Earn an Online College Degree

An Online Psychology Degree - An Aptitude Becomes a Career

Filed Under Bachelor's Degree Online, Online Psychology Degree

Patty was a good friend. For years she had helped her friends work through a variety of personal problems. She was always available to lend an ear, and friends valued her perceptiveness, guidance, and common sense. As each friend thanked her for her help, they suggested she look into a career in counseling and eventually Patty decided to look into a career in the field of psychology.

Patty visited her local university and spent the day on campus meeting with the admissions director, taking a campus tour and sitting in on several psychology classes. After her visit, she felt that as a mature student she would not be comfortable amongst all of the young people on the sprawling campus. So she began to check out alternatives. As she did her research, she learned that she had several distance learning options. As her research progressed she learned that she could pursue a psychology degree online.

The career options seemed limitless as Patty realized that a career in psychology can take you in many directions. Her first step was to learn a bit about the field itself and the areas of clinical, counseling, industrial and school psychology. Given that most of her informal “counseling” efforts were with adults in a private setting, Patty focused on learning more about earning a bachelors degree in clinical or counseling psychology. And as Patty had already decided that she would earn an online college degree, she began to look into the variety of programs available.

Patty soon narrowed her search to three accredited online psychology degree programs. She looked into the course offerings at each program. Patty found that most of the classes centered around assigned readings and required email correspondence with the instructor, midterm and final exams, and participation in classroom / chat room discussions. Later on in the degree program, courses might include a field practicum where she could put her skills into practice in her community. To start, she decided to enroll in an individual online course.

Patty began her first course about 3 months after she began exploring online degree programs. From the get-go, she experienced the benefits of an online degree program as she started her program at the date of her choice, in mid-November and she contacted the course instructor by email at the time of her choosing – 5:00 am. With each step towards her online degree she appreciated the flexibility of the program and its affordability.

Now, 3 years later, Patty is well on her way toward obtaining her psychology degree online. Her friends still rely on her warm interpersonal skills. Patty is looking forward to formally applying them in a career setting as well.

Earn Your MBA - Online, or On Campus?

Filed Under Master's Degree Online, Online MBA Programs

Once you’ve begun your career, it may be time to return to school for an MBA degree. You could decide to look at online MBA programs, or to study in a more traditional setting.

It’s unusual to go to business school directly after completing an undergraduate degree, although of course some do. But it’s more common to get a few years of practical experience under your belt, and then to look at getting an MBA. There are three main questions to address if you choose to take on the challenge of a graduate business administration degree:

Where Should I Earn My MBA?

The first of these can be a challenge. As of the beginning of 2008 there are well over 1,000 business schools with MBA programs in the US alone, with hundreds more around the world. Several magazines publish rankings of the best business school programs, while Business Week takes those lists to much greater levels; as well as traditional full-time two year MBA programs they chart the best:

and much more.

And most importantly, remember this: Whichever school you choose, you must be sure that it’s accredited; if it’s not, look elsewhere.

How Will I Pay the Tuition for my MBA Degree?

Paying for an MBA degree can seem overwhelming but, almost more than with any other degree, you’re investing in your future. According to the Princeton Review, recent MBA graduates earn 35% more than those without the degree. Graduates of the more prestigious schools can expect six-figure starting salaries and signing bonuses, even when employment rates are slowing down nationally.

Given the potential earnings an MBA can give you, taking on loans is a reasonable approach to take. But if you plan to stay employed, whether by studying at an online MBA program or by going to school part-time, talk to your current employer. Many companies offer loans to their employees to further their education; they may even be willing to pay part of your tuition.

Should I Earn My MBA Degree Online?

It can be a great advantage to earn an online college degree, but there are of course drawbacks. Chief amongst them is the ability to network effectively with classmates, professors, and potential employers. But even in an online setting it’s possible to make valuable contacts with fellow students. You’ll need to be pro active in playing a part in online discussions and bulletin boards, and be sure to use email effectively when communicating with faculty and other MBA students. A respectful tone, professional approach, and good-humored communication style is just as important online as it is in person … and perhaps even more important.

Obviously, there’s nothing like taking a two-year break to immerse yourself in studying for your MBA. But if time, finances, or family obligations won’t allow that, an online MBA program can be equally valuable … and rewarding.

Earning an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Management

Filed Under Bachelor's Degree Online

Steve was frustrated at work. He liked his job, and he liked the people he worked for. But it had become clear to him that without a bachelor’s degree, he was never going to be promoted.

When Steve started working at Bakofski Printing it was a small company; Dave Bakofski had hired Steve as his first salesman. Over the years the company had grown, and they now employed over 60 people, including three other salesmen.

It was obvious that the next hire would be a sales manager and Steve had hoped that he would be offered the job. When Dave called him into his office Steve was already planning to ask for a nice salary increase. But instead Dave kindly, but firmly, explained to Steve that he couldn’t offer him the sales manager job and that instead it would be going to somebody with a business administration degree.

Although he was angry and upset about the decision, deep down Steve knew that Dave wasn’t being unfair. The company had grown bigger and more complex, and a degree in business administration would be valuable to the new sales manager.

When he and his wife talked that night they decided to look into the possibility of Steve returning to school to earn a degree. They quickly realised that it would not be possible for Steve to give up his job to go to school full-time; they simply couldn’t afford to lose his salary.

One of Steve’s friends had recently begun taking classes online from the local State University. When they had dinner the previous week, his friend had mentioned how much he was enjoying the class on marketing. Steve went to the website for the local university and browsed around some of the class listings. He was amazed how many different degrees it was possible to take online, and how flexible the schedule seemed.

When he arrived at work the next morning. Steve was surprised to be called into Dave’s office again. Over a cup of coffee, Dave emphasized that he considered Steve an excellent employee, one who had a good future at Bukofski if he earned a degree. And he made Steve an offer.

Dave explained to Steve that the company had started a new policy of helping their employees to earn a degree or other qualification. Bukofski Printing was willing to pay 50% of the cost of college tuition. And, they’d provide a long-term zero interest loan to allow their employees to pay the other 50% easily from payroll deductions.

It was just the incentive that Steve needed. Within a week, he had registered to earn an online college degree and had begun studying for a bachelor’s degree in management, with an emphasis in sales. He decided not to take a full course load the first semester, because it had been many years since he’d studied seriously.

Steve was surprised how much he enjoyed the classes. The professors all seemed to know their stuff, and they understood that most of their students had responsibilities outside the classroom. Assignments still had to be delivered on time, but deadlines were set long in advance, and teachers were very accessible by e-mail. There were also discussion groups online, which to some extent took the place of the classroom interaction missing from studying for a degree online.

It wasn’t easy to keep up with his studies, but Steve persevered. During his second semester, he took almost a full load, cut back a little at work, and was very successful. He now has about a year left of college. His basic requirements are completed, and he’s concentrating solely on sales management classes. Next time an opportunity comes his way Steve will be ready to take his career to a new level.

Online RN to BSN College Degree Program

Filed Under Online Nursing Degree

Susan’s been an RN — a Registered Nurse — for three years now, and recently began an online nursing degree program. We talked with her about her decision to enter the RN to BSN program.

Why did you want to earn your BSN degree?

I always wanted to work in healthcare, and chose nursing when I was in high school. My hope was to earn my nursing degree straight out of high school but money was tight so I became an RN in order to begin working as soon as possible. I always planned to go back to school for my Bachelor of Nursing degree.

You chose an online nursing degree program. Why did you want to study online?

For two reasons: Time, and money!

I’m a single mom, and I can’t afford to stop working in order to attend school … I need that paycheck! Continuing my education online allows me to work and go to school at the same time.

And earning an online college degree is much more flexible. Between juggling day care and shift work, it’s very hard for me to schedule time for classes at the local university. But the online degree program lets me listen to lectures at any time of the day or night. I still have deadlines for papers and other assignments, but the program is well organized and I know the deadlines well in advance.

How about laboratory requirements? A nursing degree involves a lot of basic science doesn’t it?

I know that some online degree programs require students to attend a testing center for practical labs, but the course that I’m taking enables me to do all my laboratory work at home. I pay a materials fee as part of my tuition, and everything’s shipped to my house … even a microscope and slides.

Is there a downside to your online nursing program?

You have to be self-disciplined. Online learning requires you to plan your own schedule, since you’re not attending class at specific times. I was concerned that I’d miss the discussions and interaction that I had in my RN course, but the message boards and online chat sessions are a good substitute. On the whole, the positives of online education outweigh the negatives for me.

Would you encourage other nurses to try an online RN to BSN program?

Yes, definitely! Whether you study online or in a traditional program, earning your bachelor’s degree in nursing puts you in high demand. The advanced skills you’ll learn will make you much more valuable, and you’ll have the opportunity to work in more complex specialties.

Patients are living longer because of health care advances and they require different and more intensive nursing. A BSN degree equips you for these advanced needs and earning your nursing degree online is a convenient and effective way to complete an RN to BSN program.

Look For an Accredited Online College Degree

Filed Under Accredited Online College Degree

Why is it important that you study at an accredited college or university?

When you decide to earn an online college degree, a wide range of choices are open to you. One of the most important decisions is: “Which online school should I apply to?”

There’s an easy way to make this choice a little less complicated; stick to online accredited degree programs. If you get a degree from a school that is not accredited you’ll find that employers are unlikely to accept it as a qualification for jobs or promotions. Worse, it won’t qualify you for admission to further education.

OK, problem solved … I’ll just find an accredited online school for my degree program, right? Nope, not so fast. There are at least three types of accreditation available to online colleges in the United States, all of which mean something different.

Regional Accreditation

There are six regional associations responsible for accrediting colleges and universities in the United States, each of which covers a particular geographic area. These are:

You might call these the “gold medal” of accreditation; employers and graduate schools will all accept degrees from institutions with regional accreditation.

National Accreditation

You might expect national accreditation to be superior to regional; however, that is not usually the case. There are a great many national agencies that claim to offer accreditation, but only those recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation are accepted widely.

In the minds of many employers, both regional and national accreditation are acceptable. However, when it comes to transferring credits, and to graduate school admissions, online degrees from schools with national accreditation may not be accepted by other colleges or universities.

Specialized & Professional Accreditation

This third type of accreditation for online colleges and universities should be viewed as an addition to regional or national accreditation. Specialized and professional accrediting organizations certify that a given program is meeting academic standards for a particular profession. Examples of such accreditation include:

and many others.

Research that Accreditation Claim

Whne you’re reading about an online college, look out for these phrases: “pursuing accreditation”, “licensed or registered”, “recognized”, “chartered”, “approved”, or “authorized.” When terms such as these are mentioned without a clear use of the word “accredited” you will definitely want to investigate further.

Be sure to choose an online accredited degree program and steer clear of online colleges and universities that lack either regional or national accreditation, and you’ll be sure of earning a degree that will advance both your education, and your career.

Should You Earn An Online Master’s Degree?

Filed Under Master's Degree Online

You’ve got a good education, graduated from a top-notch degree program and made a great start on your career. You’re taking on more responsibility at work, and getting good reviews from your colleagues. You’ve even heard rumors about a possible promotion that will set you on the path to a management career. But suddenly nothing looks quite so rosy.

The day starts fine, when your boss offers to takes you to lunch. Over a nice meal, she heaps praise on you. You’re a great worker; your results are good; and even a couple of the senior executives have complimented your work. But that promotion isn’t going to you — instead, your colleague Rob is getting it. Why? Because Rob has a Master’s degree.

Where does that leave you? You like the company you work for, you’re good at the job, and you have colleagues you respect and like. (Except for Rob right now.) As it stands you have three choices:

Faced with this sort of bad news, it’s tempting to slam your hands down on the table and quit on the spot. After all, if these blind fools can’t see your value to their company, then you’ll just go and work for someone who can, darn it!

But there are two problems with that approach:

  1. Your boss was very clear that the company thinks that you’re a great worker — you just don’t have a graduate degree.
  2. You may have exactly the same problem at another company, plus you’ll have to start all over again in building your reputation and gaining the trust and respect of your colleagues.

Of course, you could simply stay where you are right now. But that’s not a long term solution … if there’s no opportunity for advancement in your current job you’ll quickly become frustrated and bitter. You’ve only just begun to move up the career ladder, so you can’t accept that your climb to the top is over before it’s begun … can you?

Even in the short time you’ve worked at your company, you’ve already spotted a couple of time- servers. You know the type: Too many trips to the coffee machine; first out the door at the end of the day; and daily sad-looking sack lunches with the same few guys. They make themselves useful enough that they still have jobs … but no one looks their way when an exciting new project is being launched. Nope, that’s not you.

The only real choice for you is to head back to university for a graduate degree. Whether you stay at your current company or not, earning another degree will be a valuable resource as you develop your career. More and more employers are hiring employees with graduate degrees, and so looking for a job without a Master’s degree may be a challenge in the future. So that’s settled …. except …

How are you going to do that? Unless you’re independently wealthy (and if that’s the case, why are you working at all?) you probably need to keep your paycheck so quitting to return to school full-time would be hard. And since your current job involves a lot of travel, committing to a part-time night-school schedule may not be possible.

The best solution is to earn an online college degree. Since classes are usually streamed via the Internet you can watch lectures at a time that’s convenient for you, and classroom discussion is replaced by bulletin boards, chat rooms, and email. Even the travel demanded by your job shouldn’t be a barrier; with a laptop and a wireless connection you can progress with your master’s degree program wherever you want.

There are many excellent schools which offer online degrees in a wide range of subjects. Whether you’d be better studying information technology, human resources, or business administration, you’re sure to find a graduate program that will suit you. One word of warning: Be sure that you focus on colleges that are accredited. The phrase that you should look for is “regional accreditation” since that will guarantee that the degree you earn will be accepted by all future employers.

Your first task is to research some of the distance learning options available, and this site can be helpful to you as you look for the best program to earn your master’s degree online.