Get Your University Degree Online: The Art Institute Online university review and university evaluation
A brief look at the university – The Art Institute Online university review and university evaluation
The Art Institute Online (commonly known by its abbreviation AiO) is the online branch of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Since October 2007, it has been renamed The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division. This online arts institution offers degree programs, associate programs, as well as non-degree diploma courses in a variety of fields, catering to the diverse and creative needs of students. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division is known to be the leader in Online Creative Arts Education and it is part of The Art Institutes system of schools with more than 40 locations throughout North America. Founded in 1921, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh's degree programs are delivered according to your terms and schedules though our online programs, allowing much flexibility in pursuing your choice education. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division not only enables busy people to attend art training and education, but also serves as an online class environment for in-campus Art Institute students.
Regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, as a division of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division offers sixteen online degree programs, all of which serve to launch your lifelong dream career or enhance your creative career. The online class environment focuses much on interaction, making classroom discussion and participation in the learning experience key aspects of the adapted learning model. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division, being an online school, is technology-driven and students must have required software and reasonably proficient computer skills to attend.
At The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division, you will find a true campus experience and online classes available at your fingertips, anytime and anywhere. "Our interactive online environment connects our students with one another with traditional student services like tutoring, academic advising and career services – and with our instructors who are experienced practitioners in their field. Our students experience more than just online classes – they get many of the benefits of a campus experience." They say that; you should try it out and see it for yourself.
Which university courses are offered here at The Art Institute Online?
Here are some of the programs and diplomas offered at The Art Institute Online. More information can be retrieved from the relevant websites at your own time.
Bachelor Programs
Advertising
Culinary Management
Fashion & Retail Management
Game Art & Design
Graphic Design
Hotel & Restaurant Management
Interior Design
Media Arts and Animation
Photography
Web Design & Interactive Media
Associate Programs
Graphic Design
Kitchen & Bath Design
Web Design & Interactive Media
Diplomas
Digital Design
Residential Planning
Web Design
Finance and other important matters
All these valuable information were gleaned from Wikipedia, the Art Institute Online official website, and also other sources.
All students may qualify for several forms of aid, including:
Federal Student Aid
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Academic Competitive Grant (ACG)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Federal Work-Study
Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Parent PLUS Loans
Private Student Aid
Private Loan Programs in conjunction with Sallie Mae
Scholarships and Grants
A number of states, including Pennsylvania, also offer educational grants. Some states permit their residents to use these grants at schools outside of the state. Also, students may search for scholarships that are not affiliated with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division on the Internet.
More importantly, help with financial planning is available for all students. All you need to do is book an appointment with the officer-in-charge or financial aid counselor. The Student Financial Services team here at the Art Institute Online, is always ready to offer you sound advice and help as you develop a suitable financial aid package to cover your tuition and fees. The trained officers can help to draw up an affordable and personalized payment schedule and guide you in identifying opportunities that may reduce your tuition fees.
For additional resources, you can look up the relevant websites to locate the required details!
Why you should study at The Art Institute Online and my own personal recommendations
I personally recommend The Art Institute Online or better known, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division as a choice university for students who want an arts education that provides recognition and flexibility. This educational institution leverages more than 85 years of creative arts excellence and prepares students for rewarding creative careers.
“Our online classes are designed for creative individuals like you who demand both the quality that The Art Institutes schools deliver and the flexibility of an online program. Our students are able to advance their education and transform their lives, all while maintaining their busy work and family schedules.”
This is the institute’s take on the matter. Accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has validated the quality of the educational programs and services offered by The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. With a quality creative arts education your future deserves and the flexibility and convenience your life needs, look no further! The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division, authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to award Bachelor of Science and Associate of Science degrees, could be the choice university of your dreams!
Thanks for reading and I hope that an online arts education at The Art Institute Online can help you achieve your personal goals, maximize your creativity and reach for the sky. Cheers and thank you very much for staying here with me!
Get your university degree online - degree reviews and university reviews
Get Your University Degree Online: The Art Institute Online university review and university evaluation
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science - University and Online Degree Reviews
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science - University and Online Degree Reviews
A brief look at the university – Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS) is a private graduate school located in North Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is located to the south of the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and the North Chicago VA Hospital. The institution formerly had another name, but was renamed in honour of Rosalind Franklin, the well-known DNA crystallographer, whose work with X-ray crystallography provided the data and scientific basis for description of the structure of DNA, the single most important advance of modern biology. In fact, the Seal of the University brings to mind Photograph 51, which is her X-ray diffraction pattern for B-DNA, something that was pivotal in the history of biology. All these make for interesting history!
RFUMS, then known as The Chicago Hospital-College of Medicine was founded in Chicago by a group of physicians and community leaders. From the beginning, this university, long known as The Chicago Medical School, rejected the use of quotas to limit minority enrolment. The leaders of the school believed that only a student’s merit should play a role in the admissions process. The university offers over 15 study programs in graduate health-related subjects. RFUMS provides PhD programs for medical and basic research. There are approximately 1,500 students enrolled at the university and there are over 700 faculty members.
Which university courses are offered here at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science?
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science organizes programs into four schools with various clinical, postgraduate and postdoctoral degrees:
The Chicago Medical School
The College of Health Professions
The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
The Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine
The various clinical, postgraduate and postdoctoral degrees offered at this institution are:
The Chicago Medical School (clinical degrees with specialization in the different departments)
• Anesthesiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Family & Preventive Medicine
• Medicine
• Neurology
• Obstetrics/Gynaecology
• Ophthalmology
• Pathology
• Paediatrics
• Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Radiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Surgery
The College of Health Professions
• Biomedical Sciences (MS)
• Clinical Counseling (BS, MS)
• Clinical Laboratory Sciences (MS)
• Healthcare Administration and Management (Certificate, MS)
• Interprofessional Studies (DSc, PhD)
• Medical Radiation Physics (MS, PhD)
• Nurse Anesthesia (MS)
• Nutrition (MS)
• Pathologists' Assistant (MS)
• Physical Therapy (MS, DPT)
• Physician Assistant (MS, Post-Graduate Residencies, Teaching Fellowship)
• Psychology (PhD)
• Women’s Health (Certificate, MS)
The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
• Biomedical research (PhD)
The Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (clinical degrees with specialization in the different departments)
• Applied Biomechanics
• Basic Biomedical Sciences
• Clerkship and Residency Placement
• Medicine
• Radiology
• Special Programs and Continuing Education
• Surgery
Some of the university degrees or educational certificates are not offered on physical campuses but online, instead, and some of the online degrees of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science are not offered at the various physical campuses, so do look out and more research is required. Do be sure to read up and conduct more research.
Finance and other important matters here at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
All these valuable information was gleaned from Wikipedia, the college website itself, and also other varied online sources:
Tuition varies based upon course selection, location and the number of courses studied each quarter.
There are various forms of financial aid and other services available, some of which are:
• Federal Student Loans
• Grants
• Scholarships
• Private Loans
• Federal Student Loans
Federal student loans are available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, who are in good academic standing and enrolled at least half time. Federal loans are given through the University and serviced by a private loan service-provider. Sallie Mae services most Federal loans from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
To be eligible for Federal aid, all applicants must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and use the RFUMS school code 001659. More information on Federal Student Aid eligibility can be found on the university’s online website. Federal Aid includes Subsidized Stafford, Unsubsidized Stafford, Grad PLUS, Federal Perkins Loans, Health Professions Student Loan and the Federal Loan Consolidation. The federal loan aggregate limit for professional and graduate students has been recently increased to US$224,000.
• Grants
Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are awarded based on the level of enrolment (the number of credits being taken per term) and financial need as determined by federal formulae. In addition, there are also Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants, which do not need to be repaid, given to Illinois residents who demonstrate financial need, based on the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Scholarships
Many scholarships go unclaimed every year because qualified students are not applying for them. Many students at the graduate level mistakenly believe scholarships are only available to undergraduates. There are many scholarships and scholarship programmes and they include Gerber Fellowship in Paediatric Nutrition, Illinois Department of Public Health: Medical Student Scholarship Program, National Medical Fellowships Need-based Scholarship, The Institute for Diversity in Health Management Minority Scholarships and much more!
• Private Loans
When other funding sources are exhausted, students often utilize private loans to meet the costs of their university education. Private loans are credit based, and cannot be certified for more than the financial aid budget.
The Grad PLUS is a private loan available to graduate and professional students. The comparison chart below is an overview of the Grad PLUS loan as well as two other private loans: The Medloans ALP (MD students only) and the Signature Loan (utilized by undergraduate and International students). The majority of students (including medical students) utilize the Grad PLUS program, however the choice of private loan is up to the borrower and is not limited to the three reviewed below. Some of the available loans and the comparisons between them are:
Options: (1) Medloans ALP
(2) Grad PLUS
(3) Signature
Origination Fee
(1) 0%
(2) 3%
(3) 0%
Repayment or Supplemental Fees
(1) 1.5%
(2) 0%
(3) 0% - 6% (depends upon borrower credit)
Other Fees
(1) 0%
(2) 1% “default fee”
(3) 0%
Interest Rate Formula
(1) Prior to repayment: Prime + 0% (variable monthly); In repayment: Prime + 2% (variable monthly)
(2) 8.5% (fixed)
(3) Interest rate formula depends upon borrower credit: Prime – 0.25%; Prime +0.5%;
Prime + 1%; Prime + 1.75%; Prime + 2%; Prime + 6% (variable monthly)
Interest Capitalization
(1) Unpaid interest capitalizes when repayment begins.
(2) Unpaid interest capitalizes when repayment begins.
(3) Unpaid interest capitalizes when repayment begins.
Grace Period
(1) 36 months (if entering residency program after graduation)
(2) No grace period
(3) 6 months
Deferment Options
(1) None
(2) Up to 3 years economic hardship
(3) Up to 4 years for residency program
Maximum Repayment Time
(1) Up to 20 years
(2) Up to 25 years (up to 30 years with consolidation)
(3) Up to 30 years
Eligible for Federal Consolidation?
(1) No
(2) Yes
(3) No
Borrower Benefits Available?
(1) Yes; Direct Repay – 0.25% interest rate reduction; MEDLOANS Rewards – Upon repayment, receive immediate 0.5% reduction (on time payments required) With benefits, may get current interest rates down as low as 9.0% in repayment (Prime + 1.25%)
(2) Yes; Sallie Mae offers an initial 0.25% interest rate reduction. Additional rate reductions available during repayment for on-time payments and automatic debit. According to Sallie Mae, borrowers may get interest rates down as low as 6.75%.
(3) None
Why you should study there and my own personal recommendations
I think that Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science’s established name in the field of medicine and science, as well as the wide variety of choice for various certificates, degrees, postgraduate and postdoctoral degrees in the university appeals to me. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is a national leader in medical and healthcare education. Moreover, the degrees offered are fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The university advocates academic excellence, furthers innovative research, serves with integrity, and respects diversity. Of course, the question is whether the course you want is offered at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Overall, I would recommend this university as the degrees offered are well received and relevant and there are no known controversies. Last but not least, this could be the university that you are looking for, with its diverse range for a good and affordable university education!
The mission says it well: Life in Discovery. All the best in the journey of your life as you learn and discover new things!
Thanks for reading this university review and cheers!
Get your university degree online! - Welcome to my online site where I evaluate, review and examine online degrees, degree programmes and various universities so that you can make an informed choice or be pointed in various directions to explore universities further!
Welcome to the new year, 2009 - Welcome to Get Your University Degree Online!
Welcome to the new year, 2009 - Welcome to Get Your University Degree Online!
Welcome!
Welcome to my universities review site, where I write about universities, online degrees, degree programmes, and basically have a look at all sorts of educational institutions and educational degree programmes from all over the world, from physical campuses offering online degrees and physical normal degrees to online degrees from pure online colleges.
This year, in 2009, I intend to cover and review the following universities and online colleges and schools here on my universities review site:
Medical College of Georgia
Pitt Community College
Rasmussen College
Regent University
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
San Joaquim Valley College
Simmons College
Simon Fraser University
St Petersburg College
Stetson University Virtual School
The Art Institute Online
Thomson Education Direct
Touro University International
University of Saint Mary
University of Southern Indiana
University of St Augustine
US Sports Academy
Utica College
Vincennes University
Westwood College
I will be using the same standards and the same formatting, as per last year, 2008. I will write a brief history of the school and its historical achievements and educational qualifications and accreditation. These are of course valuable information for potential students. Then I will write about the various degree programmes and the various subjects available. The subjects are usually very stable (as one doesn't really expect a medical college to suddenly start offering arts degrees and suddenly stopping their most famous medicine and pharmacy programmes). Then I will write about finances, which may be very important to some people who need a cost effective education, and not so important information for some other people who have more money. Finally come my personal opinions and personal recommendations, in my own way, and from what I have read and what I have gleaned in the process of my research. I have done a lot of research into several schools already and have painstakingly documented all my writing in various posts here on my site, on various universities. You can access various subjects and programmes by using the right hand sidebar here on my site, and you can always select via labels as well.
Do have a look around and you must always remember, you're welcome to Get Your University Degree Online! :)
Thanks and cheers; thanks for reading. More to come in future posts! Stay tuned.
Get Your University Degree Online welcome message for 2009
More online colleges and major universities offering online degrees
More online colleges and major universities offering online degrees
Initially, I wanted to write about UK online universities or degrees offered by UK universities, but then I realised that there was no major list of UK universities offering dedicated online degrees, unlike the USA. In addition, some of the UK universities did offer online degrees but only in some limited areas and mainly depended upon physical campuses and students studying with them to make money. In addition to that, in its turn, studying online also means that location and area of any particular university is not much of a problem, although it should be said that someone looking at a degree from an institution may indeed look at where the degree came from, whether or not it was a normal university degree read at a physical campus or an online degree read at an online university of from distance learning, for that matter. So I decided instead to write a summary of major online colleges and online universities apart from those that I already wrote on. How am I going to do that? Simple. Having looked at the top 50 universities and colleges, I simply remove those that I have already researched on and then narrow my topic to the really good universities that I should be evaluating and talking about.
According to my research, and also according to sources online (2008), here are more online universities and online colleges that offer good, accredited and recognised online degrees and online MBAs and masters programmes. On the right hand side bar of my site, you can see the other universities and institutions that I have researched on already as well as a summary of US online colleges and online education institutions in the USA.
Without further ado, here is the list of the other major online universities offering online degrees (most of the members on this list are actually established universities offering online programmes, rather than purely online universities dedicated only to offering online programmes - many of the universities have physical campuses and a physical presence in the places and countries of their origin):
A. T. Still University
Barton County Community College
Bellevue University
Bryant and Stratton Online
Canadian Virtual University
Champlain University
Crown College
ECPI College of Technology
Ellis College
Everglades University
Florida Metropolitan University
Jones International University
Keiser College
Kettering University
LeTourneau University
Medical College of Georgia
Pitt Community College
Rasmussen College
Regent University
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
San Joaquim Valley College
Simmons College
Simon Fraser University
St Petersburg College
Stetson University Virtual School
The Art Institute Online
Thomson Education Direct
Touro University International
University of Saint Mary
University of Southern Indiana
University of St Augustine
US Sports Academy
Utica College
Vincennes University
Westwood College
These are all the universities that have been taken from the top 50 list of best online universities, and I have removed the universities that I have already looked at in this site here.
I will therefore be covering and looking at these universities here on my site in the course of my university evaluations and university reports. Remember to ask yourself questions and compare and contrast between the various online universities and online colleges evaluated and reported on here. All these universities mentioned above, and more, to appear on Get Your University Degree Online. Happy reading and lots of luck with your online degree and online education! Cheers.
Get your university degree online!
University of Phoenix online degrees
University of Phoenix online
Founded in 1976, the University of Phoenix is the largest private university in North America offering hundreds of learning centres, lots of online degree programmes in both classroom and online formats, with an online, campus and FlexNet programme, which is really unique for online education.
This Flexnet programme of the University of Phoenix allows basically an interaction between the class and online studies, which is a rather novel idea. Partly done in the class and partly online degrees allow for both interaction in the class as well as online learning, and might be a better option for those people who have motivation problems or a procrastination habit. The campuses for online degree programmes and Flexnet are available throughout the USA, so I have decided to include the list here for your convenience:
The University of Phoenix campuses in the USA
Arkansas Little Rock
Arizona Phoenix and Tucson
California Bakersfield, Diamond Bar, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose
Colorado, Colorado Springs, Lone Tree
Florida, Jacksonville, Maitland, Plantation, Temple Terrace
Georgia, Atlanta, Colombus, Savannah
Hawaii, Honolulu
Iowa, West Des Moines
Idaho, Meridian
Illinois, Schaumburg
Indiana, Indianapolis
Kansas, McPherson
Kentucky, Louisville
Louisiana, Metairie
Massachusetts, Braintree, Norfolk
Maryland, Colombia
Michigan, Grand Rapids, Troy
Minnesota, St Louis Park
Missouri, Kansas City, Springfield, St Louis
North Carolina, Charlotte, Raleigh
Nebraska, Omaha (where Warren Buffett resides, if I am not wrong?)
New Jersey, Jersey City
New Mexico, Albuquerque
Nevada, Las Vegas, Reno
Ohio, Cincinnati, Columbus, Independence
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Tulsa,
Oregon, Tigard
Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Wayne
Puerto Rico, Guaynabo
Tennessee, Cordova, Nashville
Texas, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio
Utah, Salt Lake City
Virginia, Reston, Richmond
Washington, Seattle, Spokane
Wisconsin, Brookfield
Wyoming, Cheyenne
The University of Phoenix campuses in Canada:
Alberta, Canada Calgary
British Columbia, Canada Burnaby
The University of Phoenix offers the whole range of degree and certificate programmes: from associate degrees to doctoral degrees, and of course all of them have varying and different requirements. Accounting, business, MBA of course, Public Administration and Technology are among the varied online degree programmes offered.
(From my next post onwards I think I shall adopt a new system of writing that is more structured:
I will deal with a brief look at the university, what courses are offered, financial and other matters, then "why you should study there" or my personal recommendations. That might make my online degree programmes and university evaluation articles easier to read and to absorb.)
The University of Phoenix is a good choice to consider for its range of programmes and is somewhat similar to Kaplan, only that it has a Flexnet programme that might serve a different clientele. Many people warn me that the University of Phoenix courses are very expensive, but I feel that it seems to have high quality and that's more important than pure costs considerations. In addition, I have also said earlier that deciding whether to get a degree and budgeting are two things to do before setting out on the degree journey, to begin with. In any case, there is price differentiation and financial aid is available to some students.
I would consider this as a viable opportunity for online degree programmes and an online education, but after I have looked at its closest rival, Kaplan first. Cheers!
You can find Kaplan Online, why I should get a degree and how articles here on my blog. Cheers! Do read up and research, and look around.
Get a university degree online!
Kaplan University Online Degrees
Kaplan University Online Degrees
Immediately, right off the bat, I can honestly say that Kaplan University Online offers the biggest range of student choices for bachelors, masters and certificate programmes for all the online university courses and degrees that I have researched on. I have read up and researched on quite a number of universities so far, as you can see here on my Get Your University Online blog, but Kaplan University Online is one of the best in terms of its range of offers so far. When I reached their website and checked out their range of offers for online programmes, I was quite impressed because of the range and diversity of their offers. Incredible!
There are offers at Kaplan University Online for
Arts and Sciences, for instance Psychology and Communication which are the two major key offerings for Kaplan University Online;
Business, for instance Accountancy and Management among many many other programmes and choices,
Criminal Justice,
Education, in all sorts of fields and all sorts of credited certification for teachers,
Health Sciences, in particular Health and Wellness and Nutrition at Kaplan University Online,
IT and Technology, one of the biggest fields on offer seems to be with Kaplan University Online, although I haven't reviewed all the universities in the world offering IT yet, but currently one of the biggest offerings of IT courses that I have seen for the online degree industry,
Legal Studies, in all sorts of fields and all sorts of areas,
Nursing,
and Continuing Education, which has areas such as IT, Business and Finance, and Health Care. Interesting and diverse, nicht wahr?
Most of the time I also answer the why study here of all places question. In this case I'd mention the range and diversity of the courses, but that is not a sufficient answer. The answer that Kaplan University Online gives is:
Since 1937 Kaplan University has been a premier education provider, and with dedicated advisors online, educators with real world knowledge and experience online, innovative learning techniques online, and a vast library online, many people receive a sterling education with Kaplan University Online. For instance, one interesting thing could be the web field trips, where field trips can be conducted online.
Applications are considered based upon a pass bachelors degree for attempting masters courses and a high school diploma or equivalent for undergraduate studies or certificates. These are just general rules and the academic advisors should be able to provide better information, and just look around their site in order to find out more information.
You can compare Kaplan University Online to many other universities, both physical campuses and online degree programmes, here on my blog. Have fun researching and remember to cover all avenues!
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US Online Degrees
A Brief Look at US Online Degrees and the Universities offering such online programmes
As far as I have done my research, currently there are many American universities offering good online degrees and online programmes. I based my source on About.com, which has several good articles on online degrees and was rather informative. As you know, my Get Your University Degree Online blog evaluates universities and has a look around for online degrees and offerings, and so this topic here now is a brief overview of what the USA offers in the way of online degrees, as most of the other posts so far have been UK based universities. Here is a list of American colleges and Universities offering online degree programmes that have been said to be good by various evaluations online.
Ashford University
American InterContinental University (AIU Online)
Benedictine University Online
California University of Pennsylvania, Global Online Campus
Capella University Online
Charter Oak State College
Colorado Technical University Online
DeVry University Online
Drexel Online University
eCornell (is of course a subsidary of Cornell University, a very good place to study and one where I personally might have gone)
Fort Hays State University Virtual College
George Washington University Online
Kaplan University Online
National University
Northcentral University
Online Azusa Pacific University
Thomas Edison State College
University of Massachusetts Online
University of Phoenix
Western Governors University
These are the USA's most popular and well researched universities that have online programmes. If I had to evaluate them, I'd say that I'd choose these universities to research on right away:
eCornell
Kaplan University Online
University of Phoenix
The reason is that these universities are providing online degrees and seem to have a huge looming presence in the online learning and studying industry. eCornell would be my first research point because I am biased in favour of the brick and mortar Cornell University which I know to be good, and becaus the degree is recognised. As for Kaplan and Phoenix, they are heavily seen around the Internet and seem to have many outreach programmes. That is why it would be easier to find out information regarding these two and why one would seem to be more inclined towards them. There is a bit of psychology here: as these are more visible on the Internet and "Kaplan" and "Phoenix" are popular and rather interesting names, the advertising seems to catch our eyes more. Therefore, I will be doing evaluations on eCornell, Kaplan and Phoenix in my next post here on this online degree blog and then you can do further research into this area, if you are interested in US online programmes.
I will also eventually evaluate all the other universities here on the list, but that will take some time. My opinion is that before delving into any project, read around the topic - find out which universities are good, which ones are recommended time and time again, which universities people are interested in and look for in the Internet and in your social circle, which universities have good online programmes, and what different and independent sources say about the various online offerings that each individual university offers and has for its various levels of degree programmes. I will offer a basic insight into the various American universities in my next few posts here on this blog in order to allow you to begin that research journey and your final destination will be a good, excellent and accredited degree that can be recognised.
get a university degree online!
University of London Distance Learning Degree
Evaluation of the University of London Distance Learning Degree
This article is not on online learning, but is on distance learning, which is closely related to online degrees and very similar.
There is no doubt that one of the more famous distance learning degrees is provided by the University of London, and that it is accredited and recognised. As the advertisement goes, if you cannot go to London, well then let London go to you. The university has both online degree programmes and distance learning options, but the distance learning options are much better due to the range and size. Besides, this university has been doing distance learning programmes since a long time and has established good links worldwide.
UCL and LSE are the two more famous colleges in the University of London - the University College London and the London School of Economics and Political Science. The University of London offers all sorts of diplomas and degrees, from undergraduate to postgraduate, to tailor to the needs of students all over the world.
There are many advantages to learning and studying for the London distance learning degree:
1. high standards since they do not reduce the workload for students
2. high quality, targeted and good study materials are written especially for distance students in mind
3. you can study at home and at your own pace
4. registration and study times are flexible, meaning that you can graduate within 8 years - very flexible indeed
5. you will pay lower fees than on an on-compus course, and you will obviously benefit in that sense, since you pay for the benefits of an established university while paying lower fees and not having to live in London with its high costs of living.
Undergraduate degrees available in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, Information Systems, Languages, Management, Law, Politics & International Relations, according to the website.
Also, postgraduate degrees available in Agriculture, Dentistry, Economics, Finance, Health, HRM, Information Security, LAW, MBA, according to the website. This is the website I got the data from: the University of London http://www.londondegree.org/
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Is your online university degree accredited?
Is your online university degree accredited?
We all know that some university degree courses online cannot be trusted, that there are many spurious online certificates or study programmes that cannot be trusted, and that some unknown universities offer online degrees that are not recognised. However, no worries, accreditation is one way in which you can be protected against online degrees that are useless or worthless. Accreditation ensures that your online degree has value and will be recognised by employers, who want to hire you.
In the USA, there are 6 main regional accreditation boards that you need to know of:
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) specialises in accrediting distance education institutions and is national as opposed to the abovementioned regional boards.
I think that you should look for accreditation from either one of the regional accreditation boards, or from DETC, as accreditation will make the degree worth doing. Look out for the above accreditation boards and ensure that y0ur university online degree is accredited.
In addition, it should be noted that there is sometimes no difference between an online degree and a degree from a physical campus. Columbia Uni, according to Wikipedia, has no special designation for their degrees, whether online or on campus. Furthermore, nowadays, given the prevalence of online learning (getting a degree via working at the computer and the Internet) and distance learning (studying at home but attending classes), there is no reason for employers to reject applications who get their degrees online. Many US companies will accept online degrees and distance learning programmes, so do not worry about jobs - as long as the degree is accredited.
Beware of degree mills or degree factories, where the fake degrees that they churn out have no academic standing or value or accreditation. These aren't worth working for as they make you pay for a worthless certificate. You want accreditation from a recognised board. Look around instead for good online degrees that have accreditation, since they are recognised.
If the degree is not based in the USA, sorry - but nonetheless the point is still clear. Get an online university degree that is accredited! Look out for national boards that hold high standards.
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What online university degree do you actually want?
What online university degree do you really want?
This seems to be a simple question, but it isn't really. I would say that before you embark on any university course, be it London, US, European or any other online university degree, you have to be sure of what you want before doing your online degree.
What level of online degree are you looking for?
Associate degrees, Bachelor degrees, Masters degrees, MBAs, PhDs, or some sort of certification and approved professional certificate? Is it practical or theoretical? What do you want and what do you need?
What subject would you like to do?
Business, nursing, hospitality, marketing, advertising, religion, political science, science, technology...?
Bear in mind that you have business as a general field of study, and then there are:
finance, accountancy, investment, banking, investment banking, economics... all within "Business", and all of them require specialised knowledge and training that you either have to have prior to studying, or you will have to pick them up along the way.
Do you have a background in the subject?
Do you have an interest in the subject?
Do you want to pursue a career in that subject?
Is the subject that you wish to study useful in terms of future promotions and future occupations?
How long and what am I going to invest?
It is a kind of investment, so before embarking on your online course you will have to think long and hard about how long the online degree programme will be, and what resources and how much you are going to commit to the study programme. All education, in particular university education, will involve some investment, either finanical or energy-wise. Both financial and energy commitments require time and money, so be alert to those costs as well.
To answer one question of: what online university degree do you really want, you have to in effect answer the following three questions to your own satisfaction:
What level of university degree do I want?
What online university subject do I want to do?
What am I prepared to invest to get this online university degree?
Before going further, ask yourself these questions, and then getting your university degree online will be much easier, more focused, and less painful.
Get a university degree online
What are the online MBA degree options?
Basic introduction to online MBAs (MBA degrees)
Nowadays, there are many distance learning options and online degrees being offered, and today I will be talking about MBAs (Masters of Business Administration). A simple glance around the web or even around my site will reveal the important degree choice that you have to better your education, and better your chances of promotions in your job. MBAs are the most likely candidates for online studies, due to the popularity of MBAs and the popularity of online courses, and even my own mother did a distance learning programme, with the university of Bradford, a few years ago.
Liverpool, London and Edinburgh MBA degreees online are rather good, in my personal opinion. That is because these universities have a long established history and are therefore more likely to be recognised. I am also biased because I currently study here in Manchester in Great Britain. Nonetheless, I would say, go for an important university in real life, since the online degree will probably carry some weight by its attachment to the actual physical university. There are many posts in which I look at which degree is better, and which are accredited and stuff like that, so keep a look out for that.
I think that perhaps the most important thing in looking for an MBA is that: is it going to benefit me? This is the simplest and most obvious question. Will the MBA enhance my career by way of promotion in my job, by way of recognition by my peers, by way of increasing my skills and attitudes? If that is the case, then one goes into an online MBA with a better mindset and the correct attitude. In addition, do I know what I am doing and is this what I really want? Do I want an MBA strongly enough?
There is one key advantage to doing an MBA online - that is, you don't have to do as much hands-on as in a real MBA course. You still have to do some, of course, but less.
What is it that you learn in an MBA course or an MBA degree to begin with? What can I learn and what can I take away from an MBA programme? The lessons will revolve around accounting, marketing, finance, business, communication, and management, and stuff like that must either appeal to you, or you must be longsighted enough to know that these will be important to you in future, as skills that you can market and use to your personal advantage.
More to come in future posts! Stay tuned to learn more, for your future education.
Get your university degree online
Welcome to Get Your University Degree Online
Welcome to Get Your University Degree Online!
Hello and welcome to my university, standard degree and online degree evaluation site. This is a place where I will be looking at various distance learning degrees and various University Online degrees, from Bachelors to Masters degrees to MBAs to PhDs online.
With the rise of the Internet, as well as the rise of hectic business schedules and work schedules, many people are hard pressed to go back to school formally and invest time and effort to study in a formal setting on campus in order to get a degree. Getting a university degree online is a very viable and important way of accelerating progress, and may be a more practical way of getting a promotion, if the degree is recognised and accredited. Accreditation is an important aspect of getting a degree that is recognised.
At the same time, of course, there are many pitfalls because not all degree programmes are recognised or accredited, and there are so many different and varying offers up online, so this website aims to analyse and compare and contrast various degree programmes and aims to give advice and ideas on what to choose and what not to choose for an online degree programme.
You can make up your own mind as to whether you want to pursue a certain course or subject, or not. My own field is in Economics and History (yes, perhaps the most """interesting""" subjects in the world, at least to most of you... but I chose them because, I am interested in History but it doesn't pay that well, and I am not that interested in Economics, but it pays very well, and not to mention the jobs that I can do... ). You can also make up your own mind, and decide among the various degree options, which of the online degrees is most suitable for you. I do suppose that you came to this site because you are interested in education, and also because you are interested in either distance learning or online degrees, or getting your bachelors degree or MBA online.
All in all, look around my website here, research on the degree programme of your choice, and research on the pros and cons, research on whether the programme is recognised or not, and will give you that desired promotion, and I wish you all the best in your pursuit of further studies. Getting a university degree online will definitely put you in good stead in your career, increase promotion chances and give you that educational boost.
Once again, welcome to my university degree blog where I will compare and contrast, ramble on, research and look into various distance learning programmes and online degrees. All the best for your studies, once again!
Shawn Seah
Get a university degree online - universities evaluation page