Newest Accomplishment
Shortly after beginning work with my current agency, I took advantage of their tuition reimbursement program and started working on a Master's degree in Homeland Security. Finally, after 3 1/2 years of hard work and a quickly thinning hairline, I received notice today that my Thesis/Research paper received a "pass", meaning that I am officially done with the Master's program!
I will be receiving my (online) degree from American Military University (AMU), which is under the American Public University System (APUS: www.apus.edu). The educational establishment is regionally accredited through the Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association ( www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org ).
Although I do receive some joking from some of my friends and co-workers about taking an online degree program, I will say that I definitely got my money's worth! My Associate and Bachelor degrees all came from traditional "brick and mortar" schools, so when I enrolled for an online program, I was a bit skeptical, to say the least!
Within the first few courses, I realized that I was learning and retaining more than when I was sitting in a classroom. One such reason may have had to do with the fact that my course of study deal directly with a majority of my job functions. The second, well, had to do with the fact that if I failed, I would eat the entire tuition fee and not get reimbursed from my employer! It is amazing how that motivates!
A majority of my classes were research and essay based which included a copious amount of writing. Since I HATE taking traditional exams, I was very happy with that, and honestly, planned it that way!
Some advice to those seeking higher education: Do it! A Bachelor's degree is almost as common (and necessary) as a High School diploma was 20 years ago. So, if you want to get ahead in the workforce, get an advanced degree.
Once you are determined to get your degree, find out whether a classroom or online program fits your needs better. Due to my ever-changing work schedule, I had no choice but go the online route, I was skeptical at first, but I am glad I did it.
Do your research! There are many state owned and for-profit institutions out there that offer online degree programs. Make sure they have a regional accreditation as well as a national one. If you have a hard time finding what their accreditation status is, stay away and move on to the next!
Ask other people where they received their degree and what they thought about the experience. I have found some that have gone through accredited programs, yet bragged about how "easy" the degree was to get. If it is "easy" to obtain a degree from a particular institution, it may not be the best place to go.
Higher educational facilities are reevaluated by accrediting boards on a regular basis. If a school is found to be not up to standards, then they may pull that schools accreditation and you will be left with a very expensive, meaningless degree. So don't go the easy route, after all, you are trying to get an education!
Bottom line! Do your homework (no pun intended) and find a quality program and then stick with it!
I will be receiving my (online) degree from American Military University (AMU), which is under the American Public University System (APUS: www.apus.edu). The educational establishment is regionally accredited through the Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association ( www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org ).
Although I do receive some joking from some of my friends and co-workers about taking an online degree program, I will say that I definitely got my money's worth! My Associate and Bachelor degrees all came from traditional "brick and mortar" schools, so when I enrolled for an online program, I was a bit skeptical, to say the least!
Within the first few courses, I realized that I was learning and retaining more than when I was sitting in a classroom. One such reason may have had to do with the fact that my course of study deal directly with a majority of my job functions. The second, well, had to do with the fact that if I failed, I would eat the entire tuition fee and not get reimbursed from my employer! It is amazing how that motivates!
A majority of my classes were research and essay based which included a copious amount of writing. Since I HATE taking traditional exams, I was very happy with that, and honestly, planned it that way!
Some advice to those seeking higher education: Do it! A Bachelor's degree is almost as common (and necessary) as a High School diploma was 20 years ago. So, if you want to get ahead in the workforce, get an advanced degree.
Once you are determined to get your degree, find out whether a classroom or online program fits your needs better. Due to my ever-changing work schedule, I had no choice but go the online route, I was skeptical at first, but I am glad I did it.
Do your research! There are many state owned and for-profit institutions out there that offer online degree programs. Make sure they have a regional accreditation as well as a national one. If you have a hard time finding what their accreditation status is, stay away and move on to the next!
Ask other people where they received their degree and what they thought about the experience. I have found some that have gone through accredited programs, yet bragged about how "easy" the degree was to get. If it is "easy" to obtain a degree from a particular institution, it may not be the best place to go.
Higher educational facilities are reevaluated by accrediting boards on a regular basis. If a school is found to be not up to standards, then they may pull that schools accreditation and you will be left with a very expensive, meaningless degree. So don't go the easy route, after all, you are trying to get an education!
Bottom line! Do your homework (no pun intended) and find a quality program and then stick with it!
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