Aviation Mechanics and Technology

In 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the air transportation industry employed approximately 486,000 individuals. To pursue a career in this field, aviation mechanics and technology degrees can provide you the crucial foundation of knowledge you need. You will be trained in a wide variety of aspects of aircraft repair and maintenance – from motors to computer systems used in air traffic control – while earning your degree. Jobs in the industry are expected to expand as the economy recovers and the population increases. The median salary for aviation mechanics as well as other aircraft technologists, according to the BLS, was approximately $57,000 annually in 2007. Those who have earned their degrees have the best chances of securing positions as well as higher salaries; most jobs offer great benefits including pension plans and heavily discounted travel.

When you pursue your aviation and technology degree online you will be studying a variety of applications to hone your skills; options for training include:

• Avionics
• Aviation electronics
• Aviation maintenance management
• Aircraft computer systems

You may be able to complete your online degree in as few as 18 months; with more training, you might diversify your skills or specialize in a particular field in the industry, such as computer systems for air traffic. These more advanced programs will allow you to secure a career that pays more and may lead you to pursue your associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

Online programs allow you to build your work experience while you are working toward your degree; current technologies for interactive usage and simulation make earning your degree online easier than ever before.

]]> http://ieducationblogs.com/2010/07/29/pursue-a-lucrative-career-in-the-air-transportation-industry-with-an-online-degree-in-aviation-mechanics-and-technology/feed/ http://ieducationblogs.com/2010/07/27/get-your-online-degree-in-the-ever-advancing-field-of-biotechnology/ http://ieducationblogs.com/2010/07/27/get-your-online-degree-in-the-ever-advancing-field-of-biotechnology/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:17:47 +0000 Stacey Boothe Snelling http://ieducationblogs.com/?p=1183

Biotechnology

Do you have a decidedly scientific mind and the desire to apply that knowledge to practical problems? If so, you’ll likely be very interested in pursuing a career in the field of biotechnology. This field combines science with real-world issues allowing biotechnologists to discover and implement important advances in technology.

Biotechnology is one of the most active in the scientific fields, attracting a fourth of development funding according to the National Science Board. This exciting field combines the study of applied technology and biology to solve the pressing issues of today’s study of science and society. Researchers have developed new vaccines and drugs, better ways of handling hazardous waste as well as disease-resistant crops. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the focus of biotechnological research should continue to drive employment growth and generate an average yearly salary of approximately $66,000 for researchers; income is predicted to grow further with the extent of money being given to biotechnological research.

A degree in biotechnology focuses on practical applications of biotechnological science; biology degrees focus on the science itself. If you study for either, your coursework will likely include:

· Manufacturing practices

· Drug design

· Food biotechnology

· Basic concepts of biotechnology

· Biological computation

Certificate programs in biotechnology are also offered as a broad introduction to the field and will often lead to a position as a research or laboratory technician. Associate’s degrees are more in-depth and have a greater focus on technical skills and research; this degree may lead to a job as a research specialist. Bachelor’s degree programs usually concentrate on one area of biotechnology, while earning your master’s degree will require you to do independent research; this will often lead to doing more advanced research at a PhD level. The further advanced your degree, of course, the higher your salary will likely be.

Television and Film - A Fabulous Industry!

If you have always had a strong desire to learn about motion picture effects, film making, television, theater history, digital visual effects, and the like, a career in film and television is probably where you should be heading.

The business of entertainment is full of wonderful positions; and, it’s one field that seems destined to be recession-resistant. Regardless of their economic situations, people always want to be entertained! You will find that there are a variety of behind the scenes and in front of the camera opportunities with television and film companies; you might become a cinematographer, a set designer, an actor, a director, a screenwriter, or a producer, just to name a few.

Earning your degree from a formal online institution can help you with the necessary background experience to break into this fun, exciting business. With its glamorous, high profile reputation, working in this industry is extremely desirable, so there will be considerable competition when you are searching for a position. But, with training and experience, you will have the skills and confidence you’ll need to succeed in your job search.

Your coursework, while earning your online degree in television and film will likely include lighting, photography, costume or stage design, sound technology, camera operations, computer animation, and film editing. With film and television being so dependent on computer technology, you will need to develop strong skills in digital and computing experience.

Several degrees and certificates are available for this industry: associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s. An associate’s degree program will provide hands-on experience that will prepare you to obtain a position in most any sector of the TV and film industry. While earning a bachelor’s degree, you will be immersed in a broad range of film making skills, including directing, cinematography, producing, lighting, editing, sound, acting, production design, and screenwriting.

Once you’ve gained experience, you will be able to specialize in one area in order to develop a portfolio. Earning a Master’s in Motion Pictures & Television will offer you the opportunity to expand your vision and film making skill set.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the median annual earnings for those in the motion picture and video industry is approximately $48,000, though actors and actresses will only be paid by the job; they will usually hold other jobs between working in TV or films until they have become successful.

]]> http://ieducationblogs.com/2010/07/26/learn-about-the-film-and-television-industry-while-studying-for-your-online-degree/feed/ http://ieducationblogs.com/2010/07/23/enjoy-steady-job-growth-and-a-great-income-by-earning-your-industrial-engineering-degree-online/ http://ieducationblogs.com/2010/07/23/enjoy-steady-job-growth-and-a-great-income-by-earning-your-industrial-engineering-degree-online/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:00:28 +0000 Stacey Boothe Snelling http://ieducationblogs.com/?p=1175

Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineering is the type of engineering in which one is specifically trained in service industry production or manufacturing procedures; industrial engineers, more specifically, investigate ways to integrate materials, machines, people, energy, and information in more efficient and productive ways. Professionals in the field often enroll in college course online at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level for training in systems engineering or operations. Many with experience move into management positions.

As an undergraduate student, you can begin your training through classes in mathematics, physics, chemistry, systems design, statistics, ergonomics, and supply chain management. When studying for a master’s or doctoral degree, you will take more advanced courses in technology, manufacturing, and process analysis.

With its heavy emphasis on business, information technology, and theory, industrial engineering is well suited for online studies, though more hands-on and practical aspects are also essential to learning industrial engineering; it is, therefore, important to include real world experience through internships during and after your online training.

Job opportunities in the field of industrial engineering should grow quite rapidly as service and manufacturing businesses attempt to streamline their processes, cut material and labor costs, and reduce waste. Industrial engineers, therefore, should continue to enjoy remarkable demand as globalization further refines the conduct of modern business.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in this industry could be as high as 20% from 2006 to 2016 (nearly twice the national average for other fields). The bulk of positions will be in both private and public of transportation, design, and manufacturing. Median annual salaries for industrial engineers were approximately $70,000 in 2006.

Art History Degree

Do you have a deep appreciation for art, but studio classes just aren’t for you? Perhaps earning an art history degree is right for you. With a degree in this field, you will begin to understand the influences and motivations behind the world’s great masterpieces as well as trends in contemporary art. Regardless of what area of art you choose to study, your knowledge of art’s rich history will provide you with solid career training.

A degree in art history will provide and enhance your skills in observation, research, communication, and teamwork as well as expose you to the artifacts and artwork of other time periods and cultures.

Art historians have a wide variety of career choices available to them, including:

• Teacher
• Art critic/reporter
• Buyer and archivist for public and private collections
• Collector and seller of art and antiques
• Scholarly researcher and grant writer

Working in this field involves researching, observing, and writing about a wide variety of types of art; you might also choose to study cultural influences and social and historical conditions that have contributed to specific works of art.

History student interested in the humanities will benefit greatly by studying art history; artifacts associated with specific periods throughout history provide insight and various points of view about events and cultural practices within particular time periods in history.

When earning your degree, you will take classes in language, writing, math, humanities, and sciences; courses related to your major in art history might include design, seminars, and art appreciation. Through your core courses, you will also gain an understanding of how all aspects of culture and history influence one another and are connected.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that careers for curators, archivists, and museum technicians will grow by approximately 18% through 2016. Competition is expected due to cutbacks in art funding; however, entry level positions in museums and galleries should be available to those who obtain a bachelor’s degree in the field. Archivist and curator positions will require a master’s degree. Based on data from May 2007, $46,000 was the median salary for museum curators.

Degree in Philosophy

Philosophers – from Aristotle and Plato to Michel Foucault and John Dewey – analyze how we live and question the world in which we exist. A degree in this field offers career training by giving students the tools they need to construct sound arguments, practice logic, and think outside the box. Closely tied to a number of other disciplines, such as religion, science, history, and politics, studying philosophy will help students develop their analytic skills, something employers value greatly.

There are two branches into which philosophy is generally classified – analytic philosophy, which focuses on logic, math, and theoretical physics, and continental philosophy, which is based on the traditions of European and Greek philosophers.

Associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in philosophy will typically touch on both branches and provide students with an introduction to the principles of aesthetics, epistemology, ethics, and metaphysics. Master’s degree programs allow you to specialize in an area of philosophy that interests you most; commonly students will focus on modern social philosophy, existentialism, philosophy of language, political philosophy, ethics, or medical ethics, though there are other areas. A PhD can also be acquired within these specialized fields of philosophy.

Earning your philosophy degree online allows you to pursue your education without sacrificing your current income or daily commitments to your family.

While very few individuals hold the title ‘philosopher,’ the critical thinking skills that are associated with a degree in this field are an integral part of careers in law, education, business, politics, and public policy. Like all degrees in liberal arts and humanities, a degree in philosophy will teach you how to think analytically and will lay the groundwork for a job in a broad range of fields.

Financial Planning

The need for financial planning, while always important, has grown tremendously over the past several years, particularly with the baby boomers’ threat to current savings practices. With this need comes the demand for those who have training in financial planning.

It is the job of financial planners and analysts help guide individuals and businesses when they need to make investment choices. Both analysts and planners conduct financial research, which is used to provide investment recommendations to their clients; however, they differ in the type of clientele they have and the information they provide.

Financial analysts evaluate the economic outlook of a variety of industries in which businesses may be interested in investing. Personal planners advise their individual clients, focusing on a broad range of personal investment areas, like helping with major life milestone goals – their child’s college tuition, retirement, etc.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classified 176,000 employees as personal financial planners in 2006; this figure is expected to rise for two reasons: 1) demand is increasing and 2) it has become increasingly easier for individuals to gain the knowledge they need through online education.

Earning a certificate in financial planning online can be much more manageable than having to attend an on-campus university. You can learn statistics, investment, accounting, savings, and basic economics all from home. Over the last few years, banks, brokerage firms and insurance companies have broadened their services to include investment advice; banks that have become involved in brokerage and investment activities need qualified financial advisers to support their new clientele.

According to the BLS, the demand for personal financial planners in the next decade is likely to be above the average of all other occupations. As the population ages and people begin to plan for retirement, the increase in 401(K) investments and other individually managed retirement accounts will presumably persist.

Roughly four out of 10 financial planners are self-employed according to the Department of Labor. While certificate programs cannot guarantee specific salary figures, the median income for personal financial advisors in 2007 was approximately $68,000.

All of us have indirect contact with technical writers on an almost daily basis; every booklet, guide, or manual you use to familiarize yourself with products – anything from a clock radio to a new computer – was written by a technical writer.

Because of the constant innovations in science, technology, business, medicine, electronics, and computers, technical writing has become more and more important. In order to communicate technical details in a way that will be understood by a broad audience, technical writers must master writing and critical thinking skills; you can learn these skills through a technical writing degree program.

Earning an online technical writing degree will help you learn to explain technical details in a way that can be easily read and understood. Writing within a particular field – i.e. the automotive industry – requires that you take specific courses to prepare.

Those studying technical writing will take classes in several disciplines including technical writing for industry, communications, electronic document design, editing, interpretation, graphics for technical documents, manual development, and others.

Earning a certificate in technical writing may be the best option for you if you already hold a bachelor’s degree, but wish to enhance your skill set so you can enter a new field in writing. Certificates are non-degree credentials showing you have mastered the essential elements of the field of technical writing.

As a technical writer, your job will be to interpret instructions, complex ideas, or procedures in a manner that will be easily understood by readers. Many have been frustrated by poorly written, overly complicated, or unclear instruction manuals; it will be your job to create manuals that are easy to interpret.

Approximately 49,000 technical writers were employed in the U.S. in 2006. Jobs in the field are expected to be the most plentiful in the writing industry, but competition will be strong. An increase in demand for writers who have specialized in law, business, electronics and medicine is anticipated. The median pay for technical writers is roughly $62,000.

If you feel deeply that Christianity is a way of life and profoundly felt faith, you may have thoughts of broadening your understanding of your own Christian faith or working in the ministry. To do this, you might consider earning your bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies.

Often, there is more than a single path to a career in Christian ministry; some choose the option of going to seminary to earn their degrees while others attend college to do so. Various Christian colleges do offer bachelor’s and master’s degree that allow you to ultimately work in Christian-based careers helping others, but online universities are particularly attractive to those who are working and/or have a limited amount of time to work toward their degree.

Students who pursue a degree in Christian studies will typically take courses in political, historical, cultural, and religious significance of Christianity. A Christian college will also offer classes in the art of presenting a sermon (homiletics), the study and interpretation of scripture (hermeneutics), theology, counseling, prophecy, basic Greek, Bible doctrine, and the history of Christianity. It is a broad, liberal arts program that will branch out to include other disciplines such as missionary work, children or teen ministry, or Christian counseling.

Those who want to become ministers often pursue their degrees in Christian studies as many Christian churches and organizations require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the field.

The starting annual salary for new ministers is approximately $38,000; this may depend on the number of active members of the church in which you work. You may also want to explore opportunities in church administration, child evangelism, music or youth directing, or audio-visual and multimedia.

If you become a customer service representative, you are agreeing to be the public face of the business for which you are working. You will be fielding comments, questions, and complaints from customers, so you will need to possess in-depth knowledge of the services or products they offer as well as the company’s policies and regulations. You must also have excellent communication and conflict mediation skills.

Working in a call center as an operator will usually involve data entry for which you will look up a customer’s profile in the company’s database and edit his or her information while you are speaking. It will be important to respond to complaints as prescribed by the company guidelines, and answer any questions the customer has. You may need to ask the customer for more details to discern the nature of the problem and look up information to satisfactorily resolve the issue or concern.

Call center jobs are frequently demanding; operators are typically given another call as soon as they’ve finished with the previous. Call centers are also often open all hours of the day, so you may need to work odd hours.

All customer service positions are not, of course, in call centers. Some require answering questions and responding to complaints via email, while others will require face-to-face discussions with customers.

You will find numerous customer service training programs offered by online universities; most offer courses in general business practices with emphasis on customer services. When you’ve graduated, you will have earned a certificate, associate’s or bachelor’s degree, depending on the length of the program you choose.

As a graduate, you may find work in a bank, retail organization, or insurance company, manufacturing service, or telecommunications provider, among others. The details of your job will vary greatly with the institution in which you find work; customer service positions can often lead to higher positions with a company, such as management or product research.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job prospects for careers in customer service to grow by 25 percent in coming years; bilingual employees, in particular, can anticipate favorable job prospects. In 2007, the median earnings for customer services representatives was just under $15.00 per hour. You may earn more if you have special skills such as technical support or management experience.