Computer Science Studies Are In Great Demand Computer science studies are in greater demand as technology advances and grows with each day. The world of medicine, sciences, entertainment and many others rely on computer science studies to help them advance and students who complete courses in computer sciences will have jobs just waiting for them. Conventional universities and colleges as well as online classes offer a wide variety of computer science studies to choose from. Computer science is an interdisciplinary study. Mathematics and engineering is where computer science gets it start and you must have a strong background in math to sustain a good average in a computer science studies course. There are also other fields such as psychology and linguistics to name a few, that also apply to computer sciences studies. Building software and hardware systems for computers have practical computer science studies concentrations. Students of computer science studies will also study and program languages, operating systems, graphics and networks, in addition to digital electronics. MIT Offers Online Courses Beginning in March of 2001, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT began making some 1,500 MIT online courses available to students of all ages, via the Internet, called OpenCourseWare@MIT (OCW). By the end of this year, the entire course catalogue of 1,800 MIT course, both graduate and undergraduate will be online. Some of the courses change periodically so check the website to get an up to date listing of MIT online courses offered. These MIT online courses will cost the school approximately $100 million dollars, and is jointly funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and MIT. But for those seeking to learn, these MIT online courses will be offered free of charge to anyone wanting to take them: students, educators, and an avid learner. The catch? There really isn’t a catch, the only thing different about these free MIT online courses are that they are not for credit. Why would someone want to take MIT online courses but not get credit for them? MIT students and others use the MIT online course programs and practice exams to help them determine which course to take in upcoming semesters, either at MIT or other colleges or universities, both traditional and online. Online Accounting Classes Accounting and bookkeeping are one of the largest growing businesses in the country and the need for accountants is growing by the day. Recent scandals involving accounting firms have not diminished the need for them. So taking an online accounting class makes great sense. From taxes to financial planning, online accounting classes offer the student many different options. Classes are usually taught be professional, working accountants who develop their own course materials and know what you will be expecting when you pass the courses and become and accountant or bookkeeper. In the United States there are three main classifications for accountants today: Certified Public Accountants (CPA), who provide a wide variety of services to the public such as auditing, accounting, litigation, and tax and financial advisory services. Certified Internal Auditors (CIA), generally work in auditing and for employers, not the general public. And then there is Certified Management Accountants (CMA) who work for employers, but also serve the public in a more limited manor than CPA’s. CPAs are licensed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). To become a CPA requires a college accounting degree, including 150 credit hours of coursework and specific courses such as financial accounting, managerial accounting, and auditing and taxation. Online Graduate Course, Less Expensive, More Realistic Than Traditional Universities And Colleges Many students, having just completed a four year traditional college or university undergraduate degree program, opt for an online graduate course for many reasons. One reason maybe money. The online graduate courses are much more affordable than the traditional universities or colleges; another reason maybe they are tired of the conventional classroom setting and crave a change. Many have already begun their careers, such as gotten jobs in their field of interest, so they can’t find the time to go back to school. The online graduate courses are perfect for all of these reasons. Online graduate programs are offered by many different universities and colleges throughout the United States. However, make sure you find one that is accredited or affiliated with a reputable college or university. A graduate degree is something special and if you work hard for it, you want it to be worth something. There are many unscrupulous online graduate courses out there as well and you don’t want to fall prey to them. Do your homework and check them out before signing up and sending in your money. The conveniences of online graduate programs are one of the major reasons for going the Internet route instead of the attending a traditional college or university. You can attend the online graduate courses when and where you want to. At home, work, during the day at lunch time, at home after dinner, or late at night when your family is asleep. The number one reason most people say they take online graduate studies is so that they may spend more time with their families. Online graduate courses are particularly popular with writers or students seeking a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA). There is more individualized feed back with the online graduate courses. You can talk or contact the professor anytime you need him or her with questions or concerns about assignments or grades. You can set up ‘chat’ times on the computer to go over your writing or telephone conference calls for the same reasons. Online graduate courses offer students more individual attention than the conventional graduate university or college courses. There are fewer students per professor and therefore, more time for you.