The Online Degree Dorm Room

online degree programs psychology | Want 19 grand more in your pocket?

Posted by bposton on March 31st, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Did you know…?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, if you only have a high school diploma then you’re missing out on over $19,000 in additional income per year.

That’s right - you could be making about 19 grand more per year.

How?

Easy - just get a Bachelor’s degree.

Or you can just get an associate degree, which could put an extra $6,500 per year into your pocket. 

OK - I know what you’re saying to yourself: ”just how to do I fit a college degree into my busy schedule?”

Well, since you’re reading this blog, you’re close to the answer:

Start by checking out online degree programs (which are near and dear to my heart )

If you’re a homemaker, active-duty military or someone who travels a lot with your job, you can find an online degree programs that will let you complete college while maintaining a work-home-school balance.

Have you seen the gas prices lately? Well, as an online student, you will never have to worry about driving and parking.

Child care? No problem.

Scheduling? Attend class at midnight if you like.

(see - I told you it was easy )

And you know what? You might even be able to complete work for an associate degree in as little as 18 months or a bachelor’s degree in three years - which measn you get to that extra dough sooner.  

If you have access to a computer (which I assume you do if you’re reading this), then you also have access to online courses and distance-learning degree programs. Most lessons are delivered through special, Web-based distance-education systems. A course may include online lectures, assignments, practice drills and quizzes with instant feedback.

So what do you need to look for in an online program? Here’s a short list:

- Find out how often you will be required to log in for class.

 - Look for a program where you can interact with classmates using a discussion board and instant messaging.

 - Ask whether exams will be taken online or at a local testing site, and whether tests must be taken at specific times.

Also, make sure that you search out a college program that leads to career advancement. Otherwise that extra 19 grand might not happen.
And make sure that you check out a college carefully so that you are in a better position to get that extra income when you finish. Make sure you find this out:

 - Do instructors in your career-specific courses have practical experience in the industry or business? (Tip - go to the school’s Web site and look for instructor biographies or contact the school and ask the program’s director to verify that your instructors will be experienced professionals)

 - Ask if business and industry professionals worked with instructors to develop a program that will provide you with the skills employers are looking for. For example, if you are pursuing a degree in Information Technology, will your program include industry certification training? Or, if you plan on a career as a paralegal, will you learn how to use state-of-the-art legal software?

If you are self-motivating, then getting an online degree is a great way to improve your career opportunities.

And hey, who wouldn’t be motivated, by the prospect of as much as $19,000 per year?

:-)
 

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online degree programs psychology | New Arts Management Degree at Drexel

Posted by bposton on February 12th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey dorm room buddy…

Do you enjoy the “Arts”?

I suppose I do too, but I have alot of trouble staying inside the lines with my crayons

Anyway, you might want to know that Drexel University Online, has just announced that they are adding a new online degree - a Master of Science in Arts Administration. This is a very broad and deep degree program that combines a multidisciplinary approach to arts management that incorporates commerce, research and technology in the arts.
THis M.S. in Arts Administration degree is one of the only arts management degrees in the U.S. offered completely online, and (as usual with Drexel) you can be assured of the same high-quality instruction as with the on-campus program.

So what can you do with this degree?

Well, you can get a high-level management positions within most of the country’s arts and cultural organizations.

That’s because as a student in this program you learn management theory and practice, as well as policy development, marketing, and fundraising for non-profit organizations.

If you’re interested in getting the skills you need succeed in the growing profession of arts and culture administration, then you should seriously consider this MS degree.

And as usual with online degree programs, you can complete the coursework in two years while holding on to your day job. You can also customize the program of study through electives based on your individual career goals.

In case you didn’t know, Drexel University’s Arts Administration program is highly regarded in the industry, and is a part of the Association of Arts Administration Educators and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.

Applications for Drexel’s online Master’s in Arts Administration are now being accepted for the fall term. For more information about this online program, e-mail info @ drexel.com or call (877) 215-0009.

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online degree programs psychology | financial aid to get your degree online

Posted by bposton on January 14th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

So, you want to start the New Year by going back to school and getting or finishing your degree online, right?

Alot of folks have this same goal, but they often put it on hole when holiday bills start rolling in.

Did you know that the average American household has about $10,000 in credit card debt? And a lot of that is left over from holiday spending. So this is can be a major hurdle stopping you from fullfilling your New Year’s resolution to get your degree. 

But there is hope…

eLearners.com, a resource of EducationDynamics that connects students to online education, has introduced one of the most robust financial aid resources on the web, the eLearners Student Loans and Financial Aid Center.

This center provides prospective students like you with an up-to-date database of more than 2.4 million scholarships
totaling $15 billion in financial aid.

One of the most unique features of eLearners.com is The Debt-Free College Guide which can give students over 500 debt-free financing options, including:

Grants
Tax incentives
Scholarships
And the most comprehensive list of loan forgiveness programs on the Internet

eLearners.com’s Student Loans and Financial Aid Center helps prospective and current students identify
and understand financing options for higher education. In addition to detailed information about financial aid,
loan consolidation and employer tuition assistance programs, visitors can also find a loan-buying guide that eLearners.com built in collaboration with The Greentree Gazette. The site allows prospective students to compare more than 300 student loans by loan vendor, type, up-front fees and interest rate.

So check out eLearners.com’s Student Loans and Financial Aid Center. It could very well be the what you’re looking for to get going with your online degree this year.

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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 | 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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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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online degree programs psychology | Penn State offers online Psychology degree

Posted by bposton on November 24th, 2007 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

OK, my little dorm room buddies, this is it.

This is the news I’ve been waiting for. For the first time ever, a public university is offering online psychology degrees.

Beginning this month, Penn State will open admission to its bachelor of arts (BA) and bachelor of science (BS) degrees in
psychology to online degree students. Students can begin applying to the program later this month, and courses begin in summer 2008.

The program is from the University’s College of the Liberal Arts and delivered through Penn World Campus.

This is HUGH!!

Why? - Because it;s PENN STATE, that’s why…

Penn State College of the Liberal Arts educates more than 5,000 undergraduates in 43 majors and over 800 graduate
students in 16 programs, in addition to being the largest provider of courses for Penn State World Campus.

The World Campus at Penn State specializes in adult online education, delivering more than 60 of Penn State’s most highly regarded graduate, undergraduate and professional education programs through convenient online formats.

It was founded in 1998, and now serves more than 7,000 students in all 50 states, 43 countries, and on 7 continents.

And now they’ve added two online psychology degrees–a bachelor of arts (BA) and a bachelor of science (BS) in psychology. 

The BA program is geared towards professionals who want to pursue psychology with a focus on the human-services aspects of the field, or plan to continue on to a master’s degree in psychology. The BS program follows a business track–for professionals interested in psychology-driven aspects of business–such as human resources, management, leadership development, and marketing.

As with all of Penn State’s online programs, the new psychology degrees are designed to empower working adults to
pursue life and career-enhancing higher education without sacrificing personal or professional time.

This is definitely a milestone for online education; the first public university offering of online psychology degrees.

Hat’s off to Penn State!!
 

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Associate Online Degree Programs | What colleges offer the most online degrees?

Posted by bposton on November 26th, 2006 — Posted in associate online degree programs

The annual report on the state of online education has found that the number of colleges and universities offering 4 year and associate online degree programs has increased.

Which is good news for everyone.

However, the last 3 annual reports showed a very uneven distribution of online course and program offerings by type of institution.  Public colleges and universities and the very large institutions in the US have always been first with online degree offerings.

Private, small 4 year colleges have been least likely to offer online courses, and typically have they’ve received the most negative opinions about online education in general.

And this year’s report is pretty much online the same line. This year’s results show no major changes from this type of pattern. The same large and public universities are still offering the most degrees online.

More than 96 percent of colleges and universities with more than 15,000 total enrollments have some online degree programs, which is more than double that of the smaller, private institutions.
The proportion of colleges and universities with completely online programs rises as the size of the instituion increases. 

About two-thirds of the very largest institutions have degree programs that are completely online programs, while only about one-sixth of the smallest institutions have such programs.

Interestingly Doctoral and Research institutions have been shown to have the greatest depth of online programs and courses. Over 80% of these colleges and universities have some form of online program, either courses or full programs.

So you probably need to look toward the public university or a very large college to find an online degree program with a lot of depth and selection. The private colleges have them also, but you might not find exactly what you need.

Ben 

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Associate Online Degree Programs | Prestigeous Schools go online

Posted by bposton on November 24th, 2006 — Posted in associate online degree programs

Online education has grown much more popular since the advent of the Internet. But to be honest, most online degrees are still coming from for-profit schools like the University of Phoenix, and not from the traditional brick-and-mortar colleges.

In fact, a lot of the country’s most elite universities have pretty much avoided the trend towards online degrees, thinking that a computer cannot replace the intellectual exchange offered by attending classes in person.

But that is changing - finally

The new online engineering master’s degree offered by Stanford and a handful of other respected universities are embracing online education. Or a least giving it a try. 

Duke University’s new “Global Executive MBA'’ is completely Internet-based. Johns Hopkins University offers an online master’s degree program in bioinformatics.

This is important because it’s a sign that online education is becoming mainstream when these prestigous universities are sticking their toes in the water to see if it’s warm.

It’s a very good sign to me

Ben

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Associate Online Degree Programs | All About Associate Degrees - Part 7

Posted by bposton on November 21st, 2006 — Posted in associate online degree programs

I’d like to wrap up my posts about associate degrees with some things to consider when choosing a program, either on campus or online.

You need to make sure that whatever program you’re interested in is both fully accredited and the credits transferable. This is important even if you don’t intend to move on to a 4 year degree.

So how do you make sure of this?

Well, the best way is to follow the same rule that the US does in it’s relationship with Russia:

“Trust but Verify”

That means you need to verify with third party sources the accrediation status of the community college or junior college you want to attend. Don’t just trust what their information or website tells you. Check with the accrediting agency and even the department of education at the state or federal level if you need to.

Next, if you’re planning to transfer to a 4 year school, you should check with that school to make absolutely sure that the credits you earn at the community college will be accepted at the 4 year school. This is critical! Do just assume, and don’t take the community college’s word for it. Check it out for yourself.

Ben

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