The Online Degree Dorm Room

Online Degrees - do your HOMEWORK first

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

I’m sure that you’ve heard recently that in this tough job market, you need every advantage you can get. One would be an advanced degree. And while many are considering getting this type of degree online, you need to do your homework.

Such as:
Chosing the school:
Today many traditional universities also offer online courses. At at lot of those schools, select master’s programs are entirely online.
You also have other options than traditional institutions, which are the online-only schools such as the University of Phoenix, which offers master’s programs in business, education health care and psychology - and DeVry University.

Just make sure you stay away from online outfits promising quick and easy degrees. These are the “schools” that ask for $1,000 or more in tuition, and have names that echo those of prestigious universities - but have P.O. boxes for their address.
Not a safe bet.
Make sure you check with the U.S. Department of Education Web site, www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation  to check the school out - throughly. You can also can check the site of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation at www.chea.org.

Make sure you keep up with the admissions standards for the school you’re interested in. You may not know it, but while traditional universities generally apply the same admissions standards and deadlines for online students as for everyone else, online-only schools, usually have a rolling admissions process. 

No Comments »

Online Degrees - Don’t forget these important points to getting your degree online

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

In today’s down job market, one way to make your resume stand out is to have an advanced degree.

But you have to realize that it’s now as easy as some schools make it sound.

While it is true that Online masters programs are often less expensive and  more convenient than traditional degree programs there are several issues that you need to think about.

Regardless of how you earn your degree, remember that it’s not a ticket to six-figure paycheck or job security — consider the slew of MBA casualties on Wall Street in recent months. But if you think it will give your career a kick, here are a few points to keep in mind.

The first one is the fact that you have be self-motivated. This is a MUST.
An online degree program doesn’t force you to sit in a classroom and because of that you don’t always have social support group.

THe next one is picking the right school.

Many traditional universities also offer online courses. At some schools, such as Duke and Columbia universities, select masters programs are entirely online.

If you’re not set on getting a degree from a traditional institution, online-only schools can be viable options. For instance, the University of Phoenix offers master’s programs in business, education health care and psychology. Other career-focused schools, such as DeVry University, also offer masters programs online.

But be vary wary of any online school that promises a quick and easy time to get your sheepskin. They may ask for only a fraction of the total cost of a traditional degree in tuition and have names that echo those of prestigious universities. But when their mailing addresses is a P.O. box - run away - FAST

Always remember that the U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of accredited schools on its Web site (www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation) and you can also check the site of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation at www.chea.org.

Also, the admissions process for an online program at Duke or other traditional universities is the same as their on campus programs, while online-only schools have admissions that are typically on a rolling, monthly basis.

Another issue is your courses and cirriculum.

It you think that course work will be easier because it’s online - forget it, it won’t…

In fact, at traditional schools the online materials are usually the same or at least comparable to what’s taught in classrooms.

As with any degree related course, you’ll be expected to hand in periodic assignments - on time

So if you are more accustomed to the structure and disipline that a physical classroom provides, then meeting these deadlines with an online class might be a struggle.

Of course, the benefit to all of this is that you can study when and where you please.

Another beneft is the fact that you might actually interact with classmates and professors more with an online class than if you were in a lecture hall packed with hundreds of students. Chat rooms, frequent e-mail exchanges and online message boards are often integral elements of online courses.

Also be aware that for certain degrees, like those in the medical profession, you’ll likely need to complete some courses in person at some type of facility.

Another issue is cost - and with that - financial aid. Online degrees are typically cheaper than traditional programs, but tuition is still considerable.

At the University of Phoenix, for instance, tuition for full-time graduate students was $13,500 in 2007, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. At the American Intercontinental University Online, it was $21,300.

But that doesn’t mean you have to pay the full price. If you’re getting a paycheck that will limit how much federal aid you can qualify for, but by all means, still fill out the FSAFA application. Another (and often better) resource for aid might be your employer. Professional associations also offer scholarships and stipends, and don’t forget the instituion itself - there are a lot of universities and online-only schools that offer scholarships.

You really should not worry about how a potential employer will accept your degree from an online program, so long as it is accredited by the right institution, especially if it is comes from a traditional university.

But ultimately, the decision to get a master’s degree boils down to whether you think an advanced degree of any sort will boost your career.

Here’s something that might help in that decision: According to the Census Bureau, median earnings for people with a graduate or professional degree was $61,000 in 2007. That’s compared to $47,000 for people with just a bachelor’s degree.

If you are currently employed, make sure that one of the first things you do is to talk with your human resources department. Ask what new opportunities additional schooling could open up or how it could affect your pay.

And don’t forget that even if your currently employer doesn’t offer you more money or a better position because of your new degree, any edge you can get is worth considering in this job market.

No Comments »

online degree programs psychology | Save the planet - get your degree online

Posted by bposton on April 23rd, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hello my little dorm room buddy

In case you were too busy cramming for those exams, yesterday was Earth Day.

Of course, isn’t EVERY day Earth Day? :-0

Anyway, I thought I’d instill upon you some interesting fact regarding the “green economy” and how you can benefit from a “green job”.

Today, jobs with a green focus are growing faster than the average for all occupations.

OK - let me repeat that -

Jobs with a green focus are growing faster than the average for all occupations!!!

Want proof? OK - here’s what the US Department of Labor has to say about it:

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the employment of environmental scientists is predicted to increase by 25 percent from 2006 to 2016.

That’s HUGE… 

The strongest growth is expected to be in private-sector consulting firms as more businesses realize the importance of going green.

So if you’re wonderin what kind of job you might be interested in or what your next major will be (assuming you’ve already got a major and will change it soon ) How about an online degree in environmental studies?

This is a rapidly growing industry that is constantly seeking knowledgeable and highly skilled professionals to lead the charge.

And you could be one of them…

…think about it…

You could pursue an online graduate programs in Environmental Management or get Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences.

And getting a “green” degree online verses on campus is an exercise in being green as well!

So help save the planet - in two ways…

Get your Environmental Management or Environmental Sciences degree, and get it ONLINE!

:-)

Ben 

No Comments »

Engineering Degree Online|Is there a nurse in the house?

Posted by bposton on November 2nd, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

Check this out.

As of the fall of next year, the Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences (FHCHS) will no longer have a RN-BSN degree program on campus.

Why? Because they’re moving the entire program online!

In fact, students already enrolled in on-campus courses will be transitioned into the RN-BSN degree online program and as of the Fall 2007 term, no on-campus BSN courses will be offered. All future enrollments will be only for the RN-BSN degree to their online program.

The online RN-BSN program began in 2004 with 26 students, and has grown to 369 students.

The program helps working professional Registered Nurses (RNs) attain the education necessary to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Students enrolled in the program live in communities as close as Orlando and as far away as Okinawa, Japan.

Dr. Nancy Haugen, Chair of the Department of Nursing had this to say about this change in their offering:

“The number of students who are choosing the online program really shows how valuable the flexibility of learning at home is to nurses trying to balance personal and professional obligations. With this in mind, we feel it is important to focus our attention on developing the online program.”

So, score one for the online degree program!

Ben

No Comments »

engineering degree online : A growing trend towards Technical Training - a case study

Posted by bposton on October 22nd, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

One reason why technical training is seeing a comeback is the increase in partnerships among community/technical colleges, high schools, and employers.

Here’s a great example of that in my home state of North Carolina:

There’s a company in Greensboro, NC called RF MicroDevices. They’ve hooked up with Guilford Technical Community College. Together they’ve developed several programs to help train student operators in “wafer fab”, which turn out integrated computer circuits.

“There’s no place else around here where someone can learn the skills necessary to perform efficiently in our facility,” says Ralph Knupp of RFMD. “Someone who graduates with a bachelor of arts would not arrive bringing the specific experience we need. So vocational training is critical for us to maintain our manufacturing strength in Greensboro.”

North Carolina is probably best know for our textile and furniture industries (High Point Furniture Market, for example). But we’ve seen those industries shrink dramatically in the face of foreign competition. So the state has relied alot on the community college system, which was started in 1958, to retrain displaced workers.

“We did a major study with industry and found that for two-thirds of all bio-tech jobs in this state, no four-year degree was necessary,” says Martin Lancaster, president of the North Carolina Community College system.

So I think there’s a hugh trend here:

First of all, families are struggling to afford the traditional college education. So they’re looking a technical training to learn a hi-tech skill or trade.

Second, employers are struggling to find qualified hi-tech labor. So that has increased the demand for skilled US workers in fields such as aviation mechanics, computer technology, electronics, global positioning, and trades ranging from culinary arts to construction.

It’s a combination that will only grow over time.

Ben

No Comments »