There are many online degree programs offered by online universities, but not all degree programs are equal. The degree you earn through online may directly impact your career in future. Your options depend a lot on what kind of accreditation your school was granted. If your purpose of earning an online degree is to advance your career by getting a better position and better pay, then you should make sure the school will meet your expectations and help you achieve the goals you have set for yourself.
When an online university is accredited, it means that it has passed or surpassed a set of nationally recognized standards for its teaching process. Many employers are more opt to hire graduate from an accredited online university. Comparing the following options will help you make the choice that is right for you:
1. Accredited By A Proper Regional Agency
Regional accreditation is the highest level of accreditation a university can obtain and is recognized throughout the United States. If you earn a degree from an online school that is accredited by one of these associations, you can be assured that it will be as valid as a degree from any regular university. Most employers will automatically accept your degree. Most schools will accept your credits through transfer if you plan to further your education at other university in the future.
2. Accredited By Distance Education and Training Council
If your school is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council, your degree will be accepted by most but may be rejected by some. As online education becomes a trend today, more employers are beginning to accept online degrees. Hence, you should be no problem in applying a job using your online degree. But there were students graduated from an online university which is accredited by Distance Education & Training Council facing difficulties to transfer their credits to other institution. You may need to prove the legitimacy of your degree to others. However, this is still a valid option.
3. Accredited By A Professional Organization
If you are pursuing your degree at online university that is accredited by a professional organization, such as “The American Library Association”, your degree will only accepted by employers from specific profession. In term of credit transfer, some traditional colleges will accept your credits, but it really subjected to how the school looks at the professional organization which accredited your online university.
4. Not Accredited Or Accredited By Illegitimate Accreditation Agency
If your school is not accredited or is accredited by an agency that is not accepted as legitimate, your degree will be rejected by most employers and schools. Most employers will not view your degree as valid or legitimate. And most universities will not accept your credit transfer. If you are planning to use this degree to apply for a job, you will be at the losing edge when compete with other job applicants for the same position. Unless, your goal of online degree is simply to learn for your own enjoyment, then accredited and not accredited will not be an issue and choosing a non-accredited institution may be a fine option for you.
In Summary
Many people have difference goal on getting an online degree, know yours. Your career after you graduation will be affected by the accreditation of your online universities; hence, check to make sure the school will meet your expectations and help you achieve the goals you have set for yourself.
You might be or you might not be aware that health care industry is one of the booming sectors for next 5 years especially in nursing field with a projection of 27% increase in employment. Hence, if you are interested and considering to earn a nursing degree online, you definite are in the right career path.
There are many accredited online universities offering online nursing degree programs with emphasis in various fields. You should spend some time to consider the available options to decide which online nursing degree program that meet your education & career goal. Here is a step by step guide to help you to earn an online bachelor degree in nursing.
Step 1: Determine The Right Online University
In the process of short listed your online universities of choice, you need to select only the online universities that are accredited by USA’s recognized and legitimate accreditation agency. Non-accredited online degree program will make your degree rejected by most of employers.
Although there are many online universities offering bachelor degree in nursing, the degree might be varied from one online university to another online university; they might be different in area of focus. Be sure to review each of bachelor degree in nursing programs you are interested in and determine that the program is able to meet your needs in courses and in budget.
Step 2: Determine What Is Required To Earn The Bachelor Degree In Nursing
Ask the online universities to send you their bachelor nursing degree programs; look at the curriculum, determine if the time frame will work for you as well as the course of study. You may want to consider several nursing schools and determine which offers more of what you are looking to learn. Many online nursing schools offer flexibility in terms of time. Most of online bachelor nursing degree will requires you to spend a certain hours in clinical assignment in order to earn the degree; if you are a working while getting you online degree, you may want to ensure that you are able to fit into the clinical schedule.
Step 3: Determine The Financial Aid Available
If tuition fee is you concern, you might want to consider an online university which can offer you the flexibility in your tuition fee payment. Many online universities do offer scholarship and loans to their online students; you can get the information from admission department of these online universities.
Step 4: Enroll into Your Select Online Nursing Program
Once you have finalized the online university and the online nursing degree program that you are interested in. Ensure you meet the pre-requirement of your selected online nursing degree program; there may be many specific things that you have to do to qualify to get into the program. There may also be deadlines to consider. Look for the methods that fit your needs here.
Step 5: Be Prepared As An Online Student
Just like any other process of learning, you need to prepare yourself for your steps into learning. Get what you need, learn how the online nursing program works and get settled. It is time to learn. Find you method of learning, good time management will be a critical key to your success. Contact your professor with any questions that you may have. Follow what your curriculum says and dedicate yourself to taking on this new path to your new career.
In Summary
Earning an online bachelor degree in nursing is your right decision to start get start with your career in nursing field, one of the rapid growth health care fields. And getting the right online nursing program that meets your career goal is equally important. You should spend your time to consider the online nursing program that best suit your needs.
The same online degree program offered by different online universities may vary in pricing; the difference may due to a few factors, among these are the types of curriculum and total credit hours to complete the program. If you are considering in earning your degree online, it’s make sense for you to compare the pricing of degrees at the schools offered and select the best online degree program that meet your education goal and targeted budget. This article will outline a few factors to consider when you compare the price of the same online degree program offered by different schools. Let review them one by one:
Tuition Fee
Tuition fee is the amount the school charges to take a course. At some programs tuition is the only cost. Other programs add technology and other miscellaneous costs. When getting the price of an online degree programs. You need to check with the admission department on their tuition fees, are the fees purely the cost of the courses or it includes other costs and any other hidden cost that may incur other than the said costs. After know all the details of the courses’ prices, you can compare the price of the online degree program offered by different online universities.
Campus Residencies
The same online degree program from different online universities may have different course requirement. Some online degree programs are offered 100% online, whereas, others require campus residencies. Factor in the cost of attending these physical residencies to your total cost of your selected online degree program before making your pricing comparison.
Financial Aid Package
The online university may charge slightly higher fee on their tuition but it comes with an attractive financial aid package. Some online universities may help you find student loans, generally the Stafford loans, Sally Mae, or other relating loans; or help you to apply for Pell grants and/or other scholars. You may factor in these points when you considering your online degree pricing.
Marketable Degree
If you purpose of earning an online degree is for career switch or get a job promotion, then your must consider the marketability of your degree. For example, you plan to earn an online MBA and you are considering a few offers from universities. Some online MBA program may cost more that others but the job market statistics data shows that the degree-to-career ratio is higher then other universities, it means that more employers like to hire graduates from this university and you will have a better chance to get employed if you are holding a degree from this university. You may need to consider the ROI (Return On Investment) of your online degree program when deciding which online degree program to enroll in.
In Summary
The online degree program with the lowest sticker price may not be the best buy and the most expensive online degree program may not be your best choice. Besides considering the price, you need to carefully review curriculums covered by the degree program with the factors mentioned above in order to determine the true cost of earning an online degree.
In this age of internet and information technology there is no wonder that online education is gaining popularity amongst the young generation. They prefer the concept of studying from home rather than going to conventional schools and colleges. Especially when it comes to professional degrees, online education is the trend these days. It gives the freedom and flexibility of completing the degree while doing a job or pursuing another regular course. So, it is quite natural that the online nursing degree program will be a preferred option for all those who are looking forward to take up nursing as a profession.
Online nursing an option for all…
Whether you are student or have just completed your graduation or you are working somewhere, you can enrol for an online nursing degree program to get your online associate nursing degree. As you need not attend classes to take the course and you can complete the studies from your home, you can keep your other commitments as well pursue the nursing training course.
It’s convenient
The major reasons behind the popularity of the online nursing continuing education are the convenience and flexibility it offers. You can study for the online nursing degree program whenever you get free time. So, you enjoy the flexibility of taking the course at the pace in which you feel you are confident and comfortable.
It’s a comprehensive course…
As you take up the online nursing degree program, you can be rest assured of the quality of training that you will get. The online nursing degree course covers all the subjects such as physiology, biological science, pharmacy, clinical practices and medical science. While designing the course the online nursing schools always ensure that your competency level is no less.
The online nursing degree program gives you comprehensive knowledge of the subjects that are related to the nursing profession. You need to take practical training from a healthcare facility to complement that theoretical training.
The Ohio schools have had state-funded, online charter schools for a few years. Students do their work over the Internet from their homes or other sites. They can work anytime but must log 920 hours per year for perfect attendance.
With some Internet schools reporting perfect attendance for the past three years, the Ohio schools are questioning the validity of the attendance rates and plan to review the rates and formulas used by the schools. Twenty online Ohio schools reported perfect attendance last year, with many others reporting nearly perfect attendance rates.
To date, the Ohio schools have found that at least two of the schools exclude students from the count, who were expelled for being absent for at least 21 days. The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, the largest online Ohio schools with 6,664 students, was one. This has allowed them to report perfect attendance for the last three years. School spokesman Nick Wilson said the state’s attendance formula results in the perfect score, though they look more at student engagement rather than attendance. This includes when students are logged in, how long they work, and their contact time with their teachers. Wilson said the school met three state standards last year out of 25, required by the Ohio schools.
Lisa Zellner, spokeswoman for the Ohio Federation of Teachers, believes this method of calculating attendance is just another way the charters schools are “gaming the system”.
The TRECA Digital Academy, which has 1,300 students, agrees. Director of Operations John Shank believes the Ohio schools need a more meaningful attendance formula for Internet schools, if so many are reporting perfect scores. TRECA uses an attendance formula developed by their board, which looks at how many hours students are logged onto the computer system each week and how many assignments students are completing. TRECA missed the state standards last year with a 91 percent attendance rate.
Todd Hanes, executive director of the Ohio schools’ Office of Community Schools, said the Ohio schools would begin comparing the number of students expelled with the attendance rates a first for the Ohio schools. He stated that it is impossible for any of the Ohio schools to have a perfect attendance rate, if even one student has been expelled for missing 21 days of class.
Traditional Ohio schools calculate attendance by dividing the number of days each student shows up for class by the number of days in a school year. Ohio schools must have an attendance rate of at least 93 percent to meet state standards. The online Ohio schools may be forced to soon change their calculation methods for more meaningful results.
If you’ve been surfing for quite some time now, you should have come across one or two distance education online universities. I have come across several. Now you need to be informed that not all the online schools out there are genuine. You have to look before you leap. Also, I won’t advise you to enroll in an online institution that has not been in the business for a long time. Moreover, the certificate is one thing you must be particularly concerned with. Never get your certificate from a fraudulent online institution. It may hurt you later on in your career.
Though there are many fraudulent ones out there, there are still genuine distance education online universities. Let me help you with a few. However, I urge you to do further research on them before you make up your mind.
The Open University
The University of South Africa
The University of Phoenix
Walden University
DeVry University
Kaplan University
Everglades University
Ellis College
These are good schools and well known for their reputation of churching out quality graduates. Most employers of labour don’t have any problem recruiting graduates of these and similar institutions. The reason is because their certificate is genuine and not bogus like the many being churned out these days from the internet world.
Another thing you should look out for when searching for distance education online universities is accreditation. Now don’t be confused here as many people do. There is difference between school accreditation and course accreditation. Hence, you must make sure that the school you want to attend has both. In other words, the school must be accredited and the course you want to attend must also be accredited. The above lists of schools are all accredited. This means that getting certificates from any of them will pose no problem for you. Many employers all over the world accept certificates of these schools.
Now, must you attend any distance education online universities that tell you they are accredited? No, I don’t advise you to. You must conduct a background check on the school to ensure that they’re truly accredited. The internet offers you this simple option. You don’t have to go to the school to conduct the search, do it online and you’ll be amazed at the result. There are many sites that offer you these services for free even though what you get from them may be limited. However, if you have the fund, you may find any paid institutions that conduct background search to help you out.
Are distance education online universities expensive? Some are rather on the high side while there are several others that offer low fees depending on the type of degree you want. You should expect to pay more for master’s and PhD degree than bachelor’s degree and diploma. Also, the course you want to enroll for plays a prominent factor in the fess to be paid. Most of the time, the sciences are often quite expensive than the non-science based courses.
Any individual that has researched online education or training will no doubt be well aware of the possible disadvantages that choosing an online degree or training course holds over choosing to learn in an academic or technical institution. The majority of resources available will highlight the problems so everyone considering an online course will be aware of them before they enrol. However, the one thing that these resources fail to mention is the fact that the negative aspects of an online course can easily be avoided if you know how!
Some of the negative elements associated with taking an online degree need to be dealt with before enrolling on the course, some during online education and the remaining problems may only present themselves afterwards so you must be prepared. If you deal with them as they come then you will have no problems at all!
The first potential problem is the credibility of taking an online course. This actually refers to degrees from online schools rather than more technical or practical training courses that are often set up to train individual workers by the company that employs them. In order to avoid any problems associated with online degrees, the relevant checks should be carried out before enrolling in a program. The credibility of the online university should always be examined because there are too many schools that bear accredited status but have been given that status by a sister company. These universities and school are not valid and potential employers would discard any qualification given out by them.
However, there are online schools that are validly accredited, such as the University of Phoenix. Any good school will be happy to reveal the source of its accreditation, and this should actually be displayed on the homepage or the “about us” page. Having knowledge of the source would be an excellent idea for future job interviews and resume because this will give any qualification an impressive legitimacy.
A problem that you may be faced with during the course of your degree is the level of discipline that is required in order to complete all of the assignments and tasks that are a part of the course. You can prepare for this in advance by setting up a timetable that fits in well with your day-to-day routine. A schedule can be altered to fit circumstances at any given time but planning what you are doing well in advance would give you an edge over the lure of procrastination that you will most definitely face at some stage!
If you need a helping hand to ensure that you get all work associated with an online degree completed, then find a place to go when you find that you cannot work in the home. Some individuals may head to a local library, others a coffee shop, but every individual online student should choose the place that most inspires them to work. Of course, it is completely up to you to find that place. You could try several places before settling on the one that suits you best.
The final problem that you are guaranteed to face at some time or other is employer attitudes to online degrees. Although attitudes are changing, more conservative and traditional employers will unfortunately question you as to why you took an online degree instead of attending a campus-based course. Every online student should have a rehearsed answer that sounds natural and credible. Explaining personal circumstances is not enough. You should also justify the school of your choosing. This is where having knowledge of where the school was accredited and who by comes in useful. Your argument for completing an online course should also be backed up by a brief description of the classes taken and the skills and traits that you have picked up as a result, because these skills can be of use to potential employers.
Of course, there are other problems that will be associated with your online education, but this represents the three most pressing problems that you will have to deal with. Be prepared for them, as well as any others that come your way and you will almost certainly be able to turn any negatives into positives, and that is a trick necessary when completing an online education!
The entire article is concerning the wrong path on which American schools appear to be currently. The authors say that although they are not very fond of invasion of computers in schools, technology has to be used in the educational process. They argue not the mere existence of computers but the way they are frequently used. The main point of the article is the importance of computers as the tools in providing excellent education, not driving students’ attention away from the core significance of learning. The authors also believe that internet is a sufficient instrument for students and teachers in helping structure educational process and provide a unique feeling of being connected to the rest of the world. The primary subject matter of the paper lies in the belief that computers should direct students and teachers in the right path of education, making it easier, entertaining and at the same time more in-depth for both parties.
The writers of the article claim that computers often have been causing lots of problems for students because of too many unnecessary disruptive things such as glamour and graphics instead of deep serious education. In spite of this disadvantage computers according to authors are the source of major power in educating course. The main issue brought by the authors is that technology should remain in the background and be of secondary importance, while the child and teacher are using it in practical matters. In other words technology should be like a clear window through which person gets a wider view at the outside world. Another point stressed in the article concerns internet connection, which would serve the teacher and students as planning tool, important for scheduling sources and other activities. In doing so both will have a clear idea of where they are and what path they should choose in order to best suit their current position. The importance of software is stressed in the article as the interactive tool for a more vivid and life educational process. The authors claim that each online school should have a so called “comprehensive log” through which everything a child has ever learned and each paper submitted can be looked up.
The issue of disruptive nature of computers in schools discussed by the authors is of big importance, however many factors are overlooked in this instance. The authors just mention that computer and internet often drive away attention of students however the article does not consider such issues as careful teacher’s guidance in the classroom. Although students sometimes may not pay attention to what is being taught, it should be stressed that teachers are responsible for order, and educational program should be structured in such a way for children not to be consumed by glamorous ads or unnecessary pictures. Only sites (if computer is logged on to the Web) that are relevant to the subject discussed should be available to viewing. Thus it is clear that author’s view at this problem is one sided to some extent and should be viewed from a wider perspective as there are many issues yet to be talked about. The authors are mainly hinting at the negative side of computer use and technology as major distracters in ordinary schools, while trying to contrast that issue with the cure brought by online schools where computers will be used only as helpers in proper situations.
The next big question posed by the authors is the secondary role of technology while the main educational function would be accomplished by teachers and resources such as books. The argument is generally well supported, by statements that computers after all are not to replace the education itself but to facilitate thorough knowledge of students. Authors carefully state that although real books are the best option, they are not against electronic versions which are more practical at times. So, the role of computer according to authors is well defined by providing all necessary materials for learning, and giving them a well structured form. The authors also carefully noted that computers give children great possibilities in entertaining them while learning such subject as geography or history, by providing a 3D picture of the area studied or historical period. In general article approached the issue of computer usage as a medium between the world of knowledge and a student in a coherent manner, stating many advantages and providing vivid examples of actual process.
The importance of well scheduled and balanced educational process is well understood by parents and teachers. The authors state that with computers such perfect situation could be achieved and regulated when needed to meet the needs of both parties. So both know what to do after a certain stage is over, and how it should be evaluated. The articles shows that each step in the process will be recorded and put into system, for easy access in the future, thus it proves the structured form of the online schooling described in the article.
The overall optimistic mood of the article gives a very colorful and hopeful picture of the online education. The authors however have not considered various factors that play negative role in such educational approach, for instance the affordability of such education. Many people in America still do not have computers, and buying one with all necessary educational software could sum up to as much as $3000. Although authors speak about high schools being computerized it is understandable that homework and other group assignments have to be done on the computer using the Net in most cases. Also authors claim that ideally by 2001 America will have perfect schools with wide access to computers and needed software, the real picture shows a drastically different result. Sill a lot of schools lack computers which would satisfy the number of students and appropriate filtering systems, which are unable to give access to information needed.
Jeff Stats http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/-analysis-of-american-schools-112450.html
Once your have decided to earn your degree online, selecting a program is usually the first critical decision you make. There are so many types of degrees available online, which one to choose, how to select, sometimes may make you confuse and hard to decide one. This article will gives you some guideline to get you started.
Decide An Area of Interest
There are a few ways to get a start in selecting an online degree program. You could look within a traditional discipline such as history, art, literature or psychology; or within a professional/occupational area such as engineering, nursing, or education; or simply related to an area of general interest like family studies, the culture of Italy, or environmental issues.
Most online degree programs offered by colleges or universities are having their catalogs customarily organized by department, division, or school. Hence, once you have decided an area of interest, you could start looking and asking for the related online degree programs from these colleges.
Type Of Degree To Earn
What is your educational goal? Are you looking for an associate or bachelor degree, a master or doctorate degree? Each type of degree which associate to the online degree program has it own pre-requirement in admission. An online master degree program may require you to have a bachelor degree to qualify for the program and an online doctorate degree may ask for a master degree for qualification. Some universities do give credit for life experience so that you can waive for certain pre-requirement. Whether you are looking for an associate, bachelor, master or PhD, you can check the pre requirement to your selected online degree program from the school’s admission department.
Go for Specialization In Your Study
For many people, it may be helpful to think of the specialization and then create an appropriate field of study around it. You should feel free to make contact with academic advisors at the schools you are considering and seek answers to all your questions. For your own benefit, it is important to ensure that your school is committed to explaining these elements completely and the schools understand your need to fully comprehend the curriculum development.
The Ability to Transfer Courses
Another point to consider in your decision in select an online degree program is the ability to transfer courses or larger program segments from one institution to another. Not all universities will allow you to transfer all of your credits into their program. Often there are ceilings-six credits or two courses are typical at the graduate level. For undergraduates the allowances are more liberal and can be as much as 75 percent of a bachelor’s degree program. You may want to go for an online degree program that can accept the most on your credits transfer so that you can accelerate or complete you degree faster and save some money because less credits are need to complete the program.
In Summary
Select an online degree program is your most critical decision to make, spend your time to understand your purposes of earning a degree and considering in other factors such as your interest, your career goal and your education budget. These will help you to narrow down your scope and finally choose an online degree program to enroll in.
Nurses are an important part of the healthcare landscape. The health market always needs more nurses to join the force. Nursing field has been projected to be one of the top booming sectors in next 5 years; there has never a more exciting time to join the nursing profession. To qualify as a nurse, you need to be properly trained and educated in this field and pass the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure EXamination-Registered Nurse) examination before you can become a registered nurse.
With the nursing employment boom, many find that nursing schools are very demanding, which is why today, an online nursing degree is a great alternative to attending regular classes. More and more prestige colleges and universities are enabling their nursing degree programs online to student who are unable to attend regular classes; there are even special online schools dedicated just to teach nursing courses online. With this new revolution in learning, you now can have opportunity to realize your dream of becoming a nurse. If you are already a registered nurse, you can upgrade earn a bachelor of science (B.S.N) in nursing and move your nursing career into a high level.
There are many colleges and universities offering online nursing degree ranging from associate to bachelor degree and from master degree to PhD. Among the universities that famous in online nursing degree programs are:
1. Kaplan University
Kaplan University’s degree program offers an accredited, online R.N.-to-B.S.N. degree completion program that centers on health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, information and health care technologies, ethics, human diversity, management theory, and health care system.
2. Keiser University eCampus Online
The online RN to BSN program prepares nurses for a broader scope of practice and for entry into master’s or doctoral nursing programs. Special emphasis will be given to the allocation and management of physical, fiscal, and human resources.
3. American Sentinel University
The online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed for working professionals who seek to develop their skills and to prepare leaders, managers, and practitioners who facilitate achievement of optimal health in the dynamic healthcare system.
4. National American University Online
National American University offers an online RN-to-BSN degree completion program for currently licensed nurses.
5. Chamberlain College of Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing is one of online schools that specially offer a progressive online bachelor nursing degree completion program for registered nurses to earn their bachelor degree within a year.
6. Norwich University Online
If you are looking for a position as a leader in nursing field, then Norwich University Online’s Master degree in nursing program can be your option. The master nursing degree of Norwich University Online provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in leadership positions in the contemporary health care environment.
7. University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is one of college of Nursing that enable a working nursing professional to pursue an education in advanced practice nursing. Coursework is completed online, and clinical experiences are conducted with preceptors in your local community.
In Summary
Overall, getting an online nursing degree is a smart move for people like you who have very busy lives but want to accomplish your career goal in nursing field.