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Research online degree and certificate programs in global finance. Get information on requirements, courses, career prospects and salary to make an informed decision about your education.

Online training programs in global finance are available as bachelor's degree programs in financial management with global finance coursework. Online graduate certificate programs, often designed to supplement a Master of Business Administration program, are also available. At the master's degree level, online Master of Science in Finance programs may offer international finance and investing coursework.

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents typically need a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions and a master's degree for more advanced positions. Personal finance advisors and financial analysts typically need a minimum of a bachelor's degree, and a master's degree is often required for advancement.

While online global finance bachelor's degree programs aren't readily available, there are online Bachelor of Science programs in financial management that allow students to specialize their studies through international or global finance coursework. These programs are ideal for those interested in learning how to manage investment decisions. Not surprisingly, students need an aptitude for math as well as strong analytical skills to succeed in these programs.

Curricula for many of these 4-year programs are offered entirely online. Online courses often operate on a weekly assignment deadline, instead of daily. Contributing to a discussion board is typically required. Other types of courses are blended and require students to meet on campus once a week and complete the remaining assignments or project collaborations from home.

Financial management bachelor's degree programs often include general education curricula and basic business courses in micro and macroeconomics, statistics and accounting. Elective courses and a finance core make up the rest of the program requirements. Sample course descriptions are listed below:

Course topics teach students how to recognize the risks associated with certain types of investments, such as stocks, options and bonds. Students might also be tasked with monitoring current economic conditions in order to evaluate a mock portfolio.

Students explore techniques for assessing the value of an organization and forecasting its performance. Special attention is paid to multinational corporations and markets.

This course examines the political, social and legal factors that come into play when conducting business with corporations overseas. Students also compare domestic and international business practices.

Jobs in financial analysis or personal financial advising are among the employment options available to graduates of financial management bachelor's degree programs. They may also pursue jobs as securities, commodities and financial services sales agents, though registration and licensure through the Financial Industry Regulation Authority is necessary for a career in this field.

As of May 2012, these sales agents earned an average salary of $100,910, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Financial analysts made average salaries of $89,410, while personal financial advisors earned an average of $90,820 per year.

The BLS reported favorable employment prospects for all of these careers. Financial analysts and personal financial advisors could see job opportunities increase 23% and 32%, respectively, over the 2010-2020 decade. A 15% job growth was forecast for securities, commodities and financial services sales agents over the same period.

Students who complete financial management bachelor's degree programs could pursue graduate training in any number of fields. These include certificates and master's degree programs in accounting, business administration and finance, all of which are available online.

Online certificate programs covering topics in global finance are often geared toward working professionals who'd like to learn more about this field, typically to advance their careers or supplement their Master of Business Administration (MBA) coursework. Some programs admit applicants provided they have adequate work experience in the banking, finance or accounting fields. Others offer open enrollment to all interested students.

The time it takes to complete one of these programs is relatively short. Some schools offer courses that can be completed entirely online in as little as 2 months. Assignments and readings are often due on a weekly basis. Students might also be required to periodically submit posts on course discussion boards or pass an assessment when coursework is completed.

Students in global finance certificate programs might take anywhere from 3-5 graduate-level courses. Sample topics of study are listed below:

This introductory course teaches students how to evaluate financial statements and credit analyses as well as estimate cash flows. Other topics of study include techniques for valuing capital projects and performing a working capital analysis.

Students in this course study more advanced topics, including risk management strategies and methods for calculating inflation differentials for foreign currency. The management of debtor and creditor accounts is also discussed.

This course familiarizes students with the markets trading these particular derivative securities. Topics of study include pricing formulas and valuation techniques.

Graduates of global finance certificate programs can also pursue jobs as financial analysts, personal financial advisors or securities, commodities and financial services sales agents. If they have sufficient work experience, they might also find employment as financial managers. While only a 9% employment growth was forecast for these professionals over the 2010-2020 decade, they earned mean salaries of $123,260 as of May 2012, according to the BLS.

Graduates of global finance certificate programs can pursue an MBA. These degrees are readily available online, often at the same schools offering certificate programs.

Global finance master's degree programs typically require students to complete extensive study abroad, whether to work alongside executives in other countries or observe the business negotiations of multinational corporations. As a result, these programs aren't usually offered online. However, there are related online Master of Science in Finance programs offering concentrations or coursework in international finance and investing. These degree programs teach students how to assess the risks associated with international business transactions and foreign markets as well as evaluate investment decisions.

Students entering these programs will need a bachelor's degree. A resume detailing work experience may also be required. Similar programs in business administration or management might also offer finance specializations or coursework.

These graduate programs require roughly 50 credit hours of coursework that can be completed entirely online via course management systems. Many schools offer distance education students some of the same resources available to traditional students, such as library resources, advising and disability services.

Coursework often includes a handful of core courses in accounting, economics and statistics. The remaining curriculum consists of finance courses that range from topics in financial policy and administration to capital markets and budgeting. A few of the more common course offerings are outlined below:

This course focuses on the financing of foreign trade. Methods for evaluating an organization's credit and calculating the associated risks are also discussed. Some courses include an additional focus on financing for multinational corporations.

Financial analysis courses familiarize students with accounting statements and procedures. Topics of study might include methods for using internal audits to evaluate a company's performance.

This course often provides students with a capstone experience. They can study current financial theory or research topics of interest, such as the role taxes play in investment decisions.

Career options for students who complete global finance master's degree programs are the same as for those who earn a bachelor's degree or graduate certificate. However, holding an advanced degree could qualify professionals in this field for advanced positions or help them get a leg up over applicants who only hold a bachelor's degree.

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By: Rob Kelly in Online Education

Careful preparation is essential to the success of an online course “to provide a positive experience for the students and to be able to maximize your time with students so that you’re not spending time on reworking things that weren’t clear up front,” says Ann Millacci, associate professor of education at the University of Cincinnati. In an interview with Online Classroom, she offered the following advice on preparing your course for your learners:

Be clear, concise, and comprehensive. “Everything has to be there. You can’t walk in as an instructor with your yellow pad and ad lib the session like you might in the face-to-face classroom. You have to have everything laid out. It has to be very organized. And the students have to have the material as soon as the course goes online. ”Logical flow of the course is important as well, and Millacci recommends having a colleague check the course for ease of navigation, clear instructions, and accurate placement of content. “You don’t want students to be frustrated because things aren’t where they’re supposed to be.” Provide a manageable amount of content. Because online courses often operate on a compressed schedule, it’s important to consider how much work is reasonable to expect of students while at the same time ensuring you’re covering the necessary content. Provide a variety of learning activities. Consider which types of activities are appropriate for the goals of the course and how you might offer different types of assignments to make the course more interesting and engaging for the students. The educational leadership program in which Millacci prepares educators to become principals includes field interviews, case studies, discussion boards, and collaborative assignments. Avoid making last-minute changes. Making changes in an online course can have unintended consequences such as inconsistent information. This can create confusion for the students. It’s best to make changes when you have time to check that the changes didn’t create any problems in the accuracy or flow of the course. Provide resources to help students succeed in the online classroom. Don’t assume that your students have all the knowledge and expertise to succeed in an online course format. While it’s unrealistic to teach students what they need to know about the learning environment, you can provide them with links to resources that can help. Test the course in different browsers and on different computers. Sometimes what works on one computer doesn’t work on another. Fixing any problems before the course goes live will help avoid student frustration and the need for you to scramble to help them access the course.

Now it’s your turn. What would you add to this list to help new faculty prepare to teach their first online class?

Reprinted from Tips from the Pros: Six Ways to Prepare Your Online Course, Online Classroom, 13.10 (2013): 1,7. ? Magna Publications. All rights reserved.

Tags: online course design, teaching online, tips for online faculty

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Learn about online degrees in music therapy. Get information on master's and doctoral degrees, program requirements and career prospects to make an informed decision about your education.

Online programs in music therapy are typically available only at the graduate levels. Master's programs are fairly common, though they may require a combination of on-campus and distance learning coursework. In addition, applicants to these programs often need to hold a bachelor's degree in music therapy and certification in the field.

Online Ph.D. programs in music therapy are rare. However, a few schools offer related programs with music therapy concentrations; program titles might include expressive therapy or music education. Similar to master's programs, applicants may need to be credentialed music therapists.

Both master's and doctoral programs are research-intensive. Master's-level students often need to complete a thesis or final project in order to graduate, while doctoral programs typically culminate in a dissertation.

While only a bachelor's degree is required to become a music therapist, master's degree programs are typically the lowest degree level offered online. Online master's degree programs in music therapy are often designed for experienced music therapists who wish to further their education. Programs focus on developing advanced research and clinical practice skills. Since music therapists work in healthcare settings and use music to assess and treat patients, coursework is heavily focused on the application of music to clinical settings.

Prospective students looking to study music therapy online should already hold bachelor's degrees in music therapy and should have completed an internship or fieldwork experience as part of their bachelor's degree programs. Alternatively, a degree equivalency program, which includes only music therapy training, may be sufficient for individuals who already hold bachelor's degrees in other fields. Prospective students should also be approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists, though some programs may accept students who are listed as non-board-certified music therapists on the National Music Therapy Registry.

Online master's degree programs in music therapy typically require around 30 units to complete. Depending on how many courses a student takes each semester, these programs can take 1-3 years to finish. Some programs can be completed fully online, while others require minimal on-campus visits. Students need a computer with Internet access so they can view assignments and course materials through an online software platform.

Programs may offer thesis and non-thesis options. Toward the end of their program, students must either complete an original research project or pass a comprehensive exam. Common coursework requirements include both research and clinical topics.

Students familiarize themselves with reviewing literature, designing studies and analyzing research results. The course may also cover developing an area of focus and writing reports on research findings, as well as ethical considerations in research.

This course introduces students to technology used in the music therapy field. Students examine ways that technology can be applied in clinical practice and research.

In this course, students learn how to implement music therapy techniques in a clinical setting. Some programs may deliver this course as a practicum that must be completed in person at an approved location.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of recreational therapists, which includes music therapists, is expected to increase 17% over the 2010-2020 decade. Job prospects are expected to be best for certified therapists and those who work with the elderly. The American Music Therapy Association conducted a salary survey for music therapists in 2011, which revealed that music therapists earned an average salary of about $48,000. As of December 2013, Payscale.com reported a median annual salary of $42,658 for music therapists.

Students interested in furthering their music therapy education beyond the master's degree level may consider pursuing a Ph.D. Some Ph.D. programs are specifically in music therapy, while others offer music therapy study options within a broader discipline, such as expressive therapies. Programs typically require a master's degree and 3-5 years of professional experience as a clinical music therapist. As with the master's degree programs, board certification or eligibility for board certification is a common requirement for admission. Ph.D. programs in music therapy are heavily research-oriented and aim to prepare students to become leaders in the field and make new research contributions.

Depending on whether or not a dissertation is required, Ph.D. programs in music therapy can be completed in as little as three years. It is very difficult to find Ph.D. programs in music therapy that can be completed fully online. However, there are programs that allow a combination of online and on-campus courses. Online courses are delivered through online software, such as Blackboard. Students taking online courses probably won't need anything more than the typical requirements of a computer with Internet access and word processing software. Several intensive residencies or retreats that take place on campus may be required throughout the program.

In addition to coursework requirements, some programs require the completion of a dissertation and an oral defense. A preliminary exam may help a potential student qualify for candidacy before they submit a dissertation proposal and begin dissertation research. Coursework focuses on developing teaching and research skills.

Students are given insight as to the foundational and efficacy research that has contributed to the field of music therapy. Students may examine research in a specific area of music therapy, such as music medicine and/or music psychotherapy.

In this course, students explore different methods of supervision that may be employed when teaching undergraduate students or overseeing a professional practice. The course examines behavioral, humanistic and psychodynamic models for supervision.

Students may participate in a research and/or teaching apprenticeship. A research apprenticeship involves assisting faculty members with designing studies, conducting research, writing reports and submitting results for publication. In a teaching apprenticeship, students assist faculty members with undergraduate teaching and supervision duties, such as hosting seminars and reviewing lesson plans.

Board-certified music therapists must renew their certification every five years. The Certification Board for Music Therapists has two options for renewal: therapists can either take an exam or complete 100 recertification credits. Acceptable types of recertification credits include continuing music therapy education courses, professional development activities and professional service activities.

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By: Rob Kelly in Educational Assessment, Online Education

Tests and quizzes are often the primary means of assessing online learner performance; however, as Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt, online instructors and coauthors of numerous online learning books, including Lessons from the Virtual Classroom: The Realities of Online Teaching (2013), point out, there are more effective and less problematic alternatives.

They cite three significant drawbacks of test and quizzes:

1. Test and quizzes typically assess low-level learning. “They address only some of the lower levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, often sticking to the knowledge level. [Tests and quizzes] measure how much information students have memorized and then can spit back out on an exam. Most test questions are not designed to allow students to engage in really critical thinking or analysis or synthesis of materials,” Palloff says.

2. Tests and quizzes often are not aligned with the learning objectives or pedagogies of the course. “When you’re having students do more authentic activities or application activities, you’re working at the higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy—synthesis or evaluation—but then you’re measuring the lowest level—the knowledge level—by using a test or quiz,” Palloff and Pratt say.

This misalignment issue arose in an online course Palloff and Pratt taught together. The course was primarily discussion based. They had students do things such as discuss news articles that illustrated concepts in the course. “The discussion activities were really robust, very practical, very applied, and authentic. And then they were given a final exam out of the blue that we did not write, and all the students failed. It was a picky final exam with true-false and multiple-choice questions. Every student failed because that was not the way the course was taught. They were taught to think at much higher levels, and they went into this final exam that was all about rote memorization of stuff from the textbook. … It wasn’t a good way to measure how they were actually doing in the course,” Palloff and Pratt say.

3. Overuse of test and quizzes can promote cheating. Several studies have shown that when tests and quizzes are the primary means of assessment, students cheat more than they would if they engaged in a more authentic activity, Palloff says.

Alternative assessment methods such as writing assignments, collaborative assignments, case studies, and debates can avoid the problems often associated with tests and quizzes. “There are many ways to approach assessment. It depends on the context of the course. When we teach faculty how to teach online, we try to give them a taste of a majority of those methods. I don’t know that we can cover all of them in one course, but there are multiple ways to get at the issues and make this a real-life situation for the students so they can actually learn from the process,” Pratt says.

Palloff and Pratt recommend selecting assessment methods that are learner-centered and authentic.

Learner-centered assessment methods address whether the learner has met the learning outcomes of the course as well as how the learner got there. “A learner-centered assessment is an assessment that links what the student is learning in the course to the assessment process,” Palloff says.

Authentic assessment methods can reduce cheating. One way to make assignments more authentic and less susceptible to cheating is to have students embed their own experiences in their assignments. “For example, if they are writing about human development, you can have them write about their own development. They’re writing about themselves, and that is very difficult to buy through a paper mill or to plagiarize,” Palloff says.

Mobile technology is one way to incorporate authentic assessment into a course. For example, one of Pratt’s doctoral students uses mobile phones in a 12th-grade calculus course he teaches. Students record themselves working on problems. “This allows them to move around. They can get creative. It challenges them to do a multitude of things on different levels and they’re learning calculus in the process,” Pratt says.

Palloff also uses mobile technology for authentic assignments. As part of a final project in a community health care course, she has students prepare a brief proposal to their communities about the development of a particular health service. Students then go out and interview community members and record the interviews using cell phones. “There are lots of ways to use the technologies that are available to us to enhance those kinds of products. Students can then post those online so that other students can see them and give them feedback in addition to the instructor’s evaluation,” Palloff says.

When students do collaborative assignments, they should be assessed collaboratively, Palloff and Pratt say. Collaborative assessment is a combination of students assessing themselves and one another and the instructor taking that input and doing the final assessment. In addition to providing a basis for a grade, these collaborative assessments provide useful insights on what worked and what didn’t work on an assignment, which Palloff and Pratt debrief with students so that they can reflect on what they might do differently the next time.

When used sparingly and properly designed, tests and quizzes can be useful assessment methods, Palloff and Pratt say.

Rather than relying on anti-cheating technologies or proctors, they recommend using open-book tests and quizzes “because students are going to have their text material available, and if they are working online they can look things up on Google,” Palloff says. “There are all kinds of ways that they can gather information, and, the truth is, in the real world if the student comes up against a problem or an issue that they don’t have the answer to, they’re going to look it up or ask someone. So if you construct your tests and quizzes that way you’re actually teaching students some skills that they’re going to use when they get out of school.”

The questions in an open-book test or quiz need to be complex and require students to know the material and know where to look if they are uncertain about something. When open-book tests or quizzes are well designed, students who don’t do the work will not be able to do well on them even with an open book.

Reprinted from Online Classroom, 13.7 (2013): 1,8. ? Magna Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Tags: alternative assessments, assessing online learning, assessment alternatives

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By: Rob Kelly in Online Education

Teddi Fishman, director of the International Center for Academic Integrity at Clemson University, advocates an instructional design/community-building approach to academic integrity rather than an adversarial approach. Her stint as a police officer informs this stance. As radar gun companies introduced improved speed enforcement tools, the latest radar detectors (often produced by the same companies) rendered such improvements ineffective. “I learned that you can’t out-tech people, and you don’t want to get into that situation. You don’t want to have that arms race. Certainly some security measures are going to be necessary, but don’t get into the habit of relying on technology to establish a climate of integrity, because it can have adverse effects. Nobody wants to feel like they’re being watched all the time,” she says.

Here are Fishman’s recommendations for promoting academic integrity in the online classroom:

Let your students know you care about academic integrity. If your institution has an honor code, refer to it throughout the course. “If you don’t have conversations that reference the honor code, if students don’t buy into the honor code, it’s going to be a lot less effective,” Fishman says.

In addition, remind students of the importance of academic integrity to you personally. For example, Fishman mentions her role in the International Center for Academic Integrity and talks about academic integrity throughout the course. “You want to mention before the major assignments that integrity is important. You want to mention [academic integrity] while they’re working on their papers. That can make a difference, but I think it’s much less effective without interaction to reinforce that that is one of the mores of the community,” she says.

When students have a relationship with their instructor, they are less likely to cheat. This is why Fishman recommends making a strong effort to get to know students. She recommends entering the learning space early to chat with students during synchronous sessions, asking questions such as “How are you doing?” and “What did you do this weekend?” She also recommends using gestures. “I type into the online classroom ‘smiles’ and ‘waves’ and ‘say hello to so-and-so’ so that they understand it as a place that is like their face-to-face classroom, and I think that can help establish that rapport.”

By having these social conversations students might be less inclined to cheat for fear of disappointing someone—the instructor—with whom they have established a relationship. “You want the teacher and the student to feel responsible to each other. You want them to feel that they are engaged in the mutual process of understanding—the teacher and students are helping the student learn, and if things go really well, the teacher learns too,” Fishman says.

For instructors who do not have the option to use synchronous communication, Fishman recommends establishing relatively informal spaces to interact “so that students know that not everything is going to be a graded assignment.” She asks students to include a photo, picture, or symbol that appears alongside their name in discussions and blog posts. This helps establish relationships even if students don’t use photos of themselves. “You get familiar with that person. You might not ever know the person’s real name, but you know his or her Internet moniker and picture, and you feel over time that you know that person,” Fishman says.

Some online learners struggle with understanding appropriate behavior in the online classroom and mistakenly transfer to the online classroom the norms from other online venues, such as gaming spaces and Facebook, rather than behave according to the norms of the face-to-face classroom. To address this issue, Fishman recommends using analogues of the face-to-face learning environment in the online classroom.

For example, using a tool that is analogous to a chalkboard helps establish familiar norms in a new setting. Similarly, having students respond to questions synchronously helps establish a classroom environment. “It feels like the kind of discussion they might have in a classroom. If you do everything in an asynchronous environment, then it doesn’t feel like a classroom. I want them to see what happens in the online classroom as an interactive exchange, just like a face-to-face classroom would be. It’s not like everything should be the same [as the face-to-face classroom], but I do think there should be special attention paid to making sure that students have that feeling of interactivity by talking with each other and not just getting assignments out of nowhere and submitting them into a black hole. There have to be people attached to those actions, personalities, and interactions in order for you to establish that kind of rapport.”

One of the obstacles to promoting academic integrity is class size. If students don’t have the opportunity to establish relationships with classmates and the instructor, they may be more inclined to cheat. “In small classes where the teacher and the students have lots of interaction, there’s a sense of responsibility to one another,” Fishman says.

Financial necessity often dictates large online classes. In order to build rapport, Fishman recommends subdividing large classes into discussion groups of five to 10. “If you’re able to schedule it so that those groups aren’t all meeting at the same time, then it’s possible to still take advantage of the way you teach best,” Fishman says. For example, an instructor might do part of a lecture synchronously and have students do an assignment and then view a prerecorded lecture.
Use frequent and varied assignments. Scaffolded assignments with interim deadlines and pieces that can be assessed throughout the course can make cheating less likely. However, having many assignments can create extra work for the instructor. Fishman recommends providing simple feedback on some of these assignments, such as a checkmark for those who complete an assignment correctly and more substantive feedback for those who need it.

In addition to reducing the likelihood of cheating, having a series of assignments that builds toward a larger project tends to means that the final project is usually higher quality and requires less feedback than had the students submitted just the final project, Fishman says. Although having assignments like this can reduce cheating, it won’t eliminate it, because students can pay others to create all the pieces of the assignment.

Fishman is not opposed to the use of technology to detect academic dishonesty, and the International Center for Academic Integrity works with companies that provide these tools, “but I do think than an overreliance [on technology] can be detrimental to the relationship between the teacher and the students. You want to be able to detect plagiarism. … What you don’t want to do is feel like it’s an arms race, where you’re trying to put in so many mechanisms [so] that students can’t possibly cheat, and they’re trying to find ways of getting around all the mechanisms you have in place,” Fishman says.

When students are supported, are engaged, and have opportunities to explore their interests, they are less likely to cheat. “The trick is to design the course so that everything essential is there, and yet when somebody gets excited about a topic and wants to explore, there’s room for students to pursue that,” Fishman says.

Unlike in the face-to-face classroom, there can be technical barriers in the online classroom. “You don’t want [students] to barely master the technology so that they can barely get the assignments done. You want there to be room for them to expand, grow, play. If you get the students [to] where they’re playing with the technology, the technology is no longer a barrier. …

“If all students were engaged and actually excited about learning, then my job would be over because there would be no reason to cheat. … There’s no reason for students to cheat in an environment where they feel safe, competent, and excited about what they’re doing.” Reprinted from Promoting Academic Integrity in the Online Classroom, Online Classroom, 13.6 (2013): 5,8. ? Magna Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Tags: academic dishonesty, academic integrity, academic integrity in online education, cheating in online classes

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Online education is a great choice if you have a busy life, but there are many schools to choose from. We evaluated the online education landscape and selected the 10 most important things to look for when picking an online school.

Once you've decided you want to earn your degree online, it's time to pick a school. A quick Internet search will give you a ton of online school results, but you'll want some criteria to help you decide on the school that works for you. Take a look at this handy guide that offers some key points to consider before you make your decision.

Online learning is a fairly new medium, and you don't want to trust your education in a school that's still experimenting with online programs. Look for a school with a well-known brand, years of experience administering online programs, and a reputation for investing in the top technologies and methods for online instruction. Also visit the school's 'About Us' section to learn how many years of experience in online education it has as well as the number of degrees it has awarded.

Whether you're enrolling in an on-campus or online school, you'll want to make sure that a school is accredited. In general, degrees from accredited schools are more widely accepted by employers. This is particularly important when choosing an online degree because it's relatively easy for low quality schools to start up. Accredited schools generally display their accreditation information in their 'About Us' section.

Explore the degrees available at Northcentral University| http://education-portal.com/directory/school/Northcentral_University.html#tab0-page1] and at Brandman University.

Flexibility is one of the primary benefits of online education, and you can look for a school that offers asynchronous learning, which means you can log in to class on your own schedule rather than at set times. This might include participating in discussions that span a few days instead of real time, scheduling exam times that fit your calendar, or watching video lecture materials at your own pace. If you have a busy schedule, make sure to ask about flexibility options when you speak to a school's enrollment advisor.

Learning online is different than face-to-face learning, and it's important to choose a school that supports students as they transition to online learning. Many top schools have personal enrollment advisors that will support you throughout the enrollment process. Also look for schools that offer trial periods or sample mini-courses for free so that you can try out online learning at a school without committing.

Check out Kaplan University if you want to check out a course for three weeks before committing.

One of the big benefits of online schools is that they offer a wide variety of programs. Program diversity allows you to take a variety of electives and to seamlessly switch majors if your interests or goals change. Another option you might consider is looking for schools that offer programs all the way from the associate's degree level to the doctoral level. By choosing a school with strong program diversity, you can stick with it throughout your career as a student rather than spending time selecting and transitioning to a new school.

In addition to offering a wide array of programs, top schools have enough program availability that qualified students don't have trouble getting spots in programs and classes. You don't want lack of access to classes to delay your roadmap to graduation. The best way to determine program availability is to fill out a request for information and then speak directly with an enrollment advisor.

Many online degree programs are career-focused programs, and you'll want to look for schools that can support you in finding a job after graduation. Also, consider finding schools that offer career services for both current and graduated students. Schools with large alumni networks can provide additional opportunities for career networking both online and in your area.

When you're learning from home, you need easy access to support services. It's critical to look for schools with technical support teams to help you with computer problems as well as academic support teams to help you plan your degree program and select courses. If you work or have a busy schedule, look for schools with 24/7 services so that support (particularly technical support) is available when you need it. Schools that offer a lot of online programs and have a large number of alumni tend to have more comprehensive support options because they have more resources.

A well-designed learning environment can make the difference between an enjoyable and frustrating online course. Top schools have online classrooms that are easy to use and navigate, even if you're not a computer expert. Their classroom technologies allow you to interact with your classmates and instructor intuitively and provide a personal feel to the online environment. Look for schools with mobile access to the online classroom, especially if you have a smartphone. Also check to see if the technical requirements (such as computer type) match what you have at home. Most top schools offer a learning environment that can be accessed from the most common platforms.

Many schools offer online classes or degrees, but most of their student services are only available on campus. Look for schools that have resources that are available online, including a library and career services. Additional resources that can enhance your experience include online lecture series from industry leaders, virtual experiences of hands-on fields, and online access to professional software. Online resources can vary by program, so speaking to an enrollment advisor is the best way to find out about resources for your degree program.

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Going back to graduate school while holding down a job is a big commitment. We evaluated online schools according seven factors. Read on to see our top picks on online grad schools for working adults.

We sought out the best schools that offer flexible, online graduate degrees. To compile our list of top schools, we evaluated colleges according to seven factors: brand awareness, program diversity, learning environment, flexibility, academics, student support, and career services.

In this section, we'll describe why we chose these factors, but if you want to jump straight to our list of top schools, just scroll down!

Choose a school with an established, well-respected brand in online education. These schools have long experience in delivering quality education and specifically understand the needs of online students as well as the challenges faced by working adults who are going back to school.

We looked for schools that offer programs in both a wide variety of fields as well as at different levels. Even if you know your major before enrolling, having access to a wide variety of fields means that you explore different subjects and enroll in a wide array of electives. Choosing a school with programs at multiple levels means that you can stick with the school for throughout your graduate education. If you know you want to pursue both a master's and doctoral degree, look for schools that offer both levels in your field.

Our top schools have designed learning environments that remove barriers to learning. As a working adult, you want a learning environment that is asynchronous, which means that there are no set meeting times, and that is easy to access from a variety of devices. For example, schools with mobile apps allow you to access your coursework when you're on the go or on a break at work.

Flexibility is key when you're balancing school with work, and online programs offer the maximum flexibility. Look for schools that allow you adjust your course load each semester or that have flexible start dates. We also prized schools that give students the opportunity to design part of their program based on their goals and prior work experience.

All of the schools on our list are accredited, which is the first thing you want to ensure when choosing a program. An accredited program has been vetted by an accreditation agency, which ensures that the school teaches a solid curriculum. Our top schools also hire professors who have actual work experience in their field. This is important because many grad programs for working adults are designed to help you advance your career. By learning from professors who have walked your path, you can get relevant instruction not found in a textbook.

As an online student, you're learning from home and don't have access to traditional school support services. Therefore, it's important to look for schools that offer extensive online support services, such as 24/7 tech support or email and phone access to academic and financial advisors.

Even if you plan to stay with your current employer, a university career services office can be a valuable asset in an uncertain economy. Job referrals and resume polishing are some benefits to look for in an online school's offerings.

So, what are our top five graduate schools? Our top picks do well in all of our factors and have a lot of services specifically geared at students who are balancing a job as well as family responsibilities.

Kaplan University puts faculty front and center so that you can learn from instructors who have recent real-world experience and familiarity with current marketplace knowledge and on-the-job skills. Students can access full support services, including technical support that is available by phone, email, or live chat. Kaplan makes it easy for students to access class on their own schedule. In addition to asynchronous learning, you can access class materials, discussions, and grades on your mobile device. The university offers a wide variety of master's degree programs, all of which are online. Its emphasis on online education means that it has mastered flexible education designed for busy students.

Northcentral University is an entirely online university that offers four master's programs and seven doctoral degrees, in addition to several graduate certificates. The university's one-to-one instructional model enables online students to get direct attention from their instructors, creating a personalized learning experience. Additionally, Northcentral is fully accredited and provides students with many convenient online resources to ease the student online experience, such as accessible academic advising and an 'Ask a Researcher' feature. When it comes to establishing a personalized student experience, Northcentral stood out in terms of accessibility between its students and faculty.

Saint Joseph's University jumps out because its graduate business program was ranked 18th on U.S. News & World Report's list of top online graduate programs in 2013. In addition to business, the school offers graduate degrees in criminal justice, education, healthcare and finance. Unique offerings at Saint Joseph's include an online master's degree in business intelligence and a master's program in organization development and leadership. You'll also find a variety of graduate certificates at this university.

We chose Colorado State University's Global Campus for its focus on working adults. Online classes at this university feature instructors trained specifically in distance education for adults. Courses start every four weeks, so you can choose to earn your degree when it fits your schedule. The university has a tuition guarantee program for online students, so that you won't need to worry about your tuition increasing as long as you're actively enrolled in classes and earning a degree. The university features an innovative online platform with a virtual library, virtual instructor office hours and an online help desk.

Strayer University offers students a quality graduate education that's affordable, convenient, and supportive. The university's flexible programs make it possible for you to earn a competitive graduate degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life. Students can attend classes at times that fit their schedule, on campus or online and learn from qualified faculty who bring relevant theoretical and practical knowledge to the classroom. The university also provides comprehensive career information, job referrals, and resume assistance to help students reach their educational and career goals.

Disclosure: Some or all of the schools listed may be partners of Education Portal.

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Students have many online options for training to become preschool teachers. Certificates, associate's and bachelor's degrees in early childhood education are sometimes available through online programs. Each of these programs provides education that can lead to careers working with young children.

Online certificate and degree programs for preschool teachers are hard to find. Certificate programs are rare, either online or on campus, while the classroom experiences required in associate's and bachelor's degree programs make totally online degree programs impossible.

Certificate programs may allow students to complete all courses via distance learning. However, some certificate programs are open only to students enrolled in a degree program at a school. In these short programs, students get general information on the education of young children, with courses that may include child development, children's literature and educational theory.

Associate's and bachelor's degree programs for preschool teachers are available in early childhood education. These programs may offer a few online courses. Associate's degree programs may require teaching experiences in a day care center, while the bachelor's degree programs call for student teaching experience in a school. In both these degree programs, students study education theory, child development and classroom management.

Education and training requirements for preschool teachers/child care workers vary from state to state. Several states say childcare workers must have completed a training course before starting to work. Federal Head Start teachers must have or be working towards an associate's degree. Some states require that child care workers hold a certification from a national professional organization. Early childhood education majors who want to teach in a public school must meet state teacher licensing requirements.

Though rare, online certificate programs in early childhood education are available. Topics relevant to preschool education, like child development and beginning education techniques, are the main focus in these programs. In some cases, the program you apply to may have restricted admissions, open only to students who are residents of the state housing the school and are currently enrolled in a specific degree program at the same school.

Online certificate programs in early childhood education typically allow students to complete all courses in a distance learning format. In some cases, the program may require students to participate in a practicum at an approved site, such as a preschool. This gives students the chance to gain hands-on experience teaching and supervising young children. Schools may use technology like Blackboard's ANGEL system to deliver course materials.

Curricula for these programs focus on giving students foundational information in educating young children.

In this foundational course, students learn the history and development of early childhood education techniques. One focus is the development of curricula for children, including those who are disabled, from infancy through age eight. Other topics discussed may include ethics and early childhood education theory.

Students in this class learn about teaching literature and language arts to young children. In addition to being exposed to a variety of different type of children's literature, students learn how to incorporate technology into language arts lessons.

Stages of youth development from birth through adolescence are covered in this course. Child behavior is discussed through the lens of data and psychological theories.

An early childhood education certificate may be sufficient education to gain a position in child care or preschool teaching. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), some positions in this field only require a high school diploma, with no further training, so a certificate could be seen as an asset by some employers. However, the BLS does indicate that some preschool teaching jobs are only open to those with more advanced education (www.bls.gov).

Online associate's degrees for preschool teachers are not common. Like the certificate, degrees in this category are typically in early childhood education rather than preschool teaching. These degree programs may focus on a specific area of early childhood education, such as child development.

Typically, all the classes required for this degree are available online. However, some programs may require students to seek practical experience at an approved site. These practicums can take place in preschools or day care centers. They may be scheduled at the student's convenience, but cannot take place online.

In addition to this focus on educating young students, general education courses are typically included.

Classroom-relevant art activities are explored in this course. The class focuses on developing creativity rather than entertaining students.

Age-appropriate math and science topics are covered in this course. Additionally, students learn how technology might be used to teach these lessons.

Techniques for educating children with special needs are covered in this course. Assignments may include developing a curriculum for individual special needs students.

Earning an associate's degree in early childhood education opens a few doors not available to those with fewer credentials. For example, the BLS pointed out that Head Start programs are now required to hire professionals with an associate's degree as a minimum credential. The BLS also stated that it is becoming increasingly common for employers of child care workers to hire employees with associate's degrees.

Online bachelor's degree programs in early childhood education are available on a limited basis. As is common in this field, the degree title itself may be in a variety of closely related disciplines, like early childhood education or education studies. In the latter case, the degree is available with a specialization in early childhood education.

Depending on the program you choose, it is possible to take the bulk of your requirements for this degree online. However, in-person student teaching experiences are required for state teaching certification. Additionally, some programs offer classes that have some elements online, but include in-person classroom observation and interaction components that cannot be completed online.

Coursework in these bachelor's degree programs includes a more in-depth study of child psychology and development.

This class delves into the philosophical foundations of early childhood education. The class may require observation of different age groups including kindergarteners and infants.

The course covers growth and development from birth through middle childhood. An emphasis may be placed on multiculturalism and how development plays out across different cultures.

Students in this class are trained to encourage parents and family to become involved in the education of their young child. The course may emphasize diplomatic interaction and other skills necessary to promote family participation.

Having a bachelor's degree in early childhood education can be an asset if you want to manage or run a preschool or daycare center, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The NAEYC serves as an accrediting body as well as an advocacy group, and according to its standards, early childhood program administrators must have a bachelor's degree (www.naeyc.org). Additionally, the BLS says that a bachelor's degree in early childhood education may qualify graduates to teach kindergarten through third grade.

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Earning a degree is one of the best ways to improve your career prospects and earning potential, but it can be difficult to balance work responsibilities with your studies. Fortunately, today's online learning options give you lots of flexibility so that you can work and get a degree at the same time, without making sacrifices for either.

Here are our top things to look for when balancing work and school:

This sounds like a no-brainer, but it deserves repeating because online classes give you the flexibility to learn on your own schedule. Most online classes use asynchronous learning, which means that there is no set meeting time or location. For example, professors might post lectures up as online videos that you can watch at a good time for you. Discussions usually take place over several days on a discussion board or chat forum.

Don't let being stuck at work stop you from accessing your classes. Many online schools have apps that allow you to access class from your phone or tablet, which means you can complete your coursework during lunch or while you're on break. You should also make sure that course material can be accessed from various computer operating systems so that you can log in to class from home, work, or anywhere else.

Your work schedule might make it difficult to get coursework done during certain times a year, so you don't want to be tied to a school with a strict semester schedule. Choose schools that have flexible start dates for the courses so that you can take class when you have time and take a break when work is all-consuming.

If you work during the day, you need the school support services to be available to you at off-hours. Many schools offer 24/7 tech support as well as academic and career services that are available outside of regular business hours. When picking a school, look into the support options to see what fits your schedule.

Look for schools with experience educating working adults. These schools are more likely to have flexibility options that work for you. You'll also have the opportunity to connect with peers who understand the pressures of working and going to school and can enhance discussions with their own life and work experiences.

The schools on our top three list have all of the attributes we mentioned above plus a few more features that make them a good choice for working adults.

Kaplan University excels in flexibility. Its Kaplan Commitment program allows new students to try out classes for three weeks for no cost. Its learning environment uses advanced technology and flexible delivery methods that make classes easy to access, including allowing you to attend class from your phone or computer. Kaplan has impressive program diversity, with more than 170 degree and certificate programs as well as advance-start bachelor's degrees that can be completed by in as little as 2 years. In addition, students can access full support services, including technical support that is available by phone, email, or live chat.

Grand Canyon University's online programs are offered asynchronously and have an interesting twist: students only take one class at a time. This system allows students to focus their attention on a single course, which is particularly useful for students juggling a full-time job with their studies. The university offers many degree programs in subject areas such as business and leadership, health care, nursing, performing arts and digital design, theology, and health sciences. GCU also stood out to us because it was recently ranked on the U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Bachelor's Programs list in 2013, as well as its Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans list.

Ashford University has a long tradition as a respected academic institution, both online and on-campus. The university is a great choice for working adults because it prizes flexibility and has a mobile app that lets students connect to class on a variety of devices. The school also has flexible start dates and virtual learning communities that allow students to get personalized support from their peers, faculty, and alumni. When designing its degree programs, Ashford focuses on modern and relevant degrees that equip you with skills and knowledge for career advancement.

Disclosure: Some or all of the schools listed may be partners of Education Portal.

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By: Stephanie Maher Palenque and Meredith DeCosta, PhD in Online Education

Faculty use asynchronous discussions to extend and enhance instructional practices in the online classroom. It is widely reported that online discussions play an integral role in facilitating students’ learning, as well as fostering dialogue, critical thinking, and reflective inquiry (Kayler & Weller, 2007; Morris, Finnegan, & Sz-Shyan, 2005). Despite faculty’s knowledge that discussion forums can serve as a useful learning tool, online discussions are not easy to establish and manage.

The Science of Online Discussions
Our working knowledge regarding distance education suggests that productive discussions are essential to learning in an asynchronous online environment. Online discussions effectively take the place of face-to-face classroom discussion. It has even been suggested that, if well facilitated, online discussions may allow for more in-depth and thoughtful learning than is possible in a face-to-face setting (Hawkes, 2006). Gao, Wang, and Sun (2009) contend that in a productive online discussion, it is essential for participants to embrace the following four dispositions:

Discuss to comprehend. Cognitive efforts such as questioning, interpreting, elaborating, or relating information to prior knowledge should be the focus in any productive discussion. According to cognitive psychologists, students are more likely to understand and retain information when they participate in these cognitive activities (Gao, Zhang, & Franklin, 2013). Discuss to critique. Conflicting perspectives of students should be developed and examined in any productive discussion. Knowledge acquisition originates from cognitive conflicts from social interactions. These conflicts not only occur between students but also between an individual’s existing knowledge and new information encountered in discussions with other students. The real learning takes place when students re-examine their original positions on an issue and explore new resolutions. (Gao, Zhang, & Franklin, 2013).Discuss to construct knowledge. Gao, Zhang, and Franklin (2013) suggest that a productive discussion should offer students ample opportunities for interaction and collaboration with classmates. From a social constructivist perspective, individuals do not learn in isolation. It is only through this interaction that a richer understanding of the topic will take place. Discuss to share. Productive learning takes place when students are part of a larger, active community. A community of learners, which represents the ideal discussion forum environment, is one in which students embrace a sense of belonging, support each other, develop shared values, and enjoy their shared identity (Gao, Zhang, & Franklin, 2013).

The Art of Online Discussions
Along with science comes its partner: art. People who aren’t familiar with online teaching and learning will often ask, “Is it possible to mirror intellectual conversations held with students in a ground classroom in the online environment?” and “Can we engage in the subtleties of face-to-face dialogue in the online classroom?” Our answer is, “Yes.” Although students in the online classroom are separated by time and space, thoughtfully formulated discussions can close this gap. The following represent strategies to transform you into an online discussion forum artist:

Touch all students in the forum. In most conversations, we acknowledge all participants, even those who are not speaking, by making eye contact, nodding, and responding as needed. The same applies to an online discussion. All students contribute in some way to the forum during a course; it is the teacher’s responsibility to acknowledge their efforts. Recognition can include a congratulatory post, a note of thanks, or a question or scenario designed to further thinking. Know what each student needs. What students say (and do not say) in the forum communicates their comfort level in the course. A student who actively participates in the forums may need the instructor to elevate thinking by artfully challenging perceptions and impressions. A student who expresses confusion about the content in the forums may benefit from a Classroom Assessment Technique (Angelo & Cross, 1993) to help the instructor gauge the point of confusion and reveal gaps in the student’s current knowledge. Be mindful of possibilities. Postings are not one size fits all. As online instructors, we risk hindering progress when we only award credit for posts that are lengthy, particularly at the undergraduate level. We always try not to penalize students who opt to take a brief turn in the conversation as long as the post is substantive, of merit, and adds to the discussion. Know when to lead and when to be led. There are times we want to guide the discussion and times when we should allow students to carry the weight. One common mistake instructors make in the online classroom is to attempt to drive every conversation. Occasionally students may need to take charge in order to learn the material.

Science and art are natural partners – both are a means of investigation of the world around us. When instructors make a concerted effort to balance both the science and art of facilitating a productive, enriching online discussion among a community of learners, the rewards are abundant.

References:
Angelo, T. A., & Cross, K. P. (1993). Classroom assessment techniques: A handbook for college teachers. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Gao, F., Zhang, T., & Franklin, T. (2013). Designing asynchronous online discussion environments: Recent progress and possible future directions. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44(3), 469-483.

Hawkes, M. (2006). Linguistic discourse variables as indicators of reflective online interaction. American Journal of Distance Education, 20(4), 231-244.

Kayler, M. & Weller, K. (2007). Pedagogy, self-assessment, and online discussion groups. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 10(1), 136–147.

Morris, K.V., Finnegan, C. & Sz-Shyan, W. (2005). Tracking student behavior, persistence, and achievement in online courses. Internet and Higher Education, 8(3), 221–231.

Stephanie Maher Palenque, MA and Meredith DeCosta, PhD teach at Grand Canyon University.

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Tags: asynchronous discussions, discussion board assignments, online discussion groups, tips for online faculty

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We've reviewed the best time and money-saving deals offered by the largest online graduate schools. Opportunities you can take advantage of include full-tuition scholarships, shortened program length, credit for experience and dual-credit options.

Earning a graduate degree can be helpful in advancing your career. But graduate schools are expensive, right? Not always. Several of the largest online graduate schools understand that the cost of earning an advanced degree shouldn't undermine the benefits. This is why they offer innovative programs to minimize your out-of-pocket expense and still allow you the flexibility of a quality online education. We've reviewed these programs and highlighted some of the best deals available that you can take advantage of for your graduate degree.

Your time is just as valuable as your money. Of course, earning a graduate degree online gives you the flexibility to schedule your courses to best fit around your busy home and work life. However, some schools take time-saving opportunities a little further by reducing the length and eliminating the rigid structure of courses so that you can better manage the time you spend juggling family, career and education.

You can get financial assistance through scholarships and grants offered by graduate schools. And the best part about these types of financial aid is that they don't have to be paid back. In some cases, these awards are tied to specific programs, while others are geared toward teachers, employees of certain companies, or students who started but couldn't finish a graduate degree program.

Some of the largest online graduate schools let you save time and money by accepting qualifying work and life experience as credit towards a graduate degree program. Several schools also give college credit for professional certifications or credit-by-exam options. Additionally, many of these graduate schools award college credit and tuition reduction for military and law enforcement training. Whether you write an essay or create a portfolio of your experiences, take a test or earn a certification, you'll have the chance to transform that knowledge into real college credit, reducing the number of credits you'll need for your degree program.

Undergraduate students have the chance to begin working toward a graduate degree before earning a bachelor's degree. This translates into fewer courses you'll need to take to earn a graduate degree and less money you'll have to spend in tuition costs. You'll be able to apply the credit earned for one class to two different programs.

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We've reviewed the top schools that bring you the best quality in online MBA programs. Our editors evaluated schools according to seven factors, including flexibility, academics, and program diversity.

Going back to school for your MBA doesn't mean that you have to quit your job. Online programs allow you balance your studies with your work and family responsibilities. Many schools offer online MBA degree programs, and we evaluated them according to several criteria in order to help you find the top schools. We used seven factors to evaluate schools: brand awareness, flexibility, learning environment, academics, program diversity, support, and career services. See why we chose these factors or scroll down to jump straight to our list of top schools.

We looked at schools that not only offer quality MBA programs but also have a track record of providing programs online. When it comes to taking courses remotely, you'll want to make sure that the school has a solid history in online teaching and a respected, well-established brand.

The main reason most people seek out online education is for the flexibility it offers. Many MBA students balance work with school, so we prioritized schools that offer asynchronous learning, which means you can 'attend' class on your own schedule rather than at set times. We also looked for schools that let you access class from multiple devices and have flexible start dates.

Online learning isn't just for computer experts. We looked for schools that have easy-to-use learning environments that make it simple to submit assignments, view lectures, and participate in discussions.

Accreditation is a key indicator of academic quality, and all of our top schools are accredited. Since MBA programs are designed to prepare you for careers in business, we looked for schools that hire faculty with relevant and recent real-world experience. The instructors in our top picks thoroughly understand the business topics and concepts covered in the program because they've also earned the advanced degrees and spent years in the field, allowing you to benefit from their knowledge and experiences.

Although you can earn an MBA in general business, you can also choose from many specialization options that are targeted at your career goals. Even if you know which specialization you're looking for, choosing a school that offers a variety of specializations means that you'll have access to more elective options and professors with a wide array of expertise.

When you need help, be it academic or technical, you need to know that someone is there to assist you in a timely and effective manner. We looked for schools that make it easy to contact instructors as well as academic and financial advisors. We also prized schools that offer 24/7 technical support so that computer issues don't prevent you from learning.

MBA programs are designed to help students advance their careers. Look for schools that offer online career services, such as resume builders, and access to employers. Many schools offer services for both current students and graduates.

After looking at many of the schools that offer online MBA degrees, we picked the top 5 that excel in all of our criteria.

Strayer University stands out not only for it's online MBA programs, but for the support and versatility the school offers. With around 100 campuses nationwide, you can attend classes at a local campus, participate fully online, or blend the two options according to your preference. In addition to the Executive MBA program, the school offers several concentrations, including standard options like accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, and information systems, as well as targeted concentrations in travel and tourism, health services administration, or international business. The school also offers several incentives to MBA students.

Kaplan University puts faculty front and center so that you can learn from instructors who have recent real-world experience and familiarity with current marketplace knowledge and on-the-job skills. Students can access full support services, including technical support that is available by phone, email, or live chat. Kaplan makes it easy for students to access class on their own schedule. In addition to asynchronous learning, you can access class materials, discussions, and grades on your mobile device. In addition to a general MBA, the university offers six MBA concentrations, all of which are online. Its emphasis on online education means that it has mastered flexible education designed for busy students. For graduates, Kaplan's Career Services provides comprehensive career planning, including career assessments, resume reviews, interview preparation, virtual career fairs and 24/7 online access to job openings through the career network.

Ashford University immediately stood out because of the variety of specializations offered in its online MBA program, including business economics, global management, information systems, organizational leadership, and entrepreneurship, among others. To make sure you have time for work, school and other responsibilities, you'll take one class at a time, and classes only last six weeks, which can greatly reduce the time it takes to get your degree. You can also transfer up to nine college credits toward your degree. Courses are offered asynchronously, so you can study when you have time from wherever you are. The school offers several ways to connect, including its online desktop platform as well as mobile apps for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.

Grand Canyon University's online MBA programs are also offered one class at a time in an asynchronous format. This system allows you to focus fully on a single course, which is particularly useful if you're juggling work with your studies. The university offers a regular MBA in a variety of specializations as well as an Executive MBA, which is designed for students who are in leadership positions. Students who meet certain prerequisites may be able to complete the program at an accelerated pace, graduating in just 18 months. You can also add an emphasis by completing 8 additional credits. This kind of flexibility made GCU's programs stand out as one of the most customizable options.

The fully online MBA programs at Liberty University offer cognates in accounting, criminal justice, leadership, marketing, public relations, and several more. You can transfer up to six college credits to reduce the time it takes to get your degree. Classes are offered in 8-week intervals, and you'll have your own admissions specialist to help you plan out your course load. The school offers distance learning students several free resources and online events to keep you connected.

Disclosure: Some or all of the schools listed may be partners of Education Portal.

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By: Victoria Smith, PhD in Online Education

Whether one teaches at the university, secondary, or elementary levels, all teachers encounter combative students. Mary Bart (2012) writes, “Even if you do everything right, there will be students who push your buttons.” However, many teachers struggle with how to handle disciplinary problems with these students. The following are methods that I find effective when dealing with a challenging student either in my online university classrooms or in email interactions with traditional, ground students:

“Never let them see you sweat” and “kill them with kindness.” Though clich?d, these words apply to handling combative students. When a student sends a rude message, never respond in kind, even though it may be tempting to do so. Take a breath, and then compose a professional response. (Note: If a student is combative to the point of threatening the instructor or others with physical harm or verbal abuse, be sure to report the student to the appropriate school authorities. Safety is of the utmost importance!) “It’s not all about you.” Usually, students who respond to us negatively have underlying issues, and we are merely the unfortunate targets at that moment. In fact, Dobmeier and Moran (2008) assert that all people tend to “act-out negative emotions when they are experiencing stress and learners may act-out in learning activities because they are among the few places where they can act out without severe consequences” (p. 32). As humans, our initial reaction to criticism is to take it personally. However, if we allow ourselves to take a step back and view the situation from a broader perspective, we often can see students projecting their own issues onto us because we are an easier target than the real root of the problem.Stick to school and instructor policies. For example, if the school has a late policy and a student wishes to challenge her grade based on it, one might respond in part with, “Unfortunately, university policy does not permit instructors to accept assignments more than 10 days late.” That takes the focus away from the instructor and makes the instructor seem less culpable. For instructor policies, refer the student to the syllabus. If the instructor requires students to sign a statement that they have read and understood the policies outlined in the syllabus, be sure to remind them of that fact when they are pleading for an extension. If a student complains about the assignment within the actual assignment, address it, but do not stoop to the student’s level. For example, one of my students could not meet the word count requirement of the assignment and decided to rant about it in the paper. The following was my response:
This will not count toward your word count to fulfill the grade completion requirements. If an essay’s points are fully developed and include all elements (in-text citations and reference page, for example, which your essay lacks) and the essay happens to do so in under 750 words, most instructors will not be strict about the word count/will not deduct points. Your first draft should only contain content pertaining to your essay topic.
The above comment addresses the student’s concern while implicitly letting them know their comments were not appropriate.Be kind, but firm. Whether one teaches online, face to face, or in a hybrid modality, it is important to convey a tone of kindness and firmness. We are there to teach students; that means we are not their friends, colleagues, or doormats, and we deserve to be treated with respect just as much as students do. Students tend to respect instructors who have clear expectations and are consistent in the enforcement of their policies.

The above tips are just that, tips. It is impossible to predict all possible scenarios an instructor might encounter in the classroom, which is both one of the positive aspects and challenges of teaching. It is my hope that these tips will help instructors, especially those who teach online, deal with disruptive students effectively.

References
Bart, M. (2012). Dealing with difficult students and other classroom disruptions. Faculty Focus. Retrieved from http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-classroom-management/dealing-with-difficult-students-and-other-classroom-disruptions/

Dobmeier, R., & Moran, J. (2008) Dealing with disruptive behavior of adult learners. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 22 (2), 29-54.

Dr. Victoria Smith is an online instructor of English at Grand Canyon University.

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This article details typical program requirements and coursework areas in foreign language programs at the associate's and bachelor's degree levels. You can also find out about employment options and continuing education information for foreign language students by reading on.

Some online foreign language degree programs are available at the associate's and bachelor's degree levels, although they aren't very common. Master's degree programs in a foreign language are rarer. Programs may require students to attend campus for certain components of the curriculum or for testing. Potential students need to make sure they can meet the online platform technological requirements.

Bachelor's degree programs in a foreign language may offer a teaching certification track. Students aspiring to become teachers would have additional requirements, including a student teaching internship that requires in-person presence. Prospective foreign language teachers should check with their program to find out if it pairs them with an internship and prepares them for the state certification examination.

Students in online foreign language programs learn to speak a new language, a skill that's beneficial in many industries and occupations. A large majority of online foreign language degree programs focus on a particular language, such as German, French, Korean, Spanish or Chinese. These Associate of Arts degree programs also offer foundational coursework for students planning to pursue a bachelor's degree in a foreign language or a teaching degree.

The number of credit hours needed to earn an associate's degree in a foreign language is usually around 60 and full-time students could complete one of these programs in two years. Because of the interactive nature of learning a foreign language, a limited number of fully online associate's degree programs exist; some online programs require some in-person instruction or testing. Class lectures and the dissemination of assignments typically occur through podcasts, chat rooms and discussion boards that a student can access with a computer and an Internet connection. Some courses may require a student to purchase textbooks, and this can be accomplished online or at the campus bookstore.

Students pursuing an online associate's degree in a foreign language typically need to complete general education requirements as a part of their degree program. English, the arts, history, math and humanities are some of the courses that may be necessary to fulfill the degree requirements. Foreign language courses include instruction in speaking, reading and writing the selected language. Common course topics include:

Through progressive levels of courses, students become proficient in speaking and understanding others who speak the foreign language of their choice. Skills in expression and proper pronunciation are emphasized.

Class work focuses on grammar, spelling and sentence structure in the writing process. Students also analyze fiction and non-fiction literature and gain insights about the culture.

Students gain professional interaction skills in their foreign language. Language and cultural issues in the industries of business, education, health and legal environments are discussed.

Online Bachelor of Arts degree programs in a foreign language provide students with bilingual skills that can be utilized in many occupations in business and in the public sector. Some programs can also be combined with teaching certification programs if that is the career path a student wants to follow. As with the associate's degrees, students typically focus their studies on a particular foreign language. For example, programs are available in French or Spanish. Many bachelor's degree programs require or recommend that a student be proficient in the language, and this can be accomplished by earning a foreign language associate's degree or taking several years of a foreign language in high school.

Students can earn bachelor's degrees in a foreign language by completing about 120 credit hours, and about a quarter of those involve the foreign language chosen. Students may log onto an online portal and participate in class discussions, take exams and turn in assignments. A computer with Internet access and word processing software are basic requirements. If a proctored exam is required, students may find a testing location in their area.

General education requirements are similar to those in the associate's degree program, but additional electives are usually required. While some curriculum in the major includes speaking and writing skills, extra instruction in understanding cultural and historical details of the country of origin is often offered as well. Course topics may include:

Students read and analyze the works of authors well known in the country of study. The use of the language in expressing ideas and emotions in these pieces of literature are examined.

The techniques of translating are taught and students learn how to use these skills in business and public sector environments. Both written and spoken translations are covered in the curriculum.

Students learn about the way of life and cultural traditions of people who speak the language of study. Coursework includes the study of the influence of the arts, history, cinema, written works and geography.

A graduate of an online foreign language degree program may qualify for a job as an interpreter or translator. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for interpreters and translators was predicted to grow by 42% from 2010-2020 (www.bls.gov). Based on May 2011 data from the BLS, the 47,950 translators and interpreters employed in the U.S. earned an average annual salary of $50,610.

Some foreign language graduates pursue a secondary teaching degree and become high school foreign language teachers. The BLS projected a 7% increase in the employment of high school teachers from 20010-2020. In May 2011, the BLS reported 1,004,850 secondary teachers working in the U.S., and the average yearly wage earned by these teachers was $56,760.

All teachers who work in public schools are required to be licensed, including foreign language teachers. Licensure, which is referred to as certification in some states, typically requires one to complete at least a bachelor's degree and teacher training programs, participate in a student teaching experience and pass an exam, according to the BLS.

After obtaining an undergraduate degree in a foreign language, professionals may desire to obtain advanced skills and pursue a master's degree in foreign language studies or foreign language teaching. Some institutions offer these programs online in addition to on-campus programs.

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By: John Orlando, PhD in Asynchronous Learning and Trends, Online Education

Most online faculty know that discussion is one of the biggest advantages of online education. The increased think-time afforded by the asynchronous environment, coupled with the absence of public speaking fears, produces far deeper discussion than is usually found in face-to-face courses.

But many faculty undermine this natural advantage by crafting poor discussion questions. The number one mistake is to confuse a discussion question with an essay topic. What are the three criteria used to judge whether patients are competent to make a medical decision for themselves? is not a discussion question. It’s an essay question and should be left to an essay assignment. I’ve also seen instructors turn discussion into research assignments by requiring students to cite a certain number of outside sources in order to get full credit.

I’ve come to believe that crafting good online discussion questions is just plain hard and instructors fall back on essay questions for lack of better ideas. Below are some question types that will help generate real discussion.

Case study
Case studies are an ideal way to illuminate the practical consequences of different concepts. For example, in a medical ethics course I used the following:

A 72-year-old man is admitted to the hospital for a kidney transplant. His daughter is brought in as the best available match as a donor. As the man’s doctor, you discover from the pre-op lab work that the daughter is not a suitable donor because she is not his biological daughter. What, if anything, do you tell the man, his wife, or the daughter?

This example provides an ideal way to explore how fundamental principles of privacy, physician honesty, and shielding a patient from harm collide in the real world. The question allows for a variety of answers, each of which takes the students deeper into the fundamental issues being taught in the course.

Controversy
Another good discussion device is to generate controversy with a statement that challenges common orthodoxy. Consider this question in an information security class:

A fundamental tenet of information security is that you must force the user to periodically change his or her password. But this practice actually undermines security. With constantly changing passwords, users are forced to write them down in an easy-to-find location or use an easy-to-guess algorithm (my street address followed by a ‘1,’ then changed to a ‘2,’ then changed to a ‘3,’ etc.). We are better off letting users keep the same password indefinitely. Do you agree?

Also important is that a controversial statement needs to draw a fine line that allows for reasonable positions on both sides of the issue. It’s not helpful to say something patently outrageous, such as “Passwords should not be required at all.” A good statement that challenges what is being presented in the readings demonstrates that the instructor considers the students co-investigators and allows them to draw upon their wider knowledge base to engage the issues.

Transfer
It’s been argued that the highest form of understanding is demonstrated through transfer of principles to new situations. For example, I’ve taught the classic “Prisoners’ Dilemma” (http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/PRISDIL.html) as part of my ethics and political theory courses. If you are not familiar with it, the upshot is that there are situations in which the rational choice for each individual involved leads to a situation that is not optimal for anyone. Think of it as the “invisible hand” in reverse.

The concept was developed as a way to understand political structures, but once you understand the concept—really understand it—you find that a lot of ordinary situations are prisoners’ dilemmas. I’m a bike racer, and I realized that bike races are examples of the prisoners’ dilemma. So one type of discussion question is to demonstrate the application of a concept to an entirely different situation and ask students to generate their own examples. Students can then evaluate how well the others’ examples illustrate the concept.

The summary
A good way to end discussion threads is to post a summary of the main points as well as your thoughts on them. Revisiting material is good for retention, and these summaries demonstrate that you are keeping abreast of the discussion. Alternatively, you can assign different students to post summaries of each discussion.

I like to do video summaries. Something about hearing a voice and seeing a face captures our attention. It requires only a cheap webcam and a few minutes of my time. Don’t toil over getting it perfect—just speak your mind for a few minutes, and post it as a video.

Excerpted from Online Learning 2.0: Discussion Questions That Work, Online Classroom, 13.8 (2013): 4,7. ? Magna Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Tags: asynchronous discussions, discussion board assignments, online discussions

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AppId is over the quota
Online-Bildung ist ein wachsendes Feld, das viele Studierende wenden sich als Student oder Absolvent Grad verfolgen. Nicht sicher, ob Sie einen Grad durch ein Fernstudium Programm erwerben m?chten? ?berpr?fen Sie unsere Z?ge unten ob online-Bildung das richtige f?r Sie ist.

Bevor Sie sich entscheiden, welche Merkmale aus unserer Liste auf Sie zutreffen, ist hier eine kurze Aufgliederung und Erl?uterung der einige der Merkmale, die in online-Studenten gefunden werden kann. Wir haben Platz, die Merkmale, die je nach Wichtigkeit zu helfen, Ihnen eine Vorstellung von der "Must Haves" und 'nice to Haves' sind.

1. haben Computer und Internetzugang Sie k?nnen ein online-Abschluss-Programm nicht beenden, wenn Sie nicht in der Lage, auf einen Computer oder melden Sie sich im Internet so einfach Zugang wichtig ist.Als Student online m?ssen Sie in der Lage, motivieren Sie sich Ihre Arbeit erledigen, da Sie nicht alle die st?ndigen Mahnungen haben k?nnte, die Studenten in den traditionelleren Einstellungen erhalten.M?glicherweise m?ssen Sie bestimmte Fristen f?r drehen in Zuordnungen oder Beitrag in einer Diskussionsrunde, also du behalten den ?berblick und k?nnen diese Fristen einzuhalten musst, so Sie Kredit f?r Ihre Arbeit und Beteiligung bekommen.4. bequeme Teilnahme an Online-Diskussionen da viele online-Programme, die Sie zur Teilnahme an Diskussionsforen ben?tigen, ist es wichtig, dass Sie bereit sind, Ihre Gedanken und Ideen zu teilen.5. komfortables Arbeiten unabh?ngig voneinander Online lernen bedeutet, die Dinge in Ihrer Freizeit tun, also m?ssen Sie auf eigene Faust und ohne die Struktur des Seins in einem Klassenzimmer arbeiten zu k?nnen.Sie m?ssen in der Lage zu halten Ihre Kursunterlagen und Aufgaben ordentlich so dass Sie alles, was durch die Ritzen fallen lassen. Sie m?ssen auch wissen, wann die Dinge sind wenn es gibt Vortr?ge, die Sie auschecken m?chten und wie Sie Ressourcen so verwenden Sie eine online-Umgebung optimal k?nnen hierzu.7. reagierend auf Online-Kommunikation Ihre Professoren und Klassenkameraden werden Kommunikation mit Ihnen per e-Mail und m?glicherweise online Chat, so Sie zum f?r sie ?berpr?fen und darauf zu reagieren, regelm??ig und zeitnah zum Vorteil gereichen m?ssen.Sie m?ssen ein gutes Verst?ndnis f?r alle Ihre pers?nlichen und beruflichen Verpflichtungen verf?gen, damit Sie richtig planen k?nnen, Einbau in Ihre p?dagogischen Verpflichtungen.Da online-Studenten viel Zeit auf ihren Computern verbringen, um Vortr?ge zu h?ren, mit anderen kommunizieren und komplette Aufgaben, es ist wichtig, dass Sie wie mit einem Computer und es nicht als Ihre Bogen Nemesis betrachten.10. bevorzugen Flexible Planungsoptionen viele online-Studenten sind viele Verpflichtungen, wie eine Karriere und Familie, jonglieren, also flexible Zeitplanung f?r sie wichtig ist.

Nun, da Sie die Z?ge des Student online verstehen, noch einen Blick auf sie und haben immer wie viele auf Sie zutreffen.

Computer und Internet selbst Motivator gut greifen zu treffen Fristen bequeme Teilnahme an online-Diskussionen bequem selbst?ndig organisierte reagieren auf online-Kommunikation-gute Planung ahead erkunden mit dem Computer bevorzugen flexiblen Planungsoptionen

Wie viele der Merkmale auf Sie zutreffen?

Wenn die meisten von ihnen haben, klingt es wie Sie online-Bildung genie?en konnten. Ihre n?chsten Schritte sollte Erforschung Schulen und Programme, die Sie interessieren k?nnten, und immer mehr ?ber, was es bedeutet, ein online-Student sein. Wenn Sie noch keine Schulen im Auge haben, finden Sie heraus, etwa 10 Dinge zu suchen, bei der Kommissionierung einer online Schule.

Sie k?nnen auch die heutigen Top 5 am besten online-Hochschulen Auschecken.

Wenn es offenbar nicht, wie viele angewendet, und Sie immer noch auf dem Zaun ?ber online-Bildung ist das richtige f?r Sie, suchen Sie Ihre Optionen weiter. Ein Studium ist eine gro?e Verpflichtung und Sie sicherstellen m?chten, dass Sie die richtige Wahl machen, bevor Sie zu nichts verpflichten. Sie k?nnen durch das Lernen ?ber traditionelle lernen im Fernunterricht Vergleich starten.

Zeigen Sie mir beliebte Schulen

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