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The prevalence of fraudulent, substandard, and illegal diplomas and degrees is an ever-increasing problem in the United States.

The United States Congress has found that the safety of the American public is particularly endangered by the sale of fraudulent degrees, and that the preeminence of the United States in science and engineering, as well as the prestige and reputation of American universities, is threatened by the trafficking of fraudulent degrees, diplomas, and certifications. (109th Congress, 2006)

Religious and theological degrees and other degrees from religiously affiliated institutions are some of the most commonly issued fraudulent, substandard and illegal credentials. The reason for the prevalence of fraudulent religious and theological degrees is the fact that anyone can incorporate a “church” by registering as a non-profit organization within a state. This “church” can then claim that its bylaws grant it the authority to issues certifications and degrees. Unfortunately many innocent people seeking a religious education fall victim to these “churches” issuing “degrees” that aren’t worth the paper the phony diploma is printed on.

These organizations issuing fraudulent and substandard religious degrees often claim that their action is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and guarantees of religious freedom. Simply put this is not the case. Religiously affiliated institutions are not exempt from state oversight under the First Amendment, nor do they gain the privilege of issuing fraudulent, substandard, and illegal degrees under protection of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

As an example of this, the Texas Attorney General has issued an opinion (JC-0200) that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not exempt religiously-affiliated institutions from the requirements under the Texas Education Code (Chapter 61, Subchapter G). The statute does not regulate any religious practice. Institutions that have a religious affiliation are free to exercise their religious beliefs. The law is written to regulate very narrowly those activities that are academic only, such as representations that the instruction is college level or that the student can receive a degree, and not to impinge on any religious practice or belief. In addition, institutions that do not wish to meet the academic standards of a higher educational institution are free to teach and prepare students for ministry positions as long as they do not assert that the level of their education is collegiate, either by offering degrees or calling the institution a college, university, or seminary. (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 2007)

Unaccredited, religiously affiliated institutions are free to teach their religious doctrine as they see fit, but they may not legally represent themselves as colleges, universities, or seminaries; nor may they issues degrees or titles associated with degrees.

RELIGIOUS VS. ACADEMIC DEGREES

A commonly heard claim from institutions issuing fraudulent, substandard or illegal religious degrees is that there is a difference between a religious and an academic degree, and that the rules that govern academic degrees simply don’t apply to the issuance of a religious or theological degree.

We have already seen that in the opinion of the Texas Attorney General religiously-affiliated institutions are NOT exempt from meeting the requirements of the Texas Education Code, but what about legitimate religious schools and theological seminaries, how do they view their own degrees?

Of the 251 religiously based colleges, universities and theological seminaries currently recognized by the ‘Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada’ and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) all maintain an academic curriculum and structure and (based on a study of their web-sites and publications) consider their degrees to be an “academic degrees.”

The on-line encyclopedia ‘Wikipedia’ is a continually reviewed updated and reference source which can be edited by anyone. Wikipedia articles offer insight into the general public perception of a topic. When we look at the Wikipedia entries for Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Divinity we see that they are both defined as “academic degrees:

• “Doctor of Theology (in Latin Theologiae Doctor, abbreviated Th.D.) is a terminal academic degree in theology.” – (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Theology)

• “Doctor of Divinity (D.D., Divinitatis Doctor in Latin) is an advanced academic degree in divinity.” – (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity)

Clearly every legitimate theological seminary and college or university offering a theological program considers an academic curriculum and structure essential to their degrees, and the public impression of religiously based degrees is that they are in fact academic degrees.

One should be extremely wary of any entity that issues degrees with no academic curriculum or structure, claiming that its religious nature somehow exempts it from any academic standard or requirements. Such an entity is almost certainly issuing fraudulent and illegal degrees, or at best is issuing a substandard degree that confers no qualification or legitimate credential whatsoever, and may in fact be illegal to use in many states.

WARNING SIGNS

One should be particularly aware of degree scams that offer you credit for your life experience and current spiritual work, giving you an immediate doctorate degree in divinity, theology, or ministry all for a few hundred dollars and perhaps requiring a short paper of no more than a couple thousand words.

Another warning sign that an institution is issuing fraudulent, substandard, or illegal degrees is if they make it a point to explain why their degrees are “bonafide legitimate doctorate degrees.” While a truly legitimate college or university will normally identify its accreditation it is highly unlikely that it will have to stress why its degrees are “bonafide and legitimate”. Only an institution issuing fraudulent degrees needs to attempt to convince you of their legitimacy.

It is important to confirm the physical address of any school before you enroll. A legitimate college, university, or seminary will have a physical business address, even if it is set up to provide only on-line study. Any institution using a mail drop address is almost certainly issuing fraudulent and illegal degrees. You should be able to visit the institution that will grant your degree. If the offices of the college, university, or seminary are a back room or basement in somebody’s home, the degree is almost guaranteed to be substandard, and is most likely being illegally issued.

As we continued to look into the issue of addresses, we discovered that it is a violation of Federal law to use the Postal Service in conjunction with a business and request to be addressed by, any fictitious, false, or assumed title.

“Whoever, for the purpose of conducting, promoting, or carrying on by means of the Postal Service, any scheme or device… or any other unlawful business, uses or assumes, or requests to be addressed by, any fictitious, false, or assumed title, name, or address or name other than his own proper name, or takes or receives from any post office or authorized depository of mail matter, any letter, postal card, package, or other mail matter addressed to any such fictitious, false, or assumed title, name, or address, or name other than his own proper name, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.” (18 U.S.C. 1342)

Beware of any institution that offers a ‘one-time only tuition cost to you:’ ‘each doctorate degree is only $$$, get a second degree at half-price, $$$’, or any similar come-on where you simply purchase your degree for a flat fee.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (2005) “Most diploma mills charge a flat fee, require little course work, if any, and award a degree based solely on work or life experience.”

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (2007) cautioned that one of the warning signs that an institution may be offering fraudulent or substandard degree is charging “tuition and fees by the degree and not by the course. Whether charging $299 or $29,000, this is a sign of fraud. Legitimate colleges charge tuition by the credit hour (semester, quarter, or trimester) or by the course. Not all fraudulent or substandard institutions charge by the degree; some charge by the credit hour in order to appear legitimate. However, legitimate institutions do not charge by the degree.”

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education advises: when considering a degree provider, an answer of “yes” to one or more of the following questions may be an indicator of a diploma mill.

• Can degrees be purchased?

• Is there a claim of accreditation when there is no evidence of this status?

• Is there a claim of accreditation from a questionable accrediting organization?

• Does the operation lack state or federal licensure or authority to operate?

• Is little if any attendance required of students, either online or in class?

• Are few assignments required for students to earn credits?

• Is a very short period of time required to earn a degree?

• Are degrees available based solely on experiences or résumé review?

• Are there few requirements for graduation?

• Does the operation fail to provide any information about a campus or business location or physical address and rely only on a post office box?

• Does the operation fail to provide a list of its faculty and their qualifications?

• Does the operation have a name similar to other well-known colleges and universities?

• Does the operation make claims in its publications for which there is no evidence?

While it is not possible to list every institution engaged in a degree scam or issuing fraudulent, substandard, or illegal degrees; the state of Michigan maintains a list of schools that have been found to be most egregious in their issuance of fraudulent degrees.

The list can be found on-line at:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Non-accreditedSchools_78090_7.pdf.

Degrees from any entity on this list will not be accepted by the Michigan Department of Civil Service as satisfying any educational requirements or job specifications. Even if you don’t live or work in Michigan, any institution on the Michigan list is highly questionable, and would most likely be found fraudulent, substandard, or illegal if investigated by any other state.

The state of Maine maintains a similar list on-line at: http://www.maine.gov/education/highered/Non-Accredited/UnaccreditedSchools-112706.pdf

The state of Oregon is a leader in the fight against fraudulent, substandard and illegally issued degrees. Oregon maintains a list of entities issuing invalid degrees on-line at: http://www.osac.state.or.us:80/oda/unaccredited.aspx.

In addition to checking the Michigan, Maine and Oregon lists of unaccredited institutions, one should also check the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) – Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized United States Accrediting Organizations, on-line at: http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (USDE) on-line at: http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

The CHEA and USDE databases list institutions that are recognized as having met certain standards in their education programs.

While being listed in the CHEA or USDE database doesn’t guarantee that a degree will be suited to any specific purpose, an institution that issues degrees and is not listed in either one these databases is at best highly questionable.

STATE HIGHER EDUCATION BOARDS

Next, contact the higher education board in the state where the “degree-granting institution” is located and get the board’s opinion of the institution in question. Every state has some type of governing body for higher education. When considering enrolling in any college, university, or seminary, where there may be a question about its legitimacy, it pays to contact the governing body for higher education in the state in which the institution is located and ask whether that institution is recognized by the state and whether the degrees they issue are legitimate.

At the time this article was written the U.S. Department of Education maintained a list of State Higher Education Agencies on-line at:

http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov:80/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_ID=SHE

LAWS

Several states are beginning to recognize the problem of fraudulent, substandard, and illegally issued degrees and are passing laws to combat this crime.

Currently it is illegal in North Dakota, New Jersey, Texas, Nevada, Washington and Maine to use unaccredited degrees. It is illegal in Indiana to use an unaccredited doctorate. Other states are considering laws to protect their citizens from diploma mills and substandard degrees.

In Washington State, issuing a false academic credential is a class C felony; and knowingly using a false academic credential is a gross misdemeanor. (RCW 9A.60.070)

Florida Statute 817.567 — Making False Claims of Academic Degree or Title.– provides that no person in the state may claim, either orally or in writing, to possess an academic degree, as defined in s. 1005.02, or the title associated with said degree, unless the person has, in fact, been awarded said degree from an institution that is: (a) Accredited by a regional or professional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation… [or run by a state or by the Federal government, or for schools outside the U.S. has been validated by an accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education as equivalent to the baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States...]

and

(2) No person awarded a doctorate degree from an institution not listed in subsection (1) shall claim in the state, either orally or in writing, the title “Dr.” before the person’s name or any mark, appellation, or series of letters, numbers, or words, such as, but not limited to, “Ph.D.,” “Ed.D.,” “D.N.,” or “D.Th.,” which signifies, purports, or is generally taken to signify satisfactory completion of the requirements of a doctorate degree, after the person’s name.

LIFE EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

According to Roger H. Schmedlen (2006), writing in the Michigan Lawyers Weekly, “Some unsophisticated would-be experts may truly believe it is possible for them to obtain a legitimate degree without attending classes or performing any study activity–simply by using credit from lifelong career experience. . . . It isn’t!”

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board warns that another of the warning signs of fraud is an institution that “offers to grant a degree or generous amounts of credit for life experience. Claims that one can receive a complete degree for one’s life experience are a sure sign of fraud. Calculating credit awarded by years of service in a particular job or function is also a sign of fraud. Legitimate colleges that award credit for life experience require extensive evidence that the experience is the equivalent of coursework taught at a college. The average legitimate award by that means will be approximately 12 to 18 semester credit hours (about one semester). Many students who are assessed receive no college credit.”

While one should understand that no legitimate accreditor enforces any particular theological understanding, doctrine, or theology; it is just as important to understand that states have a responsibility to ensure that the public is not put at risk by fraudulently issued degrees and credentials. Ask yourself whether you would trust a medical doctor who received an immediate medical degree based on life experience. Would you trust a psychiatrist whose degree was based on a 4 to 8 page paper? No? Well, if you will not trust your physical and mental health to a person with a fraudulent or substandard degree, why would you trust someone with this type of degree to guide you in your spiritual and religious well-being?

John Bear (2007) offers an emphatic warning concerning fraudulent degrees: “We must warn you, as emphatically as we can, that it is very risky to buy a fake degree or to claim to have a degree that you have not earned. It is like putting a time bomb in your resume. It could go off at any time, with dire consequences. The people who sell fake degrees will probably never suffer at all, but the people who buy them often suffer mightily. And — particularly if their “degree” is health-related — their clients may be seriously harmed.”

We consider a religious degree to be health-related in any case where the degree-holder is involved in offering counseling or spiritual guidance. One’s spiritual health is just as important as one’s physical, mental and emotional health.

CONCLUSION

Fraudulent, substandard, and illegal degrees endanger the safety of the American public. Persons who use a fraudulent, substandard, or illegal degree and provide health-related services, to include counseling, providing life-skills and religious guidance or therapy, put the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of their clients at serious risk.

Using a fraudulent, substandard, or illegally issued degree is likely to have dire consequences for the person who uses it, both in employment and licensing issues and in matters of trust and integrity. It is in fact illegal in several states to use an unaccredited, fraudulent, substandard or illegally issued degree.

A serious question should arise in regard to any individual’s integrity and competence, who claims a fraudulent, substandard, or illegally issued degree regardless of any other credentials or experience that person may possess.

FOOTNOTES

109th Congress – Diploma Integrity Protection Act of 2006 – H.R. 6006 http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc109/h6008_ih.xml

Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada

http://www.ats.edu/

Bear, John, Quackwatch, Degree Mills,on-line at: http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/dm0.html (May 2007)

Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

http://www.chea.org/

Federal Trade Commission, “Facts for Business Guide on Avoiding Fake Degree”, February 1, 2005 on-line at: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/02/diplomamills.shtm

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education – http://www.okhighered.org/student-center/college-stdnts/academic/diploma-mills.shtml

Religious Freedom Restoration Act (42 U.S.C. § 2000bb (1993)

Schmedlen, Roger H. CPP, CFE, CII, MIPI – Michigan Lawyers Weekly, “Doctor Who? Avoiding Fraudulent Opinion Experts”, April 24, 2006 Edition; on-line at: http://www.securityexpertonline.com/fraudulent_security_expert_article.htm

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Frequently Asked Questions, May 2007 http://www.thecb.state.tx.us//AAR/PrivateInstitutions/FAQ.cfm

If you enjoy working with children, have a love for learning, and possess strong multi-tasking abilities, at some point you may have thought about becoming a teacher. Now is a good time to start earning the credentials, since this profession has been projected to grow by 12 percent between 2006 and 2016, creating about 479,000 new teaching jobs.

Teaching requires certification, which is most often obtained through a bachelor’s degree program. If you are interested in completing a bachelor’s degree, there are many online programs available. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in any subject, there are many programs offering online Master’s degrees in education that can be completed in two years.

Benefits to Earning an Online Degree

While there are various benefits to earning your education degree online, they can be summed up with one word: flexibility. You can complete coursework at your own pace, whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you. If you have a job or a family that keeps you from traditional classes, you can do the coursework in the evenings or on the weekends. The flexible schedule also means that you can still work full-time, which makes supporting yourself and paying for classes a bit easier.

What to Expect from an Online Education Degree

If you pursue an online bachelor’s or Master’s degree in education, you can expect to take typical education classes such as the following:

Teaching Methods Classroom Management Theories of Learning Educational Law Curriculum Development

You will complete both practicums and student teaching to get real-life experience teaching and managing a class. If your online coursework is synchronous, you will participate in online discussions or videoconferencing at particular times; if your coursework is asynchronous, you will complete lessons and participate in learning activities at your own pace.

Tips for Earning an Online Education Degree

Set aside time to work on your online degree every day. While you can complete coursework at your own pace, you will learn more effectively if you study regularly Make sure the school you choose for completing your online education degree is accredited and can prepare you for teaching in the specific field you choose. As all states require the passing of an exam for certification, be sure the online education degree program you enroll in can get you ready Network with other education professionals. Many teachers will tell you that some of their greatest resources are other teachers. If you’re feeling short on inspiration or creativity, teachers can offer advice and help to get you through some tough coursework moments

Of course, the best advice for anyone wanting to pursue an online bachelor’s or Master’s degree in education is to make sure you’re truly interested in teaching, and then go for it. With all the online education programs out there, now is a better time than ever to start working towards a degree in education.

Are you interested in passing on knowledge and wisdom through a specific skill set? Would you like to help individuals realize their self-potential and untapped talents? Then a career in education might be for you. The great thing is, educators are perpetually in high demand. In today’s system, the number of school-aged and adult learners is increasing by the day, rules change every year for those in teaching careers, and new state and federal initiatives are created meant encourage U.S. schools to endeavor to be the finest in the world. This evolution is creating new challenges, and opportunities, for individuals who are interested in earning a teaching degree. A degree from Kaplan University will well-prepare you for these challenges and open the door to many opportunities in the field of education.

Besides teaching school-aged children and high school students, those who earn a teaching degree along with advanced degrees can also pursue a wide variety of careers in education in administration and management. Opportunities range from consultants who work with school administration, to publishers of textbooks and software. Every day there are new positions available for those who have a teaching degree.

Kaplan University Education Program will provide you with a diverse skill set that ranges from an in-depth understanding of education to business proficiency in the field. When you earn a teaching degree from Kaplan, you leave with the expertise you need be competitive in your career.

Kaplan University Education Program

Kaplan University Education program offers a Masters of Arts in Teaching, which is geared to give you the essential professional skills to teach Intermediate and High School age students. You will also have the option of choosing a non-certification or certification track, in which case you would become certified in the state of Iowa.

Kaplan’s Iowa certification track allows you to have the choice of completing a year-long internship or student teaching as part of your education. During this period you will advance from observing students and their classroom behaviors to conducting small groups of students, to assuming the responsibility for lessons and the whole classroom.

With a teaching degree from Kaplan University, you will be qualified to work as a teacher in private and public middle and high schools as well as enrichment programs.

Kaplan University

Kaplan University offers over 100 programs and degrees throughout campuses in:

• Iowa

-          Davenport

-          Cedar Falls

-          Cedar Rapids

-          Council Bluffs

-          Des Moines

-          Mason City

• Nebraska

-          Lincoln

-          Omaha

However, its community of teachers, students and faculty exists almost entirely online. As a student of Kaplan University, you will be able to study when you want as well as create a class schedule that is suitable to your lifestyle. Other online areas of study available through Kaplan University include:

• Nursing

• Legal Studies

• Technology

• Health Sciences

• Education

• Criminal Justice

• Concord Law

• Business

• Arts and Sciences

One of the greatest benefits of online degree programs is that you can work at your own pace at any time of the day and on any day at home or on your laptop somewhere. Working on your online degree at home enables you to control the expenses and learn in your own style and will allow you to decide how quickly you want to earn your degree.

At one time one survey found that 55 percent of employers preferred traditional degrees over online degrees but that has all been changing in recent years. People are becoming more aware of saving money and saving the environment by not traveling to on-campus settings and that is becoming much more accepted now with the focus on global warming.

One study found that public institutions were much more likely to offer online degrees than were private institutions. The term online degrees usually refers to college degrees (sometimes including high school diplomas and non-degree certificate programs) that can be earned primarily or entirely through the use of a computer that is connected to the Internet, rather than attending college in a traditional on-campus setting. Today, you can earn a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or even graduate degree online from a major university without ever having been to or in one of their classrooms.

Online colleges, that are fully accredited, have earned a widely recognized form of university accreditation from one of six established regional accreditation boards. The time, distance and the financial hardships of a higher education really no longer exist with the arrival on the scene today of online technology and it’s getting better all the time. According to one report, about two-thirds of the largest educational institutions have fully online degree programs.

The types of online degrees that are readily available include: associate degree, bachelor degree, master degree and doctorate degree online. Make sure to find out if you have to go to a campus to take some of the exams or complete some of your online coursework there. Take into consideration, in case you might have difficulty getting to the campus during the evenings and on weekends, how you would handle it. If you’re seeking financing there is a lot of money available for online degrees now, which was not the case in the near distant past. You can research scholarships online but make sure to be aware of any scholarship scams.

And make sure that any online credits you earn are transferable. Ask a counselor at the institution directly because most schools vary from course to course and with the individual school policy. Research the online schools of your choice and talk to a counselor or representative from those institutions to find out what financial aid, scholarships, grants, student loans or education loans are available. Types of the many online degrees that are available today include: interior design degree, law degree, education degree, engineering degree, paralegal degree, computer science degree and history degree.

Its been reported that employers feel that an employee who received an online education degree compared favorably, in terms of the knowledge learned, to someone with a resident degree. To determine whether you’d make a good online student ask yourself if you’re someone who gets things done ahead of time, procrastinates or puts them off until the very last minute. If you are not sure what you are going to be doing after you have your degree in hand, ask the school counselors or representatives handling the accredited online degree program or bachelor degree online program what your job prospects are.

So there are many advantages today to online learning. Keep in mind there are plenty of education loans available if you can’t locate the right grants or scholarships. Whether you want to earn an associate degree online, a bachelor’s degree online or even a masters or doctorate degree online, rest assured that most online programs today are fully accredited, especially from a major institution but make sure to check this out before you commit.

Since 1960s, career cluster resources have been used as career exploration and planning tools in schools, learning communities, and organizations across the nation. Career Clusters is a system that matches educational and career planning.

Step 1: Identifying Career Cluster Interest Areas

Career clusters are groups of similar occupations and industries. When teachers, counselors, and parents work with teens, college students, and adults, the first step is to complete career cluster assessment. The assessment identifies the highest career cluster areas. Career assessments show teens, college students, and adults rankings from one of the following 16 Interests Areas or Clusters:

1. Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources

2. Architecture & Construction

3. Arts, A/V Technology & Communication

4. Business, Management & Administration

5. Education & Training

6. Finance

7. Government & Public Administration

8. Health Science

9. Hospitality & Tourism

10. Human Services

11. Information Technology

12. Law, Public Safety & Security

13. Manufacturing

14. Marketing, Sales & Service

15. Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

16. Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Step 2: Exploring Career Clusters and Related Careers

After pinpointing the highest career clusters, teens, college students, and adults explore the different careers and create education plans. Career cluster tools used in career and educational planning include:

LISA: A comprehensive career cluster database

Models

Brochures

Pathways

High school plan of study

Interest and Skills Areas

Crosswalks

After completing a career cluster assessment, teens, college students, and adults look at web sites, career models, brochures, pathways, and high school plans. One of the most unique comprehensive career cluster resources is the Louisiana Integrated Skills Assessment (LISA), an Internet program. LISA lets you explore career clusters, careers, abilities, training requirements, and more. There are 3 steps in the LISA program:

STEP 1: Click here to select a Career Cluster,

STEP 2: Click here to select a Career Group

STEP 3: Explore Occupations within this Career Group

In Step 1, when you choose a career cluster, you will see a description of the cluster. When you select a career group in Step 2, you see different careers. Finally, in Step 3, you see a wealth of information:

Job descriptions

Educational and training requirements

Crosswalks, for example ONET, DOT, GOE, and other codes

Abilities

Knowledge

Skills

Tasks

Work Vales

Labor Market Information

Even though LISA is an awesome program, in classroom or workshop settings, you need printed materials. When using printed materials, the career model is the best place to start. Models provide excellent overviews listing the cluster definitions, sample careers, pathways, knowledge, and skills. Visual models show career clusters, the cluster subgroups, and related careers. Models are an excellent way to introduce career clusters.

For presentations, workshops, and group discussions, the career cluster brochures provide additional information. Adults and teens read about the different careers that are available in each career cluster. Teachers, counselors, and parents use the brochures to solidify adults’ and teens’ potential career or educational decisions. The brochures cover topics such as:

Definition of career clusters

Careers

Career pathways

Employment outlooks

Skills

Credentials

Teachers, counselors, and parents use career pathways for more detailed information. The career pathways are subgroups or areas of concentration within career clusters. Each pathway contains career groups. The career groups have similar academic skills, technical skills, educational requirements, and training requirements. Career pathways are plans of study that outline required secondary courses, post secondary courses, and related careers. The career pathways are essential tools that teachers, counselors, parents, and other adults use to give educational planning advice.

Several web sites feature High School Plans of Study. These study plans show required, elective, and suggested courses for each grade level. The school plans also match the career clusters to related careers, career pathways, and post-secondary options. Teachers, counselors, and parents find that these school plans are guides for selecting the right high school courses to match potential careers. Beyond high school, the Utah System for Higher Education has created a College Major Guide. Parents, teachers, and counselors can use the guide to match college majors to Certificate and Degree Programs.

Additional Resources for Counselors and Teachers

For planning curriculum and educational programs, there are detailed Knowledge and Skills Charts and Cluster Crosswalks. The knowledge and Skills expand upon the information listed on the career cluster models. For each knowledge and skill area, there are performance elements and measurement criteria. Crosswalks show the relationships between career clusters and other career models:

Career clusters build a bridge between education and career planning. Different types of career cluster resources are available: videos, web sites, booklets, brochures, activity sheets, and workbooks. Teachers, counselors, and parents use career cluster resources to successfully complete career and educational planning.

Resources:

American Careers Career Paths, Career Communications, 6701 W. 64th St., Overland, KS 66202, 800-669-7795

Career Click, Illinois Department of Employment Security,33 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60603, (312) 793-5700

CIP Code Index by Career Cluster, Adult & Postsecondary CTE Division, Bureau of Career and Technical Education, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126, (717) 772-0814

Cluster and Career Videos, Career One Stop, U.S. Department of Labor, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210, 866-4-USA-DOL

College Major Guide Utah System for Higher Education, Board of Regents Building, The Gateway, 60 South 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1284, (801) 321-7100

Find Careers (Videos), iSeek Solutions, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Wells Fargo Place, 30 7th St. E., Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101-7804

High School Plans of Study, New Hampshire Department of Education, 101 Pleasant Street

Concord, NH 03301-3860, (603) 271-3494

Introduction to Career Clusters, Career Education, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, P.O. Box 543

Blacklick, OH 43004-0544,

Louisiana Integrated Skills Assessment (LISA), customized Internet version of OSCAR, a product of the Texas Workforce Commission/Career Development Resources, TWC/CDR, Austin, TX 78753

Maryland Career Clusters, Maryland State Department of Education 200 West Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21201,

Rhodes Island’s Career Clusters, Rhode Island’s Career Resource Network, 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-8790

School to Career Clusters, State of Connecticut, Department of Labor, Job Bank, 645 South Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457, (860)754-5000

States’ Career Clusters Initiative (SCCI), 1500 W. Seventh Avenue, Stillwater, OK 74074

Career Pathway Plans, Career Cluster, Knowledge and Skills Charts

VTECS Cluster Frameworks, VTECS, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA, 30033,404-679-4501 ext 543

What are Career Clusters? Career Prospects System, New Mexico Career Resource Network, CAREER TECHNICAL AND WORKFORCE EDUCATION BUREAU (CTWEB), Education Building, 300 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87501, (505) 827-6512

Distance Learning – Post Graduate Online Education Degrees

According to the Survey of Earned Doctorates, Visit Here http://special-online-education.blogspot.com

as of 2004 there was a 3.4 percent increase in doctorate degrees awarded in the United States. In June, 2004, a total of 41,155 research doctorate degrees were earned by postgraduate students. The recent increase in doctorate degrees awarded after a decade of decline can be partially attributed to the convenience of distance learning postgraduate online education degrees.

Postgraduate degree programs offer students an opportunity to explore a subject to attain the highest levels of proficiency in that area of study. Courses can be based upon a curriculum or independent study and research. A recent study released by both Penn State University Outreach Marketing and Communications and University Continuing Education Association revealed that distance learning is anticipated to grow ten times quicker than on-campus education over the next ten years. Further, about 45 percent of college enrollment are adult students who frequently prefer distance learning opportunities to classes on campus. Sun Chairman Scott McNealy states, “Technology has to play a huge role in education. (It’s) changed commerce…publishing…banking. It’s got to change education big time.”

Distance learning postgraduate online education degrees afford busy students the opportunity to earn doctorate degrees at their convenience, without having travel to and attend traditional classes. By the time students intend to pursue distance learning postgraduate online education degrees, they are usually computer literate, self-motivated and able to manage their time properly. These are all essential elements to success in virtual classrooms. The two basic types of postgraduate degrees students may earn are professional doctorates or research doctorates.

Professional doctorates. The United States requires terminal professional doctorate degrees to perform in certain fields, such as dentistry, medicine, law, chiropractics, occupational therapy and psychology. Prior to entering these professional doctorate programs, students are required to complete a bachelors degree, preferably in a related field. Professional doctorate degrees, such as J.D. and M.D., usually do not require students to complete a thesis, although some do require an original research paper to be submitted. Doctorate degrees usually take three years to complete after postsecondary education, although distance learning postgraduate online education degrees may be earned more quickly. Because online education courses are often geared for the busy adult learner, students can progress at their own pace.

Research doctorates. The research doctorate that is most commonly earned is a Ph.D. The time is takes to complete research doctorate degree programs can vary quite a bit, depending on course pursued. It is common for students to take two to three years to complete coursework and three or more years to conduct pertinent research. The benefit of a Ph.D. is that a holder is qualified to pursue an academic career as an expert in their field. Distance learning research doctorate degrees are conveniently pursued online and can be easily worked around professional schedules.

Honorary doctorates. These degrees may be awarded for substantial contributions to a field and are not necessarily academic.

Financial Aid. Federal financial aid and loan programs may be applied to distance learning postgraduate online education degrees. Employers may offer tuition reimbursement for coursework. Private loans may also be secured to pay for higher education. Students have several options available that can help them finance their doctorates.

Thesis. Some postgraduate doctorate degrees require students to write a thesis. The learner defines their own area of research and takes years to write a detailed paper, which may be made available as pertinent information to other students in the field.

Coursework. Distance learning postgraduate online education degree programs offer students ongoing guidance through coursework, email, virtual lectures and online discussions. Students are, however, expected to work independently and use a variety of research resources to complete their course requirements.

Online Students. A recent national study entitled Degrees of Opportunity revealed some interesting facts about online students. Eighty-nine percent of those surveyed felt that the benefits derived from higher education are equal to or even greater than the money, time and effort involved. Lyungai Mbilinyi, Ph.D and author of this report, stated, “Eighty-one percent associated higher education with a sense of personal accomplishment and seventy-eight percent believed education would better develop their talents or pursue their interests. Despite the assortment of obstacles many adults face when considering a return to school, the overwhelming majority believe the resulting benefits have made it worthwhile.” Finally, eighty-four percent of enrollments in higher education programs are non-traditional students such as distance learners and adults with jobs. Students who participate in distance learning postgraduate online degree programs are not only seeking better positions, but the increased knowledge and self-esteem that comes with an advanced education.Visit Here http://special-online-education.blogspot.com

The online degree programs are increasing in popularity and creditability, more and more prestigious colleges and universities offer complete online degree programs taught by the same faculty who teach in their classrooms. Many online programs offers by these prestigious colleges and universities are reputable. Hence, earning a degree online can be a good option for many students, but some “diploma mills” have hurt the integrity of such programs.

If you plan to pursue a degree online, precaution steps must be taken to avoid earning a “Fake” online degree. Some “diploma mills” have sophisticated Web sites and might seem like real universities but lack college-level work and accreditation. You should always check with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to see if their program is accredited.

Most of “diploma mills” are focus on fast production and distribution of fake degrees. They just offer credit for life experience and if you pay your fees you get your diploma. You don’t have to worry about practical experience. If you pay a little extra, you can even graduate with honors and you can even complete a degree including Doctorate degree in 5 to 7 days.

The problem arises when this life experience is not accepted by state and federal laws and you facethe problem of looking for a suitable job. Today, most employers are smart, they will check your degree against accreditation and they aware of those online colleges which “Famous” in “diploma mills”. So, make sure you are holding a legitimate degree when applying for a job position; the best way to avoid this from happening to you is to check the online degree program against it’s accreditation before your register for it.

In general, accredited colleges and universities will receive the .edu designation in their website domain name. For example, Stanford University’s web address is Stanford.edu which authenticates that they are genuine online universities. But the best way to confirm the accreditation of an online college or university is to check with the US Department of Education.

Currently, there are six higher education regional accrediting agencies which are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. These U.S. regional accrediting agencies are:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education

New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Colleges

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities

There are also many other national, professional and specialized accrediting bodies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. They provide accreditation, guidance and quality assurance roles for distance and online learning institutions, foreign learning institutions and training providers.

If you are planning to pursue your degree online, spend some time to check and confirm the accreditation of your selected online college or university. And make sure the organization that provides the accreditation to the college is recognized by US Department of Education. Take these precaution steps in advanced are better than regretting it later when you are holding a helpless “fake” degree.

Visit http://www.studykiosk.com/ for more information on the best listed Distance Learning Programs. Discover the ins and out of attending a “Virtual Classroom” to earn the online degree and how it can help you succeed in realizing our education goals.

I have a bachelor’s degree. I will NOT be practicing law. However I feel like I need to be able to represent myself in court in the event of a law suit. I would rather go this option than have to pay an attorney who will have a huge stack of cases and won’t spend the time like I would on my case.

I found a couple of options on an online law degree but the paralegal option seemed cheaper. As a paralegal will I have the knowledge to represent myself?

When you are researching online education courses, you may be pleasantly surprised to discover the vast variety of courses and programs that are currently being offered. The programs range from basic certificate courses to full accredited masters and doctoral degree programs. But exactly what changes can acquiring an online education bring to your life and how does the recent developments in online education make it easier for you to continue your education?

the first thing you will notice is how much sheer variety there is out there. There are many courses that are intended for people who are looking at furthering their education, including many well respected universities who are offering online programs of their own. There are also smaller, certificate oriented courses as well as online bachelors degree courses that could take your level of knowledge far beyond your wildest dreams! Completing an online program is something that can potentially change your life.

Why Select An Online Education Program?

What are the advantages of earning an online education? The first thing that instantly springs to mind is the flexibility and convenience. Rather than commuting to a college, day after day, wasting valuable time traveling, you are able to take classes from the comfort of your own home. Provided you have a fast Internet connection and a reliable computer, you will be able to enroll and excel as you undertake your desired course online.

Another advantage is that your online courses can be scheduled whenever you want them to be. You don’t have to stress about missing a lecture or having to rearrange your schedule. This is a critical if you have a family or are in full time employment, working around the rigid schedule required by traditional schooling can be a real problem, but this is no longer an issue as online programs allow you to log in and access your class material whenever it suits you!

Most people cant just resign from their job and go to college fulltime or stop caring for your children and home. The great thing is, online programs enable you to undertake your learning whenever it suits you. If you can squeeze it in the morning or late at night, in your lunch break or over the weekends, as long as you complete the required workload it isn’t important when you do it.

And What Online Programs Are Available Out There?

The best thing about the push towards online courses is the fact that there such a large selection. There are simple, quick courses, and there are many skill building type programs and certificate courses as well. They can last weeks, or even months, depending on how deep they go.

A number of topics and subjects are covered in this way. You may find yourself looking at a course teaching software programs for subjects like marketing, science or interior design. With these types of courses, you get an instant boost to your skill level, which can be very satisfying while earning you more respect and improved employment opportunities.

You can also complete your current bachelors degree or do an entire bachelor degree through online education programs. Bachelor degree courses can be accelerated so you can finish the entire process in less than two years. If you are interested in this here is a link to a great article on fast online degrees. Alternatively, you can pace yourself taking only one or two subjects at a time and work away at your degree over an extended time period.

You will also find many advanced degrees offered through online courses. It is not uncommon to discover that it is possible to get a masters degree, a PhD, a law degree and all types of highly advanced and respected degrees through online courses. Online doctoral degrees have really grown in popularity recently.  This means you no longer have an excuse for not furthering yourself and your life, your job and the amount of money you can earn.

The world of online courses is already extremely large and it’s growing by the day. New programs are continuing to popup and larger numbers of students are signing on. With so many advantages over conventional schooling and such a large range of courses available, it’s not hard to understand why. So what is holding you back? With some quick research there is sure to be an online program that suits you perfectly.

Online degree courses are most common way to study now days in India. It is the most convenient way through which students can study online and can get the information without much trouble. Online learning is used generally for the applied for computer-enhanced learning. It is also related to that field of the advanced learning technology. It can be one good option for those who are pursuing education for those who can’t regularly attend the courses, online teaching degree. You can now attend the type of course from the place you live and without nay much problem. Main advantage of online education system is:- 1. flexibility of timing
2. financial benefit One can get online education in the fields of 1. Bachelors 2. Masters 3. PhD levels However the online degree education system in India is not as popular in India as they are in other advanced countries of the world. But it can be expected that in this field things will soon change in favor of online education with further development of the Indian economy and large-scale computer penetration. In India the online education is yet in the primary stage. However, it is now every day constantly progressing, with special reference to big cities. There are many good reputed institutes in India are offering online courses. Online accounting degree There are numbers of online accounting degree courses available, which are designed for those seeking an accounting career in a non-profit, online engineering degree, corporate, or a government organization. Accounting courses also offers you the knowledge based on the broad business skills as well as specialized understanding in financial accounting, operations, and other significant areas. Online master’s degrees In India there is wide range of colleges for master’s degree and through which students can choose online masters degrees Courses to pursue their higher education. On the bases of your stream that you have completed your bachelor’s degree courses in, you can select from the various online masters degrees courses offered by various institutes in India and abroad. The list of some of the Masters Degrees Online courses includes the following: 1. Master of Health Administration (MHA) 2. M.Ed in Adult Education 3. Master’s Degrees in Special Education 4. Master’s Degrees in Accounting 5. Master’s Degrees in Finance 6. Master’s Degrees in Marketing 7. Master’s Degrees in Nutrition 8. Master’s of Science in Nursing 9. Master’s Degrees in Law Enforcement 10. Master’s of Justice Administration 11. Master’s of Legal Study