The Online Degree Dorm Room

The Top Ten Most Popular Online Degrees Help You Help Others

Posted by bposton on July 27th, 2010 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

There seems to be a trend going on in the online and offline degree world that a lot of folks are just now seeing.

The trend that many people are looking for careers that help them to help others.

Maybe it’s due to the economic downturn, or from a call for people to help their fellow man, but whatever it stems from, there’s no denying that outside of Business majors, which always seem to lead the pack, an interesting trend worth noting is that more people are seeking careers that lend a helping hand.

So with that, here are the top ten most popular degree programs, as rated by eLearners.com, which ranked these based on the top searches and inquiries made by prospective students on its site.

The top Ten include:
1. Business Administration and MBA
2. Nursing
3. Psychology
4. Criminal Justice
5. Health Administration
6. Religion
7. Early Childhood Education
8. Counseling
9. Accounting
10. Human Services

There’s also a lot of data from the U.S. Department of Labor that supports this trend, and interestingly, it also shows employment for many of these “helping professions” is expected to increase in the next eight to ten years.

For example:

– Job prospects in human services are expected to be excellent, especially for prospective employees with applicable postsecondary education. Employment for social and human services assistants is expected to grow by nearly 23 percent between now and 2018.

– In the criminal justice field, the employment of private detectives and investigators is projected to increase 22 percent as security concerns increase and criminal activity grows on the Internet.

– Between n0w and 2018, the number of jobs for registered nurses is expected to increase by nearly 600,000 (more than 20 percent), making it one of the fastest growing occupations.

– Health administration is another booming industry, with jobs in medical billing and as medical administrative assistants expected to increase by nearly 20 percent between now and 2018.

– Counseling will likely see significant growth between now and 2018. Overall employment of counselors is expected to increase by 18 percent; however, the outlook for some specialties is even brighter. Employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow by 24 percent; substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors by 21 percent; and rehabilitation counselors by 19 percent.

– Psychology, which was the second most requested online degree program on eLearners.com, has encouraging news as well. The psychology field is expected to experience a 12 percent increase in jobs by 2018, with most of these openings in schools, hospitals and social service agencies.

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Liberty U grows up

Posted by bposton on February 11th, 2010 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

A college that is close to my heart has just announced a new record enrollment.

This coming fall, more than 50,000 students will attend Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, VA.

And here’s the neat thing - of thos 50,000 only about 12 thousand will be on campus. The rest will be getting their degree online.

Liberty University was doing distance education before the internet. I’m showing my age here, but I remember taking classes via Liberty University by watching video taped lectures and taking written exams (in the presence of an approved mentor). Since then, Liberty has led the way in online degree eductation, becoming the largest non-profit, private college in the U.S.

Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. (son of the late Jerry Falwell, founder of the University) admits that the popularity of LU’s online program is due to the poor ecomonic conditions, but I thinks its also due to two other reasons:

1 - Liberty has found a great niche in the education market and has marketed itself well. Heck, I still get mail from them as an “alumni” promoting their online degrees.

2 - The school accepts more than 90 percent of students who apply. The school is reported to be raising academic standards each year, but…

Anyway, it’s hard to beleive that ”little” Liberty University has enough students to fill Dodger stadium

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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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New Online Degrees from little and big colleges

Posted by bposton on February 17th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

If you thought the economy was slowing down the online degree programs at universities accross the US, then think again

A few colleges have announced new iniatives and online degree programs, such as…

Walden University, which is one of the leading providers of online degrees.
They just announced three new degree programs designed to meet increasing demands for qualified professionals in the fields of nursing, instructional design and technology, and management leadership with the addition of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing, B.S. in Instructional Design and Technology, and M.S. in Leadership progredams.

Here is a little more detail about each one of the new degree programs
M.S. in Leadership

This is designed to give students the tools and best practices they need to excel in today’s complex organizations. The new program will prepare students across disciplines to lead others and identify innovative solutions to challenges in a variety of professional settings, including the corporate, nonprofit, public, health care and education sectors.

Students can choose from eight specializations: Entrepreneurship, General Management, Human Resources Leadership, Innovation and Technology, Leader Development, Project Management, Self-Designed and Sustainable Futures.
B.S. in Instructional Design and Technology

Demand is high for professionals who can analyze training needs and goals, and then design and develop technology-supported instructional materials for various organizations. One of the few online degree programs of its kind in the nation, Walden’s B.S. in Instructional Design and Technology provides students with the skills and practical hands-on experience to help them succeed in the fields of instructional design and instructional technology. The program offers three concentrations: General Program, Business and Organizational Change, and Human Factors and Interface Design.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

This is designed for current registered nurses who hold a hospital diploma, an associate degree in nursing, or a bachelor’s degree (other than a BSN), and are seeking a BSN to help them achieve career advancement.

In case you were wondering, Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

For more information on these new degree programs, visit www.WaldenU.edu.

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OK, so this one is a little closer to my heart since it’s closer to home (in North Carolina)

Appalachian State University will begin offering an online degree-completion program leading to a bachelor of science degree in health promotion summer semester 2009.

It is the first online undergraduate degree to be offered by the university. (Good for them! ) and it should benefit employees working in health-related positions in corporations, educational institutions, and government agencies across the state.

A cohort of twenty students admitted to the degree program will take two courses each term for 3.5 years. The degree program will include coursework in nutrition and health, epidemiology, environmental health, health behavior change and health risk appraisal.  An internship experience and business minor will enhance the degree.

Information about the degree and admission requirements is available at www.online.northcarolina.edu

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So…what are YOU doing this summer? Here’s an idea…that pays!

Posted by bposton on February 9th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey my online degree dorm room buddies…

I know that it’s pretty cold outside, but let’s just relax and think about summer…

Warm sunshine, cool breezes…

WAIT - I need a JOB for this summer!!

If that kind of thinking has awaken you from your summertime daydream, then I’ve got some great news for you.

The wonderful folks at the Fresh Air Fund are hiring Camp Counderlors for the entire summer!

Fresh Air Fund camp counselors are young adults from all over the United States, representing diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. In addition, many international students spend their summers as Fresh Air Fund counselors. The most admirable quality in a Fresh Air Fund camp staff member - wherever they’re from - is a commitment to work with inner-city children.

The Fresh Air Fund also welcomes international staff who wish to apply. They’ll even help you with obtaining visas for summer work in the United States.

Can’t beat that!

So if you are thinking about that summer job (and you SHOULD be, should’nt you? ) Then head over to the Fresh Air Fund site to apply for any one of the many positions they have open:

http://freshairfundcounselors.smnr.us/

later…

Ben

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online degree programs psychology | SHRM Approves Capella HR

Posted by bposton on March 24th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

OK, so what’s that cryptic headline about?

Well, if you’re into Human Resources (better known as “HR”) then you probably have a clue.

:-)

Let me explain to the rest of us.

SHRM stands for Society for Human Resource Management. This is the world’s largest association devoted to
human resource management. The Society serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests
of the HR profession.

They’ve been around for a while - since 1948 to be exact. And they have 235,000 members in over 130 countries.

OK, so the SHRM is a pretty strong organization for HR folks, right?

Well, they have something called the HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates, which they developed to define the minimum HR content areas that should be studied by HR students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

And they recently announced that three Capella HR programs fully align with SHRM’s HR Curriculum
Guidebook and Templates. They are Capella’s Human Resource Management specializations in its
MS in Organization and Management, MBA, and BS in Business online degree programs.

And if you’ve been researching online degrees then you know all about Capella, a fully online university that offers
graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology,
public health, and public safety, and bachelor’s degree programs in business, information technology,
and public safety.

Now is the picture a little clearer?

What’s impressive about this is that is that only 23 programs in 19 educational institutions in the world
have been acknowledged by SHRM as being in alignment with its suggested guides and templates.

And Capella is the first university to have three programs acknowledged, and is one of only three universities with online HR degree programs to gain acknowledgement from SHRM.

So if you’re looking for an online degree to advance your HR career, take a serious look at these programs from Capella.
You can reach them at 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552). 

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online degree programs psychology | Penn State Online Degree Update

Posted by bposton on February 8th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey there dorm room buddy,

If you’ve been reading my posts for a while then you may remember that I told you in November about how Penn State had become the first College in the USA to offer online psychology degree programs.

(if you don’t remember, that’s OK - I know you’ve slept since then )

Anyway, since word got about about this, a lot of prospective students have contacted Penn State about the programs. 

According to Rich Carlson, professor and director of undergraduate studies in the College of Liberal Arts, there has been a ”huge response”.

In fact their ad on Google has gotten more than 18,000 hits, and as I speak there are more than 1,800 requests for more info on the online degree program. 

Just to recap the specifics…

They will offer both four-year Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences degrees in psychology to online degree students this summer.

The Bachelor of Arts degree has a foreign language requirement and has more of a focus on liberal arts. The Bachelor of Science degree has a business option, so students can take 15 credits of business courses. But in general the core of psychology courses in each degree will be the same.

Another interesting part about this is that the online degree courses will be provided on a rollout basis. There will be a batch of introductory courses available from the beginning of summer 2008, and then they will continue to develop and make courses available as developers work to finish the program curriculum. This means that the first online psychology degrees could be awarded as early as fall 2010 for students coming into the program with credits already earned.

So it’s great news for Penn State, who decided to be a pioneer in online education.

And it’s great news for all those interested in online degree programs in psychology who are tied to their location because of work or children and can’t attend a local college in the traditional way. 

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online degree programs psychology | Penn State Online Degree Update

Posted by bposton on February 8th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey there dorm room buddy,

If you’ve been reading my posts for a while then you may remember that I told you in November about how Penn State had become the first College in the USA to offer online psychology degree programs.

(if you don’t remember, that’s OK - I know you’ve slept since then )

Anyway, since word got about about this, a lot of prospective students have contacted Penn State about the programs. 

According to Rich Carlson, professor and director of undergraduate studies in the College of Liberal Arts, there has been a ”huge response”.

In fact their ad on Google has gotten more than 18,000 hits, and as I speak there are more than 1,800 requests for more info on the online degree program. 

Just to recap the specifics…

They will offer both four-year Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences degrees in psychology to online degree students this summer.

The Bachelor of Arts degree has a foreign language requirement and has more of a focus on liberal arts. The Bachelor of Science degree has a business option, so students can take 15 credits of business courses. But in general the core of psychology courses in each degree will be the same.

Another interesting part about this is that the online degree courses will be provided on a rollout basis. There will be a batch of introductory courses available from the beginning of summer 2008, and then they will continue to develop and make courses available as developers work to finish the program curriculum. This means that the first online psychology degrees could be awarded as early as fall 2010 for students coming into the program with credits already earned.

So it’s great news for Penn State, who decided to be a pioneer in online education.

And it’s great news for all those interested in online degree programs in psychology who are tied to their location because of work or children and can’t attend a local college in the traditional way. 

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online degree programs psychology | get your degree and save the world

Posted by bposton on January 10th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

OK, so here’s another reason why a goal of acheiving your degree online is a good one.

…It can help save the planet

No, it’s TRUE!

It turns out that choosing an online degree program is an incredibly easy way for
students to make an environmental impact.

That’s according to a new article from WorldWideLearn.com, the world’s premier online
education directory.

The article titled “Nine Ways to Save the World with Your College Degree” reveals
the environmental benefits associated with online education.

While there has not been much research done on this in the U.S. a number of
European organizations have already released studies that show the potential of the Internet
and other e-learning methods to radically reduce energy consumption and emissions.

At least that what the article says…

For example:

The Stockholm Environmental Institute and the UK’s Open University Design Innovation Group
found that, compared to traditional campus college courses, distance learning courses:
-   Consumed nearly 90% less energy
-   Produced 85% fewer CO2 emissions

These energy reductions included:
-   A 92% reduction in travel-related environmental impact
-   A nearly 50% reduction in paper and print consumption

So there you have it - get your degree online and help save the world!

If you want to get the article, just go to WorldWideLearn.com

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online degree programs psychology | Online course evaluations fail

Posted by bposton on August 25th, 2007 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Soooo…

there was this university that had both classroom and online courses, and they wanted to get feedback from the students on how they liked the delivery of each type of class, physical and online.

So they prepared evaluations for both types of classes…

And the online evaluations failed…:-(

Not because the students didn’t like the online course. They failed because the trial proved unsuccessful because of low student participation.

So if you’re an online student and get send an online course evaluation, make sure you understand the implications of course evaluations.

In this test case, forty-one percent of the student body responded to the online evaluations compared to 75 percent who filled out the paper-and-pencil option. 

So this college will not test online evaluations for at least a year. And that’s a shame.

Ultimately, course evaluations exist to serve the student body. With adequate feedback, professors would be better equipped to improve courses and programs.

Online course evaluations not only allow students to respond on their own time, they allow for course-specific questions, making it possible for students to offer more constructive and accurate feedback.

But, alas, the course evaluations don’t hold a high place in most students’ priority lists.

Some students say they prefer the hand-administered version of course evaluations because they would rather spend class time answering them as opposed to their free time.

The potential improvements the online course evaluations offer the university outweigh any excuse for these students’ failure to spend the two minutes to fill out an online evaluation.

Students should take time to think beyond their immediate convenience and consider the long-term benefits of their two-minute investment in course evaluations.

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