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Online Degree Programs: The Pros and Cons of Enrolling in Higher Education through Distance Programs

James — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:10:55 +0000

Although a seemingly new technology, distance education has been around for over a century. Isaac Pitman first taught shorthand through correspondence as early as the 1840’s. Of course, the internet has revolutionized the way distance education is conducted and has lead to its wide spread throughout the world. A 1997-1998 government survey found that over 1. million students enrolled in distance education courses and nearly 50,000 college classes were offered through distance education in that academic year alone.

With the advent of the internet, students can now earn an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and even a PhD completely online. A variety of methods exist for each distance learning program, but modern technology brings the conveniences of the classroom often to the student’s home PC. Professors may prerecord lectures and upload them onto the internet for later viewing by students. Most distance education programs also utilize electronic discussion boards, email, chatrooms, and telephone to offer class interaction as well as teacher-student interaction.

Research is finding that today’s distance education student is not the traditional 18-22-year old found in the campus classroom. Students enrolling in online degree programs are typically older, already working, and engaged with responsibilities such as family. These adult learners often choose an online degree program in order to maintain a 40-hour work week while pursuing a college degree or further developing their current professional skills. Online degree programs have turned into a wonderful option for adult learners who are unable to enroll in traditional higher education.

One of the most appealing advantages of distance education programs is the flexibility of completing class work anytime and anyplace. Because lectures are often prerecorded, one student can “attend class” at 6:30 AM while another tunes in at 6:30 PM. It also gives students a broad range of online degree programs from which to choose instead of being limited to the campus degree programs offered in a specific geographical location.

As with anything, distance education does have its drawbacks to consider. Keeping up with an online degree program requires a certain amount of self-discipline and internal motivation. Without a specified class schedule and a professor assigning homework in-person, it can be easy to let family and work responsibilities swallow up study needs. It also takes effort to maintain effective communication with the professor and other students by keeping up with emails and discussion boards.

Students interested in pursuing an online degree program have a large selection of universities to choose from. Approximately one-third of all postsecondary learning institutions offered distance education programs in the 1997-1998 academic year, a number that has surely grown since the survey period.

Tags: academic, degree programs, distance learning, education, education courses, Online Degrees, Online Degrees, universities

Life’s Lessons Learned in Kindergarten

James — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:37:01 +0000

If it is true that everything you need to know about life you learn in kindergarten, then what could be better than taking the steps to become a kindergarten teacher, and being around that basic knowledge all day long? If that sounds good to you, you need to know how to become a kindergarten teacher.

You must be licensed to become a kindergarten teacher in a public school. You must have an accredited bachelor’s degree in education as a minimum educational standard. Each state will differ on licensing requirements. There will be various examinations and assessments for kindergarten teacher certification. Some states require a master’s level degree in education. Most undergraduate programs include education courses designed to increase knowledge in the chosen teaching subject and also have supervised teaching experience.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, there is a wide range of programs to fill the gaps in subject, education or experience to complete the requirements necessary to become a kindergarten teacher.

In some states college students can declare an education major when first entering college. Other colleges only allow education courses in addition to a different academic major. A fifth year of college is often required to complete an education course, and field experience is part of the fifth year curriculum. In addition, certain SAT scores, ACT scores or a minimum high school grade point average may be taken to qualify for admission into education programs.

There are online teaching programs that you can complete from the comfort of your home. If you are currently employed and have to provide for your family, these courses may be the best choice for you. They are designed for busy professional people who need to complete coursework on their own schedule. University of Phoenix Online and Kaplan University are only two of the many choices you have to complete teacher certification requirements. You can request more information from these two universities and several others to find out the most convenient school for you, and what requirements there are to become a certified kindergarten teacher.

What better career could there be than being a pivotal part of a child’s life from the very beginning of the educational process? You can be the instrument in teaching the basic ABC’s of what is needed to succeed throughout life. So don’t wait – check into the becoming a kindergarten teacher today. You could be changing a child’s life tomorrow.

Tags: academic, coursework, curriculum, education, Education and Teaching, education courses, teaching, University of Phoenix

Finding a College Teaching Position

James — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:14:55 +0000

Institutions of higher learning are basically encampments of scholars herded by business professionals. Students are integral to the purpose of the institutions, but not necessarily to the nature of their functionality. Accordingly, some of the quirks of the prototypical academic bleed into the business processes of the school. One of those processes is hiring.

Faculty prospects are interviewed by a committee from their chosen academic discipline. Following the interview an extended wait seems to by the typical experience. While the academic peers do the interviewing, school administrators do the hiring. It’s an example of power sharing that faculties across the country have fought for over generations and a good example of division of duties that isn’t very streamlined.

One of the best routes to a successful interview is through the graduate assistant program. Graduate assistants are grad students that work in conjunction with a faculty member in teaching classes. Graduate assistants teach breakout groups, grade papers, counsel students and develop one- on-one teaching skills from which, no doubt, they develop some portion of their teaching philosophy. Once having obtained that doctorate, a graduate assistant will be in the position of knowing many of the department faculty members prior to the formal job application process.

Otherwise, college teaching jobs are earned the old fashioned way: through successful interviewing, contacts, and possibly a little politicking. There are a number of websites that provide national job listings by academic discipline. Considerations include course load, the support that is supplied (i.e. the number of graduate assistants that are funded) research opportunities and publishing expectations. Once hired on in a college teaching position, tenure is the pot of gold at the end of a very long period of labor in the ranks. The provisions for gaining tenure and the process of granting it are too complex to go into; suffice to say that it is academic high drama.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, college teaching opportunities are expected to grow much faster than the average of all other types of employment over the next ten years. Many of these will be part-time positions, however. The growth pattern stems from the growing college-age segment of our population and the increase in adult education, combined with the retirement of existing college teachers. Community colleges and technical schools will offer some of the best opportunities due to the growth of continuing education. The part time status will be due in part to the decreasing support for education from state and federal government sources.

The median annual earnings of all post-secondary teachers as of May 2004 was a little over $51,000. Salaries for full time faculty at four year institutions averages $68,000. There is a scale starting at the top with tenured professors of universities, descending through non-tenured faculty to assistant professors to instructors to community college staff and so on.

In humanities and education fields, the teaching salaries were higher on the average than comparable positions in the industries. In medicine, law, engineering, business and other more lucrative pursuits the teaching salaries were lower on the average than their private sector counterparts.

Tags: academic, college professors, education, Education and Teaching, Education and Teaching, teaching, universities

Teachers at the University Level

James — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:05:11 +0000

Teaching at the college or “post-secondary” level includes a number of jobs performed by individuals working from varying levels in the faculty hierarchy. There are teaching jobs available at colleges that provide continuing education for graduates and teachers in technical academies that teach in a number of professional categories.

For the most part however, teaching jobs at the college level are held by the college or university faculty and graduate student assistants. There is a distinct pecking order as regards the role of teaching and the number of hours spent in a classroom. University professors, particularly those that are tenured, tend to devote more hours to research. Individuals in this position who can keep up with the latest developments in their fields may also consult in the private sector or for the government.

College faculty members also keep up with developments in their field through scholarly journals, communication with colleagues and conferences. Graduate students, while they may be engaged in extensive research for a thesis, provide a significant amount of the classroom presentation and often hold the day-to-day “teaching jobs” at colleges.

Higher education institutions are divided into departments according to the particular academic discipline. Teaching may range from lectures delivered to several hundred students (usually presented by a professor) to seminars and working groups of a dozen or more (usually led by graduate assistants).

College level teaching personnel make extensive use of computers, email and online technology. Major universities do almost all of their class enrollment online, some allocating hourly slots when the registration system is available to one class level or another. Papers are submitted via email, graded and returned electronically. While faculty members may try to make themselves available during office hours, email has become a highly effective support tool for student- teacher communication – especially in the larger universities. The teaching job at the university level involves a significant amount of electronic communication.

Distance learning has become a fixture on many of the nation’s campuses and for the most part, faculty members are not reticent to participate. Class notes and assignments are posted online and real-time communication via email can make the distance learning, or “online” education experience closely mirror many elements of the on-campus experience.

The traditional route to a faculty job while still studying is by acting as a graduate assistant while still enrolled in a masters or doctoral program. Graduate assistants tend to be passionate about their subject matter, infused with a little youthful enthusiasm that may have been left behind by tenured faculty long ago. Some professors, however, enjoy the give-and-take with undergraduates.

College level faculty jobs are won with hard work, tenacity and patience. All of those positions remain without tenure for some years. Some professors never receive tenure, which is granted by a departmental review committee. It’s akin to working sixty hours a week in a salaried position at a corporate law firm, only to be denied partnership after seven years.

Teaching jobs in technical schools and continuing education programs can be had without the traditions that bind the traditional universities. As increasing numbers of adults return to school, these jobs are often the most rewarding. The marketplace for college level teaching jobs is evolving as the work habits of American families are transformed.

Tags: academic, campuses, college professors, education, Education and Teaching, Education and Teaching, teaching, universities

College and University Teachers

James — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:40:16 +0000

In its best form, learning is not a passive process. Even at the largest universities, it is understood that lectures and papers which regurgitate the lecture notes is not quality instruction. Learning is not a spectator sport and teaching at any level needs to include active participation on the part of the students.

Large universities address this issue by offering classes with multiple components. A class in, for example, political science may include two lectures a week delivered by a tenured professor, from prepared notes, before an audience of two or three hundred students. It is the professor’s job to develop the specifics of the class curriculum.

Often, the professor will make notes from those lectures available on the campus website. Rounding out the week’s course activities will be two or perhaps even three small group sessions led by a graduate teaching assistant. These group assignments are made at the beginning of the semester and the graduate assistant is the student’s weekly personal connection to the class.

That graduate assistant will also be the catalyst for actively involving the students in the course material. In big classes, this is the heart of college teaching. It is in those group sessions that lecture material is discussed and debated. Homework assignments are part of the professor’s curriculum, but they are delivered to and graded by graduate assistants.

Smaller classes provide an opportunity for the teaching faculty member to take a more active role. He or she can lead a brief discussion of the previous lecture’s points before moving on to that day’s topic. Some faculty members will engage in discussion even if the class they are teaching numbers a hundred students. Some professors will devote one day a week solely to discussion. Some find that pairing off students and asking for an analytical point from each pair makes the process more manageable.

Other formats of group work are used in teaching college. Larger groups of three or four may be asked to format specific issues or develop solutions to a problem. It is not necessary to call on each group; the active role in college teaching is often forcing that sort of concentrated dialogue among students. It brings about the original thinking that the best learning procedures inspire.

As scholars, college teachers approach their academic disciplines in their own style. As faculty members they will also have varying theories and approaches to college teaching. Good college professors study the art of teaching: there is a wealth of material that has been developed by professionals in the field of education. Auditory learners fare well with lectures; private learners rely on books. These are the two basic tools of the university teaching classroom or lecture hall, but technology and development of teaching models have brought additional teaching tools to college.

Research and theoretical development for college learning has shown the value of social and peer interaction in the process. Thus seminars, field studies and group projects have become mainstream tools in college teaching. Information Processing Models and Personality Models have brought the psychologist’s methods to fine tuning educational strategies. Faculty members and committees now develop teaching strategies based in part on research that has been provided them.

Tags: academic, college professors, colleges and universities, education, Education and Teaching, Education and Teaching, teaching, universities

A Crash Course in Business Administration

Kristen — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:13:58 +0000

As an educational term, business administration has come to encompass an extraordinary number of academic study areas. As business has become more complex, so too has the oversight of companies: their management, their growth strategies, their personnel issues, their taxes and the role that taxes play in corporate economic strategy. Advertising has grown to include multiple media outlets and an assortment of targeted interest groups: new customers, repeat customers, stockholders, investors and new geographic markets. Marketing has become the term of choice for all of this strategically placed product exposure.

Defining business administration then means defining oversight roles for the assortment of internal specialties that every business of any size has come to include. That is why business administration degrees are now offered with a remarkable number of categorical specialties available as choices of study. Perhaps the best way to define business administration is to look at the types of courses offered in MBA curriculums and the specialties, or “majors,” that one can opt for in an MBA program.

For a large corporation, business administration is going to include international and global business, as well as strategy and economics. In this instance, the definition of business administration will include requirements of certain cultural differences and an acute understanding of the global economy and its current fluidity. Also included in business administration at this scale is the art and science of acquisition: when to buy a company or property and why.

Business administration will always include the intangible quality of leadership; you can obtain an MBA that specializes in just that. Along with leadership comes the task of negotiation and conflict resolution, specifically with regard to personnel. Behavioral psychology plays an important role in business administration: a misstep in an adversarial situation with a union can take a company under, as it did Continental Airlines some years ago.

The definition of business administration will have to include marketing; you won’t have a business to administer unless you sell your products. Ancillary to marketing is an understanding of the new tools available for product distribution, and that will involve understanding e-business and how it is rapidly evolving.

Whether you are working with distributors that are small businesses or you are starting your own business, business administration includes an understanding of entrepreneurship: tax structures for small businesses along with personnel issues at that level, inventory and cash flow, and all the other small matters that make a big difference to a new or small business.

A critical part of business administration is the awareness of risk. This might include the risk of launching a new product, and the costs involved; the risk of an acquisition, the risk of a competitive strategy, the company’s exposure in opting for this health plan instead of that one. There are risks involved in other personnel decisions and this area is of tangible importance: company morale is a key to productivity and the resultant profitability.

There are MBA courses taught in all of these areas, and MBA degrees that specialize in many of them. The definition of business administration includes whatever knowledge is required to make all of these components work productively, if not in complete harmony.

Tags: academic, advertising, business, business administration, Business and Management, Degrees, education, entrepreneurs, management, marketing, MBA

Doctorate in Business Administration and the Theory of Business

Kristen — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:48:31 +0000

Business administration has two PhD’s someone can obtain. One is a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), and the other is the PhD or Doctor of Philosophy. Of the two, the PhD program is designed specifically for a career in research and teaching or other academic pursuits. The PhD doctoral program will provide a foundation in business, economics and management. Equally important, however, are the components of research theory and the type of interdisciplinary regimen that will be necessary for original research in the field.

The in-depth study of research and research technique begins with a review of the literature on the subject. Moving on, the PhD candidate in business administration will study theoretical modeling; research design; computer-assisted analysis of empirical data; and the preparation of proposals and research papers drawn from these studies. A basic requirement for someone interested in pursuing a doctoral career of this type is an inquisitive nature that is comfortable with the intellectual skepticism critical to a research environment. Many great scientists place doubt as the keystone of great research: in academia, uncertainty is a positive and productive force.

Another critical element of the PhD program for business administration is the development of teaching skills. The assumption is that people enrolled in this program may well be headed toward a life in an academic environment and in the field of business administration; the classroom will be part of that environment. Some schools have developed teaching courses that are interdisciplinary in nature, bringing together doctoral candidates from a variety of fields to learn about the teaching process. Out of this, a PhD candidate should develop a philosophy of teaching that is bred from coursework, work as a graduate assistant and interaction with his peers from other disciplines.

In a traditional campus setting, the faculty advisor is an important resource for PhD candidates, acting as a mentor through the course of study. Choice of a faculty advisor usually depends on the intended area of concentration, such as management, financing, and the like. At some point, a Doctorate Program Committee comes together as the student begins to formulate a thesis outline.

There are a certain number of core courses regarding business administration that are required for any PhD program. These may or may not have been met during previous study. They include the basics of business theory, economics, statistics, and the use of computers for a variety of purposes.

Beyond the core requirements, much of a PhD program may involve activities outside the classroom and off campus, in the “area of emphasis.” PhD candidates in business administration may focus on a primary area of interest. Among the standard academic offerings as focal areas are international business, international finance, marketing, production/operations management, finance, and accounting.

The purpose of a PhD program in business administration is to prepare the doctor-to-be for a productive role in research, in the classroom, and should the path lead elsewhere, in a corporate environment or in government. Because of the rapidly growing communications abilities of the internet, there are some PhD programs in business administration available online. The DBA mentioned earlier, on the other hand, is a program offered by a variety of online schools. Both University of Phoenix and Warren National University offer online doctorate programs in business administration. The computer and the telephone provide the communications links to campus resources and faculty guidance.

Tags: academic, accounting, business, business administration, Business and Management, doctorate degree, finance, management, PhD

Getting Your Health Care Management Education

Kristen — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:42:47 +0000

With the advent of the managed care system, health care management has become a profession and an academic discipline unto its own. Health care management is a category in higher education institutions. University of Phoenix Online offers ten degrees in health care management with different areas of focus, ranging from associate’s degrees to doctorates. Every college with a standard diversity of course options are going to have health care management included in their curriculum in some fashion.

The University of Phoenix lineup gives an excellent idea of the options that are available within this field of study. They offer bachelor’s degrees in health administration and a bachelor’s in business administration with a health care management specialty. They have a master’s degree in health administration and several master’s degrees in nursing with specialties that include health care education, integrative health care and health care management. University of Phoenix also offers a dual master’s in nursing and health administration, and a PhD in health administration.

Clearly, health care management is a profession that has reached sufficient levels of sophistication so as to be broken into specialty components. There are also degrees available in health care information systems management. Nursing has become as much a management role as the traditional caregiver that is associated with the starched white hat. A healthcare management degree will provide employment opportunities in hospitals, outpatient clinics, hospice facilities, specialty rehabilitation and therapy clinics, home health care, and any number of positions in the insurance industry.

There is a core of business classes that are required for the major. These can be taken at a community college, or online. Once you have chosen a school where you will pursue the degree, it’s important to make sure that any preliminary credits you pursue elsewhere will qualify. If you are going to reach for the master’s degree, there are several options to be found there as well. Boston University lists a master’s in health administration, in health services administration and in public health. Florida International University offers a master’s in health services administration.

Health care management has also, for better or worse, taken on a political cast as the insurance industry becomes more regulated. Medicare plays an enormous role in health care today and will continue to grow. The study of health care management will have to include a basic understanding of the statutory requirements at both the state and federal level regarding insurance requirements, and the developments in case law that impact the delivery of health services.

You can find educational resources for all of these issues, and you’ll want them as you work toward a degree in health care management. You can assemble your degree from an assortment of schools, if you wish. Community colleges have become the best bargain in higher education, especially when it comes to completing core courses. Online schools provide their services by the course, as well as by the degree. If you can’t find an online degree program that you like, settle for a degree from a nearby college and determine how many course credits you can bring with you, in order to minimize your tuition requirements.

Tags: academic, Degrees, education, health administration, health care, management, Medical and Nursing

Earning Your Computer Technology Education

Kristen — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:51:17 +0000

Computer technology can be roughly divided into two academic areas: computer science and information technology.

Computer science is the physics, chemistry and mathematics behind chip design, computer design, and the functionality of all the pieces of hardware in the industry. Fiber optics and network router design are parts of computer science. In many universities, computer science majors are housed in the electrical engineering department, where the science began.

Information technology (IT) is often a separate field of study. The academic subdivisions of IT include: Networking. Database design. Maintenance and security. Software design. Computer programming.

Universities and colleges often offer information technology degrees with areas of concentration such as database design.

Technical schools do provide some technology certification programs in such areas as network maintenance and system security. More often, however, these operational jobs are taught at the level of an associate’s college degree.

Online colleges provide degrees in computer technology that cover both areas of study. University of Phoenix Online has a fairly inclusive bachelor’s degree program in IT. Their technology school offers the following degrees: Associate of Arts in Information Technology. Associate of Arts in Information Technology/Networking. Associate of Arts in Information Technology/Visual Communication. Bachelor of Science in Business/ e-Business. Bachelor of Science in Business/Information Systems. Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/Information System Security. Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/Visual Communications. Master of Business Administration/Technology Management. Master of Information Systems. Doctor of Management/Information Systems and Technology.

University of Phoenix wraps many of their IT majors into business degree programs. They do not offer courses in the area of computer science.

Colorado Technical University has an online program that qualifies as a computer school of its own. They offer a Bachelor of Science in Software Systems Engineering that combines electrical engineering with the integrative techniques used in computer design. It’s an interesting mix of academic focal points: Fundamentals of Computer Programming. Electrical Engineering Techniques. Database Design and Management. Software Engineering.

Another online computer school is CDI College, which provides training programs in IT that prepare students for certification. Their scholastic selections include nine networking courses of study, including one designed to meet certification for Cisco network products and designs. They have five choices in the Programmer/Developer area, two of which are focused on the Web. CDI College also has a number of certification training programs. For software, they offer courses for business applications specialist and Microsoft Office specialist. CDI teaches certification courses for computer programmers and office information technology specialists, as well.

These are three online colleges with distinctly different types of curricula. CDI can make you a certified tech in a matter of several months. Colorado Technical University has degrees available in computer science and in software development. University of Phoenix focuses on the business side of IT. These are only three examples: a little research will find you the online tech school that you need if you haven’t found it here.

Tags: academic, business, business administration, certification program, computer science, Computers and Technology, Degrees, education, information technology, management, microsoft office, Schools, science, training, universities, visual communications

Technology Universities and Colleges

Kristen — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:48:09 +0000

There is a difference between technical schools and colleges and schools of technology. Technical schools are training centers that will prepare you for every career from auto mechanic, to food marketing, to truck driver. You may find a few technology-oriented careers available at a technical school – such as software programming – or you may not. Technology colleges and schools are either institutions that offer courses for technology-oriented jobs (i.e., computer network maintenance), or they offer full college degrees in information technology and computer science fields, or they offer both.

CDI College is an example of an online college that offers certification training. They have a technology division with nine different academic choices for certification in the field of networking. They have five academic choices in the programmer/developer area, all of which are oriented to website development and maintenance.

University of Phoenix Online offers a variety of technology degrees, ranging from an Associate of Arts in Information Technology to a Doctor of Management in Information Systems and Technology. Their bachelor’s programs include the following: BS in Business/Information Systems. BS in Business/e-Business. BS in Information Technology. BS in Information Technology/Information System Security. BS in Information Technology/Visual Communications.

University of Phoenix also offers two master’s degrees, including: MBA/Technology Management. MIS – Master of Information Systems.

Capella University offers a variety of online information technology degrees, including the following: BS in Information Technology – General. BS in IT – Graphics and Multimedia. BS in IT – Information Assurance and Security. BS in IT – Network Technology. BS in IT – Web Application Development. MBA – Information Technology Management. MS in IT – General Information Technology. MS in IT – Network Architecture and Design. MS in IT – Information Security. MS in IT – System Design and Programming.

Kaplan University has 6 online bachelor’s degree programs in the IT academic area. Specializations include: Database. Multimedia and animation. Networking. Programming. Web development.

Their associate’s degrees in the IT field are all in information systems and include specializations in Java, networking, web development, and wireless networking.

Four online technology colleges, all with different levels of degrees and academic specializations. You can find certification programs and associate’s degree programs in technology fields of study at most public community colleges. Four-year colleges and universities will also have technology studies. Many of the universities have comprehensive schools of computer science that have grown out of their electrical engineering departments.

You can find some esoteric specialties in some of the larger universities, in such areas as computer languages, database design and artificial intelligence. Those sorts of institutions are best suited for those with time and dedication to pursue full four- or five-year courses of study. If you are interested in breaking into the technology field and need a certificate or a college degree to do it – while you are working – then you should consider the online option.

These schools are accredited, well established, and one of them is going to have the degree in the academic focal area that you want. Online technology degrees also, typically, take less time. They are pragmatic courses of study, designed to get you the education you need as efficiently as possible. With every year, technology offerings grow as the industry develops more complexity and areas of specialization.

Tags: academic, business, careers, certification program, certification training, college degrees, colleges and universities, computer languages, computer science, Computers and Technology, degree programs, Degrees, education, information technology, management, marketing, MBA, Schools, Schools, science, specialization, technology colleges

Schools, Colleges, and Institutes of Technology

Kristen — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:35:53 +0000

There are an extraordinary number of schools that provide education programs today in the field of technology. Generally, in the educational world, technology is loosely separated into the fields of computer science and information technology (IT).

Computer science learning programs, at the college level, grew out of the electrical engineering departments at many schools. Many universities still issue degrees in electrical engineering with a computer science specialty. But, the point is that the term “computer science” covers the science of all types of technology hardware, from routers, to fiber optic switches, to laptop screens.

Information technology programs include the study of computer data and its transmission in many forms. The Internet and its functions fall under information technology, as do computer networks and databases. Digital graphics is a form of information technology. The two terms divide an enormous body of learning into the loosely defined areas of hardware and the data that the hardware puts out.

Virtually all community colleges will have associate’s degree programs in computer science, information technology or other academic spin-offs. Traditional universities also provide majors in computer science and in information technology. You can also find a good deal of specialization and a much more direct course to a degree through an online college.

There are institutes and schools that specialize in certification courses for many of the technical support jobs that make technology systems work. CDI College is an online school with perhaps 20 different courses of study in computer networking, programming and maintenance. Everest College is a school with nine campuses and an online program that offers courses in such topics as computer information systems, advanced microcomputer applications, and applied office technology. These online schools and others like them focus on the field of certification for specific technology skill sets.

Westwood College is an online school with 2 technology bachelor’s programs: information systems security and computer network management. Their 2 associate’s degree programs in technology specialize in computer network engineering and technical management.

University of Phoenix Online has a series of bachelor’s and master’s degrees that center on IT, many combined with a concentration on business: Associate of Arts in Information Technology. Associate of Arts in IT/Networking. Associate of Arts in IT/Visual Communication. Bachelor of Science in Business/ e-Business. Bachelor of Science in Business/Information Systems. Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Bachelor of Science in IT/Information System Security. Bachelor of Science in IT/Visual Communication. MBA/Technology Management. MIS – Master of Information Systems. Doctor of Management/Information Systems and Technology.

Boston University’s online affiliate Metropolitan College offers a bachelor’s in computer science and a bachelor’s in management information systems. Their master’s programs include computer science/security and computer information systems/security. Those two degrees provide a clear illustration of the split between computer science (hardware) and IT (data).

Kaplan University is another online institute with a comprehensive set of educational technology programs. They have 6 associate’s degrees and 6 bachelor’s degrees in such majors as database, web development, networking computer information systems, and wireless networking.

These are a selection of online technology institutes that provide a wide spectrum of educational opportunity. Select your field of interest, and then go shopping for a technology institute that will teach you what you need to know.

Tags: academic, business, campuses, computer information systems, computer science, Computers and Technology, degree programs, Degrees, digital graphics, education, information technology, MBA, Schools, Schools, science, specialization, technology management, universities

Earning a Computer Technology Degree

James — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:28:15 +0000

For educational purposes, it is often convenient to separate the computer technology field into two areas: computer science and information technology. The reason for this is simply that the educational institutions seem to have made this division in their academic designs for courses of study.

Academically, computer science seems to have sprung from many schools’ electrical engineering departments. In some cases, the computer sciences remain there and a school may offer a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with specialization in computer science. Other universities – and online colleges – have dedicated entire departments and/or separate courses of study to computer science.

The field of information technology (IT) has developed as data generated by computers has become essential in the everyday economic functions of this country and most others. Information technology pervades our everyday lives. The Internet is a manifestation of information technology; as is the ATM machine, e-mail, the automated gas pump at the filling station, and the timed stoplights on our boulevards. Electronically transmitted data has become an essential social reality.

Getting an education in these fields and seeking a related career is a good bet on the future. Degrees in computer science and in information technology are available at every degree level, from associate to doctorate.

There are also degrees in associated fields, such as networking (for IT) and microelectronics (for computers). Traditional colleges and universities all have academic resources committed to these fields of study. However, as the traditional college experience has become costly and remains time-consuming, increasing numbers of people are turning to online education as a practical alternative.

Accredited online colleges have become a resource for people wishing to switch careers or to climb the ladder in their current profession. For young people who must work to support themselves, online education has also become an alternative.

The University of Phoenix Online orients its technology courses through its school of business. As an example of what is available to the would- be student, here are the technology degrees offered by University of Phoenix Online: BS in Business/e-Business. BS in Business/Information Systems. BS in Information Technology. BS in Information Technology/Information System Security. BS in Information Technology/Visual Communications. MBA/Technology Management. MIS – Master of Information Systems. Doctor of Management/Information Systems and Technology.

There are also IT degrees available from Kaplan University at both the associate’s and bachelor’s level. Their two-year associate’s programs include degrees in the following areas: AAS in Computer Information Systems. AASCIS/Java. AASCIS/Networking. AASCIS/Programming. AASCIS/Web Development.

Kaplan’s Bachelor Information Technology program includes: BS in Information Technology. BSIT/Database. BSIT/Multimedia and Animation. BSIT/Networking. BSIT/Programming. BSIT/Web Development.

These are only two of the many online opportunities out there for you to begin exploring your degree in information technology. These degrees can be achieved in less time than is required at a traditional university. It’s an investment in your future that is worth looking into.

Tags: academic, business, careers, colleges and universities, computer information systems, computer science, computer sciences, computers, Computers and Technology, Degrees, Degrees, education, information technology, MBA, Schools, science, specialization, technology management, traditional college

The Advantages of Entering the World of International Business Degrees

Shivani Bhatt — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:12:46 +0000

A degree in business management is a hallmark and basis for success in the competitive corporate world today. A degree not only gives you a head start but paves way for future accelerated growth, and therefore it becomes important that you get noticed.

Therefore, it becomes imperative to think out of the box in order to stand out and changing your settings is a great way to get the ball rolling. While getting a college degree is a pre-requisite to getting a business school, getting one from a foreign university will be quite beneficial. While most students often consider going to a different city for further education, going to a new city will have a much stronger impact on your resume.

An international business degree is a great way to shake you up from your comfort zone and to bring out your resilience. To maintain a good academic record while at home is not difficult but getting similar grades in an alien environment is a indicative of tenacity. Studying in a place which is culturally, language wise, food wise different and still achieving your dreams brings out your innate potential and makes you an atypical Business scholar.

Apart from the fact that your credentials are more noticeable for recruiters and hiring companies, the International exposure brings about changes in your personality as well. By becoming a part of a new culture you perspective is much broader on issues, you become more adaptable as one can assimilate and share the best practices of different countries. Through interaction with different people you are more culturally sensitive and accommodating. In short you become a truly global business leader.

So if you are looking to study abroad there are many prospects that you might want to look at. It is worth checking with your local colleges if they have a sponsored student exchange program that you are eligible for. The internet is also a good place to search for an International college with the colleges dedicating a whole section of their website to International student admission process. Self independent research will help you zero-in, on the college that best suits your ambitions, over academic profile, tuition status, etc.

It pays to take a calculated risk such as this one, as it only broadens your horizon by helping you get over limitations such as prejudice and biases regarding a particular culture. By getting first hand information of the business, will only help you become liberal in an outlook. If you love travelling to new destinations, then a student-travel trip will be much more economical in comparison to that of a corporate professional.

Therefore, an international business degree makes you a more wholesome individual who respects people and is someone who great at managing interpersonal relationships. So while the road might be less travelled it certainly is much more interesting. So have fun finding your own road to success!

Tags: academic, business, Business and Management, education, management

Future in Computer Science

Shivani Bhatt — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:11:30 +0000

Computers occupy a key position in today’s economy. Every kind of business big or small, utilize computers. This industry has grown manifold and the manufacturing, sales and maintenance of computers and its components has seen tremendous growth. Huge amount of money is constantly being invested worldwide in the development of high-speed, fibre- optic network for the better communication between the computers.

With the advancement and diversification of the functions of computers, (they perform almost every kind of function apart from entertainment), the career options in this filed has immensely increased. As an expert of Java code, you may program in any of the operating systems (Microsoft, UNIX, Linux, apple etc.)

System design and programming and electronics technology concentrates on the various machines and the chips (the primary engines). The main aim each and every company in the field of manufacturing computers is to manufacture such a machine which is faster and at the same time smaller or portable. Apart from the major manufacturing companies, there are hundreds others who manufacture products for the various computer systems, all of these companies are also a vital part of the computer science industry.

Another fast growing part of this industry is the industry of video cards. With the increasing popularity of computer games, this has become the latest booming industry. People involved in the designing of these video cards should also know the electronic functions of the very computers on which it will be used. This is also the case with computer sound cards, printers, scanners and other peripheral devices.

Another important field of the Computer industry is computer networking. This field has acquired the position of a separate industry in the current context. Not only the business related documents of every kind, but also the financial information is constantly exchanged throughout the world. This requires networks within an organization and also between organizations in short for the whole world. Network engineering is such an academic and career option; it consists of designing of these complex networks and also the designing of the paraphernalia for the efficient functioning of the networks. The speed of the network router (modem) is as crucial to business efficiency as the speed of the computer. This designing of the paraphernalia for the computers is one area which may never see a slump, as there is always a place for better and improved equipments.

Designing and installation of office networks has also turned out to be a massively developing business at the retail level. Small businesses with a handful of employees have also appreciated the worth of networking. These small enterprises are also a great source of income as they have the need of repair, expansion.

As this field is more or less related to the exchange of information, the security of such information has a very high priority here.

Another important field of the networked computer science world is Cyber-security. The need to protect the information from hackers is a thing of high priority. The hackers continuously develop new ways and methods to hijack information, therefore the need for constant upgrading the software. The whole software market is also very much involved in the preservation of security and builds a secure environment.

The options listed above are only a few of the areas of specialization. The computer industry knows no bounds for the right person with the right aptitude. There are new avenues also which come up as the industry progresses.

Tags: academic, business, computer science, computers, Computers and Technology, Computers and Technology, Degrees, information technology, Online Degrees, science, specialization

Learning Financial Planning From Online Colleges and It’s Contribution to Your Net Worth

Shivani Bhatt — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:00:03 +0000

For those seeking to becoming financial planners a degree in financial planning is mandatory. Online colleges help prepare students to do professional work in Investment companies, Bank, insurance companies, etc without the constraints of all campus attendance, commuting, and deadline pressures. These programs are designed on the guidelines from the coursework designed by the Board of Certified Financial Planner (CFP). CFP is the parent body which sets the standards of all courses in the field of financial planning.

Financial planners are highly demanded by companies and firms where these planners make decisions about restructuring debts, investing money, estate planning, and saving for retirement. Therefore a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certificate enhances the prospects of a financial consultant and is also a state requirement in most parts of the country.

Following is the list of a few programs:

Boston University (BU)’s online certificate course is one of the longest running courses in the distance learning category.

The new Boston University Online Program is a multimedia, interactive educational experience with inputs from industry experts. This web-based program is designed to encompass the practical aspect of the job while imparting theory. The program focus is the six areas of financial expertise as recommended by the CFA board and at the completion of the six pre-requisite courses the student received his certification

The Great Plains Distance Education Alliance

Great Plains IDEA) is a consortium of seven universities offering fully online graduate programs, with each university bringing its unique academic programs. This Institute offers both master’s degree and graduate certificate in financial planning. The cost per credit course is affordable at $395.

Iowa State University

The Masters of Family Consumer Sciences Specialization in Family Financial Planning is a structured 42-credit degree offered over the web while the Family Financial Planning (FFP) Graduate Certificate is an 18-credit subset.

Kansas State University

This course is of 14 months duration at the completion of which a certificate family financial planning is awarded. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in family studies and human services with a specialization in family financial planning. The other institutions which are a part of the conglomerate and offer a degree in family financial planning are the Montana State University North Dakota State University South Dakota State University Oklahoma State University of Nebraska

University of California offers a certificate of personal financial planning through distance learning. The certificates are awarded at the end of 8-10 courses with both UCI and UCLA providing this program.

Several private Institutions also offer distance learning certificate programs as well as degree programs in financial planning. While the fee for the CFP certificate program is approximately $250 the Masters program costs $810 per course. There are a few privately held institutes which have the recommendation of the CFP Board of Standards and include:

Golden Gate University Undergraduate and graduate certificates in financial planning entails the completion of six classes. The fee for Undergraduates course is$1350 per 3-unit course while that of the Graduate course is $1860 per 3-unit course.

Kaplan University offers certificate courses in Financial Planning.

Thus these online colleges help increase your career prospects by certifying you as a Financial planner.

Tags: academic, business, Business and Management, Certificates, colleges and universities, coursework, Degrees, distance learning, education, Education and Teaching, management, Online Degrees, Schools, science, specialization, universities

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly About Online MBA Courses

Kristen — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:04:53 +0000

After struggling through five years (yes, five) of college, I proudly graduated with not only my B.A. degree, but also a 20/20 hindsight reflection as to what was successful for me and what was distracting. Not surprisingly, the distractions also happened to be some of my favorite things about the college years. Living in the sorority house, staying out too late, the fact that work interfered with my class schedule, and just an overall struggle with balancing my daily academic responsibilities with what I really wanted to spend my time doing.

With all this being said, imagine my surprise when I hit the real world and quickly discovered that the “promising future promise” of a bachelor’s degree was not quite as lucrative of an opportunity as had been presented to me. People were one jump ahead of me with masters’ degrees and I was being dragged one step behind by my outstanding student loan debts. What’s a girl to do?

It was at this point in life that I started to really pay attention to the TV commercials for higher education, dismissing my previous judgments that they were geared solely toward down and outers and deadbeats. Now suddenly it looked appealing. I didn’t want to go back to college. I had since married my high school sweetheart and working full time was a necessity for both of us. I couldn’t just skip out on the weekly board meeting to go hang out in British Literature 101. Could an online MBA be a reality? Is there a catch to it? Do employers really respect it as much as a regular, hard earned degree? Yes and no.

First of all, realize that while it is not regular, it IS hard earned. Online MBA degrees require a tremendous amount of discipline, since there is no professor in front of you on a daily basis, providing tutoring sessions and guidance on that upcoming assignment. Online MBA candidates must be disciplined enough to carve out their own time for the three R’s and a lot of times your life that you were fighting to keep in the first place by choosing to do an online MBA may suffer the consequences. It is a lot of work.

Another downer to the online MBA is that it comes with a pretty threatening price tag. Many colleges and universities, no matter how established by name, made a huge investment in the birth of online degree programs. Because the majority of students still enroll in traditional desk time courses, colleges have but no choice to hike up online tuition enough to justify the program and make it profitable.

Of course, the price depends on the school that you are looking into enrolling at, and many people, including myself will assure you that it is still a great idea. I can’t go to graduate school, and I don’t agree with the philosophy that when “life slows down” I can jump back into the academia life. Circumstances often change, but rarely slow down, and I am constantly battling my ambition and drive to accomplish all that I plan to at a young age.

With this being said, the online MBA program may or may not be for you. Look into financial aid, explore the sites, and make a decision that fits your lifestyle. If you are like me, then it just may work out. If you are the opposite, then it may be more worth your while to enroll in a traditional program. Either way, the educational system will embrace you, and thankfully so will employers. Recent studies show that an online MBA is quickly enjoying more solid of a reputation and commanding more respect from hiring companies. In the next few years, the college experience and the “college experience” are expected to be regarded as equals. Study hard.

Tags: academic, Business and Management, Business and Management, colleges and universities, Degrees, education, MBA, universities

The Health Care School of Hawaii

James — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:39:18 +0000

The Health Care School of Hawaii is a training facility dedicated to teaching its students the art and science of being a nursing assistant. It calls itself a ‘Caregiver Training School’ and is approved by the state Department of Education. Tuition for the program is $500, but the school’s web page makes note of the fact that financial assistance is available, and that job placement services are available through Oahu Joblink.

For high school graduates who are not in a position to head off to college immediately and would like to pursue a career in nursing or a related field, the Health Care School of Hawaii is an ideal point of departure. Students learn basic nursing skills and all the little tasks that can fall to the care giver, principally through the process of working with geriatric patients.

The curriculum includes the basics of caring for people with mobility problems and, perhaps, communications difficulties. Medical focus includes infections control, nutrition, rehabilitation methods and learning to read vital signs. The course work includes eighteen hours of work in a nursing home to go with the sixty two hours of classroom study. Hawaii’s Health Care School is designed to provide some basic skill sets but beyond that, to incubate the sense of caring and compassion that is critical for someone working with invalids and perhaps hospital patients.

The nursing assistance training program leads to certification as a nurse’s assistant in the State of Hawaii. Once the training and certification is completed the student is prepared to work in the field, hopefully there in Hawaii through the placement opportunities provided by the Health Care School. Equally important is the basis for further education in the nursing field that this certification provides.

A graduate of Hawaii’s Health Care School can take the course hours and credits attained there, and pursue further education that may lead to other job opportunities in the field. Once the nurse’s assistant is working, the chance to see what other jobs area available that might be of interest in the medical services field. From there, an online search may well result in another program of education that can be pursued via the internet even if it is not available nearby in Hawaii.

Nursing assistants can find employment in many more locations than senior care facilities. There are opportunities in outpatient clinics, in schools, in any number of care giving situations where some rudimentary medical training is required. It is a specialty that can be developed without a full college education and from which employment should result fairly quickly.

The program is clearly designed to assist young people without a lot of assets and academic ambition. It is an opportunity for early success in an educational environment, which will result in gainful employment. It is no doubt the hope of the Hawaii Department of Education and the Hawaii Health Care School that early success such as this will encourage the graduates of the Health Care School to continue their education and career path further into the nursing profession.

Tags: academic, curriculum, department of education, education, health care, Medical and Nursing, Medical and Nursing, nurse, Schools, science

Developing School Health Care Plans

James — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:18:25 +0000

As the role of the school nurse has expanded to include significant health care responsibilities, so has the need for plans to handle specific types of situations and, on occasion, specific students. Today’s school nurse handles the primary health care needs of a number of students, those whose parents cannot afford or do not have health insurance. Public school populations have been expanded to include special needs students who might formerly have been enrolled in a tutorial responsive to their disabilities.

Students with special needs include those with physical or mental disabilities and those with chronic illnesses (such as asthma) that require periodic treatment. It is likely that students in these categories will be periodic visitors to the school nurse’s office. If possible, school nurses should develop personal histories on these students by talking with the parents in order to thoroughly understand the nature of the disability or illness.

By acquiring a the health records the nurse can develop an individual health plan for each student. This may include communicating with school staff about the issues these students face and early warning signs for incident onset. Emergencies can be avoided through this type of planning. Since the most common emergencies school nurses face are respiratory in nature, early intervention can be critical and simple preventative steps should be explained to the teaching staff. This kind of planning avoids a full blown emergency.

Development of a plan after an emergency is also an important health care role for school nurses and personnel. A student who has suffered an injury or come down with an illness should leave the nurse’s care with instructions for ensuing treatment. Communication among the nurse, school staff and the parents can insure execution of this plan. It no longer makes sense to assume that an injured or ill student will be seeing a doctor after leaving the school grounds. It is vital that post emergency health care plans come from the school nurse.

Any school-based health care plan, whether individual or in the form of general guidelines must incorporate recognition that nearly all school health care is pediatric health care. When developing a plan for a special needs child, the school nurse should focus on the child’s abilities instead of disabilities. Working up a history with a child and the parents should give the child a sense of safety while at school rather than further focus on his or her functional shortcomings. Children that are required to report to the nurse for monitoring or medication should feel welcome in order for a health care plan to function properly.

Post trauma school health care plans should incorporate monitoring of the injury whether or not a physician has become involved. A student’s performance in school may be affected and, depending on the nature of the injury, an allowance for reduced performance should be part of the treatment plan. Many school nursing facilities have relatively sophisticated equipment to deal with emergencies. It is important that the health care plans developed for post-injury care recognize the academic and social consequences of the medical issue and prepare the child as well as school staff for both.

Tags: academic, health care, Medical and Nursing, Medical and Nursing, nurse, school nurse, Schools

Diplomas

Ryan — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:10:04 +0000

College-Pages.com has several schools that offer diplomas. A diploma is a certificate issued by a educational place of learning, such as a college or university, that signifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study.

Tags: academic, Diplomas, Diplomas, education

Other and General Online Programs

Ryan — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:12:51 +0000

The Other and General category is for general courses and degrees that don’t fit into more traditional academic structures. The reason for this is that online general education colleges have led the way in adapting academic pursuits to career orientation. For example, you can attend a traditional school and spend two or three years obtaining a masters in business administration (MBA). Not so long ago, the degree alone was enough to elicit many job interviews, but with a masters in a more specialized area, the opportunities for job interviews rise. Today, you can pursue an online MBA at the University of Phoenix with the choice of seven areas of specialization, ranging from global management to technology management. Or, you can attend one of their campuses in thirteen states.

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.

Tags: academic, capella university, course catalogues, employment marketplace, general education, global management, job interviews, MBA, Other and General, Other and General, specialization, traditional schools, University of Phoenix

Master Degrees

Ryan — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:52:58 +0000

A great number of individuals do not realize that it’s possible to obtain a masters degree or graduate degree on-line. However, thanks to the Internet, obtaining a masters or graduate degree on-line is a reality. Most college graduates feel that they don’t have time to obtain a masters degree while entering the workforce and balancing a family. The benefit of an on-line masters degree is that it is flexible, more so than a degree from a traditional college or university. It allows you to study from the comfort of your own home and frees up time in your day for family and work. Getting a masters or graduate degree allows you to obtain that promotion and salary increase you deserve. Individuals with a master degree typically earn twice that of a person with a bachelors degree, and 4 times that of those with high-school diplomas.

With reasons like these, it’s no wonder why on-line master’s degree are more popular than ever!

Tags: academic, graduate degree, Masters Degrees, Masters Degrees, postgraduate academic

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