The Online Degree Dorm Room

online degree programs psychology | Grantham University increases staff

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

Ok, I admit it - I did even know Grantham U even existed.

That just goes to show that the online degree program world is growing faster than I can keep up with it

OK so here’s the deal.

Grantham University specializes in online education for working adults, and the future is so bright that they plan to hire approximately 50 new employees at their Kansas City campus by January 2008. 

The online university needs help in areas of admissions, student progress and other administrative positions.

“We are  looking for people who want to be ‘life changers’ because Grantham’s mission is to change lives by offering an affordable and accessible online college education to everyone,” said Jerome Wilson, human resources director at Grantham University. 

Interesting note - Grantham University had to relocate from Louisiana to Kansas City after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In case you’re interested in working for them, here’s a great benefit; completely free tuition for its employees and spouses (or significant others). Discounted tuition is available to immediate family members. 

Grantham University offers online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Criminal Justice, Business Administration, General and Interdisciplinary Studies, Computer Science, and other technology related fields.  Grantham’s online degree programs are flexible and self-paced, allowing students to complete their coursework at the times and places that fit their busy schedules.

Grantham University has 200 employees in Kansas City. For those interested in working at Grantham University, call 1.800.955.2527

No Comments »

online degree programs psychology | Oh my gosh, were has the time gone??

Posted by bposton on August 15th, 2007 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Sorry everyone, but it’s WAY to long since I posted to this blog.

I sincerely apologize, but many, many, many other things got in the way, both personal and otherwise. I know it’s no excuse, but…

I’m BACK

And I really hope to “resurrect” this blog. I may not be posting as much as I was before, but, I’ll certainly try.

Thanks for your patience:

So, off we go again:

Here’s a very recent press release from Cappella about some new online degree programs they are offering

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) August 2, 2007 — Capella University, an accredited online university based in Minneapolis, today introduced a new Education Specialist (EdS) online degree program, as well as a Master of Science in Public Health. Twelve new graduate and undergraduate specializations are also being launched in such fields as emergency management, retail management, school counseling, educational leadership, health information management, human resource management, information security, and project management. Enrollment is now open, with classes beginning fall quarter 2007.

“With the addition of the EdS degree, Capella can offer teachers and administrators an intermediate degree between our master’s and PhD degree programs,” said Harry McLenighan, dean of Capella’s School of Education. “We think it’s important to provide an EdS option for people who want education beyond their master’s degree, but currently don’t want to pursue a doctoral degree.” Specializations available within the EdS program include Curriculum and Instruction, and Leadership in Educational Administration. Capella is one of the few online universities to offer a state-approved specialization in Leadership in Educational Administration.

 We think it’s important to provide an EdS option for people who want education beyond their master’s degree, but currently don’t want to pursue a doctoral degree.  
Capella’s new MS in Public Health is designed to meet the growing need for public health workers, a field in danger of losing a substantial percentage of its work force to retirement. A 2004 report by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the Council of State Governments (CSG) predicted public health retirement rates as high as 45 percent over the succeeding five years and noted public health vacancy rates of up to 20 percent in some states. New specializations offered as part of the MS in Public Health degree include Health Management and Policy, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The MS in Public Health program is part of Capella’s School of Human Services, which is also launching a new School Counseling specialization within its MS in Human Services program.

Capella’s School of Business and Technology is launching five new specializations, including a Human Resource Management specialization within its Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, and a Health Information Management specialization within its MS in IT program. The school’s PhD in Information Technology program has two new specializations, Project Management, and Information Security, and the PhD in Organization and Management program also has a new Project Management specialization. Capella now offers six Project Management specializations, allowing students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels to choose either a business or IT project management focus.

Capella’s School of Undergraduate Studies has announced two new specializations. A new Emergency Management specialization is part of Capella’s BS in Public Safety program. Capella University is currently one of only a few online universities to offer BS, MS, and PhD degree programs in public safety. Capella is also launching a Retail Management specialization within its BS in Business program, designed to address the increasing desire among retailers for college-educated candidates to fill in-store and corporate management positions.

Capella is now accepting enrollment applications for these new specializations. For more information, please call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552), option 3, or e-mail info@capella.edu.

Review of the MS in Human Services, School Counseling specialization is pending in AL, AZ, FL, GA, KY, OH, SC, and WA. Review of the MS in Public Health program and the Education Specialist (EdS) program is pending in AZ, FL, GA, KY, MN, SC, and WA. Review of the PhD in Organization and Management, Project Management specialization is pending in AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, KY, SC, and WA. Review of the PhD in IT, Information Security and Project Management specializations, is pending in AL, AZ, FL, GA, KY, SC, and WA. Review of the BS in Business, Retail Management specialization; BS in Public Safety, Emergency Management specialization; MBA, Human Resource Management specialization; and the MS in IT, Health Information Management specialization is pending in AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, KY, OH, SC, and WA.

About Capella University:
Founded in 1993, Capella University is an accredited,* online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, health, human services, public safety, and psychology, and bachelor’s degree programs in business, information technology, health, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella offers 101 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. The online university currently serves more than 19,000 students from all 50 states and 56 countries. It is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company (NASDAQ: CPLA), headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA),
Capella University, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552)

1 Comment »

Engineering Degree Online | A Three Part Primer about Online Degrees - Part 3

Posted by bposton on November 9th, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

Here’s part three of my quick primer on taking online courses or getting a
degree online.

So, what’s it really like taking an online class?

OK, here’s the deal.

There are basically two types of online classes. The first kind of class taking is call
asynchronous - a techie term that means the class is not actually scheduled. The professor
will set a particular deadline for assignments and tests, but then you work on your own through
the lessons, anytime you want to - day or night, just so long as you get the assignments and tests
done by the time they are due.

Then there’s the other kind of class-taking which is labled synchronous. This is when both the students and
the professor log in to a website at regular, preset times for online discussion about what the subject matter might be.

Either way, this is way different from going to an actual classroom. No desks with bubble gum under them
no way to raise your hand. And no heavy book bags (that’s my favorite).

However, since most classes use technology like instant messaging, online video lectures, etc an online
class can be every just as interesting and engaging.

Think you’ll miss the classroom environment? Well, if you enroll in an online degree program offered by
a school near where you live, you might be able to attend some of the classroom lectures.

But my guess is you won’t miss a thing.

Actually, a lot of students have said that taking a course online is more challenging than a traditional class.

That’s because it requires more disipline to log in regularly to complete your assignment than getting to a traditional
class, especially where the workload is often bunched around tests and writing assignments.

And you can’t hide quietly in the back of the classroom when you haven’t done the assignment. The comments made in the online chats and posts on the website will tell the professor actively engaged you are.

So it is different, but in a very good way.

Think about it this way - where else can you show up for class in your pajamas and unwashed hair and not worry what
your classmates think of you?

Ben

No Comments »

Engineering Degree Online | Kentucky Education votes for a Diploma Mill?

Posted by bposton on November 8th, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

Hey so it’s the day after Election Day - did you vote? I did

In the spirit of the election I thought I’d report about a recent political news story from
Kentucky.

It seems that a PAC from the Kentucky Education Association endorsed a state Senate candidate who received his
bachelor’s degree from a “diploma mill.”

The Kentucky Educator’s Political Action Committee recently changed its position to recommend
the Democratic candidate Douglas Goodman instead of the Republican Sen. Elizabeth Tori in the 10th
Senate District.

They first picked Tori as their recommended candidate, but then switched to Goodman after Tori
indicated in a forum that she would be open to a pilot program for school vouchers, which the teachers’
lobby opposes.

Then Goodman, a county magistrate who manages a construction company, says he received his
bachelor’s degree from Kennedy-Western University, which is an unaccredited institution based in Wyoming.

Of course, the PAC says that Goodman’s educational background wasn’t an issue…

And of course, Goodman is against vouchers…

Ah, the politics of it all…:-(

A timely reminder to just vote NO for Diploma Mills

Ben

No Comments »

Engineering Degree Online|Credit from Testing

Posted by bposton on November 4th, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

As mentioned in my earlier post, it is actually possible to earn a lot of college credit from testing. In fact, I’ve heard (but not confirmed) that it’s actually possible to earn your degree completely through testing alone.

Now, this may or may not be for you. It depends on your testing ability. Do you consider yourself a good “test-taker”?

If so, then there are several colleges that will give you academic credit for taking, passing, and scoring above a certain level on tests.

So which tests do you need to take?

Well again, I’ve done some of the legwork for you

Here are some of the tests you can take:

· GRE (gre.org)

CLEP (collegeboard.com)

DANTES (dantes.doded.mil)

ECE (excelsior.edu)

TECEP (tesc.edu)

If you want to focus on only one of these, then the GRE is it.

Here’s why. If you can pass the general (not the subject-area) exam at or above the 80th percentile, you’ll get 30 credits.

…that’s just for one test.

And even if you don’t score that high, it’s still possible to walk away from the test with 16 or 24 credits.

That’s a lot of credit for one day’s work

Ben

1 Comment »