Actually, earning an associate degree in nursing is not a bad choice. Nursing shortage is expected to grow annually through 2016, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 233,000 additional jobs for registered nurses will open each year through 2016, in addition to about 2.5 million existing positions. The demand for nurses will create over a million new jobs; this is why now is the best time to acquire cheap nursing degree online. It’s time to explore your chances for a nursing career.

Online Nursing Education

A one-year or associates degree in nursing is very popular at community colleges. These online or distance learning options for the associate degree are available online and offer very affordable and practical curriculums. If you decide at a later time you want to pursue your nursing education further, you can earn your BSN then you can jump right into an Associates-to-BSN degree program available through many online nursing programs. LPN/LVN degree programs can usually be completed within a year. RNs require a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree for nurse practitioners. BSN degrees offer the widest array of career options and nurses at the PhD level are mostly found in research positions or as educators.

Salary for Nurses

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for registered nurses in May 2006 was $57,280, with the lowest ten percent earning less than $40,250 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $83,440. RNs earn approximately $15,000 more per year then their Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) counterparts. It’s obviously worth it to pursue to nursing degree online!

Online associate nursing degree programs offered through distance learning by accredited online scolleges and universities are listed below:

• Western Career College - At Western Career College, you can obtain valuable career training in a highly supportive learning environment, attending classes at the times and places that are convenient to you.
• Rasmussen College - One-hundred-ten years after the founding of Rasmussen, the college continues to stay true to its mission to be a leader in education by expanding its offerings to include Bachelor’s degrees, and by earning regional accreditation. Rasmussen College is also known as a leader in online learning, with more than 14,000 students and 1,000 faculty members. University of Phoenix College of Nursing – Advance your nursing credentials and earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a university that has more than 25 years of experience in nursing education.
• South University College of Nursing - Thinking about a career in nursing? Well, discover how South University’s nursing programs can help you learn the skills needed for this rewarding career.
• Kaplan University School of Nursing - When you enroll in Kaplan University School of Nursing online, you will enjoy the flexibility of pursuing your educational goals from the convenience of your own home or anywhere you have Internet access.

Save the headache and expense of commuting and have more time for family, work, and other social activities. Online associate degrees in nursing make available to the nursing students flexibility, a variety of career choices and specialties. So, take the first step towards your associate’s degree in nursing online.

If becoming a nurse is really what you want, go for it! Pursuing a career as a registered nurse (RN) is the best career move you can make. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, RN jobs are one of the top growth industries in the next decade. So, nurses are in high demand and will continue to be for some time due to the current nurse shortage. This is a great career move on your part and a sound financial investment in your future.

Earn Your Registered Nursing Degree Online

Distance learning options for the RN degree is available online and offer very affordable and practical curriculums for adults with busy lives. There are a few online programs that will require on-campus clinical experiences and laboratory credits along with the online courses, so you may want to keep that in mind. However, to be fully recognized as a registered nurse you need to be licensed by your state. You will need to complete a state-approved program and then take a test, called the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) examination. Most accredited online RN degree programs focus on preparing you for this exam.

Job Fulfillment

If you like to work with a variety of people and want to make a difference in their lives, then a nursing career is a perfect fit. That is what being a nurse means. You will step into people’s lives and make a difference. You will see people at their worst and at their best. You see life begin and end. You see people’s full capacity for love, courage and endurance. Being a nurse is fulfilling and one of the most important jobs you can choose.

Earnings Outlook for Nurses

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for registered nurses in May 2006 was $57,280, with the lowest ten percent earning less than $40,250 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $83,440. RNs earn approximately $15,000 more per year then their Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) counterparts. It’s obviously worth it to pursue your nursing degree online.

Top Online Nursing Schools

Some of the top accredited online nursing schools include:

Chamberlain College of Nursing – Online

Advance your education or career with one of the many degree programs offered by Chamberlain College of Nursing Online. Building on 120 years of history, Chamberlain offers flexible and progressive academic nursing programs with a student-focused learning environment online and on-site.

Loyola University School of Nursing

Classes offered at Loyola University School of Nursing are fully online, so you can-continue working full time and maintain your lifestyle while completing your degree. Loyola University New Orleans is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Kaplan University School of Nursing – Online

When you enroll in Kaplan University School of Nursing online, you will enjoy the flexibility of pursuing your educational goals from the convenience of your own home or anywhere you have Internet access. Kaplan University can help you acquire the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to become a leader in this fast-growing industry

If you are interested in any of these online nursing schools and would like to find out more about their online RN programs, please visit their website for specific details.

Do you have a curiosity in the natural world and how it functions? A major in biology will fulfill your curiosity. An associate’s degree in biology will satisfy the first two years of coursework requirements for a bachelor’s degree in biology and usually allows for credits to transfer to a 4-year college or university if desired. Completing your associate’s degree program will provides you with the fundamental knowledge and skills required to obtain an entry-level position as an assistant in a scientific research facility or laboratory.

Online Associate’s Degrees in Biology

If you are considering pursuing an online associate’s degree in biology, you may consider a combined on campus and distance learning program as an alternative to an entirely online degree program because online courses may not be readily available. Most science classes will require hands-on laboratory work, so there may be a limited number of science classes offered online or some programs may use simulation software. There are a few online associate’s degree programs that may offer an introductory biology course that offers a broad overview of the principles of biology as part of the online curriculum as well.

Online Biology Coursework

Online labs will cover topics which will include a general education or liberal arts component, human biology, respiration, cells and membranes, genetics, organic electrophoresis and molecules in addition to learning how to make use of animations, quizzes, learning activities and diagrams within the lab format. So, if you have previous experience working with distance learning software and online courses, you will be best prepared to take advantage of online biology laboratory classes.

Alternative Online Courses

For Associate’s degree programs, you will have to complete a certain number of general education class credits for graduation. Courses such as general chemistry, calculus, analytical geometry, sociology, psychology and English are generally offered in an online format, allowing you to complete most of the courses online. You will then have to complete the required biology and other lab-based science classes on campus in order to earn your associate’s degree in biology.

Career Outlook for Biology Associate’s Degree Graduates

An associate’s degree in biology will not prepare you for a specific career, but will enable you to work in science and technology positions. If a biology associate degree is your goal and you do not wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree, you can land entry-level science positions in state or national parks, medical office assistant, pest control specialist, lab technician, plant science technician and research associate.

Expected Salary for Biology Associate’s Degree Graduates

A biology associate degree holder can enjoy an average annual salary of $31,000. However, this can increase depending on the industry you are working in and your years of experience. According to Payscale.com, as of May 2010 a clinical lab technician with 1-4 years of experience earned median annual income of $26,956-$36,566.

Fulfill your curiosity and bring your dreams to life with an online associate biology degree.

Associate Degree in Paralegal

Paralegal as a profession did not exist few decades back as the attorneys themselves did all work needed to defend their case. Today we have a set of professional who specialize in assisting an attorney. In other words students are trained in performing legal research, preparing accounts, contracts, legal strategy, statements and drafts and all other assistance required before trial. In order to cater to the rising need for paralegal professionals the first step would be to complete an associate paralegal degree program.

Different kinds of Online Paralegal Associate Degrees

The associate degree program is spread across two years of full time study or 60 hours of semester credit. It is a full fledged training preparing the individuals helping them enter the work force soon after completion.

• Associate’s of Art in Paralegal – This course teaches students communication in a legal setup, problem solving and other exercises in which they learn to merge concepts from various legal frameworks and learn effective legal research techniques. It is a fundamental course for all further specialized studies in law.
• Associate’s Paralegal Degree – It involves study of law courses and other subjects like Math, Science and English, together with a practical training on paralegal services. Training involves analyzing and extracting legal information, preparing document for civil, criminal and other law cases, prepare legal forms for real estate, litigation and criminal cases. In short this course puts them into work with immediate effect

Online Paralegal Associate Degree Program

With online courses on its way, education has become accessible to everyone. Whether busy professionals or house wives those who are willing to learn have a chance to do it. Not only finding a new career, online education also makes advancement in their current career a dream come reality for those are into employment. This enables them get into better jobs at excellent pay scales.


While the cons of such education is that, it is suitable only for those who are good at self motivated work and adhere to self disciplined study environment.

Earnings and Career Opportunities for Paralegals

Common to any field, earning mainly depends upon the nature of job, place of employment, nature and size of the organization employed with, level of training and experience of the employee. The earning range is between $ 40,000 and $ 60,000 annually.


Obtaining an associate degree is basic to begin with a career in paralegal services. A paralegal normally finds place in government offices, attorney’s office, law firms, insurance firms and real estate business houses. Their areas of specializations involve corporate law, immigration, medical product litigation, real estate and bankruptcy. With more and more experience they tend to get into bigger law firms and make their position indispensible for the organization they work for.