Research online PhD programs in education. Get details about requirements, career prospects and salary to make an informed decision about your education.
Essential Information
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs in education offered in a fully online format are rare, but some are available; hybrid programs with both online and on-campus requirements are more common. Applicants to these programs typically need to hold a master's degree and teacher certification; some teaching experience may also be necessary. Programs can be offered in various specializations, including educational leadership. In general, education Ph.D.s prepare students for administration roles.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), postsecondary education administrators typically hold at least a master's degree, although some entry-level positions may be available to those who hold a bachelor's degree. The provosts and deans of colleges and universities, the BLS notes, typically hold a Ph.D.
Overview of Online PhD in Education Programs
While not extremely common, there are a few PhD in Education programs available online. PhD programs in education are rather diverse, with programs offering specializations in areas such as human resource studies, educational leadership or educational management. All programs seek to train students for leadership positions within their fields. A master's degree is usually required for admission, and some programs may also require that the student already have experience working in the education field and hold a valid teaching license.
Program Information and Requirements
Programs can last anywhere from under three years to five years, including summers. Most online programs are actually hybrid programs, meaning although much of the coursework can be completed online, on-campus courses are also required. Online course content is delivered through applications such as virtual classrooms, as well as through textbooks, CDs and DVDs. Some programs may use phone or video conferencing in order to connect the student with his or her professors and fellow students.
Given the online nature of these programs, schools require that students have certain programs and applications. For example, schools may insist that students use a computer running Windows XP or Mac OS X equipped with at least Microsoft Office 2007 and Quicktime or Windows Media Player. Virtual classrooms may be accessible only through recent versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. Most schools ask that students use a high-speed Internet connection when accessing their online coursework so that content is rendered properly.
List of Courses Common to PhD in Education Programs
These programs cover subjects such as leadership, administrative practices and theories, technology and personnel development. Because these programs usually require students to conduct research and write a dissertation, courses in different types of research, data interpretation and research writing are also included. Below are examples of some of the courses often found in these programs.
Legal Issues in Higher Education
This class may look at the legal issues that face universities and colleges. Coursework may focus on state and federal statutes, the legal responsibilities and rights of higher education administrators, case law and legal theory.
Educational Policy
This course may discuss federal, state and local factors that affect the development of educational policy. Current policies at both the state and federal levels may be evaluated and critiqued, as may trends such as the development of charter schools. Fieldwork may be required.
Quantitative Research
One of many research courses related to the dissertation aspect of the program, this class discusses research methods and how to design research projects. Discussion in data interpretation, analysis and evaluation may also take place. Some programs cover how statistical software can be implemented in the research process.
Career Information for Graduates
Graduates of these programs may seek employment as higher education administrators at 4-year institutions. BLS reported that as of May 2012, 122,930 post-secondary administrators worked in the U.S. and earned an annual average wage of around $99,370. The top-earning ten percent earned $168,330 or more, while the bottom-earning ten percent earned $48,920 or less.
Original Source of Article...
To Succeed Stay Out In-front of Change.
Friday 3 October 2014
Thursday 2 October 2014
6 Reasons Why Graduate School Pays Off
Despite the professional success of many who did not earn a college diploma, it is becoming clear that earning an education matters. In addition, an undergraduate degree is increasingly not enough to land the solid, well-paying jobs of the future. What's needed, experts say, is a graduate degree.
However, with a national jobs forecast that remains weak and the cost of higher education continuing to grow faster than the rate of inflation, why would someone want to consider the academic, personal, and financial rigors of graduate school? Here are a few reasons why grad school—today and in the future—makes a difference in your career and your earning potential:
1. Personal growth: Some people are lifelong learners. They have an insatiable desire to add to their knowledge reservoir, challenge themselves academically, and experience what they consider to be among the most rewarding life pursuits: developing the mind. For these individuals, a graduate education offers the opportunity to do all of that and in a structured way that can deliver great personal satisfaction.
2. Greater employment opportunities: In many career sectors, such as higher ed administration, public affairs, and social services, a master's degree is replacing a bachelor's as the minimum requirement for employment. With a bachelor's degree in the 1980s, one could secure an entry level position as an admissions counselor, academic adviser, or student services coordinator. By the 2000s, applicants for these same entry-level positions were not even considered unless they held a master's degree. While holding a graduate degree is not a guarantee of ultimate success, it certainly opens many more doors for employment.
3. Greater career advancement: Earning a graduate degree is evidence of persistence, determination, intellectual prowess, and the ability to handle challenging environments—all of which are sought-after qualities for individuals filling manager and director positions. An employee who has demonstrated success in a long-term situation that requires stamina, discipline, leadership, and the ability to work well with others is going to be in line for growth opportunities within his or her organization.
4. Financial reward: Anyone considering graduate school would be less than wise if he or she did not consider the return on investment. For grad degree holders, the numbers are favorable: U.S. workers between the ages of 21 and 64 with a master's degree or higher earn an average annual salary of $55,242, versus those with a bachelor's degree whose average annual salary is $42,877, according to the United States Census Bureau. That represents nearly a 30 percent difference in average annual salary—and offers clear evidence that completing a graduate degree can make a positive impact on one's financial situation.
5. Sense of accomplishment: As a graduate and business school dean who witnessed his students graduate—and as a grad student who experienced it firsthand years earlier—the feeling of personal satisfaction one gets from walking across the platform to receive a master's or doctoral degree is overwhelming. The effort put forth to complete your studies, despite moments of doubt and uncertainty, will stand as a central character-building life experience.
6. Greater recognition and credibility: There are countless numbers of graduate degree holders who have gone on to accomplish great things, and who are afforded the respect and recognition they deserve and have earned. Unquestionably, an advanced degree makes a difference on a résumé. It says something about who you are and the dedication you have to your chosen field.
Original Source of Article...
However, with a national jobs forecast that remains weak and the cost of higher education continuing to grow faster than the rate of inflation, why would someone want to consider the academic, personal, and financial rigors of graduate school? Here are a few reasons why grad school—today and in the future—makes a difference in your career and your earning potential:
1. Personal growth: Some people are lifelong learners. They have an insatiable desire to add to their knowledge reservoir, challenge themselves academically, and experience what they consider to be among the most rewarding life pursuits: developing the mind. For these individuals, a graduate education offers the opportunity to do all of that and in a structured way that can deliver great personal satisfaction.
2. Greater employment opportunities: In many career sectors, such as higher ed administration, public affairs, and social services, a master's degree is replacing a bachelor's as the minimum requirement for employment. With a bachelor's degree in the 1980s, one could secure an entry level position as an admissions counselor, academic adviser, or student services coordinator. By the 2000s, applicants for these same entry-level positions were not even considered unless they held a master's degree. While holding a graduate degree is not a guarantee of ultimate success, it certainly opens many more doors for employment.
3. Greater career advancement: Earning a graduate degree is evidence of persistence, determination, intellectual prowess, and the ability to handle challenging environments—all of which are sought-after qualities for individuals filling manager and director positions. An employee who has demonstrated success in a long-term situation that requires stamina, discipline, leadership, and the ability to work well with others is going to be in line for growth opportunities within his or her organization.
4. Financial reward: Anyone considering graduate school would be less than wise if he or she did not consider the return on investment. For grad degree holders, the numbers are favorable: U.S. workers between the ages of 21 and 64 with a master's degree or higher earn an average annual salary of $55,242, versus those with a bachelor's degree whose average annual salary is $42,877, according to the United States Census Bureau. That represents nearly a 30 percent difference in average annual salary—and offers clear evidence that completing a graduate degree can make a positive impact on one's financial situation.
5. Sense of accomplishment: As a graduate and business school dean who witnessed his students graduate—and as a grad student who experienced it firsthand years earlier—the feeling of personal satisfaction one gets from walking across the platform to receive a master's or doctoral degree is overwhelming. The effort put forth to complete your studies, despite moments of doubt and uncertainty, will stand as a central character-building life experience.
6. Greater recognition and credibility: There are countless numbers of graduate degree holders who have gone on to accomplish great things, and who are afforded the respect and recognition they deserve and have earned. Unquestionably, an advanced degree makes a difference on a résumé. It says something about who you are and the dedication you have to your chosen field.
Original Source of Article...
Wednesday 1 October 2014
University of Chicago Acts to Improve Access for Lower-Income Students
With elite colleges under growing pressure to enroll more low-income students, the University of Chicago is taking a series of rare steps to make applying faster, simpler and cheaper, and to make studying there more affordable.
The package of measures, to be announced Wednesday, includes several that are highly unusual, like eliminating the expectation that low- and middle-income students take jobs during the academic year, guaranteeing them paid summer internships after their first year in college and providing them career counseling beginning in that first year.
“This is all part of a strategy to create a common and equal platform for all students,” for access to the university and “to be successful once they’re here,” said John W. Boyer, the dean of the undergraduate college.
The effort, to be phased in over five years, will mean significantly more spending on some students, and even more costs if the university succeeds in raising the number of low-income students. Mr. Boyer said he could not cite an overall price, but noted that one goal of the university’s coming five-year fund-raising campaign was to raise $150 million to $200 million for financial aid.
The share of low-income students at elite colleges has barely changed in decades, and the University of Chicago has had less economic diversity than most. The widening gap between rich and poor, and increasing competition for admission to top colleges, contribute to concerns that they fuel inequality rather than social mobility.
“It’s exciting to see the University of Chicago taking some significant steps to make the college more affordable for low- and moderate-income students,” said Stephen Burd, senior policy analyst at the New America Foundation, a policy research group. He added that the real test would be to see if more low-income students end up at Chicago.
While talk of cost and other barriers has often focused on the highly selective colleges, there have been scattered efforts to improve access at all levels of higher education.
One of those will also be announced Wednesday in Chicago: Mayor Rahm Emanuel will offer free community college education for anyone who graduates from a city public high school with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher and can place into college-level math and English. Led by Gov. Bill Haslam, Tennessee has promised tuition-free community college or technical school for all students.
Highly selective colleges note that few low-income students apply, even if they have strong credentials; the students do not understand the system, they find it daunting, or they think it cannot work in their favor. So the University of Chicago is taking steps to explain and streamline the process, hoping that results in more applications.
As the university’s admissions officers tour the country, talking with students and parents, their pitch will include a tutorial on how to apply for admission and financial aid — a shorter version of presentations they already make in Chicago high schools.
Continue reading the main story Continue reading the main story
Continue reading the main story
“Our students have found it extremely important and helpful, in knowing the little nuances and details, understanding the terms they use,” said Lindsey R. Hunter, a college and career coach at Kenwood Academy, a public high school on the city’s South Side.
James G. Nondorf, a university vice president and the dean of admissions, said, “A barrier to students taking advantage of many top schools was not that we weren’t going to help them, but that they didn’t know how to ask for help.”
To apply for financial aid from the federal government and from almost any college, students must fill out the federal government’s financial aid form. But in addition, most highly competitive schools require a more complex form, the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. Mr. Nondorf said 20 percent to 30 percent of families that started the paperwork did not finish.
The university says it will no longer require the CSS and some other forms — for example, automatically waiving the college application fee for people seeking financial aid, rather than asking them to apply for a waiver.
When colleges offer financial aid, it is usually a mix of grants and loans, and their estimate of what families can pay usually includes student earnings from a part-time job during the academic year. The university will eliminate loans in aid packages, a step a small number of other top universities have also taken, and for low- and middle-income students, it will no longer assume a school-year job. Those steps, and increases in the size of certain scholarships, will mean bigger aid grants.
The university will also provide precollege orientation programs and tuition-free summer school for some students.
Original Source of Article...
The package of measures, to be announced Wednesday, includes several that are highly unusual, like eliminating the expectation that low- and middle-income students take jobs during the academic year, guaranteeing them paid summer internships after their first year in college and providing them career counseling beginning in that first year.
“This is all part of a strategy to create a common and equal platform for all students,” for access to the university and “to be successful once they’re here,” said John W. Boyer, the dean of the undergraduate college.
The effort, to be phased in over five years, will mean significantly more spending on some students, and even more costs if the university succeeds in raising the number of low-income students. Mr. Boyer said he could not cite an overall price, but noted that one goal of the university’s coming five-year fund-raising campaign was to raise $150 million to $200 million for financial aid.
The share of low-income students at elite colleges has barely changed in decades, and the University of Chicago has had less economic diversity than most. The widening gap between rich and poor, and increasing competition for admission to top colleges, contribute to concerns that they fuel inequality rather than social mobility.
“It’s exciting to see the University of Chicago taking some significant steps to make the college more affordable for low- and moderate-income students,” said Stephen Burd, senior policy analyst at the New America Foundation, a policy research group. He added that the real test would be to see if more low-income students end up at Chicago.
While talk of cost and other barriers has often focused on the highly selective colleges, there have been scattered efforts to improve access at all levels of higher education.
One of those will also be announced Wednesday in Chicago: Mayor Rahm Emanuel will offer free community college education for anyone who graduates from a city public high school with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher and can place into college-level math and English. Led by Gov. Bill Haslam, Tennessee has promised tuition-free community college or technical school for all students.
Highly selective colleges note that few low-income students apply, even if they have strong credentials; the students do not understand the system, they find it daunting, or they think it cannot work in their favor. So the University of Chicago is taking steps to explain and streamline the process, hoping that results in more applications.
As the university’s admissions officers tour the country, talking with students and parents, their pitch will include a tutorial on how to apply for admission and financial aid — a shorter version of presentations they already make in Chicago high schools.
Continue reading the main story Continue reading the main story
Continue reading the main story
“Our students have found it extremely important and helpful, in knowing the little nuances and details, understanding the terms they use,” said Lindsey R. Hunter, a college and career coach at Kenwood Academy, a public high school on the city’s South Side.
James G. Nondorf, a university vice president and the dean of admissions, said, “A barrier to students taking advantage of many top schools was not that we weren’t going to help them, but that they didn’t know how to ask for help.”
To apply for financial aid from the federal government and from almost any college, students must fill out the federal government’s financial aid form. But in addition, most highly competitive schools require a more complex form, the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. Mr. Nondorf said 20 percent to 30 percent of families that started the paperwork did not finish.
The university says it will no longer require the CSS and some other forms — for example, automatically waiving the college application fee for people seeking financial aid, rather than asking them to apply for a waiver.
When colleges offer financial aid, it is usually a mix of grants and loans, and their estimate of what families can pay usually includes student earnings from a part-time job during the academic year. The university will eliminate loans in aid packages, a step a small number of other top universities have also taken, and for low- and middle-income students, it will no longer assume a school-year job. Those steps, and increases in the size of certain scholarships, will mean bigger aid grants.
The university will also provide precollege orientation programs and tuition-free summer school for some students.
Original Source of Article...
Tuesday 30 September 2014
5 Reasons to Get a MSN
Who needs advanced education? Maybe you!
While you can have a perfectly wonderful nursing career with a RN or BSN degree, MSN-prepared nurses have additional opportunities and earning power. Plus, healthcare is quickly evolving, and many nurse experts and healthcare organizations are calling upon nurses to increase their education to be on par with other healthcare providers. Physicians complete eight years or more of higher education. Physical therapists typically have a master’s or doctoral degree. (In 2009, there were 212 accredited physical therapy programs in the US. Twelve award master’s degrees while 200 award doctoral degrees.) Advanced degrees prepare healthcare professionals to work in a world that is increasingly complex.
Need more proof? Check out these five reasons to get a MSN.
1: Increased Specialization
Entry-level and undergraduate degrees prepare nurses for general nursing practice. Graduate degrees allow nurses to dig deeply into their areas of interest. According to California State University, “The primary purpose of the Master of Science in Nursing is to develop skilled professionals able to assume positions of leadership, which contribute to the health, education, and social structure of the community, state, and nation.” Note the word leadership. MSN-prepared nurses don’t just implement orders and perform basic nursing care; they set out in front and provide healthcare leadership to a group of patients or healthcare professionals.
A master’s degree is required for advanced practice nursing. If you want to be a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist, you’ll need a MSN. MSN degrees also prepare nurses for careers in healthcare administration, nursing informatics and nursing education.
Years ago, advanced degrees were only for nurse executives. Today, though, thousands of nurses in clinical practice – from the clinical nurse specialist on the oncology floor to the geriatric nurse practitioner in the local nursing home – have master’s degrees. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “Today’s master’s programs have increased the amount of clinical practice that students engage in so that graduates enter the job market ready for certification."
Original Source of Article...
While you can have a perfectly wonderful nursing career with a RN or BSN degree, MSN-prepared nurses have additional opportunities and earning power. Plus, healthcare is quickly evolving, and many nurse experts and healthcare organizations are calling upon nurses to increase their education to be on par with other healthcare providers. Physicians complete eight years or more of higher education. Physical therapists typically have a master’s or doctoral degree. (In 2009, there were 212 accredited physical therapy programs in the US. Twelve award master’s degrees while 200 award doctoral degrees.) Advanced degrees prepare healthcare professionals to work in a world that is increasingly complex.
Need more proof? Check out these five reasons to get a MSN.
1: Increased Specialization
Entry-level and undergraduate degrees prepare nurses for general nursing practice. Graduate degrees allow nurses to dig deeply into their areas of interest. According to California State University, “The primary purpose of the Master of Science in Nursing is to develop skilled professionals able to assume positions of leadership, which contribute to the health, education, and social structure of the community, state, and nation.” Note the word leadership. MSN-prepared nurses don’t just implement orders and perform basic nursing care; they set out in front and provide healthcare leadership to a group of patients or healthcare professionals.
A master’s degree is required for advanced practice nursing. If you want to be a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist, you’ll need a MSN. MSN degrees also prepare nurses for careers in healthcare administration, nursing informatics and nursing education.
Years ago, advanced degrees were only for nurse executives. Today, though, thousands of nurses in clinical practice – from the clinical nurse specialist on the oncology floor to the geriatric nurse practitioner in the local nursing home – have master’s degrees. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “Today’s master’s programs have increased the amount of clinical practice that students engage in so that graduates enter the job market ready for certification."
Original Source of Article...
Monday 29 September 2014
Bachelor of Arts (BA): Psychology Degree Overview
A Bachelor of Arts in Psychology can lead to careers in social services, counseling, human services or community relations. Discover the concepts involved in these programs, and find out what is commonly required for admission. Also, get details on graduate studies, which can lead to work as a psychologist.
Essential Information
Individuals interested in applying to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology program need to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Students get fundamental training in humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, and they learn about concepts, theories, strategies and tactics that apply to human behavior. Some programs offer a concentration or specialization in the field, such as human development or organizational studies. Furthermore, psychology students are encouraged to engage in research and participate in internships and other hands-on activities.
While a doctoral degree and licensure is required to become a clinical psychologist, majoring in psychology at the bachelor's level can lead to entry-level work in human or social services agencies and prepare students for graduate school.
Course Topics
These programs generally offer education in human behavior and related sciences. Students can get an overview of several areas of psychology, such as abnormal, physiological and developmental psychology. They could find themselves studying such topics as:
Popular Career Options
A bachelor's degree in psychology generally doesn't prepare graduates to become psychologists; a graduate degree, most often a doctorate, is often necessary for that profession. However, individuals who obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology can qualify for psychologist positions in federal government agencies and a variety of other careers. Other possible directions a graduate might take include those in social work or social services, human resources, community relations, education, research or counseling assistance. Individuals might choose to pursue such positions as:
Employment and Salary Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical services managers had median wages of $88,580 in 2012 and an employment growth of 23% from 2012-2022. Human resources specialists were projected to see 7% growth that decade and earn median wages of $55,640 in 2012. Psychiatric technicians, another job for bachelor's holders, were projected to see 5% growth in employment from 2012-2022. They earned median annual wages of $27,440 in 2012.
Continuing Education, Licensure and Board Certification
The B.A. in Psychology is ideal for students who intend to pursue graduate training in psychology or a related field. Graduate programs, such as Master of Science in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology, allow students to focus on personal interests, and graduation from these programs can meet eligibility requirements for licensure as a clinical, counseling or school psychologist.
All states require licensure for psychologists who work directly with patients. Professionals can also opt to obtain board certification through organizations, such as the American Board of Professional Psychology or the American Academy of Clinical Psychology, to establish their expertise.
Original Source of Article...
Essential Information
Individuals interested in applying to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology program need to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Students get fundamental training in humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, and they learn about concepts, theories, strategies and tactics that apply to human behavior. Some programs offer a concentration or specialization in the field, such as human development or organizational studies. Furthermore, psychology students are encouraged to engage in research and participate in internships and other hands-on activities.
While a doctoral degree and licensure is required to become a clinical psychologist, majoring in psychology at the bachelor's level can lead to entry-level work in human or social services agencies and prepare students for graduate school.
Course Topics
These programs generally offer education in human behavior and related sciences. Students can get an overview of several areas of psychology, such as abnormal, physiological and developmental psychology. They could find themselves studying such topics as:
- Perception
- Psychological research methods
- Cognitive psychology
- Child development
- Personality theories
Popular Career Options
A bachelor's degree in psychology generally doesn't prepare graduates to become psychologists; a graduate degree, most often a doctorate, is often necessary for that profession. However, individuals who obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology can qualify for psychologist positions in federal government agencies and a variety of other careers. Other possible directions a graduate might take include those in social work or social services, human resources, community relations, education, research or counseling assistance. Individuals might choose to pursue such positions as:
- Case managers
- Human resource specialists
- Counseling aide
Employment and Salary Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical services managers had median wages of $88,580 in 2012 and an employment growth of 23% from 2012-2022. Human resources specialists were projected to see 7% growth that decade and earn median wages of $55,640 in 2012. Psychiatric technicians, another job for bachelor's holders, were projected to see 5% growth in employment from 2012-2022. They earned median annual wages of $27,440 in 2012.
Continuing Education, Licensure and Board Certification
The B.A. in Psychology is ideal for students who intend to pursue graduate training in psychology or a related field. Graduate programs, such as Master of Science in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology, allow students to focus on personal interests, and graduation from these programs can meet eligibility requirements for licensure as a clinical, counseling or school psychologist.
All states require licensure for psychologists who work directly with patients. Professionals can also opt to obtain board certification through organizations, such as the American Board of Professional Psychology or the American Academy of Clinical Psychology, to establish their expertise.
Original Source of Article...
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