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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It’s official - online degrees are just as good as traditional (at least per the US Govt)

Posted by bposton on December 1st, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

It’s been the great debate in recent years in higher education and employment circles…

Is an online degree as good as traditional degrees?

Well, it seems that the US Government set out to answer that question (with your tax dollars)

The United States Department of Education recently announced the results of at 12 year study and they concluded that online degrees (which they defined as a result of online classes and examinations) are “somewhat more effective” than the traditional degrees.

More effective? Yep, that was the conclusion. Most of which was based on the fact that online classes are convenient, interactive, and interesting (due to the audio, video etc materials used in teaching), not to mention the fact that having direct access to the professor or lecturer normally makes for a more effective experience that traditional face-to-face classes.

Now, i have to admit that if you’re a student in a traditional college environment, you can certainly make your classes more interesting by being more particpative, and you can always get access to the professor. But evidently an online environment provides those elements without you having to do much in return, which certainly makes it easier.

But no matter which way, the same old adage applies: you’ll get out of it what you put into it…

But hey, at least it’s “official” - an online degree is just a good of an experience (if not better) than a traditional one.

All night cramming parties excluded, of course

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The Most Popular Online Degree Programs - What online degrees do people want?

Posted by bposton on September 29th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

I thought I’d pass along some results of a recent survery that was done this past summer regard the types of online degrees that most popular.

There seems to be a trend shaping up if you look closely at the results, and the trend is that folks are getting more serious about the exact program they want to go for.

Maybe this is due to the fact that, with today’s job market, many are realizing that you have to be very focused on what kind of job you want, which translates to a more definiitive search for the degree program that fits that goal.

So people are make much more definite decisions about where they want to go, and how to get there, as well as understanding that they want to have a degree that will immediately prepare them for a competitive job marketplace.

So what are the most popular online degree programs?

The top 3 are business administration, nursing and criminal justice degrees, followed by health care, education and engineering.

Rounding out the remaining 4 of the top ten most popular online degrees are computers and IT, Psychology, Legal/Paralegal Degrees and Public Administration.

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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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Do I need an IPhone to be a Gator?

Posted by bposton on July 4th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

OK, since my daughter (and a lot of my money) when to the University of Florida, when I read this story, I just had to pass it along to all my dorm room buddies…

Looks like UF announced recently that for students enrolling in one of it’s programs would be required to own either an IPhone or Ipod Touch. It seems that UF is the second university to require the Apple product.

According to information on the College of Pharmacy website, all students entering UF’s PharmD students must “have a iPod touch (or iPhone) and a computer meeting minimum UF and College of Pharmacy (COP) requirements,” 

Now, don’t get me wrong, UF is a great school (in my humble opinion ). It’s usually ranked in the top 10 every year by US News and World Report. The school began offering its Doctor of Pharmacy online degree program way back in 1994, and now, according to the school, this program has become one of the sought after pharmacy programs around. 

But, an IPhone? Give me a break. Why do I have to go out and get an Iphone (and subscribe to AT&T’s lousy service to boot)?

Sure, health care is one of the more recession proof career paths out there, and evidently, Apple’s developers have added a ton of software apps like medical reference applications, blood glucose monitor accessories, and the like. But why make it required?

UF is the second school to post this type of requirement. Last May the University of Missouri said that beginning this fall, all of its journalism students will be required to own an iPhone or iPod touch.

So what’s going on? Well, a little research uncovered that UF later announced that they would not actually enforce the requirement, and that they only listed it so that students would have an idea of what to budget for in their estimates of financial need.

What? Students actually budget?

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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 | Economy Drives Up Demand For Online Degrees

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

WOW, talk about pain at the pump!

With the super high price of gas, and the fact that nobody can explain why it is so high, the country is coming to terms with the fact that these gas prices might just be here to stay.

While that is a scarry thought, at least it appears to be increasing demand for online degrees.

Cases in point:

Hodges University’s campuses have seen an online enrollment increase of nearly
150 percent.

At Florida Gulf Coast University, students taking at least one course online numbered 3,872 out of a total of 9,388 students last fall. In the spring, 4,312 students were enrolled online, or about 46 percent of the student body.

Edison College is looking at a 140 percent increase in students who take online classes.

Now, to be honest, no one has officially attributed this increase to the econony or high gas prices. In fact, some colleges point out that their marketing campaigns are the result. (yeah, right )

But I think anyone with half a brain can tell that if you factor in the cost of gas for communting, and the other costs like parking, etc, the cost of online degree programs is become more and more reasonable. And the overall weakness in the economy is causing a lot more folks to consider upgrading their education.

But hey - that’s what I get for thinking

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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 | 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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