Accreditation is the process whereby a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting body determines if a school, its admission process, curriculum, faculty, student support, and other resources meet certain standards. Should the institution meet the standards, the school receives accredited status.

The Importance of Understanding Accreditation

Understanding accreditation is important when considering an online degree or other distance learning opportunities. A diploma in and of itself does not guarantee the legitimacy of your degree. In fact, many institutions will provide you with a diploma for a small fee. These diploma mills sell pieces of paper that look and feel like diplomas, but are essentially worthless. These non-accredited institutions prey on people’s ignorance of accreditation and entice potential students into purchasing these so-called “degrees”. Don’t let this happen to you!
Being familiar with a school’s accreditation status is important. Courses and degree programs earned from non-accredited schools are typically not recognized by employers. Additionally, other schools will not recognize your degree or credits earned from non-accredited universities and colleges should you decide to transfer. Understanding accreditation will help you avoid these pitfalls.

How Do I Know Whether a Program is Accredited?

There are several ways to find out if your desired online degree program is accredited. In the United States, the Council for Higher Education. maintains a list of all recognized accrediting bodies. One way to verify the accreditation status of the school you are interested in is to visit the website of its accrediting organization.
It is also important to know the type of accreditation your school of choice has. One school may be accredited for one type of degree and not another. Be sure to verify that the school you wish to attend is accredited for the degree or course you need.

What Else Should I Know About Accreditation?

Does accreditation guarantee you a high quality education? No, accreditation simply means that the online institution is considered to have all the necessary tools and resources to provide you with the opportunity for a quality education. The actual achieving of the education falls, for the most part, on you. What you put into it is what you will get out of it!
Please note that not all non-accredited institutions are dishonest or illegal. There are several well-respected institutions (non-accredited) where you can learn important job skills, trade skills, and acquire other worthwhile training. For example, someone who seeks to learn typing skills will not need to seek out an accredited institution, whereas a student pursuing a law degree should.

Does the school offer degrees for life experience? While legitimate schools may offer some college credit for life experience, they have stringent standards for evaluating that experience. Diploma mills, however, accept life experience to fulfill all or most of the requirements for their degrees, and they do not evaluate the experience to see if the knowledge gained really is equivalent to what you would learn in academic coursework. Beware of any school that makes sweeping claims about giving you a degree for your life experience or that claims that you need to complete little or no coursework for your degree.
Does the school charge a flat fee for a degree? Legitimate colleges usually charge by the credit, course, or semester. Beware of any school offering a degree for a set price.
Does the school promise to give you a degree very quickly? Earning a legitimate degree takes a lot of time and work. Beware of any school claiming they can significantly short-circuit that process.
Does the school have a name similar to that of a well-known legitimate college or university? Beware of this common tactic of scammers.
Does the school claim to be accredited by an agency which is itself fraudulent? A whole new level of scamming has popped up in the last several years, where fraudulent schools claim to be accredited by fraudulent agencies.
Legitimate accrediting agencies investigate schools to find out if they meet certain standards. Fake agencies, however, do not do any investigating. Instead, fake schools simply pay the fake agencies to claim that the schools are accredited.
In order to find out whether an accrediting agency is legitimate, you can check the lists maintained by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Both have information available online.
If you have any doubts, contact the Better Business Bureau or your state’s Attorney General’s Office.

It’s important to check out the schools you are interested in to make sure that you do not get involved with a diploma mill. A degree from a diploma mill is a waste of money. In some states, it can even be a crime to use a degree that came from a diploma mill.
By Mary Monten, a writer at Helium.com

A “diploma mill” or “degree mill” is defined as a fraudulent school which will grant a diploma (that is, a certificate that states you have graduated from a program of study) or college degree to anyone who pays a fee, yet requires little or no actual school work or study.
There are two basic types of diploma mills:

A school that offers low-quality “degree programs” that require minimal effort to pass.
A school that will sell you a certificate with your name on it.

Certain states (such as California, Utah, Hawaii and Louisiana) have less stringent laws regarding schools; diploma mills tend to be located in such states. Also, many diploma mills are affiliated with churches or other religious organizations, taking advantage of tax benefits, as well as the government’s reluctance to interfere with the activities of churches.
Diploma mills also sometimes offer college credit for “life experience”, but this practice is often questionable. Many legitimate colleges will also give such “life experience” credit, but this does not replace academic work. Passing a series of legitimate tests, such as the CLEP (College-Level Examination Program), can also allow a student to bypass elementary coursework and count the test towards a degree.

Does a Fake Diploma Have Any Value?

With all the importance placed on college degrees in the job market, the lure of an “instant degree” can seem like the ideal shortcut to a better job. Desperation can cause many people to grasp for hope. Diploma mills sell hope.
In many cases, though, the diploma mill “graduate” has simply bought a piece of paper that has no real value. If it comes to an employer’s attention that an employee has obtained his or her job by presenting a fraudulent degree, that could most likely be grounds for dismissal! Worst of all, unfortunately, job loss is likely the least of your worries if you use a fake degree: it is actually illegal in some places to pass a fake degree off as an accredited one for personal gain (jobs, raises, etc).

In Summary

“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
“GET YOUR BACHELOR DEGREE IN 9 WEEKS!” the ads scream. Sounds good, but here’s a reality check: A Bachelor’s degree typically takes four years of study to complete. There are individual exceptions to that, but do the school’s claims sound realistic? What is the school promising? What must you do to earn your degree? Even if the school professes to require textbooks, homework, and exams, a diploma mill may still have a policy of graduating everyone.
Do a little research to find out if the school is legitimate. Is the school accredited by an authentic agency? Anyone can claim an official-sounding accreditation, but ask yourself if it is real! The United States Department of Education publishes a list of trustworthy accrediting agencies. Check with them to find out if the school is legitimate.
By Christine Conte, a writer at Helium.com

Advantages of Pursuing an Associate’s Degree

An associates degree is a two-year college degree program. It has some advantages over the traditional four-year degree. Here are a few:

The entrance requirements are lower. If you have been turned down by four-year colleges, but still want to get your bachelor’s degree then starting at a community or junior college can be the answer. The two years spent pursuing an associate’s degree will give you the opportunity to raise your grades and improve your test scores. Many of these schools offer remedial classes. Some even allow you to complete your high school diploma while you are taking the classes that apply toward your associate’s degree.

Costs are lower. Because it only takes two years to complete an associate’s degree instead of the four it takes for a bachelor’s degree, costs are lower.

There is more scheduling flexibility with an associate’s degree. Many community and junior colleges offer long distance classes. There are also many associate degree programs offered online.

With an associate’s degree you can begin a career in less time than with a bachelor’s degree. Many associate degree programs are geared towards the career. All the classes taken are designed to prepare you for the career of your choice. Unlike a bachelor’s degree, which requires that you pursue general education classes first.

Careers with an Associate’s Degree

As associate’s degree can prepare you for a wide variety of career opportunities. In the medical field you can become a respiratory therapist, an x-ray technician, a certified nurse’s assistant, a medical office receptionist or a licensed practical nurse. In computer sciences, you can become a computer tech or computer programmer. In business, you can become an administrative assistant or an office manager. These are just a few of the opportunities available to holder’s of an associate’s degree.
Holding an associate’s degree gives you advantages over those who hold only a high school diploma. You have ability to earn more money. More job opportunities are available to you. If you are applying for the same job as a person with only a high school diploma your degree might just give you the edge you need to get the job.
Financial assistance is available if your institution is accredited. Some job incentive programs like those attached with public assistance also may pay for your 2 year degree.
An associate’s degree might be the answer for you if you have been denied entrance into a four-year degree program; have personal obligations preventing you from going after a bachelor’s degree or if you want to be on the fast track to your new career
By Cynthia Harlan, a writer at Helium.com

Equipped with only a computer and an internet connection, many college students have found that attending class is not nearly the ordeal it used to be. No longer bound by the shackles of location and time, students enrolled in online college classes can attend school from virtually anywhere, at anytime that fits within their busy schedules. With the explosive increase in distance learning courses, it is now possible to get a college degree from a major institution of higher learning without ever having to step foot on the actual campus. Furthermore, online college classes allow students to get their degree without having to sacrifice job, family or social life.

High Availability of Online Schools

There are hundreds of schools now offering internet courses, creating a virtual smorgasbord of educational choice. The vast number of available e-learning classes is enough to overwhelm any prospective student. For anyone searching for a school, the task at hand is to determine which distance learning program provides the very best chance of success. Earning a college degree requires a sizable investment of both time and money, so selecting the best program should not be done hastily. To find a good program it will be necessary to do some research.

Techniques for Researching Schools Online

Perhaps the easiest method of conducting research on distance learning programs is on the internet itself. Many institutions have their own websites that offer information about their programs and contact information for getting directly in touch with a school representative. There are also a large number of third-party websites that provide a list of links to online schools where the student can read up on different programs, and make a request for further information if desired.
When doing your research, some of the questions you need to get answers for include the following:
1. Is the program properly accredited?
2. Do the degrees offered by the school fit educational goals?
3. How much is tuition?
4. How long will it take to complete the program?
5. What are the computer hardware and software requirements?
6. Are financial aid and scholarships available?
7. Is there job placement assistance after graduation?
Upon getting all questions satisfactorily answered, the choice of whether or not to enroll is up to the individual. It is important to realistically examine your ability to meet the challenges you will face with an online program. The fact is, e-learning is a unique method of learning that may not be the best choice for everyone. However, if you decide to learn online, take the program as seriously as you would a traditional campus-based program. Do your very best to finish all coursework as directed by the school, and you can rest assured you will finish the course with a degree in hand as a reward for all of your efforts.
Jesse Whitehead earned his BSBA degree from an online university in 2005.

The word culinary is defined as being related to a kitchen or cooking. People who chose a culinary profession may be employed in restaurants, cafeterias, fast food establishments, hospital or rest home food services, catering or other types food service establishments. They may be involved in nutrition analysis, recipe creation, menu planning, food science, food packaging and canning or other food-related work. If you are interested in a profession in any of these areas you may want to pursue a culinary degree.

Culinary Degrees

Most fast food and short order establishments will train employees on the job for service in individual locations but on a corporate level may require formal culinary education to develop recipes, menus, packaging, sanitation policies, etc. Most restaurants and restaurant chains prefer degrees in culinary arts or culinary management for chefs, cooks and management. Hospitals, rest homes and other establishments charged with maintaining and improving the health of their residents may require higher degrees with emphasis in nutrition and food sciences. Available degrees include associate, bachelor and post-graduate and focus in areas such as culinary arts, culinary management and catering.

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Real estate is defined as property in the form of land and buildings. The real estate industry is involved in deriving revenue from the purchase and sale of land and buildings, either by direct buying and selling or by assisting others to buy and sell. Various types of businesses are included in the industry such as real estate agencies, brokerages, appraisal companies, development companies and property management businesses. Together, these businesses provide a multitude of job opportunities including real estate agents, managers, accountants, appraisers, construction contractors, property managers, etc.

Real Estate Degrees

The education required for a career in real estate depends on the particular type of business and the specific job you choose. Real estate agents are not generally required to posses a degree. However as real estate transactions become more legally complex, many firms are beginning to require college graduation. Many agents and brokers have some college education, which often includes courses in real estate, finance, business administration, statistics, economics, law, and English. All states require real estate agents to be licensed. Many courses are available to help prepare for real estate exams and careers in real estate. Associate, bachelor and post-graduate degrees can provide appropriate education to prepare you for the particular area of real estate you choose to work in.

Job Opportunities with a Real Estate Degree

Employment opportunities for real estate brokers and sales agents are expected grow about as fast as the average for all occupations over the next few years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Median annual earnings of salaried real estate sales agents, including commissions, were $35,670 in May 2004. Median annual earnings of salaried real estate brokers, including commission, were $58,720. Commissions are the main source of income for agents and brokers and percentages are based on the type of property, value of the property and the particular parameters agreed upon by the agent and broker. Salaries for others involved in the real estate industry vary greatly depending on the particular type of involvement.

Mechanics is the branch of the physical sciences that deals with the interaction of energy and forces on physical bodies. The application of a degree in mechanics may include design, development, maintenance, repair or operation of aircraft, automobiles, small engines, industrial machinery, diesel engines, heating and air conditioning equipment, heavy equipment, etc.

Mechanics Degrees

Education in mechanics includes courses in mechanical drawing, reading of blueprints, math, computers, electronics and other subjects such as avionics, diesel engines or refrigeration that relate to specific applications of mechanics. Mechanical aptitude is important as well as manual dexterity in many applications of mechanics. An associate degree generally qualifies one to work with heating and air conditioning, small engines, appliances, automobiles and some larger equipment. Higher degrees are often required to work with larger and more sophisticated equipment or a mechanical engineering degree may be appropriate. The path you choose will, of course, depend on your overall goals and availability of time and financial resources

Job Opportunities with a Mechanics Degree.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, job opportunities with small engines, automobiles and aircraft are expected to increase at about the same rate as the average for all occupations over the next few years. Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration jobs are expected to grow faster than average. Industrial and heavy equipment job production is expected to be slower. In 2004, the median hourly rate for small engine mechanics was about $13; for aircraft technicians, $21.77; industrial machinery, $18.78; heavy vehicles, $18.34; heating and air conditioning $17.43; automobiles $15.60. The average salary for draftsmen was $39,190.

Numerous areas of study are available that don’t fit under one of the general educational categories. These include degrees and education in general studies, culinary, mechanics, construction, aviation, engineering, and real estate as well as courses required to earn a certificate or training in various additional subject areas.

Other Study Educational Opportunities

Education Requirements in Some Other Study Careers:

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