Friday, August 31, 2007

Are Online Accredited Courses a Good Educational Choice?

For many people, the mention of college brings to mind vivid images of ivy-covered brick buildings set amongst spacious green lawns; swarming throngs of students walking along paths beneath canopies of ancient shade trees; bearded professors lecturing in large student-filled halls; blackboards covered with cryptic mathematical symbols, and perhaps countless other vignettes of college life. While these scenes are a reality for some students, for others college life is much different. The advent of the internet in recent years has opened up a whole new way for students to attend college and earn their degrees online, often without ever having to darken a college classroom door.

Online accredited courses--also known as distance learning and e-learning courses--enable working adults with established careers and personal lives to gain additional education for things such as career advancement, professional certification, self improvement, or even simple pleasure. Online courses offer students tremendous flexibility in being able to study at a time and place that best fits into their busy schedules.

With just a little research on the internet you will find a huge offering of online accredited courses from hundreds of colleges, universities, vocational and trade schools. Nearly all universities offer at least a few online courses if not complete degree programs online. A student can take e-learning classes in nearly every discipline and branch of study, and earn degrees ranging all the way from high school diplomas to doctorates.

Barely more than a decade ago, few people could foresee the day when students could take a class from their living room with nothing more than a lap top computer connected to the internet. That day has arrived, and opened the doors of education to millions of students worldwide. Only in a day of revolutionary technological innovation could someone find such a convenience as online classes.

Whether you've already attained a college degree and are looking to further your education, or you've never gone to college but would like to get your college degree or high school diploma, online accredited courses may be the key that unlocks the door to your goals. With the popularity of distance learning education continuing to grow by leaps and bounds each year, the day may come when the traditional college experience is more of a memory than a reality. Just as few could predict the rise in online learning, who can really know what the future holds for education!

About the Author
Jesse Whitehead earned his B.S.B.A. degree from an online university in 2005. For more information about Online Accredited Courses visit OnlineSchoolsReview.com

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Online Degrees - Are They Right For YOU?

Computers are great - the internet's even better! Now you can get your Bachelor degree online from the convenience of your own home. No need to move away or live on a costly campus to get a college degree. No need to even socialize too much with students if you prefer your education in the real world!

More and more people are taking their degree online especially more mature students who have built a family, home and a life in a certain area and who don't want to attend a traditional college environment. Perhaps they are studying alongside a job too. Online degrees have made that all possible. They don't require any great computer skill, so long as you of course have internet access.

But online degree courses are not for everyone. To undertake this kind of college degree program is a major step. Make sure it's right for you. Write a list of advantages and disadvantages. Advantages of online degree courses or any kind of distance learning might be that they are flexible so you can have some say over when you study; they are a less expensive way to get your bachelor degree; they avoid you having to socialize with hoards of young students; they allow you to work while attending classes something which may be especially important to mature students with financial commitments, who have already climbed so far up the career ladder and don't want to jump off; there is no need or less need, anyway - to put your children into daycare as you can study around their routine and the mother of all advantages to online education you can sit in front of the computer in your pajamas and no-one knows or cares!

Is that all sounding great? Well, online degree programs certainly *can* be great, but there are some potential flies in the ointment which you need to watch out for. Firstly, if your online degree is to be worth the paper it is written on, you must find out if your college is accredited. That's the only way that the online degree you get will be any good to you in your future career. Carefully check the school's reputation because fraud is easier online. Check that your online degree will be the same as the degree given for on-site courses, not a watered-down version. There are plenty of universities and colleges out there which offer you the real deal, so you can afford to shop around.

Are you the sort of person who learns better alone than in a classroom environment? Be sure that you are and that you have the drive and energy and self-discipline to go the distance in online learning, which can sometimes be as lonely and dispiriting as a marathon run. Check out also if the online program actually offers occasional seminars or workgroups to meet up with fellow students. Some do or they offer web- and telephone-conferencing as a good alternative to face-to-face classroom environments.

It won't always be easy to fit in the demands of a family, home and maybe even a job around a degree course, so don't kid yourself. But you CAN do it. Get your partner and/or wider family in on it and have them support you with some of the day-to-day chores, and give you some peace and quiet in which to study. You'll all be happier for you being fulfilled, in the long run.

Of course, student social life is legendary. You won't get this with an online degree, but if you're coming to education later in life or re-training in a different area and as for student parties, you've been there, done that, got the tee-shirt online bachelor degree programs may be just what you are looking for.

So get writing your personal list of pros and cons and decide if an online bachelor degree is the right choice for you.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

The Hassle-Free Education -- Get It Online

An online education is great for anyone wanting to get into a better career, or just advance in their current career. If you are working full-time, or if you're a single parent, taking classes online can be your first hassle-free step toward opportunity.

When you take classes online, a whole world of possibilities opens up to you. No longer will you be bound to a specific geographical location. You don't have to dress appropriately for class, and you typically don't have to show up at any specific time.

Take classes from wherever you want. For most online schools, all you need is a computer and internet access. That means you're not tied to any particular location. You don't have to live close to a school to get more education. As a result, no relocation is needed, and no gas money spent on commuting to class. Retrieve, complete, and turn in your work online, from just about anywhere in the world.

Another advantage to taking online classes is that you don't have to wear anything, or brush your hair or your teeth. You can attend class how you want, and then take care of personal hygiene later. It's up to you. Speaking from experience, I can tell you that this is quite a handy option.

Online education is full of choices. Find a school that offers what you want, then take classes at that school. In the past, students had two choices: Take whatever the local college offers, or relocate to a school that offers the subjects in which you are interested. Naturally, those options are still open to the prospective student. Today, however, we are not bound by such restrictions. Simply apply to and attend a school which offers subjects you really want to take. And do it all from the comfort of your home.

Getting an online education isn't easy. It takes discipline and perseverance. No one will be waiting for you to show up to class, and no one will be there to ask if you've finished your work...or if you've even started. It is all up to you. Only your dedication to your education and your future will be there to remind you to get your work done.

Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it. Make up a daily schedule for your coursework, reading, and research, and stick to it. You must treat your online classes with the same respect as you would a traditional school.

Don't let the hassles of life get in the way of your future. Thanks to the growth of online colleges, you can learn from home and get the training you need to succeed. Take control of your future.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

4 Tips to Success in Your Online Degree Program

Earning a degree through an online degree program has become a trend for many students. Online education provides you with flexible and convenient leaning environment where you can attend classes from your computer at home wearing your pajamas. The online degree program can provides the same learning quality and degrees that are mostly acceptable in the job market.

The bad news is there are many online students fail to complete their online degree program. Online degrees are not for every student, unless you can adapt to the online environment and create regular study habits, you may be dropped off half way through your online study and waste your time and money. If online education is your option, here are the 4 tips for you to success in your online degree program.

Tip #1: Degree Program That In Line With Your Career Goal

Most of students choose to earn a degree are for their career planning to a brighter future. Hence, you need to choose an online degree program that can help in your career path. For example, if you want to become a marketing manager, you should choose online marketing degree or online business degree with marketing as specialization instead of online music degree. There are many online degree programs with the same degree title but there are difference courses offered in the program from one school to another. Hence, you should request the program details from the online schools and carefully review their courses to ensure the courses are in line with the requirement to achieve your career goal.

Tip #2: Choose a Properly Accredited Online Degree Program

The online degree program offered by your selected online school should be property accredited by an accreditation agency that is recognized by US Department of Education. Always double to check the accreditation mentioned by the school with CHEA.org to ensure that the online degree program of your choice is accredited by a recognized accreditation agency.

Tip #3: Make sure Your Love Online Study

If you plan to take you degree online, you must be good in learning in text format because most of learning materials are in text format. You should also like to search for information from internet, attend online chat sessions, able communicate through discussion forums and love to stay online; these are the key factors of a success online student. People who like to learn by listen to lecture in a class room should follow traditional way of education.

Tip #4: You Must Be Able To Self Motivated

Although you still have peers in an online class, physically you are alone accessing online material from home or any locations away from your other online peers. Hence, you must be able to motivate yourself to move along your online study progress. An online degree program gives you the flexibility of plan your own schedule for self pace study; the flexibility may cause you to stay out of focus if you do not have self-motivated and discipline to fix and fit your study into your schedule.

Summary

Earning a degree online is a good option because it gives you the flexibility and convenient learning environment. If you choose this online education option, you must adapt to the online environment and create regular study habits to ensure you will success in your online degree program.

Monday, August 06, 2007

Accreditation and Online Degrees

Today, the internet offers prospective college students a wealth of information regarding many different aspects of the education process, including how to apply for financial aid, how to choose the right college for you and a variety of other information. These days, many students who are juggling a job and family life with school are even turning to the internet to obtain a college education, receiving original degrees completely online. What many students fail to research however is the accreditation process, which is incredibly important before choosing any internet school to study from. The benefits of an accredited college degree are many, and students need to make sure the institution they study from offers fully accredited original degrees.

Accreditation, a very important aspect of the online degree process, tells colleges and employers that you have achieved great success in your academic pursuits. What’s more, an accredited degree entails that you’ve received a certain level of quality in your education. There are many “diploma-mill” type schools on the internet that promise you’ll receive original degrees in half the time of a traditional learning institution. They make bogus claims in a blatant attempt to steal your money, and once they’ve done that you’re left with a degree that hasn’t been through the proper accreditation process. What’s more, all of the money and hard work you spent getting the degree is for naught, because a degree that isn’t accredited isn’t recognized as legitimate proof of your academic endeavors.

There are many purposes to accreditation that students should be aware of before they choose an online college to study from. Properly accredited online diplomas ensure a student is receiving the type of quality education that is the standard among colleges and universities both online and off. What’s more, accreditation holds educational institutions accountable for their actions, as well as ensures confidence. Holding original degrees that have been fully accredited by the proper governing boards ensures that your hard work has paid off, and will continue to do so in the future. What’s more, employers and other learning institutions will accept your degree without a problem, even if it’s been obtained online, provided it’s been accredited.

Accreditation is highly important for students for several other reasons as well. For example, students who wish to apply for financial aid can only do so if their school is properly accredited by the correct educational boards. Additionally, in order to transfer your credits to another educational institution that’s accredited, you have to receive a degree from an accredited school online. Original degrees are the only universally accepted proof of educational merit, and employers will usually not hire those who failed to receive a degree that was accredited. Many potential students fail to understand the importance of accreditation. They are misleading into believing that all online degrees are the same, however, this is extremely far from the truth. Fake or instant degrees are virtually worthless in the eyes of employers. Not only are they a waste of time, they are also a waste of your hard earned money.

While the internet has evolved into a place where students from around the globe can obtain a college education, it’s important to avoid the scams inherent with online diplomas. Proper accreditation ensures that your online degree will be respected in the workforce, and your hard work will have paid off. The bottom line is that Do your research thoroughly before committing to any online college, and ensure that the degree you will obtain is properly accredited through the correct state or regional boards. Doing so will save you a lot of money, time and hard work in the long run.

About Author:

Harris Jhosta
is holding the market experience of IT industry and immense business solutions for about 2 decades now. His vast experience in the related field gave him the acclamation and renownship in many sectors of business. Harris has also been involved in providing educatinal services in form of various seminars and lectures, in many well renowned universties.