“My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or blessed, believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success.”-Barack Obama
In December 2012, a special report came out in USA Today highlighting the job prospects for associate degree holders. The report indicated that employment opportunities for US nationals with associate degrees or equivalent are steadily increasing whereas job growth rate for citizens with bachelor’s degrees was not so encouraging according to the report. Jobs for associate degree holders reached a whopping 35.2 million whereas bachelor jobs have reduced to 46.5 million. It is true that associate programs are now considered more job-oriented than bachelors programs. It is at the same time true that employers value online associate certificate holders more than those who have pursued online bachelor’s degree programs. Does this mark the onset of a new trend?
Associate’s degrees open door to many more promising careers
Traditionally, a bachelor’s degree has always been held higher than an associate’s degree. We @ Edegree USA have also discussed about benefits of earning bachelor’s degrees in a number of occasions. Based on the BLS data, a Bachelor’s degree holder’s weekly average salary is still almost 33% higher than that of an individual having an associate degree or equivalent. Unemployment rate for associate degree certificate holders also dropped from 7.6% to 6.5% last year but is still much higher than that for bachelors in any discipline (4.2% unemployment rate). However, mid-level jobs are increasing which indicates that equality and mobility is increasing in the job market.
Why did mid-level jobs (read jobs for associate degree holders) increase in large numbers? For finding this, we need to cut back to the initial phase of global financial downturn. At that time, low-level and mid-level jobs were kind of eliminated from the job market. Workers who got pink slips at that time quite abruptly and had no other options left chose to study online to upgrade their resumes. USA Today pointed out in the report that college enrollment rate increased by 14.5% during 2007-2012. Companies started to reemploy and call back their ex-employees as soon as the economy took a positive turn. HR managers found any competent individuals who have associate degree or higher, have the required skills and expertise but have lower salary expectations than the graduates. Associate degree jobs started to increase and the trend has continued till date.
Associate degree programs are beneficial for various reasons. Many students do not get time to complete four years bachelor’s degree programs. Financial constraints also fend off many from earning a college degree. For them, the two-year associate courses online that cost much less than bachelor’s programs are highly beneficial. Moreover, students also stay focused in their studies during these two years whereas four-year long graduation degrees often cause distraction.
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When it comes to online education, people on this side of the Atlantic are more with-it than their English speaking neighbors across the Atlantic. Yes, the UK was never a global leader in online education. But recently, things have started to change for the better. Brit students are also enrolling in online courses in large numbers. Mr. David Willetts, honorable Minister for Universities and Science is putting more emphasis on distance learning in order to cut down student relocation and boarding expenses. While tuition fees alone for some of the offline courses offered by UK universities reached £3,290 in 2011, the total cost of earning an online degree sticking to £3,500 might be a reason why so many UK students are choosing the online path of learning.
The educational revolution has become possible because of the emergence of advanced learning technologies. Higher Education Funding Council for England (a non-departmental public body) has a social Online Learning Task Force which found some interesting facts related to growing popularity. In its March 2010 report, the Task Force claimed that the ‘instant’ and ‘on-demand’ attitude of the students is working as a driving force for many of them to enroll in online degree programs. Brit learners are now increasingly using online learning technologies to pursue higher education.
However, deep inside the situation is a bit different. It’s not that quite a few UK universities are offering completely online courses for students who are geographically separated. It is the traditional schools and colleges that are offering virtual learning environment and facilities to their existing enrollees. There are only a handful of colleges that offer truly online courses accessible by anyone irrespective of their geographic location and other disadvantages. At present, more or less 2,600 distance learning courses are offered by different universities in the UK. of these, 1500 courses are offered by traditional schools whereas, on the other hand, 952 courses are being offered by open universities. Arund 175 courses are offered by UK universities in collaboration with commercial partners. In many of these courses, zero student attendance is acceptable. 60% of all these courses are of postgraduate level.
Though online curse enrollee numbers lagging behind by 60,000 as compared to the US figures, UK is gradually becoming a global online education giant. It won’t be unwise to predict that online education is taking off across the Atlantic. One more thing, UK universities now surpass their US counterparts in terms of appropriate usage of online learning technologies. The UK is catching the trend of e-learning, though in its own way.
The Department of Homeland Security was formed in 2002 to protect the sovereignty of the United States and its citizens against the growing terrorist threats. The department’s stated goal is to stay prepared for, prevent, and act in response to domestic emergencies, particularly terrorism in all its forms. The agency works in the civilian sphere in particular and, therefore, looks for executives who can work from within the society itself and understand the values, emotions and ethics of the American citizens. Post the Boston marathon blast, a new question has cropped up. Does the country need more homeland security officers? Or this is just an isolated incident and the strength of the department is adequate for protecting the country and its people from foreign threats?
It seems the 9/11 trauma gets a new name (Boston, 15.04.2013)
For answering those questions, we need to cut back to pre 9/11 era when there was no department called ‘Homeland Security’ in America. In those days, there was no budget plan for homeland security activities, not a single state having a ‘sort of’ homeland security department and no agency nearby to coordinate the anti-terrorism efforts. However, things started to change rapidly post 9/11 and the very next year, a whole new department, which was committed to fight crime and terrorism as a whole, was formed. America got a new protective shield. Since then, states and federal bodies have been granted billions of dollars. Jobs in the sector, quite proportionately, have increased in numbers since then. Total number of employees has reached a whopping 199,492 in 2011. BLS data shows that the sector will continue to expand in the near future. But does the number of workers in Homeland Security still suffice?
Boston serial blasts triggered this very crucial question once again. According to CNN Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, at least one additional explosive device was found. Had not the police and homeland security officers there, the attack and its effects could take a bigger shape. President Obama in his brief speech following the attack said that his government is ‘going to get to the bottom of this’. Boston incident refreshened the trauma of 9/11 which has haunted the nation ever since and it seems the trauma now gets a new name. More and more trained and proficient homeland security officers will be recruited by the department, it is anticipated.
The nation needs more qualified homeland security officers
At present, 67 certificates, 50 associate degrees, 46 bachelor degrees, 87 master’s degree programs and 9 doctoral level programs are being offered by different accredited colleges and universities. Anthem College Online, Ashford University Online, Herzing University, Keiser University online are to name a few of the universities that offer homeland security education online. If you have ever dreamt of safeguarding your fellow citizens, now is the high time to get on your feet and enroll in a program.
The nation is in need of you. Condemn and counteract!
For a full list of online criminal justice degree programs, click here.
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Whether or not you are a US citizen pursuing higher studies online from a US based school, you have every right to ventilate your concerns against any sort of discrimination in campus, and racism in its worst form. A reputed high school in the US (name undisclosed) made it to the news headlines only last year when a series of Facebook messages with threats against certain black students created a furor in and outside the campus. Students, parents and teachers were panicked like anything, as you might assume, and later it was found a black student of the class did this practical joke to see what happens. He was identified and detained after some days.
The current situation
This is one form of cyber racism, and just an example. It is not that online colleges in America are not puritanical on these issues. But individual acts of cyber bullying and racism finds its way in despite all regulatory constraints. In this case, we see the accused had swept up the white racial frame. The theoretical framework of racism in America has to be uprooted and there’s no denying this fact. Government has been playing its part and colleges, on the other hand, are imposing stricter rules and regulations that could prevent racism. This is a good sign and no matter what your nationality or complexion or religion is, you can enjoy the benefits and aids granted by your college, just like any other ‘white’ student.
If you are a victim of cyber-racism
If you have been a victim of cyber-racism while studying in an online school USA, you should first contact the college authority and ventilate your grievances in written. Colleges take a zero tolerance stance on these issues and your college authority is likely to take prompt and appropriate actions for sure. However, if that does not work, you can contact with any of the following organizations that are working socks off to eradicate racism from the country.
These organizations along with the International Network against Cyberhate can be contacted if you have been defamed, bullied or assaulted in campus.
US Laws against racism
Note that the legal framework of the country also allows you file lawsuits against the racist people online. The pertinent laws are:
Talk to your college authority and file a lawsuit if necessary. Do not forget to engage the media. Say no to cyber racism.
“Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism”-Oprah Winfray
If you want to receive more updates on elearning and online degree programs, please keep visiting E Degree USA website’s blog section everyday. You can also ‘like’ our Facebook Page and ‘follow’ us on Twitter .
