Why Choose an Associate’s Degree in General Studies?

One of the popular areas of study for students in pursuit of a general associate degree is general studies. A general study degree gives students a broad overview of a range of topics that encourage critical thinking skills. For example, the Associate of Arts in General Studies at the University of Phoenix Online offers courses in social sciences, life sciences, communications andhumanities. For students who are undecided on a career or a major of study, an associate of arts in general study program is a way to gain exposure to an array of subjects of interest. General study programs offer a basic educational foundation to better prepare students for the work force or to enter a more specialized bachelor’s degree program in the future.

Entering the Work Force with an Associate of Arts in General Studies

According to the Occupational Outlook Quarterly from the Department of Labor, many employers actually prefer to hire workers who have an associate of arts degree. This translates into significant advantages for students who opt to enter the work force with an associate of arts degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2001, a worker with an associate of arts degree earned an extra $128 per week compared to a worker with only a high school education. It also discovered that the unemployment rate for associate of arts degree graduates was 30% lower in 2001 than for high school graduates.

Pursuing Further Education with an Associate of Arts in General Studies

Students who choose to go on to apply to a four-year university after the completion of an associate of arts degree are often given preference by college admissions over an applicant who has simply taken a few semesters of college courses. This is probably in large part due to the fact that the U.S. Department of Education found associate of arts degree graduates are more likely to finish a bachelor’s degree program. Classes in liberal arts, associate degree components, along with other general study courses, often transfer into bachelor’s degree programs to satisfy up to half of the 120 credits required for completion of a bachelor’s degree program.

Earning an Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies Through Distance Education

Of those students in pursuit of an associate of arts degree, more than 9% chose to enroll in distance education programs in 1998. This number continues to rise as associate of arts degree online programs become increasingly available for working professionals. Enrolling in a general study degree online program, such as the program at the University of Phoenix Online, can allow students to maintain a salary and benefits while working towards an associate of arts degree.

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If you are after professional certification, online institutions are a great place to begin. Individuals who are already working and want to improve or are looking for a career change will find that online schooling is a convenient option. Certificates are available online for Certificates for paralegals, medical assistants, dental assistants, project management and several health care specialties are offered by a number of online colleges and universities.

There seems to be more opportunities in the areas of business, education, health care and technology through online schools. All of these industries have a trend of mid-career advancement. The field of education in particular places value on continued education even long after beginning a career.

The MBA is increasing in demand in the business arena, and the master’s in business administration is available online. There are a number of specialties to choose from including accounting, marketing, global business management, finance, public administration, retail management, human resource and public administration. You can major in any of these specialties through the University of Phoenix Online at either the undergraduate or graduate level.

The number of individuals in he technology field who are pursuing continued education is increasing. Engineers are learning business skills, and business professionals are learning about technology related to their products. The curriculum offerings at many online institutions cover these needed issues well.

All three post secondary levels of degrees are offered at Warren National University, and there are several programs in the technical field that are tailored for professionals who have already joined the work force. The technical degrees offer by this school include: computer science, electrical engineering, engineering management, finance, e-business and e-commerce, and management information systems. They also have degrees in environmental, safety, mechanical and software engineering.

It is possible to earn even a doctorate degree online. There are some online schools that have courses that require field research and specialized on-site experience. These programs may coordinate with local facilities to give students the experience they need. One school, for example, has a bachelor’s in education program that connects with Arizona schools to offer student teaching experiences for aspiring educators.

Another field that may require on-site training is health care. Some online health care degree programs have hospitals on campus where training hours can be fulfilled.

Online degrees are certainly becoming mainstream, and are widely excepted in many industries.

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A great business plan is essential in presenting your idea to the business world and a necessity to any company seeking outside funding. Contrary to most notions, a business plan will never be a completed work, but rather a continual work in progress that requires constant renewal depending on industry trends, market research, and your company’s goals, objectives, and growth. The United States Small Business Administration has a website that provides valuable guidance in developing a business plan and covers the Business Plan Basics as well as writing and using the plan. The SBA’s Business Plan Basics outlines the highlights of your business and helps identify company goals and objectives. The SBA illustrates that a business plan must indicate what sets your company and it’s services apart from others, how your company plans to repay loans/grants, handle unforeseen circumstances, reach it’s potential customers, and market it’s products and services.

The Small Business Administration provides a comprehensive outline for writing a business plan and details it’s contents. A well-written business plan will first contain the basic cover sheet with contact information, followed by a Table of Contents and an Executive Summary. According to the Small Business Administration, your business plan must then contain a detailed description of the business, including it’s financial setup and owners, the status and stage of the business (new, existing, purchase, etc.), the type of business, a description of it’s products and services, and it’s long and short-term goals. Management must then be introduced and its principal employees identified, including any consultants utilized by the business. This should be followed by a Marketing overview including an explanation of your market analysis and strategy, the competition, and company location. Perhaps the most difficult of sections is the financial section of the business plan which, according the Small Business Administration, includes a summary of the financial needs, a Profit and Loss Statement, and a Balance Sheet. Finally, the supporting documents must be attached including personal resumes, owner’s financial statements, credit reports, letters of reference, copies of lease agreements and mortgages, contracts, and taxes.

The task preparing a business plan from scratch can seem daunting at first sight, but the Small Business Administration provides enough resources to remove much of the anxiety behind the job. In addition to it’s own resources for business plan writing, the Small Business Administration offers links to additional offices that offer writing assistance, counseling, and free workshops and seminars. These include SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Engineers), SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research), links to it’s own regional and district offices.

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You’ll find it an interesting process to look through the general classes and general education programs offered by our partner schools. You may see a career opportunity that has never occurred to you prior to earning a general education diploma. Our online schools in particular are designed for people who are working and have other responsibilities. You can take whatever college credits you may have accumulated and apply them to an entirely new course of endeavor. You can also get that certification or general education degree that will move you out of a dead end and into a position of dynamic opportunity. Look at your next educational step with an open mind; you may see opportunities that you can qualify for in one to two years that may never have seemed possible. Distance learning and general education online has made that possible for all of us.

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That is an excellent example of an academic institution adjusting to a rapidly changing employment marketplace. Many online institutions offer general education classes for general degrees that simply don’t appear in course catalogues for traditional schools. However, those degrees do provide significance to the employment marketplace. Another example is Capella University, which has a Masters of Science in Human Services. What they have done is mix an arrangement of the social sciences into the following areas of specialization:

• Counseling Studies
• Criminal Justice
• General Human Services
• Health Care Administration
• Management of Non-Profit Agencies
• Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy – CACREP Accredited
• Mental Health Counseling – CACREP Accredited
• Social and Community Services
• Sociology

It’s a much more direct approach in adjoining career aspirations to education. For careers that don’t require a white collar background but are just as lucrative, look no further than Wyotech. Their selection of vocational programs includes standards like HVAC and automotive technology, but also teaches skills in aircraft maintenance and has an auto body vocational program that includes manufacturing custom parts for show cars. They also have a thorough diesel program that takes students through power trains, fluid and electrical systems and engine management systems.

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