Helen Hecker asked:


One of the greatest benefits of online degree programs is that you can work at your own pace at any time of the day and on any day at home or on your laptop somewhere. Working on your online degree at home enables you to control the expenses and learn in your own style and will allow you to decide how quickly you want to earn your degree.

At one time one survey found that 55 percent of employers preferred traditional degrees over online degrees but that has all been changing in recent years. People are becoming more aware of saving money and saving the environment by not traveling to on-campus settings and that is becoming much more accepted now with the focus on global warming.

One study found that public institutions were much more likely to offer online degrees than were private institutions. The term online degrees usually refers to college degrees (sometimes including high school diplomas and non-degree certificate programs) that can be earned primarily or entirely through the use of a computer that is connected to the Internet, rather than attending college in a traditional on-campus setting. Today, you can earn a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or even graduate degree online from a major university without ever having been to or in one of their classrooms.

Online colleges, that are fully accredited, have earned a widely recognized form of university accreditation from one of six established regional accreditation boards. The time, distance and the financial hardships of a higher education really no longer exist with the arrival on the scene today of online technology and it’s getting better all the time. According to one report, about two-thirds of the largest educational institutions have fully online degree programs.

The types of online degrees that are readily available include: associate degree, bachelor degree, master degree and doctorate degree online. Make sure to find out if you have to go to a campus to take some of the exams or complete some of your online coursework there. Take into consideration, in case you might have difficulty getting to the campus during the evenings and on weekends, how you would handle it. If you’re seeking financing there is a lot of money available for online degrees now, which was not the case in the near distant past. You can research scholarships online but make sure to be aware of any scholarship scams.

And make sure that any online credits you earn are transferable. Ask a counselor at the institution directly because most schools vary from course to course and with the individual school policy. Research the online schools of your choice and talk to a counselor or representative from those institutions to find out what financial aid, scholarships, grants, student loans or education loans are available. Types of the many online degrees that are available today include: interior design degree, law degree, education degree, engineering degree, paralegal degree, computer science degree and history degree.

Its been reported that employers feel that an employee who received an online education degree compared favorably, in terms of the knowledge learned, to someone with a resident degree. To determine whether you’d make a good online student ask yourself if you’re someone who gets things done ahead of time, procrastinates or puts them off until the very last minute. If you are not sure what you are going to be doing after you have your degree in hand, ask the school counselors or representatives handling the accredited online degree program or bachelor degree online program what your job prospects are.

So there are many advantages today to online learning. Keep in mind there are plenty of education loans available if you can’t locate the right grants or scholarships. Whether you want to earn an associate degree online, a bachelor’s degree online or even a masters or doctorate degree online, rest assured that most online programs today are fully accredited, especially from a major institution but make sure to check this out before you commit.



Micle Shenker

Keith Londrie asked:


Within the past decade, online degree programs have multiplied at an astounding rate. While several schools have been based on these non-traditional programs (though, for the sake of neutrality and so as not to unfairly give advertising to one program or another, I will refrain from giving these schools specific mention), many “traditional” brick-and-mortar schools have also begun offering online courses and, in some cases, complete online degree programs. In fact, colleges and universities ranging from community colleges up through Ivy League schools have embraced the use of technology as a learning vehicle; in a sense, this signals maturing of online degree programs.

What spawned this shift in academia? The answer lies in the affordability of computing technology coupled with the improved connectivity offered through the Internet. More people worldwide have access to personal computers and high-speed Internet connections, though identification of accurate statistics still proves difficult. These technologies have enabled schools to provide learning environments that meet modern student needs and accreditation requirements.

Some schools have established evening or weekend programs in an attempt to entice more non-traditional students. Even these programs pose challenges to the working adult, who may have to sacrifice attendance due to work or family obligations. Military students are also ideal candidates for online programs. In the 1990s, deployed service members aboard naval vessels enjoyed onboard college courses from universities that specialized in distance learning. In some cases, faculty members qualified to teach a number of courses were deployed on board the ship, thus offering service members the opportunity to continue studies while deployed.

Online degree programs satisfy most of the needs of current degree seekers, particularly the needs of “working adults.” Society has become faster-paced in the past two decades, and often we are inundated with information and are expected to increase productivity within the fixed confines of a day. As a result, the ability to attend traditional programs can be difficult, if not impossible, for prospective students. Online degree programs eliminate the time constraints, allowing students to avoid traffic, meet work and family obligations, and provide a 24/7 classroom environment. All told, online degree programs afford more students the opportunity to attain academic goals than ever before.

Delivery of online programs varies greatly depending on the school and the specific program. Some schools offer some online courses, but require physical attendance at a local campus for the student to meet graduation requirements. Other schools offer completely online programs; in theory, a student could complete an entire degree program online without ever setting foot on campus. The key to selecting a suitable program depends on the individual, as some students need some physical interaction with faculty and students, while others can complete degree programs completely online from the safety and comfort of their homes. Deciding on the best combination of online coursework depends on the individual. Many of the schools originally founded on online degree programs have established local campuses in major metropolitan areas.

Few can argue that online degree programs are quickly gaining acceptance among employers, students, and traditional academic professionals. Online degree programs will continue to provide a vehicle for students to attain degrees that might not be possible through traditional means. Ongoing improvements in technology offer additional promise in the growth and availability of these programs.



Will Hendrick

Jullie Harvard asked:


You have been working in a company for quite some times at the middle level of position. One day, your colleague who is at manager position submits his resignation for career advancement in other company. You think this is your good chance to be promoted to his position as you are the most experience employee in the company although you do have the required management degree for it; but the boss should and will consider your working experience as the promotion factor.

You are waiting for the day of announcement of your promotion with full of excitement; but, one day, your boss bring in a new face and introduce to the company that he is the new hire for the position replacement left by the previous manager. You welcome him with a smiling face but inside your heart, you are unhappy with it.

Don’t let this happen to you. Your working experience no doubt is very important and is the key factor for your career advancement. But you need to know that not only you have such a good experience in your field of expertise, many others do have too and they have documents such as degree certificates to prove it. Thus, a degree in hand should be better for you to secure your future as compare solely on your working experience.

It’s time for you to upgrade yourself; but you may have a concern to on-hold your current career in order for you to go back to school for the degree. Then, do it with online degree programs. The online degree programs are designed for busy people in mind and you can complete you degree courses at your own schedule from anywhere you are. There are many prestigious colleges and universities offer complete online degree programs taught by the same faculty who teach in their classrooms. Subject areas range from business to nursing, degrees from Bachelor to MBAs and Ph.Ds.

Today, you can easily upgrade yourself through online degree program. If you are holding an associate degree, it’s time for you to think about upgrade it to bachelor degree. If you are currently at executive level and have a bachelor degree in business administration, you may prepare yourself for manager position by earning a MBA.

In short, your working experience is important in your career path but a degree in your expertise field will secure you for your future.



Marina Tsvetaeve

Jullie Harvard asked:


If you are like most of people on the earth, finding that your current career is not what you are dreamed for during your school time, but going back to school to make your dream come true will causes you lose your job. Then, you may consider earning a degree through online degree program and at the same time keeping your full time job. With the available of online degree program, you now have opportunity to achieve your career and lifestyle goals without the need to sacrificing each other.

Many prestige universities and colleges had offered their courses online and they cover almost every subject and every area that you could think off. Hence, you should be able to find a degree that can help you to realize your dream and achieve your ambition. Many people find that attending online classes from home and any location as long as it can access internet is very convenience, the flexible schedule enable you to plan and fit into your busy schedule. With a distance learning course, you can still work full time and fulfill family obligations, while attending class in your spare hours.

If you are not confidence with the online degree program or do not sure that online degree will best fit your schedule, you don’t have to commit to it right away. Many online universities or universities that offer online degree programs normally have a demo class or a guest account that allow you to login into the system to experience yourself with the environment of online learning.

Choose An Online Degree Program

Once you have decided to earn your degree online, you need to make sure that you have the basic requirement of attending online classes: a dependable computer and speedy internet connection, these two are the basic fundamental tool for online education. Then, you have to make a slightly harder decision: which online degree program and from which online university that best suite my requirements and best fit you needs?

Luckily with the available of internet, you can find out everything online. Many online universities have their admission offers or academic advisers to stay online to answer your enquiries in real time. Furthermore, that are toll free contact number make available on every universities website, make use of it and call them to get your questions answered.

When you do a research on several online degree programs that offer classes you are interested in, make sure each program is accredited by a proper accreditation agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are unsure about the accreditation information provided by the school, always check it out at ope.ed.gov, the accreditation database brought to you by U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education. If the school is not in the list, beware of potential diploma mill.

In Summary

With the available of online degree program, you now can realize your dream and achieve your ambition that you set during your school time without affecting your current job.



Vera Block

Andy West asked:


There are more online degree programs today, than ever before. The demand for online degrees has fueled the advancement of online education technology. It used to be only possible for people to earn a degree from home if they were to do it by mail, via a correspondence school. Now, it is evident that most anyone with a computer, and the motivation to learn, can find themselves a program online to meet their specific needs. While these programs will vary in terms of what is required from the student, most follow several admission rules. To best find an online degree program that works for you, the first step is to figure out what it is you are eligible to apply for.

High school diplomas or equivalency test passing scores are required for most programs. If a program is willing to admit you without a high school degree, chances are their credibility could be suspect. Thus, start by identifying if you have indeed graduated high school. Once this step is taken, it is time to look at what type of online degree programs are being offered today.

While many schools specialize in different subjects, it seems that online programs focus primarily on classes that are reading, and writing based, rather than lab based. This means that if you want to earn a degree in biology, it might be more difficult than earning a degree in business administration. The most popular programs are liberal arts based. The online degree program that offers a student the chance to take multiple subjects per semester in a wide variety of course work is a liberal arts university by definition. For those wanting a diverse program, liberal arts is one great way to go when choosing your major, and school.

Can’t decide what program is right for you? No problem, there are many websites, and review resources that will provide you with information on the best program to suit your needs. Most likely if you have a specific interest when it comes to online degree programs, there should be a school out there to meet your needs.

Another thing to take into consideration when selecting an online degree is financial aid. Many people are unaware that a landmark federal law passed last year allowing online universities to provide financial aid to students without having a physical campus present. What makes this law important for you to consider, is that you should now have your choice of school, with a financial aid package as competitive as a physical university.

Once you have found the online degree program of your dreams, it’s time to apply, and start getting the ball rolling with enrollment. This means that you will need to fill out some type of application, and possibly have transcripts forwarded to the necessary location.

Most programs will include the cost of books in the tuition costs per semester, but there is a chance this is not the case. Therefore you must quickly locate books for your online degree program if in fact they are not provided. To best meet your goals of good grades, it’s imperative to pick up the required books as quick as you can possibly make it happen. This will greatly enhance your chances for success.

By following the above steps you can find the online degree program that best meets your needs, and get enrolled before the semester starts. Once you have found the online degree program that works for you, a feeling of satisfaction is sure to follow.



Loran Hugs

Jullie Harvard asked:


In today’s world, the job market is become extremely competitive. Most of times, whenever there is a job vacancy available, there will be dozens of applicants trying very hard to compete to get that position. Same goes for a job promotion, many of your colleagues at the same level are waiting for a promotion to higher managerial position, you have to complete with them with some advantages in order to win the position.

The most two important factors which the employers or the bosses will scrutinize seriously during the process of evaluating their candidates are "Working Experience" and "Educational Background". Your competitors may have equally or better working experience than you in the required field, if you do not have the related degree on the required field, you will be at the loosing edge in term of education background.

You may thinking of go back to school to earn your degree but you are not willing to quit your current job or stopping your current income is impossible for you as you have family and children education to support with. With that reasons, you keep holding your decision to get a college degree for career advancement. But with the available of online degree programs, your reasons are not valid anymore because through online degree programs, you can earn your degree while continue with you current life style.

Online degree programs are increasing in popularity and creditability, more and more prestigious colleges and universities offer complete online degree programs taught by the same faculty who teach in their classrooms. Subject areas range from business to nursing, degrees from Bachelor to MBAs and Ph.Ds. You should be able to find your preference degree from these online degree programs.

Through online degree program, you can pursue your degree courses basically through any location as long as you have access to internet; and most online degree programs allow you to plan your own learning pace with a very flexible schedule. These advantages give you flexibility to plan your leaning schedule from home so that it does not crash with your working schedule.

If you are considering of earning your degree online, there are a few other factors to take into consideration in order to ensure you earn a worthy degree which have value to your career and within your budget. Starting with this article, we initiated a series of articles with title "A Guide To Online Degrees" to guide you on everything you need to know about online degrees. These series of articles will include timely tips and advice to help you in making a decision to pursue an online degree. The topics that will cover by "A Guide To Online Degrees" article series include:



Advantages of earning a degree online

Is online degree right for you

Considering online degree pricing

How to choose a prestige online school

How to identify online degree scams / diploma mills

Degrees that are offered online

How to apply for online degrees

Where to get financial aids to fund your online study

Where online degrees lead students

Online degrees focusing on careers



Wish you choose a right degree online that bring you a bright future. See you on next series: "A Guide To Online Degrees -Advantages of Earning A Degree Online".



Dennis Shurlen

Jullie Harvard asked:


Once your have decided to earn your degree online, selecting a program is usually the first critical decision you make. There are so many types of degrees available online, which one to choose, how to select, sometimes may make you confuse and hard to decide one. This article will gives you some guideline to get you started.

Decide An Area of Interest

There are a few ways to get a start in selecting an online degree program. You could look within a traditional discipline such as history, art, literature or psychology; or within a professional/occupational area such as engineering, nursing, or education; or simply related to an area of general interest like family studies, the culture of Italy, or environmental issues.

Most online degree programs offered by colleges or universities are having their catalogs customarily organized by department, division, or school. Hence, once you have decided an area of interest, you could start looking and asking for the related online degree programs from these colleges.

Type Of Degree To Earn

What is your educational goal? Are you looking for an associate or bachelor degree, a master or doctorate degree? Each type of degree which associate to the online degree program has it own pre-requirement in admission. An online master degree program may require you to have a bachelor degree to qualify for the program and an online doctorate degree may ask for a master degree for qualification. Some universities do give credit for life experience so that you can waive for certain pre-requirement. Whether you are looking for an associate, bachelor, master or PhD, you can check the pre requirement to your selected online degree program from the school’s admission department.

Go for Specialization In Your Study

For many people, it may be helpful to think of the specialization and then create an appropriate field of study around it. You should feel free to make contact with academic advisors at the schools you are considering and seek answers to all your questions. For your own benefit, it is important to ensure that your school is committed to explaining these elements completely and the schools understand your need to fully comprehend the curriculum development.

The Ability to Transfer Courses

Another point to consider in your decision in select an online degree program is the ability to transfer courses or larger program segments from one institution to another. Not all universities will allow you to transfer all of your credits into their program. Often there are ceilings-six credits or two courses are typical at the graduate level. For undergraduates the allowances are more liberal and can be as much as 75 percent of a bachelor’s degree program. You may want to go for an online degree program that can accept the most on your credits transfer so that you can accelerate or complete you degree faster and save some money because less credits are need to complete the program.

In Summary

Select an online degree program is your most critical decision to make, spend your time to understand your purposes of earning a degree and considering in other factors such as your interest, your career goal and your education budget. These will help you to narrow down your scope and finally choose an online degree program to enroll in.



Cheryl Goldmans

Mary Jackson asked:


Online programs are being offered more often by traditional colleges and universities, which means the variety of courses available online is increasing.

According to the report, Online Nation: Five Years of Growth in Online Learning, published by the Sloan Consortium, one-third of all colleges and universities make up three-quarters of all students who take online classes.

This means that colleges and universities have seen the potential for reaching more students and are taking advantage of it. For students, this means more variety in the types of programs offered. If you’re uncomfortable enrolling in an online university, check out local colleges to learn more about the online programs they have to offer.

Your diploma for an online program is identical to one that an on-campus student would receive, thus it does not matter if you tell others you completed your degree online.

Financial aid is now available to students completing online degree programs. Get your college degree online by applying for financial assistance. While financial aid may not pay for all of the costs associated with earning a degree, tuition costs are usually covered.

You can find out more about financial aid packages by reviewing your prospective online college website or contacting the financial aid office of that local college or university.

There are many reasons to consider earning an online degree. After you graduate, you will be able to pursue a new career or advance in your current one.

Online Degrees Can Enrich Your Career

Earning a college degree online can help you in many aspects of your life. Not only will you improve critical thinking and problem solving skills, you will also be able to go after higher paying jobs in the field you want to work in. A college degree can enrich your life and the lives of others and allow you to discover new passions and interests you may not have discovered otherwise.

Depending on your current circumstances, returning to college may seem frightening or unrealistic due to the time you will have to devote to classes, studying and completing assignments. But have you ever considered returning to school to get a degree online? According to The Distance and Training Council, which helps accredit long distance learning and online education institutions, over 4 million people are currently enrolled in an online degree program for various reasons.

Learning at Your Own Pace

Because courses are taught online, you won’t have to maintain a traditional college course schedule. While you will have to make time each day for online lectures, working online with other students to complete group assignments and take tests and other assessments during predetermined times, where and when you study is up to you.

If you’re a self-motivated person who can complete all course requirements without much supervision, an online degree program may be for you. A college degree online program can prepare students in the same ways that traditional programs do by allowing students to study at their own pace and work on assignments when it suits their schedule.



David Shnaider

Amelia Turner asked:


People who are looking for any online degree program will concerns about accreditation because accreditation is the keyword that differentiates online degree programs that are recognized and offered by reputable online colleges than degrees offer by diploma mills. But this keyword had been abused by diploma mills and most of fake’s online degree programs offer in the market are now claimed accreditation. Hence, you must be a smart consumer when searching for your favorite online degree program and beware of any sign that shows the potential of diploma mill. This article will outline some hints and alerts that you must be aware of when searching for an online degree.

Why Accreditation is Important?

Accreditation provides assurance on the online degree program which you are enrolled or are considering enrolling has met the education guideline of national standards in the profession and the degree you earned or going to earn is recognized and accepted in the job market. Accreditation is not only important to students; it also serves as a guide to employers who are going to hire those graduates, it indicates that these candidates have met the required education standard on the field written in their degree.

How to differentiate “Fakes” & Real Accredited Online Degrees

“Fake” and real online degrees look so alike until sometimes it creates confusion to us. That’s why there are still many people who accidentally signed up the online degree programs offered by diploma mill, and then applying for a job with these fake degrees and get rejected by employers.

The fact is all “fakes” online degrees do claim accreditation nowadays; hence, you can’t just look at the word “accreditation” that attached to any online degree program and think that it is fine to enroll into this program. If it is a “real” online degree, you are lucky, but by chance it may be a degree program that is offered by diploma mills and accredited by a “fakes” accreditation agency; you will waste your time and money when you find out that you have earned a “fake” degree that does not help in your career. Hence, it worth to spend some time to confirm the degree program that you are going to enroll is properly accredited by an accreditation agency recognized by US Department of Education.

Which accreditation agencies are recognized by US Department of Education? There are two categories of accreditation agencies: National Institutional & Specialized Accrediting Agencies and Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies. All the online universities and colleges accredited by these two groups of accrediting agencies are listed in accreditation database of ed.gov, website of US Education Of Department. So, the accreditation database of ed.gov is a good place to check whether your selected online university and online degree program are property accredited by one of these accreditation agencies.

Another place to check for listed accreditation agency is CHEA.org, it is a non-profit organization of colleges and universities serving as the national advocate for voluntary self-regulation through accreditation. Any accrediting agency or online university that is not list in this accreditation database, it needs to trigger your alert on diploma mills.

Summary

An accredited online degree program does not give assurance on it educational quality if it is not accredited by a proper accreditation agency that is recognized by the US Department of Department. You need to ensure that the online degree program that you are enrolling or considering enrolling is properly accredited in order to ensure the value of your degree you going to earn.



Sansi Collen

Amelia Turner asked:


Since you started your career after graduation from college, you are working hard to build your career to a success level. World is changing every moment and technology change every second, more and more students are out from colleges to compete the same career opportunities with yours. Hence, you need to continue upgrade yourself to be competence enough to face the challenges. Your busy career schedule won’t allow you to go back to traditional school to gain the latest knowledge to support in your career moves. Fortunately, online degree program makes it possible for you to achieve your education goal while continue your movement in your career path.

Online degree programs have been designed to fit the busy schedule of working individual to earn a degree at the most comfort home environment and in the most flexible schedule. While many traditional “brick & mortar” universities had made their degree programs available online, more and more prestige online universities that are accredited by accreditation agencies recognized by U.S Department of Education offer various degrees that cover degree level from online associates degree to bachelor, master and doctorate degree and topic from business, computer, engineering, health care & etc. You should able to find one that meets your career requirement.

Advantages of Taking Your Education Online

The key factors that make online degree programs become popular and most accepted by many working individual who are seeking to continue their education either for career advancement or job promotion includes:

1. Freedom to Learn From Your Comfort Environment

You do not need to drive all the way to university to attend the classes. Turn on your computer/laptop and modem that connect you to the university online learning system, you can start your learning right away. Hence, you can choose to enroll into any online degree program offer by your favorite school without the need to consider where the university is located.

2. Reduced Material Costs & Easy Access To Learning Material

One of the e-learning advantages is most of textbook and learning materials are in electronic format and online library is just a finger click away. This will reduced your expenses for book, computer software and other material costs. And as an online student to a university, you can access the university online library from your computer, allows you to have easy access to the learning resources you need.

3. Flexible Learning Environment

Many online courses are self-paced and you can arrange your learning schedule to fit into your working hours. You can always choose to speed up if you have more free time and slow down your learning process if you are busy with your work. You make the call to complete your degree in the duration that fit into your time schedule.

4. Save Money & Time

Time is so important because you need it to build your career to a success level and online degree program allow you to save not just money but also the most valuable time. It saves your time by cutting out commuting, parking, traveling time and saves your money in term of transportation costs, meal and childcare and more.

In Summary

Online degree programs have created a different learning environment where you can gain new knowledge and equip yourself with the required skills that can help in your career move without the need to give up your job.



Amber Mak