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Online
Universities Help Adults Balance Career, Family and Education
(ARA) - It doesn't take a college degree to figure out that the
world has changed significantly since your parents graduated from
high school and began careers. The necessity of having an education
to make the kind of living you'd like, in a career of your choosing,
is greater than ever before.
According to labor statistics, 60 percent of all jobs in 1950 could
be filled with unskilled labor. By 2005, it is estimated that 85
percent of all the new jobs created will require skilled labor.
And, while education is increasingly pivotal to one's success, the
cost of education continues to rise. The U.S. Census Bureau reports
that the average cost of college tuition and room and board for
the 1998-1999 school year at four-year colleges and universities
was $8,629 -- a 60 percent increase from 1989-1990. The same costs
for private colleges rose nearly 70 percent.
In addition to rising costs, there are other factors making education
less accessible, such as the conflicting obligations of a job, children
and/or personal activities. Although these issues can present additional
challenges for all adult learners pursuing degrees, research has
defined some of the barriers common to women.
According to the Commonwealth of Online Learning, significant barriers
to women continuing their educations include the fixed hours of
institutional learning, the substantial attendance requirement,
the "lockstep" approach to curriculum, lack of child-care facilities,
and unfriendly course information.
Kim Johnson, a mother of two young boys and a full-time human resources
manager, is earning a master's degree online. "No one warned us
how hard it is to juggle it all: kids, career and other obligations,"
she says. "But earning a degree online has exposed me not only to
the convenience of the Internet, but also to relevant course information
and the insights and experiences of the other students in the classes
I'm taking."
Johnson's experience with online education reflects a major shift
in the adult learning paradigm. In an era when education has never
been more important, online learning enables anyone to earn a degree
without neglecting work, family or other personal obligations, and
without any geographic or time barriers. Without such flexibility,
many adult learners could not continue their educations.
Several "traditional" universities have online course offerings,
but those are often limited and may not be broad enough to constitute
entire degree programs. Other universities have been developed solely
to provide online courses and degrees, but many are of them not
accredited, which can affect the value of their graduates' degrees
in the job market. With careful research, adult students can find
accredited educational programs offered entirely online to advance
their careers.
One example is Jones International University (JIU), a pioneer in
online higher education and the first fully online, accredited university.
JIU offers 27 undergraduate and graduate degrees and 55 executive
and professional certificate programs. Leveraging the power of the
Internet, JIU is able to deliver courses developed by faculty from
leading universities around the world, including Georgetown, Stanford,
Carnegie Mellon and the London School of Economics.
JIU students can earn bachelor's and master's degrees, including
a Master of Arts in Business Communication; seven Master of Business
Administration degrees; six Master of Education in e-Learning degrees;
a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication; five Bachelor of Science
in Information Technology degrees; and seven Bachelor of Business
Administration degrees.
"Actually,
I find I interact more with the professor and other students than
I ever did in a traditional university setting," says Johnson, a
JIU student. "Some courses even require two or three comments to
fellow students on specific projects."
"And
class sizes are often small enough to gain a lot of insight and
information based on the backgrounds and experience of the others
in the class," she says. "I find that I'm more vocal and uninhibited
in my interactions than I ever was in a classroom."
Johnson says online course work requires self-discipline and motivation,
but the courses are structured to make sure students keep pace.
"Every week we are given a deadline for a project or other course
work," she explains. "The instructors make sure everyone is on track
and give assignments that force us to apply what we're learning
to everyday, real-life situations."
JIU is an international institution, bringing together renowned
instructors and students from more than 100 countries, which lends
a global perspective to each course. Students work at their own
pace, logging on to their courses when and from where it is most
convenient for them. JIU provides around-the-clock technical support
via telephone or e-mail, academic counseling, mentoring and other
guidance programs, as well as an online library. In addition, courses
begin each month, which gives students the flexibility to schedule
their degree or certificate work around the demands of work or home.
Class sizes do not exceed 25 students, so students are assured of
maximum interaction with instructors and fellow students.
Earning a college degree, or keeping up with technological changes
to enhance an existing degree, is essential for anyone who wants
to thrive and grow in the global economy. The right online institution
makes either of these goals feasible for the busy adult learners,
while still providing the comprehensive, in-depth educational experience
associated with traditional college degrees.
For additional information about Jones International University,
visit www.jonesinternational.edu.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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The followup to Brendan Sinclairs successful Web Design Business kit is a comprehensive look at all the business aspects of working as a web designer. It's thorough and has some excellent advice in it.
A complete, secure, online billing application that maintains hourly service billing, flat fee billing and recurring charges. Integration with Authorize.Net and other leading payment gateways provides hands-free recurring billing with a sophisticated CRM system.
Browse through our extensive list of free Business, Computer, Engineering and Trade magazines, white papers, downloads and podcasts to find the titles that best match your skills and interests; topics include management, marketing, operations, sales, and technology. Simply complete the application form and submit it. All are absolutely free to freelance professionals who qualify.
All Freelance Work is a Community for Freelance Workers Including Free Portfolios, Job Search, Job Posting, Helpful Articles, Forums, & More for the Self Employed.
