Posts Tagged online degrees
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.
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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.
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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.
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Online Degree Courses – Learning on the Net From Home Made Easy!
Online degree courses are actually good for people who want to work and study at the same time. If you are a nursing mother or a busy housewife, an online degree study program can be an excellent way to get educated or further your education without stressing yourself unduly. As such, online degree courses are part of distance learning programs that are being propagated through the power of the internet. An online degree enables you to keep a flexible schedule and still retain your lifestyle. Simply put, online degree programs are geared towards individuals that do not have the time to take in a four-year education, or are possibly even continuing their education.
Obtaining online degrees allow people to access a wide variety of courses. Regular colleges and universities have a limited number of course on offer and sometimes people do not have the option to pursue a course because the course is not offered by the local university or college. If that is the case, you should take a close look at online college classes. Online college classes may be the perfect solution for you.
In essence, online colleges offer an extensive variety of classes and have no instantaneous limit in which you have to complete the module. This gives you the liberty to learn where and when you want to and a number of online colleges will permit you to take long study breaks. There are a number of universities offering degree courses on a variety of subjects. Some are as follows:
- Arts and Humanities
- Business and MBA
- Computers and I.T.
- Education and Teaching
- Health and Medicine
And many more online degree courses like these are available through online colleges. Online education has spawned from more general fields of study to more, adult professionals centered. Some of the most popular online degree courses are:
Online Science Degrees – A complete directory of online science degrees programs from accredited universities featuring bachelors and masters degree courses in biotechnology, chemistry, physics biology, zoology, botany, mathematics and statistics, aviation science etc. are readily available to take online.
Through the distant learning programs and online college classes created by these institutions of higher learning, men and women from all walks of life and literally from all corners of the globe can now enroll in and participate in courses of education, including diploma programs, on the Net. Your options abound on the Internet!
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Online Bachelors Degree – Why You Should Get an Online Bachelors Degree
Are you frustrated by your job situation where you are putting in the hours and no tangible returns to talk about. If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, be well advised about getting one, as this is now a prerequisite in any professional job without which you are likely to be given a big pass. Online bachelor’s degree could be your springboard to a better salary; career and general well being as well as enabling you pursue higher degrees like masters and eventually doctorate degree. So do not be frustrated any more, it’s time for an online bachelors degree.
To have a bachelor’s degree releases you to reach higher, explore new horizons, enhance your career, and place you in an ideal position for a promotion or better opportunity in another company. A lack of a bachelor’s degree obviously takes you the opposite way and leaves you without hope of progressing in your chosen career.
In your pursuit of higher education however, one must be careful about which institution he deals with and which programs he does choose. Choose a relevant course that is marketable and beneficial to you. There are several course offered online at bachelors level and if from well-credited colleges, will put you in good stead for progression. Online bachelors degrees were for many years shunned for being of inferior quality and indeed some states and companies have very strict laws on online degrees but now that is slowly fading as even very reputable colleges have introduced online bachelors degrees in the curriculum.
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