Arizona High schoolers can get credit for college online

Posted by bposton on April 27th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hi there my little dorm room buddy.

I hope that your exams go well, and that your plans for the summer are shaping up nicely.  

If you are still a high school student, or know someone who is, then this information may be of great importance. There are a lot of high-school students out there who have no idea what to expect of college. In fact even if they have some expecations, many are intimidated at the thought of pursuing a college degree, and that keeps them from acheiving higher goals in life.

Yes, a lot of high schools due offer advanced classes that can be used toward college credit, but the big difference between high school and college is the experience of being taught by a college professor instead of a high school teacher. 

So to help students who otherwise might not pursue a college education feel a sense of ease and comfort in pursuing a degree, the Arizona Charter Academy (ACA) and Grand Canyon University (GCU) are collaborating to offer online concurrent- and dual-credit programs for high-school students, taught by GCU faculty on the high-school campus.

It’s a know fact that if a student can get college credit in high school, then they are much more likely to consider going on to college. There are many students who have had no exposure to college so this concurrent-credit program can help them get a feel for the college experience in an unobtrusive way and help them come to understand that for them a college degree is actually achievable.

Online classes are taught by GCU faculty in ACA’s computer lab for $60 per credit hour, which is less than community-college courses. ACA even provides scholarships for students who can’t afford the tuition. In addition, next semester the school will be offering on-site college courses for students who prefer more structured classes.

Getting credit for college in an online environment is certainly the least intimidating and most affordable option for most students, and this credit program at ACA is taking that and offering up a great opportunity for high schoolers.

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Online Degrees - Fact verses Fiction

Posted by bposton on April 18th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

OK, so if you’ve been reading the blog for any length of time you know that online degrees have been around for quite some time now, and degrees earned through online education are becoming much more “mainstream” - meaning they are getting wider support from both business and governement.

However, there still appears to be some “myths” out there about online degrees, so lets’ do a little mythbusting… :-)

Here are some of the most the commonlly held myths (and the truth) that you should know before your make your online education decision:

Myth #1:
Online degree won’t be accepted by employers. You won’t get a good job using degree earned through online education.

Here’s the Truth
Online education is experiencing rapid growth, and acceptance. 
Think about it - if online degrees are not accepted by employers, then why is there such a huge demand for them? More and more universities are making their degree programs available for online students because online education has become an alternative option for students to earn their degree. It also a better option for working adults to enrich their career related knowledge and skills through continuing education programs offered through online education.

Myth #2:
Online learning is much easier than getting a degree via the traditional class-room based method. You can easily earn a degree with less effort and less time as compared to traditional programs. 

Here’s the Truth:
If you choose to get online degree just because you think it will be easier then you have a rude awakening ahead of you, my friend. :-)  
Yes, you might be able to get college based credit for some of your life experience, but you’ll still need to put effort and spend considerable amount of time to complete a degree program. Online education provides flexible and convenient learning environment where you can learn from your comfort home at the time most convenient to you. Just don’t make the mistake of interpreting the flexiability and convenience as and easy learning method. It’s just as hard as the traditional courses. 
Myth #3:
You will not be able to transfer credits to other colleges in the future if you pursue
a degree online.

Here’s the Truth
This one is both Yes and No. If you got your degree from an institution that is not accredited, then yes - you will have difficulties to transfer your credits.
So make sure that the university to use for you online degree is approved by the Department of Education. Then, you should have no problem with the transferability of online courses credits since they are no different from the traditional brick-and-mortal universities. Of course, the credit transfer will largely depend on the school regardless of online or offline, so you should check with the school that offers your selected degree program for credit transferability during the enrollment process.

Summary

Don’t make such a major decision about your education solely based on the myths.
Get educated about the facts and learn how an online education can best benefit
you. If may be that you might be more suitable for campus-based education.

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Get an online degree in just one year?

Posted by bposton on April 13th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

So, is it really possible to get a degree online in just one year?

Well, normally I would say “no way”. In fact, if you see websites or ads promising such a thing, then you should probably RUN - not walk - the other way. :-)

However, something as come along that caught my attention and so I decided to let you know about it.

I found out about a program being promoted by educational expert Professor Sheila Danzig. The good doctor is promising to help any American student that doesn’t mind hard work to earn a degree online or at home in less than a year.

Skeptical?

You bet I was.

BUT… Danzig’s program is very different here.

How? Well first of all, at her website, www.thecareerpeople.com, she offers students an opportunity to earn a legitimate degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.

Again, most claims like this have a phase called “credit for life experience” or something like that. Which is a big red flag that you’re starring a diploma mill square in the face.

But this program doesn’t offer credit for life experience. What this program will do is show you how to earn college credit for college-level work that you have have done over the years outside a college classroom.

Most folks do know it, but there are many different types of learning that can qualify for college credit. For example, are you certified by Microsoft? Well, certification classes can be converted to college credits. Are you fluent in a foreign language? That can earn you up to nine semester credit hours.

Now I know what you’re thinking. This program is just how to test out of everything, right?

Nope.

This program is for anyone who wants to earn a degree online by taking courses or exams at home. Professor Danzig offers an electronic guide and free online consultation on her website that she says will enable anyone who follows the program to earn a degree online at an accredited university in the United States within one year.

So, how can you be sure it will work for you?

I can’t give you that answer - you’ll have to check it out for yourself and make sure. However, I can tell you that Doctor Danzig stands behind her program’s claim with a triple guarantee. She guarantees that anyone who follows her program exactly and does not earn an accredited college degree within one year will be refunded triple the cost of the program. That’s a pretty bold guarantee to make her bold claim.

Check it out - see what you think

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Online courses help retirees live out their dreams

Posted by bposton on April 5th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Does this sound like you?…

Your children have grown and the nest is empty, your mortgage is paid off (or almost) and you’re thinking of retirement…

…or maybe a part-time retirement given the current economic mess. :-)  

So since us Americans are living longer than ever (an expected 77 to 78 years according to the Centers for Disease Control), how will you spend your golden years?

More and more, retirees are pursuing their dreams through what some call “encore careers”.

Let’s say that you’ve always wanted to pursue a passion, or perhaps to run your own business. Retirement provides a great opportunity to finally be able to do what you’ve long dreamt of doing.

Although most retirees have a lot of work experience, starting a new career may require additional education and training. So dust off those old interests and refresh your skills by taking a course at home.

Today, one of the most popular ways to study at home is through online courses. From online degree programs to professional certification courses, more and more schools are offering a traditional education over the Internet.

Across the United States, thousands of schools offer distance education to students based anywhere in the world.

The possibilities are limitless, and age is not a consideration or a problem.

In fact many schools prefer to have students over the age of 25. With professional and life experience to enrich class conversation, classmates can learn from both the professor and you.

You can find class types to suit every schedule.

For example, self-paced courses allow you to study on your own time. As long as you complete all the work within six, nine or 12 months, you can take as long as you want.

Asynchronous online programs let you login whenever you want, but everyone is required to complete their work
on the same day.

Regardless of the type, all online programs offer the benefits of convenience and flexibility. As long as you have access to the Internet, you can still travel wherever you please, study whenever you want and still be able to earn your degree, or become certified in a professional field.

So, if you’ve always wanted to study photography or become a freelancer or consultant, now you can make it happen.

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