Posts Tagged online degree
What Does it Mean to Get Your Education Online?
In today’s economy, more and more people are thinking about online education. Are you interested in getting your degree online? An online degree is ideal for individuals with full time jobs. Many people can’t leave their jobs to attend school full time. If you have recently lost a job, then you may be considering a community college or even a traditional one. However, either traditional schools offer online programs.
An online degree can enable a person to seek a better opportunities because much needed skills are developed. This is essential for anyone interested in finding a higher paying job or seeking a job in a new industry. You can achieve these outcomes through an online education but you must be persistence and disciplined to earn your degree.
The reason why online education is so popular is because of the flexibility it provides. For many individuals, logging on from their home computer is much more convenient than commuting downtown or out to suburban campus. With almost all traditional colleges offering online classes, you can complete or obtain your degree from well known universities.
The best part about completing your online degree is that you receive the same credentials as someone who attending a land-based university. Due to the fact that you need to pass all requirements, regardless of where the classes are held, the value of your education is equal to that of any other graduate. The key is to find and accredited university that can give you the training and experience you need to get the job you want.
Along with the benefits of getting your degree online, there are some drawbacks. Those who are most success are highly motivated and work well independently. This is due to the fact that you will be completing assignment on a fixed schedule but will need to structure your time independently. Do you have the organizational skills needed to write that paper, read and respond to questions, and upload your assignments on time? Additionally, you will need to be comfortable with computers and the internet. If you are still using paper and pencil then and online degree might not be for you. Your professor isn’t going to tolerate incomplete assignments because you are not unfamiliar with how to save your work.
Another drawback of online education is that it can take much longer to complete than if you were to quit your job and go to school full time. This is true of any online program. Whether you are taking an online class or attending campus, you must fully understand the time it takes to complete your degree. Do you have the staying power and persistence needed to complete all of the coursework? Give it considerable thought before you make a large financial decision.
Before you search for an online program, determine if you have the discipline and drive to seek out an online program, fully participate, and see things through to a reasonable conclusion. Sometimes, what sounds good in the moment is not the solution for your current or future needs. On the other hand, getting a degree online may be a great way to complete your degree or advance your skills. As jobs become harder to get, additional education can be a great source of confidence and help you accomplish your goals.
Related posts
Benefits of Acquiring Online Associate Degrees
Online associate degrees are the perfect option for those who wish to enter the workforce for the first time or for those who wish to switch their careers. The completion of an online associate degree program usually takes around two years. Certain online colleges and universities have a preset minimum of at least 60 semester credit hours before students can graduate. For those who are already working adults and professionals who wish to switch their line of work, then opting for higher education through an online associate degree is the perfect option.
The online colleges and universities which offer online associate degrees realize the fact that a vast number of their students can not spend their entire time on studies as they have prior commitments. For this reason, the assignments and projects that students are required to complete offer quite a bit of flexibility and convenience with regards to time as well as curriculum. The online institutions further provide an assortment of interactive tools for students to get in touch with each other as well as their online faculty. These include email, video presentations, e-books that can be downloaded, guides, worksheets, forums or discussion boards. Being able to chat with the online faculty and view streaming lectures gives the students a rather “classroom” like feel, and these methods have been taken up by a majority of online colleges that offers associate degree programs through eLearning. It is generally not required for you to attend a campus for your online degree program, but there are certain colleges and universities which might ask you to attend a 2 to 3 week campus.
So all those who wish to acquire their associate degrees through the online education route, make sure you check with your chosen institution whether you can complete your degree program completely online or would you have to visit campus occasionally. Other factors that you must take into consideration are the cost of the degree program, whether you can acquire a student loan, the duration of the course as well as the amount of coursework and projects you would be required to complete for the acquisition of your degree.
Studying for your online associate degree program and working simultaneously is not an easy job, especially if you have a family and children to take care of, but it definitely is not impossible. All you need to do is make a schedule and follow it, and have a passion for education!
Related posts
Online Degrees Are Avoided by Serious Students
Although members of the media and some academicians have been saying that online instruction is the wave of the future, one simple fact remains: More than a few online schools provide a second-rate education and diplomas from online institutions are essentially trash.
Until the summer of 2006, I was associated with a university that maintained a large online division in northern Virginia plus 43 satellite campuses in 10 southeastern states and the District of Columbia. For approximately five years I taught online business courses in both synchronous and asynchronous modes. To my chagrin, I discovered the following:
- The school has no library to speak of. It maintains various “Learning Resource Centers” that collectively have 32,000 volumes or about one book for each of the estimated 27,000 students who study online or at satellite campuses. Indiana University’s library system, in contrast, has 8.2 million volumes.
- Quizzes and exams are online, open-book and unproctored. Online students routinely enlist others to help them at exam time.
- There is pressure on instructors to give high grades and thereby maintain full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment numbers. Instructors who have the temerity to give grades of C or D are called in for counseling.
- Online students never meet or have direct contact with instructors.
- The school has an open-enrollment policy which encourages unqualified or marginally qualified applicants. Nevertheless, approximately one-third of all students graduate with “honors.”
Incredibly, this institution is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) . However, its business education program is not accredited by AACSB, and its MPA program is not accredited by NASPAA. Attend this or other online colleges at your peril.
Related posts
Online Psychology Programs
The growth rate for employment as a psychologist is above average due to an increased demand for these services in hospitals, schools, mental health centers, social service agencies, consulting firms and substance abuse clinics. Further, the average earnings enjoyed by industrial-organizational psychologists as of 2004 were $71,400. Online psychology programs give people the opportunity to study for a career in this challenging, rapidly growing field without compromising their other daily activities.
Students pursuing psychology online degrees learn about the human mind and behavior and its biological, social and cognitive bases, as well how to apply this knowledge to practical problems. Student enrolled in online psychology programs can choose to specialize in areas of psychology such as educational, child, clinical, sport, forensic, industrial, organizational, social and marriage and family therapy. The U.S Department of Labor reports that four out of ten psychologists are self-employed. The remaining psychologists work at places such as public and private schools, hospitals, state and federal government, correctional institutions, market research firms, advertising agencies, day care centers, mental health care providers and PR firms. Dynamic positions held by psychology graduates include media buyer, copywriter, art therapist, retail buyer, teacher, child welfare caseworker and public relations specialist. A wide variety of exciting employment options exist for students who earn psychology degrees online.
In order to work as a psychologist, students must fulfill the required course of education, usually a doctorate, then complete an internship and gain one to two years of professional experience. Sometimes psychology students are also required to complete a thesis or original research paper. At this point, the student can take the application state licensing qualifying examination to become a psychologist. Most of the state licensing boards give a standardized test, but requirements vary from state to state. Some states also require continuing education to renew a psychology license. Online psychology programs make it easy for busy professionals to fit continuing education requirements into their hectic schedules. Doctoral training programs in counseling, school and clinical psychology are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Association of School Psychologists are also involved with accreditation of school psychology advanced degree programs. It typically takes students five to eight years to complete psychology online degrees.
In 2004, psychologists held approximately 179,000 jobs. With the variety of interesting employment opportunities that exist in the psychology field today, online psychology programs afford students a chance for career advancement while they balance their work and family responsibilities.
SUMMARY: Students pursuing psychology online degrees learn about the human mind and behavior and its biological, social and cognitive bases, as well how to apply this knowledge to practical problems. Student enrolled in online psychology programs can choose to specialize in areas of psychology such as educational, child, clinical, sport, forensic, industrial, organizational, social and marriage and family therapy. The U.S Department of Labor reports that four out of ten psychologists are self-employed.
Related posts
Online Degrees – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The advantages of Online degrees are not black and white, but shades of grey. Companies and departments that are not allowing employees to be reimbursed for online degrees are missing out on a popular and convenient education format.
They are many good reasons to support online learning. Some of the positives are: More Degree Options; More School Options; Save on Travel Time; Meeting with Learners and Professors from all over the Country.
We don’t see articles that list lots of negatives about online degree and online schools. Some of the negatives are problems and concerns and some are outright deceptions. There are suggestions below to check out each of these problems.
- Some universities overload classes and professors are paid per student. The results are less time with a professor. Ask the college representative what is the average number of students per online instructor.
- School may have accreditation problems or financial aid issues. These problems do not show up in your local newspaper because the online school is at the other end of the country. Do an Internet search for the school name to read about any problems or irregularities.
- Online schools may ask for personal information before giving out tuition costs, listing of courses or answering questions. If the information is not on the website and representatives will not answer questions before gaining your personal information (even the Social Security number), look at other online universities. Most schools disclose tuition, courses and admission requirements on the website.
The above are negatives about some online programs. There are other, more serious attempts to lure students into signing up for less than acceptable means.
- School reps say they are “accredited” but the accreditation bureau may be owned by the school’s owner or stock holders. Most companies require their employees to attend Regionally Accredited universities and colleges. The Council of Higher Education Accreditation (chea.org) has the listings of regionally accredited schools.
- The online school may be a Diploma Mill (also known as Degree Mill) with a name similar to an established school. CHEA offers information on Diploma Mills at: chea.org/degreemills/frmPaper.htm
- School demands most of the year’s tuition upfront and is non-refundable if student quits or does not like the program. Remember that reputable schools do not ask for program costs up front and always have a Drop Schedule that allows you to get tuition back within a certain time.
You and other working professionals may spend thousand on an online degree, or your company will reimburse the costs. Spending some time researching the school to make sure the school meets with the company’s criteria, as well as your own, is an important first step to take.
Related posts