Archive for November 23rd, 2009

What’s involved in an Online College Degree?

Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Andy West asked:


Education in general is extremely important to be on the cutting edge of business, technology and social groups. You need strong credentials and the certification only a reputable, accredited college can provide you with to be able to be seen as someone valuable to a corporation or business. In the past, students of all ages would enroll in colleges and universities, expending valuable time and money to travel to classrooms and listen to lectures to earn credits, but modern ways have changed the way training is delivered to individuals. The new way to earn your education is to become one of the thousands of students taking courses via the virtual world from top educational facilities. Online college degree programs are an excellent way to land the skills and abilities you need to compete in a fast paced, shark eat shark world, but are distance education courses for you?

Some of the pros involved in earning an online college degree are that cost is low, accessibility is easy, and convenience is very high. There’s no travelling back and forth from a campus to home, nor is it necessary to live in dormitories or rent an apartment in another city or state. Travel and lodging alone is a large chunk of expenditures when considering the goal of a college degree. There still are some costs involved in taking courses via the internet. No student will be able to avoid the cost of textbooks or course materials and enrolling with an educational facility for an online college degree means that access to a computer is imperative. However, having a computer, course materials on hand, and all lectures on audio file means that students can work on their credits at any time of the day or on certain days in the week, unrestricted by on site college schedules. Also, students can enroll in one or many courses to earn their online college degree at their own pace, slowly over the years as time and real life permit or as quickly as if they were taking the same full time curriculum as any student on campus.

While studying at the best time of the day for you in the comfort of your own home might seem very attractive, working towards an online college degree demands a certain amount of self discipline and, because of that, can be easily set aside as other distractions or priorities seem to take precedence. The control of being in a classroom has to be recreated in your home, no mean feat for some people. Otherwise, the lack of being able to devote time to your studies may mean that you end up not submitting work, missing tests or possibly even flunking the courses you need. Not only is self control an issue when working towards your online college degree, the environment around you will have a large effect on your ability to concentrate or accomplish your task to the best of your abilities. Studying at home often means distractions, such as televisions, telephones, or family have to be taken into account, which may mean a restructuring of your home organization.

Lastly, achieving an online college degree demands one vital thing, that you are comfortable with a computerized environment, as well as being able to type, manipulate software and know your way around the virtual world. Those comfortable with technology will have no issues at all with online learning and will probably complete their tasks efficiently, but those who aren’t familiar with computers or who have a fear of pressing the wrong button will certainly find taking online courses a daunting task. Having access to education is one thing, but in a virtual world, being able to know your way around a computerized environment will mean the difference between obtaining your online college degree or floundering badly. However, there are many places offering free or nearly free instruction on working with computers and the amount of time required for a small course most likely won’t be more than a month or two. After that, you’ll certainly be adept and confident enough to handle online education.



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Whats The Best College Degree For You?

Monday, November 23rd, 2009
John Pawlett asked:


Choosing a college degree can be a very difficult decision to make. There are many things to consider but it is important to decide on the right college degree for the type of occupation that you want to pursue. You may find that you do not actually need a degree but that a certificate or diploma will be sufficient, or your chosen profession may require further study after a college such as medicine or law.

Certificates or diplomas require a shorter period of study than a traditional degree and are usually taken by students wanting to pursue a career in an occupational field. Quite often a certificate or diploma can be taken before embarking on a college course.

An associate degree is awarded after completing a two-year degree course. Some community colleges and other universities offer an associate degree program which allows you to transfer to a four-year college degree course after you have been awarded the appropriate associate degree. There are a number of occupations where a two-year degree is recommended or required including:

Administrative Assistant

Automotive Mechanic

Cardiovascular Technician

Commercial Artist

Computer Technician

Dental Hygienist

Drafter

Engineering Technician

Funeral Director

Graphic Designer

Heating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician

Hotel or Restaurant Manager

Medical Laboratory Technician

Medical Record Technician

Insurance Agent

Registered Nurse

Surgical Technologist

Surveyor

Visual Artist

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

A traditional four-year college degree is the most frequently required qualification for a number of occupations. Some examples of professions requiring a four-year college degree in an appropriate discipline are:

Accountant

Computer Systems Analyst

Dietitian

Editor

Engineer

FBI Agent

Investment Banker

Journalist

Medical Illustrator

Pharmacist

Public Relations Specialist

Recreational Therapist

Research Assistant

Social Worker

Teacher

Writer

There are also a number of occupations that require a student to obtain a degree that is longer than the conventional four-year college degree programs. These extended professional degree programs include:

Architect

Biologist

Chiropractor

Dentist

Diplomat

Doctor

Economist

Geologist

Lawyer

Librarian

Management Consultant

Palaeontologist

Priest

Psychologist

Public Policy Analyst

It is important to choose a college course that is suitable for the career path you want to follow. If you are unsure of which field of occupation you want to enter then it is advisable to take a certificate or diploma course first. This will enable you to change disciplines without having spent four years on a degree course that ends up not being something that you want to pursue.



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