Posted by admin on November 6th, 2008
Becoming a special education teacher is now easier because of Western Governors University’s flexible, online degree programs in special education. The Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and the Master of Science in Special Education will prepare individuals to teach students with mild to moderate disabilities.
Western Governors University is pleased to offer the WGU Excellence in Special Education Scholarships. These scholarships are designed to help aspiring special education teachers attend college online to earn their licensure or endorsement in special education and fill a vital role in their communities. Each scholarship is valued up to $2,500.
Multiple scholarships will be awarded and each scholarship will be awarded based upon a candidate’s academic record, readiness for online study, and current competency, plus other considerations.
The Bachelor of Arts in Special Education is suited for individuals such as school paraprofessionals, unlicensed substitutes, parents, and career changers who seek a special education teaching certification that also meets the more stringent “highly-qualified” requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.
The Master of Science in Special Education program is specifically designed for already-licensed teachers who seek endorsement in special education and a master’s degree. The course of study integrates best practices in special education, instructional design, and development of graduate-level research abilities.
WGU is a regionally-accredited online, competency-based university, and the only online university accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE, the leader in teacher education accreditation, sets robust and stringent standards for teacher training in all areas of the discipline.
WGU’s competency-based education approach makes it possible for students to accelerate their program and complete the requirements in as little as two to four years for a bachelor’s degree or two years for a master’s degree. The actual time to completion will depend on the incoming student’s prior experience, academic background, and time commitment to study.
Posted by admin on October 31st, 2008
As the price of a college degree continues to rise, there’s growing evidence that the monetary payoff isn’t quite as big as often advertised. The best estimate now is that a college degree is worth about $300,000 in today’s dollars—nowhere near the $1 million figure that is often quoted.
“That $1 million number has driven me crazy!” says Sandy Baum, a Skidmore economist who studied the value of a college degree for the College Board last year.
Baum’s research showed that college graduates earn, on average, about $20,000 a year more than those who finished their educations at high school. Add that up over a 40-year working life and the total differential is about $800,000, she figures. But since much of that bonus is earned many years from now, subtracting out the impact of inflation means that $800,000 in future dollars is worth only about $450,000 in today’s dollars.
Then, if you subtract out the cost of a college degree—about $30,000 in tuition and books for students who get no aid and attend public in-state universities—and the money a student could have earned at a job instead of attending school, the real net value in today’s dollars is somewhere in the $300,000 range, a number confirmed by other studies.
But, especially these days, that still makes a college degree one of the most lucrative investments a person can make, Baum notes.
Better yet, college graduates can go on to earn advanced degrees, which return even bigger payoffs. The average holder of a bachelor’s degree earns about $51,000 a year, Baum calculates. But those who’ve gone on to earn MBAs, law degrees, or other professional degrees earn about $100,000 a year.
In addition, Baum found that there are plenty of other rewards for a degree. The quality of the jobs college graduates get is far better, for example. College graduates are more likely to get jobs with health insurance. And it is easier for them to find and hold jobs. The unemployment rate for college graduates was just 2.2 percent last year, half the unemployment level of those with only high school diplomas.
There are lots of other nonmonetary benefits as well. College graduates are healthier, contribute more to their communities, and raise kids who are better prepared academically, studies show.
Other researchers have found that the payoff of a degree is especially lucrative for students from low-income families, since the education and credential give them a chance to break out of low-paying careers.
Article posted from USNEWS
Posted by Dan on September 25th, 2008
The cost of higher education has skyrocketed in the last 10 years. More and more students are finding themselves entering college and leaving with almost unmanageable debt. In a society that dictates that going to college is a guaranteed part of life, many students have started to question the worth of a college degree.
In a new report published by PayScale.com, a leading salary comparison website, they list the top Undergraduate Degree Programs that end up paying the student back throughout their career. The top of the list is heavily populated by Engineering Degree Programs and Mathematics. However, some career education degrees that might help pay the bills include, Healthcare, Philosophy, and International Relations. We have included the graph and complete degree listing below
| Best Undergrad College Degrees By Salary |
Starting Median Salary |
Mid-Career Median Salary |
| |
| Chemical Engineering |
$63,200 |
$107,000 |
| |
| Computer Engineering |
$61,400 |
$105,000 |
| |
| Electrical Engineering |
$60,900 |
$103,000 |
| |
| Aerospace Engineering |
$57,700 |
$101,000 |
| |
| Economics |
$50,100 |
$98,600 |
| |
| Physics |
$50,300 |
$97,300 |
| |
| Computer Science |
$55,900 |
$95,500 |
| |
| Industrial Engineering |
$57,700 |
$94,700 |
| |
| Mechanical Engineering |
$57,900 |
$93,600 |
| |
| Math |
$45,400 |
$92,400 |
| |
| Physician Assistant |
$74,300 |
$91,700 |
| |
| Civil Engineering |
$53,900 |
$90,500 |
| |
| Construction |
$53,700 |
$88,900 |
| |
| Finance |
$47,900 |
$88,300 |
| |
| Management Information Systems (MIS) |
$49,200 |
$82,300 |
| |
| Philosophy |
$39,900 |
$81,200 |
| |
| International Relations |
$40,900 |
$80,900 |
| |
| Chemistry |
$42,600 |
$79,900 |
| |
| Marketing |
$40,800 |
$79,600 |
| |
| Geology |
$43,500 |
$79,500 |
| |
| Political Science |
$40,800 |
$78,200 |
| |
| Accounting |
$46,000 |
$77,100 |
| |
| Architecture |
$41,600 |
$76,800 |
| |
| Information Technology (IT) |
$49,100 |
$74,800 |
| |
| Business Management |
$43,000 |
$72,100 |
| |
| Agriculture |
$42,600 |
$71,900 |
| |
| History |
$39,200 |
$71,000 |
| |
| Communications |
$38,100 |
$70,000 |
| |
| Film |
$37,900 |
$68,500 |
| |
| Nursing |
$54,200 |
$67,000 |
| |
| Journalism |
$35,600 |
$66,700 |
| |
| Geography |
$41,200 |
$65,500 |
| |
| Art History |
$35,800 |
$64,900 |
| |
| Biology |
$38,800 |
$64,800 |
| |
| English |
$38,000 |
$64,700 |
| |
| Forestry |
$39,100 |
$62,600 |
| |
| Anthropology |
$36,800 |
$61,500 |
| |
| Health Care Administration |
$38,800 |
$60,600 |
| |
| Psychology |
$35,900 |
$60,400 |
| |
| Graphic Design |
$35,700 |
$59,800 |
| |
| Sociology |
$36,500 |
$58,200 |
| |
| Hospitality & Tourism |
$37,800 |
$57,500 |
| |
| Drama |
$35,900 |
$56,900 |
| |
| Criminal Justice |
$35,000 |
$56,300 |
| |
| Nutrition |
$39,900 |
$55,300 |
| |
| Music |
$35,900 |
$55,000 |
| |
| Interior Design |
$36,100 |
$53,200 |
| |
| Spanish |
$34,000 |
$53,100 |
| |
| Education |
$34,900 |
$52,000 |
| |
| Religion |
$34,100 |
$52,000 |
