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The Internet has seen an explosion in online bachelor degree programs in the last five to ten years and this trend should continue to expand rapidly in the future. In large part the increasing popularity of online bachelor degree programs is due to the now common acceptance of a bachelor degree from on online university as equivalent to what can be obtained at any bricks and mortar school.

When online classes first began springing up on the Internet in the 1980s, they were primarily focused on certificate programs or technical degrees. Some of the schools were started virtually overnight and did not have proper accreditation and the reputation of online schooling became tarnished as a result. However, in the last decade there has been a significant turn-around. There are several reasons for this new attitude, due largely to the increasingly exceptional education that can be had through an online university.

Today’s online bachelor degree programs rival traditional university classes. Colleges and universities that had already established reputations as traditional schools long before hitting the Internet now offer these online programs. Employers know that the curriculum is identical whether the course is online or in a classroom, so the education is top-notch in either case. In fact, there is often more one-on-one attention with an online bachelor degree program because each student can regularly communicate directly with the professor by email to get feedback and direction.

Good online bachelor degree programs are now accredited by the same agencies that accredit more traditional colleges and universities. Three accreditation organizations that are recognized by the Federal Government as high quality indicators are the U.S. Department of Education, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Any online universities accredited by one of these councils offers a program recognized as at least equal to a bachelor’s degree program at a traditional post-secondary school.

In fact, if you graduate from an online bachelor degree program today you will receive a diploma that is no different from the one that students attending the residential college will receive. You will have completed the same curriculum, including taking core requirement classes, and will graduate with the same knowledge. When applying for jobs, employers will not know whether you attended traditional classes or online classes because it is no longer acknowledged on official transcripts or diplomas.

Employers favor online bachelor degree programs for their employees. Employers have always known the value of allowing employees to pursue a college education. In the past, this was usually done through night and weekend classes and the employer sometimes reimbursed costs. Unfortunately many class schedules aren’t flexible and employers began to realize the expense of university classes in both money and time.

An online bachelor degree program has become the ideal solution for employers who encourage an education for employees. They can set their own pace and work schooling around their work schedule. The cost of Online Classes is generally less than the classroom setting as well, making it attractive for company reimbursement programs.

Finally, employers appreciate the additional opportunities that an online bachelor degree program can offer. Because individuals do all of the work online, location is not an issue. If a computer salesman with an associate’s degree would like to focus on a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems, for instance, he can look for an online university anywhere in the United States that offers this specialized degree.

With everyone from accrediting agencies to employers giving them high marks, online bachelor degree programs have firmly arrived in the educational mainstream.

Andy West
http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/online-bachelor-degree-programs-go-mainstream-93619.html

Most graduate school programs give you the option of just going part-time. In graduate school, full time is 9 hours, so part-time is anything under that. If you are getting a Masters degree, the program will be about 36 hours, including any internships or a thesis. There are lots of good reasons to only go part time in graduate school. Let’s consider a few.

Keep Working

If you only go part time to graduate school, then you can keep working full time at your normal job. This is essential if your company is paying for you to go back to school. You will also be able to make more money at your normal job than you could in a graduate assistantship. Many individuals in high-pressure jobs or in jobs that require constant travel choose to go to school only part-time, though the advent of online education has made full-time education much easier.

Go Slow

If you haven’t been to school in many years, it’s smart to start slow. You want to make sure that you can handle the classes and deal with the new pressures of school. Going part-time gives you the space to adjust to your new schedule and the new restraints on your time. If you can handle more hours, you can always add more the next semester; if you can’t, then you haven’t lost anything.

Spend More Time with Family

You don’t want school to take away a lot of time from your family, particularly if you have children. Taking nine hours of classes a semester would be taking away two or three nights a week, time that you don’t want to miss. If you just go part-time, your course of study may take a little longer but you won’t miss as many of those special moments.

No Rush

If your current job is paying for your school or you’re just getting a degree to enhance your knowledge, then there’s really no rush to get finished. You can take your time if you want. If that’s the case, you might as well go part-time in graduate school and just enjoy the experience. Just remember that in order to get a degree, you usually have to finish the program within a certain amount of time – make sure you finish under the time limit.

Lots of Reasons

Everyone who only goes part-time in graduate school has a good reason for it. If your reason is strong enough that it outweighs having to be in school a little longer, then you should definitely take it slow and just go part-time to graduate school. Relax, take it easy, and enjoy the experience at your own pace.

Keep Working

Take Your Time

Spend Extra Time with Family

Amber Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/take-it-easy-reasons-to-go-part-time-in-graduate-school-84866.html

So many dancers have views regarding on-line videos that are available on the internet. With so many discussing this new form of class, I feel it is essential to discuss this topic head on since my husband and I are pioneering video broadcast solutions.

For most dancers who are teachers there are two views that take precedent over this issue. One is excitement over the fact that there is another way to teach. The other is how abhorrent they are to the very idea. As a teacher myself I can understand both viewpoints but what I want to do with this article is to give those who don’t understand the benefits of on-line videos a different perspective.

First of all remember that with any new idea there will always be pro and con opinions. Knowing this the first thing that we did was to send out a survey that asked dancers a lot of questions regarding what they were getting out of class and what some of the problems were that they were experiencing in class. We than asked what they wanted more of in the classroom. Both of us were amazed at the information that came in from dancers here and abroad. The one thing that all the women who wrote in had in common was their passion about belly dance and how excited they were to voice their opinions in the survey.

We than sent out another survey asking what they would like to see in an on-line video. Because of the information that we received I was able to look at my curriculum and format it to fit the camera better.

Addressing a specific problem on video as we all know is different so you have to work out the solution to the problem in a way dancers and students can understand.

Information is a key element in creating any dance video for students/ dancers, so the idea that videos are created without knowledge is fiction.

I know what many of you are thinking, that nothing can beat a live class with a dance teacher there to help you. I totally agree with you but let’s focus on the emails I received from dancers who had no teacher in their area or lived too far away from anyone who taught or they worked late and were busy raising their families. It was so apparent in the emails I received that these women wanted to learn belly dance but because of the reasons I mentioned they found they couldn’t. The on-line classes than became the solution to their various problems with their schedules, locations and families.

I also received emails from dancers who wanted to learn from other teachers but they wanted to do it in the privacy of their own home.

Others wanted to have classes created for them outside of their studios adding to what they were already learning. This all brings to mind the conversations regarding a very specific question, “How do you know the student is dancing correctly and how can you teach them without seeing their posture?” It is called feedback and it is the one thing that keeps the communication going between student and teacher. They get phone calls from me and emails. Any problem the student may have is addressed in the beginning and I have questions that I ask so that I can get a better idea of what they want. The video I make for them is created in my mind as if they were right there in the same room with me.

The idea that there is no feedback between the student and teacher is fiction.

Many people have commented that the economy is in such a state that maybe on-line classes are more in the range of dancers pocket books.

This is definitely one reason why on-line videos may be the new way to teach but there is also many other reasons. First of all dancers can get their curriculum out to the masses before they travel and teach their workshops. If people don’t know you, how will they find you? There are so many good teachers in our community and abroad who are not as well known as they should be. This is also a good way for dancers to see teachers they might have never known about otherwise.

Another advantage to on-line videos is that they are a less expensive way to get your curriculum, choreography out to dancers without having to fork out a lot of money to produce a dance video. Marketing your videos after you have spent a small fortune can hike up your investment to the point you may not make back your money. Believe me, I learned this the hard way myself. Once I put up my instructional video on-line I started to see a return on my money…..thank God!

The idea that on-line videos save money and are economical for the viewer/student is fact.

The format is very important in presenting your product so that the viewer can see the class from every angle along with the lighting, sound and curriculum. Most people who think about putting classes up on the internet might think that all they have to do is get a video camera and shoot a class. It really does take a lot more thought than that and you have to understand your own ability to teach first before you can than go and resolve problems or teach a class requested by a student. Once you start teaching on-line, you than need to have a type of tech support that doesn’t get in the way of your teaching. There are problems that can come up with the videos and you have to act fast to take care of whatever comes up. You have to guarantee your product and back it up, period. Adding to this is learning how to market your on-line classes. This means getting your newsletter/ blog out to your students and keeping up a rapport with them. Before you decide to teach on-line classes I would suggest you figure out first what exactly it is you want to achieve than go in that direction.

The idea that you can get a video camera and start shooting and creating classes is fiction. If you want to help women dance you must first know how to dance.

The bottom line is that creating on-line classes isn’t always easy because you have to understand the technical side to what you are doing which includes editing your work and than making sure that you have a quality video all the way around. I work very hard at each class that I do for dancers and students. What I offer is what I wish I would have had in the early days when I was working cattle in old Mexico. I was in the middle of nowhere practicing in pastures, ranches or around my horses. If I would have had an on-line class believe me I would of went for it. With that being said I will say again that on-line classes do not take the place of a live teacher but when you have no other options, on-line classes can be a life saver. I had a dancer write me and tell me that she would get home from work, cook dinner and get the kids to bed. Than she would take time for herself at around 11:00pm at night and take my on-line classes.

She said it was her “alone” time and she couldn’t wait to start dancing. There are many ways for us to learn what ever it is we are passionate about and it is for women like this dancer that I do on- line classes.

The idea that on-line classes will never take the place of a live teacher in a studio is a fact.

For women like the one I mentioned the on-line classes helped her enjoy her solitude and for her and many other women on-line classes have their place adding to the widespread education of belly dance and its history.

On

–

line classes were never meant to take the place of live classes, they are a needed option in todays world and with emails like the one I mentioned it’s obvious to me women need this ancient art form now more than ever.

Leyla Najma
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-promotion-articles/online-video-fact-and-fiction-669457.html

An online accredited college degree program allows you to take individual online college courses and to get an impressive college degree, without having to attend on-campus classes.

These programs are ideal for non-traditional adult students, who can study at their convenience, while meeting their work and family responsibilities. They get a second chance to complete their college education and to acquire a degree that will add to their career portfolio.

You can join an online accredited college degree program and get a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or Doctorate in a subject of your choice. Some of the popular subjects are business, information technology, computer science, education, psychology, social work, counseling and journalism.

Many students prefer to join professional certificate programs in subjects like stress management, security management, law enforcement and public health nursing, that will help them in their careers.

What you need to consider before you sign up

Before you join an online accredited college degree program you need to be sure about your personal goals and how an online college degree will help you to reach them. If there is a clearly defined benefit that an online college degree can provide, like a pay raise, promotion or a better job, you must go ahead and join the course.

A college degree doesn’t come cheap and you need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of joining an online accredited college degree program. Find out if your employer offers some type of tuition assistance as an employee benefit.

You need the support of your family and employer and be prepared to find time to work on the online degree program, in spite of having a packed schedule. You must be fully committed, have a positive attitude and believe that you can succeed through your own efforts.

Two-year schools offer associate degrees and certificate programs, while four-year schools and universities provide bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Two-year schools are suitable for students who are very concerned about the cost and are not sure of their long-term goals or academic capabilities.

Four-year schools are suitable for students who are clear about their goals and are confident about their academic capabilities. Certificate courses are suitable for people who want to update their work skills, while degree courses are suitable for people who require an advanced degree and want to enter a professional field.

Institutions offering accredited online college degree programs

The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) offers several online bachelor’s degrees and undergraduate certificates. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Philadelphia.

The University of Phoenix Online is the nation’s largest, accredited private university. It is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Before you sign up for an online accredited college degree program, you must be clear about your career goals. Look for a school and a program that will help you to achieve what you want and be fully committed to success.

Jim Zorn
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/online-accredited-college-degree-program-for-the-new-student-committed-to-success-125784.html

An online master distance education degree gives non-traditional students a second chance to boost their career prospects, without compromising their work and family responsibilities. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can earn an online master’s degree, in the same field, within a year.

Some of the popular subjects for online master’s degrees are Business Administration, Education, Management, Technology, Computer Science and Psychology. Many people, who want to teach college level courses, return to school to earn their master’s degree after gaining practical work experience.

Adding a master’s degree to your career portfolio can make a world of difference to your career prospects.

Benefits of getting an online master’s degree

An online master distance education degree can help you to improve your career prospects and salary potential. Master’s degrees earned through distance learning are not different in any way from degrees awarded to students of traditional classes.

More and more people are acquiring undergraduate degrees and people with master’s degrees tend to be preferred for the top positions in organizations.

If you join an online master distance education degree program, you can study at any time and from anywhere. You will not be tied down to attending lectures at fixed times, since study material is available on CDs or can be downloaded.

A master’s degree allows you to study a subject in greater depth than an undergraduate degree. It involves writing a thesis and this offers you a chance to do research on a subject that interests you. By gaining more knowledge about your field, you can lay the foundation for doctoral study.

What it is like to get an online master’s degree

Lessons for online master’s degree courses are usually delivered through the Internet every few days and tests and assignments are scheduled for the end of each lesson.

You can attend an electronic classroom and chat with other students as well as instructors. You can do research in an electronic library and submit homework through e-mail.

Though much of your coursework may be online, there may be a practical component, for which you will be required to travel to a learning center occasionally. There are fewer classes for master’s degree programs than there are for undergraduate programs, but the classes are usually more intense, especially if they are project-based.

Graduate education is more demanding than undergraduate learning and it requires more discipline. It also offers plenty of opportunities to network with your peers which in the long term can help you find the job of your choice.

It pays to ensure that you meet all the requirements of an online master’s degree before you submit your application, because application fees are usually not refundable.

It is worth researching your choices before you enroll for an online master distance education degree. Look for a school or program that is recognized by employers and will help you to enhance your value in the job market.

Jim Zorn
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/online-master-distance-education-degree-become-a-master-in-your-field-125545.html

In olden times schooling was more of a household affair. The parents or family members schooled children at home. The times have changed now, but certain customs are still being followed. Even though there have been changes in the learning and teaching methods, people still prefer to homeschool their children

There are many advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling. This could mainly be because of the learning ability of the child and the syllabus followed. Moreover the teaching method also plays a major role in homeschooling.

Since the advent of the Internet, it has given rise to numerous learning and teaching options. Besides this, there are now more resources available to aid both teachers and students alike. However, some still feel that the traditional homeschooling method is comparatively better than online homeschooling.

If you happen to be one of those who would opt for the unconventional way of learning and teaching, here are some pros and cons of online homeschooling.

Pros of Online Schooling

Save time on traveling – Irrespective of whether you live in the remotest of towns or on the highest building in the city, you can always be punctual about your lessons. It also saves time on dressing up and commuting to school. Your home and school are the same with online home schooling.

Attending to home needs: For people who have to juggle between managing the home and school, homeschooling is the best option. One can prioritize household chores and lessons according to ones convenience, without having to be time bound to any fixed schedules.

No disturbance or undue distraction: When you opt for homeschooling it is evident that there will not be any kind of disturbance from other students. You study in the peace and isolation of your room in your home. This results in better concentration, and better results.

Cons of online home schooling

Job Competence- Crosscheck the authenticity of the online school. Make sure the online school is competent enough so that you can be assured of a job after completion of the course.

Personal competence – Not everyone has the ability to grasp whatever is taught, for which a teacher is needed to explain complex concepts. Online homeschooling entails individual effort, and no teacher is present to give personal attention. While some students do very well without a teacher, others cannot.

Learning Environment -The environment has a major impact on the students concentration. If there are other kids at home it would be difficult to study. Moreover, if the students residence is in a noisy area the distraction could hamper studies.

Of course, it is all up to each individual. If you think online homeschooling is what suits you, go ahead and enroll into a program. However, it is important to carry out some background research of all the choices available, and choose the one that suits you the best.

If you are a parent looking to homeschool your child online, it is important to guide them adequately. You could consult other homeschoolers who have opted for online homeschooling. Some schools are not recognized and it will be a waste of time, money and energy in opting for the courses offered by them.

Online homeschooling can be both rewarding and challenging. Before you set up the homeschool, ensure that the curriculum is according to the ability of the student. Regular monitoring is important to keep track of the progress of the student.

Kris Koonar
http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/the-pros-and-cons-of-homeschooling-online-106385.html

It used to be that education by way of online learning or what is called distance learning or distance education was implemented as a supplement to the brick-and-mortar classroom (or conference room) teaching and learning methods and materials. But technology as it is progressive and multi-beneficial–online high school and online college courses have become sometimes viable sources of learning, without the student having to ever step foot in a classroom.

Contemporary learners taking online college courses can benefit in a number of ways that they otherwise could not, having no way to get to school, for example, or having no desire to attend an institution of higher learning. They might have children, a home, and one or more jobs that keep them from physically enrolling in or attending classes at a campus that might be too far away.

These individuals can make use of online college courses that feature lectures, video, audio, email, IMs, instant messages, bulletin boards and chat rooms, and online study and research sources that all comprise the online college courses rather than serve as supplements to them.

For the home-schooled, the advanced placement high school student, for instance, who is now into levels that reach online college courses levels, the benefits of choice, segregation, or integration are available to those who prefer a particular curriculum that is religiously oriented or carefully monitored.

And for anyone, online college courses are equal opportunity for anyone of any race, creed, color, religion, location, learning ability or disability, or mindset can find the materials, sources, and lessons he or she needs or wants, many times accredited and transferable.

In the same respect, before applying, signing up, and paying, the learner who seeks legitimate online college courses should do a little background checking to protect him or herself from the beguiling and conniving that does sometimes happen. Some offering online college courses and other online courses are not qualified to do so. Some are not accredited. That is, if you are looking to use the online learning experience as credited coursework (to transfer, to get a job, to get a degree), be sure that the online college is one which meets the standards set by the states, provinces, or countries accreditation body, agency, or board. In the U.S., for instance, the Department of Education (the DOE) oversees and regulates American universities, though each state is responsible for its own higher learning authorization standards.

This can be an arduous task by itself: unscrupulous and greedy money mongers can be “licensed” to run a business (in this case, the business of running a degree mill, a fake college)–because every state has different ways of regulating standards, and because con artists and scammers claiming to be legitimate e-universities will link their pages to the real sites of DOE or of the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), so when you are looking for an online degree you might be tricked.

You might read the website’s claim of being accredited or will infer from the official links or the way the text is worded, in lies, or implications, that the institution is accredited when it is not will pay unreasonably high fees, will sign the necessary and official-looking documents, but then will be required to do very little work and will graduate online with a bogus degree.

So if you are looking into online college courses, the best way to go is through a legitimate college. And even then, if you are unsure, look for the distance learning college accreditation info. Or ask directly about it. When the said distance learning institution names an accreditation agency whether it is DOE or CHEA in the U.S., The British Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in England, a named Private Colleges Accreditation Board in Canada, or any other Authoritative body’s contact that named agency and check to see that the college is in fact accredited, NOT just licensed to do business.

Albert Alexander
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-education-articles/online-degree-alternativeseducation-beyond-brick-and-mortar-257714.html

Do you wish to visit Italy? Do you live near or in Italy as a permanent resident? Are you a resident of place near to Italy? Do you dream of enhancing your cooking skills or learn how to cook?

Have you ever heard of Italian cooking classes? These Italian cooking classes would help you cook delicious and world famous Italian recipes with ease. If you are a tourist and is planning a trip to Italy then you should consider including Italian cooking classes in your trip. For more details go to: www.book-of-cookies.com this would not only be an enhancing activity that is wonderful but would be beneficial for you all your life. What could be better than learning Italian cooking classes in Italy? There are people in Italy who are proficient in preparing Italian food and can hence provide you with greatest techniques and tips.

If you live in or near Italy then you should not miss this wonderful opportunity. This could be your new hobby or interest that would benefit you all your life. If you dreamed to become gourmet Italian chef in any phase of your life then Italian cooking classes are the best solution for all your needs and requirements. You would get what you are searching for in Italian cooking classes!

If you are searching for information on Italian cooking classes then you can use internet for the same. Various websites or blogs are there on the internet to assist you in this task. You get various types of information that includes list reviews, student satisfaction and cost comparisons. Some also undertakes the responsibility to inform you of class curriculums. For can visit to: www.chow-chows-secrets.com you can also view the information about the professors and their accomplishments or experience. In any of the case, you would be endeavored with informative activities or about the open house learning.

It is worth exploring your desires, interests and dreams. You cannot ascertain the benefits of attending Italian cooking classes in Italy. Some join these cooking classes to impress their friends or family by their extraordinary dishes while others take it as a passion of their life. There are people who just want to join a new activity to spend some time with their loved one or a friend and some take is seriously as their career. Whatever are your needs or requirements from Italian cooking classes you would definitely be able to accomplish that.

There are people who do not believe in Online Classes and wish to attend a class physically. For such people it would be an opportunity to meet wonderful people who also share the common interest for Italian cooking. This could be one of the best ways to make friends of common interest. You can share your experiences and learn a lot from your colleagues or friends. If you are a novice just like them then you can easily struggle with recipes and adjust to the environment easily.

Preeti Dutta
http://www.articlesbase.com/crockpot-recipes-articles/join-these-cooking-classes-to-impress-their-friends-or-family-by-their-extraordinary-dishes-729058.html

A study by TNS Research in August of 2006 shows that 87% of online shoppers are concerned with credit card fraud and 85% of online shoppers are concerned about identity theft when providing their credit information online. As an online retailer, you must work to gain trust of your customers in order to enable success of your e-commerce business. It certainly won’t do if 65% of your site shoppers discontinue their orders before paying because of the check-out process!

How do you gain the trust of your online shoppers? Most online customers have learned to check for the “https” in the URL address as well as the little closed padlock graphic of the VeriSign Secured Seal. There are other security companies providing secure transactions online, but other studies have shown that 79% of United States online shoppers recognize the VeriSign Secured Seal, which is much higher than any other secure mark. In addition to the “https” and closed lock image, the newest web browsers are also able to support the green address bar whenever an authenticated certificate is detected- to give shoppers yet another method of verifying a secure website for online shopping.

If you have an online store or other retail site that accepts online orders and credit cards, you definitely want to provide a secure shopping environment for your shoppers. Using SSL technology protects your web site while helping customers trust you. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and what it does is encrypt the customer’s information and credit card data as it is sent over the Internet, while at the same time the SSL certificate contains unique information that is authenticated by an authority to verify the identity of the owner of the certificate.

When a website accepts payments without the SSL encryption, information submitted by the customer is sent in a way that people might be able to access it. It would be like sending cash through the mail inside a translucent envelope! You might have a few honest people who just send it on its way, but all it would take is one person to see the cash inside the clear envelope and take it out before it reaches it’s destination. The other part of SSL technology- the verification of the owner’s certificate is how online shoppers can be assured that the business they are shopping from is real, and therefore can be trusted. Without third-party verification, asking customers to shop your site is like asking for someone to send their banking details without knowing who they’re giving the information to- it isn’t going to happen because there is no reason to trust them!

Some online retailers have reported that their sales have risen about 10% after placing the VeriSign Secured Seal on the payment pages of their website in comparison to the sales achieved prior to the placement of the seal. This is proof that customers recognize and trust the seal as indication they are shopping on a secure, trustworthy site.

As stated previously, there are numerous providers of SSL technology, however, VeriSign is by far the most popular with over 93% of the Fortune 500 companies using VeriSign for SSL protection on their websites, and 40 of the world’s largest banks using VeriSign for internet security issues. Not only is VeriSign trusted by the largest corporations and banks, but it is recognized by online shoppers which is the first step to providing customers with a trusting shopping environment. Additionally, VeriSign will work with many Internet browsers- including some that are older- to the extent of 99.9% of web site visitors receiving either 128 bit or 256 bit encryption.

Debbie Dragon
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/securing-online-payments-88250.html

How will the master online special education degree equip those teachers who want to make a difference? The answer is straightforward – in the USA, currently there are over 6 million students who have enrolled in these special programs.

While schools – public and private, preschool to secondary – struggle to identify and deploy qualified teachers to address these 6 million students, nobody knows for sure how many million students more need to be identified for special classes, so that they can better cope with their learning disabilities, or physical and mental handicaps.

At the same time, successive Federal and State Administrations since 1975 have sharpened their focus on creating complex systems for identifying, formulating, and delivering a highly-individualized education program to each eligible student. The cornerstone of these legislations, programs, and licensures is the highly qualified teacher.

A Master’s degree in has thus become a must for aspiring teachers, and with many of them already employed as regular teachers, master online special education degree has become the most convenient route to this profession.

What It Involves

Master online special education degree involves distance or online learning that leads to graduate degrees like Master of Education (MEd), Master of Science (MS), Master of Arts (MA), or any of the specialized master’s degrees in various sub-domains, such as dyslexia, attention-deficit, etc.

Master online special education degree courses will last upwards of one year, and might involve significant on-the-job training under an experienced special educator. Most states also require that aspiring teachers pass a licensure test, before starting their career.

Why Special Education?

On an average, teachers in this field don’t earn much more than regular teachers. On the other hand, the job responsibilities of these teachers are more demanding – they can even include defending oneself and the school’s program in court, if dissatisfied parents of challenged students opt for litigation, as has happened numerous times in various states!

Still, about 450,000 educators have opted for and currently work as special education teachers in the country. What must be the attraction?

Teachers in this field are very unlikely to encounter unemployment in the short-term or long-term. But that alone can’t be the lure to enter this profession, where sheer hard work, difficult coordination between many, and uncertain outcomes from the part of students, make life stressful.

The answer can, hence, be only that there are hundreds of thousands of teachers out there who want to make a genuine difference to the lives of these challenged students. And it is indeed a huge difference. According to estimates, four in five challenged students used to be excluded from the US education system, as near as three decades back. Official figures, tabulated around 1975, put this at 1 million students, who missed the bus.

Why Master Special Education Degree?

Teachers in this specialty are still in significant short supply. Because of this, some states have still not made it mandatory for them to have a master’s degree. In such states, bachelor’s degree holders appear for professional licensure exams and work as special education teachers.

However, more and more states are opting for a master’s degree as the minimum qualification, for a simple reason. A special ed. teacher should be capable of interacting effectively with professionals like psychologists, disability therapists, educational evaluators, educational lawyers, supervisors from the school district, regular teachers, and, of course parents of disabled students. It takes a master’s degree holder with significant on-the-job training to confidently undertake this.

Master’s degree holders in this field have also another booming avenue – they can work as instructors in colleges and universities that deliver specialized programs, and these institutions are rapidly increasing in number. They are also eligible to work as supervisors or administrators in the school districts.

A small but significant proportion of educators go for ‘ degree, so as to progress to doctoral degrees, which are also offered by more and more universities, these days.

Lastly, though special education teachers don’t earn much more than regular teachers on an average, the highest salaries drawn by special educators exceed the highest salaries drawn by regular teachers by $3,000 to $8,000. It goes without saying that almost all of those highest paid special educators are master’s degree holders.

Why Master Online Special Education Degree?

Those planning to take a master’s degree in this field are almost always regular teachers who have developed a fascination for this field. Others include psychologists, counselors, learning disability therapists, etc. Since both teachers and these professionals already hold full time jobs, it is a master online special education degree that is more suitable to them.

Secondly, only an exceptionally good regular teacher can hope to be an effective teacher of special students. Because of this, aspirants enter the regular teaching profession to garner some years of experience before attempting to study special ed. Master online special education degree perfectly fits this scheme.

Thirdly, a significant component of any education master’s degree is on-the-job training in a special school or a regular school’s special education department. Those working teachers who opt for a master online degree can thus modify their school work itself for the on-the-job training part.

Where to Study Master Online Special Education Degree?

Hundreds of universities and colleges across the country offer master online degrees in special ed. They include state or public universities, and private or independent universities. Some of the courses have small components that require occasional campus visits, while almost all require on-the-job training at a school.

Working teachers who opt for master online special education degree generally prefer studying in their own state, if not their city. Another reason for local preference is that some universities incorporate that state’s licensure requirements as part of the course. Due to strict licensure requirements, it is also important to go for an accredited course.

State or Public Universities Offering Master Online Special Education Degree

At least 12 state university systems offer master online degree in special ed. They include Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Aspirants in states like Alabama, Florida, and Kansas, are especially fortunate, with multiple public universities offering the course. Florida perhaps tops the nation with its three public universities offering this degree. Some of the prestigious state universities offering the course across the nation are:

ALABAMA: Auburn University, Auburn, University of South Alabama, Mobile
FLORIDA: Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of West Florida
INDIANA: Ball State University
KANSAS: Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University
KENTUCKY: University of Louisville, Louisville
MICHIGAN: University of Michigan, Dearborn
MISSOURI: University of Missouri, Columbia
NEBRASKA: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
NEW JERSEY: New Jersey City University
NORTH CAROLINA: University of North Carolina
PENNSYLVANIA: Clarion University of Pennsylvania
TEXAS: Texas Tech University

Private or Independent Universities Offering Online Degrees

At least 10 well-known private or independent universities in 8 states offer master online special education degree. These states include Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. Arizona and Iowa top the list with two private universities each, offering the course. Florida and Pennsylvania are perhaps the only two states that have both public and private universities offering the course. Some of the well-known private schools offering online degrees are:

ARIZONA: Grand Canyon University, University of Phoenix
CALIFORNIA: La Sierra University
FLORIDA: Nova Southeastern University
IOWA: Graceland University, Kaplan University
MINNESOTA: Bethel University
VIRGINIA: Regent University
WASHINGTON: City University

What to Expect From Master Online Special Education Degree, in the Future?

The high performance expected from special edd teachers will ensure that a master’s degree in this field becomes an absolute must in all states. As it is working teachers who are more likely to go for a master’s degree in this subject, and because the course itself is dominated by on-the-job training, college degree master online might even upstage regular courses in the subject, in the near future.

Recent stricter regulations from the part of administrations regarding expected student performance, and better awareness about learning disabilities from the part of parents, will make sure that more and more students will be presented for evaluation. This scenario will drive the demand for qualified and trained special educators, giving further momentum to master online special ed. degree courses.

The most likely change in course content will be super-specializations in special education, with probably different master’s degrees built around different learning disabilities or handicaps.

Jim Zorn
http://www.articlesbase.com/tutoring-articles/master-online-special-education-degree-for-teachers-who-want-to-make-a-difference-125561.html