Posts Tagged ‘U.S. Department’

Online Universities and Degrees – the Perfect Solution for Busy Lifestyles?

In comparison to a regular university degree, are online universities really worth it? Traditionally, getting a professional qualification has meant that a student physically attend a college or university, adhere to fixed schedules, attend regular classes and seminars and participate in time-bound projects. Any departure from these standard protocols would invariably result in students getting lower grades, leading to high dropout rates, a scenario that is not very uncommon in this day and age. Today’s fast-paced life demands greater flexibility and control over daily schedules, and a balanced lifestyle that is not too unduly skewed towards mere academic excellence. Financial considerations might also force individuals to opt out of college education to earn a living. Under these circumstances, it is but natural for students and even seniors to turn to online universities for getting professionally qualified while retaining their day jobs.

The Advantages of an Online University Degree

The biggest advantage to seeking a degree from online universities is the convenience of not having to be physically present at pre-scheduled times on a regular basis, and not being forced to relocate to a different city, in case one is unable to attend college locally. This eliminates the need to commute daily, a task that is not only very time consuming but also impossible for people with busy lifestyles and regular full-time jobs, not to mention single moms who have their kids to look after. Online universities typically offer their entire course-work and training material via dedicated education portals, which incorporate sophisticated learning management systems that make learning a pleasure. All assignments, tests and projects are usually managed via these interactive systems, thus potentially eliminating the need to ever attend a single day of lecture at a campus. This gives people who are otherwise averse to a traditional education system an opportunity to further their careers by getting a higher degree from the convenience of their own homes.

Check for Accreditation to Avoid Being Scammed

With the rise in demand for online modes of knowledge delivery and certification, online universities have started mushrooming all over, some of which are setup with the sole purpose of making money, while offering little or no intrinsic value. Many of these online universities are not even recognized or accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, a sure sign that the university failed to meet certain minimum standards of teaching excellence. Accreditation is thus one of the most important factors to consider in choosing an online university program, as most employers and organizations prefer hiring candidates with an accredited degree from a reputed university.

Check for Financial Aid Availability before Applying

You should also ascertain the availability of financial aid programs before you select a university. There are numerous options available in this regard, and if you have a job, your employer might be willing to pay a portion of the tuition fees. It is always wise to check with the particular online program of interest to see what financial options are available, since some universities might not offer financial aid to students who enroll in online degree programs.

Getting an online degree is a legitimate, convenient, and flexible way for you to advance your career. All it requires is firm commitment, motivation and some time management skills.

Jim Zorn is web master of the Guide to Distance Learning. Please visit to learn more about online colleges and universities, distance learning degrees, majors and courses offered.
http://www.guide-to-distance-learning.com/index.html

Agency that accredits CU-Boulder slammed in report

Agency that accredits CU-Boulder slammed in report
A recent inspection by the U.S. Department of Education slams a major higher education accrediting agency — which reviews the University of Colorado as well as hundreds of other schools — and threatens to dismiss its credibility.

Read more on Colorado Daily


Agency that accredits CU-Boulder slammed in report

Agency that accredits CU-Boulder slammed in report
A recent inspection by the U.S. Department of Education slams a major higher education accrediting agency — which reviews the University of Colorado as well as hundreds of other schools — and threatens to dismiss its credibility.

Read more on Colorado Daily


Agency that accredits CU-Boulder slammed in report

Agency that accredits CU-Boulder slammed in report
A recent inspection by the U.S. Department of Education slams a major higher education accrediting agency — which reviews the University of Colorado as well as hundreds of other schools — and threatens to dismiss its credibility.

Read more on Colorado Daily


Agency that accredits CU-Boulder slammed in report

Agency that accredits CU-Boulder slammed in report
A recent inspection by the U.S. Department of Education slams a major higher education accrediting agency — which reviews the University of Colorado as well as hundreds of other schools — and threatens to dismiss its credibility.

Read more on Colorado Daily


American InterContinental University Statement on the Report Issued by the Department of Education Office of Inspector …

American InterContinental University Statement on the Report Issued by the Department of Education Office of Inspector …
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.—-American InterContinental University has reviewed the final management information report posted Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General regarding The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools .

Read more on Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance


Online Master Degree The Secure Way For Promotion And More Money

According to the United States Census Bureau, people earn a masters degree averaged about $ 85,000 a year. Although it may seem almost impossible to achieve in higher education as job training, distance learning offers the flexibility needed to complete a masters program. Instead of the planned trip to participate in class, you can learn at your own pace for the environment of your choice makes it easier, in your studies successfully online Education.

Criteria for appointment to a Master Degree Online

To exercise a degree of distance learning, you have to hold a university degree. In some situations, professional experience, performance and test scores of degree (such as loading and GRE will be considered) to be qualified for an online degree program.

Popular Online to pursue Master’s Degree

According to the U.S. Department of Education, over 75 universities offering accredited online masters programs with a variety of interesting options graduation, including:

Accounting;

Business Administration;

Economics;

Education;

Fine Arts;

Finance and

Science.

This is just one example of the popular masters online degree courses available through distance learning. You can earn your Master in a variety of interesting areas, through online education.

Choose an Accredited Online Masters Degree Program

You should verify that the institution offering the online education graduate course you select is accredited so that you do not lose precious time and money. Without proper accreditation, your degree will not be recognized by other colleges or certain employers. Graduate degrees accredited through official agencies, including the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education, are considered valid.

Financing a Masters Distance Learning Program

Students of all ages and all social classes have a variety of options for programs online master pay. It is possible for your education through federal aid to pay student loans or scholarships. Some jobs also offer assistance to employers enterprising employees, so ask your employer if they have such a program. A great advantage of earning capacity is online diploma, you save the room and Board of Directors, the $ 6,000 to $ 12,000 per year for an amount the College Board.

Distance Learning Master courses require Self-Motivation

Why take distance learning courses at their own pace, is self-motivation necessary to successfully complete the program and earn your Master. Let your family, friends and employers know that you have returned to school and gain their support and understanding. When you write, juggle multiple tasks, their program down, so it is easier to follow. Remember to measure not sleep, eat and relax on the agenda – it is necessary to stay healthy in order to efficiently complete your training online while you handle other tasks.

Online education programs can also virtual lectures, reading, writing, online chat, email, pod-casts and video conferencing. Some distance learning master degree programs, you must physically attend workshops or courses for hours of residence. Testing usually done by proctors, as librarians in your community. Take account of all these training requirements when planning your schedule.

Earning a Master’s program through an online training is a custom path for higher education in the school of your choice to make, with a balance between demanding schedules for adults.

There are many online universities that offer online degrees programs and they are all over the internet. It is very important that you enroll in a reputable, accredited online university such as Wilson State University. WSU is nationally and internationally, recognized and also accredited by the World Higher Educational Association Services (WHeAS). WSU educational documents can be verified 24/7, from any where around the globe. When a working adult requires such verification, our management sends the required educational documents to his/her employer (s) through postal mail, FAX, or e-mail. If an employer requires verification come directly from the university, our education verification personnel, on your request we will provide that service.

I am Fred Holt. I graduated (Master of Arts (M.F.A) in Teaching) from Stanford University in 1996 and since then I’ve been privately tutoring students of all ages. Throughout our illustrious teaching career of 12 years, we have offered our online degree as senior faculty members and research associates at various IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITIES.

Your Guide to Online Universities

People who want higher education but who don’t live near a college or university offering courses they want used to be out of luck. No more. Now it is possible to study almost any subject online. It may require more self-discipline to pursue a degree this way. However, students at online universities can attend classes at their convenience, making it possible to earn a living at the same time as earning a degree.

What to look for

There are now many online universities. Some online degree programs are offered by traditional universities with campuses, while others only exist in cyberspace. Selecting the right school and being sure your degree will be recognized by potential employers is the first step. How can you tell whether a program is a real educational experience or a diploma mill? Here are some things to find out before signing up.

Look for a university with accreditation from a recognized accrediting organization. This is important because it means the school meets established standards of quality. Well-known universities like the University of Florida, Northwestern, Purdue and Notre Dame are examples of accredited institutions. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes universities accredited by one of the six accrediting bodies. Students who attend accredited universities are usually eligible for federal student loans and the course credits they earn generally transfer to other accredited institutions.

Picking a degree program

To determine if a degree program fits your professional and personal interests, review the curriculum and course descriptions in university web sites and course catalogs. Do they offer courses in subjects of interest to you?

To learn more about whether a program might be good for you, ask about the faculty’s industry experience and the scope and focus of their research. Do they have the appropriate advanced degrees for what they teach? Find out where the professors got their degrees. If all or most of them graduated from the same online university you are considering, this is a red flag, suggesting their academic credentials are weak. A real university will have teachers who have graduated from many different schools.

How students apply what they learn to their fields of expertise and to their communities are also strong indicators of a program’s value. Ask what employers, organizations and professional associations partner with or support the university. Talk to someone at the university and explain your educational goals and career plans. Whether you wish to advance your career, change careers, make a contribution to society or become more expert in your field, be sure the program you choose will get you there. One way to find out is to learn how the  university’s alumni are doing. Alumni success or lack of it reflects the quality of a university and its programs. Ask for examples of how alumni are using the knowledge they gained in their professional and personal lives.

If the university accepts everyone who applies and can afford the cost, be suspicious. A real university will require each student to meet appropriate admissions requirements.

Online teaching is different

Make sure any online universities you are considering know how to deliver and support online courses and that you have the technology you need to take them. Do the faculty members know how to guide the classroom experience to ensure learning objectives are achieved? Are your computer and Internet connection up to the task? Assignments are typically posted online and discussions take place as threaded postings. Most online courses require students to log in and contribute to discussions a certain number of times each week. Many courses let you log in any time, anywhere as long as you meet the weekly course requirements.

What type of student support services are available? How responsive are instructors to student inquiries? What opportunities are there to interact with fellow students? This interaction enables students to gain knowledge and understanding from others with a wide variety of geographic, cultural and professional perspectives. The most effective courses, especially for adult learners with years of work experience, are those in which students gain the insights and perspectives of everyone in the class.

Can you afford it?

Though attending an online university allows you to live where you do currently so you won’t pay anything extra for living expenses while you study, there will be charges for books, tuition and fees. Find out what other expenses there will be, if any, to be sure you can afford your studies. Ask if financial aid is available, as some schools offer it to online learners.

Note that tuition and fees at online universities are often higher than what is charged at their campus-based counterparts. However, these schools offer personalized support and a convenient and flexible format geared for the adult learner. If a university’s tuition and fees are significantly less expensive than other online schools, double check on its accreditation to be sure it is legitimate.

Read about relationships, jealousy in relationships, communication in relationships, corporate job, jobs for convicted felons , tips for finding a job and other information at the Knowledge Galaxy website.

Liberty University Online Ranked Third Highest Nationwide by BestOnlineColleges.net

Liberty University Online Ranked Third Highest Nationwide by BestOnlineColleges.net
In a recent review of online colleges to measure student satisfaction, Liberty University Online was ranked third best in the nation by BestOnlineColleges.net, based on data gathered by the Institute of Education Sciences — a division of the U.S. Department of Education. The results, which are calculated annually, were derived from graduation and retention rates of current students and the …

Read more on PRWeb via Yahoo! News


Online Universities: an Inside Look

As online college courses increase in popularity, online college courses are a rapidly growing segment of the nation’s higher education curriculum.  In fact, over one-fifth of the higher education population of students is taking at least one online course, that is, 3.9 million students, in the fall of 2007, and this number was a 12% increase over the previous year (Staying the Course, Online Education in the United States, 2008, I. Elain Allen and Jeff Seaman, Sloan-C.org).  By the fall of 2008, it was expected that almost 2 million college students will be attending school without leaving home.  How do they do this?  By attending online universities…

Online Learning at Online Universities

When you pursue a degree at an online university, you take all of the classes required to get a degree entirely online.  In online learning, sometimes referred to as E-learning, teachers mostly use computer-based technologies such as video streaming, e-mail, or other technologies over the Internet to teach material to their students.  Online college students rarely attend school campuses because almost all, if not 100%, of their studying is done online.  Keep in mind that online universities may or may not have a local campus, but that should not deter you from believing the college is a reputable university; just make sure that the university is accredited by an outside accrediting agency such as Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  A great way to check accreditation is to visit the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

What To Expect From Online Universities

As mentioned above, when you attend an online university, you will be taught over the Internet via e-mail, video streaming, or other online technologies.  While some perceive this teaching method to be impersonal, it is quite the contrary.  The quality level of online teaching is equivalent to the quality level of face-to-face teaching methods on campus. Some would even argue that the quality level of online teaching instruction is higher because an online student would have constant personal interaction with the through e-mail or online chat rooms whereas students that attend college classes at a campus-based university may be in a class with 300 other students. 

With online universities, you can also expect to avoid travel costs, parking fees and the convenience and flexibility of studying on your own time.

A Wide Array of Degree Options From Online Universities

Is the degree you want to pursue unavailable at your local community college or university?  If this is the case, there is no need to move to a new city with a college or university that does; just pursue your degree online.  More and more online universities are increasing their program availability to cater to the needs of every student.  From art and design, business, and engineering, to criminal justice, education, and social science, almost every degree imaginable is available at an online university.  With hundreds of accredited online universities offering accredited online college degree programs, you can pursue just about any specialty you desire.

Online Universities: The Wave of the Future

With the economic downturn, more and more students are expected to attend an online university.  Though rising fuel costs may no longer be a factor, students have realized the benefits of attending an online university.  With the convenience, flexibility, and wide range of degree programs, student enrollment at online universities continue to excel.  Don’t get left behind!

Kimberly Diane, now a frequent contributor to EducationAdvancementOnline.com, previously served as a direct consultant to numerous accredited online colleges and universities for several years. Education Advancement Online, which promotes higher education for non-traditional students seeking an online college degree or certification program, is a premier online education directory that is a one-stop shop for available degree programs from institutions all over the United States. For more information on Education Advancement Online or to search online universities, please visit EducationAdvancementOnline.com