Another accredited school, Dixie State College is embracing online education – by providing students with a fast track to communication degree completion. Through a series of nighttime courses students with an associate’s degree or at least 60 hours of college credit can complete a bachelor of science communication degree in as few as 20 months.

The Organization and Leadership Degree Completion Program (DCP) is overseen by adviser who works with students to achieve success in earning an academic degree. Students who have an associate’s degree or who have completed 60 hours and all general education requirements will work with a cohort to map out a fast track. DCP Students will attend classes only one night per week. Each student will complete one course at a time, usually in four weeks, and then move on to the next course with a different instructor. Additional coursework during each week is completed online and at home.

See the full article here at: stgnews.com

It’s great to see more universities recognize the benefits of accredited online degrees and accredited online schools – feel free to check the main portion of our site that list many accredited schools and degrees.

To ensure that your academic experience is of the highest quality, all degree programs listed on www.SchoolsandDegrees.com are associated with universities and colleges that have approved accreditation. We also partner with a wide variety of renowned career schools which offer technical and professional training.

Students must understand the importance of accreditation and the dangers of receiving a degree from a school without accreditation.

As a top resource on the Web, we strive to provide pertinent and up-to-date information on accreditation in the world of online learning. This section of our comprehensive, informative site serves that end.

The purpose of accreditation is to:

1. Use standards of evaluation to ensure quality education
2. Encourage institutions to improve quality of education
3. Ensure the accountability of educational institutions
4. Provide public confidence in educational institutions

What should you know about accreditation?

When assessing the quality of an educational institution, students should know about the institution’s accreditation status.

Accreditation status is provided by accrediting bodies, which are private, nongovernmental organizations that have been created specifically to review higher education institutions and programs. These accreditors are reviewed for quality by entities such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDE).

The accreditation process ensures the review of a school’s faculty, recruiting practices, admissions procedures, course content, and more. Influenced and affected by the role of accreditors, schools are accountable for continually working to improve the quality and results of the education they provide.

Why should you care about accreditation?

Enrolling in an e-learning program with accreditation is important for:

• Federal Financial Aid

  CHEA states that in the United States, “students who want federal (and sometimes state) grants and loans need to attend a college, university, or program that is accredited.” This is also true for e-learning and online education.

• Credit Transfer

  To transfer credits to an accredited school, your credits must come from a school with accreditation.

• Employment

  Employers often look for proof that their job applicants have received a degree from an academic program with accreditation. Often, job applicants are not eligible for employment, and employees are not eligible for advancement, if their degree is not from an accredited school.

Be confident about the accreditation of the e-learning program you choose.

Schools & Degrees provides the information you need about accreditation:

• The importance of accreditation: What does accreditation mean to you?
• Types of accreditation
• The accreditation process and benefits of accreditation
• US and regional accreditation
• US National Accreditation Association
• US Specialized / Professional Accrediting Associations
• Dangers of degrees without accreditation

In the 2006–07 academic year, 66 percent of the 4,160 2-year and 4-year Title IV degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the nation offered college-level distance education courses. The overall percentage includes 97 percent of public 2-year institutions, 18 percent of private for-profit 2-year institutions, 89 percent of public 4-year institutions, 53 percent of private not-for-profit institutions, and 70 percent of private for-profit 4-year institutions.

Sixty-five percent of the institutions reported college-level credit-granting distance education courses, and 23 percent reported noncredit distance education courses. There was a total of an estimated 12.2 million enrollments (or registrations) in college-level credit-granting distance education courses in 2006–07. Of these enrollments, 77 percent were reported in online courses, 12 percent were reported in hybrid/blended online courses, and 10 percent were reported in other types of distance education courses.

In 2006–07, there were approximately 11,200 college-level programs that were designed to be completed totally through distance education; 66 percent of these programs were reported as degree programs and the remaining 34 percent were reported as certificate programs.

For a complete list of accredited online schools check out our home page – see the featured schools.

1.  GuidetoOnlineSchools – Online School Rankings

2.  GuidetoOnlineSchoos – Online School Reviews

3.  OEDb – Online School Rankings

For a list of profile and directory of accredited online schools – check out our accredited online schools page

Enjoy!

Here are a few schools offering these programs but feel free to check out our sections dedicated to nursing degrees.

1.  Kaplan University

2. Kent State University

3.  Colorado Technical University

Good luck!

If you’re a busy, working Paramedic- and want to expand your career options and income potential- consider becoming an RN! The online Paramedic to RN bridge program offers certified Paramedics the opportunity to transition into Registered Nursing with an NLNAC accredited Associate in Science Degree in Nursing in as little as 18 months without ever stepping into a college classroom. The accelerated online Paramedic to RN transition program saves time and costs up to 50% less than traditional classroom-based programs. The program allows Paramedics the opportunity to earn their Nursing degree while working at an independent pace and maintaining work and life balance. Students successfully completing the online Paramedic to RN bridge program will be eligible to work as Graduate Nurses (GN) in most states while waiting to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses.

There are several advantage to the Online Paramedic to RN Program

1. Online degrees through prestigious accredited universities
2. No Classroom Attendance Required
3. No Waiting Lists – Start Right Away
4. Transfer credits from other regionally accredited colleges and universities
5. Use a variety of resources to acquire additional knowledge and competencies
6. Earn credits in your own space, at your own pace
7. Low Cost With Guaranteed Financing

The Benefits of The Paramedic-to-RN Online Bridge Program include the following:

1. Salary increase of up to $30,000
2. Opportunity to Specialize
3. Increased job security
4. Increased autonomy, responsibilities, & respect
5. Personal growth and satisfaction
6. Unlimited career advancement options

Additionally, earning your Associate’s Degree in Nursing through the online Paramedic to RN bridge program provides you with the opportunity to take advantage of advanced nursing education programs such as RN to BSN programs, RN to MSN bridge programs, earning a Master’s in Nursing Science (MSN) degree, or even becoming a Nurse Practitioner at a later time.

(Source: BLS)

(Source: BLS)

Marketing research provides organizations with valuable feedback from purchasers, allowing companies to evaluate consumer satisfaction and plan more effectively for the future. Survey researchers also will be needed to meet the growing demand for market and opinion research as an increasingly competitive economy requires businesses to allocate advertising funds more effectively and efficiently.

Market research analysts should have the best opportunities in consulting firms and marketing research firms as companies find it more profitable to contract for market research services rather than support their own marketing department. However, other organizations, including computer systems design companies, software publishers, financial services organizations, health care institutions, advertising firms, and insurance companies, may also offer job opportunities for market research analysts. Increasingly, market research analysts not only collect and analyze information, but also help clients implement analysts’ ideas and recommendations.

(Source: BLS)

Analysts may conduct opinion research to determine public attitudes on various issues. The research results may help political or business leaders to measure public support for their electoral prospects or social policies. Like market research analysts, survey researchers may use a variety of mediums to conduct surveys, such as the Internet, personal or telephone interviews, or questionnaires sent through the mail. They also may supervise interviewers who conduct surveys in person or over the telephone.

Survey researchers design surveys in many different formats, depending upon the scope of their research and the method of collection. Interview surveys, for example, are common because they can increase participation rates. Survey researchers may consult with economists, statisticians, market research analysts, or other data users in order to design surveys. They also may present survey results to clients.

(Source: BLS)