Learning is a Lifelong Process

Those interested in pursuing a career as an adult educator usually have education and/or work experience in a particular field. Earning a degree in adult education will build upon that education and/or work experience to qualify them to teach the skills of their profession to others.

Adult educators enable adults to further their educations by offering them the encouragement and knowledge they need to do so. Those who are considering furthering their education by earning a degree in this field should:

• Be able to work with a wide variety of people
• Love to teach
• Have strong interpersonal skills

Courses you will take when studying for a degree in adult education will include adult psychology, program planning and development, and adult growth and development. When you are earning your bachelor’s, you will also take courses in curriculum development, communication, and theories and practices of adult education.

Typically, adult educators will teach in post-secondary schools such as colleges and universities, or vocational schools. To teach in these settings, it is usually necessary to have a college degree along with strong knowledge of the subject you will be teaching.

In addition to teaching at post-secondary schools, you may want to pursue a career as a corporate trainer; many companies have begun to employ corporate trainers to provide professional development programs that encompass a wide array of job-related topics.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, adult educators will earn approximately $42,000 if they teach adult literacy or remedial education. Teaching at a college or university, you may, as an instructor, earn an annual salary of $36,000, depending on the school and location. Professors earn quite a bit more – on average they earn approximately $75,000 annually.

Earning a Computer Programming Degree

If you choose to earn an online computer programming degree, about half of your curriculum will be in general education – science, English, math, social studies – and the other half will involve computer programming training.

Computer programming graduates will have a wide array of career possibilities; they can opt to work for small or large businesses, or do freelance work in order to be their own boss.

A majority of computer programmers begin their careers by writing code for software companies; they can, however, be promoted to lead programmers when they have gained experience.

Some common computer programming careers include the following:

• Mainframe programmer
• Lead programmer
• Systems analyst
• Systems programmer
• Applications consultant
• Web programmer
• Java programmer
• Systems consultant
• Database programmer
• Applications programmer

As the industry of computer programming expands, so does the importance of education to employers, who must keep programmers on staff due to how much they have come to rely on computers and the people who write the programs for them.

To ensure each computer programmer is properly trained and graduating with the knowledge they need to do their jobs competently, the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP) was created. To acquire the title of Certified Computer Professional, an individual who has obtained four years of work experience or a college degree with two years work experience can take a core exam plus two other specialized area exams.

Forensic Science Degree Programs prepare students to become forensic experts and medical professionals who are integral parts of the justice system. Graduates in this field can become doctors, nurses, technicians, or forensic pathologists who will use scientific procedures as well as medical procedures to analyze physical evidence that has been identified as being associated with an investigation of a crime.

As a forensics healthcare professional you will need to have excellent scientific and mathematical knowledge, which is best developed in a program specifically designed to provide you with a degree in forensic medicine.

To determine if this is the right course of study for you, consider the following:

• You should enjoy and be skilled at detailed, complicated scientific procedures with an affinity for math and science. Working toward a forensics medicine degree involves advanced, intense study of chemistry, physics, biology, and math.

• You should possess a strong commitment to contributing toward a safer society.

• Seek the advice of a professional forensics healthcare professional; he or she can offer invaluable advice, ideas, and guidance, as well as tell you what the day-to-day tasks are, the education requirements, and career advancement opportunities. Shadowing (following a professional for a day) is an excellent way to gain this type of exposure.

There are many types of forensic medical careers, most of which combine the field of medicine with the legal pursuit of justice and safety. The following are some of the career choices you can make with this degree:

• Medical Examiner
• Forensic Nurse
• Forensic Physician Assistant
• Forensic Consultant
• Forensic Pathologist
• Crime Lab Director

Forensic Science Associations:

• The American Academy of Forensic Psychology
• American Board of Forensic Anthropology
• National Association of Medical Examiners
• International Association of Forensic Nurses
• American Board of Criminalistics
• American Board of Forensic Toxicology
• American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators

Earn Your Christian Counseling Degree Online

When studying to earn an online biblical counseling degree, you will explore ways of synthesizing modern psychology with biblical teachings to provide guidance for those who need direction in healing mental difficulties. After completing your degree, you can opt to become a rehabilitation, school, personal or family counselor or professor.

A theological degree program’s goal is to meld scriptural guidance with secular insights into psychology to help those with emotional or spiritual issues work through their problems.

Courses you may take while earning your degree include biblical anthropology, biblical psychology, the history of biblical counseling, teen counseling, family counseling, marriage counseling, premarital counseling, Christian perspectives on sexuality, and Christianity and social science.

When you continue your studies to earn a doctoral degree in counseling, you will be qualified to provide services to married couples and families or lead support groups within a church. You might also consider working at a correctional or rehabilitation facility, begin your own private spiritual counseling practice, become a professor of theology or biblical counseling, or perhaps conduct research.

To earn your doctoral degree in biblical counseling, you will need to conduct extensive research and write a thesis; it takes approximately 2 – 5 years to earn a doctorate.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth of 21% between 2006 and 2016 for the employment of counselors; this varies somewhat depending on the type of counseling you choose to do. For instance, employment in the rehabilitation field is expected to grow 23%, while those who become school counselors can expect a mere 13% job growth.

The median salary for mental health counselors is approximately $40,000 annually; school counselors can expect to earn a yearly salary of about $45,000.

Choose Engineering

Engineering, among the oldest of professions, provides graduates with myriad opportunities. Hispanics have been, and continue to be, grossly under-represented in this field.

When a student studies engineering at university, his or her ultimate goal is to be able to apply science and math principles to solve various types of problems. An example would be a civil engineer, whose job it is to plan, design, and supervise – rather than construct – buildings, water treatment facilities, mass transit, etc.

Because there are so many types of engineering in which students can specialize, it is usually fairly easy for them to find an area that interests them. It will require a number of years to become an engineer, often requiring students to continue their studies beyond a traditional four-year bachelor’s degree.

Engineering curriculum is considered by most to be quite rigorous and will include taking courses in science – typically physics and chemistry – and math, of which it has been said, “math is the language of engineering, so you’ll need to be fluent.” Completing your degree requirements will take much determination and a lot of hard work, but the benefits and satisfaction you will ultimately achieve will be well worth the effort.

When you are looking at engineering programs, you should, of course, consider the school’s ranking, but also take a look to see if they offer engineering support. A support program will offer free tutoring services for engineering, science, and math courses; academic advising that will ensure you are taking the courses you need and in the order you need them; internship and job placement services; and possibly scholarship and/or research opportunities. It will also be important to find a program that is specifically designed for minorities and people of color such as MEP (Minority Engineering Program).

MEPs not only offer the services listed above, they add the dimension of understanding the issues that affect students who are considered to be in the minority. This program also emphasizes developing a community of engineering students who will support one another and work together.

An organization maintained specifically for Hispanic engineering students is the Society of Hispanic Engineers (SHPE). SHPE can offer much-needed mentoring, networking, and leadership opportunities.

You can contact The National Association of Minority Engineering Programs of America (NAMEPA) by writing to: NAMEPA, Inc., 1133 W. Morse Blvd., Suite 201, Winter Park, FL 32789, or contact them online at http://www.namepa.org if you would like to receive a directory of universities across the country that offer Minority Engineering Programs.

If you are motivated to do work that will benefit society, desire a professional work environment, a challenge, and financial security, engineering might just be the profession for you!

Become a Teacher!

Education and the teachers who are employed within our schools are vitally important to the growth and development of our society. Today teaching is a noble profession that can be considered the primary element of helping to formulate a well-educated society. Teachers have a major influence on nurturing children’s minds and play an effective role in shining the light of knowledge on youngsters all over the world.

Recent studies show that enrollment in the teaching field is at an all time high, which is a good thing. With the increase in schools and secondary colleges, the demand for well-trained teachers has increased as well.

As a teacher, you are the primary person who will educate and help children become knowledgeable citizens of tomorrow. A teacher is the heart of a class and the beat that keeps lessons lively and engaging. Teaching as a career, of course, is filled with numerous challenges, but it also has its own rewards that can’t be overlooked.

Here are some of the advantages of choosing to enroll in a teaching program:

Realistic Hours – One of the key benefits of choosing teaching as a career is working with students six to seven hours a day. With the 8-hour workday rapidly becoming the 10 to 12 hour day in other occupations, a teaching career leaves you with more time for family, friends and other interests.

Paychecks – those who think becoming a teacher doesn’t offer decent paychecks should probably rethink this. Though teaching is not a get-rich-quick profession, in most cases the starting salaries are in line with other graduate professions. Moreover, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, public teachers are actually paid somewhat more than the average professional worker. Additionally, this career also offer opportunities for progress and increased pay over time.

Job Security- In many communities, teachers are a scarce commodity. While requirements may differ from state to state, once you establish yourself as a good teacher, you will always find there are good jobs available. You will find as well that layoffs and downsizing are rare occurrences in the field of education.

Apart from these major benefits, it is also important to understand that this profession requires commitment, perseverance, and patience. Attaining a teaching degree from a top university can help you teach more efficiently and properly. Most teaching programs facilitate earning a teaching certificate, which most schools require teachers to hold.

Becoming a teacher is a fulfilling career for anyone who enjoys sharing a terrific learning experience. It is no doubt a career that will continue to grow due to our ever-changing society and the growth in demand for innovative teaching methods.

Earn Your Degree Online

If you are interested in working in the healthcare industry, you may want to consider earning your healthcare management degree online. Perhaps you already know something about what it is that healthcare administrators do; if not, essentially, administrators in this field work behind the scenes in nursing homes, hospitals, and outpatient care facilities.

Administrators are responsible for staying knowledgeable about cutting-edge technologies that might be of benefit to their particular facility and for tracking the trends in healthcare. Healthcare administrators also handle personnel aspects, financial issues, and quality control; they additionally participate in development and writing of the policies and procedures of the office.

Necessary Skills

As a candidate in this field, you will be more likely to succeed if you are able to supervise others and have excellent decision making and problem solving skills. It’s essential that you be able to get on well with all employees – X-ray techs, nurses, and doctors, among others – patients, and the general community.

It is also important that you be a leader and be able to complete projects, know how to earn the respect of your colleagues, and know how to negotiate with individuals to come to solutions to problems that may arise. As with so many jobs, you will also need to have excellent communication and writing skills.

Education

Whether you choose to study for a position as an administrator on a college campus, or opt to earn your healthcare management degree online, you will find that both programs are offered in abundance. The healthcare industry is a secure, lucrative one, with many positions available. Working in this field is gratifying as well; many feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction knowing they are contributing to much needed services that the healthcare sector provides.

Your classes should include those that focus on leadership, accounting, management, and communications such as computer technology and speech courses.

Develop Your Web Designing Skills

With e-commerce growing at an astounding rate, nearly every retail business conducts some level of its sales online. Business Web sites are not, however, limited strictly to retail sales. Other types of organizations need to have an Internet presence for those who would like more information.

Though there are various types of Web publishing software that allow just about anyone to create a Web page, business and organizational websites are much more complicated to create and to keep up to date. The most successful Web sites are carefully organized in a way that those visiting can navigate it so they can easily find the information they are looking for. If a Web site is too complicated, a browser will likely move on to one that they can peruse without frustration.

In order to actually develop a Web site, an individual must have a high degree of understanding of human behavior, software, programs, computers, and systems.

Job

When you’ve earned your Web Development Degree, you will likely be responsible for the creation, site design and day-to-day operation of the site. Your job title may differ depending on the organization you’re working for; many will hire freelance Web developers rather than hire them directly.

Working as an entry-level Web developer may include doing the following:

• Gathering relevant content and information to include on the site;
• Developing and organizing the Web design concepts and pages;
• Designing, building, and testing each of the pages and their links;
• Presenting the site to the organization for approval or refinement;
• Updating contents and maintaining the site.

The skills you will need, as well as your responsibilities can be divided into the following three categories:

1. Design Skills: this involves developing content, layout, graphics, and security.
2. Technical Skills: you will need to be able to write code, develop company databases, and implement testing.
3. Management Skills: web developers must evaluate hardware and software systems, coordinate with various company personnel, provide customer service, and possibly train additional developers.

Education

As the Internet has grown, so has the competition for Web developers. Companies typically prefer to hire Web developers who hold a bachelor’s degree. Individuals with bachelor’s degrees other fields, but with certificates or associate’s degrees in Web development are quite attractive to most employers as well.

Most college programs provide students with a solid background in the most common basic operating systems, applications, and database languages, the most common of which are: Active Server Page (ASP), HTML, Front Page, Java, JavaScript, Common Geteway Interface (CGI), Standard Query Language (SQL), Visual Basic (VB), ActiveX, Perl, Oracle, and Windows 95 and NT.

Individuals are responsible for keeping current on these technologies once they have graduated, however.

Earning an Online Liberal Arts Degree

If you are trying to decide between a vocational degree or one in liberal arts, you may be asking yourself which type of education will be a better choice in terms of the global marketplace.

Here are some reasons why a liberal arts program is the better choice:

Real World Skills

Seven things that educational and economic leaders consider essential for competing in a global marketplace, as outlined by Tony Wagner in the October 2008 issue of Educational Leadership are:

• Curiosity and Imagination
• Collaboration of leadership
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Effective oral and written communication
• Accessing and analyzing information
• Agility and adaptability
• Initiative and Entrepreneurialism

Most of the companies you will interview with after graduation are looking for employees who possess the type of skills learned through brick-and-mortar or online liberal arts programs. Business leaders want you to come prepared with these skills; they can then train you to do your specific job within the company.

What a Liberal Art Degree Program Teaches Students:

• How to think, not what to think. You will be trained to think independently and analytically along with the ability to do so empathetically and with self-control.
• How to learn. As Albert Einstein once said, “…The value of liberal arts degrees is that they train the mind to think.” (Frank, Phillip. 1947. Einstein: His Life and Times. 185. Alfred A. Knopf.)
• How to be more interesting. The more knowledge you possess, the more you will be able to express your creativity, wit, and wisdom – something employers desire.
• To develop the tools necessary to continue learning new things throughout their lives.
• To better their entire lives, not just their work lives.

If you have an interest in becoming a person of broader knowledge, who is well educated in a wide variety of areas, and who possesses skills desired by business leaders of today, a liberal arts degree is definitely the way to go.

Earn Your Master's Degree In Human Support Services

Earning a human services master’s degree will prepare you to serve clients in a variety of public outreach organizations. When you’ve graduated, you will work with social workers, doctors, detectives, and any number of other specialists who help people who are facing major challenges.

Education

You can choose from a variety of human services master’s degree programs; busy business professionals may choose to study online if on-campus life would interfere too greatly with their work and family commitments. There are, however, traditional campus-based classes that you can take as well.

Master’s degree programs in this field will often focus on areas related to management or director positions. During your studies, you will develop a deeper understanding of human psychology. Key areas will include ethics and legal issues in human services, clinical case formulation, assessment and intervention techniques, group processes and facilitation, diversity issues, and applied behavioral analysis.

Over the course of your degree program you will develop the necessary skill set to assess clients and provide appropriate intervention of other services. The following are among them:

• Grant Writing Skills
• Oral Communication Skills
• Research Skills
• Ability to Recognize Patterns and Trends
• Planning and Organizational Skills
• Counseling Skills
• Working Knowledge of Substance Abuse
• Creating Concise Essays and Reports
• Understanding of Human Services Administration
• Management Skills
• Understanding of Child Development

Because license requirements vary from state to state, you should verify any necessary policies with your local government or the state in which you’d like to practice. You may need to pass a proficiency exam, including tests on general procedures as well as situational essays or role playing exercises.

Job

With a master’s in human services, your career options are diverse; you may choose to work in a group home, an adult daycare facility, elderly care centers, group homes, or substance abuse treatment centers.

Some of the potential careers in this field include:

• Administrator
• Case Manager
• Child Welfare Worker
• Adult Services Worker
• Elderly Services Provider
• Corrections Worker
• Substance Abuse Worker