Thread: upper level courses or Certificates--environmental studies

Hi there,

Recently discovered this site and tried to visit old threads to answer my questions, but couldn't quite find what I was looking for.

So here goes....

I have a bachelor's degree already, and am interested in getting a master's degree eventually, though in an entirely different subject. Also, I'm living abroad and do not speak the local language well enough to study at a local university, so I'll need some kind of distance program. I've been looking into the University of London's External Program--specifically their Diploma's for Graduates and their Post Graduate Certificates as a way to segue into the new field of study for my master's, but the problem is that these programs only start in November. And I'd like to start now!

First, what I'm looking for, ideally, is to take a few mid- or upper-level undergraduate courses in the areas of ecology, sustainability , agriculture, development, horticulture , environmental sciences, etc, over the next several months, and then next fall start one of U of London's programs.

Second, it would need to be classes that are not semester-based, but could be started anytime, or at least more often (at this point I'd have to wait until the summer session in June for all semester-based courses, and then the course offerings are much less usually anyway).

Third, it can't be too expensive! Up to about $200 per credit hour I could probably manage for a few classes. Less would be better.

I have seen the Career Diploma in Conservation on the Penn Foster website, and it sounds interesting (if not precisely what I'm looking for, as far as subject matter). I'm just not sure what a career diploma is... Could anyone clear that up for me?

Thanks for your help! This is a really useful website, so keep up the good work.

	South University South University South offers an Associate's Degree in Hospitality Management, Accounting, and Business Administration; a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Construction Management, Finance, General, Hospitality Management, HR Mgmt, Management and Leadership, Marketing, MIS, Real Estate, Supply Chain and Logistics Mgmt; Master's Degrees in Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Information Technology, Non-Profit Management, and Public Policy. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Oregon State University Oregon State University Oregon State is a major research university, part of the Oregon University system, long a leader in distance education. OSU offers online Bachelor’s Degrees in Liberal Studies, Political Science, Environmental Sciences, Fisheries and Wildlife, General Agriculture, and Natural Resources; Master’s Degrees in Education, and Science & Mathematics Education; and Graduate Certificates in Fisheries Management. The school is a reputable, widely-recognized academic institution in the U.S. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Penn Foster Career School Penn Foster Careers Penn Foster offers many online vocational degrees, such as the following: Accounting 1-Year Certificate, Administrative Assistant, Appliance Repair, AutoCAD, Basic Electronics, Bookkeeping, Bridal Consultant, Business Management 1-year Certificate, Carpenter, Caterer, Child Day Care Mgmt, Computer Graphic Artist, Dental Assistant, Diesel Mechanics, Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor, Dressmaking and Design, Electrician, Electronics Technician, Fitness and Nutrition Certificate, Floral Design, Forensic Compute Examiner Certificate, Freeland Writer, Furniture and Cabinet Maker, Graphic Design 1-Year Certificate, Gunsmith, H.S. Diploma – Healthcare, High School, High School with Early College Courses, Home Inspector, Home Remodeling and Repair, Hot/Restaurant Mgmt, HVAC Technician, Interior Decorator, Jewelry Design and Repair, Landscaper, Legal Secretary, Legal Transcriptionist, Locksmith, Medical Coding and Billing, Medical Coding and Billing Certificate, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Transcriptionist, Motorcycle Repair Technician, Occupational Therapy Aide, Optician, Paralegal, PC Repair, Personal Trainer, Pet Groomer, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapy Aide, Plumber, Private Investigator, Small Business Mgmt, Small Engine Repair, Spanish (Certificate), Sports Nutrition (Certificate), Teacher Aide, Travel/Tourism Specialist, and Veterinary Assistant. The school is accredited by DETC, a recognized and legitimate accreditor. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

Really?? Nothing at all?

I was all excited when I read about the programs on the ACS (Australian Corr. School) website, because they have all kinds of things in Horticulture /Agriculture and so on. Then, after some very brief researching, I discovered that they're somehow connected to the less-than-legitimate-sounding Warnborough College, and the two comments on this board that I was able to find about them weren't all that great. Not to mention that their "accreditor" is unrecognized... So that was disappointing.

However, I can't find any actual reviews of ACS anywhere, by people who have actually taken the classes. I know that you don't get college credit for the courses, but they sound so interesting, and in subjects that places like Penn Foster , etc., don't offer.... Does anyone have any idea how it's viewed in Australia? Does anyone know anyone who's actually taken one of their courses?

	Oregon State University Oregon State University Oregon State is a major research university, part of the Oregon University system, long a leader in distance education. OSU offers online Bachelor’s Degrees in Liberal Studies, Political Science, Environmental Sciences, Fisheries and Wildlife, General Agriculture, and Natural Resources; Master’s Degrees in Education, and Science & Mathematics Education; and Graduate Certificates in Fisheries Management. The school is a reputable, widely-recognized academic institution in the U.S. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Penn Foster Career School Penn Foster Careers Penn Foster offers many online vocational degrees, such as the following: Accounting 1-Year Certificate, Administrative Assistant, Appliance Repair, AutoCAD, Basic Electronics, Bookkeeping, Bridal Consultant, Business Management 1-year Certificate, Carpenter, Caterer, Child Day Care Mgmt, Computer Graphic Artist, Dental Assistant, Diesel Mechanics, Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor, Dressmaking and Design, Electrician, Electronics Technician, Fitness and Nutrition Certificate, Floral Design, Forensic Compute Examiner Certificate, Freeland Writer, Furniture and Cabinet Maker, Graphic Design 1-Year Certificate, Gunsmith, H.S. Diploma – Healthcare, High School, High School with Early College Courses, Home Inspector, Home Remodeling and Repair, Hot/Restaurant Mgmt, HVAC Technician, Interior Decorator, Jewelry Design and Repair, Landscaper, Legal Secretary, Legal Transcriptionist, Locksmith, Medical Coding and Billing, Medical Coding and Billing Certificate, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Transcriptionist, Motorcycle Repair Technician, Occupational Therapy Aide, Optician, Paralegal, PC Repair, Personal Trainer, Pet Groomer, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapy Aide, Plumber, Private Investigator, Small Business Mgmt, Small Engine Repair, Spanish (Certificate), Sports Nutrition (Certificate), Teacher Aide, Travel/Tourism Specialist, and Veterinary Assistant. The school is accredited by DETC, a recognized and legitimate accreditor. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

I think San Deigo State University offers an Environmental Studies Online Certificate at $197 a credit hour. It doesn't say how many credits it is, but the link provides a contact person.

http://www.ces.sdsu.edu/environmentalstudies.html

CSUB has this bachelors degree - perhaps some of the courses will meet your needs. I'm thinking of taking their hydrologic course.
http://www.csub.edu/erm/
also a PG certtificate
http://www.csub.edu/erm/certificate.html

Hi nester - LSU has some courses in Environmental Studies (although I couldn't pull them up)

http://www.is.lsu.edu/courselist.asp...el=CO&Online=0

and UMass has a certificate program in Sustainability Stuff

http://www.umassonline.net/degrees/O...ty-Studies.cfm

	South University South University South offers an Associate's Degree in Hospitality Management, Accounting, and Business Administration; a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Construction Management, Finance, General, Hospitality Management, HR Mgmt, Management and Leadership, Marketing, MIS, Real Estate, Supply Chain and Logistics Mgmt; Master's Degrees in Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Information Technology, Non-Profit Management, and Public Policy. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

...and so does Oregon State : http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/onlin...y/schedule.htm

This one is a graduate certificate, though, and may be a little too expensive.

	Oregon State University Oregon State University Oregon State is a major research university, part of the Oregon University system, long a leader in distance education. OSU offers online Bachelor’s Degrees in Liberal Studies, Political Science, Environmental Sciences, Fisheries and Wildlife, General Agriculture, and Natural Resources; Master’s Degrees in Education, and Science & Mathematics Education; and Graduate Certificates in Fisheries Management. The school is a reputable, widely-recognized academic institution in the U.S. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

University of Idaho's department of Natural Resources has online programs and certificates.
http://www.cnrhome.uidaho.edu/mnr

University of Florida has a Masters in Environmental Science .
http://www.distancelearning.ufl.edu/program.aspx?p=18

University of Nebraska - Kearney has a masters in Biology
http://www.unk.edu/academics/ecampus.aspx?id=6209

It would help if you explained what your background is and what you hope to do. There are lots of avenues into conservation fields. They range from serious science to the use of social science tools to solve environmental problems.

	Oregon State University Oregon State University Oregon State is a major research university, part of the Oregon University system, long a leader in distance education. OSU offers online Bachelor’s Degrees in Liberal Studies, Political Science, Environmental Sciences, Fisheries and Wildlife, General Agriculture, and Natural Resources; Master’s Degrees in Education, and Science & Mathematics Education; and Graduate Certificates in Fisheries Management. The school is a reputable, widely-recognized academic institution in the U.S. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	University of Florida University of Florida UF offers an online Master of Arts in Art Education and a Working Professional Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. The school is a reputable and widely-recognized academic institution in the U.S. Click The Link to receive FREE information on this school.

	Concordia University - Portland Concordia University - Portland Located in Portland, Oregon, Concordia University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university. The school offers a variety of online degrees, including an MBA, Masters in Education with specialties in ESOL, Curriculum Instruction, Methods of Leadership, Science, Reading, and Special Education. The school is regonally accredited, the most widely recognized form of accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school. [/center]