Thursday, March 30, 2006

Culinary Arts – Is It for You

Culinary arts program applications are basically no different than applying to any other program or course at college or at university. As standard there is a process that you need to follow and you may need to meet with someone in the department to see if it is right for you, as there are plenty of options available.
Considerations with regards to the school's reputation, location, tuition, and financial aid, are essential in choosing what is best for you. You can start by researching online via their websites, contacting them directly through phone numbers, or posting information about your wants via their addresses. Once you have decided to contact them, they will probably arrange a for you to have a meeting with them and discuss your options and they will also show you what the different culinary programs have to offer.
Many attend culinary arts college to become chefs or work in the food industry in some department, but a majority also attend culinary arts colleges to improve their own home cooking. With the growing population of culinary arts colleges and cooking schools in the country, there are plenty to cater to both groups.
Numerous varieties of people and companies, from ex-chef celebrities, local restaurants and supermarkets, are setting up cooking classes so that anyone can improve their kitchen skills and knowledge. For the aspiring career chef, culinary arts colleges offer the greatest opportunity to hone his or her craft.
Due to popularity there are now over five hundred programs in the United States that offer top educational programs in the field of culinary arts, whether this be at college, university or through private programs. The difficulty lies in how you go about choosing the best culinary school for you.
There are several things to consider when choosing a culinary arts college. You should consider what avenue you want to go down after you have taken the course, such as restaurant managerial work or owning your own catering company. After deciding on this, you can easily narrow your search down for the right program quite dramatically, as there are many courses set of for those specific courses.
You need to determine what is important in a college for you. Do you require the college to be in close proximity to your home, which is important if you have already left home. On the other had if you still live with parents, then living on a campus could be the desired option.
Lengths of the program may be a consideration, and also what qualifications you need in order to be accepted. Course fees need to be considered, as if you are on a tight budget you need to find out about student or college financing as well.
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By Paul Callis
More information on Culinary Arts can be found at the author’s website at http://www.culinary--arts.info/

Culinary Arts – Is It for You

Culinary arts program applications are basically no different than applying to any other program or course at college or at university. As standard there is a process that you need to follow and you may need to meet with someone in the department to see if it is right for you, as there are plenty of options available.
Considerations with regards to the school's reputation, location, tuition, and financial aid, are essential in choosing what is best for you. You can start by researching online via their websites, contacting them directly through phone numbers, or posting information about your wants via their addresses. Once you have decided to contact them, they will probably arrange a for you to have a meeting with them and discuss your options and they will also show you what the different culinary programs have to offer.
Many attend culinary arts college to become chefs or work in the food industry in some department, but a majority also attend culinary arts colleges to improve their own home cooking. With the growing population of culinary arts colleges and cooking schools in the country, there are plenty to cater to both groups.
Numerous varieties of people and companies, from ex-chef celebrities, local restaurants and supermarkets, are setting up cooking classes so that anyone can improve their kitchen skills and knowledge. For the aspiring career chef, culinary arts colleges offer the greatest opportunity to hone his or her craft.
Due to popularity there are now over five hundred programs in the United States that offer top educational programs in the field of culinary arts, whether this be at college, university or through private programs. The difficulty lies in how you go about choosing the best culinary school for you.
There are several things to consider when choosing a culinary arts college. You should consider what avenue you want to go down after you have taken the course, such as restaurant managerial work or owning your own catering company. After deciding on this, you can easily narrow your search down for the right program quite dramatically, as there are many courses set of for those specific courses.
You need to determine what is important in a college for you. Do you require the college to be in close proximity to your home, which is important if you have already left home. On the other had if you still live with parents, then living on a campus could be the desired option.
Lengths of the program may be a consideration, and also what qualifications you need in order to be accepted. Course fees need to be considered, as if you are on a tight budget you need to find out about student or college financing as well.
__________________________-
By Paul Callis
More information on Culinary Arts can be found at the author’s website at http://www.culinary--arts.info

Friday, March 24, 2006

The Greatest College Courses of Today

I have 5 degrees. Yes, you read it right. It certainly makes me feel very educated but not wiser or richer than the next high school dropout. I know of many people who did very badly in school and still have the greatest common sense and/or great wealth. However, a higher education is one of the greatest assets a person has and so, everyone should strive to have a college degree.
I think college courses are very important, especially the ones belonging to general education. Those are the ones that will prevent us from being skewed in our education and hence, deal only with engineering or chemistry or history. A complete education must require that all students have a round and complete body of knowledge.
Most students hate to take the GE courses; they think it is a waste of time. I say that it this set of courses that will make everyone know a little of everything and give rise to a hidden talent or at least make one knowledgeable enough to carry a conversation in some cocktail party. One never knows when we will be required to talk about philosophy or Russian literature. God forbid we have nothing to say!
Among the great basic courses that every college offers for its GE program, there are 3 that should be mandatory: Ethnic Studies or Diversity; Finances, and Marketing.
The anthropological aspects of our different racial and ethnic make-up are of great importance, especially nowadays, in this global world of ours. One must learn that everyone single one of us, regardless of our religion, background, social economic status, race, ethnicity, marital status, etc., have three basic needs in life: we want to be healthy, wealthy, and happy. We all want our relationships to be loving and harmonious; we all have a sense a humor and laugh at the laughable; we all applaud the beautiful or the moving. We are also all one, interconnected in this web of life.
Learning about Finances is a must for those who want to survive in the global world. Our students are leaving high school and college without the basics of writing a budget, balancing a checkbook, knowing about the risks of credit cards, or knowing how to use and invest money to be able to retire at a decent age with a decent income. I know all of this only very well.
Finally, marketing, being the great art of selling to our emotions, is perhaps the most important of them all. We are constantly selling, even though we think we are not, even though we despise the activity or we think we are not good at it. We sell our ideas or our justifications to our superiors, we sell our values to our relations; we sell our wants and needs to those who can fulfill them; not to mention our selling of ourselves. Who has not gone through some interview and had to sell yourself to get the job? Who has not barter in life, giving something to get something back?
Of course, there are other bodies of knowledge that one must possess to have a balanced lifestyle, but let’s talk about them some other time.
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Dr. Maria Moratto is the author of "The Inner Cure: Healing Your Body, Mind, and Soul." Visit Prescription For Bliss at http://www.rx4bliss.com, sign up for the newsletter and receive a free report.

An Environmental Science Degree: An Investment In The Future

The world is changing faster now than at any time since the last ice-age 10,000 years ago and the major cause of that change is man. To allow the changes to continue unchecked is reckless at the least. Monitoring those changes and being able to convince others that we have to do or not do activities that affect the environment will take well qualified people with the relevant environmental science degree.
It has often been said that the education offered in colleges and universities are a direct response to the job market and the trends therein. If this is so then the future for professionals with an environmental science degree could not be much brighter.
After the industrial and the informational age, we are quickly entering the environmental age, where the environment and its characteristics are of paramount importance.
Never before, as a society, have we paid real attention to the environment and many would argue we still do not pay enough attention. Continuous exploitation of the earths natural resources and constant generation of heat and waste products have caused significant damage to the environment.
We live in an age where knowing, understanding and adapting to the environment is no longer a choice – it is the only way ahead. This age demands qualified professionals, especially those with professional environmental science degrees.
A number of allied degrees find their place alongside conventional environmental science degrees. Big business has, for a long time, been required to comply with safety and industrial security requirements. In industries like biotechnology, due to the nature of the products, there are numerous opportunities for disaster.
Disaster management and hazardous material management are fields of study that are very much in demand by today’s high technology industries. While often these studies are not comprehensive enough to be offered as science degrees by themselves, these courses are more often than not partnered with environmental science degrees as part of a package deal.
For the environmental science degree student, it can be an advantage. While pursuing their main course of study, they can get qualifications in a number of allied fields. This makes them thorough professionals and capable of entering a wide range of industries when they graduate with their environmental science degree.
As a result of the long-standing lobbying activities, the United States is home to some of the worlds largest and best funded environmental groups and many professionals, working for these groups, have environmental science degrees.
Jobs exist with government bodies, lobbying positions with political groups and corporate organizations, research positions with foundations and other research organizations. More opportunities exist in the environmental safety departments of leading oil majors and even faculty positions at colleges offering environmental science degrees. They all offer lucrative positions that professionals with an environmental science degree can hope to secure.
An environmental science degree does not deal with environmental topics alone. Due to the very nature of their work, professionals who acquire an environmental science degree need to be equipped with allied subjects like compliance, law, criminal justice, and public communication.
The courses of study that ultimately lead to a environmental science degree are varied and interesting. Someone with an environmental science degree is likely to be tasked with protecting our environment as a result we need the very best!
If you have a concern about the World we live in or a desire and determination to do something to improve a steadily deteriorating habitat, then an environmental science degree would be an excellent place to start.
Anyone aspiring to be an environmental professional would typically need to go in for a BS Environmental Science Degree before going for an MS or a PhD in Environmental Studies.
Environment science degrees are offered in all major colleges and universities across the United States and the Western World. An environmental science degree can be taken full-time, part-time or by distance learning so whatever your circumstances you can contribute.
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By John Edmond
John worked for many tears in insurance and finance and recently completed a degree in Creative Writing. He now writes on a number of topics including education. Go to Environmental Science Degrees for more information.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

A Guide to Online Bachelors Degrees

In the past, a degree was a badge of distinction. While it still has some of the same allure today, a degree is now considered almost a necessity to make a satisfactory living. In today's competitive world, continual learning has become an integral part of success.
People serious about financial stability will find the time and exert the effort required to achieve a degree.
Individuals who were thrust into the demands of life and family responsbilities before being able to complete college in the past were at a decided disadvantage because it wasn't feasible for them to go back later and get that degree.
Thankfully, with the advent of online bachelors degrees afforded by educational institutions who have acknowledged complicated life situations such as job and family committments, people can now go back and finish that degree and move ahead in the world.
Pursuing an online accredited bachelors degree enables students to move beyond the limitations and inconveniences of attending a college campus, or university.
In short, online bachelors degrees afford people the flexibility of setting their own pace.
However, if you want your degree to be recognized by employers in the real world you should make sure you focus only on an online accredited bachelors degree. Accredited universities are the most prestigous. There are some unscrupulous degree mills out there who will take your money and offer you worthless degrees.
One should not assume that just because typical B.S and B.A degrees require 4 years that you will necessarily spend the same number of years getting an online bachelors degrees. Indeed, if you really push yourself, such degrees can be achieved in as little as 18 months.
It is determined that individuals attaining a bachelor’s degree make on an average $20,000 more dollars a year than those with only a high school diploma or equivalent.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average annual income for high school graduates is $27,038. However, those with a bachelor’s degree enjoy a starting annual income of $51,206.
Online learning presents a prospective future, but there are certain universities one must know to look for. It is essential the university chosen offers a legitimate online accredited bachelors degree program.
Getting that bachelors degree can mean not only more money and a better life for you and your family, but more pride and an immense feeling of accomplishment.
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Archiving Abandoned Abstracts

Often professors have to determine which projects to allow their students to work on in their research departments, some of these decisions are made due to costs, time constraints, corporate funding and who the liberal professor is. As each student is asked to submit requests to which research projects they want, they usually submit an abstract of what they wish to accomplish. A question, a theory or some finding that they believe they can prove doing such experiments.
I propose we build extensive databases of all the experiments these young, sometimes naïve students came up with, but were told that they could not do. Why? Well because I feel as if science is slowing the forward progression of the human species and our nation due to academic political correctness and well it kind of irks me that we are not asking all the questions and often not seeking all the answers when we very well could be. The current system is too slow and we are slowing down the innovation and research in this nation for no good reason. That is unacceptable to me and to many I have talked with who completely agree with this summation.
The current system is not good enough, it will not solve the problems that plague mankind fast enough and there are some really smart people out there who can answer the questions, but are not so good at asking the questions that up and coming college students who are looking at the problem from outside the academic cave. Consider all this in 2006.
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By Lance Winslow
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Thursday, March 9, 2006

College - Women's Colleges

In this article we're going to discuss the benefits of going to a women's college if in fact you are a woman. Men need not apply.
Sadly, only 2.5% of all women attend women's colleges. What may surprise you however is that they account for 24% of the United States Congress membership and one-third of the board membership of fortune 500 companies. Not too shabby.
The reason we even have women's colleges is because in the mid 1800s all male colleges refused to allow women to attend and therefore they had no place to go and no chance for a higher education. So women opened up their own colleges. It wasn't easy. They met with a lot of resistance. Those against these colleges argued that they couldn't properly prepare women for the difficult jobs that needed to be done. Also, it was believed that because of a woman's biology, she wouldn't be able to withstand the strain of a college education. Boy, were we a backward people.
But supporters of the women's movement, and there were plenty of them, made it so that a women's college became a reality and since that time the graduates of these institutions have not only succeeded but have excelled beyond anyone's expectations.
According to independent studies the following benefits to be gained by attending a women's college have been reported.
1. Women are given the opportunity to participate more because the class sizes are smaller. This creates a more positive learning experience because of the individualized attention that the women get.
2. Women who attend these colleges have a higher level of self esteem. It is reported that 9 out of 10 women give their colleges high marks for developing their self confidence and preparing them for the outside world.
3. According to surveys, women who attend a women's college get more out of the college experience than women who go to mixed schools and develop academically at a faster pace.
4. It is a fact that women who attend a women's college are more likely to graduate than women who go to a mixed school. They are also more likely to earn advanced Master and Doctorate degrees.
5. Women also earn more after graduation because they usually choose traditionally male careers. They graduate at a higher rate than the women who go to mixed schools and are thus more likely to get these higher paying jobs.
Ironically, the original purpose of a women's college was simply to train women to be better wives and mothers. But as women became more educated the roles of these colleges changed to preparing them for exciting and rewarding careers alongside their male counterparts.
Currently, there are 78 women's colleges in the United States alone and colleges for women are popping up all over the world. It may have one time been a man's world but with the existence of women's colleges and the opportunities that women are now afforded because of them, women have now taken their rightful place right alongside their male counterparts.
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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to College

Empathy is Not Unique to Humans

A debate has been stirring for years over the belief that what set humans apart from all other animals was empathy. Of course Jane Goodall's work and her first insights decades ago in studying chimpanzee troops shocked the core of the human belief system and religious thoughts of the day. Still some folks still believe that humans are unique to all other animals due to the fact that they have empathy. That simply is not so. Recently I had written a piece on this fact and it ended up becoming a major topic in an online think tank when another researcher of animal behavior stated:
“When I first read this short document, I realized that the problem in question is not necessarily the result of improper classification but rather the result of discriminatory endeavors influenced by peoples own adopted standards.”
Indeed and I wrote it after a coffee shop conversation and was miffed at the ignorance of a religious follower purporting information as fact which was completely bogus, arrogant and silly. And indeed he was using this, as the main basis for his argument that man has a soul, is divine made in the image of God [his particular god of course] and the only intelligent life in the Universe; you know that is just pure and utter hokum. I think we need to enlighten some of these folks and have them face up to the realities if we are to continue the forward progression of mankind, because you cannot build upon lie after lie and get to a potential understanding of the entire system from quantum physics to gravity, time and space. And we should.
The fellow thinker and animal behavioral researcher also stated; “Under measurement, “empathy” would fall into a category group shared with other living creatures. The notable differences being the degree or level of this characteristic within our social framework.”
Yes, I agree for the “empathy” portion of the research, this emotional behavior trait indeed falls into that realm, with varying degrees of individual species and in each species “Ranges” for instance the “hippie Chimps” now in the news, which are endangered and feared 5000 or less would have a greater degree of empathy than other breeds of chimpanzees. Sea Lions, seals, Dolphins will also be high on this trait. This is definitely something humans might wish to consider if they believe empathy is unique to humankind. So, think on this in 2006.
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
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Friday, March 3, 2006

Selecting an Online University

People who want higher education but who don't live near a college or university offering courses they want used to be out of luck. No more. Now it is possible to study almost any subject online. It may require more self-discipline to pursue a degree this way. However, students at online universities can attend classes at their convenience, making it possible to earn a living at the same time as earning a degree.
What to look for
There are now many online universities. Some online degree programs are offered by traditional universities with campuses, while others only exist in cyberspace. Selecting the right school and being sure your degree will be recognized by potential employers is the first step. How can you tell whether a program is a real educational experience or a diploma mill? Here are some things to find out before signing up.
Look for a university with accreditation from a recognized accrediting organization. This is important because it means the school meets established standards of quality. Well-known universities like the University of Florida, Northwestern, Purdue and Notre Dame are examples of accredited institutions. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes universities accredited by one of the six accrediting bodies. Students who attend accredited universities are usually eligible for federal student loans and the course credits they earn generally transfer to other accredited institutions.
Picking a degree program
To determine if a degree program fits your professional and personal interests, review the curriculum and course descriptions in university web sites and course catalogs. Do they offer courses in subjects of interest to you?
To learn more about whether a program might be good for you, ask about the faculty's industry experience and the scope and focus of their research. Do they have the appropriate advanced degrees for what they teach? Find out where the professors got their degrees. If all or most of them graduated from the same online university you are considering, this is a red flag, suggesting their academic credentials are weak. A real university will have teachers who have graduated from many different schools.
How students apply what they learn to their fields of expertise and to their communities are also strong indicators of a program's value. Ask what employers, organizations and professional associations partner with or support the university. Talk to someone at the university and explain your educational goals and career plans. Whether you wish to advance your career, change careers, make a contribution to society or become more expert in your field, be sure the program you choose will get you there. One way to find out is to learn how the university's alumni are doing. Alumni success or lack of it reflects the quality of a university and its programs. Ask for examples of how alumni are using the knowledge they gained in their professional and personal lives.
If the university accepts everyone who applies and can afford the cost, be suspicious. A real university will require each student to meet appropriate admissions requirements.
Online teaching is different
Make sure any online universities you are considering know how to deliver and support online courses and that you have the technology you need to take them. Do the faculty members know how to guide the classroom experience to ensure learning objectives are achieved? Are your computer and Internet connection up to the task? Assignments are typically posted online and discussions take place as threaded postings. Most online courses require students to log in and contribute to discussions a certain number of times each week. Many courses let you log in any time, anywhere as long as you meet the weekly course requirements.
What type of student support services are available? How responsive are instructors to student inquiries? What opportunities are there to interact with fellow students? This interaction enables students to gain knowledge and understanding from others with a wide variety of geographic, cultural and professional perspectives. The most effective courses, especially for adult learners with years of work experience, are those in which students gain the insights and perspectives of everyone in the class.
Can you afford it?
Though attending an online university allows you to live where you do currently so you won't pay anything extra for living expenses while you study, there will be charges for books, tuition and fees. Find out what other expenses there will be, if any, to be sure you can afford your studies. Ask if financial aid is available, as some schools offer it to online learners.
Note that tuition and fees at online universities are often higher than what is charged at their campus-based counterparts. However, these schools offer personalized support and a convenient and flexible format geared for the adult learner. If a university's tuition and fees are significantly less expensive than other online schools, double check on its accreditation to be sure it is legitimate.
Are you looking for more information concerning Online universities and colleges ? Log on to http://www.online-colleges.co.nr !
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College Readiness Is A Myth

Today’s young people are taking over 5.3 years to earn a 4-year degree. This low expectation is costing parents thousands of dollars. Part of the reason for this may now be traced to the gap between parents’ beliefs about college readiness and actual reality.
In early 2006, the Public Agenda Organization released a reality survey that suggested the following:
69% of parents believed that their high school graduating children had the skills needed to succeed in college
7% of parents believed that their children DID NOT have the skills
This data when compared with research from ACT indicates that the majority of parents need a reality check. Only 51% of the ACT test takers met the college readiness benchmarks in reading. The ACT data confirms what the Nation’s Report Card revealed that national reading scores for 17 year olds have not changed in 33 years and are not even near what is demanded of today’s knowledge workers.
And even if the young person graduates from college, over 50% of them will not be able to compare credit card offers, interpret a table about exercise or blood pressure or understand the arguments of newspaper editorials. (Source:American Institutes for Research)
The reasonable explanation for this gap may be that many parents believe what they experienced in college 20 or 30 years ago is what their children will be experiencing. Given that many of these parents attended public schools, they believe that their high school education was satisfactory for college readiness and college success. With the addition of new curriculum including technology (computers), advance college placement courses and the influx of best practices research from local universities, why should parents believe that high school is not preparing their children for college success?
Only when the majority of parents change their beliefs about this college readiness myth and become more proactive in their children’s education, we will begin to see dramatically improved performance both in high school and college. Until that time, universities will continue to smile as they take millions of dollars to the bank at the expense of students, parents and taxpayers.
Leanne Hoagland-Smith, President of ADVANCED SYSTEMS, works with students, parents and large urban to private schools to improve performance through student leadership in wrap time. Using proven tools, we can quickly help your son or daughter to improve their college readiness skills and create an Action Plan for ongoing success in school and out of school.
What would the value be if your child graduated college in 4 years and had the necessary skills to be successful in the real world?
ADVANCED SYSTEMS
Connecting Passion to Purpose to DOUBLE Performance in Real Time
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A Review of the Kaplan University Online Paralegal Degree

As more law firms and corporations seek to lower costs, paralegals will be in much higher demand. Kaplan University offers four accredited paralegal programs, which will give students the skills they need in order to thrive in this demanding market.
The first program that the Kaplan University offers is the Advanced B.S. in Paralegal Studies. If you already have your Associates Degree, and are looking to get even more education, this is the program for you. A Bachelor of Paralegal Studies will increase your income and will give you excellent employment prospects. Over the course of a lifetime, a Bachelor's degree will bring you increased earnings.
This program brings together the career focus of a two-year degree with the academic requirements of a four-year program. This program will enhance your communications and critical thinking skills; making you a valuable asset to any law firm you join.
The Kaplan University Advanced Bachelor's of Paralegal Studies is excellent for students who are either moving into the market place after finishing or continuing on to graduate level studies. The three primary areas of this program are Office Management, Personal Injury, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
The second type of paralegal degree offered by the University of Kaplan is the A.A.S in Paralegal Studies. If you are looking to change to a new career or advance your skills as a paralegal, this would be an excellent program for you to take.
You will be taught how to communicate with your peers in the legal department, as well as understanding important legal concepts. You will also learn how to do proper legal research, and study criminal law as well as civil litigation. You will also learn about ethics, and how to make proper decisions.
The third type of degree available at the Kaplan University is the B.S. in Paralegal Studies. This degree is aimed at students who have a strong liberal arts foundation. Students who graduate from this program may become employed with private law firms or federal agencies. The student will gain analytical skills in specialized areas of law.
The fourth type of degree, which is available to students at the Kaplan University, is the Pathway to Paralegal Certificate. This program is good for students with an Associates or Bachelor's degree who are looking for entry level work as a paralegal.
The program increases you understanding of the paralegal field and also gives you an understanding of the legal system in America. Students will learn how to gather facts as well as manage cases and strategies. Students will also study litigation, and how to properly do legal research. Learning how to use this research in legal arguments is a prime goal of this program.
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By Mansi Aggarwal
Mansi aggarwal recommends that you visit Kaplan University Online Paralegal Degree for more information.