Michael Gove’s actions regarding the careers service (Careers service and literacy hit by schools cuts, 27 December 2011) threatens the continued existence of the careers guidance profession itself, as few careers guidance practitioners will be able to survive on temporary, seasonal and part-time arrangements resulting from the squeeze on schools’ budgets. The government’s so-called commitment to social mobility outlined in Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers, looks distinctly shaky if careers guidance is sacrificed.

As a practising careers guidance adviser working in two schools – one in a socially mobile leafy suburb and the other in a socioeconomically disadvantaged estate – I can assure you the young people in both schools are keen to access face-to-face careers guidance, but those who get the additional support at the family breakfast table demonstrate a much more strategic approach to career planning.

Who will be there to do this with young people from disadvantaged areas when we are gone? We hear much-repeated assurances from ministers that the new national careers service will step into the gap in April, but this will not provide face-to-face careers guidance for young people, it will not provide careers guidance at level 6, which is the professional standard to work with young people, and it will not be targeted at young people.
Carol James
Vice-president, Association for Careers Education and Guidance

online school degrees

Extra tuition also affected as teachers are made redundant, lessons are axed and local authorities cut services

In the current economic crisis, teenagers need more careers help than ever, but schools are saving their funds by just pointing pupils to websites and only giving tailored advice to those with special needs.

Meanwhile essential help for children falling behind in maths and English is being scaled back and art and music teachers are losing their jobs or having their budgets cut.

Thousands of career advisers, such as Carley Irving, careers co-ordinator at Sprowston Community High School in Norwich, are having their hours cut. Her hours have been reduced from 37 a week to 22.5. She says she can no longer see all pupils aged 15 and 16 and can only give half an hour to those she does see. She used to give pupils an hour. “We can signpost pupils to websites, but if they don’t know how to use them or don’t have the inclination to, they won’t,” Irving says.

Those that cannot get advice from their parents, relatives or family friends will be left to make decisions on their own.

At one Kent secondary school, only pupils with special needs now receive careers advice. Jane, who works at the school as head of careers, does not want to reveal her name or her school. “We simply won’t be able to hold face-to-face interviews for anyone else … my worry is that unless pupils get some kind of career advice, they risk dropping out of education and training altogether,” she says.

Connexions, a careers advice centre for 13- to 25-year-olds, is in flux while the government is in the process of setting up a National Careers Service.

One-to-one tuition in maths and English for pupils who are falling behind is being dramatically reduced. Researchers have found the tuition accelerates pupils’ progress and gives them confidence. But in April, funds for one-to-ones tuition stopped being ring-fenced and many schools have diverted the funds elsewhere.

Many local authorities have a service that co-ordinates one-to-one tuition in schools. But in areas, such as Hertfordshire, the services have had to be cut. Hertfordshire county council says it has noticed that fewer schools are giving such tuition and has reduced its team from six to two.

The government has cut council budgets and one of the consequences is a squeeze on music services. These services provide teachers, equipment and sometimes free tuition to pupils. Music services in Hounslow and Bolton have been cut by 10% this year.

A tightening of school budgets has led to redundancies for music teachers and pupils being allocated fewer hours of teaching in the subject each week.

The Guardian spoke to a secondary school in Cheshire, which does not want to be named, where the head of music has been made redundant this year and the first two year groups now only have one hour of music every fortnight, rather than every week.

Art in schools is suffering too.

The National Society for Education in Art and Design says the subject is “staring into the abyss”. The reason is a combination of constrained school budgets and the perception that art is no longer important to the government because it is not part of the English baccalaureate – a package of subjects that ministers want more pupils to study.

At Chenderit school in Northamptonshire, which has specialist arts status, the budget for visual arts has been cut from £120,000 to £35,000 this year. One art teacher, who works as an adviser to schools across the country and doesn’t want to be named, says art departments can no longer afford kilns, digital cameras or oil paints and are making do with pencils and sketchpads instead. He says school art budgets have fallen by about 10% this year.

Jessica Shepherd

online school degrees

Research challenges Michael Gove’s claim that savings will help the government in ‘protecting the frontline’

Pupils are being denied careers advice at a time of record youth unemployment, schools are scrapping projects to help the neediest children catch up on their reading, and teachers of music, art and sport are losing their jobs, a Guardian investigation into the impact of cuts on education reveals.

The education secretary, Michael Gove, claimed last year that the government was “protecting the frontline”, and the coalition says schools and colleges will manage to save £1bn between now and 2014 just by trimming back-office functions.

However, research by the Guardian indicates that shrinking budgets are already significantly reducing the range and quality of education on offer to all pupils across England, from toddlers to teenagers. Even schools in deprived neighbourhoods are having to make swingeing cuts, despite receiving the pupil premium, which this year has equated to an extra £488 for each child who receives free school meals.

The Guardian spoke to scores of associations representing education workers and requested figures from councils through the Freedom of Information Act. In schools, colleges and neighbourhoods, the Guardian found cases illustrating what the associations said was happening. The investigation shows:

• At a time of record youth unemployment, thousands of school careers advisers are being laid off and many others are having their hours cut, leaving teenagers to finish school and college without official guidance on their next move.

• Headteachers are cutting music, art and sports teachers and the hours pupils spend in these lessons. At some schools, budgets for these subjects have been slashed by up to 80%.

• Schools are ending or cutting funds for an initiative lauded by researchers that offered one-to-one tuition for pupils falling behind in reading, writing and maths.

• A grant that pays for sixth formers to receive help with their university and college choices and take part in debating and drama clubs has been severely cut, with some institutions receiving a quarter of what they got last year.

• After-school clubs and school holiday play schemes are closing or under threat, creating havoc for working parents and those with limited budgets for childcare.

• Millions of pounds have been stripped from funds needed by local authorities to repair school buildings, just when the number of children starting school is due to rise by 10%. In some parts of the country, councils have just over a quarter of what they had to spend last year.

• A poll for the Guardian showed 43% of schools had to cut one or more subjects, courses or services. The Key, a national education support service, questioned 1,516 teachers and headteachers. Just over a quarter said they had closed a school club, while 11% said they had reduced their sports budgets. A further 8% had cut music classes.

The Institute of Career Guidance is warning that careers advice for young people is “becoming extinct”. Unison, the trade union that represents careers advisers in education, has found that thousands have been made redundant and many others have had their hours cut.

Constrained school budgets and the end of the Connexions service mean pupils are being denied face-to-face help and instead being directed towards websites. At one secondary school in Kent that the Guardian spoke to, only teenagers with special needs are to be given careers advice. One in five 16- to 24-year-olds are out of work in the UK, and advisers fear a further rise in the number of young people not in education, employment or training.

Art, music and sports teachers are losing their jobs or having their teaching hours and budgets cut. The National Society for Education in Art & Design, which represents art teachers in the UK, said the subject was “staring into the abyss”.

Langdon Park school in Tower Hamlets, east London, a specialist sports college, had its sports grant cut by 80% this year. Music services in Hounslow, west London, and Bolton have been hit by 10% cuts to central government grants this year. The services provide teachers, instruments and free tuition.

At one secondary school in Cheshire, the head of music has been made redundant and the two youngest year groups are, as of this year, taught music for only one hour every fortnight, rather than every week.

Teenagers from low-income homes are likely to suffer the most from a 75% cut to the entitlement funding grant, which helps sixth-formers to receive pastoral care, take part in debating and drama clubs and receive help with their university and college choices. Yet headteachers argue that the grant gives sixth-formers a more rounded education and something to discuss on their university applications.

The Guardian’s analysis shows schools are ending or reducing one-to-one tuition for pupils falling behind in reading, writing and maths. Researchers have proved that the initiative accelerates pupils’ progress and gives them confidence. A survey for the Guardian showed 91 of 1,516 teachers and headteachers had ended or cut the scheme. Hertfordshire county council said fewer schools in its area were now giving one-to-one tuition. They were concentrating on smaller group work instead.

The Department for Education says schools still receive their grant for one-to-one tuition, but it is no longer ringfenced and can be spent on other areas.

Thousands of nurseries, children’s centres, after-school clubs and holiday play schemes are closing. The manager of a play scheme for children from Peckham and Dulwich in south London said she was finding it nearly impossible to secure a grant to continue. After-school clubs are having to close because parents can no longer afford the fees.

Funds to repair school buildings have been dramatically cut, despite the fact that the construction firm Laing O’Rourke says the condition of most schools has deteriorated in the last five years and many buildings are past their life expectancy.

Responses to a Freedom of Information Act request made by the Guardian reveal that Warrington council’s funds for repairs to its children’s services buildings have dropped to £4.6m from £17.2m last year. Stockport’s funds have fallen to £8.7m from £20m between 2009-10 and 2010-11. In some parts of the country, such as Stockton-on-Tees, more than a third of the school estate is in urgent need of repair.

The government says it is now focusing on addressing “urgent maintenance needs and meeting demographic pressures”. The chancellor, George Osborne, has allocated an additional £600m for school buildings.

Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, warned that the cuts uncovered by the Guardian would lead to “England’s long tail of under-achievement getting longer”. She feared the most vulnerable would suffer the most and fall further behind. Gove had been disingenuous in assuming the frontline would be protected, she said.

An education department spokeswoman said spending on schools had been “relatively protected”. She said it was up to headteachers to make the decisions they think are best for their pupils. “It is important that schools should be able to make savings on procurement and back-office spending in order to invest resources in teaching and learning.” Schools with the most deprived intakes were likely to see real-terms increases in funding, she said.

However, a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found just 5% of primary schools and 2% of secondary schools would see a real-terms increase.

Cuts facts

• In the 2010 spending review, the government announced a freeze, in cash terms, of funding per pupil.

• Schools have been asked to find £1bn in savings between 2010-11 and 2014-15 from back-office functions and procurement

• But schools also receive £488 per pupil on free school meals this year – the pupil premium. This will rise to £600 in April.

• The government has pledged that no school will see more than a 1.5% per pupil funding reduction in 2012-13 budgets, compared to 2011-12. (This is before the pupil premium is added.)

• The Institute for Fiscal Studies published a report in October that found spending on education between now and 2014-15 will fall by 13% – the fastest fall in any four-year period since the 1950s.

• The same report found that almost three-quarters of primary schools in England and about 90% of secondary schools will see a real-terms cut over the next year. Just 5% of primary schools and 2% of secondary schools will see a real-terms increase.

• Between 2011 and 2015, pupil numbers in state nurseries and primary schools are projected to increase by 9%. Pupil numbers in secondary schools will continue to decline until 2016.

online school degrees

The legal field is growing at a rapid pass, one of the encouraging factor for this growth is the investment of government in homeland security. The investment in homeland security has also lead to the increase of demand in public and private safety. Many law enforcement departments now have increased the academic requirements for law enforcement officer, security personnel or other position that requires knowledge in criminal justice, most of them require at least an associate degree for the position or career promotion. This means that in the field of criminal justice, qualified and skilled professionals are always in demand.

Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree Online

To upgrade the skills & knowledge in criminal justice or to enter into this highly demand field without stopping your current work (or simply busy) isn’t as hard as it used to be. The time, distance and financial constraints of higher education have all but disappeared with the arrival of distance learning and now everyone who are interested in this field can earn the criminal justice degree via online technology. Today, many traditional universities and online colleges offer Criminal Justice Degrees and the students can attend the courses online. Among the universities who offers Criminal Justice Degree Online are:

University of Phoenix Online
Kaplan University
Boston University
American InterContinental University Online
Colorado Technical University
Grantham University
Keiser College Online

Career Opportunities A criminal justice degree can put you on a career path in Law Enforcement, Investigations, Courts, Security, Corrections, Law, Forensic Science and Public Safety. Among these careers are:
Crime Scene Investigation Crime scene investigators are responsible for carrying out complex crime scene investigations. They are accountable for the initial evaluation of the scene, and use various types of equipment to cultivate, secure, and package any physical evidence found at the scene. Base on the degree level and experience, the annual salary range for this career may range from $35,000 to $55,000.

ATF Agent ATF Agent usually Work for the U.S. Treasury Department and they are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of U.S. laws concerning the possession and sale of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms. Base on the degree level and job grade, base annual salary range for this job range from $30,000 to $130,000. (see example hiring ad for ATF agent at USAJobs – jobsearch.usajob.opm.gov )

CIA Agent The CIA Agent roles include providing accurate, timely, comprehensive, evidence-based, foreign intelligence associated with national security; and conducting special activities, counterintelligence activities, and other functions related to national security, and foreign intelligence, as directed by the President. The annual salary for this job may vary by job functions but this is one of the high income categories in criminal justice field.

Criminologist Criminologist primarily involved in research and teaching, criminologists supply a great deal of knowledge to the study of policing, police administration and policy, juvenile justice and delinquency, corrections, correctional administration and policy & etc. According to a 2002-03 survey by the American Association of University Professors, salaries for full-time faculty averaged $64,455. By rank, the average was $86,437 for professors, $61,732 for associate professors, $51,545 for assistant professors, $37,737 for instructors, and $43,914 for lecturers.
FBI Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents are the Government’s primary researchers, accountable for investigating infringement of over 260 statutes and performing susceptible national security investigations. The average annual salary for a FBI Agent is in range of $40,000 to 100,000.

Forensic Psychology Forensic Psychologists apply psychology to criminal justice. They frequently deal with legal issues such as news law, and public policies, and are asked to determine the mental state and competency of the defendant at the time of the crime, and throughout the legal proceedings. Psychologists earned between $45,000 and $100,000 annually. (see example job ad at (see example hiring ad at USAJobs – jobsearch.usajob.opm.gov)

Forensic Science Forensic scientists help to solve crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence and other facts found at the scene. They specifically analyze fingerprints, blood, semen, firearms, saliva, and drugs, and may also reconstruct skeletal bones. Experienced forensic scientists earn an average salary of $55000 per year. Federal salaries are usually higher. (see example job ad at (see example hiring ad at USAJobs – jobsearch.usajob.opm.gov )

Paralegal Paralegals are supervised by licensed attorneys. They offer assistance by completing legal research, preparing notebooks for trial, interviewing clients, helping write legal briefs, reviewing and updating files, and drafting documents. Salary and benefits for paralegals vary according to location, job responsibilities, and the type of law office they work for. Starting salaries usually range from $1,300 to $1,800 per month in smaller towns and law firms. Paralegals employed by the federal government earn an average annual salary of between $20,000 and $25,000, according to their experience and skills.

Summary

The career opportunities mentioned above are not the full job list, there are many jobs related to criminal justice field for you as a graduate major in this area. Please note that the salary figures stated for each job types are for your reference purpose, the figure may vary by hiring locations, degree types, job requirement & etc.

The legal field is growing at a rapid pass, one of the encouraging factor for this growth is the investment of government in homeland security. The investment in homeland security has also lead to the increase of demand in public and private safety. Many law enforcement departments now have increased the academic requirements for law enforcement officer, security personnel or other position that requires knowledge in criminal justice, most of them require at least an associate degree for the position or career promotion. This means that in the field of criminal justice, qualified and skilled professionals are always in demand.

Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree Online

To upgrade the skills & knowledge in criminal justice or to enter into this highly demand field without stopping your current work (or simply busy) isn’t as hard as it used to be. The time, distance and financial constraints of higher education have all but disappeared with the arrival of distance learning and now everyone who are interested in this field can earn the criminal justice degree via online technology. Today, many traditional universities and online colleges offer Criminal Justice Degrees and the students can attend the courses online. Among the universities who offers Criminal Justice Degree Online are:

University of Phoenix Online
Kaplan University
Boston University
American InterContinental University Online
Colorado Technical University
Grantham University
Keiser College Online

Career Opportunities A criminal justice degree can put you on a career path in Law Enforcement, Investigations, Courts, Security, Corrections, Law, Forensic Science and Public Safety. Among these careers are:
Crime Scene Investigation Crime scene investigators are responsible for carrying out complex crime scene investigations. They are accountable for the initial evaluation of the scene, and use various types of equipment to cultivate, secure, and package any physical evidence found at the scene. Base on the degree level and experience, the annual salary range for this career may range from $35,000 to $55,000.

ATF Agent ATF Agent usually Work for the U.S. Treasury Department and they are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of U.S. laws concerning the possession and sale of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms. Base on the degree level and job grade, base annual salary range for this job range from $30,000 to $130,000. (see example hiring ad for ATF agent at USAJobs – jobsearch.usajob.opm.gov )

CIA Agent The CIA Agent roles include providing accurate, timely, comprehensive, evidence-based, foreign intelligence associated with national security; and conducting special activities, counterintelligence activities, and other functions related to national security, and foreign intelligence, as directed by the President. The annual salary for this job may vary by job functions but this is one of the high income categories in criminal justice field.

Criminologist Criminologist primarily involved in research and teaching, criminologists supply a great deal of knowledge to the study of policing, police administration and policy, juvenile justice and delinquency, corrections, correctional administration and policy & etc. According to a 2002-03 survey by the American Association of University Professors, salaries for full-time faculty averaged $64,455. By rank, the average was $86,437 for professors, $61,732 for associate professors, $51,545 for assistant professors, $37,737 for instructors, and $43,914 for lecturers.
FBI Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents are the Government’s primary researchers, accountable for investigating infringement of over 260 statutes and performing susceptible national security investigations. The average annual salary for a FBI Agent is in range of $40,000 to 100,000.

Forensic Psychology Forensic Psychologists apply psychology to criminal justice. They frequently deal with legal issues such as news law, and public policies, and are asked to determine the mental state and competency of the defendant at the time of the crime, and throughout the legal proceedings. Psychologists earned between $45,000 and $100,000 annually. (see example job ad at (see example hiring ad at USAJobs – jobsearch.usajob.opm.gov)

Forensic Science Forensic scientists help to solve crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence and other facts found at the scene. They specifically analyze fingerprints, blood, semen, firearms, saliva, and drugs, and may also reconstruct skeletal bones. Experienced forensic scientists earn an average salary of $55000 per year. Federal salaries are usually higher. (see example job ad at (see example hiring ad at USAJobs – jobsearch.usajob.opm.gov )

Paralegal Paralegals are supervised by licensed attorneys. They offer assistance by completing legal research, preparing notebooks for trial, interviewing clients, helping write legal briefs, reviewing and updating files, and drafting documents. Salary and benefits for paralegals vary according to location, job responsibilities, and the type of law office they work for. Starting salaries usually range from $1,300 to $1,800 per month in smaller towns and law firms. Paralegals employed by the federal government earn an average annual salary of between $20,000 and $25,000, according to their experience and skills.

Summary

The career opportunities mentioned above are not the full job list, there are many jobs related to criminal justice field for you as a graduate major in this area. Please note that the salary figures stated for each job types are for your reference purpose, the figure may vary by hiring locations, degree types, job requirement & etc.

Students and returning professionals looking for electronics certification may discover several similarities:

An interest in the study of semiconductor devices and surrounding technology.
A desire to control and process data.
A keen interest in the conversion to/from, and the distribution of electric power.
The goal of learning, understanding and working with electronic systems including inputs, signal processors, and outputs.
A desire to work in a field that includes analog and/or digital circuits, highly integrated devices, and mixed-signal circuits.
A passion for one or more of the following: heat dissipation and thermal management, electronics theory and testing equipment, computer aided design (CAD), and electronic construction methods.

Once you determine that you want to pursue electronics training, you may want to consider what branch or branches of electronics you want to apply your electronics certification to including any of the following:

Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Microelectronics
Fuzzy electronics
Circuit design
Integrated circuits
Optoelectronics
Semiconductors and/or semiconductor devices

When you know which branch or branches of electronics you want to apply your electronics degree to, you may want to choose the appropriate technical institute for your electronics training and/or electronics certification studies.

ITT Technical Institute not only has an in-depth electronics training curriculum that combines classroom study with real-world applications, the institute also offers an online electronics training options, which make it easy for you to balance your electronics degree studies with your work and personal life.

Whether you choose to get your entire electronics training in the classroom or to supplement your education through online electronics training that suit your lifestyle, you’ll be on your way to getting your career moving. Maybe you want to shape the entire world through a breakthrough approach to electronic business communication, or perhaps you want to enhance current electronics technology? Whatever your desire, you’ll find the education you need to accomplish your goals at ITT Tech.

An information technology degree will give you the opportunity to turn your hobby into an exciting career. Computer programming, network security, and network engineering are just the tip of the IT iceberg. With an associate’s degree in information technology, a successful, not to mention fun filled, future is practically guaranteed.

So what are your options? Your career selection is almost limitless. There is an IT job for all individuals who want to have a fun career, as well as earn a substantial living.

The career title Webmaster has a nice ring to it. The Internet is hotter than ever. Everyone wants to be online. Whether you own a small business, such as a pet boutique, looking to expand your clientele by advertising your unique wares online, or a huge international non profit association seeking to explain your mission statement in order to solicit more donations from the tech savvy crowd, you need a web site.

As a Webmaster, you will always be in demand. This is why an information technology degree will guarantee you a gratifying career. It’s really that simple. With an IT degree as an Internet Webmaster, you will be qualified to build, fix, and expand sites on the Web.

Graphic designers are artists who use mostly computer technology to design marketing materials, magazine layouts, websites, logos for businesses, and much more. So, as long as there are magazines, newspapers and web sites, graphic designers will be in demand. In fact, according to some researches, graphic designers are among the five design professionals that are anticipated to have the newest positions available through 2014.

Some individuals are employed as graphic designers after receiving their bachelor’s degree, but to receive the best paying, more technical jobs, an information technology degree is necessary. By attending a school that offers an IT track, you will receive all of the software certification necessary to become proficient graphic designer.

Do you love playing video games? Why not use your imagination and skills to create your own games? With an IT associate’s degree you could concentrate on designing your own video games. When you choose this field, your will be offered a well rounded curriculum that teaches the basics of artist design, project management, digital content creation as well as the more advanced courses in 3D modeling and character design. Imagine playing video games as a career. It is definitely possible when you assert yourself and earn your IT degree.

As fun and exciting as all of these fields of information technology are, earning your degree is hard work. You need to be dedicated to the world of IT because there are always going to be other people fighting for the same jobs you will be striving for. However, the IT world is expanding daily, and more and more jobs are becoming available. Be a part of the web and earn your information technology degree today.

When this trend gathers further momentum in the coming years, one thing is sure – the current distribution of the US labor force, among high school diploma holders, associate degree holders, bachelor’s degree holders, master’s degree holders, professional degree holders, and doctorate holders, will be in for a major realignment, which will clearly be in favor of those having a master’s degree and above.

However, the increasing competition for regular graduate admissions, as well as the increasing financial burden when quitting work to enroll at a regular graduate school, has made college degree master online the way to go for many Americans aspiring for a master’s degree.

No wonder, the penetration of distance education is highest in graduate schools, compared with institutions offering predominantly associate, bachelor’s, professional, or doctoral degrees. In 2005, 44% of schools offering face-to-face master’s degree programs, had started offering them online too.

What It Involves:

College degree master online is about distance learning or online courses that lead to graduate degrees like Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), and many more specialized master’s degrees.

For most subjects, the duration of studies needed for a master’s degree ranges between 1 to 2 years. The normal prerequisite is a 4-year Bachelor’s degree, while in some subjects and some colleges, a few years of professional work too will be needed. For example, online MBA programs from almost all prestigious institutions will need work experience for enrolling.

Also, some graduate subjects are usually not available through distance learning. Examples are Juris Doctor (JD) and Doctor of Medicine (MD). Though they require a 4-year Bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite, they are considered first as professional degrees rather than master’s degrees. However, real master’s degrees in these subjects, like, LLM and MS (Medicine) might be available with a significant online component.

Good scores in standardized tests like GRE and GMAT might be necessary for admission at some of the more prestigious Universities. College degree master online will be demanding, as a typical program will be a mixture of course-based and research-based learning.

Why College Degree?

The nation enjoys a literacy rate of 99.9, which is also a first rank it shares with 20 other developed countries. However, among the US adult population, only 27% have received a bachelor’s degree or above. The rest of the adult population either holds a high school diploma, an associate degree, or haven’t completed their education.

Such a scenario was fine with an economy dominated by manufacturing and farming. However, as the nation continually moved up the value rung, a college degree became an absolute necessity. The value with which industry regards degree holders is evident from the fact that their average salary exceeds the national average by more than $10,000.

Why College Degree Master?

Today only 8.9% of the American student community go for a master’s degree. But America is again moving up the value rung through outsourcing – shifting from leadership in the technology sectors, to leadership in intellectual property, consultancy, and services.

Today, it won’t be an exaggeration to state that a typical American white-collar job demands a master’s degree. The only exceptions are first professional degrees like Bachelor of Science (BS) in Engineering, Doctor of Medicine (MD), Juris Doctor (JD), and other such professional degrees. Even in these fields, a master’s degree is more desirable today, than it was ten years back.

The most important factor favoring master’s degree holders is that many of tomorrow’s fastest growing occupations require a master’s degree. This makes a master’s degree the passport to high-growth careers.

These include physical therapists, occupational therapists, educational counselors, instructional coordinators, rehabilitation counselors, mental health counselors, operations managers, management analysts, financial managers, information system managers, and sales managers.

Interestingly, at least in some of these fastest growing occupations, a master’s degree has also become a prerequisite for professional licensing.

Master’s degree holders squarely beat bachelor’s degree holders in both earnings and employment rates. While they earn nearly $800 more per month than bachelor’s degree holders on an average, their unemployment rate is much better at 2.1, compared with the 2.6 among bachelor’s degree holders. Clearly, these two factors combine to provide a kind of insurance against unemployment.

Lastly, many academically bright people go for a master’s degree, since they plan to attain one day the terminal degree in their subject, a doctorate.

Why College Degree Master Online?

Due to factors like better salaries, entry to high-growth careers, and better protection against unemployment, there is no doubt a master’s degree is today most desirable. However, opting for a regular graduate school is not for everyone.

First of all, the avenues for attending regular graduate schools are rather limited. While USA has more than 4,000 accredited colleges offering bachelor’s or associate degrees, only less than 300 Universities offer master’s degrees. Clearly, the available seats in these institutions are limited, compared with the increasing demand, thereby taking the competition to get graduate admission to new levels.

To manage the situation, many institutions keep an arbitrary cutoff GPA, sometimes not taking into consideration even test scores like GRE or GMAT. Clearly, the way out from this tough situation is master’s degrees through distance education.

Secondly, the cost of attending regular graduate school is steadily increasing. Annual tuition will cost upwards of $15,000, while even modest boarding will set one back by at least $6000.

Add to this, the revenue loss from quitting one’s job, and it becomes clear that even stipends from being a research assistant or teaching assistant at the University, won’t be enough to meet the high cost-of-living of a regular graduate student. Again, the way out is a college degree master online.

Here, you keep your full time job, pay much less tuition fee, spend not an additional dollar on campus boarding, but still proceed to the much coveted master’s degree.

What to Expect From College Degree Master Online, in the Future?

As demand for college degree master online increases further, the deployment of distance education in graduate schools will increase further from the current level of approximately 50%. Almost every master’s degree will be available online soon.

When options and enrollments increase, costs for college degree master online will come down further. Also, it will be no surprise if college degree master online becomes the norm rather than the exception in graduate study, at least in some subjects.

Bandwidth getting faster and cheaper will result in course delivery through the Internet, especially via asynchronous video, which will become the delivery mode of choice for lectures.

Conclusion

College Degree Master Online solves many problems and provides many positives. It lowers unemployment risks, reduces graduate school expenses, provides admissions to a large percentage of contenders, equips one for high growth careers, and of course, helps maximize one’s earning potential.

This is why master’s degrees are the most widely deployed distance learning programs today, and why the situation will only get even better in the future with more options and more enrollments.

You probably wouldn’t believe us, but it’s true. An Associate’s degree in computer science, computer programming, or computer engineering can open the door to careers in the IT and computer industries.

Here are three career paths you can start with a computer science or related Associate’s degree:

Hot Computer Career #1: Computer Application Developer
Average Salary: $85,430
We’ve all heard about the individuals who designed new iPhone applications and became millionaires overnight. There’s a good reason: everyone loves an application that makes their lives easier and their computers or electronic devices run faster. The demand for computer application developers—those professionals who develop these kind of programs—is such that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics made them #14 on their list of the 30 fastest-growing professions in the country.

Hot Computer Career #2: Network Security Specialist
Average Salary: $66,310
With a vast majority of our personal and professional information now online, hackers pose some of the biggest threats to individuals and corporations alike. If you choose to become a network security specialist, you’ll implement security measures to protect your company’s network and stay one step ahead of these cyber criminals.

Hot Computer Career #3: Webmaster
Average Salary: $66,070
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Today an Audio Production and Engineering covers a plethora of fields and courses that targets to specific field. These include psychoacoustics, room acoustics and sound proofing principles of audio design, critical listening, forensic audio, audio equipment and system operations, sound design considerations, creative processing, working with digital audio workstations, audio sweetening (enhancement, restoration and mastering), portfolio creation, sound mixing & creative considerations and sound designing for visual and aural productions.

Now in order to sharpen your skills in the field of audio production and engineering, joining any of the accredited audio production and engineering schools can help you a lot in understanding the workings of sound and music recording technology. As a student, you will be exposed to a real world theoretical knowledge and applications, critical listening skills, aesthetics and issues of audio, music and sound. Once you complete the program, you will also be able to learn how to address, legal, and financial principles, promotions, publishing artist development and management and copyright information.

The specific programs in audio production careers may include Aesthetics of Music, Audio Consoles, Acoustics Music Industry, Computer and Sound Design Studio, Production Techniques, Electro-Techniques, Post Production, Signal Processing, Recording Techniques and Sound Reinforcement.
There are many career options in Audio Production and engineering. Adding to this, some of the major careers that you can consider in this audio production and engineering field are:

1. Studio Sound Engineer: A studio sound engineer looks after the audio recordings inside the studio and even takes care of the microphone setups, audio restorations, rewiring setups, MIDI setups. He is the key personnel responsible for positioning of acoustical instruments or acoustical voices, mixing and mastering of sound by technical means. A sound engineer also looks after the final product under the required specifications.

2. Mastering Engineer: A mastering engineer is other key personnel responsible for performing the final editing of a product. The key point to note is that a mastering engineer must have a complete knowledge of audio engineering.

3. Live Sound Engineer: A live sound engineer is responsible for balancing sound and voice of instruments. At times, we find some instruments are louder than others. In such situations, it is the prime role of live sound engineer to take care of these factors and further coax the right sound out of any situation. A live sound engineer is very crucial for live band performances. Good knowledge of electronics and acoustics along with the collaborative talent of an artist to work with a band is an important prerequisite of a live sound engineer.

No matter what role you play, you could be the very important professional working in the audio production of different television shows or films. However, what matters is attaining a good training and education. Attending an accredited audio production and engineering school is inevitable if you are one of those who wants to learn the tricks of the trade and want to incorporate the latest and advanced technologies in audio production. Proper training can surely help in sharpening the skills required in the field of audio production and engineering.