You’ve made the decision to earn a college degree — but you’re still not sure what field of study to pursue. You might start by considering three key factors, says Caroline Simpson, American Public University System Associate Vice President of Student Advising.

• What are your personal and professional goals?
• What other learning have you accomplished?
• What kind of professional experience do you have?

“Personal interests drive some students to an entirely new subject. Others want to continue in their current profession — where an advanced degree could help them move up,” says Simpson.

For many adult students, says Simpson, the ability to transfer credits from another college or military school is a determining factor. Credit transfers can provide a head start — often a significant one — on the diploma path. On the other hand, some students have excelled in one industry but now want a new challenge or learning experience.

“To make the best decision, students should carefully consider all three factors,” says Simpson. They also may want to attend a virtual open house to learn about available programs and schools before enrolling.”

At American Public University and American Military University — which are part of APUS — students select their major as part of their admission application.  Then, during the first week of courses, students are introduced to a specific student advisor with expertise in their field of study. Advisors support students throughout their degree program should personal or professional goals change.

“We discuss their education goals,” says Simpson. “Some want a fast degree path to help them with a civilian or military promotion. We find that the ability to start a course at the beginning of virtually any month is a big plus for students, giving adult students the flexibility they need.

“When they near the end of studies for their undergraduate degree, we’ll also ask if they want to pursue a master’s program or a graduate certificate, and help them with those decisions.”

“Regardless of the need, the advising team works to best support our students.”

Additional tips and resources

Identify your area — or areas — of interest
APUS has a self-guided program — FOCUS-2 — designed to evaluate the strengths, interests, values, skills, and personality traits of each participant in relation to specific career choices. In minutes, participants can yield a listing of careers relevant to their unique characteristics and degree pathway. Access FOCUS-2 > 

Students may use and reuse the system to explore different options and multiple possibilities. FOCUS-2 occupation descriptions come from the ONET system, which serves as the U.S. Department of Labor’s primary source of key information describing the attributes and characteristics of workers and occupations.

Conduct research, interview professionals in the career field you want
The U.S. Department of Labor produces an annual Occupational Handbook. This handbook provides details on training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job and working conditions for hundreds of different kinds of jobs.    
 
Visit your local library and bookstore. 
Peruse industry related journals and career guides to learn more about career paths and occupations.  APUS has a number of professional organizations listed on its website to aid in your research, as well.  Visit professional organizations websites to learn more about careers.
 
Network with family, friends and colleagues to locate a person working in your field of interest. Set up a meeting to learn about the job and common college majors recruited for this career path.  If you’re having difficulty locating someone from within your own networking circle, contact professional organizations (listed in the website above) to see if a representative from a local chapter can answer your questions.

Attend Career Fairs and speak with recruiters.  
Recruiters are interested in identifying qualified candidates to fill their positions. If you know the organization you’d like to work for, but you’re still undecided about a major, ask recruiters which degrees they most often hire for — and the types of entry level jobs available for new college graduates.  This information will help you determine if your educational interests are in alignment with the needs of the organization.  

- By Online Learning Tips Staff

You’re getting a degree, but do you know how much it’s worth? I’m not referring to the cost you’re paying in tuition, but how much you could potentially be making in salary. And although the learning experience shouldn’t be centered around how much you’ll make once you graduate, it does help to know that once you have that diploma in your hands it will translate to a healthy salary and a great career.

Want to know if your degree is in highly valued with employers? Chris Kyle, on behalf of Yahoo! Education, recently compiled a list of the “Most Valuable Degrees“. This short list brings into perspective some of what a degree, online or off, can offer.

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration
   • According to Yahoo! this is themost popular college degree in the world. It’s a great pick for students who want a versatiles bachelor’s degree with big earning power.
   • Time to completion: 4 years
     Starting salary: $45,200
     Mid-career salary: $73,000What makes it a winner? A business degree enables you to move into many different industries. For example, health care and finance; two of the more stable and fastest growing sectors of the economy.
2. Associate Degree in Medical Assisting
   • This career field is booming, and was recently named by Forbes as one of the fastest growing jobs for women in 2010.
   • Time to completion: 18 months to 2 years
     Average salary: $28,650
     Potential salary: $39,970What makes it a winner? “Medical assisting opportunities are expected to grow an amazing 34 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to U.S. Department of Labor.” Kyle
3. Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
   • Salary figures for this field are higher for this more specialized degree.
   • Time to completion: 4 years
     Starting salary: $46,500
     Potential salary: $77,600What makes it a winner? There are numerous career opportunities for students attaining an accounting degree. “In a recent survey of more than 500 senior finance executives, more than half of the CFOs expressed concern about a lack of qualified accountants entering the workforce, according to global accounting organization Grant Thorton.” Kyle
4. Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies
   • With just two years under your belt, this degree in paralegal studies allows you to work for a law firm or for yourself in any town in America; not to mention the pay is great.
   • Time to completion: 2 years
     Average salary: $46,120
     Potential salary: $73,450What makes it a winner? “Opportunities for paralegals and legal assistants are expected to grow at a healthy 28 percent clip between 2008 and 2018, according to the Department of Labor.” Kyle
5. Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing
   • Job security is one of the main factors tying this degree to the list. “A Vanderbilt analysis in 2009 predicted that the U.S. will have a shortage of 260,000 nurses in 2025.
   • Time to completion: 4 years
     Starting salary: $52,700
     Mid-career salary: $68,200What makes it a winner? “Employment opportunities are expected to soar 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, with hundreds of thousands of job openings expected from retirements, according to the Department of Labor.” Kyle

To read more from this article visit Yahoo! Education >

Do some research on your own before picking your major. Think of where your degree might lead you, and if you want certain earning potential to happen in a specific period of time.

- J. Mason

Still not sure that online learning is right for you? Besides careful consideration and weighing your options, there are a few key ways to know that getting a degree through your computer is the best option for you and your future.

Keep these pointers in mind when surfing the web for schools:

1. Is the school regionally or nationally accredited, or both?
   Accreditation is an important factor in deciding on investing in higher education.  While there are many different types of accrediting agencies, the important thing to know is that the accrediting agency is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (www.chea.org) – which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 
2. What is the cost per credit/per course?
   This will vary with undergraduate and graduate degrees. Take the time to tally up the final amount. Just because it may look like it’s cheaper, doesn’t mean it is. Per credit and per course are two very different numbers, and can make a significant jump when totalling your costs for school.
3. What is the TOTAL cost of the program; figuring no transfer credit?
   Schools have transfer credit fees, make sure to find out what those are when applying; if you have prior credits you can put toward your degree. Just like with cost per credit, figuring out up front what you’ll be paying over the next few years will save you a lot of headaches in the long run. Take out our calculator and type up the costs.
4. How many credits can I transfer into my program?
   Find out the allowable amount for credits transferred. Typically you can transfer a higher amount of credits towards an undergraduate degree than you can for a graduate. This can save you money and time in the long run. 
5. How do faculty and students interact in the classroom. Is there group work?
   Typically students interact through discussion boards and class specific chats inside the classroom. Interaction with faculty varies by professor, class type and school. In most online settings, like at American Public University, there are no teaching assistants or graduate students to lead instruction. Instead, students interact directly with their professors.
6. What is the typical/maximim class size?
   This is also dependent on the school size, faculty body, and so on. Typically there isn’t an overcrowding issue with online universities, and most classes for undergrads don’t exceed 25 students. As for graduate students, on average the class size will not exceed 20 students.
7. Are there required login times?
   One of the many benefits of being online…flexibility. Because you aren’t expected to meet up with your professor and classmates a few times a week like you would at a typical university, you do have the option of logging into the class when you’re available during the week. Log in times may vary by professor, but once a week is the norm. Just because you don’t have to meet face to face doesn’t mean you can skip deadlines. Being an online student will require that you meet the deadlines on assignments from professors, and you’re responsible for getting it in on time.
8. Do I ever have to come to the campus?
   Simply answered, NO. Some online schools will host a graduation ceremony where you can opt to attend to receive your diploma, but there is no class or admissions building you’ll need to visit in order to complete your degree.
9. How often do classes start?
   Make sure to check the availability of the school before enrolling. APU offers monthly courses, so once you end one class, you can start a new one within a couple weeks. This is a nice feature considering traditional institutions are based around a more “seasonal” calendar.
10. What kind of support is available to students? What resources will I have?
    Like any school there will be a library, but this type will be online. Ask your admissions rep what “tools” are at your disposal during your interview process. Ask to see if there are extensive research databases, inter-library loan systems, online tutoring, offices hours with professors, and more.

Lastly, you can never be too picky. This is after all your future, and your money. Take the time to investigate your options so that you’re left with a well earned online learning experience.

- J. Mason

Educate yourself and fellow teachers on how to possibly prevent this from happening. Along with other common, and often troubling issues, APU is offering a handheld solution on preventing or alleviating these situations as they arise.

American Public University (APU) provides Tips for Teachers cards to individual teachers, counselors, principals, professional development providers, human resource departments, pre/after school coordinators, and superintendent offices as a complimentary resource for educators in order for APU to demonstrate its appreciation for all that today’s educators face and do in schools and the community. 

They currently address five topics:
o ADD/ADHD in the Classroom
o Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect
o Teen Depression and Suicide
o Bullying Intervention
o Autism Spectrum Disorders

While some of these topics are serious and may be considered a sad reality faced by educators in today’s schools, ultimately they empower educators to proactively be on the lookout for these issues and care for the total well-being of all their students and entire school community.

District and school administrators and counselors often provide these resources as a component of a school’s professional development program so that they become a classroom resource for teachers and other school personnel.

New and veteran teachers maintain these resources as a ready reference in their classrooms to be able to identify and rectify problems before they become more serious.  School Counselors and Parent Liaison Contacts share them with parents of students suffering such issues.

ADD/ADHD in the Classroom

For ideas in supplying the ADD/ADHD card:

• It can be given to substitutes who can use the teaching tips included to aid them in their classroom instruction
• It can be used by IEP teams to identify teaching techniques that may be applicable for other special needs students in addition to ADD/ADHD students
• Teacher and school counselor educators can provide them to their students
• School sanctioned day-care and after school providers may maintain these cards for their counselors

ADD/ADHD cards are both descriptive, providing tips on how to recognize symptoms, and prescriptive, recommending numerous best-practices on how to best serve the needs of these diverse students. The ADD/ADHD cards also identify the three major classifications of ADD/ADHD, and list professional criteria for diagnosis. They also provide 33 teaching tips for ADD/ADHD stuffers. Incidentally, these tips, while meant to assist ADD/ADHD students, may be used to enhance instructional strategies for all students

Bullying Intervention

The Bullying cards provide a simple definition of bullying and cyber-bullying. The cards also contain information that recommend immediate intervention and follow-up strategies intended to both support the victim and modify the bullying student(s) and school environment. 

Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect

Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect cards are strictly descriptive providing a summary of the major types of abuse and their most common indicators. 

Teen Depression and Suicide

Teen Depression and Suicide cards are predominantly descriptive, but do include recommendations on how to talk to a depressed teen.  

• signs and symptoms of depression in teens
• suicide warning signs in teenagers
• difference between teenage and adult depression

Autism Spectrum Disorders

APU’s newest edition to the Tips for Teachers program are the Autism Spectrum Disorders cards. They are predominantly descriptive on the disorder, including the DSM-IV-TR Autism diagnosis criteria and a narrative comparison to Asperger’s Disorder.  A few classroom accommodations are referenced. 

As reporting procedures and requirements vary from district to district and state to state, the Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect and Teen Depression and Suicide cards do not proscribe any intervention, but include the recommendation to “always handle suspicion of student depression in accordance with your local school authority guidelines.”

Content for each card was drawn from expert sites, which are referenced on the cards for purposes of giving credit to the sites and providing educators the URL for further investigation.

• ADD/ADHD: www.helpguide.org, Helpguide.Org
• Bullying Intervention: www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov , Health Resources and Services Administration
• Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Child Welfare Information Gateway
• Teen Depression and Suicide: www.helpguide.org, Helpguide.org

These contacts empower educators to become more complete stewards of today’s students by incorporating them into their professional learning communities.

Designed by APU’s Craig Gilman, M.S. Education, based on his years of experience as a domestic public school and international educator in a wide variety of diverse classrooms including alternative, special needs, inclusive, ESL, mainstream, and gifted students. 

To request these cards for your faculty, visit http://www.studyatapu.com/tips-for-teachers or contact Craig Gilman at cgilman@apus.edu. Provide your name and title, contact information, mailing instructions, and number of each card requested.

- Craig Gilman, guest writer