for higher earnings.

No matter what your field of interest, it is always possible to return to college. Even if your previous education is in one subject area, but you now want a career change or additional challenge, online education is a convenient and affordable way to let you explore new career options.

Do Your Homework

First, you will want to make sure that the school you chose for online learning is accredited. This will ensure that you are learning the same thing as other students in your field, and thus, you will be well prepared for related jobs. Once you have done that, talk with your employer (or a college counselor) to see which degree will fit best with your career goals.

Are you looking for a promotion or raise in a taxation office? Discuss a PhD in Accounting. Dreaming of working with troubled children in a group home setting? A PhD in Social Work could be just right. Getting guidance is important, and once you’ve settled on a path, it is easy to find colleges that offer online degrees in your field, using sites like universities.com.

Less Stressful College Experience

Accredited distance learning doctoral programs and other degrees are just as rigorous and challenging as on-campus courses of study, but they are different in many ways, too. As an adult that has been working for years (or student that is simply burned out on traditional schooling environments) an Internet-based doctoral program allows you to obtain a genuine degree from your home or community library. You can do your homework, participate in class-oriented chat rooms and submit all of your work online—all at any time of day. As long as your work is submitted by the due date, you can still keep your current routine involving family, jobs or hobbies the same. Fit in work whenever you are most focused, and skip the campus-bound traffic, the inconvenient course scheduling and other things that you simply don’t need to deal with as an adult.

Reap the Benefits

Online learning isn’t just more convenient than on-campus classes; it is also much more affordable. For a fraction of the price of brick and mortar colleges, you can get a comparable degree. All you will typically pay for is tuition and learning materials, whereas a conventional school requires that you pay for those things in addition to room and board, parking passes, student activity fees and other campus-oriented costs. Cut out the educational loans and interest rates by getting what you need out of higher learning—specialized experience and a degree you can be proud of.

When considering your online accredited degree and education in psychology, one word should jump out at you to help you begin your search: accredited. If you hope to practice in the field of psychology, or expect to be employed by an office offering counseling or social services, an accredited degree is a must. Don’t fret, worry or panic; the most popular online universities are way ahead of you, and have gone about their business right for years and years! Look quickly at the course curriculum that is offered for the online psychology degree and you’ll notice it is very much the same and similar to that of a traditional university setting.

As the old yellow pages ad used to say, Let your fingers do the walking! In this case it can refer to you living at distance while achieving an accredited education and degree online in psychology. Your fingers will help you find your school, pay your tuition or apply for financial aid and scholarships, as well as take you to class from your favorite chair in your home or office.

You read it correctly! You can go to college from home, or Starbucks, or for that matter the WiFi connection at McDonald’s. Accredited college degree online programs are available in many fields and can be completed at the desired pace of the student. Every one of us who has ever set foot in a school knows that some things require more time to learn, while others are locked into memory immediately. Pursuing a degree online offers the student more of an active role in their own educational needs.

Accreditation

Accreditation is the operative word when looking for an accredited college degree online program. There are several accredited online universities and these are the only ones worth considering in regards to legitimacy. Your prospective employers will immediately know that your degree came through a strong course curriculum with exams to test your knowledge. When browsing your possibilities online, you’ll immediately recognize when a college is accredited; it will be listed within the first few words that you read.

Affordability

This is an obstacle that becomes insurmountable for many potential college students. How am I going to afford this? A little research into accredited college degree online programs will lead you to find information on financial aid. And there are several books available that focus specifically on all scholarships available to prospective and current students. Beyond that, consider government grants (money you never pay back!) as well as college loans. If properly consolidated after completion of a degree, a college loan payment is far less than what you’ll probably pay for a car payment!

You can go to school, and you can receive an accredited college degree. It is absolutely possible!

Online! That means from the comfort of your own couch or from any number of WiFi hot spots available to the ever growing wireless Internet community! And through any number of several respected and accredited online universities, you can work at your own pace, while remaining in contact with your online professors and fellow students. Quite literally, working your way through school no longer means you’re putting in 8 hour days followed by night classes; instead you’re pursuing your accredited bachelors degree education online during your lunch break!

Pick your poison. What do you want to be when you grow up? Or now that you’re grown up and you’ve professed one career, what do you wish to try now? With the information available at our fingertips and the ability to pursue accredited bachelors educations online, what is to say that the next trend won’t be a western world full of entrepreneurs that float from career to career with an overwhelming amount of knowledge? You could be one of these individuals! Let an accredited institution help you focus on a new goal and get into your new business of creation and imagination. Or perhaps you want to open a pet store. Regardless, an accredited bachelor degree education online will offer you nothing but potential and opportunity!

Continuing education courses online provides working professionals with the convenience and ease of completing classes through the Internet. Online classes can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need a personal computer or laptop, a solid Internet connection and a quiet place to study. Many professionals choose continuing education online courses because the courses can be completed in the comfort of their own home or during breaks at work.

Typically, you will sign up for a free course or purchase topics. Then you will download the material or activities and read through the course. Once you’re done engaging with the material, you will have to take a test. After you’ve passed the test, you will receive a certificate of completion that you keep on file for your renewal application. Some course providers will provide the service of submitting your certificate of completions to your licensing body.

Whether you are a health care professional, a CPA, a lawyer, an engineer, a real estate professional, a teacher or another profession that requires continuing education, completing continuation education courses online is the smart way to go.

Your Present Status

You’ll need to keep in mind that some of your classes may no longer hold validity in regards to a contemporary degree program; however, contact potential online schools and universities about continuing adult education online and what past credits may transfer. And if you are an adult looking to begin a post-secondary or higher education program online, you’ll find several areas of study available for associate’s and bachelor’s degrees that take you from start to finish.

Accreditation

One important thing, and quite possibly the most important thing to consider while you research continuing adult education online is the accreditation that accompanies a school and their degree programs. If you are looking for individual classes to complete a program you began at another school be sure you contact the school you want your degree from and double check that the classes will work together for you to attain your degree.

Class At Home

If you decide to become an adult who wants to continue their education online, the perks are immediately evident. If you happen to have children, you can work your class schedule around theirs and never feel like you’re neglecting them while they’re home. That’s very important to many parents! At the same time, by adding knowledge and more employable skills to your resume, you’re offering a better life to your entire family. If you are without children or a family, you can grab your notebook and head to any WiFi hot spot to go to class, study or review, and plan your potential advancement.

For starters one distance learning online education advantage lies in the fact that you must take an active role in your educational process. It is too obvious when visiting a college campus during orientation, that several students have the tools and talent, but do not have the direction necessary to get off to a successful start. Pursuing an education online means that you are involved from the get-go as you choose your school, degree program, and when and where to take classes. You can do your class work from home in your pajamas if you so desire. Ultimately, you are the individual in charge which can be very empowering.

The next important item to consider when looking at the advantages of distance education and online learning is the accredited degree programs that are available from many reputable universities. If you want to attend Purdue University and live nowhere near Indiana, no worries, they have an online college set up to offer you several degree programs. The same with the University of Phoenix, one of the oldest and most respected universities to offer classes through correspondence. Receiving a degree from one of the many find online institutions offers the legitimacy to your distance education!

Degree Programs

As an adult seeking an online education you have several options to choose from. For starters, your email bulk folder or inbox is probably inundated with advertisements for an online university daily, letting you know that you can obtain a degree without leaving the comfort of your home. And yes, it’s true, online education for adults can help you complete an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree program! If you are considering this option, be sure to only consider accredited universities; however, don’t shy away from a university because you’ve never heard of them. They may be a well known and reputable private university that is just beginning to offer a degree program online. Research is key.

Individual Classes

Pursuing your adult education online may be as simple as taking one or two classes on accounting or finance to better help your money management. This form of education is based on your own personal desires and thus you may choose to take more time in completing the class requirements. Regardless of your scenario, adult education online opens the door to homemakers, career professionals, retirees and anyone else with a desire to learn more. You set your schedule and choose your classroom, whether that be at home or at your favorite WiFi hot spot.

College At Home

Seriously? Yes, you can go home to go to school. It just became much easier to accept online distance education degrees with the booming population of accredited online universities. And you achieve all of this from the comfort of your kitchen table, couch, or wherever you choose! Once you’ve decided on a specific area of study, your search will become much more focused and closer to the pursuit of your education and online degree regardless of your distance to the actual school!

Travel

Some traditional universities offer correspondence courses and then require a multi-week (often times 2 or 3 week) overview and exam period at the completion of your online studies. In this instance, you may be able to obtain a degree from your favorite college without uprooting your lifestyle, leaving your family or quitting a job that you enjoy. If interested in a program like this, you will have to stay busy on the Internet information highway, and by all means, cut out the middle man if possible and contact the specific university; see if they accept distance education online degree programs!

Accreditation

Your education and online degree from a distance is dependent upon the online university you choose. Any prospective employer will be interested to know about your online education. Once upon a time, online education and degrees might not have been as revered as a typical college campus degree, but that time has come and gone; however, your degree must be accredited to be considered widely accepted. And during this information age, you will find most prospective employers to accept accredited distance education online degrees as preparation for your potential position.

Associate in Accounting for Managers
The following online degrees in Accounting prepare individuals to practice the profession of accounting and to perform related business functions. Includes instruction in accounting principles and the…

Associate in Accounting Specialist
The following online degrees in principles of aquatic engineering, water resources, water quality monitoring, and the management of recreational and commercial locations….

Associate in Acquisition and Contract Management
The following online degrees in Acquisition and Contract Management prepare individuals to manage and/or administer the processes by which a firm or organization contracts for goods and services to su…

Associate in Administrative Office Management
The following online degrees in principles of aquatic engineering, water resources, water quality monitoring, and the management of recreational and commercial locations….

Associate in Advertising
A program that focuses on the creation, execution, transmission, and evaluation of commercial messages in various media intended to promote and sell products, services, and brands; and that prepares i…

Associate in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other
Any instructional program in allied health and medical assisting services not listed in the Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, General category….

Associate in Animation
The following online degrees in Animation prepare individuals to use computer applications and related visual and sound imaging techniques to manipulate images and information originating as film, vid…

Associate in Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
A program that prepares individuals to use computer applications and related visual and sound imaging techniques to manipulate images and information originating as film, video, still photographs, dig…

Associate in Art + Art Studies
The following online degrees in Art + Art Studies focus on the introductory study and appreciation of the visual arts. Includes instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media….

Associate in Arts
The following online degrees in Art + Art Studies focus on the introductory study and appreciation of the visual arts. Includes instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media….

Associate in Biotechnology
A program that focuses on the application of the biological sciences, biochemistry, and genetics to the preparation of new and enhanced agricultural, environmental, clinical, and industrial products, …

Associate in Business
The following online degrees in principles of aquatic engineering, water resources, water quality monitoring, and the management of recreational and commercial locations….

Associate in Business Administration
The following online degrees in Business Administration prepare individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Includes instruction in manage…

Associate in Business Administration and Management
A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Includes instruction in management theory, human resources …

Associate in Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other
Any instructional program in business and administration not listed in the Business Administration, Management and Operations, General category….

Associate in Business Management
The following online degrees in Management prepare individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Includes instruction in management theory, …

Associate in Child Care and Support Services Management
A program that focuses on the provision and management of child care services and that prepares individuals to plan, design, and manage child care facilities and programs that meet children’s developm…

When you are feeling burned out in your current profession, it may be time to take a look at how to make a career change. Career changes are becoming the norm rather than the exception in today’s society. Many people change careers five or more times throughout their working lives. There are a few things that you need to consider before making a career change.

Do you have the skills necessary?

One of the first things you need to consider is what types of skills are needed to succeed in your new career choice. Before you focus on how to make a career change, you have to first determine if you are prepared to make a career change.

First, research the field that you hope to enter, and find out what skills are necessary to gain entry into the field of your choice.

If the career field that you want to enter requires skills other than the ones you have, you may need to pursue additional training before you can actually change careers. There are a number of affordable and convenient options for instructor-led and online training that can help you get the skills you need so that you can move into the field of your choice.

Can you afford to make a career change?

For some people, a career change will represent a boost in pay. For others, changing careers might mean a temporary or permanent decrease in pay. If you have been working in your current occupation for any length of time, you have probably progressed beyond earning an entry-level salary. For example, if you have had a sales position that required you to travel extensively and you are making a career change so that you can be home with your family, you may well find that non-traveling careers are not as lucrative as the one you are giving up.

An important thing to consider before focusing on how to make a career change is whether or not you can afford to make a career change. Depending on what you want to do in your new career, you may find that you have to take a step or two (or more) backwards in salary when you make a career change. Educate yourself about initial earning potential in the new career that interests you, and make sure that your expectations for what you might be able to earn are realistic.

In the not so distant past, distance-learning universities were few. The cultural-social revolution of the 1960s set the stage for a new way of thinking about college and university studies.

In 1972, Walden University was one of the first schools to embrace the concept of distance learning, within its curriculum. In the same year, University of Maryland also began to offer distance learning education to its students.

Those who participated in the social revolution insisted that the old way of doing things must be left to the past, and new ways of doing things must be brought to the forefront. Adults across America insisted that they wanted an option for adult continuing education that did not require them to sit in a classroom for three hours per day.

A few colleges and universities began to sit up and pay attention to what prospective students were telling them. Career-minded individuals were telling prospective schools that they were willing to receive an education from the school, provided the school was willing to make it possible for them to get an education without forcing them to attend class.

The faculty of Walden University and the University of Maryland took notice and started offering classes to students around the country, who were seeking a distance-learning education.

For nearly 3 decades, these two leading edge universities were among a small minority of colleges and universities willing to offer distance learning studies to students.

Then came the Internet…

During the late 1990s, colleges and universities began to pursue accreditation for their online college programs.

The Internet launched a worldwide land rush, as colleges and universities sought to begin offering online classes to students.

In those early days, many schools found it difficult and costly to get accreditation for their online studies, from the US Department of Education.

Walden University and the University of Maryland were light years ahead of everyone else in the rush to secure place in the online universe. The advantage that they brought with them was nearly 3 decades of the accreditation for their distance learning courses.

For these two schools, they only had to adapt their distance learning classes to the online learning environment. Other colleges and universities had a mountain ahead of them to climb, to ensure that their online courses would receive accreditation approval from the US Department of Education.

As a student, it is very important to get an education from an accredited school, accredited college, or accredited university. Accreditation is a tool that assures employers that the education received was an education worth having.

During the 1990s, with the exception of online universities that had previously received accreditation for its distance-learning programs, the best that most online colleges could offer was a vocational diploma, as opposed to the accredited degree.

In recent years, more online colleges and online universities have received accreditation from the US Department of Education for their online curriculum.

As more online colleges get accreditation, the quality and quantity of educational programs continues to expand. Whereas a decade ago, there were only a couple dozen course studies available to students, these days there are literally dozens of choices for the student who wishes to pursue online distance learning.

Very literally, if you have not looked at the options available through distance-learning universities online in the past few years, you owe it to yourself to explore the educational possibilities that are available today.

If you haven’t taken the time to explore the availability of accredited online degrees in the last few years, then it is very likely that you do not realize the real variety of online coursework available to you today.

Online learning opportunities have exploded over the last few years. There was a time, not so long ago, where the person who desired to pursue a degree in the medical field, could not do so unless they attended classes at the local college or university.

The explosion of online educational opportunities has made it a real possibility today for a student to pursue an online masters degree or online PhD program, to guide one’s studies in biology or nursing.

The doors of education have been opened to the masses. College is no longer restricted to those who came from money.

The cultural Revolution set the stage for colleges and universities to open the doors to education to students from all walks of life. The cultural Revolution opened the doors for colleges and universities to offer accredited college degrees through distance learning programs.

With all that happened in the 1960s, the good surpassed the bad, opening the halls of higher learning to all who desired to pursue a higher education.

Now it is your turn to step up to the opportunities that have been made available to you through an online education, from your chosen online colleges, online universities, or distance-learning universities.

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If you’ve been thinking about going back to college to pursue a college degree, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that many colleges and universities are now offering a wide variety online masters degrees and online PhD programs in your chosen field of study. Further information about online universities is available. Written by Matthew Osborne for http://www.universities.com/

Psychology is basically the study of the human mind and human behavior. Professionals in the field of human psychology study human behavior and the reasons why people do what they do. The psychologist is also taught how to influence people to make the kinds of changes that they need to make life-improving behavioral changes.

There are many career paths available within the field of human psychology, career paths that generally deliver an annual salary of $48,000-$88,000. There are some specialties within the field of human psychology, such as research psychologists, that offer a greater potential of delivering additional increases in salary.

There are two primary specialties within the field of psychology: research psychologists and general psychologists. Research psychologists advance new theories as the result of practical study. General psychologists, on the other hand, work closely with patients in hospitals, clinics and private practices.

Those students who seek to acquire a degree in psychology can additionally expect to find employment in schools, public health organizations, university laboratories, hospitals, counseling centers, and even in some of the largest corporations in America today.

Within the scope of research psychology and general psychology, there are many sub-specialties available in the field. As with other fields of study, the more advanced your degree, the more employment opportunities you will have available to you.

Some of the primary sub-specialties that students of psychology might consider include: clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, health psychologists, and industrial psychologists. Other professions that will require a psychology degree include college professors, counselors, and business leaders.

The psychology fields that tend to offer the greatest employment opportunities include school psychologists, industrial and organizational psychologists. The field of health psychology is becoming an area that may offer great rewards in the future, as hospitals and other care facilities continue to move towards the philosophy of treating the “whole person”, commonly referred to as holistic medicine.

In the field of psychology, you will be exposed to a broad range of research and treatment therapies that can be applied to adults, children, couples and families.

In previous generations, those who sought a psychology degree expected to stand 4 to 8 years in school, at a college or university, learning their trade. Even today, many students choose to attend university, unaware that other options may be available to them.

Since the early 1970s, there have been a number of distance learning universities that have offered psychology degrees to their students. Over the last decade, many of those distance learning colleges have adapted their programs to offer them to online students.

Today, it is possible to earn a psychology degree through a number of accredited online colleges and accredited online universities.

In fact, the range of study available to the psychology student through an online college program is as diverse as the field of psychology itself.

The initial degrees that a psychology student can receive include a Bachelor of Arts in psychology (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science in psychology (B.S.). These two degree programs generally require 4 to 5 years to complete. The primary difference between a B.A. and a B.S. degree is the number of science credits required to complete the coursework. As you may imagine, a Bachelor of Science requires more science credits than the Bachelor of Arts degree.

At the next level of study, one will find the Masters Degree in psychology. A Masters Degree in psychology generally requires another two years of study.

A PhD in psychology will require the completion of 4 to 8 years of additional study, depending on the specialty that the student is pursuing.

The psychology student who has acquired a Masters degree or a PhD in psychology will often specialize in a field such as child psychology, health psychology, or sports psychology. Frequently, the student who has achieved a Masters degree or PhD in psychology will intend on entering the field of research psychology or seek employment in private practice as a counseling psychologist.

At the top end of the scale, there are two different degrees that a student can obtain: a PhD or a Psy.D. the person with the Psy.D. certificate is qualified to work as a practicing doctor of psychology in private practice. However, the person holding a Psy.D. certificate is not qualified to work in the research psychology field.

Employment opportunities for the person holding a psychology degree will continue to expand as more organizations begin to discover more value in this field of study. As the third fastest growing degree requirement in the United States today, new opportunities will be found around every next bend in the road.

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If you’ve been thinking about getting a psychology degree, there are many online colleges and online universities available to offer you online masters degrees and online PhD programs in psychology, sociology, or another sub-specialty of psychology. Further information about a Psychology Degree is available. Written by Matthew Osborne for http://www.universities.com/

The proliferation of medical knowledge following World War II brought about an explosion of diagnostic, and treatment procedures. As a result, there became a need to organize, and standardize all these developing technologies. Here is where the foundations of medical coding were born. Medical coding met these challenges, and allowed for a more uniform way of communicating health information under a common language. By January 1979, standardized definitions, and codes were adopted, and used by health care providers, and insurance companies. Since improvements and refinements of medical procedures are constantly being developed, codes must be added and updated to reflect these changes. Today, the number of medical and surgical procedures have become enormous, so too have the codes to describe them. These overwhelming numbers of codes and protocols have made outsourcing medical billing the standard.

Medical Billing and related occupations continue to be the fastest growing opportunities in health care. Insurance institutions and government agencies are investing huge resources to control claims’ fraud, abuse, and establish some degree of reimbursement parity. As a result, more insurance companies, and health care facilities are looking to medical billing experts for help. These companies and practices are looking for experienced and educated individuals; the legal consequences of incorrect billing could be devastating. There is a movement in the industry to make medical billers responsible for inaccuracies, much they way accountants are for tax returns.

At present, there are no standards for educational requirements for medical billers and coders. However, more employers are looking for some formal training at an accredited career training institution. These schools range in training time from nine months to two years, anything less would not be considered adequate. There is a move for certification, and several organizations are sponsoring certification examinations in medical billing and coding. Medical billers and coders earn as much as $8 to $10 per hour in the beginning, and could potentially realize $30 to $40 per hours with experience and additional responsibilities.

Today, evolutions in the health care industry are happening at a very high pace.

It is only with the assistance of sophisticated computer programs, and standardized coding procedures that medical coders are now able to describe and characterize the tremendous number and various kinds of medical and surgical procedures. These realities coupled with government regulations, and health insurance guidelines have contributed to the strong demand for experienced medical coders and billers.