Congratulations. You have made a decision to continue your education by getting an online degree. You have seen the ads in newspapers and magazines and all over the World Wide Web promoting every imaginable course and program and they are all available on line. That works for you because you do not have the time or money, or both, and you have always wanted to complete your education. Your first step should be to determine which course of study you wish to follow through a distance learning program.

Talking to friends and family about your educational goals is a good idea but if you want to really explore your options and choose a program that is suited to you and your capabilities then find an expert who can help you out. Career professionals are one choice as well as employment counselors and if you know one, a college or university professor. Once you know your goal you can make a plan to make it a reality. One place to start might be the University of Phoenix online degree program. They provide a wealth of information about distance learning on the basic requirements for admission and how their online programs operate.

The basic requirements to get into an online degree program at the University of Phoenix are that students must be at least 23 years old, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and be employed. You have to complete an assessment and in order to enter the online degree programs; students must have a minimum of 30 transferable credits from a regionally accredited institution. You can enroll whenever you want throughout the year and there are no traditional semesters.

You can begin a course of study any month of the year, with classes starting every 4-6 weeks. Classes at the University of Phoenix are limited to 8-13 students to ensure maximum interaction with the professor and between students. You are expected to log on to the class site five out of every seven days and each class shares its own group mailbox, which serves as an "electronic classroom." On the first day of the week the instructor sends introductory information on the week's topic and confirms the assignments, such as reading from the textbook, completing a case study, or preparing a paper on the topic you're studying. The instructor also posts a short lecture or elaborates on the material, and provides discussion questions related to the topic. During the week you work and study on your own.

There is a computer conferencing system allows for class discussion and you can always e-mail your instructor if you get stuck. When you complete an assignment you e-mail them to your teacher who grades them and returns them to you with their comments. .

By: Ryan Larson