Online Education Resources » degrees http://online-education-resources.com Find an online school that meets your needs Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:14:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 online environmental degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-environmental-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-environmental-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:57 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-environmental-degrees/ Earn an online environmental degree today and begin a new and exciting opportunity in one of many promising environmental occupations. Environmental degrees provide students with a solid understanding of state and federal EPA regulations and current concepts regarding environmental protection and uses. Environmental career choices are being created in new and traditional sectors such as farming, energy, engineering, architecture, recycling, construction, law, education and conservation, and many more. Employers may include fortune 500 companies within industry, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies at the local, state and federal levels of government. If you’re looking for flexibility in your career choice, online environmental degree graduates are often sought after for health or safety consulting work with private or public groups.

Is there an online environmental program that we don’t have listed? If we do not have a certain program listed that you know to be reputable, we would love to hear from you. Please suggest a school.

]]> http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-environmental-degrees/feed 0 online accounting degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-accounting-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-accounting-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:56 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-accounting-degrees/ Below is a select list of online schools that offer online accounting degrees. If you’re looking for an online finance degree, visit our online finance degrees page.

Learn all about a career in accounting or read an interview with a current online accounting student at Ashford University before starting your school search.

Accounting Career Information

A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is an accountant who handles a number of important business financial transactions and record keeping procedures. They work directly with the public. The job description of a CPA is broad and can range from doing the recordkeeping for a small company to managing every account in a huge conglomeration.

Getting Your Education

To become a CPA, you must complete a course of study at an accredited college or university. Strength in mathematics is a necessary quality for anyone interested in becoming a CPA. Programs can range from two to four years. The list of required courses can vary from college to college, but a typical list involves the following courses:

  • Accounting Software
  • Algebra
  • Auditing
  • Business Economics (Three years)
  • Business Introduction
  • Business Law
  • Business Operations
  • Business Statistics
  • Calculus
  • Communications
  • Cost Accounting
  • Critical Reading
  • Database Management
  • English Composition (Four years)
  • Ethics
  • Financial Reporting (Four years)
  • Health Sciences
  • Macroeconomics
  • Managerial Accounting (Four years)
  • Marketing
  • Money and Banking
  • Principles of Management
  • Science (Your choice)
  • Spreadsheets
  • Taxes
  • Word Processing

Many colleges and universities also require a few credits in world history and community service. It is beneficial to look into work-study programs that offer you the chance to work for an accounting company while you are attending college. After graduation, many companies will not accept accountants without previous work experience, so it can be helpful to have the necessary work experience beforehand.

In 2005, the requirements for getting your CPA license changed. Those interested in becoming an accountant must now have at least 150 hours semester hours beyond the four year program. This means that the two-year programs that were once acceptable are no longer accepted in many states, and other states require additional schooling after receiving a bachelor’s degree. The only states that will still grant a CPA license without completing the additional 150 hours are: Colorado, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Taking the Examination

Once the college degree has been received, you must pass the CPA examination. CPA examinations are held in every state and must be passed before your accounting license is granted. The CPA examination requires two days to complete. The test is computerized and given in four parts. To receive your license, the four parts must be passed within a certain amount of time. If you do not pass more than two parts, you are allowed to retake those parts that were failed within a certain amount of time. Only 25% of those attempting the CPA exam actually pass all four sections the first time they take it.

CPA licenses must be renewed every two years. Many states require you to complete an additional 40 hours of education per year to be eligible for renewal.

Job Outlook and Salary

Changing laws have helped ensure that careers in accounting climb steadily. As job growth increases, the number of open positions skyrockets. This is helping many graduates to quickly find a well-paying job.

The yearly salary for a CPA depends on how many years the accountant has been in his or her field. Entry-level CPA’s can expect to make $36,000 to $44,000 every year. Typically, states in the middle of the country (Kansas, Iowa, etc.) tend to fall on the bottom of that scale, while states in New England and in the west (California, Washington, etc.) are on the high end of the scale. The national average is close to many areas at falls at $40,000.

A level II accountant is one with two to four years of experience. By this point, the median wage is $48,000. $43,000 is the low end of the salary range and $53,000 is the high end. Senior accountants earn between $53,000 and $65,500. The national average currently stands at $58,000. Level III accountants have typically worked in their field for four to six years. Senior accountants will often manage entry level CPA’s.

Responsibilities

Duties of a CPA can include:

  • Profit and loss statements
  • Balance sheets
  • Analyzing current trends
  • Analyzing costs and expenses
  • Managing a company’s financial obligations
  • Sharing budget forecasts
  • Preparing tax statements
  • Preparing financial reports
  • Handling sales reports
  • Computing benefit amounts
  • Explaining investments
  • Installing and teaching accounting software
  • Auditing records
  • Completing year end reports

The company for whom the CPA is employed determines the CPA’s duties. CPA’s can be self-employed and handle the books for many different companies, or work for a larger in-house certified public accounting firm who hires a number of accountants.

Certified public accountants spend several hours daily going over company financial records for one or more companies. They can spend hours poring over books, balancing budgets, comparing investments, and coming up with cost-cutting measures that can save a company hundreds or thousands of dollars.

There are many honest accountants out there, but there is an increasing number of CPA’s who embezzle funds without a company knowing that they are losing money. Unfortunately, these dishonest people are ruining the reputation of many trustworthy CPA’s.

The result is a new breed of CPA, forensic CPA’s. Their job is to go into company financial statements and check for signs of embezzlement. This field is growing steadily and offers thousands of jobs every year.

Becoming a CPA requires dedication and lots of hard work. If working with numbers appeals to you, look into a career in public accounting.

For more information, you may be interested in reading our article about becoming a management accountant.

Is there an online accounting degree that we don’t have listed? If we do not have a certain program listed that you know to be reputable, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us regarding any programs that you think should be listed on our website.

]]> http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-accounting-degrees/feed 0 online art degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-art-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-art-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:56 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-art-degrees/ An online art degree can prepare you for a career in interior design, web design, graphic design, fashion design and many other rewarding creative careers. A degree in interior design, for example, will give you an in-depth understanding of furniture design, color and lighting and prepare you for work in either residential or commercial interiors. A degree in web design will train you in Photoshop and other digital design programs and will allow you to design creative yet functional web sites.

Below is a select list of online schools that offer online art degrees. We also have individual pages for these specialities: online interior design degrees, online web design degrees online graphic design degrees and online fashion design degrees.

Is there an online art degree that we don’t have listed? If we do not have a certain program listed that you know to be reputable, we would love to hear from you. Please suggest a school.

]]> http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-art-degrees/feed 0 online business degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-business-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-business-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:56 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-business-degrees/ An online business degree can play an invaluable role in career advancement, or in your search for a top-paying job. Getting an online business degree can be a smart move for someone already working in the business world who wants more responsibility or greater potential. The online business programs listed teach solid business concepts with help from professors who bring “real world” experience to the classroom. You will also be exposed to curriculum including accounting, management, economics, finance, statistics, computer information systems and many others.

Below is a select list of online schools that offer online business degrees. We also have pages for the following types online business degrees: online accounting degrees, online finance degrees, online mba degrees.

We strive to provide you with the best possible list of quality online business degrees available. If we do not have a certain program listed that you know to be reputable, we would love to hear from you. Please suggest a school.

]]> http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-business-degrees/feed 0 online computer science degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-computer-science-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-computer-science-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:56 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-computer-science-degrees/ Earning an online computer science degree can be an excellent move for someone currently working in the technology field as it will improve your professional skills and also make you more marketable for senior-level positions and increased salary. As a graduate of an online computer science degree, you will be qualified for a career as a computer programmer, computer software engineer or developer. A typical online computer science degree program will educate you in algorithms, programming concepts, data structures and mathematics. You will also be exposed to many different programming languages such as C++, Java, Perl or C#.

Below is a select list of online schools that offer online computer science degrees. If you’re looking for online information technology degrees, please visit our online information technology degrees page.

Is there an online computer science degree that we don’t have listed? If we do not have a certain program listed that you know to be reputable, we would love to hear from you. Please suggest a school..

]]> http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-computer-science-degrees/feed 0 online criminal justice degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-criminal-justice-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-criminal-justice-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:56 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-criminal-justice-degrees/ Earning a degree in criminal justice is ideal for someone interested in understanding criminal behavior, crime prevention and crime rehabilitation methods. This can be an excellent move for someone currently working in the law enforcement field as it will improve your professional skills in the field and also make you more marketable for senior-level positions. As a graduate of an online criminal justice degree program, you will be prepared for a career as an FBI officer, corrections officer, police officer, parole officer and more.

Read our articles to learn more about a career in criminal justice:

Is there an online criminal justice degree that we don’t have listed? If we do not have a certain program listed that you know to be reputable, we would love to hear from you. Please suggest a school.

]]> http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-criminal-justice-degrees/feed 0 online engineering degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-engineering-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-engineering-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:56 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-engineering-degrees/ Earning an online engineering degree is a very smart choice for students who are looking for a challenging career path and ever growing opportunities. Most of these programs focus on developing the skills required to devise engineering solutions that meet military, industrial, and even international standards. Candidates are required to devise, create, and deliver working products that meet these stringent standards.

In addition to the design and development of products, many graduates will find work in testing, production, or maintenance. Some graduates will even move into engineering management or sales. More than 25 major engineering specialties are recognized by professional societies. Earning your degree in engineering can also be very lucrative. Median earnings for engineers in 2001 were over $50,000!

]]> http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-engineering-degrees/feed 0 online fashion design degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-fashion-design-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-fashion-design-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:56 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-fashion-design-degrees/ Earning an online fashion design degree is a perfect choice if you’re thinking about a career in the fashion design or fashion merchandising industry. Whether you are trying to enhance your fashion awareness, switching to a whole new career, or even taking the first step to achieving a lifelong goal, earning an online fashion design degree is the perfect first step.

To find out if a fashion design career is right for you, you may be interested in reading our article A Peek at a Fashion Designer’s Day.

You can also read some general information about a career in fashion design.

Exploring Fashion Design as a Career

Fashion designers are the people who help create the clothes, footwear, and accessories we all buy. Often a fashion designer is part of the creative process from the original idea to the actual manufacture of a garment. Fashion designers can either work as an employee of a firm, or be self-employed. More than 25% of fashion designers, however, are self employed.

Expected Earnings

Expected salary for a fashion designer ranges from about $38,000 to $77,000, with the lowest 10% earning less than $27, 970, and the highest 10% earning in excess of $112,840. When starting in this industry, salaries are often quite low until a designer becomes established in the field. Salaried designers tend to command higher earnings than those who are freelance or self-employed.

Useful Personal Characteristics

To become a fashion designer, you must possess a good eye for color, detail, proportion, and balance. You should also be able to sketch proficiently in addition to having a working knowledge of CAD (computer-aided design). Knowledge of sewing, pattern making, fabrics, textiles, ornamentation, and current trends in fashion are also a must. A portfolio containing examples of your best work is often crucial for breaking into this field, as are sales and communication skills in order to encourage potential clients to consider new designs.

Educational Requirements

While there are no specific educational requirements to become a fashion designer, most employers would like to see a 2 or 4 year degree in a relevant field. A bachelor’s degree, or associate degree in fashion design or fine art are both appropriate, as are programs in private art and design schools.

Some fashion designers choose to broaden their training by earning an additional degree in marketing, business or fashion merchandising. This can truly pay off if you decide to go into business for yourself. Whichever educational path is chosen, coursework should include textiles, sewing and tailoring, color, pattern making, CAD, drawing, history of fashion, and varied design courses. Additional study in mathematics, anatomy, and psychology often proves useful as well. No licenses or specific exams are required.

Many fashion designers begin their careers through internships with design or manufacturing firms. An alternate route is to learn about the industry by working in retail stores as a custom tailor or personal stylist. Student and amateur contests are often helpful in gaining exposure to possible employers. Entry level positions in the fashion design field, on the other hand, are pattern makers and sketching assistants. These jobs can lead to fashion designer positions and experienced designers may be promoted to chief designers, or design department heads.

Job Responsibilities

As a fashion designer, you would be responsible for keeping current with fashion trends, sketching clothing or accessories, selecting fabrics and colors, and supervising all stages of production. The time between formulating the original idea and final production generally falls between 18 and 24 months.

The entire process begins with research and predictions for future fashion trends. You then must choose to conduct his or her own research in the field, or refer to trend reports published by the fashion industry trade groups. Sketches may initially be made by hand and then translated to a CAD computer program. CAD allows you to view a design idea in many colors and shapes or on virtual models. As such, it can save you a great deal of time.

When the initial garment design is created, the next step in the process involves visiting fabric manufacturers and trade shows to choose fabrics. You can then use cheaper materials to assemble a prototype garment, which can then be worn by a model to determine if any adjustments to the design are necessary. It is at this time that you will decide which designs are truly working and worth offering for sale. You can then make final adjustments and sew sample garments from the true materials. These samples are marketed to clothing retailers and featured at trade shows. After orders are placed, garments are manufactured and delivered to wholesalers and retailers.

Your involvement in all aspects of design and production varies depending on the size of the firm you work with. In larger firms, there is often a lead designer who creates designs and chooses colors and fabrics. The supervising technical designers then turn the design into a sellable product. They create the patterns and prototypes and oversee the production process. In these large design firms, individual patternmakers, hand sewers and tailors are often employed. In small firms all of these tasks may be handled by one designer.

Job Outlook

The fashion design industry is extremely competitive. Many people are drawn to this creative and glamorous field. Job openings, however, are few due to low job turnover and the fact that only a small number of new jobs for fashion designers are created each year. For these reasons, it is expected that employment of fashion designers will grow more slowly than average through the year 2014.

While there are increases expected with apparel wholesalers, this will be offset by declines in cut and sew apparel manufacturing. Employment growth in the fashion design industry will come from our growing population. There will be an increased demand for affordable stylish clothing and job opportunities will arise in design firms that cater to mass market department stores, retail chains, and wholesale firms. The outlook for designers in the high-end and high fashion areas is less optimistic. Two thirds of fashion designers are employed in either New York or California, so for those who would like a future in this field, relocation may be necessary.

]]> http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-fashion-design-degrees/feed 0 online finance degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-finance-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-finance-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:56 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-finance-degrees/ Read our article on Earning a Finance Degree Online.

Online finance degree programs are designed to prepare graduates to explore the financial services provided by insurance companies, brokerage firms, commercial and investment banks, and other financial institutions. These programs are designed to train graduates to have the knowledge to successfully apply financial concepts and tools in various organizational scenarios. Finance degree programs will provide students with financial instruction in areas like e-business, ethics, technology, critical thinking, problem solving, and research methods. They focus on strong fundamental accounting and financial principles which promote educated financial decision-making. Earning your finance degree online will provide graduates with the chance to develop their knowledge, skills, and a professional attitude that will increase employment opportunities.

If you are unable to find the program that you’re looking for, take a look at our online business degree page, online accounting degree page and online mba degree page. Often, finance curriculum is incorporated into these other degree types.

Is there an online finance degree that we don’t have listed? If we do not have a certain program listed that you know to be reputable, we would love to hear from you. Please suggest a school.

]]> http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-finance-degrees/feed 0 online graphic design degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-graphic-design-degrees http://online-education-resources.com/degrees/online-graphic-design-degrees#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:19:56 +0000 admin http://oer.northsummitventures.com/2009/06/11/online-graphic-design-degrees/ Earning an online graphic design degree can be a smart choice for someone who wants to work independently since more than half of all graphic designers are self-employed. As a graphic designer you will use a variety of print, electronic, and film media to create designs that meet the needs of their ever-changing clients. Your designs can be utilized for marketing and advertising, company branding, websites and much more. Since graphic design has shifted over to computer-based graphics programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, the online learning environment is ideal for earning and graphic design degree.

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