Move Over Kids: Online Learning Is for Adults, Too

Online learning is not just for high school students or recent high school graduates. In fact, it is becoming more common for adults to seek online degrees to advance their careers. Many of these new applicants have jobs already and are looking to advance their careers. Others may be looking to change careers, or to make the leap from simply having a job, to having a job that is more rewarding. Many employers actually encourage this amongst their employees, since a more educated work force equates to better job performance and better performance overall for the company. In fact, a lot of companies actually offer full to partial tuition reimbursement to employees seeking those routes. The types of degrees being sought vary widely. Education and business top the list as degrees that most adults seek. A master's degree in education or a doctorate degree in education is usually sought by teachers who already have an education degree but are looking to continue their advancement through an online graduate school. Within that group of educators taking online courses, are those that are specializing in different educational fields. From Assessment Evaluation, to ESL, to Special Education for different age groups, the options are vast. So, for any teacher looking to continue their education within work and financial restraints, online graduate schools are viable options. Options for business degrees range just as much as education degrees and can encompass a wide variety of professions and workplaces. In fact, having first-hand experience might even increase the teacher's ability to use and teach his or her own students using online education tools. From entrepreneurial to established companies, the options for those wishing to pursue an online business degree open up many doors of opportunity. It seems to be the nature of business to take an idea to the next level. Take a look back at how this century alone we as a nation, and as human beings, have progressed in ways of doing business and innovating and revolutionizing ideas. Technology is evolving at an exponential pace, and those in the business world are evolving at the same pace. It is detrimental not only to a company, but also professionally, to lag behind the tech revolution. Degree programs online offer quicker, more affordable solutions to getting an education that will keep pace with these changes. And the added benefit is that you can fit the courses in during your lunch break and after hours, so you never have to sacrifice work time for study time. While online education for high school students is getting increasingly popular, those already in the work force have always been the main audience. Hybrid courses which combine online and face-to-face learning, are popular amongst high school age students, and have been attended by adult students as well.

Online Agriculture Studies

Today a large amount of economic trade between countries is the exchange of agricultural goods. This market of the economy deals with more than just the actual exchange of goods. There are a wide range of responsibilities within the industry that individuals can learn through online education. Many accredited online schools offer degree distinctions in every facet of the agricultural industry. Prospective students interested in this field of study will be able to earn their education solely through online agriculture studies. In its most basic definition agriculture is the production of food and products through some form of farming. Study in this area can have students learning about a wide range of disciplines through online agriculture schools and colleges. Students can earn an education online from an associate's degree to a PhD in the field. The options for a concentration are vast, which allows students to earn an education in a specific part of the industry they are most interested in. Specific concentrations include: Wildlife Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Economics Environmental Sustainability Management ...and more. Education requirements will vary depending on the college selected and what degree a student is trying to obtain. An associate's degree or bachelor's degree will give students a foundation of principles and procedures to build upon whether they enter the professional work place or gain more education. Most degree programs at this level could take two to four years for a student to complete. Concepts and topics covered in undergraduate study include agricultural research, basic methods of production of products, farm life in connection with how livestock and plants are grown, how to take soil samples, and much more. Students who continue education and obtain a master's or a PhD could be studying agriculture for another three to six years depending on the concentration the student has selected. A master's degree program will give students knowledge directly related to one area. Many programs focus on a specific area and enable students with the techniques to successfully manage agricultural procedures for the area they are studying. Skills that could be learned include how to run a ranch, analyze crops, and how to use certain equipment for job related tasks. Upon completion students will be able to enter higher education at the PhD level or transition into the industry in pursuit of their career. Gaining a PhD in the field will greatly benefit a student who wants to enter the top levels of work within the industry. As a result the schooling process is not a super fast one but an in depth study into the specific area of agriculture a student is going into. Study at this level not only requires more knowledge but it tests the student's knowledge. PhD programs will have students immersed in high-level courses and seminars. Doctoral students are required at the end of coursework to present a dissertation proposal, conduct research, and finally present and defend their dissertation. PhD options in the field are wide and students can choose from concentrations that include horticulture, soil science, forestry, agronomy, and more. Don't let your passion of agriculture pass you by. Start on your career path today by enrolling in an accredited degree program. The Distance Education and Training Council ( ) approved programs for full accreditation in order to prove that they can offer a quality educational experience. Search out online agriculture colleges that offer degree programs and concentrations that fit your career goals and schedule. DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org. Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Why Online Degrees Are on the Rise

With today's online society ever increasing, so goes the upward trend in getting online degrees. These days, there is no longer the need to be tied to a brick and mortar classroom taking notes at a specific time in order to work toward and eventually receive one's degree. Almost every university these days offers some type of online class schedule or even full degree programs. These universities simply set up parallel courses that allow their students to obtain the same degree as those who opt to attend classes. Online degrees offer such flexibility and convenience that almost anyone's busy schedule will be able to slot the time to study. For many busy parents and single parents, accredited online universities offer a great opportunity to either finish that degree they started or just get going from scratch with their college education or certifications. Online university degrees even go beyond the convenience factor. Many accredited online universities offer degree credits toward life experiences that you already have obtained. This has allowed many to obtain what is known as life experience degrees. This type of degree offers great flexibility in that one can pursue a degree in a field of great experience or interest and be in line with current market trends and demands. This truly offers the student much more opportunity for personal growth, satisfaction, and opportunity. Many people find the online degree educational path just as fulfilling while at the same time being less stressful due to the flexibility they have when it comes to getting the classwork. Online degrees or degree advancement is a perfect vehicle for working adults who either want to finish the degree they started or receive certification that will enable them to advance both their career and their salary range. By getting your online degree from an accredited online university, you will have all the career advantages of that from a traditional brick and mortar degree... with less expense and a schedule that better fits your current lifestyle.

Online Accounting Courses Vs Traditional Accounting Courses

If you are thinking of pursuing a degree in accounting, the first thing you will need to decide is if you are going to get your degree using online accounting courses vs. traditional courses. Years ago, this was not even an option to consider. Now, in these innovative times full of advanced technology, more and more college campuses and specialized online programs have implemented degree programs specifically tailored to help busy people pursue their degree in an alternative way: entirely through online course work. There are benefits to both routes of study though, and it is important to weigh all your options. Online Courses: Online courses have both positives and negatives. The positives are overwhelming and make it seem crazy for anyone to think of pursuing coursework through the old fashioned way of being tied down to a classroom. First, it is important to recognize you can typically pursue your online degree on your own time frame. Not only can you take classes whenever you want, which is a huge benefit to people with full time jobs and stay at home parents, but you can often complete your courses much quicker by utilizing online courses. Rather than having to wait for the specific courses you need to be scheduled, and also to have class availability (which is often difficult with enrollment), you can sign up for classes at the same time as other classes, without overlap or conflict. For many, this is the ONLY option. If someone has a full time 9-5 job or takes care of their children during the day, it would take them many years to find appropriately scheduled night classes in all the specific classroom hours the degree requires. These kinds of people need flexible scheduling to suit their already busy lives. Online accounting courses are often the only option to get their degree done in a quick time frame. Another benefit is that you can complete your coursework anywhere, as long as you have access to a computer. This means a stay at home mom can complete coursework while her child naps. People can take classes late at night or on weekends if that is what their full time jobs require. For others who are travel for work, if they have internet access, they can complete their courses in different places through the computer. But for as many great benefits as online courses offer, there are just as many positive aspects of going the old fashioned route. Traditional classroom courses: If it was a no-brainer, colleges would go out of business because everyone would be taking online courses. But college classes have their own benefits. Although online colleges brag up their support structure and how you have access to teachers, there is nothing like being in a classroom. Not only do you have the ability to easily ask questions to your professor and get clarification quickly on topics, but just learning in a face to face environment often causes more of the material to sink in. Also, being in the classroom allows you to form bonds with other students. By sharing your knowledge with others, and also getting different perspectives on the way others think, you can get even more out of interacting with others in the classroom. Classroom learning also offers benefits like the other professors, advisors, and department chairs that can help with your learning, and something as simple as the college library can make a difference. Although everything you need IS available on the internet, the library system offers a wide variety of knowledge AND a quiet place to study. The decision of whether to take online accounting courses vs. traditional courses is a difficult one, and can only be decided by each individual student based on their criteria of what fits best in their daily lives.

Education Locator For Distance Education

The Internet has really changed the lives of people now. Where before it took a lot of money to earn a college degree, now it is much cheaper and easier to get the same degree from online schools offering the degree programs. One can just search for distance learning institutions by using an education locator. These online schools have given the poorer young people the chance to achieve higher learning goals through their very own efforts and hard work, because they can do their studies even with minimal support of their parents. The less affluent families which have a hard time supporting the college education of their children are now saved this huge amount of money requirement on the family budget - their working sons and daughters manage now to acquire college degrees while working even on menial jobs. This is because the cost for an online education is much less than the conventional schooling of previous years. As long as a student is familiar with the computer and the Internet, he can very well pursue his higher education targets even while working for a living. In fact, children now - even of the poorer families - get to know the workings of the Internet through the Internet cafes in Asian countries which is a thriving business for the lower classes in society. The cafes are also the market for the discarded older models of computers that were phased out by the manufacturers as newer models they have come up with hit the market. Somehow, the older computer models find great use in the Internet cafes now proliferating for the use of the masses. These people do not have individual computers in their homes. It is even possible to pursue online education by just using the Internet cafes in the neighborhood. Poor students do not really have to own their computers; they just pay the cheap hourly rates in the cafes, and they can "attend" their online classes regularly. One who excels in online education is as good as the conventional college graduate - if not even better. Since the business world now is very much into the use of the Internet in their business operations, one who finished his education online is even at a big advantage over the conventional school graduate. The online schooling he went through in pursuing his degree has honed his computer and Internet skills through the years. Are you hesitating to go on to college because your folks do not have the money to support your studies? Do not despair - try distance learning - it is not really hard to do your college studies this way. All you need is your willingness to work hard at your degree - with a lot of self-discipline of course.

Can You Still Play Sports in Cyber School?

An uncharacteristically sunny day in October; A tennis tournament in Pennsylvania, approximately 8:30 a.m. Third and final set in a semi-finals tennis game. If we just get this one last point we will make it to the finals. The other team serves the ball to me. I messed up. Shoot! If we miss this point then the other team has a good chance at catching up and winning. She serves to my partner. My partner hits the ball. It goes down the alleys. The other girl sprints to the ball. She's so close. She...She...Missed it! My tennis partner and I have just made it to the finals and knocked out a really good team! That was one of those moments that I don't think I'll be forgetting anytime soon! It was an awesome moment where my tennis partner and I got to the finals in a tennis competition. The funny thing is that this was both our first year on varsity and our first time in a competition that a lot of our competition had been to a couple years now. We weren't even seeded! We were definitely the upset in the competition. Sadly we lost in the finals, but we still got medals! So really we won. Also the girls we played against in the finals were very nice, and so we were happy for them even though they beat us. Sports have a funny way like that. They teach us tremendous lessons in life; Lessons like how to accept defeat, how to work with a team, how to have confidence in your abilities and how to keep a clear head in the midst of desperation. This is especially prevalent in sports like tennis, golf or volleyball where strategy is about 95% of the game. I've always played sports, whether it is soccer, cheer leading, lacrosse, volleyball or gymnastics. Many of the ones I played not being very competitive or long, but they are all things I've tried. Without sports I would be different. I wouldn't have learned how to work with a team or even have as much confidence as I do now (just a side note confidence is actually an extremely important part of sports that not many people think of). Sports can be an important part of young life. So the question is can you still play sports when you are doing cyber school? The answer (in most cases) is yes! This year I was able to play tennis even though I am in cyber school. It's helpful that I am in a cyber school through the school that I played for, but even if that's not the case you can still usually play sports for a school district. Of course some schools may have different rules for this, but every school I have come in contact with welcomes cyber school and home school students to play on their sports teams and get involved. The only problem that doing sports in cyber school can put you out of the loop on cancellations, delays and other things they announce in school. I would call the school a lot asking them if they had heard if tennis was cancelled or not due to rain. I expected them to one day pick up the phone and say, "No Kelly, there is no practice today." It wasn't way too big of a problem, but one time I did come late to a practice. You see it was a game day and raining. So I called the school and they told me the game was cancelled, but apparently sometime after I called there was an announcement that we would still be having practice because the rain had stopped. Long story short I got there, and then about ten minutes later they cancelled it because it had started to rain again. Another thing I had to do extra was call in to see if I could do things like pick up spirit wear and go to a pep rally with my team. They let me do the pep rally, but I felt a little behind on what my team was planning to do to get ready for it in the morning when I couldn't be there. It was all fine though and really fun! Besides the little inconveniences it was also helpful to be cyber schooled because I was more rested for games and didn't have to haul all of my stuff around with me for the whole entire day. So don't let sports be a major deterrent from doing cyber school.

How to Get Your Online Psychology Degree

An online degree program that is currently in demand these days is directed towards psychology. If you want to become a psychologist later on, an online psychology degree will open doors to knowing more about mental health. This is because psychology is the study of the human behavior and the human mind. If you are really into studying psychology, a degree can be earned online. Getting your online degree will still have the same set up as if you were in a traditional classroom, with the study of the human behavior and how people function mentally. It can be a tedious task, however because enrolling for an online psychology degree requires research and patience. First thing you should do is to pick a degree level. If you are a college graduate already but would want to pursue higher education, then maybe an associate's degree or a master's degree is what you're looking for. Years of completion vary so this is one issue you can ask the school you are planning to enroll in. Remember though, that a psychology degree will have difference specializations. The most popular and in demand specializations today are child psychology, career psychology and adolescent psychology. An online psychology degree will be flexible with your schedule. Thus you can choose the hours you will need to be online which will include the following tasks: take exams, access your coursework, and maybe even participate in classroom discussions. If you are pursuing higher education, prerequisite subjects will include social sciences, biology, behavioral psychology, research methods and other courses connected to mental health. This means that you should have garnered enough units of this subject in order for you to qualify in the course. Every state requirement differs. Others states require internship while others do not. So be sure about this and don't forget to research. People who have degrees in psychology later work in the human resource personnel of companies, become psychologists or guidance counselors. This is because, the training they get with their online psychology degree helps them read one's actions and behavior. They are able to look into the reasons why such behavior exists in that person. It is this field of study that makes the student capable of reading another person's behavior and actions. There is a continuing demand for psychologists in institutions. Thus, an online degree in psychology will prove beneficial and fulfilling for you.

Social Work Online Programs - Do You Like Working With People?

If you enjoy working with people and helping them with their problems whether you like giving advice or providing methods for them to help themselves, you probably should consider a social work degree or psychology doctorate program. A social science degree is what allows people to get jobs in the field of social work which can let you work with all kinds of people. You can help children, adults, the elderly, and even take a job with the government. If this sounds like your cup of tea, there are social work online programs available for you. There are also research as well as administrative positions available at mental health clinics. Many colleges and universities offer online courses which could allow you to get your entire degree online. There are also online colleges that specialize in social work degrees and have a wide selection of classes you can take that will meet your major's requirement. If you already know what part of the social work field you want to get into, you can register for classes that are specific to that field. Getting your degree online is a great way to not have to worry about changing your schedule while still acquiring what you need for your career. There are many ways that online classes are run such as discussion forums for you and your classmates, video lectures from your professors, and easy access to turn in assignments through email. You will even be able to take all of your quizzes and tests through the college website. Since you won't need to interrupt your life to fulfill your life goal with social work online programs, there's no reason not to sign up today. Schools like Canyon College, Campbellsville and Brescia University offer bsw and msw degrees.

How Much Should Parents Contribute to UK University Fees?

Funding for UK university students is a contentious issue at the moment with many hoping for a reversion to the grant system of the past, and others believing that loans are the best way forward. As it stands, student funding for most will probably still come from The Student Loans Company, but it is typical for parents to pay towards higher education also. So how much should parents contribute to UK university fees? According to The Student Loans Company (slc.co.uk), parents are expected to contribute a certain amount to their children's higher education after an assessment from the Learning Education Authority (LEA). Currently, if their income is in excess of £21,475, they should contribute a minimum of £45, with an additional £1 for every £9.50 of their income that breaches that limit. In 2007 The Guardian published research findings from Unite, a student accommodation specialist. Their survey found that one in five first year students were receiving a bursary to aid them, yet there was still an eight per cent rise of the number of students in debt in comparison to the year before, and the average spend for students at university was £13,000. The report also showed that over 93 per cent of students also relied on their parents for financial support in conjunction with loans and bursaries. Payments from parents were said to cover essentials such as food and accommodation, with the average amount given for each student as £4000. In 2008 however, it seems that financial issues for parents has become more serious. Debts now are far higher, according to Blog Jono (blogjono.blogspot.com, a blog written by a student for students), debts are more in the region of £22,000. He also states that according to a Norwich Union survey, 46 per cent of parents are now urging their children to study part time whilst working in order to avoid such debt. Yet, perhaps the most significant statistics are seen in the lack of correlation between the government help for parents on low income (£2,385), whilst the average student fees are now in excess of £3,000. It is no surprise that many more are being tempted by online and part time education, and that the debts and dependence continue to increase so sharply. But in the past, didn't university represent a young person's movement into independence?

Selecting the Right Database Course - Options

What could a trainee searching for training tracks certified by Microsoft expect from providers these days? Undoubtedly, training organisations should be offering a range of different options that cover the portfolio of Microsoft authorised training routes. You may wish to consider all the options with somebody who knows about the commercial demands for IT staff, and has the ability to guide you towards the best kind of work to suit your abilities and character. When you've chosen the career path you want, a relevant course needs to be chosen that's is in line with your ability level and skill set. You should expect to be offered a bespoke package for your requirements. If you're like many of the students we talk to then you're a practical sort of person - a 'hands-on' person. If you're like us, the world of book-reading and classrooms is something you'll make yourself do if you have to, but it's not ideal. You should use video and multimedia based materials if books just don't do it for you. Memory is vastly improved when all our senses are brought into the mix - this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for as long as we can remember. Find a course where you'll receive a library of CD and DVD based materials - you'll start with videos of instructor demonstrations, followed by the chance to fine-tune your skills in fully interactive practice sessions. Each company you're contemplating should be able to show you a few samples of their training materials. You're looking for evidence of tutorial videos and demonstrations and a wide selection of interactive elements. It's usually bad advice to go for purely on-line training. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from your average broadband company, ensure that you have access to disc based courseware (On CD or DVD). How long has it been since you considered your job security? For most of us, we only think of this after something goes wrong. But really, the reality is that true job security simply doesn't exist anymore, for all but the most lucky of us. Wherever we find growing skills deficits together with escalating demand of course, we often discover a newer brand of security in the marketplace; driven forward by a continual growth, businesses struggle to find enough staff. A recent British e-Skills analysis showed that more than 26 percent of all IT positions available haven't been filled mainly due to a lack of appropriately certified professionals. Showing that for each 4 job positions available across computing, we have only 3 certified professionals to fulfil that role. This distressing notion reveals an urgent requirement for more commercially trained computer professionals across the country. Quite simply, retraining in Information Technology during the coming years is almost definitely the best choice of careers you could make. At times individuals don't really get what information technology means. It's electrifying, revolutionary, and puts you at the fore-front of developments in technology that will change our world over the next few decades. We've barely started to get an inclination of how technology will affect our lives in the future. The internet will profoundly alter the way we regard and interact with the world around us over the years to come. If money is way up on your list of priorities, you'll welcome the news that the regular income for the majority of IT staff is much better than with most other jobs or industries. The search for properly certified IT professionals is assured for many years to come, thanks to the constant development in this sector and the massive shortage still in existence. One area often overlooked by potential students weighing up a particular programme is the issue of 'training segmentation'. This basically means how the program is broken down into parts for delivery to you, which completely controls the point you end up at. Drop-shipping your training elements one stage at a time, according to your exam schedule is the normal way of receiving your courseware. This sounds logical, but you might like to consider this: What would happen if you didn't finish every section at the speed they required? Often the prescribed exam order doesn't work as well as another different route may. Ideally, you want ALL the study materials up-front - meaning you'll have all of them to return to any point - as and when you want. Variations can then be made to the order that you complete your exams if you find another route more intuitive.