Top Trends in Education

There have been a lot of changes in the education world over the past few years. The government has been cracking down on for-profit schools and their enrollment practices. Large Universities have started to launch more online degree programs and competition is fiercer than ever before. There have also been budget cuts in state schools leading to layoffs in multiple departments. Most schools are doing more with less. In many schools enrollments have increased so it is weird to see the budget cuts taking place. For schools that have not developed online courses they are hurting the most. The education industry is counter-cyclical; meaning when the economy is doing well and people have jobs enrollments in schools actually decrease. On the other hand, when the economy is in a slump or recession more students go back to school. They feel they have to get a degree to be more competitive when searching for a job or impress their boss to keep their job.

Even though online education has increased over the years, there were a couple of schools doing business unethically, according to the United States Government. The government felt Kaplan University and University of Phoenix were enrolling students that were not necessarily qualified for their online degree programs. They would admit the students and help them with all of their financial aid paperwork. Unfortunately, the students were not passing the courses which led to them defaulting on their student loans. So the students were incurring debt, late fees, and not receiving their degrees. This was a big issue according to the government and their investigations. They went in and cleaned house so to say. Both schools had to lay off employees due to the government's findings.

Online degree programs have had their share of criticism over the years, but that hasn't slowed them down. Now that state Universities are launching online programs the public view an online degree as equivalent to a campus program the majority of the time. Because schools like Boston University, Penn State, and University of Cincinnati offer online classes and degree programs employers are starting to accept more and more degrees completed online.

In summary, even though enrollments in online degree programs are up some schools are feeling the heat. They have since altered their enrollment practices to stay compliant with the United States Government. State schools are offering more and more online programs to stay competitive in the market and increase their revenue. And finally, remember the education industry is counter-cyclical so if enrollments are down it could be because the unemployment rate is also down.

Choosing Online Massage Therapy Continuing Education Courses

A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is similar to a credit, in that a specific amount must be accrued to meet the requirements for maintaining a certification-just as credits are required for degrees or certificates. A single CEU is made up of ten hours of training. This unit of measurement enables students to maintain accurate records of further instruction undertaken in their field. This is often needed for the purposes of demonstrating to employers, state licensing authorities and various other relevant third parties that they are engaged in an ongoing program of educational development. In the case of massage therapists seeking to maintain and improve both their practical skills and industry credentials, massage therapy continuing education courses are vitally important.

Participation in a massage therapy program of continuing development does not result in an academic qualification, for instance a degree or diploma. Its main purpose is to enable the therapist to keep up to date with the latest findings and treatments as they are released, and maintain their certification and licensing.

Different Types of Courses

Apart from the hands on aspects that massage therapy involves, a continuing education course may provide other relevant benefits, such as business skills, book keeping, methods of marketing, and client profiling. This arsenal of skills is essential in assisting a therapist run a thriving practice with a healthy balance sheet, while at the same making certain that client needs are met.

The Convenience of Online Study

It is possible to attend classes in a formal teaching environment such as at a salon's training academy, or alternatively home and online learning routes are also both available. In this case, the student receives the learning materials for the course by post or email. For obvious reasons, most professional chose to take their CEU courses online. This may seem intriguing as a massage therapy course would be expected to be mainly practical in nature. Don't forget that many procedures can be demonstrated by DVD and online video modules. For the parts of the course that are theoretical in nature, textbooks and online written guides are the main study aids.

Ranging from simple and high level physiology to the process of determining and treating different types of physical conditions, many different massage therapy continuing education courses are available on a variety of topics. The therapist with a specialty in treatments suited to a day spa environment is unlikely to seek further education in an area such as Fibromyalgia. In the same way, someone working in the area of massage for pregnancy may not be interested in training regarding the treatment of HIV patients.

Broadening Horizons

Participation in a well rounded learning program is beneficial for any therapist who does not wish to restrict their massage therapy career opportunities. Being in possession of a wide range of skills improves their chances of advancement within the industry. By being involved in further massage therapy education to broaden their basic range of services, the trainee will be more appealing to new employers and clients alike.

The following are examples of the different types of further education courses in massage therapy that can be taken by students online:

* Thai Massage
* Reflexology
* Sports Massage
* Cranial-Sacral Massage
* Ethical Case Management
* Hot Stone Massage
* Aromatherapy
* Advanced Anatomy and Pathology
* Prenatal Massage fundamentals
* Deep Vein Thrombosis

Many employers don't even consider candidates who do not participate in regular training development. Notwithstanding the appeal of accelerating your career advancement, the individual who invests in ongoing learning will always improve their standing and authority as a respected massage therapist.

Customizing a Continuing Education Certificate Program

In today's fast-paced society, a continuing education certificate program may answer the need to stay on top of all of the new developments in the career world. Selecting a personalized program to fit a particular path or career is a step-by-step process with a broad range of possibilities and options.

One of the first questions to answer is what type of continuing education is best. Some courses simply help the student to acquire practical skills to complement a former course of study. These newly acquired skills are highly valued in the world of industry, even though they may have been obtained through a non-accredited university. Other programs offer college credit plus a certificate; some award only the certificate. Of equal importance is the selection of the area of study. Courses are as varied as real estate, information technology, biotechnology, education, nursing, business, science, math, ecology, and human rights. Some classes are geared more toward life-long learning than a specific academic category. Both the type of program and the choice of courses depend on the purpose for continuing education. Does the learner desire to qualify for a new job, change careers, get a promotion, stay updated on new developments within the present career, or explore an entirely new field? Perhaps the adult student wants to earn credits for re-certification in the educational field, stimulate professional growth, or just deepen an area of personal interest. Most programs ensure that the individual will gain the knowledge and skills needed, plus provide a credential valued in the work place.

Several options are available for the learning format of the course, which is the third step in the process of customizing an educational program. The adult selects a strategy suited to his schedule and learning style: online learning, on-campus programs, or blended courses that combine biweekly or monthly classroom experiences on campus with online course material that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Both types may include networking with other students and with professors. Some courses start quarterly; others may begin every few weeks. Often the instructors, whether in the classroom or online, hold advanced degrees and have experience in the fields that they teach. Building an adult education certificate program around the type of course needed, area of study chosen and personal classroom preference is one way for the student to respond to the current demand for trained, updated professionals who have the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in today's world.