Completing an MBA degree online is a smart choice. The MBA is almost essential to business advancement in this day and age. But many ambitious business people shy away from the degree, because they feel that they can’t fit it into their schedules and don’t want to relocate to a suitable college. The answer is, take that degree online. If you think online lacks luster or doesn’t make sense, think again. Following are 6 real benefits to online over traditional classroom study.
1. Balance Career, Education and Family
An online MBA provides the opportunity to take classes and work around your own schedule, rather than having to report to a campus and attend classes. Having a career and family does not have to be an obstacle to the completion of an online MBA.
2. Save Money, Go Green
Commuting from home to a college campus means coping with traffic and auto maintenance. Taking courses online can save money in parking, gas, maintenance expenses. Plus, it is one way to go “green” and do your part to save the environment, without ever having to change out of your PJs. Online learning has a much smaller carbon footprint than any type of commute.
3. Avoid Drama
A lot of potential business students don’t realize how important this is. Keep in mind, a lot of college students are young people away from home for the first time, and they behave accordingly. If what you are after is a solid education for career advancement, there is really no reason to surround yourself with people who are interested in who made captain of the football team or where the next jello wrestling contest is going to be held. Save yourself the drama and study online, where you can focus strictly on what matters, the course work.
4. Open the Door to Your Dream Job
If you are working in your field while completing the online MBA, you have the chance to put some of the course materials into practice on the spot. This means avoiding downtime that typically occurs when you are back in a classroom and out of touch with the workforce for a period of time. By having the opportunity to incorporate your education instantly, you are improving your skills in the workplace and giving yourself the opportunity to show off your hot new skills and maybe angle for a hefty promotion. And after all, isn’t that the whole point of the degree?
5. Create a Strong Network
This may seem a bit counterintuitive, after all, doesn’t being on campus result in friendships and networks? Well, yes and no. Those strong friendships often evaporate as soon as everyone disperses homeward and to jobs across the country. With an online class, you have the chance to meet people, who are often already gainfully employed and respected, all across the country. In a way, with an online class you aren’t building a “future” network, but a network in real time. And that is useful for your career prospects.
6. Master Technology
When completing an MBA online, communication occurs in the form of online forums, emails or web conferences and seminars. Today, businesses take full advantage of technology to keep in touch with employees. Therefore, students are preparing for the use of technology at their future job by using these forms of interaction to complete their education. And employers know that.
Find the right program for you regardless of physical location and know that utilizing the internet to connect with others is a habit that will only benefit you in the future. These benefits make an online MBA more attractive to you, and the MBA makes you more attractive to future employers.
It’s a win-win situation.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
7 Most Cost Effective Programs to Get Your PHD Online
The
Internet has become ubiquitous across the world. More people, in more
places, from big cities to small towns and remote locations everywhere
on earth now have internet access. And that gives them access to
university programs as well. And not just any old bachelors degree, but
the cream of the crop: post-graduate education and PhDs.
There are a number of online universities which offer PhDs, such as University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Full Sail University as well as traditional universities with specific online programs. While the predominantly online universities have a wide range of PhD offerings in their curriculums, traditional universities have been more reluctant to offer their most prestigious degrees online. But with improvements to internet communications made possible by broadband access, web conferencing, web video, and the vast amount of library resources, even the most stalwart of the traditional schools are beginning to grasp that it isn’t where you’re sitting, but what you’re learning that is most important.
Of all the online universities that offer doctorate degrees, Cal University is one of the most affordable. Being a university dedicated primarily to the study of management and business administration, Cal University offers several DBA specializations. These courses of study are offered at a cost of $300 per credit.
Like Cal University, Baker College is another online institution of education that offers doctorate-level courses of study. While the college does not focus primarily on business administration on the bachelor’s and master’s levels, business administration is the only course of study offered at the doctorate level. Tuition for most graduate programs at Baker College is $375 per credit.
Northcentral University is another primarily online university that offers doctorate courses of study. Northcentral University’s course offerings for PhD programs include business administration, education, psychology, and other fields. Tuition for doctorate programs is $793 per credit.
The University of Phoenix - the largest and most well-known of the primarily online universities - offers a wide range of online PhD programs. These include business administration, education, nursing,environmental science, English, communication, health administration, industrial/organizational psychology, and organizational leadership/information systems and technology. Tuition varies from course to course, but it hovers around $800 per credit.
One well-respected traditional university that offers online courses of study for PhDs is Colorado Technical University. This university offers multiple business management and computer science PhD programs. The tuition for Colorado Technical University graduate programs is $585 per credit.
Another traditional university with significant online PhD offerings is the University of Florida. The University of Florida’s online PhD programs include fields in education, audiology, philosophy, nursing, and pharmacy. Tuition is about $500 per credit, depending on the course of study.
The University of Maryland University College offers a full array of online programs. Among these, it offers two doctorate-level programs: management and management in community college policy and administration. Tuition for its doctorate-level programs is $1,087 per credit, which is a hefty price tag but some of their programs are amongst the most respected in the country..
The legitimate universities and colleges that offer online PhD programs tend to only offer them in specific areas. This is because the nature of a PhD is such that much of the program usually consists of aiding professors in their advanced research. In an online learning environment, it is extremely difficult to carry out such research. The specific programs that are commonly offered on the graduate level through online platforms - such as management and administration programs - are programs that can conceivably be offered in such a way. Students should be skeptical about online universities that claim to be able to offer an overly broad range of PhD programs through a structure of instruction that is entirely online. Also, be sure that the specific program PhD you are pursuing carries the appropriate accreditation for your field of study.
A doctorate completed with distance learning used to be regarded as well, something of a joke. But with the leaps that have been made in internet communications, it has now become possible to do the hard work of a PhD for many programs, completely online. As is obvious from the above listing of tuition costs, the price varies a great deal. But, don’t think that is an indication of quality, some of the most expensive options are actually the least respected degrees. With due diligence, it is now possible to get a solid respected PhD online, at a reasonable cost.
There are a number of online universities which offer PhDs, such as University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Full Sail University as well as traditional universities with specific online programs. While the predominantly online universities have a wide range of PhD offerings in their curriculums, traditional universities have been more reluctant to offer their most prestigious degrees online. But with improvements to internet communications made possible by broadband access, web conferencing, web video, and the vast amount of library resources, even the most stalwart of the traditional schools are beginning to grasp that it isn’t where you’re sitting, but what you’re learning that is most important.
Of all the online universities that offer doctorate degrees, Cal University is one of the most affordable. Being a university dedicated primarily to the study of management and business administration, Cal University offers several DBA specializations. These courses of study are offered at a cost of $300 per credit.
Like Cal University, Baker College is another online institution of education that offers doctorate-level courses of study. While the college does not focus primarily on business administration on the bachelor’s and master’s levels, business administration is the only course of study offered at the doctorate level. Tuition for most graduate programs at Baker College is $375 per credit.
Northcentral University is another primarily online university that offers doctorate courses of study. Northcentral University’s course offerings for PhD programs include business administration, education, psychology, and other fields. Tuition for doctorate programs is $793 per credit.
The University of Phoenix - the largest and most well-known of the primarily online universities - offers a wide range of online PhD programs. These include business administration, education, nursing,environmental science, English, communication, health administration, industrial/organizational psychology, and organizational leadership/information systems and technology. Tuition varies from course to course, but it hovers around $800 per credit.
One well-respected traditional university that offers online courses of study for PhDs is Colorado Technical University. This university offers multiple business management and computer science PhD programs. The tuition for Colorado Technical University graduate programs is $585 per credit.
Another traditional university with significant online PhD offerings is the University of Florida. The University of Florida’s online PhD programs include fields in education, audiology, philosophy, nursing, and pharmacy. Tuition is about $500 per credit, depending on the course of study.
The University of Maryland University College offers a full array of online programs. Among these, it offers two doctorate-level programs: management and management in community college policy and administration. Tuition for its doctorate-level programs is $1,087 per credit, which is a hefty price tag but some of their programs are amongst the most respected in the country..
The legitimate universities and colleges that offer online PhD programs tend to only offer them in specific areas. This is because the nature of a PhD is such that much of the program usually consists of aiding professors in their advanced research. In an online learning environment, it is extremely difficult to carry out such research. The specific programs that are commonly offered on the graduate level through online platforms - such as management and administration programs - are programs that can conceivably be offered in such a way. Students should be skeptical about online universities that claim to be able to offer an overly broad range of PhD programs through a structure of instruction that is entirely online. Also, be sure that the specific program PhD you are pursuing carries the appropriate accreditation for your field of study.
A doctorate completed with distance learning used to be regarded as well, something of a joke. But with the leaps that have been made in internet communications, it has now become possible to do the hard work of a PhD for many programs, completely online. As is obvious from the above listing of tuition costs, the price varies a great deal. But, don’t think that is an indication of quality, some of the most expensive options are actually the least respected degrees. With due diligence, it is now possible to get a solid respected PhD online, at a reasonable cost.
5 Top Resources for Online MBA Program Rankings
Choosing an MBA program can be difficult. Students must consider a number of factors, such as
cost, convenience, legitimacy and future employment potential. Aspiring
e-learners can peruse online MBA rankings in order to find an online
graduate business program that is right for them. However, some lists
are decidedly more informed than others.
US News & World Report
This prominent New York City-based magazine has been ranking American colleges since 1983 -- and today, online programs are also rated. For online MBA programs, results are based on four factors: admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, student engagement and accreditation. In order to be considered in the USNews ‘Honor Roll’ of online business degrees, the program must rank in the top third for at least three of these four categories. For the 2012 ranking, more than 960 regionally accredited schools were considered.
Financial Times
This worldwide ranking of business schools which includes online programs is based on factors like post-graduation salary, cost-benefit analysis and student experience. To be considered, a program must be at least four years old, with at least three years since its first graduating class. It must also be accredited by a legitimate organization, typically either Equis or the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The list includes a research rank, which measures faculty contributions to more 45 different academic journals, points are awarded to the school where the author currently teaches. And because this is an international ranking, all monetary costs have been converted to dollar amounts.
The Best Schools.org
This comprehensive list of top online MBA programs is aggregated from data by other publications -- including Forbes, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur Magazine – that rate business school programs overall, both traditional classrooms and online. According to a 2011 poll by GMAC, many employers value an MBA program’s ranking over the quality of the school’s curriculum and faculty. As a result, each entry in The Best Schools’ list of 10 is accompanied by previous rankings in other publications. Other information provided about each school includes program details, tuition costs and admission requirements.
Super Scholar
The Smart Choice ranking from Super Scholar is limited to AACSB institutions and schools that have been regionally accredited. Other factors taken into consideration include selectivity, cost and awards and recognitions, as well as market reputation. The list includes several schools with MBAs that are earned entirely online. Ranked entries include school profiles, MBA program details and ‘bottom line’ tuition costs. The site also features rankings for dozens of other online degree categories.
The Princeton Review: The Best 294 Business Schools 2012 Edition (book)
Every year, The Princeton Review surveys tens of thousands of students to determine the best business school programs nationwide. This year’s list of 294 is subdivided into 11 separate rankings. Though all business programs are considered, the in-depth school profiles contained in this book make it a valuable resource for those who wish to pursue an online MBA.
If a student wishes to look into web-based business school, he or she must consider a number of important factors. These factors should be reflected by lists and rankings that the student uses to make their academic selection. There are dozens of websites that rank online MBA programs – but the most valuable resources, like those mentioned above, use published comprehensive methodology to arrive at their results.
US News & World Report
This prominent New York City-based magazine has been ranking American colleges since 1983 -- and today, online programs are also rated. For online MBA programs, results are based on four factors: admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, student engagement and accreditation. In order to be considered in the USNews ‘Honor Roll’ of online business degrees, the program must rank in the top third for at least three of these four categories. For the 2012 ranking, more than 960 regionally accredited schools were considered.
Financial Times
This worldwide ranking of business schools which includes online programs is based on factors like post-graduation salary, cost-benefit analysis and student experience. To be considered, a program must be at least four years old, with at least three years since its first graduating class. It must also be accredited by a legitimate organization, typically either Equis or the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The list includes a research rank, which measures faculty contributions to more 45 different academic journals, points are awarded to the school where the author currently teaches. And because this is an international ranking, all monetary costs have been converted to dollar amounts.
The Best Schools.org
This comprehensive list of top online MBA programs is aggregated from data by other publications -- including Forbes, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur Magazine – that rate business school programs overall, both traditional classrooms and online. According to a 2011 poll by GMAC, many employers value an MBA program’s ranking over the quality of the school’s curriculum and faculty. As a result, each entry in The Best Schools’ list of 10 is accompanied by previous rankings in other publications. Other information provided about each school includes program details, tuition costs and admission requirements.
Super Scholar
The Smart Choice ranking from Super Scholar is limited to AACSB institutions and schools that have been regionally accredited. Other factors taken into consideration include selectivity, cost and awards and recognitions, as well as market reputation. The list includes several schools with MBAs that are earned entirely online. Ranked entries include school profiles, MBA program details and ‘bottom line’ tuition costs. The site also features rankings for dozens of other online degree categories.
The Princeton Review: The Best 294 Business Schools 2012 Edition (book)
Every year, The Princeton Review surveys tens of thousands of students to determine the best business school programs nationwide. This year’s list of 294 is subdivided into 11 separate rankings. Though all business programs are considered, the in-depth school profiles contained in this book make it a valuable resource for those who wish to pursue an online MBA.
If a student wishes to look into web-based business school, he or she must consider a number of important factors. These factors should be reflected by lists and rankings that the student uses to make their academic selection. There are dozens of websites that rank online MBA programs – but the most valuable resources, like those mentioned above, use published comprehensive methodology to arrive at their results.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
6 Things You Can Do While Earning Your Psychology Degree Online
So
online colleges are all the rage these days, but who wants to actually
pay attention all the time during those classes? The whole point of
online classes is the ability to do other things while you educate
yourself. So without further ado, here are seven things you can do to
busy yourself while taking online psychology courses.
1. Begin to understand the deviant mind with a first person shooter game. This time killing strategy one works a lot better if you’re just listening to lectures. All you have to do is open a new tab (ctrl+T for most browsers) and find your favorite game to play, and shazam! Now you’re learning about human brains while you’re also plastering someone else’s all over the wall.
2. Sleep. Not much explanation needed here. Just like in a real college class, you can quite easily nab a few z’s while you’re listening to your professor prattle on about the various types of human personality. A bonus: this one can actually save you time if you want to go to bed a little later each night. Isn’t college great?
3. Earn another psychology degree. Here's an idea. While you’re dutifully attending your prestigious online college, how about enrolling in another college and earning another psychology degree? All things are better in pairs, that’s just a fact of life: eyes, kidneys, shoes. You think it’s a coincidence that you have two of everything? Nay. So go on! Enroll in a second online college, what’s the absolute worst that could happen?
4. Learn a new language. Como Esta? You might not have understood that cryptic spanish phrase, but it actually means “how are you?” With enough practice, you, too, can learn a foreign language and become a sorcerer of the spoken word. Imagine the possibilities! Instead of ordering Mexican food in English, you can do so in the language those enchiladas were meant to be ordered in - Spanish.
5. Eat. A simple time-saver, however you may want to consider going organic if this is going to be your main vehicle to kill time. Why deal with the annoyances of on-campus dining when you can enjoy the same frozen food in the comfort of your own home?
6. Write. Whenever possible, write about your class. If there’s nothing to write about, write about how boring it is. When finished, you can post your Pulitzer Prize winning piece to Facebook, Tumblr, what have you. Educational and fun!
1. Begin to understand the deviant mind with a first person shooter game. This time killing strategy one works a lot better if you’re just listening to lectures. All you have to do is open a new tab (ctrl+T for most browsers) and find your favorite game to play, and shazam! Now you’re learning about human brains while you’re also plastering someone else’s all over the wall.
2. Sleep. Not much explanation needed here. Just like in a real college class, you can quite easily nab a few z’s while you’re listening to your professor prattle on about the various types of human personality. A bonus: this one can actually save you time if you want to go to bed a little later each night. Isn’t college great?
3. Earn another psychology degree. Here's an idea. While you’re dutifully attending your prestigious online college, how about enrolling in another college and earning another psychology degree? All things are better in pairs, that’s just a fact of life: eyes, kidneys, shoes. You think it’s a coincidence that you have two of everything? Nay. So go on! Enroll in a second online college, what’s the absolute worst that could happen?
4. Learn a new language. Como Esta? You might not have understood that cryptic spanish phrase, but it actually means “how are you?” With enough practice, you, too, can learn a foreign language and become a sorcerer of the spoken word. Imagine the possibilities! Instead of ordering Mexican food in English, you can do so in the language those enchiladas were meant to be ordered in - Spanish.
5. Eat. A simple time-saver, however you may want to consider going organic if this is going to be your main vehicle to kill time. Why deal with the annoyances of on-campus dining when you can enjoy the same frozen food in the comfort of your own home?
6. Write. Whenever possible, write about your class. If there’s nothing to write about, write about how boring it is. When finished, you can post your Pulitzer Prize winning piece to Facebook, Tumblr, what have you. Educational and fun!
Which was the First Online University Offering Classes?
Distance
learning is not a new concept, in itself, but it has never been as
convenient and effective as it is today and because of this new accredited collegiate institutions
are popping up everyday. A quick look at history reveals
extra-geographically based scholarship as early as the 1700s. Then, the
practice started to build momentum in the United States under University
of Chicago president William Rainey Harper in 1892, when he
kick-started the initiative to connect research universities around the
world by way of satellite educational centers.
Through the 1900s, the concept of distance learning spread, hastened by radio and television under The Open University in the UK. Open Universities opened up worldwide. Then, the University of Phoenix began as a distance education program in 1976, taking its offerings online as early as 1989, the time of the Commodore. Throughout this period, brick and mortar institutions began to dabble in the Internet. Peter Copen created the New York State/Moscow Schools Telecommunications Project, which connected a dozen schools in New York with a dozen in the former Soviet Union, demonstrating the possibilities for globalization of education in a brave new world.
In 1995, WeBWorK was launched. WeBWork provided online schools with a means of transmitting homework across the web on a Perl-based platform. Finally, in 1996, the first online school as we know it today, Jones International School, opened its doors to students as an accredited, degree-granting institution. Based out of Centennial, Colorado, the school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Sixteen years later, online education is going strong. As of the tenth anniversary of Jones International School’s opening, only 4% of institutions with over 15,000 students did not offer online classes. The number of students enrolled in a distance education program doubled between 2000 and 2008, and the number of students in a traditional college taking online classes increased by 12%. The quality of education across these programs is monitored by the Quality Assurance Agency abroad, and by the Distance Education and Training Council in America.
In 2009, President Obama earmarked $500 million dollars for the support of online education. Today, one third of baccalaureate programs have claimed that the incorporation of online education into their development strategies are necessary for success. Students are loathe to give up good jobs in favor of relocating for school, and with gas prices climbing, they want education where they can reach it. Experts predict that online education will continue to grow more quickly than any other sector of higher education.
The success of online education is starting to build a path for the creation of successful distance education in pre-college education. One of the pioneers of this program is the University of California at Santa Cruz, which hosts the University of California College Prep Program, extends opportunities for small high schools to offer AP classes they couldn’t otherwise afford to their students.
Online schooling is an element of education that is clearly here not just to stay, but to grow and supplement traditional education where it can add the most value. Though there will always be a place for brick and mortar education, as more traditional colleges offer nontraditional classes, the reputation of distance education grows by leaps and bounds. Future generations are sure to have more educational opportunities than ever before.
Through the 1900s, the concept of distance learning spread, hastened by radio and television under The Open University in the UK. Open Universities opened up worldwide. Then, the University of Phoenix began as a distance education program in 1976, taking its offerings online as early as 1989, the time of the Commodore. Throughout this period, brick and mortar institutions began to dabble in the Internet. Peter Copen created the New York State/Moscow Schools Telecommunications Project, which connected a dozen schools in New York with a dozen in the former Soviet Union, demonstrating the possibilities for globalization of education in a brave new world.
In 1995, WeBWorK was launched. WeBWork provided online schools with a means of transmitting homework across the web on a Perl-based platform. Finally, in 1996, the first online school as we know it today, Jones International School, opened its doors to students as an accredited, degree-granting institution. Based out of Centennial, Colorado, the school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Sixteen years later, online education is going strong. As of the tenth anniversary of Jones International School’s opening, only 4% of institutions with over 15,000 students did not offer online classes. The number of students enrolled in a distance education program doubled between 2000 and 2008, and the number of students in a traditional college taking online classes increased by 12%. The quality of education across these programs is monitored by the Quality Assurance Agency abroad, and by the Distance Education and Training Council in America.
In 2009, President Obama earmarked $500 million dollars for the support of online education. Today, one third of baccalaureate programs have claimed that the incorporation of online education into their development strategies are necessary for success. Students are loathe to give up good jobs in favor of relocating for school, and with gas prices climbing, they want education where they can reach it. Experts predict that online education will continue to grow more quickly than any other sector of higher education.
The success of online education is starting to build a path for the creation of successful distance education in pre-college education. One of the pioneers of this program is the University of California at Santa Cruz, which hosts the University of California College Prep Program, extends opportunities for small high schools to offer AP classes they couldn’t otherwise afford to their students.
Online schooling is an element of education that is clearly here not just to stay, but to grow and supplement traditional education where it can add the most value. Though there will always be a place for brick and mortar education, as more traditional colleges offer nontraditional classes, the reputation of distance education grows by leaps and bounds. Future generations are sure to have more educational opportunities than ever before.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Best Ways to Start Your Search for Online Graduate Program
In
today’s challenging economic climate, job applicants are searching for
ways to stay ahead of the competition; for many, this means looking for a masters programs online.
Graduates of Master’s degree programs not only have an advantage in
the job search, they can also expect to earn significantly more than
professionals with less education. A recent U.S. Census report
states that master’s programs can add up to $400,000 over a lifetime.
Yet for many individuals, work and family obligations can make it
difficult to go back to school. In particular, traditional programs may
disallow individuals from continuing their studies. Online Master’s
degree programs provide an excellent alternative.
Choosing the right degree-granting institution can be a daunting task and evaluating online programs presents its own unique set of challenges. The course content and the quality of teaching is extremely variable among different institutions. Even more important than assessing the quality of a program is avoiding those online schools that fall under the category of diploma mills, fraudulent institutions that award degrees to students who complete little-to-no work.
Before initiating the search for a Master’s degree program to suit your needs, it’s extremely helpful to clarify goals, strengths and weaknesses in regard to obtaining a degree. After thinking through the process and setting expectations, you will be better equipped to investigate particular programs, eliminating those that do not provide what you want. In an article for The New York Times, online learning expert John Bear says that his first advice for prospective Master’s degree students “is that you have to be as comfortable as you can that the degree will meet your needs.”
While this may seem obvious, many individuals enter a Master’s program without a post-graduation plan. Mr. Bear refers to the CSI phenomenon as an example, explaining that many prospective applicants decide to pursue a Master’s degree and simply choose something that sounds interesting without regard to their career goals and post-graduation plans. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook is an excellent resource for statistics-based information on different careers. It can help individuals to define job goals, based on both financial and personal needs.
Having gained a clearer understanding of your goals and preferences, you can move on to evaluating programs that match these goals. One of the primary indicators of quality educational programming is accreditation. Various regional and national accrediting agencies offer accreditation to educational programs that meet specific guidelines for quality. Any legitimate online school will provide this information. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of accredited schools and additional information on each accrediting agency’s requirements.
Regardless of accreditation, educational programs are only as good as the quality of instruction. Online colleges generally provide faculty profiles, which can give you an idea as to their areas of concentration and teaching experience. Online student forums and professors’ ratings websites can give prospective students additional insight into specific programs.
Master’s degree programs, whether delivered online or in a traditional campus-based format, are challenging and require a significant commitment of time and money. The payoff comes in terms of increased earning power and knowledge that makes Master’s degree holders stand out from other job applicants. Therefore, the amount of time spent on choosing the right online program is a wise investment in the future.
Choosing the right degree-granting institution can be a daunting task and evaluating online programs presents its own unique set of challenges. The course content and the quality of teaching is extremely variable among different institutions. Even more important than assessing the quality of a program is avoiding those online schools that fall under the category of diploma mills, fraudulent institutions that award degrees to students who complete little-to-no work.
Before initiating the search for a Master’s degree program to suit your needs, it’s extremely helpful to clarify goals, strengths and weaknesses in regard to obtaining a degree. After thinking through the process and setting expectations, you will be better equipped to investigate particular programs, eliminating those that do not provide what you want. In an article for The New York Times, online learning expert John Bear says that his first advice for prospective Master’s degree students “is that you have to be as comfortable as you can that the degree will meet your needs.”
While this may seem obvious, many individuals enter a Master’s program without a post-graduation plan. Mr. Bear refers to the CSI phenomenon as an example, explaining that many prospective applicants decide to pursue a Master’s degree and simply choose something that sounds interesting without regard to their career goals and post-graduation plans. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook is an excellent resource for statistics-based information on different careers. It can help individuals to define job goals, based on both financial and personal needs.
Having gained a clearer understanding of your goals and preferences, you can move on to evaluating programs that match these goals. One of the primary indicators of quality educational programming is accreditation. Various regional and national accrediting agencies offer accreditation to educational programs that meet specific guidelines for quality. Any legitimate online school will provide this information. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of accredited schools and additional information on each accrediting agency’s requirements.
Regardless of accreditation, educational programs are only as good as the quality of instruction. Online colleges generally provide faculty profiles, which can give you an idea as to their areas of concentration and teaching experience. Online student forums and professors’ ratings websites can give prospective students additional insight into specific programs.
Master’s degree programs, whether delivered online or in a traditional campus-based format, are challenging and require a significant commitment of time and money. The payoff comes in terms of increased earning power and knowledge that makes Master’s degree holders stand out from other job applicants. Therefore, the amount of time spent on choosing the right online program is a wise investment in the future.
Online Masters Programs - All Are Not Created Equal
Online masters programs are an increasingly popular choice for adult professionals
looking for a program that respects their important work and family
obligations. Online Master’s programs are available from
distance-learning universities and traditional universities alike. As in
the entire field of higher education, not all online programs are
created equal, some are quite prestigious and some have bad reputations.
One way to ensure that any particular online masters program, or degree in general, is of a high quality and solid repute, is to examine the accreditation of the school. Accreditation is a certification from a third party agency, which indicates that the school has met specific criteria. These vary for each agency and type of school, but all accrediting bodies attempt to determine if the school truly offers what is promised, a quality education. They will examine teacher/student ratios, degree level of instructors, experience of instructors, whether the faculty are regularly published, library resources, and graduation rates, among other aspects. Institutions are awarded accreditation through a series of academic reviews that investigate the quality of the school’s curricula, its mission, and its faculty’s qualifications. Schools must go through accrediting review every few years.There are two types of institutional accreditation, regional and national.
However, most traditional colleges are regionally accredited due to the historical accident of how accrediting bodies were formed, regional accreditation is far older than any of the national bodies. Thus regional accreditation is in fact more respected in most fields than national. Regionally accredited schools will readily accept coursework from other regionally accredited schools, but may reject nationally accredited coursework. Nationally accredited schools will usually accept work done at any regionally accredited college. Federal student funding and loans can be used at both regionally and nationally accredited schools.
Regional accreditation is performed by one of six private accreditation agencies in the United States.The six accreditation agencies are:
National accreditation is awarded to schools across the country based on the type of school in question, for example tech schools, online universities and career schools.
Some schools or programs carry “specialized accreditation.” This is a type of accreditation that is awarded to specific degree programs within a school. It is also sometimes called professional accreditation. Specialized accreditation is performed by an organization considered to have special expertise in a particular field. This type of accreditation is usually found on degree programs that are specific to a particular career, such as education, accounting or medicine.
Specialized accreditation may be the highest level of quality for a masters degree program, given a particular field. These accreditations are far less common than the standard, they are far more specific, and generally quite well-known to potential employers. In a sense, they indicate the creme de la creme for a particular field, of all the programs available. It’s important, however, to verify that the accreditation agency is reputable. There are different forms of specialized accreditation for different degrees, so it’s important to check the one that applies to your career choice. Finally, if you are studying at an international school, make sure that specialized accreditation is recognized at home.
Selecting the best online masters program can be a challenging task. Determining accreditation should be one of the first steps in any due diligence search of online colleges. And don’t simply accept that some agency or other has “certified” or “accredited” the school. Take a little time to ensure that the accrediting agency is reputable. Fortunately, all of this information is readily available online, making the search for the perfect online masters program just a little bit easier.
One way to ensure that any particular online masters program, or degree in general, is of a high quality and solid repute, is to examine the accreditation of the school. Accreditation is a certification from a third party agency, which indicates that the school has met specific criteria. These vary for each agency and type of school, but all accrediting bodies attempt to determine if the school truly offers what is promised, a quality education. They will examine teacher/student ratios, degree level of instructors, experience of instructors, whether the faculty are regularly published, library resources, and graduation rates, among other aspects. Institutions are awarded accreditation through a series of academic reviews that investigate the quality of the school’s curricula, its mission, and its faculty’s qualifications. Schools must go through accrediting review every few years.There are two types of institutional accreditation, regional and national.
However, most traditional colleges are regionally accredited due to the historical accident of how accrediting bodies were formed, regional accreditation is far older than any of the national bodies. Thus regional accreditation is in fact more respected in most fields than national. Regionally accredited schools will readily accept coursework from other regionally accredited schools, but may reject nationally accredited coursework. Nationally accredited schools will usually accept work done at any regionally accredited college. Federal student funding and loans can be used at both regionally and nationally accredited schools.
Regional accreditation is performed by one of six private accreditation agencies in the United States.The six accreditation agencies are:
- Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
- Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
National accreditation is awarded to schools across the country based on the type of school in question, for example tech schools, online universities and career schools.
Some schools or programs carry “specialized accreditation.” This is a type of accreditation that is awarded to specific degree programs within a school. It is also sometimes called professional accreditation. Specialized accreditation is performed by an organization considered to have special expertise in a particular field. This type of accreditation is usually found on degree programs that are specific to a particular career, such as education, accounting or medicine.
Specialized accreditation may be the highest level of quality for a masters degree program, given a particular field. These accreditations are far less common than the standard, they are far more specific, and generally quite well-known to potential employers. In a sense, they indicate the creme de la creme for a particular field, of all the programs available. It’s important, however, to verify that the accreditation agency is reputable. There are different forms of specialized accreditation for different degrees, so it’s important to check the one that applies to your career choice. Finally, if you are studying at an international school, make sure that specialized accreditation is recognized at home.
Selecting the best online masters program can be a challenging task. Determining accreditation should be one of the first steps in any due diligence search of online colleges. And don’t simply accept that some agency or other has “certified” or “accredited” the school. Take a little time to ensure that the accrediting agency is reputable. Fortunately, all of this information is readily available online, making the search for the perfect online masters program just a little bit easier.
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