The Online Degree Dorm Room

online degree programs in pyschology counseling | More about the first online degree program in Nebraska

Posted by bposton on December 3rd, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

Here’s more about the online Bachelor of General Studies degree at University of Nebraska at Ohama.

Again, it’s the first online program in the University of Nebraska system.

The degree is a full, 125 hour, accredited degree from UNO, with coursework focusing on organizational administration, communication and business. And each course is similar in material covered in its in-class counterpart.

The university mentions that it’s also a great way for someone who has an associate’s degree and would like to earn a bachelor’s degree.

The collaboration between UNO and UNK (formerly Kearney State College) was necessary in order to be able to offer enough online classes. Each class is done through each individual university, but the actual degree is awarded by UNO.

That means that if you enroll in a UNO course, you’ll UNO tuition and the classes are taught by UNO faculty, and likewise for UNK.

Both Universities say that they believed that the online courses are equal or better to their in-class counterparts.

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online degree programs in pyschology counseling | The first online degree program in Nebraska

Posted by bposton on December 3rd, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

Hey all you cornhuskers!

I just found out about the first online degree program ever offered by the University of Nebraska system.

It’s a joint effort between UNO…

(Not that’s not the card game, that’s the University of Nebraska at Ohama )

…and Kearney State College (Which now called UNK)

The program’s goal is to serve non-traditional students.

The degree offered is an online Bachelor of General Studies degree and it’s only for students over 21.

It’s part of UNO’s Division of Continuing Studies targeting the military as well as rural and working professionals who can’t reasonably travel to campus to take classes.

Enrollment is already open for the program’s first semester, which starts this spring.

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online degree programs in pyschology counseling | Online personal fitness degree

Posted by bposton on December 3rd, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

Did you read about Perdue’s new undergraduate personal fitness trainer degree program in my last post?

Well I thought you’d want to know that there is an online option for fitness training want-to-be’s right now.

Its the  National Academy of Sports Medicine in Calabasas, Calif.

They certify about 10,000 people a year in the field, and they began offering a fully accredited personal training undergraduate degree online through California University of Pennsylvania this summer.

They also offer an online master’s degree.

Even though it’s online, the program is based on models that have taken 20 years to develop and it’s not a fly-by-night” certification program.

Here are the facts- there are about 275 certification programs in the fitness world, but only four are certified by a third-party accreditation organization.

Just last year, a 5000 health club member organization called The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association urged its health clubs in the United States to hire personal trainers with at least one certification from a group that has third-party accreditation.

So eat right, and excercise, and if you need a personal trainer make sure he or she is not just certified, but accredited as

well.

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online degree programs in pyschology counseling | Perdue’s personal fitness degree

Posted by bposton on December 3rd, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

Here’s an interesting major: personal fitness training.

Don’t think there’s a college that offers that as a major? Oh you’d be mistaken

Ken Baldwin, has helped create Purdue University’s four-year undergraduate personal fitness trainer degree, which he thinks is the first of its kind in the nation. The year-old program is built on Purdue’s health and fitness major, and is focused on exercise physiology, basic health studies, fitness evaluation and program management, psychology and nutrition.

Ken saw people become disillusioned or injured by working with unqualified trainers, so he decided to change that.

Right now the problem is that just about anyone can become a certified trainer. That’s because there are no national educational standards for the field.

And lots of Web sites give out personal trainer certification after just a few hours of online training — and a few hundred dollars.

Sound alot like diploma mills to me.

But the market for personal trainers is growing. Just think about the nation’s aging, overweight population and you can easly see the demand for personal trainers skilled at pulling the out-of-shape of all ages to get fit.

The question is how to create the best workout for a 65-year-old man with heart disease or an obese woman in her 50s with diabetes.

Another reason Perdue has started their program. They’ve enrolled 30 students so far and they will learn the nuances of toning muscle groups and proper exercise movements, and get hands-on experience with cardiac rehabilitation patients and people in physical therapy after injuries or surgery.

Students also work with seniors and children in fitness settings and take business and management courses so they can manage fitness clubs.

So is there an online option for this major? That’s my next post

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online degree programs in pyschology counseling | The upcoming Holiday Travel Rush…NOT

Posted by bposton on December 2nd, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

In a couple of weeks, there’s going to me a mass exodus of students - all carrying duffle bags full of dirty clothes - from our nation’s college campuses.

These the exodus of backpack doned wild-eyed students will be packing our airports and highways like bees to a honeypot.

All heading one place - one for the Holidays.

This journey beyond the end of the semester into the holiday season is filled with both joy and stress alongs with a mixture of weather conditions that reek havoc.

But you know what? For those of us in the Online degree dorm room, there is one less place to travel to (or from) during this hectic time - the campus classroom.

We’re all easing nicely into a calmer, more tranquil holiday season.

We’re all relaxing the lounge chair at home finishing up our “class work”, checking the off-peak travel day discounts, heading out to be first in line for all those holiday jobs…

no wonder more and more people are getting interested in this educational option.

OK, so time for fact and figures;

According to the new Sloan Consortium report for 2006, over 3.2 million students are now enrolled in online classes at the college level, and the past several years have shown significant growth in the number of students who have chosen online education.

For 2006 the figures went up at least 800,000 over 2005.

And around 2,200 colleges and universities participated in this latest study, so these are real numbers, folks…

Ben

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online degree programs in pyschology counseling | Even More Online Degree Options for the Military

Posted by bposton on December 2nd, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

Out in the Northern virginia area you’ll find National-Louis University, which has 7 locations in the area, their main office located in McLean, Va.

They provie a lot of options for soldiers who may not live on base.

They try to be very flexible for their military affiliated students providing undergraduate and graduated courses in business management, human resources, etc…

And there are even more options for those military students looking to obtain an undergraduate or masters degree.

Another example of that is the Cambridge College School of Management.

They have a program known as the 55 program, where students can obtain a Master of Management degree. If the prospective student does not have a bachelor’s degree, they’ll register for 19 courses to bring them up to a master’s degree level, and then they are on their way to obtaining their degree.

On caveat - you must be at least an E-7 to study under that program. That’s because you have to have some management experience you can bring to the table.

So, if you’re in the armed forces, there are a ton of options for move your education to the next level.

And again - many thanks from a grateful country, the good ‘ol US of A 

Ben

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online degree programs in pyschology counseling | More Online Degree Options for the Military

Posted by bposton on December 2nd, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

Another online degree option for the military is Central Michigan University, which offers a Master of Science in administration and undergraduate courses, as well.

They say that their school offers short courses that allow for an easy schedule to work with. Not only do they have flexible schedules, but they also give discounts on tuition to military, military families, and pretty much anyone who carries a DoD ID card. The rate for non-military affiliated students is $373 per credit hour, the rate for military-affiliated students is $250 a credit hour.

Pretty good deal

And it gets better. They provide undergraduate courses online, and they also take transfer credits from other military schools and other accredited schools — up to 18 credit hours, as long as the credits apply to the degree at CMU.

Another option is Troy University of Troy, Alabama.

This school has 60 sites all over the world, with both in-house and online programs, as well as undergraduate and graduate studies.

They offer everything from Master of Science International Relations(for public relations, national security, and regional security interests) to a Masters of Public Administration.

And get this - they provide in-state tuition for everyone. And if you decide to study at a base local to them and then you get transferred, you can actually transfer to one of their other locations or finish your degree online.

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online degree programs in pyschology counseling | Online Degree Options for the Military

Posted by bposton on December 2nd, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

If you’re in the Military - just of all - THANKS!!!

Next, if you’re considering furthering your education, you’ve got quite a few options with online degree programs.

For example:

Out at Fort Belvoir recently an education fair was held and rRepresentatives from 28 colleges and universities attended.

They even have 8 schools on post!

So there’s the opportunity to get associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate-level degrees. No matter where you’re posted.

Case in point -

Northern Virginia Community College is close the post at Fort Belvoir and they have introductory courses for students who may need the foundation required to enter into a four-year accredited institution. They provide services on post throughout the work week, as well as online, to prepare students for learning, achieving, and succeeding in the fields of their choice.

So check out Community Colleges near your post to see if they offer similar online or on-post options.

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nline degree programs in pyschology counseling | Can Online Programs help you avoid student debt? Part 2

Posted by bposton on December 1st, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

So can an online program help you avoid student debt?

Yes, I think it can.

Of course, you can’t avoid all debt, probably, but it can help quite a bit.

For example, an online degree program and certainly reduce a lot of non-tuition related costs.

Tuition costs themselves are normally the same as traditional on-campus programs, but with an online program you can avoid room and board fees, and your transporation costs are less.

Compare the cost of parking and/or taking the bus to walking from your bedroom to the computer

Not to mention the fact that you can keep your day job.

Here’s a worrisome fact:

According to the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), 60% of twenty-somethings feel they’re facing tougher financial pressures than young people did in previous generations, and 30% say they worry frequently about their debt.

And 22 % of students surveyed in the USA Today student debt report say they’ve had to take a job that they normally wouldn’t have in order to have more money to pay off student debt.

So what’s it going to be? More Student debt?

Or Much less debt (and maybe NO debt) with an online degree…

Ben

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online degree programs in pyschology counseling | Can Online Programs help you avoid student debt?

Posted by bposton on December 1st, 2006 — Posted in online degree programs in pyschology counseling

Just thought I’d point out a story in the USA Today back in November about student debt.

According the report co-sponsored by USA Today and the Experian credit reporting agency,  two-thirds of college students carry some debt and overall the amount of debt that student carry has increased in the past five years.

Every single type of college student debt has risen;
credit cards, tuition and fees, personal loans, and living expenses.

They also found that the average total debt for people ages 22 to 29 is $16,120, which is a 10% increase from five years ago.

Even worse, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that undergraduate students average $30,000 debt in school expenses, and Nellie Mae says that credit card outstanding balance averages totaled more than $2,000 for undergraduate college students.

As Keith Jackson would say: “Whoa Nellie!”

Ah, but for those of us in the online degree dorm room, it might be a little easier.

MOre on that in the next post…

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