The Online Degree Dorm Room

7 Reasons Why You Should Get An Online Degree In Today’s Economy

Posted by bposton on September 2nd, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

There are a lot of people from all walks of life who are seeking out a way to learn online in today’s tough economy. Should you be one of them? Well, here’s a few reasons why now may be a great time to get a degree online.

Help keep the job you already have.

While there is no such thing as an indispensable employee, if you focus on increasing your skill sets right now you can certainly bring more value to your organization. So if you still have a job - now is the time to take note of the areas that you could use improvement and seek out some online learning to help. In addition, you can also focus on new skills, like network certification, web design, etc.

Help if the worst does happen.

Even if you have a job today, the worst case scenario could occur - you could lose your job. In this case, if you have completed any courses online this could make you a more attractive candidate in today’s job market.

Put more in your pocket.

After you have your degree from an online university or online program, you still might be able to ask for a raise - yet. But when things get better at your company, you chances of seeing more in your paycheck improve.

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Helps if you have to make a change.

If you lose your job, or can’t find a good job, take some time now to explore other fields and careers that may increase your employment prospects. For example, consider getting an online degree in areas that aren’t normally affected by the economy, such as education or something in the health care field.

Get your share of the scholarship pie.

Lost of universities and online colleges will provide assistance to those seeking to get federal loans for their education There are lots of options out there, some of which don’t require you to pay anything until you finish your degree program. And if you’re still employed, make sure you check into your company’s tuition reimbursement policy. You might be able to get your organization to foot the bill. If you already have student loans, you may even be able to have those payments deferred if you enroll in an online degree program.

Get great gas mileage.

If you focus on getting an online degree, you won’t have to commute to school every day. That could save you a bunch of money on gas.

Be a spare time student.

Whether you’re still employed or not, it’s probably not possible for you to attend school full time. So if you look into an online degree program, and start in your spare time, you should be able to earn your new degree while balancing either a full time or part time job, or the adventure of seeking new employment, which is a full time job all by itself!

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State Budget Woes Could End Online Degree Progams

Posted by bposton on June 11th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

On a national level, the growth of online education has been tremendous, growing a close to 20 percent a year over the past 10 years. Today, there are around 1.9 million people are working toward their degrees online. That number equates to about 11 percent of all college students.

While this number is expected to rise even further, some state university online degree programs will be taking a bit hit in their numbers - all due to the sour economy and resulting defecits in state budgets.

Take North Carolina as an example.

While the North Carolina General Assembly is currently grappling with how to balance their budget, one thing seems certain - a drastic cut in funding for online program development at the state’s universities.

Some expect the cuts to online programs to be 50% or higher. In addition, some schools, like East Carolina University, have already diverted online education funds to make up for budget cuts elsewhere.

North Carolina’s public universities started rolling out online programs about five years ago, and the number of programs is about double what it was just two years ago.

But that growth could come to an abrupt end very soon.

Some schools, like NC State University, have already seen a decline in online enrollment, due to the lack of new programs. State budget cuts are targeting this very area - the development of new online degree programs.

Each school has a budget for program development and those numbers are expected to be cut in half - or more. So for now NC schools will have do make due with less, and focus on the limited number of degree programs they were already developing.

And the worst case scenario is that there will not be enough funding to keep the current programs running.

North Carolina is just one example. With 48 of the 50 US States currently experiencing budget woes and the chances are that online degree programs at State Universities are going to take it on the chin.

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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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Happy New Year from The Online Degree Dorm Room

Posted by bposton on January 3rd, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Just wanted to give a quick shout out to all my dorm room buddies to say Happy New Year!

I hope you had a great Holiday Season. Now it’s back to work or back to school - or both!

So - what is YOUR New Year Resolution? If it’s to get that college degree that you’ve always wanted to get, the congratulations - you’ve take the first step. Now let this blog help you figure out which degree is right for you and where to get it.

You may have decided to go full speed ahead and shoot for a 4 year B.S. or B.A. degree, or maybe you want to start with a 2 year Associates Degree. Either way may sure you read some of these posts to learn the best way to go about it.

If you’re interested in an Associates (AA) degree, then make sure you come back to this blog, because in a couple of days I’m going to post a guide to getting Associate degrees online and I’ll also be giveing you a great resourse you can use to help find the best one for you.

So stay tuned, and have a great 2009!

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online degree programs psychology | Best Online Degree for Your Dollar

Posted by bposton on September 16th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

OK, my online degree dorm roomate - are you still thinking about improving your career propects by earning an online masters degree in management?

Want to save several thousand dollars and earn your masters degree at a top ranked online university?

Sure you do!

Well, now you can do both. There is a website out there called GetEducated.com and they’ve just come out with a new comparative college rankings of online universities, Top Ranked Consumer Best Buys in Online Masters Degrees Management Education.

Here’s a little of what they included in their rankings.

How about a regionally accredited distance learning masters in management that cost only $4,709?

Yep, you read it right. That’s what you’ll pay if your are a North Carolina resident and enroll at Western Carolina University seeking a Masters in Project Management.

And since I live in North Carolina, and I tell you that Western Carolina is a VERY good school. It’s not in a very populated area like Raleigh or Charlotte, (some say it’s in the boonies, but that’s not true either) but it has a very good reputation.

So how does that compare to the most expense online degree? Well how about spending as much as over $51,000 to get a Masters in Management Information Systems at Carnegie Mellon University?

 Yikes!!!

The average cost of an online masters degree in management is just under $21, 000 according to GetEducated.com’s national survey of online education.

Or how about the University of South Dakota’s multiple online masters in administrative studies, which was ranked number 10 in the survey and is just over $10,000. This is a great example of the budget deals available to you if you take the time to compare online education masters.

So make sure you do your homework; Check out the accreditation, and the cost.

And make sure that you follow the experts advice and check out publicly funded online university systems, such as the University of South Dakota, for the best programs at the best price. Over 70% of government-funded universities now offer online degrees.

Ben

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online degree programs psychology | Help a Stranger get a Scholarship

Posted by bposton on August 19th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey my dorm room buddy

Hope your classes are off to a great start this semester

I read about this a few days ago and thought it was so cool I just had to share.

(You know how I like to share… )

You can help a complete stranger win a $7,500 scholarship for an online degree at Western Governors University. They have having what they call The Video Scholarship Contest and you can view the vidoes and vote for your favorite.

View all the videos at http://www.wgu.edu/landing/video_submissions.asp.
There are 37 entries in the scholarship video contest. Looks like there was dancing, rapping and singing on these videos explaining why they or someone they know deserve to earn a scholarship and how earning a degree from WGU would change their life.

By voting, you can help select the five finalists and the eventual winner.

Just so you know, WGU is a non-profit, accredited online university. The scholarship is part of WGU’s mission to expand access to quality higher education for busy adults.
Voting is over on Saturday, August 23rd, so get out there and VOTE!

Following the voting period, the five finalists will be announced on Monday, August 25 at noon EDT. Voting will then be re-opened for the top 5 videos and WGU’s selected panel of judges will then reevaluate the finalists and determine the prizes. All winners will be announced on September 3.
All finalists will receive a prize. The entire prize list is as follows:
Grand Prize: $7,500 scholarship (payable at $1,500 every six-month term enrolled for up to five terms) and $500
Second Place: $3,000 scholarship (payable at $1,000 every six-month term enrolled for up to three terms) and $500
Third Place: $2,000 scholarship (payable at $1,000 every six-month term enrolled for up to two terms) or $500
Two Runner-up Prizes: $100 Amazon.com gift certificates (Amazon is not a sponsor of this contest)

The WGU scholarships can be used for students pursuing an online degree in any discipline offered by WGU in its Colleges of Business, Education, Information Technology and Health Professions.

Get ready to smile, laugh and cry as you select your favorite videos. :-)

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online degree programs psychology | High Gas Prices Could Mean More Online Degrees

Posted by bposton on June 9th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey there my little dorm room buddy…

Don’t know about you, but gas prices are driving me CRAZY!!

In today’s ecomony, high gas prices are actually having a good news / bad news affect on the online degree industry.

On the one hand, high gas prices are forcing educators and students alike to take a much harder look at online degree programs.

For example, the Tennessee Board of Regents has called for a statewide effort to cut down on students’ drive time, asking schools under their jurisdiction to condense class schedules and reach out to students with their online education programs. As a result, enrollment in the Regents Online Degree Program is up 29 percent over last year, and 72 percent of those who have enrolled say gasoline prices are the reason they are pursing online courses.

So that’s the good news - an online degree can save a ton of money in gas.

So what’s the bad news??

Well, because gas prices are so high, and the ecomony is in such bad shape, a lot of folks that could use a degree are finding it much harder to shell out the money to oay for one.

Usually, Universities and two-year institutions benefit to some degree from economic downturns because struggling individuals looking for higher-paying jobs turn to education.

But with today’s gas prices pinching businesses and individuals’ purse strings, fewer are willing to budget for the cost of that education. 

When you think about the fact that in today’s poor ecomony, the hardest pressed group is an adult part-time student who is already juggling a family and a job or two. Often times they just can’t justify the cost of more education.

Sort of a double edged sword. so to speak…

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online degree programs psychology | another online degree success story

Posted by bposton on April 16th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey my online degree dorm room buddy:

Here’s a great story about Stefanie Lund, 33, of Gulf Port, Miss.

She had all but given up on her dream to earn a college degree.

If fact, Stef has been through an awful lot, such as surviving Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, a colorectal cancer syndrome that ultimately led to a full colectomy.

Not to mention the fact that she move 37 times after high school.

But now this 33 year old mother of 3 has finally found a way to a better future — through Flint-based Baker College Online.

“Baker Online changed everything,” she said. “No matter how bad I felt, I could keep doing it … and when I left New Jersey for Georgia and then to Mississippi, I could take college with me.”

Now, after a packed day of homeschooling her children, she does her own classwork sometimes as late as 4 a.m.

No re-applying for financial aid, no re-doing credits, just re-connecting to the Internet.

Lund started pursuing her online degree at Baker in 2005 after reading about the program on the Internet. Now she’s two years away from a bachelor’s degree in marketing. After studying business through Baker, she has also become a jewelry merchant, runs a wholesale home decor business and works as a Baker Online tutor.

Lund is among the growing number of students at the Flint-based Baker Online program, who has seen their online student population increase from 2,900 students in 2005 to 4,700 students in 2007.

Now that’s what I call a great online degree success story!

Hey Stef - you’re welcome at our dorm room anytime!

Ben

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online degree programs psychology | economy goes down, degree search goes up

Posted by bposton on March 5th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Ahhhhh…

Spring Break…..

So I decided to take some time during the break to do a little research, and here’s what i found.

(I thought it was very interesting…)

It seems that every time the U.S. economy starts to fail, the search for college degree programs increases.

According to a February 21, 2008 Conference Board report, the US leading economic index steadily decreased between October 2007 and January 2008.

And during that same period, resources for online degrees showed an increase in visitors. Some, like SchoolsGalore.com, experienced a whopping 27% increase in visitors searching for higher education.

So this proves that our national labor force identifies a need to be better educated at times when the US economy seems to be slipping.

It can also be seen as those that have put off getting their degree have gotten a wake-up call from the rush of forclosures and stock market declines.

:-(

It’s a well know fact that the competition for good jobs is extremely tight, even more so in a falling economy. A college degree is always highly regarded by employers. In fact, a college degree is almost always required to qualify for employment these days. There is little room for the uneducated laborer without college level credentials.

So hang in there, get that degree, or - if you haven’t started yet, today’s economy is proof that now is good time to get going!
 

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online degree programs psychology | An online degree refresher course for the Holidays

Posted by bposton on December 22nd, 2007 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Happy Holidays to all my online degree dorm roommates!!

With all your money going to Christmas gifts, textbooks for the next sememster, and gas, your money can stretch thin this time of year. Why not save some traveling cash by taking one or more online courses?

Here’s quick refresher course about online degrees:

You’ve seen the ads that say “Get your degree online”, but have you thought about what it means to school through an online program?

Online education, (also called distance learning and online learning), refers to taking classes over the Internet, usually using a course management system. For the most part, if you sign up for an online class, you will have access to a secure Web site with a course syllabus, reading materials, lectures, course materials discussion rooms and more. As long as your school and program are accredited, you are taking a real class, with a legitimate professor and genuine classmates.

Online education often appeals to working professionals, military personnel, and busy parents. Because you can access your class materials through the Internet, you can take your course virtually anywhere. You can login at the office during your lunch break, e-mail your professor from the airport and check your grades from your PDA.

There are different types of online education. The first is self-paced, which means that, so long as you complete your course within a certain period of time (usually 6,9 or 12 months), you can progress through your work as quickly or as slowly as you’d like. This type of online education is a great option if your schedule varies widely and the time you can dedicate to your course work is unpredictable.

“Asynchronous” courses are classes that do not require you to login in at a specific time, but require that your work be completed at a deadline assigned by the professor. This type of class is a great option for people whose learning style requires a balance of flexibility and structure. Either type allows you to fit your coursework into your busy lifestyle.

Taking classes online can help you freshen your skills and stay competitive in your industry, which helps you move up the ladder and negotiate a higher salary (or a bigger raise). Online education provides you with a way of keeping your professional goals in sight without disrupting your life.

So, save gas, and take online classes in 2008!

See you next year!

Ben
 

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