Online Education Blog

Distance learners know the standard benefits of online education: flexibility, convenience, affordability. One of the other perks of studying from an accredited online university is the accessibility of specialized degrees that might otherwise not be available to you from the campuses in your area.

Saint Leo University’s Master of Social Work is the perfect example for online students in the Virginia, Georgia, and Florida area. With an online graduate degree program in social work, students can get the training they need for a specialized career in social work, including mental health and substance abuse social workers; medical and public health care social workers; social workers in private practice; and other facets of the field.

A social worker’s job responsibilities may include:

• Helping people cope with or resolve issues in their daily lives
• Help clients with a disability or  life-threatening disease
• Help with social problems such as unemployment, inadequate housing, or substance abuse
• Provide therapy for family and/or personal problems
• Serve as a link between students, families, and schools

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for social workers is varied depending on location. Highly populated areas with social worker programs available are impacted, while more rural areas and locations without social worker programs on hand–save the online social work degree method–are seeking qualified professionals to fill several positions. Social workers have exhausting work schedules but an ethical and rewarding occupation that maintains employee retention for decades.

Depending on if a social worker is employed by an elementary or secondary school, local government, state government, or family or residential services, earnings can range from $30k to $50k a year to start. Clinical social workers have even more lucrative benefits after licensure.

An online master of social work degree program will prepare students for the licensing and certification exams needed for practice in the States and District of Columbia. Most states require 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience to qualify for a position. Typically, a minimum of 900 of these hours are completed through degree training.

Here are five interesting facts about the online master of social work degree from Saint Leo University:

1. The online master of social work degree program is currently only offered to distance learners in Virginia, Georgia, and Florida.
2. There are two concentrations: advanced clinical practice; and management.
3. Those who enter the program during candidacy are eligible to take the clinical social work licensure exam and apply for jobs which require the MSW degree. Each student is responsible for checking with his/her state licensing board to see if this program meets the criteria for receiving a license in clinical social work in that state.
4. Classes are attended via webcam and are presented online.
5. Saint Leo University also offers a bachelor of social work degree program. Students may transition fluidly from the bachelor to master degree program.

Learn more about an online master of social work degree program today.

The new decade brings with it an unexplored frontier of educational goals, regardless of age. This can be seen by how getting a college degree, or pursuing another educational goal, is in America’s top 10 New Years resolutions. Before you set out on fulfilling your educational goals this year though, consider some of the top 2010 online degree programs available. These online degree programs and courses will acclimate to your schedule, so there’s no need to worry about quitting your job or adjusting your family routine.

1. Master of Arts in Organizational Change at Hawai’i Pacific University: Learn the fundamentals about Organizational Change and how it applies to business at one of the most internationally friendly colleges in the United States.
2. Master of Science in Criminal Justice at Saint Leo University: The Master of Science in Criminal Justice prepares the individual for an entry-level career in the field of forensics science. Saint Leo University has won several awards as a military-friendly school.
3. Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Science at Everest Online: Computer Information Science is a rapidly growing field and Everest Online has an extensive reputation for quality, accredited, online (and campus!) based programs. The combination couldn’t be better. If Computer Information Science is not your cup of tea, you can always request more information about Everest Online’s other rewarding online degree programs.
4. Business Classes at Coleman University Online: The business courses at Coleman University Online are supported by Coleman’s introductory Distance Education Course, ensuring that students receive the maximum benefit of online education.

To learn more about 2010 online degree programs, check out DegreeGo’s blog.

If you’re an online college student that’s trying to stay green, you’re already on the right track with your learning method that demands zero exhaust from a car commuting back-and-forth to a campus. But what are some other ways of staying green? The Online Education Blog looks at ten ways that a college student can make their learning experience greener at home, whether it’s in an exclusively online classroom or in a hybrid learning setting.

1. Run an energy star computer. This seems like Green Choice 101, but some computers just eat up way more energy resources than others and students never think about it. When you spend so many hours a day studying and working online for your college degree, it’s imperative that you system is ENERGY STAR approved. Here’s some list of computer machines to help you out. Keep in mind that it takes energy to build a new product, so if you could update your current computer by simply changing out some power sources, that’d be even better than a new computer investment.

2. Don’t print out your readings. If there’s one thing online education is heavy on, it’s reading. Avoid printing out the reading materials you receive in the online classroom as much as possible. If reading from a computer screen is painful on the eyes, try an LCD monitor, LED monitor, or an e-reader like the Kindle.

3. Get e-books instead of textbooks. If you can avoid textbooks by acquiring an e-book version, that’s more printing prevented. American Sentinel University is a military-friendly online school that promotes e-books for texts.

4. Work on your assignments on recycled paper. When you’re taking an online math class, it’s inevitable that you’re going to bust out the pencil and paper. Turn to eco-friendly resources like recycled paper when note taking on the computer isn’t a feasible option. Recycled paper is infinitely better for the environment.

5. Recycle your paper! When you do work on paper or print something out, don’t forget to recycle it! Also recycle your ink cartridges and other expendable school supplies.

6. Use solar lighting in your study area. Solar lighting options will allow you to keep a study area lit 24/7 with the help of an open window. Make energy-friendly options like this while following Online Education Blog’s “Creating a Space to Study Online” guide.

7. Attend an eco-friendly school. Prospective college students could research different online colleges to see how the school participates in the environment. As an example, Saint Leo University hosts seminars on saving the environment like the fresh water crisis presentation, “Social Justice: Who Has the Right to Drink Water?”

8. Get involved in your community’s ecology. Online degree programs offer community service opportunities just like anywhere else. Get active in your local community’s ecology; for example, as a student, I lived near tide pools and helped out there. This not only enriches your education, but reflects well on your resume. An eco-friendly school will encourage this kind of volunteer work, done remotely depending on the student’s area.

9. Buy used clothing. College is expensive, and that means students are cutting corners. It’s trendy and affordable to begin with to buy used clothing and is a common practice among online and campus-based college students alike; but add that into the factor that used cloths means less sweatshops and energy, and suddenly you have both an economical and green method for handling your wardrobe.

10. Bike or walk anywhere you need to go. Online education programs means you don’t need to drive to-and-from campus. If you can remove a car from your daily lifestyle altogether, this is a definite eco-friendly plus.

Do you have any suggestions for how online college students could go green? Feel free to discuss!