Here’s a quick history refresher. In 1906, Upton Sinclair wrote, “The Jungle,” which publicized unsanitary food processing conditions in the meatpacking industry leaving countless Americans dismayed and wondering, what’s in the sausage?

The novel sparked the Meat Inspection Act, regulations that paved the way to the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act. Now, we have detailed nutrition labels on all foods. We as consumers get to know the tidbits of every product right down to those long laboratory words like maltodextrin or hydrolyzed corn (and yet strangely we’re still wondering, what is that?).

As prospective college students, shouldn’t we also have the right to know exactly what we’re buying upfront?

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Congratulations, you’ve selected an online university and you’re ready to get a degree. Consider a degree your destination, because you’re about to embark on a fulfilling journey. First, you need to select your specific program—one that won’t get you lost along the way.

Let’s assume you’ve already narrowed your options down to your top three. Perhaps you might be thinking about an MBA program, but you’re undecided whether to focus on marketing, finance or a general concentration. Do yourself a favor and filter out the nice-to-have and focus on your must-have criteria. Now, put your research in motion—go to each program and look for key elements that include the program description, costs, prerequisites and more.

Description

 Universities that are committed to academic quality clearly define their programs. There’s nothing left to chance. More importantly, you should be left with the impression that what you’re reading is an accurate curriculum overview, not a pushy sales pitch.

Objectives

It’s important that you fully understand a program’s objectives and how the curriculum links to student outcomes. For example, if you’re interested in qualifying for teaching licensure, check out Master of Education: Teaching in Elementary Education. You will see the exact qualifications this degree supports. In fact, at American Public University, you will also see a program objectives section for every degree offered.

Details

Credits required—total tuition and fees—should be readily available. This information is comprehensive, so you’ll know what the costs are and the amount of credits needed. Quality universities are transparent. They display the details of all costs and have no hidden fees.

You should also see degree completion rates and the median loan debt for graduates. The completion rate shows you the time period that students generally complete a degree and how many are able successfully go the distance. You’ll also see job descriptions that are most often associated with the degree program. The descriptions are linked to O*NET, a Website sponsored by the U.S. Department and Labor which maps job tasks, skills, trends and other helpful information.

Consider all of these helpful elements to be your signposts. They’ll give you the confidence that you’re heading in the right direction.

By J. Thompson
Online Learning Tips Staff

Like they say about sports stars, entrepreneurs, and movie celebrities “How do they do it?” Even though being an online learner may not be as glamorous as the aforementioned careers, it can still be very demanding, and at times mind-boggling to watch how people handle all of their  activities and maintain a healthy and steady GPA.

Recently I came across an article in EDUCAUSE Quarterly that details how some high performing online students are able to juggle the daily grind, family life, social life, and a demanding degree program.

Some tried and tested techniques that they outline are:

1. Develop a time-management strategy.
2. Make the most of online discussions. (This is referring to student interaction through forums, social media groups, and discussion threads.)
3. Use it or lose it.
4. Make questions useful to your learning.
5. Stay motivated.
6. Communicate the instruction techniques that work.
7. Make connections with fellow students and participate.

My pick this week is dedicated to hard-working online learners who are constantly trying to educate themselves and make a difference in their lives. Everyone can be part of the extended learning experience, it may take some life balancing, but in the long run the rewards are worth some temporary concessions and sacrifices.

- By J. Mason

Getting a degree online is getting more and more commonplace every year. The schools offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees are refining their programs and are starting to get more competitive with traditional schools. One degree on the rise is an online MBA. With the job market already quite competitive for MBA holders, many degree seekers are taking the time to evaluate which type of school will offer them the best education for their time and money.

For a deeper perspective on this topic, read further about “Why distance-learning MBAs matter.”