Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Benefits of Online Education

There are many benefits of online education and it is no surprise that they have become so popular with people looking to gain further qualifications. For example, online studies are not restricted by time zones or geographical boundaries, as a student can be located anywhere in the world and all they need is a computer and an Internet connection to realize the benefits of online education.

Because of the online delivery method of the courses, you have the ability to set your own study schedule and to study at the time that is most convenient for you. You are able to download all the essential study materials from the college website when you need these and then decide when you want to study.

The flexibility afforded by online degrees is one of the most important benefits although you do still need to commit to spending the required amount of study time to gain your qualification.

One of the further benefits of online education is the lower tuition cost to study for an online degree from one of the many reputable colleges that now provide a variety of courses and subjects online. As these colleges and business schools make more courses available the total education cost comes down, which is being passed on to students. This is particularly good news for those students who may need to work to finance their education.

There is also the convenience aspect to consider. You save time and travel expenses when you undertake study for an online degree. You can also continue at your day job and study in the evenings and weekends if this is more convenient for you, which can take away some of the pressure associated with full time studies.

Even though your degree is online it doesn't mean that you are completely isolated from the teaching staff, as most of the online colleges have introduced a 24x7 student support centre, where you are able to chat online or by telephone with lecturers and professors to raise any questions that you may have and get these answered.

Online colleges also generally have a students' forum where you can chat and interact with fellow students and build relationships with your online classmates. These forums also tend to be a great source of information as many questions are answered and helpful references are posted.

Some colleges have also introduced videos of lectures that can be requested by email and then accessed when you need to use them. Alternatively, some online courses now include a study weekend or conference where it is possible for students to meet up and build study support groups to help them through the courses.

Online colleges are continually improving their courses to attract new students to the benefits of online education and if you are willing to give the commitment required, these courses can provide you with an option to undertake your studies in a more flexible, convenient and low cost way.

For more information about the benefits of online education, visit OnlineDegrees360.com

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Criminal Justice Field - Much More Than Police Work With Online Degrees!

Criminal justice is a broad-reaching career field that focuses primarily on keeping the public safe. Becoming involved in the criminal justice system means you will be a part of the largest community dedicated to serving the public and protecting them. One of the easiest ways to become a part of these ranks is to earn an online degree in criminal justice.

The amount of higher education a student needs will vary greatly by their various career goals. Since this field involves every level of law enforcement, there are many applicable career paths to follow. Students can pursue certificates, bachelor's degrees or master's degrees can become anything from a corrections officer to an FBI agent.

An associate's degree is like an introduction to higher education, allowing students to complete two years worth of college. Students who follow a criminal justice program in an associate's degree obtain complete foundational work in core classes like mathematics, science and English. They can also start studying to work in law enforcement, corrections, and private security or as a paralegal.

One of the most popular jobs graduates pursue after earning their associate's is working as a crime scene technician. Crime scene technicians have been made popular on recent television shows; they help to solve puzzles at crime scenes using clues left behind, such as physical evidence. Crime scene technicians must remain objective about their work and need strong organizational and computer skills.

A bachelor's degree is a four-year degree that can be completed after an associate's degree and can usually be completed in four years. A bachelor's degree will allow students to receive even further and more in-depth training in any of the programs offered at an associate's level. Earning a bachelor's degree essentially opens more doors within the criminal justice career fields, like working as a social worker, a probation officer or a correctional treatment specialist. Most schools will allow you to transfer credits from one degree program into a higher degree program - like from an associate's degree to a bachelor's degree.

One of the final steps in the educational field for criminal justice is to earn a master's degree. After earning a bachelor's degree, a master's degree is another two years of study. However, it will become the portal to even more jobs and opportunities that may not have existed before. Students who are seriously considering a career as an FBI agent, police chief, or even a college instructor will find the completion of a master's degree satisfying and worthwhile.

Students who graduate with any higher-level degree in criminal justice need not worry about employment. Although the criminal justice salary for graduates will vary according to field of work, there are plenty of jobs available within the industry for graduates. Jobs aren't scarce either - the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects to see an 11 percent increase in employment for a number of police and sheriff's jobs, as well as a 16 percent increase in correctional officers' employment.

There are many levels of education for students who want to earn online criminal justice degrees. For every level of work put in, students will open new doors and pathways to jobs within the criminal justice career system. For anyone who wants to dedicate their lives to keeping the public safe, enrolling in an online college to earn online forensics degrees or another degree on their way into this wide-ranging field, is definitely the right way to go!