Online Associate's Degrees: How Does an Associate's Degree Online Work?

You would like to earn an online associate's degree, and good for you! But is it different in any way from a degree you would earn at a community college or a technical or trade school?

What is an online associate's degree?

An associate's degree usually consists of 60 credits earned over the course of 2 years at a community college or technical or trade school. These credits can then be used to transfer to a 4-year institution, and be counted towards a bachelor's degree (which takes 120 credits to earn). The same number of credits is earned in an online degree program, and these credits, too, can be used to transfer to a bachelor's program. The main difference between an online degree program and one at a brick and mortar community college is that you will not have to live near the college - you will be able to 'attend' from home, work, or anywhere else you are able to access the internet.

Choosing a degree program

While students enrolled at a traditional community college or trade school may often experiment with different courses before deciding upon a course of study, it is more usual for the online associate's degree student to choose a particular program of study before enrolling in an online school.

How are classes scheduled?

Most classes are still scheduled to 'meet' at particular times - everyone will sit down at their computer at the same time, say, every Monday and Wednesday from 7-9 PM (most classes are scheduled at night for the convenience of the working student). There may, however, be some classes that you can take at any time by downloading that week's 'lecture' in the form of notes, a PowerPoint, or video. Community colleges were actually offering 'virtual' classes long before many mainstream universities in the form of classes offered on TV - you would watch each week's class on the public access channel (and these classes were often broadcast at several different times in the week, or you could always record the program and watch it at your convenience), then send in completed homework assignments and tests by mail.

How do classes communicate?

You will use email to communicate with your instructors and fellow students in your program. You might also communicate at pre-arranged times in chat rooms or by instant messaging so the whole class can participate in a discussion. Another type of technology you might use is something called a 'white board' - the instructor can use special pens to draw on a white board in a classroom, and you will be able to see this drawing right on your computer screen.

Filling Out Admission Applications? Tips for a Good Admission Application

One of the most stressful parts of applying to college may be the application process. This article covers the different portions of the admission application and provides some helpful tips that may reduce a student's anxiety.

The College Coach Website defines a college application as, 'a comprehensive summary of a student's entire high school career, encompassing all of the student's triumphs and challenges, wrapped up in a single package to be viewed by complete strangers.' Honestly, that's what the college application really is. If it seems frightening at first, all you may need are some simple tips that may help you get over your application anxiety.

Transcript

Many colleges will want you to fill out the transcript section of the admission application and have you send them an official transcript from your school for confirmation. This section usually asks you about your classes, grades, AP test scores, SATs scores or ACT scores, sports, community service activities, leadership positions, and jobs. You may want to make several copies of your application to use as practice before filling out the real document. This tip may help you avoid using white out to cover up mistakes, thus, making your application look more professional. All of the information that you put on this application should be accurate and honest. You may also want to speak to your counselor about any questions you may have. Your counselor might be willing to check over one of your drafts to see if you have filled the form out correctly.

Personal Statement

Another important aspect of your admissions application is your personal statement, which is usually an essay on a given prompt that often asks you to describe yourself, your mentor, or a significant moment. The College Board website recommends being specific in your essay because 'essays that try to be too comprehensive end up sounding watered-down.' You may also want to try to use a lot of details to make your story come alive. Try to avoid generalities and instead use specifics to help your audience better understand what you're saying.

Your topic doesn't have to be something that extraordinary. (However, if you do have an extraordinary topic, why not use it?) Your topic simply has to mean something to you. If it means something to you, then it'll probably be easier to make your audience care about it also.

Letters of Recommendation

Some universities and colleges require students to send letters of recommendations along with the other sections of the application. They often don't like you to use personal references like your mom or dad. You may want to try asking a teacher, a coach, or a manager to write you a letter of recommendation. Despite whom you may ask, you may want to make sure that you give the person enough time to write a good letter--keep in mind they have prior obligations of their own. The College Board suggests giving the person at least 2 weeks before you need to send it out if you could give them even more time than that would be even better.

When choosing someone, you may want to pick a person who has known you for awhile and has seen you improve. You may also want to provide them with some extra information that might help them have a better sense of you like part-time jobs, some family background, and any challenges in your life.

More Application Tips

Remember to send out your applications on time because you want to have all your hard work to be worth it. For more application tips, you may want to visit www.accepted.com or www.collegeboard.com

US Govt.'s Action Plan for Higher Education

BOARDS & COMMISSIONS

Action Plan for Higher Education: Improving Accessibility, Affordability and Accountability

September 2006

"Over the years, we've invested tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer money and just hoped for the best. We deserve better."

— U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings

A college diploma has become increasingly essential to achieving the American Dream. One year ago, Secretary Spellings formed the bipartisan Commission on the Future of Higher Education to launch a robust national dialogue on the need to strengthen higher education to remain competitive in the 21st century. The Commission's Sept. 19, 2006 final report—A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of Higher Education—found that "U.S. higher education needs to improve in dramatic ways," changing from "a system primarily based on reputation to one based on performance."

Today, Secretary Spellings announces an Action Plan designed to improve higher education's performance and our ability to measure that performance. The proposals will make higher education more accessible, affordable and accountable to students, parents, business leaders and taxpayers.

Accessibility

"There are far too many Americans who want to go to college but cannot—because they're either not prepared or cannot afford it." — Secretary Spellings

To expand access to higher education we must better educate and prepare our students, beginning with high standards and accountability in our public schools.

The Secretary's proposal:

• Strengthen K-12 preparation and align high school standards with college expectations.
• Work with Congress to expand the successful principles of the No Child Left Behind Act to high schools.
• Redesign the 12th-grade NAEP (Nation's Report Card) test to provide state-level estimates of college and workforce readiness.
• Raise awareness and mobilize leadership to address the issue of adult literacy as a barrier to national competitiveness and individual opportunity.
• Develop a federal research agenda for adult literacy to identify strategies, models and programs that work.

Facts and Findings:

"Access to American higher education is unduly limited by... inadequate preparation, lack of information about college opportunities, and persistent financial barriers." — Commission on the Future of Higher Education

• While about 34 percent of white adults have obtained bachelor's degrees by age 25-29, the same was true for just 18 percent of African American adults and 10 percent of Hispanic adults in the same age cohort.
• Forty percent of college students will take at least one remedial education course, at a cost of over $1 billion yearly.
• Over 60 percent of the U.S. population between the ages of 25-64 has no postsecondary education credential (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004).

Affordability

"There is little to no information on why costs are so high and what we're getting in return." — Secretary Spellings

Tuition continues to outpaced inflation, health care costs and family income levels. While funding for Pell Grants has increased nearly 50 percent over the past five years, the financial aid system remains in urgent need of reform. We must streamline the process to help students and families prepare, plan and pay for college.

The Secretary's proposal:

• Simplify the process by partnering with states to use existing income and tax data to help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in half the time.
• Notify students of their estimated aid eligibility before spring of their senior year in high school.
• Work with Congress to provide new funds for need-based aid through the federal financial aid system.
• Commission an independent management consultant review of the federal financial aid system.
• Revitalize the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) to promote innovation and productivity.
• Encourage organizations that report annual college data to develop consistent affordability measures.

Facts and Findings:

"Too many students are either discouraged from attending college by rising costs, or take on worrisome debt burdens in order to do so." — Commission on the Future of Higher Education

• From 1995 to 2005, average tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities rose 51 percent after adjusting for inflation (for private schools, the increase was 36 percent).
• Median debt levels among students who graduated from four-year colleges and universities were $15,500 for public and $19,400 for private institutions.
• State funding growth for higher education has fallen to its lowest level in over two decades.

Accountability

"No current ranking system of colleges and universities directly measures the most critical point—student performance and learning." — Secretary Spellings

In the Information Age, it is essential that clear, comprehensive and comparative data about colleges and universities be collected and made available to students, parents, and policymakers.

The Secretary's proposal:

• Work with a consortium of states to build on and link together the 40 existing, privacy-protected higher education information systems.
• Explore incentives for states and institutions that collect and report student learning outcome data.
• Convene members of the accreditation community to recommend changes to the standards for recognition that will place a greater emphasis on results.
• Redesign the Department of Education's college search website to allow consumers to weigh and compare institutions based on their individual interests and needs.

Facts and Findings:

"Because data systems are so limited and inadequate, it is hard for policymakers to obtain reliable information on students' progress through the educational pipeline." — Commission on the Future of Higher Education

• The U.S. college attainment rate has fallen to 12th among major industrialized countries (source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).
• Total per-student expenditures for higher education averaged over $22,000 annually in 2001, almost twice the average of other major industrialized countries.
• The percentage of college graduates deemed proficient in prose literacy (able to read and extrapolate from a complex text) has declined from 40 to 31 percent in the past decade (source: National Assessment of Adult Literacy)
  

What are the Price Considerations of Online Degrees?

By Keith Hoyng

In this article, we will discuss why considering online degree prices are so important and how you can benefit from this information.

Considering a degree online? If so, it makes sense to relate the pricing of degrees at the schools offered. Some online schools give you honest details of price of courses, while others are unrelenting. Those schools that withhold tuition fees are cynical, because it will make you question what the school is concealing.

For example, to receive a bachelor degree at CTU-Colorado Tech University in Criminal Justice you will shell out around $15,000 give or take. The university helps you find student loans, normally the Stafford loans, Sally Mae, or other associating loans. One of the difficulties I noticed with this university is they are hesitant to help you find Pell grants and/or scholars. They may send out pieces of information, but as far as the financial staff go into with prudence. Of course, you should advance with caution while considering degrees in all areas.

Still, paying the fee for a bachelors differ because some online schools offer associates, which are priced around $1000. Still, the cost is more reasonably priced and an associate degree will land you a career working with the criminal justice system and courts. You can also work in the police management area or law enforcement. Additionally, the degree will land you a status in police study and psychology, security and criminal prevention, or also the juvenile department systems.

A Bachelors degree will bring the same appeal or job positions nevertheless you can work in other areas of the law where you may not be able to work in with merely an Associates degree.

Few universities and online schools are costly. The programs are equivalent to familiar colleges; however, the schools may not help to get you government or federal grants, which could assist you and your family while attending school. Therefore, thinking about online degree pricing is necessary to save money and land the career you want.

We hope that you have gained a little more knowledge concerning the pricing of online degrees presented in the first half of this article. The next part of the article should make online degrees more apparent.

At Colorado Tech you can learn skills and expertise in correctional solutions, official aspects of criminal justice divisions, administration of policymaking, law enforcement and community, laws of evidence in criminal courts, courts in Juvenile divisions, history of law and crime, criminal American procedures, white-collar criminal acts, breakdown of crime scenes, forensic behavior analytical skills and crimes investigated. Students can also take the benefit of the certificates which help you move ahead in education and guiding you nearer to your online degree. The certificates presented include lawful studies and court processing, correctional technician, crime scene examination, and law enforcement proficiency.

As you can see the degree verses the rest present a bit more yet Penn criminal justice degrees have a different scheme. A number of the supplies presented at the schools include textbooks, guides, and supplements. CTU online presents tools for increasing study time, such as Microsoft Works 2000 Professional software and other tools to manage your curriculums.

At any rate, earning a degree in criminal justice may produce rewards in some areas but for the most part working in the law division will only reward you around $26,000 per year. Thinking about that, you are paying around $15,000 for a bachelor degree. You may want to compare the cost to decide if the degree is worth your valuable time.

Other degrees online include healthcare, business and technology. The three listed degrees present a successful outlook because all three industries are on the rise. The new revolutionized developments coming into play make it doable to earn far more than $26, 000 annually. In addition, the careers achieved with these degrees poses less risks. Law enforcement is likely to get into the field of protect and serve but after working for a while, they turn over to control and empower. How thankless this can be for these people with selfish gain in mind.

Therefore, not only is cost a factor when thinking about online degrees, self-esteem, humanity, confidence, dignity, and other aspects are essential as well.

The industries are rising in numerous areas, thus if you are thinking about online degrees, do not only think about pricing rather think about what the degrees can reward you with in the end. Again technology, healthcare and trade are on the increase, which will payoff any school fees quickly and establish overhead.

As they say, knowledge equals power, so continue to read information on this topic until you feel you are adequately educated on the pricing of online degrees.

K Hoyng is the web master and operator of http://www.quickcash2u.com which is an excellent source of online university degree information and much more key information. Visit us at http://www.quickcash2u.com/onlinedegree.html

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Accredited Online College Degrees

By: Max Bellamy

In choosing an online college where you can further your college studies and eventually earn a college degree, it is very important to understand the accreditation processes that are employed to deem colleges and universities accredited sources of online college education.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a validation process employed by associations and institutions of higher learning that checks and evaluates the efficiency of college programs against established standards to ensure a high level of educational quality. This may be done by a formal and extensive review of course descriptions and offerings by faculty members from accredited institutions.

Primary evaluation of the schools’/programs’ objectives, goals, missions, resources, student admission, program requirements, support services, and faculty efficiency and credibility are of foremost consideration by the accrediting board. Accreditation boards differ across countries; some countries employ government-run accreditation agencies while others, such as the United States, have accrediting agencies that are not in any way related to the government but are, rather, private institutions. There are national agencies that measure the course programs against national educational standards, while there are regional accrediting agencies that assess the programs against regional college program standards.

Why is Accreditation Important?

Knowing the accreditation status of your chosen school and online college degree program is important since it presents the value of the degree that you are intending to pursue and pay for. Obtaining an online college degree from non-accredited educational institutions may be futile later on since it may not be recognized by employers, or the credits earned may not be transferable to other schools or universities.

The term “accredited” is used quite loosely by a lot of institutions and must not be mistaken for being “chartered,” “licensed,” “registered,” or “pursuing accreditation.” It is best to review the qualifications of the accrediting agencies that have evaluated the institution. Likewise the accrediting agencies must be checked regarding reputation and credibility against the list of national and regional accrediting agencies.

Online College Degrees provides detailed information on Online College Degrees, Online College Degree Programs, Accredited Online College Degrees, Earn A College Degree Online and more. Online College Degrees is affiliated with Online Bachelors Degrees.

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