Are Online Degrees Valid to Prospective Employers?

Online distance learning has gained rapid popularity with the advent of the internet, which has proven to offer great supporting facilities and convenience for online education. However, just like everything else with pros and cons, the internet has also opened doors for the widespread sale of bogus online degrees. According a report by USA Today, there were already 400 diploma mills in the year 2003 and the numbers are rising. In fact, many of these unscrupulous operations are run by organizations in an industry that is worth $500 million a year.

However, amidst the negative hype about online education, there are actually many distance learning colleges offering valid degrees and diplomas. These institutions do not sell bogus certificates, but actually aim to provide quality education as alternatives for on-campus higher education. Valid online courses with online video lectures as well as online library facilities and test examinations conducted are often deployed to ensure that students truly qualify in their areas of study and graduate legitimately. Sadly though, many employers only see the negative side of things, and easily brush off online education degrees as equivalent to bogus degrees.

In view of the confusion, the National Education Board of the U.S. government has authorized 6 accreditation agencies to provide institutional accreditation to education institutions, as a measure to differentiate legitimate universities from the crooks. This means that students choosing their universities will be assured that these universities would have met minimum criteria set forth by these agencies for learning institutions. Additionally, there is also The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) which provides accreditation specifically for distance learning institutions. The DETC is an accreditation agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Furthermore, there is also specialized accreditation for specific programs of different areas of specialization. These programs which are found to have attained excellence will be awarded accreditation by various professional accrediting agencies depending on the area of specialization. For instance, the International Association for Management Education (AACSB) gives accreditation to accounting related programs while health programs are accredited by the American Health Information Management Association. It is also important to know that only accreditation agencies recognized by the Department of Education or CHEA are considered accreditation agencies which are acknowledged.

What does accreditation mean to a student? An institutional accreditation agency evaluates the various aspects of universities or colleges against minimum standard criteria to determine if the particular institution meets their list of basic requirements and quality of education. College accreditation is necessary to ensure that the education, facilities and support provided by a college or university adheres to basic levels. On the other hand, specialized accreditation evaluates excellence in individual program regardless of which institution the program is being delivered within. In this type of accreditation, course content and program curricula is evaluated against pre-set standards of the institution.

All accreditation does is to assure employers, students and parents that the graduates who are awarded degrees from accredited colleges have undergone quality and adequate training in their respective areas of specialization. This also means that colleges that are not accredited by the proper accreditation body would not have met the standards imposed by the agencies. However, courses taken by prospective employees that are accredited by the respective agencies would have met standards imposed on the respective specialized areas.

It is totally up to the judgment and decision of the employers on evaluating the validity of an online or on-campus degree. With the recent hike in bogus degrees, employers can't help but be stringent in their applicant screenings and consider those with degrees that have been accredited. This may prove tedious and sometimes employers may get confused. Therefore, if your accreditation is provided by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education, then you will need to explain to your prospective employers on the background of the accrediting bodies. This way, you can avoid employers from sidelining your application based on something that they may be unclear about and increase your chances of being short listed for a job interview.

Getting an Online Degree - Five Tips For Success

You want to earn your online degree but you aren't sure where to start. Will you be able to find a balance between your daily life, current employment, and your pursuit of higher education? No matter if you're a first-time student or returning to further your education, it will have a positive impact on your future. You want to find out more but the information online can be overwhelming. You need to narrow the focus. Pinpoint precisely what you're looking for.

What are your goals? How will earning a college degree online help you accomplish your plans? Are you looking to move up in your current career? Are you ready to start fresh with a totally new career? Perhaps your biggest concern is making sure that the convenience and flexibility of getting an online education doesn't affect the quality of that education. You don't want to waste your time on a degree that won't be respected in your chosen career field.

Five Tips For Success

1) Know Your Degree

What will the online degree give you as far as qualifications? Do you have credits that can be transferred? How long will your chosen degree program take you to complete? Two years? Four years? Is your chosen school accredited? What will you have to invest ultimately as far as time and money? Get these answers and more from a college academic advisor.

2) Count the Costs

Many employers offer tuition assistance (TAP) for their staff. Which scholarships, grants, and loans do you qualify for? Higher education is an investment in your future. Complete your FAFSA and you will have access to all kinds of financial aid.

Take advantage of what private and government options are out there to assist you with paying for your education.

3) Keep Your Day Job

In today's economy, you don't want to give up your job to go back to school. Even if you don't particularly like your position or your boss. With the flexibility of online education, you can find a balance to chug through the day-to-day and still pursue your dreams. Give yourself every chance to succeed.

4) Get and Stay Motivated

Whatever your degree choice or industry preference, the most important thing is to visualize you being where you want to be. See yourself getting that degree after all your hard work. Picture what your life will be like once you've accomplished your dream. Know what opportunities are out there in your chosen field. What are the typical conditions, benefits, and salary for the career you want? Do you know anyone already in the field you're interested in? What did it take for them to get there? Pick their brain and get the real scoop on the position or industry you want to enter. If you like what you hear, get moving! Make a follow a plan for you.

5) Manage Your Time

Do not over schedule your time. Be realistic. You want to give yourself the best tools for success. If you have a demanding day job, don't try to take on too many classes initially. The most damaging result of burning out is dropping out. You have to have time to sleep. You should make school a priority but you will still need down-time to watch the big game or go have your nails done. The key is balance.

Each evening, before turning in for the night, write down how you spent your day. Be honest with yourself! Pretending you didn't vegetate in front of the television for two hours isn't going to help you when you have course work to complete and you know your favorite shows are coming on. Know your strengths and recognize your weaknesses so you can fit your pursuit of higher education smoothly into your life. Do the research and get all the answers to your academic future. There is no time to waste...so many opportunities await you with a degree in hand!

Online Degree Universities - Education As Good As it Gets

If you are looking for a great career and stable employment, a college degree is not only a good idea, it's more and more becoming a necessity. Sadly, this leaves out the many smart, hard working folks throughout the world who can't find a decent job because of their lack of a college degree.

Many people already working find it difficult to quit their jobs in order to go back to school. They risk losing their job security and benefits, or they may be too busy with families. Additionally, people may have too many bills to pay to quit working and go back to school. These people fall under the classification of "nontraditional students" because they have already entered the working world, as opposed to recent college graduates who are looking for a job with no work history.

What some people fail to realize is how easy it can be these days to work on bachelor degree programs online from the comfort of their home. All they have to do is sit down at their home computer to read through course material, study the information, email teachers with questions, and even take an online test. All of these are offered by many online degree universities.

With a wide range of online degree universities competing for new students, flexibility of class schedules (classes can be worked on around the clock), and nontraditional student compliant payment options including grants and scholarships, nearly all of a person's excuses for not returning to college are met in today's online degree universities.

A quick search of your favorite web search engine will show that hundreds of degrees are available in a nearly unlimited list of subjects. One can obtain a bachelor's degree in anything from psychology to English or even art history. One could even work towards becoming a teacher by acquiring their bachelor degree in education online.

It can be a difficult decision for a student to make the choice of taking college classes through online degree universities. However, the accomplishment of completion of a degree will be something that will follow them into their future, including future job interviews.

Online Degree in Education Administration

You have finally decided to take advantage of the wonderful world of online colleges. According to the Bureau of Labor, almost half a million people are employed in various types of educational admin careers. If you have always felt that working for a learning institution is your cup of tea, then Education Administration may be the right course for you.

An online degree in Education Administration trains students to become future leaders in colleges and universities. Elementary, middle and high school executives can take this course to be able to understand the fundamentals of running a school. Once completed, you may well be on your way to becoming the next principal, vice principal, school superintendent, director of admissions, dean and several other options.

What can I learn from an Education Administration degree?

Taking this course will help mold you in becoming a good and efficient leader for colleges and universities. There will be several classes that talk about leadership, team building and looking after a specific group of people. Professional and continuous development is also a topic of interest. Other topics that are more technical and specialized in nature would be how to develop school syllabus or set of courses, school laws as well as theory and application. Most likely you will be required to take an internship, preferably in a well-known institution to declare that your online degree has been completed.

What else can I expect out of an Online Education Administration course?

Community college leadership positions can be a strong benchmark in building experience, learning the ropes as well as handling faculty and staff. This is not limited to students or undergraduates; seasoned professionals can also take this course if they feel that they need to refresh their administration skills. The average credit program would be 15 and there are five courses that are fully online.

As a student, it is important that I understand community development initiatives. Note that in working for a community college, there will be direct involvement from the local officials. Some of them may even ask that certain advocacies and mechanisms be an online effort than a personal one. The process in local, state and federal institutions will also be discussed with you.

There is no residency requirement in online education administration courses such as these. All you need to do is keep an open mind, stick to your schedule and set a good example to your future team!

Searching for Online Degrees in Education

Anyone who is thinking about online degrees in education must first conduct some research. You want to make sure you choose the best school in order to assure you will have the best opportunities for employment afterwards. One of the easiest ways to ensure you choose a good school is making sure it has accreditation. Do not assume all online educational facilities are accredited; conduct the research and obtain documentation before you make a final decision on where you want to study for your Masters Degree.

There are many different schools that offer online degrees in education, but they are not all created equal by any means. One of the best ways to choose one in addition to checking the accreditation is to choose a school that is connected to an actual college or university rather than those whose only presence is online. Choosing from universities that also have an onsite campus will provide additional documentation to the teaching credentials of the college and its teaching staff. The choices you make in online degrees in education will have a huge impact on your future as a teacher.

You can also research those facilities that offer degrees in education by checking with some of the schools in your own state. They can provide information about different online programs that will allow you to make an educated decision concerning where to obtain the best ones in education. You don't want to overlook any information that may be important nor do you want to choose a school that is not going to provide the education you need to be an effective teacher in your area of expertise. The more informed you are, the easier it will be for you to make the right decision for your future.

Benefits of Online Degree Programs Education

Online degree programs education is one of the best resources available to the individual when it comes to obtaining their education in today's hectic and often times troubling atmosphere. When it comes to learning and to building your education, it is critical to have as many options as possible. The good news is that there are some very key benefits to getting your education on the web rather than going back to school as many would traditionally do so.

Keep in mind the following benefits of online degree programs education rather than going to a traditional school to get your degree.

1.    Ease of use: you can get your education when you have time so that you never have to worry about making a class appointment.
2.    Affordability: most of the time, online education is far less expensive than a traditional school especially when you factor in the money not spent on travel, room and board or eating on campus.
3.    Flexibility: take a day off when you need to, take your classes in the middle of the night if you need to.
4.    Learn your way: You can learn through lectures, hands on activities, coursework and many other methods with online degree programs education. You are not limited to the general style of teaching.
5.    Resources: you have countless resources available to you include emails with teachers and resources from the school.

Each of these is a simple indication of what your options are in terms of getting your education. With online degree programs education, you can propel yourself farther and accomplish far more than you would in other educational situations, especially if you are the average student looking for a new way to learn and to grow. For students who want options and flexibility, this type of learning makes sense.