Make Strong Plans

Here’s the thing – you go online to post comments about fellow student essays or to view a video your teacher requires, and then you get distracted by all of the wonderful things available on the Internet. Whether it is Facebook, Vimeo, or just the information from an educational site, it is so easy to get off track.

If, on the other hand, you have created a very firm and rigid schedule for yourself, it is going to make it tough to lose track of time. For example, let’s say you are a full time student enrolled in one of the online schools in North Dakota. You get all of the details about your classes from your teachers – including the full syllabus for the semester.

This is a gold mine of information because it gives you a point by point plan by which to schedule all of your available time. We suggest that you take it even farther and review the data for significant “learning goals”.

Setting Learning Goals

What does that mean? Well, you can always just cram all of the information into your head and then use it for an assignment or a test, but how much did you actually “learn”? Don’t waste a college education by simply doing rote memorization. Instead, review the syllabus and find the things that you feel you need to learn, then work that into the schedule.

By doing this you are going to give yourself added depth of knowledge and will never find yourself perusing different websites because you are disinterested in the materials to be learned or have become distracted by other ideas.

Find Peers

If you are enrolled strictly in the online colleges of North Dakota we also strongly recommend that you find a peer group and set times to study together. This could be through the use of Skype or some other sort of online tool, but if you can find a way to meet, share notes, and discuss your course, it will be very beneficial. This is one of the only downsides of online learning – the lack of immediate interaction – but if you find a way to conduct study sessions or meetings of classmates you will benefit greatly.

We also suggest that you use the copy and paste feature of your computer to save things like seminars and online forums because these too are similar to classroom experiences, and comments that classmates post on the forums may be as relevant and valuable as things that would normally be spoken aloud in a classroom setting.

Setting Goals

This specific information should be the actual material that you intend to master by the end of the course. For instance, you could be taking a history course. This is something with lots of general information, but there will be very specific information that you want to take away from the class. Identify this in your list of goals, and then give yourself realistic deadlines for mastering the material.

Why do this? Because time management tactics may get you into a habit of memorization that is not actually learning. You see the schedule, say to yourself that you have to handle chapters two and three by the following week, and start memorizing the terms, details, etc. Three weeks later you may not be able to reiterate much of that data because you did not really master or learn it.

Setting educational goals within your time management scheme is one way to get the most out of your education and your limited amount of free time.

Looking Backwards from Time to Time

Secondly, within any time management routine there should always be a “review” period. For instance, let’s say you have that history class once a week. After you finish doing the coursework for that week, why not go back through ALL of the summaries of the information you have covered throughout the previous few weeks? That will ensure that you don’t forget things and that you will be able to handle a final exam without spending days “cramming” all of the older stuff back into your brain.

Use Study Sessions

Most college students find that, whether they are a classroom or distance learner, that group study sessions can be beneficial too. We suggest that they be only for students who are dealing with specific information instead of general knowledge. For example, study sessions for nursing students are much more effective than study sessions for a general history course.

Living and Working

This means that a lot of people live close to their place of employment. The largest city in the state is Fargo, with the capital city of Bismarck a close second. The key employers in the state are not government or educational institutions in the cities, however, but the massive oil industry that has brought a true “boom” to the job market of North Dakota.

Does this mean that you have to live near an oil field? Not at all. The best places to live if you are an oil field employee would be the popular cities of Willison and Minot. They rank highly in terms of safety and quality of life, and they leave someone less than one hour from the busy and booming oil fields.

Naturally, not all people are eager to do the heavy work of oil mining, and the state has ample opportunities available for these people too. For example, there is going to be an ongoing demand for IT specialists, computer software designers, industrial and agricultural engineers, medical professionals of all kinds, machine operators, HVAC experts, and even merchandising and retail specialists as well.

Learning in North Dakota

All that we have covered points to one major issue – you need to know how to do a specialized job if you are to enjoy the economic stability in North Dakota. This is not a difficult thing to accomplish, however, because there are eleven public colleges in the state’s university system. Most are accredited online colleges too, and this means that you can easily live in Williston and study at one of the online schools in Fargo or Bismarck.

So, if you need to know the best cities to live in North Dakota, the honest answer would be that almost any of the cities could be the “best”. They have plenty of employment, plenty of recreational facilities and plenty of educational opportunities, and this means that they all have plenty to offer. To learn about individual cities or neighborhoods, use the links that the state makes available at through its state facts pages.

The Job Situation

One thing to understand about life in North Dakota is that it is more economically stable than most people understand. For instance, though the unemployment rate has skyrocketed on the national level (reaching almost ten percent at one point in time, and currently in the 8.5% area), in North Dakota it has remained at less than 3.5%. That is amazing when you also consider that the statistics are not necessarily stacked in favor of such good numbers.

Why not? The population of the entire state is extremely low – at less than three-quarters of a million people. This makes it the 47th ranking state in terms of population. That means that any unemployment or economic turmoil is magnified because of the low numbers of households. Clearly this means that the job situation is extremely stable.

Major Industries

Anyone moving to North Dakota has to know that the capital city of Bismarck is second in size to the city of Fargo. What is interesting is that the major employers are not situated in either of these places. Instead, they are in the Bakken Oil Field, which is where the now famous New Town Oil Boom has been occurring.
The other major jobs will be found around Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot where the agricultural and mineral production firms are busily at work. What may shock some is that tourism is also a major industry in the state thanks to the gorgeous natural spaces and many historic spots too.

The fourth and fifth most promising industries for those living in North Dakota are insurance and healthcare, and are businesses that now have a strong need for IT professionals essential to the computer work that these industries demand. This is why so many residents are using the different online schools and online colleges in North Dakota.

Moving to North Dakota

So, if you are intending to head to North Dakota you can rest assured that there is plenty of employment and ample resources for those who need to enhance their educations in order to advance their career.
You can visit a few job banks and employment sites to find out details about the biggest firms or the most promising careers, and the state’s official site will give you all of the information that you need to understand such things as taxation, vehicle registrations, business startups, education and much more.

North Dakota is a very promising location. There are more than 17k jobs available at any given time, and the numbers will only improve as the different energy and mineral producing firms require larger pools of labor. The accessibility to online education also ensures that residents will be able to qualify for the work and to keep advancing along their chosen career paths as well.

Accreditation and Training

It is important to remember that the different online degrees in North Dakota have to come from accredited schools, which means schools that have been totally reviewed and assessed by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission (plus subsequent assessments from agencies associated with “career path” studies).

Once schools receive accreditation, their diplomas are viewed as valid and useable in all other locations. So, be sure that any online degree programs are formally accredited by the right state agencies. For example, any online nursing schools in North Dakota have to be accredited, but also approved by the state nursing board. If you are studying a subject that demands secondary accreditation, be sure it is in place before beginning your course work.

You also have to consider if the school has a teacher training or certification program as well. This is a very beneficial arrangement because it most often means you can do the campus based or online learning and also conduct teacher training at the same time and through the same school. This is always financially beneficial but also great on time too.

The Schools with the Programs

Remember as well that a lot of people get advanced degrees, such as entering into online MBA programs or online criminal justice programs long before they get teacher training. This is why it is a wise idea to understand if your school of choice offers this option before you enroll.

Currently, the schools with the programs necessary to become a teacher in North Dakota include:

• Bismarck State College;
• Dickinson State University;
• Jamestown College;
• Lake Region State College;
• Mayville State University;
• Minot State University;
• North Dakota State University;
• Sitting Bull College;
• Turtle Mountain Community College;
• University of Mary;
• University of North Dakota;
• Valley City State University; and
• Williston State College

While some of these academic institutions do have complete online programs, some are based on “hybrid” blends of campus and distance learning. Determine which approach works best for your needs before enrolling. Also remember that teaching is about to become a competitive industry. Though there are more than 20 different colleges and universities that serve the less than 650k full time residents, it does not mean that you will easily find space in your classes of choice.

Be sure to make “battle plans,” and to speak with a counselor to be sure that your approach to getting a teaching certificate is going to work successfully in your favor.

The Schools Offering Programs

Now, if you know that you cannot commit to several years of full time study you don’t have to give up hope that you can become a nursing professional. This is because there are many educational institutions in North Dakota that extend full and part time online associates degree programs, online bachelors degree programs, and online masters degree programs that can all provide students with a “foot in the door”.

The trick is to understand what you want to do with the degree, what it requires, and how to go about getting it.
Currently, the following schools are identified as good options for someone interested in a career in nursing or medicine:

• University of Bismarck – this tops the list because it has several programs that are entirely online and which can make it easy to “fast track” the education;
• Dickinson State University;
• Jamestown College;
• Lake Region State College;
• Medcenter One College of Nursing;
• Minot State University;
• North Dakota State College of Science;
• North Dakota State University;
• United Tribes Technical College;
• University of Mary; and
• University of North Dakota.

Regardless of your goals in terms of a nursing career, any of the schools above can serve as good resources for helping you reach your goals.

Apart from the Online Colleges in North Dakota

First of all, it is essential to understand that this is a group of learners that should be radically different from college level students pursuing any of the online degrees in North Dakota. Why? These are children who will need teaching and guidance. Yes, they may have to do their homework assignments on their own and generally motivate themselves as much as possible, but this is not an age group that should face the same challenges as adults enrolled in online degree programs.

This is why we would suggest using some of the most enjoyable free tools online if possible. For example, any of the “wiki” sites such as “Wikitravel” will be a great way to encourage a young person’s learning. There are also all kinds of child-friendly sites that mirror their adult counter parts. For example, National Geographic has a lot of kid friendly material of an educational manner.

For the Teachers

We can suggest that you also explore all of the teaching and learning aids designed for parents and teachers who are using online tools for the children in their care. For example, why not pay a visit to the North Dakota State Library for some lesson plans, online material, and plain old fashioned inspiration. Also, consider the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction for lesson plans, curriculum advice and more. Lastly, there is the Online Dakota Information Network that can provide a lot of useful information and resources too.

Deciding to Use One of the Online Colleges in North Dakota

If you have determined that an online accounting degree is the right path for you, it means that you next have to identify which of the online schools in North Dakota to use. The thing you might find astounding is the fact that there are just so many schools from which to choose.

Though Dakota is one of the top twenty states in terms of land mass, it has one of the lowest populations (less than 650k). This means that the twenty-plus colleges and universities are going to most certainly have “something for everybody,” but they also have to have all of the proper accreditation.

The Matter of Accreditation

Though all of the schools listed below will have accreditation, you do need to double check any schools you use for online degrees in North Dakota since your diploma could end up being valueless if a school’s online degree programs are not approved and accredited.
What’s the big deal? Well, in the state it will require that the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission takes a look at the programs the school offers and all of the policies it follows. The school is then approved and its credits and diplomas are viewed as valid or equal to the credits at schools in other areas, regions, states or cities. Additionally, there are some schools and programs (such as online nursing schools in North Dakota) that need secondary certification from an additional body (such as the state nursing board).

So, if you are doing formal career studies, such as online MBA programs or online criminal justice programs, you need to be certain that the school has all of the approvals.

The Best Accounting Schools

Below are all of the schools with online accounting options. Some provide online bachelors degree programs, but others give access only to online associates degree programs. It is up to the student to understand which is the best “fit” for their goals. Some can also be used as a major step towards the online masters degree programs around accounting or business too.
The schools are:

• Dickinson State University – a four year public school with associate’s, bachelor’s and certificates in accounting;
• Jamestown College – a four year private college with a major in accounting;
• Minot State University – a four year public college with a bachelor’s in accounting as well as minors and certificates;
• North Dakota State University – this is a four year public college with a major and minor in accounting;
• Rasmussen College – this is a private four year college with an associate’s and a bachelor’s in accounting;
• University of Mary – this is a four year public school with minors, majors and certificates in accounting;
• University of North Dakota – a four year public university with a bachelor’s and a master’s in accounting; and
• Williston State College – this is a two year public college with an associate’s degree program and certificates in applied accounting.

Understanding Accredited Online Degree Programs

Something we do need to point out is that all of the schools should be properly accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools if the degree is to be taken and used in any professional setting. Accreditation is something that all colleges in all locations should have, but there may also be the need for additional approval of special courses or career studies too.

For instance, someone in the online nursing schools in North Dakota may need to be sure that the program is approved by the state nursing board also. Generally this is not a big deal and most schools are well aware of the need for accrediting, but it is still a wise idea to double check.

The Schools Available

Though most community colleges are “two year” schools, they can be a great starting point for someone seeking online associates degree programs, online bachelors degree programs, online masters degree programs and more. Remember that you might begin getting your mandatory credits for online MBA programs by attending a community college. For instance, many people who are not that interested in subjects outside of their area of study will use the online resources from a community college to do the coursework from the comfort of home.
This applies to almost any field of study, ranging from online criminal justice programs to online nursing studies too.
Currently, the state’s community colleges include:

• Cankdeska Cikana Community College
• Fort Berthold Community College
• Turtle Mountain Community College
• United Tribes Technical College

There are also, as mentioned, the many tribal colleges that are designed to serve the more remote locations and the reservations as well. The state’s largest public institution is North Dakota State University, which is in Fargo. Though it is not a community college it does offer the associate’s degrees and certificates that many students pursue from a smaller school.

There is a tremendous amount of opportunity in the North Dakota schools and it is only a matter of selecting a field of study and getting started!