Archive for November, 2006

Posted on Nov 20th, 2006

The University of Maryland University College offers an online Master of Business Administration degree. Named one of the “Top 20 Cyber Universities” worldwide by Forbes magazine, the MBA program is fully accredited by the Commission of Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The program is designed to integrate into students’ lives and to be applicable to their current job situations right from the start. Its accelerated pace is helpful in allowing students to utilize what they have learned in the program as quickly as possible in their work environment. The courses are designed to explore management and organization processes and apply them to a global business environment.

The MBA program is 43 credits and consists of a 1-credit foundation course and seven 6-credit seminars. Each seminar is 14 weeks long. Students have 3 weeks off between each seminar. Students are grouped into a cohort of about 30 students who stay together during the duration of the MBA program. A facilitator is assigned to each cohort.

The seminars required to complete the online MBA program are: MBA Fundamentals (1 credit); The Role of Managers and Organizations in Society (6 credits); The Dynamics of Individuals and Groups in Work Organizations (6 credits); The Marketing of New Ideas (6 credits); Technology and Operations Management (6 credits); Economics of Management Decisions (6 credits); Organizations and the External Environment (6 credits); and Strategic Action Planning/Elective Component (6 credits). In addition all students are required to complete a noncredit course, Introduction to Graduate Library Research Skills, within their first 6 credits of study.

The seminars are taught by experts in the field. The faculty members all have extensive professional and management experience. In addition, more than 89 percent of them hold a doctorate degree. Students also have a facilitator assigned to them who will stay with them throughout the entire program.

U of MD University College MBA program has a streamlined general admissions process that can be completed online. Admission into their online MBA program does not require the completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). There are also no residency requirements.

To apply, prospective students need to complete the online application for admission, send in the application fee, and write a personal statement. Once the application is received, applicants will receive further instructions on submitting their transcripts and other pertinent information. The status of an application can be tracked online.

Upon completion of U of MD University College MBA program students have the option of continuing on to earn a dual degree. During any point of the MBA program students may inform the college that they are interested in pursuing a second degree in the following areas: Master of International Management; Master of Science in E-Commerce; Master of Science in Health Care Administration; or Master of Science in Management. Students have a full seven years from the date of completion of the first graduate course to complete their dual degree.

Mansi aggarwal recommends that you visit http://www.ombag.net/2005/12/the_university__1.html for more information on The University of Maryland Online MBA Degree.

Posted on Nov 19th, 2006

Attending classes online is the smart way for busy people to earn degrees to advance in their present career or furthering their education. The University of Phoenix Online has earned its reputation as the premier provider of E-distant learning degree programs and courses, and is the nation’s largest accredited private university.

The University of Phoenix online program offers students the opportunity to achieve: Bachelors, Master’s and Doctorate level degrees in the areas of: Business, Information Systems, Education, Nursing, and Technology at their own pace and from the comfort of home.

The Master of Business Administration program or MBA Online Degree Program offered by the University of Phoenix is designed to enable a student taking management courses, to gain or advance the skills needed to function effectively within an organization. Through specialized coursework developed to build and enhance these skills, students will create and defend solutions for problems in crisis management, profitable growth opportunities, and changes in leadership. Throughout the course of this program students will gain the knowledge and experience to turn volatile -situations into well-managed problems. Students will have the chance to apply different tools and concepts towards achieving this, as well as analyzing a variety of alternate solutions to common problems in management. Students will select a course of action for solving situations, and then defend their choice.

The Master of Business Program at the University of Phoenix employs the use of problem-based learning, where students can polish their problem-solving skills, as well as improve their communication, creativity, information processing, and critical thinking skills. Student progress is assessed by the student’s ability to demonstrate effectively through classroom presentations: their skills in problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking.

Students are grouped together in ‘learning teams’. These learning teams will apply the principles of ‘benchmarking’ throughout the course to research the most creative solutions to any given problem. This gives a learner a broader selection of alternatives for solving problems.

The MBA Degree Program offered by the University of Phoenix consists of 39 credit hours and includes 3 proficiency courses. These are (MBA501, MBA502, MBA503) which may be satisfied through an undergraduate business degree, undergraduate coursework, or graduate coursework. Students may also waive 9 additional credits through graduate courses and may even qualify for a 21-hour residency. Ask your UOP Online Education Counselor, for more details about this waiver and residency, if you think you may qualify.

Mansi aggarwal recommends that you visit http://www.ombag.net/2005/12/the_university_.html for more information on the university of Phoenix Online MBA Degree.

Posted on Nov 18th, 2006

You have researched all of the MBA Online Degree Programs available and have decided that the University of Phoenix is the right choice for you. Now what should you do so that you can begin earning that MBA degree?

If you haven’t already done so: it is recommended that you request more information about the MBA Degree Program offered by the University of Phoenix by submitting a “request more information” form (found on their website.) Your request will be followed-up with a phone call to you by an education counselor from the UOP Online student services department. This counselor will discuss your educational and career goals with you, including education that you may have already completed. He or she will use the information you provide to assist you in deciding what courses you will need to complete your MBA degree.

Your education counselor will also help you with registering to become a student at The University of Phoenix Online Campus. Your counselor will aid you in requesting your educational transcripts from other educational institutions, and they are more than happy to assist you with filling out financial Aid forms if you are in need of financial assistance to cover the costs of tuition. The commitment to the student doesn’t stop with registration, college transcripts, and help with financial aid forms. Every member of the University of Phoenix team is quite knowledgeable about every aspect of the campus and its online programs, and they are a great source of information, and guidance for the new student.

After you become a registered student and have all of your financial aid forms filled out, you will be given your own pin-protected student page. As a MBA degree student at University of Phoenix Online you will be using this page quite often. Your student page contains reports that you can refer to and print out such as a schedule of all of the classes you need to complete your MBA through UOP online. You can stay on top of upcoming scheduled classes, order the books you will need, track your grades, and tuition payments, and obtain progress reports from your professors. You will find links to the online classroom, and the UOP Library: which contains a wealth of research databases for you to use to complete the various assignments you will be given in your coursework. Further your student page has a link to the student success center: visit the center for career advice and practice skill tests in your area of study. You can also find tutoring help here if you are having difficulty with a particular subject. This and much more is available to you in your student page.

Everything that is made available to you as a student of the University of Phoenix Online MBA Degree Program: the counselors, the student success center, your instructors, and your student page, are all designed to help you in successfully reaching your educational goals.

Mansi aggarwal recommends that you visit http://www.ombag.net/2005/12/the_university_.html for more information on University of Phoenix Online MBA Review.

Posted on Nov 17th, 2006

At this point in life I am a self-sufficient and independent person ready to take the next step in life. As I am finishing high school I clearly see my future goals that I can potentially derive from college education. The high school experience helped me understand that education is not all about reading textbooks and writing research papers. Even though those components are also extremely important and without them education would not live up to its definition, I understand education as a gradual process of learning that has a far greater scope than simply attending lectures and doing homework assignments. There are much more things I have yet to learn.

I view college education as a global learning process that would encompass learning new things that will have some positive influence on my personality in the future. Studying the various disciplines offered by a university is important but college experience should not be confined to that academic experience only. I consider college education a much more valuable experience than high school because living on campus far away from my family will have very significant impact on my personality. Living on my own will help me assess my personal skills, and ascertain the areas of strength and weakness. I consider on-campus residence opportunity a crucial part of college education because I will get a chance to discover things about myself that I never though I had. There will definitely be pleasant moments as well as hardships but it is the only way to test a person. It is much better to know your weaknesses and strengths rather than staying ignorant of their presence. Even if a person has many weaknesses it is a much better option to discover them and then fight each particular weakness rather than overlooking the drawbacks and shortcomings of one’s personality.

I consider college education to be of extreme importance because it contributes to the overall process of transformation of a teenager into an adult. Some teenagers never overgrow that stage because they have never been exposed to independent, self-sufficient lifestyle. Always living with parents who care about a person and solve all problems that arise along the way is not always good it terms of their contribution to personal development of a child. Life is difficult and the best way to learn effective strategies and techniques of dealing with future problems and difficulties is to face them with an open mind and open eyes. I am not advocating lack of parental care and support. By no means should you get that impression. On the contrary, a child must be assured that parents are always there to help in case he or she encounters a problem that is too difficult to solve on one’s own. College experience provides that environment where young people can face the realities of life and see if they can deal with their personal problems themselves. I am sure that college education will give me a chance to become an independent and self-sufficient person capable of dealing with everyday life situations. I consider that to be a very important component of college education. Also, I believe that college education will give me an ample opportunity to improve most of my skills and shape my inner world in the sense that I will be able to critically comprehend what goes on in the present-day society and have my personal opinion about various issues. I hope to meet new people from various cultural and social backgrounds who surely have valuable experience to share and different ideas to communicate. I believe that it is through communication with other human-beings that people are able to learn new things and generate original ideas. Those are the things that I expect to get out of college education besides the information that I will learn from the textbooks and informative lectures delivered by experienced professors.

Tim Johnson Junior is a freelance writer, CRWA certified resume writer and career coach. Has written over 2000 articles and essays on the subject of Social Issues. Has worked for Essaymart’s custom writing department from 2003 to 2005. Currently, Tim is busy helping professionals and executives optimize their careers at a certified Resume Writing firm, ResumeAid.

Posted on Nov 16th, 2006

Until recently I have taught technology classes including networking, web programming, web design, and others at a private corporate run college. I prefer not to divulge the name at this time. You’ve probably seen their advertisements on national television, since they have many schools scattered all over the United States. My involvement was with their school situated in the Chicago area. This school was mainly filled with high school graduates from Chicago and its suburbs. I want to tell you about some of the problems I experienced with students at this school. Many of the instructors that I’ve worked with as well as others that I know from similar schools had comparable experiences.

The main reason I’m so opposed to our global corporate culture is because it sets man’s primary goal as financial wealth but pretends that it is some common good. This is why the majority of students choose a private college. One of the school’s sales staff convinces them that they’ll make a lot of money upon graduation. They either may have a mild or no interest in what they need to study. Some have no prior skills in their field of choice. They are told they don’t need to know anything, but they’ll be taught every skill needed for their success. They can afford all this education by taking out a government backed financial loan. The college expects its instructors to open the heads of their students and fill them with knowledge.

Standardized tests in high schools give the average student the idea that the answer to a question is more important than understanding what the question is about. Students then refuse to be challenged. If the problem takes longer than five minutes to solve, they demand the answer. The words "You gotta give me the answer, cause I’m paying this school thirty-thousand dollars!" seem to echo throughout the halls of private colleges. No instructor has ever withheld an answer to an assignment. Instead the instructor first wants the student to attempt the solution by himself or herself. In so doing, the student develops the most useful part of the educational experience, the problem solving ability. Most of the time the instructor gives helpful hints as the student searches for the answer.

Students seem to ignore what they’re expected to learn, but they’re constantly concerned about their grade. It’s nice to have a good grade point average, but it’s even nicer to gain a good grasp of what is being taught.

It looks like TV has had a real effect on today’s student. Because TV watching is a passive event, students expect their education to be passive as well. Students want to sit back and watch while their instructor amuses them. So what students really want is an entertainer instead of a teacher. If they were studying quantum physics, the students of today would prefer an instructor like Jay Leno rather than one like Albert Einstein. When dealing with history, politics, or literature it’s easier for an instructor to develop an entertaining approach, but how can one make a programming class fun? Even if the subject of the program is humorous, the actual programming requires some thinking which today’s students were conditioned to avoid.

Because students can’t get deeply involved in what their supposed to be learning, they avoid studying and doing their homework as much as possible. In classrooms where computers are available, they use instant messaging to have on line conversations with their friends while the instructor is lecturing. They skip a lot of classes but remain in school so they can graduate and get that high paying job they were promised. To get the students to pass the class, a multiple choice test is given for which they are well rehearsed. Most pass with high marks, but some still fail.

If you know anything about education, you know that the majority of learning comes from a person’s own efforts. You must do the studying while the school is there to help you as you evolve from confusion to understanding. A school can issue a degree validating that you’ve indeed learned the principles of your chosen field. In today’s competitive world, it’s very hard to find a job without some sort of degree or certificate. Sometimes the high tuition is worth it, if the expected knowledge is really attained.

Are there students going to private colleges that are highly motivated and are excellent learners? Of course there are. I’ve seen students that are every bit as good if not better than MIT students. But they are in the minority. Some of them did not go to US high schools but graduated from schools in countries like India or Poland.

American high school graduates are able to master some computer related subjects. Computer and Xbox game playing, instant messaging, email, web surfing, and blogging are their best subjects. Unfortunately, they’re not part of the curriculum. Of the actual subjects taught, about half can do basic HTML and simple networking. Except for the gifted students, virtually no one can really program in any common compiled or scripting language. However, almost everyone passes these classes, sometimes even with high marks.

If you plan on starting a career in a computer related field here is some advice. Before going to a private college, ask yourself how much you know about what you intend to study. If you know nothing, then go to the internet and try reading about it and doing some tutorials. If this doesn’t interest you, find something that does.

Invest in a good computer or two (if you want to study networking). Get a DSL or Cable internet connection. If you can’t afford broadband or it’s not available in your area, at least, get a dial-up connection. Look into open source software if proprietary software costs too much. I’ve encountered students taking web design who didn’t have a computer or internet connection, so they couldn’t practice what they were taught or do their assignments at home.

If you have a hard time learning the basics take some remedial courses at a community college. You might even consider a degree from there. Tuition at community colleges is a lot less than that of private colleges and often they teach the same material.

Get certification books in your field of interest and find similar material on the internet. If you study hard enough, you can get certified without any formal training. Certification tests usually cost around one hundred dollars. Make sure you’re really prepared so you don’t waste your money. Sometimes having a certification can land you an entry level job better than a degree from a private college.

Remember, if you want to launch an interesting career, there is no easy way to succeed. You simply have to work hard for it.

George Lunt is someone who feels the world is getting too corporate. His writings relate the individual’s struggle with big government and big corporations. His website is http://www.corporate-aliens.com

This article is © George Lunt. All usage of this article must include a citation to the author and a link to corporate-aliens.com.

Posted on Nov 15th, 2006

Often our company catches college students pretending to be customers so they may get pertinent information to complete their business class projects. These projects are often done along with others in a team or group effort, which are designed to simulate the formation of a company from seed to weed.

Often these students will get their classmates, boyfriends or girlfriends to assist them in the collection of this data. Basically these students conspire to deceive and misrepresent which is annoying and often harassing to business owners, as they use fake names or friends to lie. Some companies end up divulging information which maybe proprietary thinking these fraudulent students are buyers of a certain product or service.

In our company I usually catch them at their deception, misrepresentations and lies. I think it is an old habit from franchising, as about 35% of our inquiries were fake and from competitors. In my retirement I notice they still contact me and lie, now I just help people for fun, but only if they are worthy, otherwise I am semi-retired these days.

Dear college students; “Liars are not Worthy” they are sub-human. I am utterly disappointed in you. Additionally a student had contacted me from the Brigham Young University in Hawaii. This is interesting in that this is a Christian Ladder Day Saints College, which stands on its morals. I am not impressed with liars or those up and coming students who would lie and then preach morals of the Christian Faith; “Why you hypocrite!”

The individual who contacted me; I asked him “Hey Bob, regarding this business, are you sure you are really wanting to do this, as you are a Bio-chemistry major? Are you sure you are not just doing a class project in your accounting class?”

Additionally in good faith I sent him an email with attached spread sheets to simplify his efforts in case it was a class project. Indicating that the "royalty payments" would not applicable in for his hypothetical business. Further leaving him a way out having caught him in his lie, I said; “Or if you really are going to do this then you will be doing in on your own so you can delete those too figures and anything else that is not applicable as per your particular plan.”

Whereas, I made sure to use the most possible fairness under the circumstances I was lied to by BYU Hawaii Business Students and therefore I believe that the BYU Hawaii has some ethical issues it needs to work thru and I am completely appalled and demand an apology and a little more oversight to insure this takes place. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Posted on Nov 14th, 2006

Just when you thought that you couldn’t manage going to college or university to obtain that degree that you need, we come to tell you about the option of an online degree program that will help you obtain your degree without actually going to university or college. Yes that is right. You heard correctly.

Surely you have heard of studying by correspondence or perhaps long distance learning, well this type of learning is even better than that as everything is done online. You have the opportunity to choose the university or college that offers the course you want and still be living in another place no where near. This type of online degree program can offer you the opportunity to gain Associates, Bachelor’s and even your Master’s if that is what you really want. You have the opportunity to study the Arts, Business, Computers, Health & Medicine, Social Sciences and even Trades if that is to your liking. The sky is the limit.

You may be someone that cannot afford to move house to gain your education or perhaps you have to work to support yourself and your family. Then again, may be your employer wants you to gain an extra degree but doesn’t want you to physically go to university because he needs you to keep working. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter because you have a fabulous opportunity to get that degree and graduate successfully while participating in an online degree program.

There are so many universities, colleges and even high schools around the world that offer these types of educational learning programs. This is an opportunity not to be missed. Why not take the time to check out these universities and colleges and find out what options are available to you right now and see what suits you and your needs.

Susan Dean is the webmaster and publisher of http://www.online-degree-shop.com Visit her site for discount online degrees.

Posted on Nov 13th, 2006

Are you finding yourself in an institution for higher learning and thinking to yourself that maybe this is not right for you? Do you feel that you are doing busy work and not learning anything? If so you may not be alone in fact everyone in college goes thru this phase. For instance a very bright college student made this statement this week:

“I can’t tell you how many classes I’ve taken that seemed so remedial but necessary and/or mandatory to take just to get that stupid piece of paper that I have to pay for that proves I’m "smart."

Indeed I had to leave school for this reason myself. Was that the right choice? I couldn’t figure out a good reason to stay, when I could be running my business, which is what I really loved to do. For me personally well I had another calling. I felt as if the subject matter and the way it was taught worked really work hard to get me to categorize all your thoughts and limit my areas of thought. I can’t do that really, my mind just doesn’t work that way, perhaps it works a little different. I felt like this college student and felt at the time that they were polluting it with just incessant BS? But I am not suggesting you quit, because it maybe worth sticking out for you, I had different circumstances really. The very intelligent college student went on to ask;

“Do you know how many other people have that piece of paper who are NOT smart, including some professors?”

Well myself, I am not one to throw stones even though I live in a steel house. Only reciprocal responses from me, I am into pre-emption but only in a limited sense. The professors have never attacked me so I have nothing bad to say. Colleges serves a purpose, as it is the training of the next generation to run the systems that all the real minds, entrepreneurs and innovators dream up and create. I have met some brilliant professors in my day, but mostly I agree with this college student, as I did at the time I quit school. Tenure is a dangerous luxury I do not believe humankind should have to afford. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Posted on Nov 12th, 2006

It is not at all surprising that numerous business schools and universities have established online degree programs. Acquiring your first degree or advancing your education has become very popular for a diverse group of people.

Studying for your degree online has numerous advantages. Some of these advantages are:

1. The classes can be scheduled as you like. Studying can be scheduled at a convenient time for you. If you are a daytime worker, you can take classes at night or on the weekend .

If you have a family in addition to a hectic work schedule, it is tough to combine a working life with a learning life-especially if you have to commute to campus for scheduled classes and meetings.

Online degree programs let you study on your own terms, develop your presentations, or take exams when you have the time and energy to do so.

2. Over enrollment of students in classes is a common problem encountered at universities and colleges. Over enrollment in classes is usually not a problem when you pursue an online degree.

3. Students enrolled in an online degree program do not worry about being bumped out of classes.

4. Since you can take all your classes at home, there is no need for a costly commute to campus. The student never has to sit in traffic, wait at a bus stop, or contend with foul weather.

5. An online degree program is adjusted to your needs, as opposed to campus-based programs, in which classes are organized around the schedules of staff and faculty.

One of the best ways to enhance your career opportunities is to enroll in an online degree program. Online degree programs offer great flexibility; they combine online lectures from qualified business leaders with routine class meetings.

More than ever, companies are paying part or all of tuitions for employees who pursue graduate degrees in their field. From a cost-benefit perspective, online learning looks like a wise choice.

For more information about an online degree, visit Online Degree and Online Degree Program

Posted on Nov 11th, 2006

Do you want to complete an online degree?

Obtaining a degree online can seem like a dream come true. You can improve your education (and chances for a better job), while learning from the comfort of your home.

But how do you know what program or university is right for you?

Picking the best Internet university may seem like a daunting task, but in truth it can be broken down into a few easy steps. Let’s get started…

Like the standard college or university, an online degree has a high level of standard. So the first step is to ensure that you meet the academic requirements. To do this, you must see if you can match or exceed the minimum GPA, courses taken and a high enough score from the appropriate standardized test.

The next step is to look for a school that is accredited from a recognized educational body. Most of the time, it will be obvious if an online university has an accreditation. This is because the online degree course will be part of a well-known institutional body. To help you out the Department of Education has six different accrediting bodies that you can use to research your potential school.

Thirdly, you should check out the degree program that you will be focusing on. You need to find out if this particular program is right for you. So talk to your prospective professors, check out their educational background, and ask to talk to current students. Also find out what some of the alumni are doing, and if their lives were enriched by receiving their online degree. By doing this, you are getting an idea of how the online college operates.

The final factor is if you can afford to take an online course. Some of the costs include tuition, books, special online fees and admin costs. Sometimes, you can end up spending more then you would at your standard university. So it is important to analyze your finances and see if you can afford to pay these fees.

By paying attention to these factors, you will find it easy to avoid the prevalence of so-called diploma mills. You will receive a degree that both you and your employer will be proud of.

Scott J. Patterson is the owner of an Online College Degree site. For more information on how to locate the best educational program, check out his site.

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