Posted by Berrack Obime
Thursday, May 9, 2013
5 comments
By Helen Hecker
One of the first things that come to mind when thinking about getting an online degree is how much does it cost? You may be thinking about furthering your education to get a better job or to get a degree in a particular field, say, business, business administration, marketing, biology, nursing, education, psychology, accounting, interior design, engineering, computer science, paralegal, criminal justice, forensics or any of hundreds of others. Regardless of the field or career or job you're seeking you'll be able to find classes online that apply.
Classes in every field are offered through distance learning. And online degrees have become more and more acceptable now by employers. In a time when we're all trying to cut down on fuel costs, transportation costs and other expenses, earning an online degree is favored among many.
The cost of an online degree depends on many factors. The school you choose will have the biggest bearing. You want to check out your chosen school and make sure it's accredited. Big name colleges and universities of course are, but any school that is a small brick and mortar establishment or any school online should be checked out for accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education.
The bigger the reputation of the school for example, Harvard, Yale, Stanford etc., the more it will cost to take online courses. You can get a good education through a lesser known and or local school online and cost you significantly less and be just as readily accepted by employers.
But make sure that any classes or courses you take online or any program will be transferable to other colleges and universities in the future. This is important to check out before you sign up.
The cost of an online degree will depend on whether you're going for an associate degree, bachelor's, master's, mba, doctorate or other graduate degree.
If you're planning to take four years of online courses, it will cost you significantly less through distance learning than attending a four-year college or university on campus.
The cost of getting an online degree can be cut significantly with scholarships, grants and financial aid. It's not as commonly known that there is federal money available for online degrees. You can get financial aid fairly easy. You can apply for scholarships and grants and if you qualify will get all or part of your education free. It's well worth a try if you plan to take several or many courses. Many specialized areas of study have scholarships and grants, for example, in the field of science.
In any event you can save a lot of money getting your education by going to school online. The cost of an online degree can vary considerably and with a little research you may be surprised at how cheaply you can go to school or college online and in some cases even free.
By Elizabeth Whitesmith
There are over 750 institutions that offer recognized degrees in the UK, so if you are asking yourself 'Where can I study for an online degree in the UK?' and you need a little help to narrow down your options, here are some tips and answers that may be able to help you reach a decision.
Why Study Online?
There are many benefits for studying online, and many reasons why people choose online degree courses rather than physically attending a university or college each day.
o An online degree can be studied if you need to carry on working to support a family, or need to work to help pay for your coursework.
o You can study when you choose to, fitting study hours around your family and social life.
o Travel costs, eating out and general expenses are cut out, meaning that online courses will ultimately be cheaper.
o You can spend more time learning the parts of the course you find more difficult, and spend less time on those that are easy for you.
UK Online Study Centers
The great number of universities, colleges and other institutions that offer online degrees in the UK means that depending on which course you choose to take, you are unlikely to have a problem finding one that suits your requirements.
There are many universities and colleges in the UK that have been set up specifically for students to study for an online degree. Many of these schools do not even have 'brick and mortar' buildings where students can gather to study, they are entirely internet based.
What Subjects Can I Study Online In The UK?
The subjects covered by online degree courses offered in the UK are some of the most diverse in the world.
Whether you want a Pharma Degree, Psychology Degree, Engineering Degree or a Waste Water Treatment Degree, they are available online all over the UK.
The Open University and Other Options
The Open University was the first of many institutions in the UK dedicated solely to studies undertaken at home. Started in 1969 many years before the internet, the original means of learning from a distance was through TV and radio programs.
Although controversial at the time, the Open University is now one of the largest online and distance learning institutes in the world, with lectures and information available through the internet, DVD and podcasts.
Another option is the American Intercontinental University. This school is based in the US, but offers a campus in London and a catalog specific to London students.
The University of Liverpool is also a viable option for study online in the UK. This program only offers advanced degrees, although, so you are required to have a Bachelor's degree or the equivalent of the UK honors degree before you can be admitted.
There are numerous internet based degree courses that are available in the UK, some only covering specific topics and specializing in one area, others with a wide range of subjects from which to choose.
As you can see, when it comes to questions regarding locality, availability and diversity of available degree courses, 'where can I study for an online degree in the UK' is a question with a multitude of answers.
Posted by Berrack Obime
Saturday, May 4, 2013
0 comments
By Lee W Reed
I earned my Bachelor's degree online with one of the big online programs and loved the experience... for the most part. I was working at the time and earning my degree online allowed me to continue my career, support my family and study at the same time. True, it was hard work and there were some very late nights getting projects done, but overall, it was a great experience and I would do it again. As a matter of fact, I am doing it again, working on my Master's, though at a completely different school. Having been through this experience, I have given a good deal of consideration to what I might say to others who are thinking about online learning. Here are my thoughts:
How is the school accredited? Schools with very low tuition rates frequently have sub-par or no accreditation. The highest level of accreditation is through one of the regional authorities (not national.) Such accreditation is not needed in all fields of work. However, this is something you should consider, especially if you think you may want to get an advanced degree. It would be a pity to earn a Bachelor's from on school only to find that the degree was not accepted at the school where you want to earn your Master's or Doctorate.
Does the program have a brick-and-mortar equivalent? Unfortunately, some online programs have received a bad rap in spite of the fact that most are doing at least as well, if not better, than their non-virtual counterparts. Most state schools that have online programs, and nearly all of them do now, issue the same degree to online students as they do to traditional students. Depending on the field you are going into, this may be very important to you. Also, if you are looking at a school nearby you may be able to take certain class in the traditional setting where that works to your advantage. I wish I could have taken Statistics that way!
How does the program run? Many programs will put you in a cohort with other students and this group takes each course in lock-step through the program. Others are asynchronous, which means you are free to move from one course to another on your own pace. There are advantages to both, so think carefully about which is most important to you.
How much does it cost? Prices for online programs are all over the board. Some time ago I was looking at MBA programs and was stunned at the disparity. The cheapest I found was less than $6,000, the most expensive over $50,000. (The most expensive program included spending six months in China working on a major project, though living and travel expenses were extra.) Doing a cost analysis to see which school gives you the best bang for the buck is well worth the effort.
What is the demand for the degree you intend to earn? Face it, the market is glutted with some degrees and starving for others. Do your homework and make sure that the degree you earn will put you in a position to get the kind of job, career and salary to make it all worthwhile. It's a travesty that far too few students go through this exercise and then graduate with a mountain of debt and no way to pay for it.
How many will be in your class? My wife teaches at a major university and has taught several online units. They tend to be labor intensive with lots of writing for the students and lots of reading for the professor. For that reason, a limited size class will mean you get a lot more direct attention when you need it... and you will need it.
Does the program you are looking at require you to do some training at their facility? Again, programs differ a great deal in this area. Many do not require any on-campus participation, but others require anywhere from a few weeks to a full year. It's something you need to know before you make a decision.
Will you have to be in class at certain times? Some programs require that you be online for chat sessions or for live lectures: some don't. You need to know if you can work your schedule around their requirements.
What kind of online library will your program offer? Online programs typically require a lot of writing so have access to a topnotch online library is essential. The school I went to gave me access to all the best programs and, as a bonus; I still have access to them as an alumnus.
Finally, do you have the self discipline to follow this through? One of the major charges against online programs is that their graduation rates are very low. Part of this has to do with the fact that this is something fairly new and some of the kinks need to be worked out, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that people are not afraid to dip their toes into the online programs and quickly bail out at the first sign of trouble. I would suggest making a long list of all the reasons you want to earn a degree and post it where you can see it every day. The going will get tough, but if you are properly motivated you can overcome.
I was fortunate in that I didn't know to ask these questions but the program I entered ended up working the way I would have chosen. Not to mention the fact that there weren't nearly as many choices when I got my degree. Still, if I were to look for a program today, these would be among the first questions I would ask and at least some should make it to your list as well.
By Jenny J Peterson
In our world today, it is not enough to acquire basic education but rather a bachelor's degree could significantly increase the chance of success in any field of profession. Thus, more and more people are looking for ways to acquire a college degree in ways that is as convenient as possible.
There are many facets in learning. It could happen in a four-cornered room such as the traditional method. It could happen outside and virtually anywhere. Even our own experiences could teach us lessons. However, among these methods of teaching, online learning becomes increasingly popular due to the widespread use of the internet. It was predicted that online learning could be one of the biggest industry in the near future.
Choosing a career path is a serious matter. It should be meditated upon many times to be sure not to regret anything in the future. Thankfully, there is a very wide range of courses that you can choose from online. Whatever is your preference, there is a high chance that there are many schools, colleges and universities offer their services in the World Wide Web.
Basically, all degrees can be achieved in the shortest time possible depending upon the curriculum and program. These degrees include healthcare and medical field, education and teaching, business administration, science and engineering, political science and legal studies, computer and information technology, arts, culture, vocational and career training.
There is a growing trend today for people who have a previous bachelor's degree and wants to have another. This is the accelerated degree program, which is designed to enable individuals to attain a degree in the quickest time as possible. Any degree can be assimilated in this type of program, making it very convenient for any person. This program is centered to the core subjects related to the course. It is a very rigid and intense training since it is a compact and condensed version of a typical four-year course.
If you are looking for ways to graduate as soon as possible, then accelerated degree program is right for you. The good news is, it is also available online and learning could happen at the convenience of your home. If you have internet access and the budget, you could easily go online and search for accredited and licensed institutions that could provide you with the education you need.
Keep in mind that you have the ability to choose which direction you will take. A deeper research and information gathering could help you achieve your goal. This way, you can acquire any degree as quick as possible.
By Jenny J Peterson
Just a couple of years ago, the only way to finish college and earn a degree was to attend school personally. Although many could afford it, there were so many reasons why a person couldn't get a degree. But today there is a much easier and a lot faster option to attain higher education. With the help of the internet, you can now earn a bachelor's degree and even any post graduate degrees in a much shorter amount of time. What's more, you won't need to physically attend school to get a degree. With accelerated online degree programs, you may get the quality education and training that on campus students do.
It is not right, however, to think that having online education will not require any dynamic process. Keep in mind that any goal you set without any plan will just not work out. Your failure to plan is just like preparing yourself to fail. So to make sure you make use of your time wisely and efficiently, here are some tips on how you can earn an online degree in the shortest possible time.
The most basic thing you need to have is a highly reliable computer. Since your education will be based online, make sure that your computer has the latest features and functions to make it reliable enough for online studies.
When choosing a particular degree program, be sure to choose only among the accredited online degree programs. There is no point at all to invest your money and time on an online degree that will not be acknowledged for employment in the future. Also, go for an online school that has years of experience in offering online degrees. It is important that the online college or university you go with is also geared towards accelerated learning.
After choosing the right school, pay attention to your schedule as well. Before you commit to any accelerated online degree program, it is crucial that you know how you are going to manage your time. This is an important step especially for those who are employed and with families. Organizing your own time could mean success or failure of your attempt to get an accelerated online degree.
Take time also to take a look at the online education set up of a particular school. There are certain aspects of it that you would want to know before you enroll in it. One important part of an online course is the technical support system provided by the institution. Since all your lectures are to be conducted online, and that all your resources are internet based as well, you should have all the help and assistance available to you anytime you may need it.
Finally, make sure that you choose an accelerated online degree program that will give you a lot of career and employment opportunities eventually. At the end of the day, this is your main reason for attending an online school. Search the internet for the most in demand and high paying careers that you may study online for.
