Posts Tagged ‘distance education’
Friday, May 27th, 2011
How do working adults choose among the many online master’s degrees? My College Guide has gathered together 4 online master’s degrees that can help set you up to fit a variety of careers. In today’s economy, it’s good to be adaptable and prepared!
Choosing Flexible Online Master's Degrees
While you may decide that specialized online master’s degrees would provide you with more benefits than something more general, there is something to be said for a degree that won’t lock you into place—just in case your circumstances change down the road.
Flexible Online Master’s Degrees for the Tech-Minded
Computer Information Systems – Choosing between online master’s degrees is hard, but it doesn’t have to be! If you enjoy working with computer systems, snagging a degree in computer information systems can set you up to work in the computer departments and maybe even management positions for bigger and more powerful companies, non-profits, or even the government!
Adaptable Degree for Educators (and Beyond)
Education – Want to advance your teaching career and work in higher education? This is one degree that can help you get there! Of course, it’s versatile enough to help you move along into other positions, too, like administration or corporate training.
Versatile Degrees for Organizers
Project Management – Companies may come and go but project management is forever! Most companies need someone to stay on top of company projects. Your online master’s degree can help you help others. Project management is a much-needed skill and a great choice for adults going back to school.
Human Resources – Just like online master’s degrees in Project Management will never go out of style, so neither will those who work in Human Resources! Shuffling personnel from one place to another, hiring new help, or courteously handling complaints, this degree can help you move your way up the Human Resources chain and enable you to work for a variety of companies!
For this and all other master’s degrees, you may want to see if the company that you work for will help pay your way! An employee with flexible skills is an asset to any company—and some will help with the cost of paying for your master’s degree.
Image Courtesy of Flickr, las – initially.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on online master’s degrees that will get you on the road to the right career for you!
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Tags: adult education, adult learners, adults going back to school, computer information systems, distance education, Distance Learning, education, education major, human resources, master's degree, master's degree online, online, online college, online degree programs, online master's degrees, project management
Posted in Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, College Campus, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
Before you turn over your online college application, send in that deposit, and enroll into your degree online, we’ve got a few points to consider! Take it from folks who know: My College Guide can help you find a program that fits you–and your educational goals.
Points to Consider before Enrolling into Your Degree Online
Your Degree Online: Questions to Ask
For adults going back to school, it’s an exciting time. But you need to do your research to be sure that the school you are considering will fit the way you learn.
The Technical Side of Things
Tech Support – Is there an official email or telephone number for tech support? If it’s 3 AM and you can’t get the system to accept your research paper for your criminal justice degree program, is there someone you can count on for help? While there are many students who don’t (and won’t) experience problems, it is another point to ponder when attaining your degree online!
Online Writing Center – Tackling your first academic research paper is hard enough, but not having the convenience of an online writing center is even worse! A writing center can help you get the correct formatting, find typos, and make sure that your paper flows just right. It’s an invaluable resource and an important one that will help you out, free, in obtaining your degree online!
Online Delivery – How does your degree online work with regards to delivery? Is it asynchronous, synchronous, or some hybrid of the two? Find out if you need to be online at a certain time each day for online chats (synchronous learning). Other schools don’t have that sort of scheduled online interaction in your degree online program (asynchronous). Some colleges have a combination of the two: a hybrid learning environment.
Who They Are
Professors – Who are the people that will be teaching you for the next four years? What sort of educational requirements are online college professors expected to have? Do they teach on-campus classes as well? Find out more about the faculty where you are going to obtain your degree online!
Returning Student?
Transferring Credits – Have you been to college before? You may have transfer credits! What is the maximum number of transfer credits that your potential online college will accept? Also, see how credits transfer at the school you are considering. If your goals change and you need to switch schools, check to see how your online college credits will translate. For properly accredited colleges it shouldn’t be a problem, but that’s an important factor to consider.
Image Courtesy of Flickr, Graham Ballantyne / Graham Ballantyne.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on your degree online to discover the right career for you.
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Tags: adults going back to school, college professors, distance education, Distance Learning, online, online college, online degree programs, transfer, your degree online
Posted in Career Colleges, Choosing a College, College Campus, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education, Vocational School | No Comments »
Friday, May 20th, 2011
Considering going back to college and completing your master’s degree online? My College Guide has advice on how to pay your way through school. Plan now to make it easier later!
Paying for Your Master's Degree Online
Just so you know, online courses frequently cost you less than on-campus courses—and that holds true for your master’s degree online, too! The amount of money you will need to invest can frequently be considerable less than what you would expect. In other words: it pays to shop!
Paying for Your Master’s Degree Online
You have a few options when it comes to paying for your master’s degree online.
Grants and Scholarships – While you shouldn’t rely on this method and think that it will pay all of your way through school, it never hurts to find and apply to anything and everything that matches your academic background! You can start with our list of college scholarship websites right here on My College Guide. Your school may have institution-specific scholarships that they will award you with as well!
Money in the Bank – Have a nice stash of savings? Depending on the program you choose (and if you received a few grants and/or scholarships), you might want to think about using some of your savings to pay your way. Of course, you will really want to think about whether this degree will actually improve your circumstances or not.
Private Loans – Paying interest? It’s not fun. But if you really think that going back to school and earning your master’s degree online will pay off in the long run, it just might be worth it! Look into your private loan options and see what you can find.
The Boss – What about your employer? If a master’s degree online will prove to be a huge boon to the company, many will help pick up your education tab. Check out if the company that you work for will do the same for adults going back to school like you!
Final Advice
Make sure to read our article, Three Things to Ask Yourself Before Getting a Master’s Degree Online. No matter how much money you may be able to save by earning your master’s degree online, it will still be a hefty expense. Make sure your degree will translate into higher pay for you later on!
Image Courtesy of Flickr, foreverdigital.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on master’s degree online that will get you on the road to the right career for you!
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Tags: adult learners, adults going back to school, college scholarship websites, distance education, Distance Learning, distance learning degree, grants, how to choose a college, how to pay for college, master's degree, master's degree online, online college, Paying for College
Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Search, Distance Learning, Financial Aid, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education, Paying for College, Scholarships, Student Loans | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
My College Guide knows Twitter is a useful tool in the college search process—so we had to share our latest Twitter list of online colleges! If you are an adult going back to school, you can connect to these online colleges and universities and keep on top of the latest news, easily!
Twitter List of Online Colleges
As an adult learner, your time is precious! Even though Twitter can turn into a potential time suck, why not put your Twitter account to good use! Start connecting to the schools you are interested in. Whether or not you are ready to go back to college right now and work toward your online bachelor’s degree or if it is in the not-too distant future, you will be able to quickly find out about exciting online classes and new majors just for adult learners using our handy list of online colleges.
The Big List of Online Colleges on Twitter
Get connected. Just remember that if you are going to engage with any of these schools from our list of online colleges, that you are always on your best behavior. On-campus or online college, schools still care about what students they admit—so if you don’t censor yourself, you may want to refrain from using your real name!
Your Turn
Have you seen any schools that My College Guide needs to add to our list of online colleges? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll add them to Part 2. Four year colleges with online degrees or online only colleges that cater to adult learners – well, we’ll take them all!
…And Then
Need some advice regarding social media and online colleges? We’ve got the truthful information that you need. Stay tuned to My College Guide for more great Twitter lists of online colleges, iPad apps, and more to help adults just like you make the transition to college.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on programs, browse through our list of online colleges, and find the right career for you!
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Tags: adult education, adult learner, adult learners, adults going back to school, distance education, Distance Learning, distance learning degree, online college, online college courses, online degree programs, online education
Posted in Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education, Social Media | 2 Comments »
Monday, May 16th, 2011
If you’ve ever wondered how you could turn your love for fashion into a career, then you’ll love this—we’ve rounded up the very best online degree for the fashionably-inclined! Whether you want to design the clothes or the rooms they’re photographed in, we’ve got the best online degree program for you!
Best Online Degree for Fashion
Are you the type of person who always has to put her own stamp on her clothes? Do you find yourself dissecting outfits—and putting together better ones in your head? Then a career in fine arts like fashion design might be a good fit for you.
You’ll be immersed in courses about sewing and tailoring, pattern making, fabrics and more! By the time you graduate, you’ll have the skills you need to break into the fashion industry—and the degree to prove it!
Fashion Merchandising
If your goal is to open a boutique or buy clothing for a department store, you might want to look into a career in fashion marketing. You’ll take a variety of business and marketing courses, as well as coursework designed to give you the technical skills you’ll need to excel in the fashion industry.
Fashion Photography
If you prefer to look at the world from behind a camera lens, and find yourself mentally art directing everyday situations to display clothes at their best angle, you might be well suited to fashion photography.
When you choose a fashion photography degree program, you’ll take photography and art design courses, as well as classes in history and fashion design! Breaking into the fashion photography business can be tough—but this type of degree will give you the edge you need!
Interior Design
If you’re more interested in the beautiful furniture used in photo shoots than the people who sit on them, you may be interested in an interior design career. An interior design program will teach you about artistic techniques and interior design principles, as well as drafting, CAD and even construction theory. An interior designer has to know a little bit about everything!
There’s no shortage of career options for fashionistas. So let your fingers do the walking over the virtual catwalk and find the best online degree for you!
Image Courtesy of Flickr, Thomas Hawk.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on the best online degree programs to get you on the road to the right career for you!
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Tags: adult learners, adults going back to school, best online degree, Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, college, college major, college majors, distance education, Distance Learning, fashion, fashion and marketing management, fine arts, online college
Posted in Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education | No Comments »
Saturday, May 14th, 2011
If you’ve ever dreamed about going into medicine, you’ll be glad to know that you can get a medical degree online! You can even get started down the road to private practice! A variety of schools now offer biology degree programs online—an undergraduate path that traditionally leads to medical school.
Get your medical degree online
To actually get the letters M.D. after your name, you’ll still have to attend a traditional, campus-based medical school—but many other healthcare careers can begin with a medical degree online!
Nursing—A Great Choice for a Medical Degree Online
Whether you’re looking to take the first steps into nursing with an associate’s degree, or you want to advance your career by getting your bachelor’s of science in nursing, there are plenty of online nursing programs to choose from.
After graduation, you’ll have to take the licensing exam, but after you pass, a whole new world of job opportunities awaits!
Medical Coding—An In-Demand Specialty
Medical coders are the people who translate medical visits and procedures into the codes needed to bill insurances companies and keep the payment cycle moving. That makes them very important people! Best of all, you don’t need a lot of schooling to become a medical coder. Instead, you’ll attend a vocational program that prepares you for the certification exam. It generally takes less than a year!
Work in Healthcare Administration With A Medical Degree Online
Doctors and nurses are the public face of hospitals and other medical facilities. But working behind the scenes are dozens of healthcare administrators. These professionals make sure the medical staff has everything they need to care for their patients—and work to keep the hospital running! Their responsibilities range from human resources to long term service line planning—and everything in between.
To become a healthcare administrator, you’ll need to get at least a bachelor’s degree. But if your goal is to move into upper management, you should consider getting a master’s degree. The good news? You can complete all your schooling online!
So Many Online Medical Degree Options, So Little Time
Whatever your interest, there’s sure to be a medical degree online for you. Become a massage therapist! Explore the world of acupuncture! Get certified as a surgical technologist! It’s all there waiting for you. No matter which avenue you decide to pursue, a medical degree online can be a great way to start a new, rewarding career!
Image Courtesy of Flickr, RambergMediaImages.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on the best medical degree online programs to get you on the road to the right career for you!
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Tags: adult education, adult learner, adult learners, adults going back to school, associate's degree, bachelor's degree, college graduation, distance education, Distance Learning, health, master's degree, medical assistants, medical degree nursing, online college, online courses
Posted in Career Colleges, Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education, Vocational School | No Comments »
Friday, May 13th, 2011
Medical billing and coding online courses are your way in to the healthcare industry, a billion dollar money-making industry! Online courses can help you balance work, career, and even family commitments while allowing you to obtain a degree that will enable you to work in a great new career like medical billing and coding.
Medical billing and coding online courses put you in control.
For adults going back to school, they will learn all about the paperwork process! Medical billing and insurance coding are the ways in which a physician gets paid. So, you’ll be directly responsible for correctly completing the paperwork that helps insurance claims go through as well as the payment of the physicians involved.
As a medical and billing coder, you will submit and follow-up on medical claims to various insurance companies. This paperwork is submitted in order to receive payment for services rendered by a healthcare provider. It may be done on paper or, in some instances, even electronically.
Skills associated with medical billing and insurance coding professionals are:
Highly Organized
Efficient
Proficient Typist
Detail-oriented
Multi-tasking
In this fast-paced career, you will need to stay on top of paperwork, including following up on paperwork as needed. Good organization skills, a comfortable typing speed, and a knack for keeping on top of the details are a few skills that can help you go far in the medical billing and coding career–and make you become a desirable asset to any company!
In your medical billing and coding class you will learn about health insurance plans and policies as well as the laws and regulations that control them. You will also learn about the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, the standardized coding system used by the American Medical Association.
For this in-demand degree, you’ll learn all about bookkeeping, like the scheduling and registering of patients, and become informed about accounts receivable and how revenue flows. Medical billing and coding online courses also contain information regarding the ethical implications of this career as well as legal responsibilities.
Besides learning the ins and outs of medical billing and coding in your online classes, you may have a light biology class or two to learn anatomy and other medical terms (and we’ve got the list of nursing iPad apps to help!). You will become familiar with medical terminology in order to help you figure out which coding to use when.
Image Courtesy of Flickr, luxomedia.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on medical billing and coding to get you on the road to the right career for you!
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Tags: adult learners, adults going back to school, distance education, Distance Learning, medical assistants, medical billing and coding, medical degree nursing, online, online college, online college course program, online college courses
Posted in Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
If you’re a busy working adult, going to business college online could be a great way to get your business degree without totally disrupting your regular life.
Business College Online? Don't forget about the importance of internships and networking!
But to make it worth your while, you have to put a lot of time and effort into it—just as you would if you were attending a regular, campus-based program. In addition, going to business college online presents some unique challenges. Below are tips for making the most of it!
How to network while attending business college online.
One thing most business schools do really well is to provide networking opportunities for their students. As an online student, you can still network—you just have to be a little more creative about it.
Actively participate in class forums, discussion groups and live chats. The best way to get to know your peers is to interact with them. So don’t miss an opportunity to get involved.
Join networking clubs in your community. Opportunities for networking are plentiful—even for adults going back to school. Whether your local chamber of commerce, an industry-specific association or even a Meetup group organizes them, events are happening all around you. Get out there!
Don’t forget about the importance of internships. You might think that by attending business college online, you can skip the internship. But that’s not a good idea! Many programs actually require you to complete an internship, but even if yours doesn’t, you should make an effort to find one. An internship can greatly enhance your network—and your job opportunities when you graduate.
Getting the most out of your classes when attending business college online.
Getting the most out of your business college online experience means more than just working hard towards your bachelor’s degree online—it means actively participating in class.
Get to know your professors. Many professors make themselves available for Skype sessions or, at the very least, live chats. Make sure you’re taking advantage of these opportunities! Use them to ask questions, get clarifications, and to get their perspective on subjects of concern to you. The effort could pay off when it comes to grade time!
Volunteer to lead. The most successful people in business are those who are unafraid to take charge. And the best place to hone those skills? Is in the lecture hall—virtual or not. So volunteer for group projects and presentations. You’ll be glad you did!
Image Courtesy of Flickr, bgottsab.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on subjects like business college online and then some to get you on the road to the right career for you!
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Tags: adults going back to school, business, business administration, business administration degree, business administration skills, business college, business college online, distance education, Distance Learning, internship, online, online college, online college course program
Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Distance Learning, Fun Stuff, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education | No Comments »
Friday, May 6th, 2011
Many adults returning back to school (and even students fresh out of college) are turning to an associate of arts degree. Online or on-campus, this degree can help get you working towards a bachelor degree in less time and with less money!
Thinking of obtaining an associate of arts degree? There's no better time than now!
An associate’s degree is an undergraduate degree like any other except—this one only takes two years to complete! Best of all, earning this degree cuts two years from earning a bachelor’s degree!
You can find an associate of arts degree from the usual higher education institutions, like community colleges, junior colleges, technical and vocational schools, and colleges with bachelor’s degree programs.
The Purpose of an Associate of Arts Degree
An associate of arts degree (AA) helps you complete your general requirements before continuing on and snagging a bachelor’s degree. Of course, your credits may transfer differently, but as general rule, an associate degree will reduce your time spent studying for a bachelor’s degree by two years and help you prepare for the workload involved in earning a four year degree.
You’ll need to compare programs and check out the sister college for the four year university you plan on transferring to. Some four year colleges offer an associate of arts degree so you won’t need to transfer colleges and will know that your credits will qualify toward completion of your bachelor’s degree.
What To Expect
An associate of art degree can help bulk up your resume!
As with any degree, associates, bachelor, or beyond, you will have specific courses that you will need to complete in order to graduate college. You won’t just get to “do art” all day.
You may be required to complete courses in math, English (like English Composition or Literature), and the humanities (like sociology or psychology) as well as other subjects. Whether you complete these courses on-campus or online, you will have certain art-related courses to complete in order to graduate. Your art classes can also vary depending on the school you are attending and what they have to offer!
What’s Next?
Your associate of arts degree can help you work toward a bachelor’s degree in quite the range of subjects! These majors include business administration, languages, social sciences, law, accounting, and the arts, of course. Your academic background will then form the basis for jobs in the same fields—and beyond!
Image #1 Courtesy of Flickr, geishaboy500 / THOR.
Image #2 Courtesy of Flickr, DailyPic / Joan M. Mas.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students discover the best college degree and career for them. Get information for associate of arts degree programs and find the right career for you!
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Tags: adult learners, adults going back to school, associate of art degree, associate's degree, business administration, Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, college major, college majors, College Transfer, distance education, Distance Learning, online college, online degree programs, online distance learning, transfer
Posted in Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education | No Comments »
Monday, May 2nd, 2011
What does the phrase “continuing education” mean to you? Do you picture a room full of senior citizens learning to use the computer? Or a room full of doctors learning about the latest surgery technique?
The many faces of continuing education.
Neither definition would be wrong. In fact, “continuing education” is a fairly generic term meant to encompass every single form of post secondary education.
However, it’s most commonly used to describe the following three types of education.
Continuing Education for Adult Learners
Nontraditional students returning to school are often said to be taking part in continuing education. People in this category could be pursuing a four-year college degree, learning new skills at a vocational school, or even taking post-graduate classes.
If you fall in this category of learners, your goal is to learn a new set of skills that will propel your career in a new direction!
Continuing Education for Dabblers
Some people are simply perpetual students at heart. They probably already have a bachelor’s degree (or three), but never tire of learning. If you usually take classes based on your interests—and not concrete career goals—you’re most likely a dabbler. You can even elect to audit classes—meaning you won’t collect college credit for them (and don’t have to worry about your grades)!
Continuing Education for Professionals
Some industries require practitioners to take a certain number of continuing education credits to stay licensed. For instance, if you work in the health services industry as a doctor, nurse or other medical professional, you will have annual continuing education requirements.
You can also expect to have to take continuing education classes in the fields of law, accounting, engineering, massage therapy—even hair styling!
Continuing Education the Online Way
No matter which category of continuing education aficionado you fall into, chances are you can fulfill your needs online. There are thousands of colleges and technical schools offering online degree programs—and many will allow you to cherry pick classes if you don’t want to pursue a formal degree!
People seeking professional continuing education credits can also find what they’re looking for online. Whether that’s through a series of webcast seminars, or taking an online class, there are plenty of opportunities for distance learning. Just check with your state licensing board to see what the requirements are!
Image Courtesy of Flickr, robynejay.
Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on continuing education to get you on the road to the right career for you!
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Tags: adult learners, adults going back to school, career schools, Continuing Education, distance education, higher education, online college, online college course program, trade schools, vocational school
Posted in Career Colleges, Choosing a College, Choosing a Major, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education, Vocational School | No Comments »
