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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Coming soon to a college near you - Digitial Textbooks…

Posted by bposton on December 30th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Now that the holidays are winding down and most of my dorm room buddies are checking their wallets to see wha’t left, there’s that sinking feeling when they realize that a new semester is coming up and along with that - the rush to get the college textbooks.

It’s a VERY sad fact that the cost of college textbooks has risen at 20 times the inflation rate in the last 20 years (according to the US Government) and I’m sorry, but this is just CRAZY. The poor economic situation brings this to light even more so, and finally there appears to be some good news - the education community is finally starting to “get it” - the time digitial textbooks is NOW.

Yes, there are still opposing camps on this subject. But the biggest opposition I’ve read comes from college faculty that fear they will be left out of the selection process, and worst case, state governments will eventually “mandate” certain books for certain classes. But since the cost of textbooks are such a huge burden on students today, some local governments have already started to write laws to make them more affordable.

These opposing views can’t stop the tide. Here’s some examples of what’s happening today in the move towards digital books:

CourseSmart is a company that has several thousand books in digitial format, costing half the price of printed versions. They have served over 6,500 students (and saved a few trees in the process, too )

Amazon is taking part in a study with seven universities to test and evaluate the success of digitial textbooks

Orange Grove Texts Plus is a partnership between the University Press of Florida (the Florida university system’s nonprofit publishing arm), Integrated Book Technology (a Virginia publisher) and The Orange Grove (Florida’s digital database of K-20 teaching material). This program offers students digital versions of over 140 textbooks and scholarly monographs for free, and bound printed versions for $30 to $50. Eventually, Orange Grove Texts Plus plans to stock more than 1600 titles.

California is also starting an initative similar to that in Florida. However this appears to be targeted to High School textbooks (probably because the state forks out the money for those.)

So, maybe in the very near future we won’t have to add the cost of textbooks to the other stressful activities along the college road.  Let’s hope it’s sooner than later.

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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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Is this the number 1 online school in the USA?

Posted by bposton on March 12th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Here’s a newsflash, my little dorm room buddy… 

This year Nova Southeastern University, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was ranked No. 1 in OEDB’s 2009 Online College Rankings.

OEDB stands for Online Education Database, which is an organization that which ranks the top online colleges in the nation. 

In second place went to Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., followed by Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., in third.

While Nova boasts a 300-acre campus with classrooms and students living on university grounds, their online program is growing and now offers 78 online degree and certificate programs.  The school has virtual students in nearly every state.

According to the information used in the ranking, online classes at Nova take advantage of a number of web resources, including threaded discussion boards, chat rooms, email and other online tools. Course materials are all available online and there’s genuine student-teacher interaction as well.

The OEDB survey is based entirely on numerical data derived from eight metrics: acceptance rate, financial aid, graduation rate, peer Web citations, retention rate, scholarly citations, student-faculty ratio and years accredited.

Here’s how Nova sized up in those categories:
Acceptance rate: 51%
Financial aid: 96% of students receive financial aid.
Graduation rate: 47%
Peer Web citations: Close to 5,000. (Peer web citations are links to Nova’s web site from another college’s web sites. It’s kind of a popularity contest. Nova won this category by a landslide.)
Retention rate: 60% This measures the student body’s overall interest in what is being offered by the school.
Scholarly citations: 11,800. Through a Google Scholar search, Nova had 11,800 references to scholarly academic work, the most of any online school.
Student-faculty ratio: No data.
Years accredited: 38

Undergrads at Nova Southeastern can enroll in online programs such as education, computer science, health science and psychology. There are even more online programs for graduate students in the fields of business, law, education, osteopathic medicine, psychology and more.

So, is this the number 1 online school in the USA?

Well if you agree with the numbers, then it probably is. But just because it ranks well, doesn’t mean it’s the right school for YOU. Make sure you do your own research and decide if the courses, environment, educators, etc are what you need to succeed in your online education.

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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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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 | military spouse discount tuition at Kaplan

Posted by bposton on January 29th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

If your spouse is in the military, then first of all you have my deepest thanks for all that you do for them and our country.

In a very small way, I’d like to post this as a way of giving back to those who have given so much.

I recently learned that Kaplan University is giving a 10 percent tuition discount for military spouses. And also that President Bush has asked Congress to allow service members to transfer unused G.I. Bill education benefits to their spouses and children.

So if you have a dream of earning or finishing your degree, then here is an opportunity to do so.

Just so you know, Kaplan is a leading provider of online higher education. They offer more than 100 academic programs that can be completed from anywhere in the world. So now, no matter where the military tells you to go, you have the flexibility of earning a degree online that could help you move to a new career or improve your current career.

By the way, Kaplan also offers a 15 percent tuition discount to all active military personnel, which they’ve been doing for a while now. They even have a dedicated military admissions team that understands the issues that active duty military personnel and their families face every day. 

The military spouse tuition discount will be available starting Wednesday, Jan. 30. If you’d like more information just call them at 866-889-4582.

And again, thanks so much for your sacrifice for our country!

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online degree programs psychology | new year = new online degree?

Posted by bposton on January 3rd, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

So it’s 2008 — and this is the year you finally decided to start or finish that degree you’ve always intended to earn.

Good for you!!!

OK, so it’s time for a reality check.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve stepped foot inside a classroom that wasn’t your kids’
then I’ve got some very good suggestions…

 - and some things to think about -

to help you follow through on your New Year’s resolution.

1. You need to decide (right now) what you’re gonna give up.

Online classes in and of themselves might only last two hours a week, but that’s not the only thing you need
to consider. You need to add approximately three hours of homework or study time per class!

So you can see that going back to school can turn out to be a major time commitment.

You need to figure out how you’re going to make time for those classes and homework.
Which might mean cutting “American Idol” or “Law & Order” from your daily schedule.

Here’s a suggestion - take classes with a friend. That often can help adult students stay focused on their schoolwork.
 
2. Research your options.

Don’t just sign up at the first online university that sends you information. You need to find the program that will best meet your needs and goals.

Ask the Admissions officer to put you in contact with current students, who can tell you about their
experiences in the program.

Ask if you can talk with professors so they can tell you what they will expect from you and what you can
expect from the class.

And if they’re available, see if you can get teacher evaluations before signing up for classes. 

3. Consult an academic adviser.

Before enrolling, make an appointment to meet with an adviser to discuss the program requirements and to create a complete course plan for you that can help you meet those requirements in as short a time as possible.

4. Explore different class formats.

Now, I normally recommend online classes, but you should consider all your options.
Don’t discount adult classes are offered in a traditional, lecture-style classroom setting. Some find them better for their type of learning style that those that can be taken online at home.

Both types of classes have postives and negatives:

 - Online courses can be taken at your own pace while wearing pajamas and sitting on your couch.

(I personally like that benefit alot )

 - Traditional classes frequently offer more personal interactions and attention.

Pick the type of class that’s right for both your schedule and learning style.

5. Investigate your financial aid options.

The very first thing you need to do is visit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Web site, fafsa.ed.gov.

To receive federal aid, whether by loans or grants, you have to first fill out the FAFSA form.
( If you can wait, I’d recommend you do this AFTER you complete your tax return because it uses alot of that information).
After that, check out your school’s scholarship resource center or financial aid Web site and visit with a financial aid officer.

6. Take it slow, and one step at a time.

Jumping in with both feet and taking four classes in your first semester might seem like a good way to get a jump-start
on your degree, but I’d sugges that it’s also a very easy way to get overwhelmed — fast.

Instead, just take a course or two (at the most) at the beginning to see if you can handle the work — both the classwork and how good you are at working the class into your other commitments.

7. Convince a friend to become a classmate.

OK, this is probably not that easy, unless you just happen to know someone who has the same goal as you - to get or finish their degree. But if you do this could be a great help to both of you.

Many people work out or train with friends because they know they have a better chance at
success if someone is there to supports them and keeps the pressurn on them to stay focused on their goal.

If you don’t have a friend to share the ride, try to make a friend with someone in your class who could be a study buddy, or join a continuing education group on campus.

8. Open your Mind!…

OK, so maybe a  glass-blowing class might not show up in your health care management degree curriculum, but that
doesn’t mean it’s not worth taking.

Taking a class in a subject you enjoy is a great way to rekindle your love of learning. And who knows? you might even uncover a passion that you never knew existed.

Good Luck!

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online degree programs psychology | 64 Year Old earns BA online

Posted by bposton on December 16th, 2007 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hello my dorm room buddy.

This story was so sweet I couldn’t resist

64-year-old Billie Norczyk of Florida recently received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida (UCF) after completing the requirements entirely online.

Her goal was to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida to expand her job options in health care but she didn’t want to trek to the main campus in Orlando to do it. So she entered their online program.

Now equipped with a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration, the former registered nurse can pursue business-side administrative jobs in hospitals and nursing homes with more confidence. She plans to take her time weighing options.

Students such as Norczyk — working adults looking for a boost on the career ladder — are a driving force behind the growth in online education.

And more and more employers in the health-care industry and other fields say they favor making the bachelor’s degree a minimum requirement in some professional jobs because the extra years of instruction enable workers to handle more complex work with less on-the-job training.

Job prospects in the health-care industry are good in part because people are living longer, which raises demand for services.

Norczyk’s husband, John, was the one who challenged her to return to school after she lamented being turned down for a job that required a bachelor’s degree. She became a nurse before schools were offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in the profession.

She was beaming as she emerged from the first commencement ceremony to take place at UCF’s new arena, where more than 3,000 degrees will be handed out by the end of the final ceremony. She accepted hugs and kisses from friends and family who stood in a knot amid the crowd of hundreds.

Her daughter, who lives in Pennsylvania, and her son, who is stationed by the military in Afghanistan, had both been planning to watch the live webcast of the ceremony.

Now, wasn’t that a great story? 

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