Online Masters Degree Education

Rising numbers of students have reportedly set out to advance their credentials in a shrunken and increasingly competitive job market, contributing to an increase in online bachelor degree programs enrollments, according to Inside Higher Education. And new and expanded master’s university degree programs were being established to accommodate them, the publication last year reported.

The popularity of master’s degrees has apparently been growing since the 1990’s. More than 600,000 master’s degrees awarded in 2006-2007 represented an increase of as much as 44 percent over those awarded a decade prior, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Most master’s degree recipients in 2006-2007 were women, and the number of minority graduate students is reportedly on the rise.

Working toward a master degree might make it easier for students to accomplish their goals. Online degree programs overall are reportedly growing fast, allowing students pursuing these degrees to participate in studies between work and family responsibilities and from wherever they have Internet access. Some online master’s degree programs are available in accelerated versions that allow students to accomplish their goals in one year, rather than two. And assistance is available to offset the costs of tuition.

Students considering pursuing this type of degree online might look particularly toward STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects. The Obama administration, along with business groups and state governments, have been working to enhance incentives and programs in these subject areas particularly, according to a January 2009 article in an educational magazine known as Converge.

Master’s degree programs train highly skilled science professionals who significantly contribute to the country’s economic competitiveness, according to a quote from Council for Graduate Studies President Debra W. Stewart in a news release. STEM majors might enter careers in nanotechnology that’s involved with manufacturing products such as the iPod. They might also contribute to developments in wind and solar power that are intended to help the natural environment.

And there are a wide variety of online master’s degree programs in the STEM subjects from which students can choose. Professional science, environmental engineering, cybersecurity and bioethics are a few of the online master’s degree programs currently available. Earning a STEM degree online might enable graduates to enter industries that the Converge article reported are looking for qualified applicants.

So far, at least, a low percentage of American college students have been majoring in STEM studies as compared with students in other countries, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. And a National Center for Education Statistics report seems to back this information up. Master’s degree recipients in the United States in 2006-2007 apparently majored most often in education, business and health science degrees, the Center for Education Statistics report suggests. The fewest master’s degrees that year were awarded in mathematics and statistics—and while master’s degrees in security and protective services enjoyed the largest percent increase between 1996-1997 and 2006-2007, master’s degrees in physical sciences and science technologies saw the smallest percent increase, the Center for Education Statistics report shows.

College tuition can no doubt be costly, but students can find help in paying for online master’s degrees with scholarships and fellowships in the areas of teaching, the humanities, theology, western civilization and more. Colleges, universities, organizations and non-profit foundations offer scholarships and fellowships, and some of these financial aid offerings are designed especially for women and minorities. Some scholarships and fellowships, such as those offered by NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Society for Microbiology and the U.S. Departments of Energy, Defense and Homeland Security, are also geared toward students pursuing graduate degrees in the STEM subjects.

Pursing a online bachelor degree programs means changing the course of your life and your career.  With all the funding available for STEM field positions, a bachelor of science is a smart move until you determine exactly which specialty has caught your interest.

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The Federal Communications Commission in March presented the U.S. Congress with a plan to expand access to broadband networks and speed up the Internet.  This would be good news for students pursuing online bachelor degree programs, allowing them faster Internet access.  This, coupled with new technologies, would allow school assignments to be delivered in even more creative, sophisticated ways.

The FCC’s National Broadband Plan, required by Congress as part of a federal stimulus bill known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is said to be designed in part as a means of encouraging online education and online education tools and enhancing education connectivity.  This added boost of flexibility will be welcome to distance students everywhere.

Virginia Congressman, Rick Boucher, in a CSPAN interview called the Internet the biggest platform for commercial innovation and business success this country has seen. A Strategy for American Innovation report, prepared by the National Economic Council’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, recommends creating online college classes that combine high quality subject expertise with the latest technological advancements.

The federal government over the next 10 years intends to invest as much as $500 million to create master degree at community colleges that would be freely available to students to extend their learning opportunities and complete coursework, according to the American Innovation report. Colleges, universities, publications and others would be invited to compete in creating state-of-the-art online courses, the report notes.

Many students already take part in online school programs, access a broad array of online databases and link up with worldwide scholars, a broadband plan news release noted. But while reports show that students in online college classes do at least as well academically as students in traditional college classes do, a pilot program at one university suggested that online school work might take more time to complete.

Local telephone companies have been expanding their DSL fiber-optic networks, and the federal government would continue to give these companies money until broadband becomes more widely available and even telephone service is carried through the Internet, Boucher said. Students enrolled in online college classes and pursuing online degrees can access their school work through wireless services, telephone company dialup and high speed DSL services and by broadband services with wireless and satellite options. With broadband, content is transmitted through a “pipeline”, and access to streaming media, Internet telephone services, interactive offerings and games are high quality, the FCC’s broadband Web site notes. Many have also mentioned a move toward HD video, Boucher noted.

President Barack Obama has expressed a desire to make higher education more accessible, and he recently signed an education bill into law that provides more tuition assistance to students pursuing online degrees. For students with work and family responsibilities, higher education often becomes more accessible as a result of online college classes and online degree programs with flexible formats.

Many areas of the broadband plan would reportedly involve passing new laws and setting new agency rules. Its goals by 2020 include increasing download speeds from what Boucher said is as few as 5 megabits per second to 100 megabits. The FCC in the plan also notes that network connectivity needs to be expanded. Florida Congressman Cliff Stearns told CSPAN that some 7 million people throughout the United States don’t have access to broadband network services and that, of the 95 percent of households that do, two-thirds use high-speed Internet services.

With technology and convenience allowing more and more students to obtain online bachelor degree programs, speeding up connections and promoting distance learning will help everyone with Internet access.  Those who wish to expand their marketability can earn an online bachelor degree, or an associates, all the way to a masters, while continuing to work and take care of what they need to in their life.

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Usually, when one thinks of financial aid, they think about getting it on the front end, i.e., toward paying one’s tuition before you start class. Thanks to last year’s stimulus act, one can now get money on the back end, too. In other words, one can get a tax refund for going to college. This could be a few thousand dollars and works for on campus and online college course attendees.　

This new stimulus is called the American Opportunity Credit, and is a modification of the previous Hope Credit. It came into effect in 2009, and can be used in this April’s tax filing. It would be a good move to discuss this with a tax professional so you can obtain the most benefit. If you are interested in getting more information about pell grant research the internet. 　

According to the IRS, the differences between the Hope and Opportunity credits are several-fold. The Opportunity Credit entitles more students (or their parents) over the next two years to get a tax credit to pay for not only tuition and fees, but also college-related expenses such as required course materials. It also includes many more people with higher incomes and those who owe no tax, which the Hope didn’t.　

Originally the limits on this credit were for individuals who made less than $48,000 and married couples who filed joint returns less than $96,000. The credit is now open to $80,000 and $160,000 or less. If one’s income(s) are $90,000 or $180,000 respectively, one can also apply, but they won’t get the maximum amounts. It cuts off when one exceeds those numbers.　

What one gets is a 100% refund for the first $2,000 in tuition, fees and/or costs related items. For the next $2,000, one can claim an additional 25%. After the $4,000 mark it goes down to zero. So if the total costs are $6,000; one gets a 100% refund for the first $2000, 25% of the next $2,000 (or $500) and nothing for the last $2,000. That’s a total of a $2,500 the following April. For any additional information about college degrees check the internet.

If there’s one thing the IRS is serious about though, it’s to be careful with what one claims as “cost related”. For example, just buying a computer does not make it worthy of a refund. On the other hand, if the school requires a new laptop for its curriculum, it can be claimed.　

Most important is the Opportunity could turn into a refund. One can be entitled even if one gets a tax refund without the credit. Again there are some provisos. The refund has a cap of $1,000 instead of $2,500. For an abundance of information about distance learning phd check out the web.　

It should be noted the Opportunity credit is good for 2009 and 2010, although some informed sources are saying President Obama is talking about extending it. It is only good for the first two years of college. For the third year and beyond, one should look for what’s called the Lifetime Learning credit. For further clarification, consult a tax expert, a college financial aid officer or the IRS website.　

An online college course toward an accredited degree is something that can change one’s life. Getting there takes a bit of time and, of course, money. This refund, in addition to the online grant and scholarship opportunities out there, make good financial sense and good planning as the student takes these benefits and uses them for advancement in their lives.

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