1.  Degree Programs

Online community colleges have a variety of Associate, Bachelor and Master Degree programs. You can get an online degree in programs such as Psychology, Education or Criminal Justice in as little as two years. You can also advance your degree and attend a four-year online college after graduation. The higher your degree, the more income you may receive in the future.

2.  Online Classes

The convenience of having most, if not all, of your classes online is a plus. This helps out students who have other obligations, such as jobs and family, complete their degree program without having to worry about commuting or time management. If you fall into this category of students, you are not alone. There are many others like you who study for higher paying careers while working or raising a family. Some students even attend college to increase their current skills. This leads to higher pay and job stability.

3.  Access to Financial Aid

Online community colleges help you find financial aid or offer private loans to pay for your tuition. Like traditional schools, you can qualify for government grants and loans based on your income. The school’s financial aid office can help you locate and apply for the right assistance. They go over any federal grants and loans that fit your financial need.

Students who maintain good grades while in school have more options with funding through scholarships. You may even qualify for scholarships designed to help students with secondary schooling before enrolling. There are numerous scholarships that you may apply for before attending your chosen program. You can also combine financial means to relieve the stress of funding your entire education. Check with the school for these types of opportunities

Course Access

Students considering online classes are advised to consider the easy accessibility provided through online degree programs. The student is provided log in information to access a cloud based class room to complete required course assignments, group sessions, and general testing. The student is able to access previous class notes, class information, and assignment boards on a personalized student control panel. The control panel is provided through a side site created by the online course provider. Accessing various courses through this panel is also an advantage offered through online degree programs.

Professor Contact Advantages

Students are able to contact the professor of the chosen online class through web chat, email or live during classes. The professors providing the valueable course study information provide students with various options for contact to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the course information. Students utilizing the live chat during the course class are able to speak to fellow students through a live chat feature provided with the video simulation of the classroom. Online classes are simulated to look and feel like stepping into a real classroom.

Virtual Library

Students are able to access a virtual library to complete required course assignments through the student control panel. The virtual library is filled with media and text documents provided to supply the information required to successfully pass the course. Students are able to access the virtual library by simply utilizing an internet access connection and the student log in credentials.

Grantham University, an online university in the United States, has partnered with the United States Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA) Scholarship Foundation to provide members of the military with the chance to receive an education with help from financial aid. The deadline to apply is May 1^st, 2011.  The financial aid will be a full package that will help pay for books, classes, software and any fees charged by a university or college. Applicants for the financial aid must be a member of the USAWOA, a spouse of a member of the USAWOA, or a dependent of a member of the USAWOA.

Fredrick Snow, the president of Grantham University, had the following to say about the agreement: “The USAWOA Scholarship Foundation shares Grantham’s mission of ‘serving those who serve’ and our passion for education. The university is pleased to partner with them again this year to offer a deserving applicant the opportunity to earn a college degree without worrying about the associated costs.”

The scholarship is valued at roughly $36,000 per year for the person who wins the award from the university. Those who do not receive the scholarship, but are eligible for the scholarship, are also eligible for a grant that is put forth by Grantham University. The grant will provide the student with a discounted tuition rate, making it easier to attend school when their time in the military comes to a close. The grant will help cover the cost of fees and software needed to take the classes on the internet.

One of the most prominent professors of astronomy in the country, James Ludlow Elliot, passed away on the 3rd of March of 2011 due to complications from cancer. Elliot was responsible for discovering the rings of Uranus in 1977 and was part of the team that discovered the atmosphere of Pluto.  Elliot was a professor of astronomy at MIT.  Elliot taught thousands of students in astronomy during his tenure at MIT, making the profession stronger than it was when he went to school early in his life for the very same profession.

Those planning to earn a degree in astronomy are those who work in the fields of science, research, technical consulting, radio astronomy, teaching, operations management, telescope system engineering and graduate students. The requirements for an online astronomy degree include a GED or high school diploma, TOEFL for students whose first language is not English, work experience related to the field, and some level of prior college education. There are astronomy degrees available on the internet from major colleges and universities in the country that also have physical locations. On the other hand, there are a couple of major universities based solely on the internet who offer an online astronomy degree such as the University of Phoenix.

Registering for an online astronomy degree and its courses means that the students will work on their courses using a computer or from the comfort of their own home, a library, or their office. Even though the courses are taken online, the student will still be taught by licensed and educated professors who have studied astronomy in colleges and universities all over the globe such as James Ludlow Elliot.

Gravagne, who has taught at Baylor since 2002, had the following to say about his appointment: “My family is very excited to join the students of the ECS-LLC in Heritage House. Ann and I were profoundly and positively influenced by resident faculty when we were undergraduates, and we are deeply aware of the special ministry faculty can have in the lives of students while living in-residence.”

Buras, who has taught at Baylor since 2003, had the following to say about his appointment: “Colleges and universities educate the whole person, whether they realize this or not. It is exciting to work for a university that realizes this, and takes the sacred trust of forming souls so seriously. The residential colleges and living and learning centers at Baylor are a fitting response to that sacred trust. My family and I are eager to contribute what we can to the Honors Residential College, and we are honored to be invited into such a vibrant Christian intellectual community.”

Faculty members at Baylor with a masters degree in computer science must apply for these in-residence positions and be elected to those positions by a committee that represents both academic affairs and student life at the university. The committee also helps appoint the faculty-in-residence members with the help of Dr. Elizabeth Davis and Dr. Kevin Jackson. Davis is the executive vice president and provost of the university while Jackson is the vice president for student life at the university. Those chosen to work as faculty-in-residence live on campus with their families in order to increase student life and academics.

Registered nurses continue to comprise the largest portion of the healthcare field, and members enjoy extraordinary flexibility once they have obtained the required levels of education, training and certification.  Public health nurses are a growing specialty among registered nurses, and their focus is on community health issues and policy education.  Licensed practical nurses possess a somewhat lesser degree of training than registered nurses, but provide key healthcare support in numerous medical specialties and settings.  The most rigorous training of all of the various types of nurses is undertaken by those seeking to become nurse practitioners.  Such professionals must complete additional training similar to that undertaken by doctors, and have the ability to diagnose patients and prescribe medications.

According to the 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment prospects for all types of nurses are likely to remain quite promising for the forseeable future.  Jobs for registered nurses in the United States are projected to grow by 22 percent through 2018, a pace surpassing average growth in all other occupational categories.  581,500 new positions are expected to be created during this time period, in addition to the positions which become available through normal attrition.

New technologies within the healthcare field, newfound societal preferences favoring preventive medicine, and demographic changes resulting in greater numbers of elderly patients requiring nursing assistance are all factors which are presently generating an increased demand for all types of nurses.  The growing presence of nursing professionals in a variety of healthcare settings and the expected future increase in employment opportunities make nursing an extremely attractive career path for many.

Studying to become a sheriff in the state of New York provides students with plenty of scholarship opportunities. The Sheriff’s Institute Scholarship, which is awarded to one student from each community college within the state, provides the recipient with $500. Students are nominated by faculty members at each institution.

The Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service Program offers students scholarships if they are studying in the fields of technology, homeland security, mathematics or engineering. The scholarships pay for tuition, books, room and board and a stipend for the students so long as they work in an information assurance program at a federal agency while in school. The stipend is worth $8,000 for undergraduate students and $12,000 for graduate students.

Two colleges across the country that offer scholarships for criminal justice students include Sul Ross State University and the University of Texas at Arlington. Sul Ross State provides a $750 scholarship to a junior or senior and the scholarship is known as the James B. Gillett Memorial Scholarship. The school also provides an underclass student with a $500 award, which is made available each year, and known as the Joe Hicks Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarships awarded by the University of Texas at Arlington are for criminal justice students, no matter their grade year, and range in value from $500 to $2,000. The student must be studying a major within the school’s college of criminal justice to acquire the criminal justice scholarships.

How They’re Different

Online college courses can supplement courses taken on a physical campus to make up a degree program, or distance degree programs can be entirely composed of online courses. The courses themselves are taught with a hybrid of online and in-person contact or conducted entirely in an online environment. Courses conducted entirely online sometimes have set meeting times to view and participate in lectures, or students may be able to log in at their own convenience to watch or listen to prerecorded lectures, view study materials, submit their assignments and so on. Students are expected to review course requirements and schedules before committing to them.

How They’re Not Differnt

The content of online courses varies according to state requirements, the educational institution and the design of the instructor. However, online courses must meet the same standards as courses taught in-person. Although the learning environment is different, the objectives remain the same. Students are challenged to learn new information and put it to practice. Students who successfully complete online courses are prepared to continue on with their courses of study or function in professional environments.

What’s Required

Online students must seek admission to the college or program and enrollment in the necessary courses. They must also be prepared to meet the requirements of online courses. Online courses require computer access and Internet connections. Computer access includes access word processing, e-mail and the Internet programs. Online courses may also require headsets with earphones and microphones for lecture attendance and participation. Online college courses are providing students with educational opportunities that can be taken advantage of with the right tools and the right attitude.

When thinking of criminal justice jobs, many immediately conjure images of police officers and detectives, whether at the state or federal level.  The overriding objective of police officers is to safeguard the lives and property of those in a given community.  These roles can entail active pursuit of criminals, patrolling assigned areas, arresting suspects and issuing tickets for legal infractions.  Writing reports and assembling records of their interactions with community members is a large part of every officer’s job.  Detectives have a more specialized role, conducting investigations and aggregating evidence from criminal activity.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor,  job prospects for local police personnel will remain favorable through 2018, while competition for positions in larger state and federal structures is projected to intensify.

Those interested in criminal justice jobs, but who do not wish to be on active patrol may be interested in exploring careers as a probation officer or corrections specialist.  Probation and corrections specialists oversee individuals who have been released on parole or sentenced to probation, and monitor their compliance with the many conditions of their supervision.  Some of these specialists may assist offenders with adhering to rehabilitation programs and counseling recommendations.  Pretrial services officers investigate offenders’ personal circumstances to help courts fashion appropriate sentences.  The majority of the positions require bachelor’s degrees in psychology, criminal justice, social work, or a related discipline.  As was the case for police officers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job prospects for such professionals through 2018 will be excellent, with employment expected to grow at a rate faster than the average for all other careers.

Given the impressive job opportunities expected to exist through 2018, a history of career stability and very respectable salaries, anyone interested in an exciting, rewarding career should give serious consideration to a job in criminal justice.

The A+ Computer Science Blog
If you’re a newbie to the computer science world, you’ll appreciate the topics covered on the A+ Computer Science Blog.  The blog founder, Stacey Armstrong, has been a computer teacher at a Texas high school for about 15 years.  Her goal is to convince you that “computer science is cool”, as you’ll notice when you first visit the blog.  Stacey blogs about java, cryptography, and computer science careers.  She also has links for teaching resources and prep materials for computer science tests and contests.  Definitely a site worth checking out, especially if you’re still trying to figure out what exactly computer science is.

The Female Perspective of Computer Science Blog
It’s no secret that computer science careers are dominated by men.  Gail Carmichael doesn’t let that get her down, though.  The Female Perspective of Computer Science shares her adventures as a PhD student in computer science at Carleton University.  Her goal is to help girls realize that computer science doesn’t have to be boring or intimidating.  One nice thing about Gail’s blog is that she updates it on a regular basis, and most posts include a picture.

Good Math, Bad Math
Join MarkCC, a computer scientist employed by Google, as he rants and raves about “squashing bad math and the fools who promote it” on Good Math, Bad Math.   You’ll find a bit of everything on this blog- posts about Sarah Palin, real numbers, fuzzy logic, probability theory, and what it takes to create a software system.  This blog is a nice mental break if you’d like to read about current events with a bit of computer science geekiness thrown in.