The Non-Traditional Student Blog (BA): Karen Schweitzer

By Karen Schweitzer

In 2007, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) began publishing educational materials from the school's courses online. This led to a great movement in open education. There are now dozens of colleges and universities that provide free course materials to learners around the world. Here are 15 free online courses to try today:

Physics I - MIT offers thousands of free online courses. This introductory physics course is the school's most popular offering. Course materials include video lectures, lecture notes, assignments and exams with solutions, and links to dozens of related resources.

Virtual Chemistry Lab - Carnegie Mellon University offers an amazing virtual chemistry lab for self-learners. The lab includes tutorials and 35 lab assignments.

A Citizen's Guide to American Politics - This free online course from Brigham Young University provides eleven lessons on American politics. Lessons cover everything from civic life and the Constitution to the legislative process and the federal budget.

Academic Strategies for the Business Professional - Kaplan University provides this free course for business professionals who are interested in furthering their education. The course focus is on university education but would also work well for self-learners who are creating their own education plan. Course topics include time management, stress management, learning styles, goal setting, and career planning.

Small Business Tax - Kutztown University's Small Business Development Center offers this free self-guided course to individuals who want to gain a better understanding of small business tax. The course includes ten lessons in all; each lesson is in English, but also includes Spanish subtitles.

Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning - Everyone should take this free online course from the University of California-Irvine. The course covers a wide range of financial planning topics, including saving and investing.

The American Novel Since 1945 - This free online course from Yale University explores novels published between 1945 and present-day. The course includes video-taped class sessions, audio files, and chat transcripts.

Start Writing Fiction - The UK's Open University offers this free fiction writing course for beginner-level students. The course takes 12 hours to complete and includes several writing exercises.

Flash - This free online course from Utah State University teaches students the ins and outs of Macromedia Flash. The course includes notes, assignments, resources, and other learning materials.

HTML Basics - The University of Washington offers this free HTML courses to self-learners around the world. Course topics include HTML structure, tags, characters, lists, and hyperlinks.

Operating Systems and Systems Programming - This free computer science course from the University of California--Berkeley introduces learners to operating systems and programming. The course includes multiple lectures that can be enjoyed in audio or video form.

Chinese I - This Utah State University course is the first of two free online Chinese courses. The course focus is on pronunciation and simple character writing.

Introduction to Spanish Culture - This free online course from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology examines Spanish history, architecture, art, literature, and film through readings and assignments.

Introduction to Art History - The University of Utah introduces students to the history of art through this free online course. Students learn how to analyze art and gain insight into artistic expression and cultural context.

Health and Fitness - Western Governors University published this free course for self-learners who want to explore various aspects of health and fitness. The course includes instruction in nutrition, emotional and physical health, fitness, substance abuse, and eating disorders.

This is a guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes for www.OnlineCourses.org.

Thanks, Karen!

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Are you a nontraditional student?

Find out more at the Nontrad website, blog, and Yahoo group.

The following is a guest posting by Karen Schweitzer, from the About.com Guide to Business School.

Thank you, Karen, for a useful, quality posting!

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Choosing the Best MBA Program

When it comes to MBA programs, brand power counts. This is especially true in an uncertain economy. Even in a recession, top business schools produce the most in-demand MBAs. These business schools have long-standing relationships with recruiters and established companies. They are able to go the extra mile to make sure their grads receive placement after graduation.

Stand-Out MBA Schools

There are a lot of good business schools with quality MBA programs. However, some are notably better than other, particularly when it comes to classroom experience and career prospects. Harvard Business School and the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business are both known for having top-notch instructors and robust career services. The Haas School of Business at the University of California--Berkeley also offers a high profile and the type of reputation that recruiters admire. Haas offers one-on-one advisement, mentoring programs, and access to exclusive job databases.

Other schools with strong reputations in MBA career placement and academic experience include the University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business Administration and Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. Darden has been hailed by many students as one of the toughest MBA programs in the world, but is also known for the amazing number of recruiting companies that troll the campus. Tuck has a full immersion MBA program that really prepares students for the working world. The school's career services are impressive as well. Tuck is a magnet for recruiters, and the school staff works tirelessly to make sure that every last grad lands the right job.

Regional Schools

Of course, it isn't always necessary to find a business school with a national reputation. There are plenty of lesser known, regional schools that have excellent relationships with local employers and industries. In fact, there are some community employers that consider regional schools more prestigious than nationally ranked schools.

In the Northeast, Babson's School of Business and the University of Buffalo's School of Management have reputations that can't be beat. Babson is especially well-known for providing opportunities for women. Strong schools in the Mid-Atlantic include the University of Rochester's Simon School of Business and the College of William and Mary. Simon is a small school, but their placement record is excellent.

Good regional schools in the Midwest include Ohio State's Fisher College of Business and the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. Both of these schools have a reputation for quickly placing MBA students. In the South, the best regional schools include the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business Administration and East Tennessee State University.

Reputable regional schools can also be found in the West and Southwest. Standout MBA programs include those at Thunderbird, Claremont, Acton, and the University of Denver. All four schools offer excellent preparation for the future as well as outstanding career placement records.

Online Schools

For the non-traditional student, an online MBA program may be the way to go. Online learning is losing the stigma it once had. Many employers have come to value the discipline it takes to earn an MBA degree online. In fact, there are a number of employers who recruit through online schools in addition to campus-based schools.

One of the most well known online programs is the frequently advertised University of Phoenix. This school, which offers both online programs and campus-based programs, provides a wide range of career services to help MBA grads find mentors, networking opportunities, and job leads. Another well-known online school is Kaplan University. Kaplan is a regionally accredited school that recently partnered with Newsweek to provide students with up-to-date topical content and case studies ripped right from the headlines. The school also offers an exemplary career services program that provides opportunities for students to meet and network with top industry executives online.

Guest post from Karen Schweitzer, the About.com Guide to Business School. Karen also writes for OnlineCollege.org, a site that specializes in online college information.

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Article Sources:

The Princeton Review Best 290 Business Schools

U.S. News and World Report Graduate School Rankings 2009

BusinessWeek Business School Rankings and Profiles 2009