When you go away to college, it can be difficult to remain in close contact with your loved ones. You are in a new environment where you are undoubtedly meeting tons of new people everyday. Your lifestyle changes tremendously when you leave home and go to school. You are juggling a rigorous course load and you have a number of things tugging at your time (new friends, studying, and, quite simply, living the college life). However, it is important for you to remember your family and friends as you can be sure that they are thinking of you as you embark on this exciting, new challenge.

Whether you are the first person in your family to go away to college or you come from a big family that has sent many brothers or sisters away to school before you, you need to maintain your relationships with your family. For many reasons already stated, this can be a challenge as time really does seem to fly by in college. For your parents, it is a huge deal for them to all of a sudden have one of their children away from home. Even if they are the most confident parents in the world, they still have fears about you being gone and they will worry about you on a daily basis. Make a schedule to call home every Sunday evening or to send an email to your parents every other day. Whatever schedule you set up, stick to it. These do not have to be long emails or calls, but be aware that any sort of checking in will be most welcomed and appreciated.

Your going away to school is a big deal for younger and older siblings, alike. Your younger brothers and sisters look up to you in some fashion. Try to send them a text message or email when you are thinking of them. Check in with them to make sure things are going well back home. They will feel empowered to relay any information back to you. Your older siblings will look to your accomplishments with pride. Remember that they have been in your shoes before, and they can impart some wisdom to you when you need help with your studies, friends, or life in general.

Keeping in touch with your friends can actually be the most difficult. They are probably experiencing a whirlwind of changes just like you. Shoot them an email or an instant message when you have a free chance. It is important to keep up these friendships as they are the people that know you the best and can help you through whatever tough times you encounter. They will also feel good knowing that they can turn to you when they need help.

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Many college students are familiar with this lifestyle-working while going to school. It’s not for everyone, but if you can handle it, the rewards are great. You can enjoy the experience and financial perks that working brings, while still improving your life with a quality education. Here we’ll take a look at some of the things you can do to make juggling work and online college just a bit easier.

Stay organized. Perhaps the biggest obstacle for working students is keeping everything together. Separate work and school papers, and keep each organized in its place. Create a calendar that marks deadlines, important dates, and assignments for both work and school so that you’ll always know what’s coming up and can head off any conflicts before they become a problem. It’s also wise to keep your personal events on the same calendar, which will help keep your life as a whole on track and on time.

Prioritize. There may come a time when you just can’t get it all done. It’s frustrating, but it happens to the best of us. Think carefully about what’s most important, and work on those tasks first. Always know what you absolutely can and cannot do without, and plan accordingly.

Make your schedule accessible. Be sure that your family, spouse, friends, and employers know when you are and are not available. By keeping your schedule accessible via a public calendar, you can make everyone’s life easier. Send important dates and events to relevant people so they will know where you will be, and where you expect them to be as well.

Have a realistic social life. Friends, family, and coworkers who only have to deal with work or school, but not both, may not realize how difficult things are for you. While they may have time to go out every night, that luxury isn’t often available to you. Talk to them and explain that you’d like to go out with them, but that there are specific times when you’re available. Still, you should make it a priority to have quality social time, especially when you need to blow off steam.

These are just a few of the ways you can get a handle on working and going to school at the same time. Learn how to deal with organization, scheduling, stress, and expectations from those around you, and you will have a much easier time getting it all done.

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These days when it comes to getting a college education, people have many choices, some of which are not solely limited to the classroom. If you are looking for a way to complete school on your own time and around your own schedule, consider going to college online. Students can take courses over the Internet that are designed and instructed by college professors. When you want to go to school but cannot find the time to go to class, just sign on.

You can go to college online, not by sitting at a desk or learning in a classroom, but by simply turning on your computer. As the only student in your virtual classroom, you have to be responsible and attentive to your work. Since you won’t be listening to a professor give hour-long lectures, you also have to be an independent learner and take it upon yourself to understand course material. This of course does not mean that you are completely alone. The course instructor is there to guide you if you have any questions. If you need help, you won’t have to go to your professor’s office hours. Instead, all you need to do is send an e-mail addressing your concerns. Not having to going to an actual class also means not being able to ask the student sitting next to you if they understood the last chapter. But even though you can’t talk in-person, you may be able to interact with fellow classmates online. In online courses, students are usually able to communicate through discussion boards or chat rooms, where they can ask each other questions and exchange ideas about course materials.

You can go to college online by completing coursework interactively. Assignments that used to be turned in or completed in class are now submitted over the Internet. This will most likely take place through an online management system available through your college’s Web site. These systems allow professors to post course material, grades, course calendars, discussion topics, and exams and quizzes. Since there is no way to take attendance, class participation can be measured through writing assignments or discussion posts. More reading might be required in an online course than a traditional one, as you won’t be required to attend lectures. Papers and other assignments are not handed in at the beginning of class, but uploaded as files on the course Web site or sent by e-mail. Exams can even be completed online, or you may be required to have them proctored at an approved testing center.

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Personal development can affect all aspects of your life, from controlling your negative thoughts to gaining the self-confidence to excel at work. If you’re in need of some inspiration to get you on the right road to improving yourself, the Internet is full of blogs that can offer guidance, advice and support to aid you in your journey. We’ve brought together 100 here, in no particular order, to help you get started.

Must Read

These are some of the most popular personal development blogs out there, so make sure to add them to your bookmarks.

1. Lifehack.org: Check out this site to find tips, how-to’s and insightful articles to help you develop your inner strength, perform better at work, boost your productivity and much more.
2. Zen Habits: Blogger Leo offers his insights into how to live more simply and purposefully in this blog.
3. David Seah: This designer and author blogs about productivity and empowering yourself.
4. Dumb Little Man: Don’t be fooled by the name of this blog, the posts in it are hardly dumb. You’ll find advice on saving money, being productive and finding a happier you.
5. 43 Folders: Productivity expert Merlin Mann gives advice on this blog on all kinds of things tat can help you get more done, from fighting procrastination to changing the way you use technology.
6. Steve Pavlina.com: This well-known blogger has a site full of great articles to help you in your personal development. From making goals to helping yourself to achieve them, you’ll find advice and support every step of the way.
7. LifeHacker: Want to streamline your life? This site provides tips on using technology to save you time as well as some great general ideas for boosting productivity and living healthier.
8. Cultivate Greatness: Follow the tips and advice in this blog to find more satisfaction and success in your life.
9. Personal Development Blog: Gleb Reys chronicles his own personal development in this blog as well as providing tips to others who want to improve themselves.
10. The Positivity Blog: Learn to look on the bright side with this blog. You’ll also learn to improve your communication skills, fight procrastination, and more.
11. Web Worker Daily: Whether you work on the Web for your job or just want to learn how to use it more productively, this site is a great repository of articles.
12. The Lazy Way to Success: Why do more when you can do less? This blog explains how to get more done in less time and leave yourself with time to do the things you really love.

Work Development

Learn to take control of your career and get things on the right track with a little help from these work-related sites.

13. Slacker Manager: This blog is all about helping you figure out ways to be more productive when you are working so you have more time for all the other important things in your life.
14. Instigator Blog: Blogger Benjamin Yoskovitz provides readers with tips and advice on being more successful in work and making more money on this blog.
15. Ian’s Messy Desk: Here you’ll find some assistance in getting your work life organized, being productive and meeting your personal goals.
16. Escape from Cubicle Nation: If you’re dreaming of a job that doesn’t involve spending 40 hours a week in a tiny cubicle, check out this blog. You’ll find helpful advice on getting motivated and getting that dream job (or at least one that doesn’t involve a cubicle.)
17. Business Hackers: Check out this site to find small tips on saving money at work, getting more done and being more successful.
18. Open Loops: Even if you have a fully booked schedule, this blog will help you find ways to squeeze in time for yourself with productivity and time management advice.
19. Trizoko: Whether you’re looking to build up your confidence as the owner of a start-up or just stop procrastinating on that big project you’ll find helpful advice here.
20. Manager Tools: With tips on using technology, overcoming obstacles at work and boosting management skills, this blog is an essential read for managers looking to get ahead.
21. All Things Workplace: Blogger Steve Roesler uses this blog as a platform for "teaching smart people practical ways to become extraordinary."
22. Managing with Aloha: If you love the Hawaiian way of life and think it has something to offer your workplace environment, check out this blog.
23. Slow Leadership: This blog understands that big chances don’t come overnight. Posts focus on the slow and steady path to a better you at work.
24. Dave Cheong: If you’re in a need of some small tips to improve your work performance, check out this blog. You’ll learn how to stop procrastinating and get more done.
25. The Cranking Widgets Blog: Here you’ll find tips and tools for becoming a more productive person at work, but the advice is good for any situation where you need to get things accomplished.
26. Sparkplug CEO: Don’t just be a CEO, be extraordinary at it with a little help from this blog.
27. Pimp Your Work: This blog is all about improving your work day efficiency and finding a good work-life balance.

Get Organized

It’s hard to get much accomplished when you’re living in clutter. These blogs are dedicated to helping you get organized.

28. Organize IT: From organizing your closet to living a simpler life, this blog can be a big help in getting your life more organized and under control.
29. My Simpler Life: Get some tips on creating a "saner, simpler life" from this site, with tools like a clutter calendar and simplicity tips.
30. Neat and Simple Living Blog: Here you’ll find support on letting go of the clutter, organizing your home and getting more done.
31. Unclutterer: From sorting out emails to create organized storage closets, this blog is full of tips and ideas to quit the clutter.
32. Organised Life: When you’re organized, you’ll get more done as blogger David MacKay explains on this site.
33. Orderly Manor: Even if your home doesn’t fall under manor status you can still get some valuable organization tips from blogger Patty McPherson here.
34. Organized Home: Find tips on cleaning decluttering and organizing your home on this blog.
35. Get Organized!: This blog is home to tons of motivational and instructional posts to help you get on the track to total organization.
36. The Clutter Diet Blog: Professional organizer Lorie Morrero provides tips, advice and loads of helpful articles on this organization blog.
37. Organized With Style: Being organized doesn’t have to be boring. Learn how to do it with a style of your own with this site.
38. Make Use Of: Organization isn’t just about your home. This site can provide lots of software and online tools to get your digital life tidy as well.
39. Your Life. Organized: Organizing expert Monica Ricci provides helpful advice on organizing your home, office and more on her blog.

Financial Development

These blogs will help you get your finances in order and put your mind at ease.

40. I Will Teach You to Be Rich:
41. Wise Bread: This blog will help you learn to live within your means and save where it matters most.
42. The Simple Dollar: Here you’ll find tips and tools to help you bring your financial life under control.
43. Get Rich Slowly: From financial hacks to tools to help you calculate your finances, this site is a great place to find advice on building a solid personal finance plan.
44. Frugal for Life: If saving money is your goal, this site is full of tips and ideas on living simply and spending less.
45. My Money Blog: This blogger shares their net worth, investment advice and tips on when to save and when to spend.
46. Bargaineering: If you want to "engineer a richer life" check out this money-focused blog.
47. PFBlog: Check out this network of personal finance blogs to get tons of ideas, advice and information on money management.
48. Free Money Finance: Get tips on growing your net worth and managing your finances from this blog.
49. The Frugal Duchess: This blogger is all about sharing her tips for saving you money on just about everything.
50. A Penny Saved: Take your personal wealth building penny by penny with this blog.
51. Consumerism Commentary: If you’ve fallen into the trap over being too much of a consumer and not enough of a saver, check out this blog for advice on taxes, saving and budgeting.

Coaches and Consultants

Get some advice from these professionals in personal development.

52. Matt’s Idea Blog: Matthew Cornell, productivity consultant, writes in his blog about ways readers can get more work done, find time for personal interests and much more.
53. Life Coaches Blog: Written by a group of life coaches, this blog is a great place to find ideas on better time management, getting more done and finding happiness.
54. Your Life- Inspired: Life coach Shannon Wilkinson offers her advice and support on building a happier, healthier life on this blog.
55. Achieve IT!: Brad Isaac aims to help readers set and meet their goals, with helpful posts on everything from being happy at work to creative productivity.
56. Passion Meets Purpose: This blogger and life coach provides tips and tools to help you learn to manage time, get more done and make the most of your work.
57. Craig Harper: Craig Harper is a motivational speaker and life coach, and he shares the same messages from his speeches in his blog to help you reach personal fulfillment.
58. Make It Great!: Phil Gerbyshak is an author in both the online and printed spheres and offers his two cents on making life fun anywhere.
59. Laura Stack: Laura Stack has dedicated her life to helping others be as productive as possible and you can benefit from her advice on her blog.
60. The Daily Saint: Blogger and productivity guru Mike St. Pierre offers some great tips on this blog to help readers reach the ideal balance of work and personal time.
61. Thinking Faster: Author Jeffery Phillips writes this blog dedicated to "ideas, tools and processes to improve personal, workgroup and enterprise productivity and innovation."
62. Empowerment 4 Life: Here you’ll find some great motivational posts to encourage you to live a better, happier life.

Self-Improvement

These blogs are all about helping you be happier and more satisfied with your life.

63. Ririan Project: This site is chock-full of easy-to-read and fun articles all about productivity, health and living a better life.
64. Pick the Brain: With posts on motivation and self-improvement, this blog can help you learn to do things like take criticism, manage your money and much more.
65. Brian Kim: This blogger believes success begins with yourself and offers tips on building up yourself to help you follow your dreams.
66. Aim for Awesome! Here you’ll get back to the basics of personal development with a philosophy that focuses on smiles, smarts and success.
67. Illuminated Mind: Billed as the "less boring side of personal development", this blog is all about helping readers get happy and stay that way.
68. Alex Shalman: Blogger Alex offers practical advice for readers to make real changes in their lives and start towards positive personal development.
69. The Happiness Project: Looking for some ideas on how to be happier? This blog is all about, sharing thoughts on what works and what doesn’t.
70. LifeDev: Learn how to take care of yourself, your job, your relationships and your life with advice from this personal development blog.
71. Life Optimizer: With posts that focus on increasing personal effectiveness, following your dreams and finding success, this blog is great source of inspiration and guidance.
72. Change Your Thoughts: Blogger Steven Aitchison shares his thoughts on what it takes to find a fulfilling life through the posts on this blog.
73. Life Reboot: Whether you want to change something little in your life or make a total overhaul, this blog offers loads of little tips to make the transition easier.
74. Life 2.0: Here you’ll find numerous inspirational posts that can help you on your path to self-realization.
75. My Empty Bucket: This blog wants readers to feel more fulfilled, happier and successful and offers a variety of tips and advice.
76. Success Begins Today: While many of the tips on this blog focus on productivity, readers will find other posts that are all about finding happiness, overcoming problems and meeting goals.

Productivity

Learn to get more done with your time from these blogs.

77. Productivity 501: Here Mark Shead offers some simple tips that can help you improve your productivity.
78. The Four Hour Work Week Blog: While not everyone can pare down their work week to just four hours, this blog is still a valuable read for anyone who wants to spend less time working and more time enjoying life.
79. GTD Wannabe: This blog is home to tons of tips and hacks designed to help you make easy work out of your daily work or household chores.
80. To-Done: From tips on sleeping better to ideas on getting more done in a day, this blog is full of a variety of productivity tips.
81. ProductivityGoal: Learn how to manage time better, get organized and ultimately accomplish more in a day with this blog.
82. LifeClever: Here you’ll find all kinds of productivity tips that can ensure that you save time doing everything from buying gas to looking for a paperclip on your desk.
83. Productivity Cafe: Get some advice from productivity consultant Susan Sabo on this blog to help you be more productive on the job.
84. Black Belt Productivity: This blog is home to a variety of tips on better time management as well as posts that offer suggestions for tools that can help make this easier to do.
85. Simple Productivity Blog: Pare down your day to the bare essentials and get more done with this time-management and organization focused blog.
86. What’s the Next Action: Here you’ll find advice on following the GTD (Getting Things Done) method laid out by productivity guru David Allen.
87. Steve Olson: With posts on personal development as well as productivity, this blog is a great one-stop shop for all things life improvement.
88. Effective Time Management: Being good at managing your time can make or break your productivity goals. Get some advice on making the most of every minute from this blog.

Miscellaneous

These blogs address a wide range of issues from improving at school to getting healthier.

89. Academic Productivity: Those working in academic fields can benefit from these tips, geared especially towards the intellectual lifestyle.
90. Parent Hacks: Who doesn’t want to be a better parent? This blog is full of valuable tips on dealing with a range of parenting issues.
91. Success from the Nest: This blogger balances work, family and everything else and shares tips on productivity and more here.
92. One Big Health Nut: Get some insights on improving your health and feeling better physically and mentally from this blog.
93. Scott H. Young: Check out this blog to get insights into productivity, communication and studying from a college student.
94. Goals Success: If you’re struggling to learn how to set meaningful goals for yourself then check out this blog, full of ideas.
95. Patrick Rhone: From organization to productivity, you’ll find advice on it all here.
96. Eric Mack On-Line: Get some insight from the tech side of things on this blog written by Eric Mack.
97. Marc and Angel Hack Life: This blogging couple shares their insight into happiness, life and love on their blog.
98. GearFire: Give this blog a try if you’re looking for some ideas on how to improve your academic success.
99. Doug Belshaw: With posts on education, productivity and technology you’ll find loads of great advice here.
100. Doc Ott’s Life Hack Blog: Here you’ll find simple tips and ideas that can help you be more productive throughout your day.

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One of the most unique experiences available to college students is the opportunity to study abroad in a foreign country. For most students, this will be their only chance to ever up and leave for four months and just live in another part of the world. When you graduate and enter the workforce, this will most likely not be an option. You will have bills to pay, jobs to worry about, and, in general, you will have to focus on getting your life started. However, many colleges in the U.S. offer programs in conjunction with foreign universities to allow their students to go and study abroad for a semester or even a full year. Look into whether your school has a program like this and figure out if this is a viable option for you. If you are interested in seeing other parts of the world, then this is an opportunity you should jump all over.

Most colleges require that you have a minimum grade point average (GPA) in order to qualify for a chance to study abroad. Typically, the GPA needed is a 3.0, but many schools will work with you to ensure you can still go. Talk with your academic advisor to make sure that your schedule allows you to go. A good time to go is at the end of your sophomore year or the beginning of your junior year. This way you still have time to complete requirements for your major that you may not be able to meet at the university where you are studying abroad. Check with your advisor to make sure that you will not be putting yourself in a difficult situation when you return to your school as far as being behind.

Figure out if you have the financial means to make this a possibility. While your tuition will most likely remain the same as you currently pay at your school, there will undoubtedly be extra fees. The foreign college may charge you extra fees. You will have to pay for your airfare. You will have to pay for room and board, which may be much more expensive than what you normally pay. If you go to school away from a major U.S. city and then go to a school in a European city, you will be shocked to see the difference in the costs of living.

Pick the location that most interests you. If you feel like going to a city that does not speak English will be an issue, then make sure you choose a school where this will not be a problem. Choose a school where you will feel safe. Even the most seasoned world traveler has to be sure that his or her safety is always secure. Research the different schools and their regions that are available to you to help make the right choice for you.

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Attending college, at any stage of a person’s life, can be incredibly stressful, especially when they don’t know what to expect. There are many reasons why students attending college these days are ill-prepared for what’s to come, including the varying types of students seeking higher education and students leaving home for the first time. For example, a classroom can be filled with older adults that are returning to college later in life, people that dropped out of high school and received their GED before continuing on to college and newly graduated high school students that have never lived away from family and friends.

To better prepare for life in college, all students should take steps to understand what their future living situation, university or college and degree plan will consist of. For example, if a student is going to attend a large university and plans to study Criminal Justice, it would be wise to meet with the Criminal Justice department advisor and perhaps take a tour of the campus. By meeting potential future teachers and faculty members within their desired program and touring the buildings their classes will be held in, can go a long way in making new students feel comfortable on campus and keep the anxiety levels low. Also, obtaining a copy of the class schedule, course descriptions and degree plan will allow a student to purchase their text books in advance and better prepare for the coursework ahead. Students attending online universities could email the school advisors for advice and perhaps join a school sanctioned web forum to meet other students.

Many colleges and universities also allow prospective students to "shadow" undergraduates for a day. This means that those individuals interested in attending the school will gain firsthand knowledge of the campus, class room interactions and student life before they official begin attending classes. This is a great way to learn more about the college of their choice, with the help of a current undergraduate student as a guide. This could also provide an opportunity for making new friends, which will also ease the transition into college life.

Not being fully prepared for college life and coursework can have devastating consequences, including failing classes, becoming depressed and maybe even quitting school without graduating. But taking the right steps to understand what they are getting into, what the school, their degree plan and the student body is like, can help new students to succeed at this new stage in their lives.

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As an online student, your schedule, work habits, and organization system are almost completely up to you. For some, this is a perfect arrangement, but for others, it’s not as easy to stay on top of everything. If you have trouble staying organized as an online student, we’ve got a few ideas that can help you get things together.

Keep a calendar of classes, assignments, and important items. Perhaps the biggest part of organization is knowing what you need to be doing when. Put together a calendar that keeps track of important things you have going on in school, as well as regular life. This will better help you plan your time, and ensure that you aren’t surprised when one of your exams happens to fall on the evening of your niece’s recital.

Make a schedule. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, a great way to feel more organized and on top of things is to take the time to map out what you plan to do, and when you plan to do it. You can organize items on your calendar daily, or even hourly to make sure you’re on track. Don’t worry if things don’t end up the way you planned-just modify your schedule until you find one that works for you.

Work ahead of schedule. It’s tempting to work all the way up to the deadline, but waiting until the last minute can cause you unnecessary stress. If an unexpected problem comes up, like technical difficulties with your computer or a pressing issue at home, you won’t have the added worry of having an essay or exam you need to study for looming over your head.

Put together a work area. Although most of your work as an online student will be on your computer, you may have paper notes, books, and printouts that need to be dealt with. Designate a specific place in your home or office for these items, as well as a place to work. Having a location just for your studies is a great way to get in gear and get down to work when you’re ready to do so.

With the help of these simple tips, you should have a great system for taking care of your online classes. Make use of them to stay on top of your assignments and your life with ease, and get things done on time.

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Today’s web workers need to have a well-rounded set of skills and knowledge to succeed. Expected to know their way around a computer, understand the invisible nature of Internet audiences, have the skill to communicate with words and graphic images, and be able to maintain their own business, its understandable that web workers may be seeking ways to continually improve their knowledge base. These free open courseware classes can help any web worker get a step up on the task with courses including web design skills, media arts, photography and video, writing and communication, technology, and even classes to help freelancers get ahead with marketing and entrepreneurial topics.

Web Design

Whether you are learning the basics, need a refresher course, or would like to learn a bit extra, these classes offer skills necessary to become a great web designer.

1. Weekly Web Design Class. Learn what truly makes a website outstanding in this class that takes you beyond simply learning HTML to learn web design. [About.com]
2. Flash. Create a Flash project for your portfolio while learning to use Flash 8. [Utah State University]
3. Interactive Multimedia Production. If you want to get the basics of Flash 9, complete a project in this class. [Utah State University]
4. Learn and Apply HTML. If you need to learn more about HTML, take this class to build a solid foundation. [Utah State University]
5. Blender 3D Design. Explore modeling and animation while creating 3D designs by using Blender software in this class. [Tufts University]
6. Designing the user interface: text, colour, images, moving images and sound. Discover the best way to incorporate text, color, images, and sound so that users can interact effectively with websites and software. [The Open University]
7. Blogs, Wikis, New Media for Learning. Find out how to use popular Web 2.0 tools and applications in this class. [Utah State University]
8. Adobe Photoshop Basics. If Photoshop has you baffled, subscribe to 8 weekly lessons here to learn the basics. [About.com]
9. Adobe Sample Courses. Get free courses in Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat from Adobe with 7 days of free online training. [Adobe Online Training]
10. QuarkEd Training Files. Whether you are just learning Quark or are an old pro, these free files will have something for you to learn. [Quark]
11. DHTML Animation. Using HTML, CSS, and Javascript, learn the how to animate web pages. [About.com]
12. Graphic Design Basics. These free classes will teach you the basics of graphic design. [About.com]
13. Beginning Web Design Course. Whether you are new to web design or would like a fresh approach, take this course to learn the basics for designing eye-catching websites. [About.com]

Comparative Media and Media Arts

Understanding culture, art, and the technology of new media is at the heart of these comparative media and media art classes.

14. Media Art I. Students will learn sound, installation and video art in this introductory class. [Capilano University]
15. Media Art II. Part two of this series offers a study of visual arts with lessons in black and white chemical photography and digital imaging. [Capilano University]
16. Media Art III. The third class examines digital sound, digital video art, and performance art as it pertains to the visual arts. [Capilano University]
17. Media Art IV. Complete this four-part series with an independent project that allow students to examine both technical and conceptual aspects of media art. [Capilano University]
18. Special Topics in Multimedia Production: Experiences in Interactive Art. Students will make their own interactive art project after hearing visiting artists’ lectures and participating in discussion on the history of interactive art. [MIT]
19. Ambient Intelligence. Create your own project after learning about Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) in this course. [MIT]
20. Fundamentals of Computational Media Design. Get the basics of media design while taking advantage of hands-on design opportunities here. [MIT]
21. Introduction to Media Studies. Cover topics including blogging, intellectual property, and game modification in this class which teaches the basics about new media. [MIT]
22. New Media Literacies. Explore online social networking, video gaming, collective intelligence, and other related subjects of media literacy. [MIT]
23. Workshop I. Get a hands-on opportunity to learn technical skills in this graduate-level media studies class. [MIT]
24. American Soap Operas. Examine the transformation of American soap operas and take a look at popular shows such as 24 and Friday Night Lights and explore their roots in daytime soap operas. [MIT]
25. Videogame Theory and Analysis. Learn about the impact of videogames on culture, society and education in this class. [MIT]
26. Topics in Comparative Media: American Pro Wrestling. Whether you are a wrestling fan or not, this class offers an interesting and entertaining look at how new technologies and changes in television helped pro wrestling evolve in America . [MIT]
27. The Anthropology of Sound. Learn about the relationship between culture, technology, and people and the human experience of sound while studying topics as sound art, music, and environmental recordings. [MIT]
28. Popular Narrative: Masterminds. Students will study popular literary masterminds and create a class "cyberconversation" of their findings. [MIT]
29. History of Media and Technology: Sound, the Minority Report — Radical Music of the Past 100 Years. Explore the history of avant-garde and electronic music from the early 20th century to present day in this course. [MIT]

Photography and Video

Learn the basics of photography and video or step up to more complex skills with these classes.

30. Introduction to Photography. This class covers camera basics, black and white techniques, digital photography, developing, printing, and more for students who are just learning about photography. [MIT]
31. Photography and Truth. Examine how photography facilitates communication and documentation as an art form and as a research tool. [MIT]
32. Language of the Image. Learn how to communicate with a photographic image in this class. [News University]
33. Picturing the family. Old family photos are rich in technical details and culture that may not be apparent upon first glance. Learn the details of what these photos say in this class. [The Open University]
34. Photography and Related Media. Beginners as well as advanced photographers can learn technical and cultural photography lessons in this class. [MIT]
35. Reading visual images. Explore history and social science through photographic images in this course. [The Open University]
36. Introduction to Video. Students complete projects to develop skills as a videographer and video editor, including a final assignment of personal storytelling. [MIT]
37. Advanced Projects in the Visual Arts: Personal Narrative. The second part of Introduction to Video, this class teaches students about creating a movie and exploring narrative in cinema through student projects. [MIT]
38. Five Steps to Multimedia Storytelling. Learn about recording, taping, and editing for Internet content with a focus on audio, video, and graphics in this class. [News University]

Technology

Learn about technology strategies, search engines, art and technology, and more in these classes that are rooted in technology.

39. Technology Strategy. This course covers investment planning and behavior of competition, suppliers, and customers for those who will invest in or run a business where technology plays a major role. [MIT]
40. Internet Technology in Local and Global Communities. Examine programming, Internet technology, open source programs, and entrepreneurship in this class that is part of the MIT-African Internet Technology Initiative. [MIT]
41. Search Engines: Technology, Society and Business. Learn about Internet searches and how they relate to business from a distinguished group of lecturers in this course. [UC Berkeley]
42. Feeling and Imagination in Art, Science, and Technology. Study philosophy, psychology, and literature to learn about the ways emotion and imagination play into the creative process. [MIT]
43. Art and Technology. Learn about the relationship between art and technology from its historical roots to current day. [Capilano University]
44. Technologies for Creative Learning. Examine ways new technologies can help stimulate learning and creativity in this hands-on course that uses the Lego Programmable Brick and Computer Clubhouse to facilitate learning. [MIT]
45. Media Industries and Systems. Learn how trends, audience, and the creative process are important forces shaping content in media industries and systems. [MIT]
46. Technology for Professional Writers. This course teaches important technology skills for writers who may need an extra boost in tech savvy. [Utah State University]
47. Common Sense Reasoning for Interactive Applications. Study the relationship between humans and computers while learning to increase communication in this class. [MIT]
48. Affective Computing. Learn how emotions are elicited via the computer and the relationship between computing and emotion. [MIT]
49. Signals, Systems, and Information for Media Technology. This graduate-level class explores audio/visual signals and how they are received by humans. [MIT]

Writing

Practice and improve your writing skills with these classes that also offer a glimpse into important topics such as social and ethical issues, consumer culture, creativity, and media.

50. Expository Writing: Social and Ethical Issues in Print, Photography and Film. This course teaches students to expand their writing skills to create well-reasoned arguments and a polished product through the study of film and literature,. [MIT]
51. Expository Writing: Analyzing Mass Media. Take a look at the impact mass media has had on American culture while learning to write a strong, persuasive essay. [MIT]
52. Expository Writing - Food for Thought: Writing and Reading about Food and Culture. Strengthen writing skills while studying about culture through food in this class that will have your mouth watering. [MIT]
53. The Creative Spark. Learn what is creativity, how it’s valued, and how it grows through journal writings and studying artists of various media. [MIT]
54. Consumer Culture. Practice writing while also taking a look into the culture of American consumerism in this class. [MIT]
55. Writing and Experience: Culture Shock! Writing, Editing, and Publishing in Cyberspace. Through an exploration of American pop culture, this class helps practice and improve writing for an online audience. [MIT]
56. Becoming Digital: Writing About Media Change. With the shift to digital media, business, communication, and entertainment have changed significantly. This class explores that shift while strengthening writing skills. [MIT]
57. Digital Poetry. Students explore digital poetry in various forms including soundscapes, hypertext poetry, animation, code poems, and interactive games. [MIT]
58. Argumentation and Communication. This writing class teaches to present and persuade the written word effectively. [MIT]

Communication

Being an effective communicator is a vital part of being a successful web worker. No matter if you’re using the written word or images, these classes will help you learn ways to improve your communication with any type of audience.

59. Management Communications for Undergraduates. Focus on writing, speaking, team work, and interpersonal relationship skills in this communications class. [MIT]
60. Understanding Online Interaction. This course examines the psychology of communication on the Internet and includes student participation in several types of interactive media. [Utah State University]
61. Communicating in Cyberspace. Examine the ways information is communicated on the Internet and learn how to effectively communicate in cyberspace. [MIT]
62. Intro to Tech Communication. If you come from a technical background rather than a literary one, this course offers the basics in writing for an information-based audience. [MIT]
63. Introduction to Technical Communication: Ethics in Science and Technology. Take a look at how ethical dilemmas are approached and dealt with when they arise in technology-based situations in this class. [MIT]
64. Introduction to Technical Communication: Explorations in Scientific and Technical Writing. This course provides the basics in technical writing with subjects ranging from graphics, web page writing and design, and email. [MIT]
65. Communicating Across Cultures. Learn how to improve intercultural communication and interactions in this class. [MIT]
66. Key skill assessment: communication. Designed to improve speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, this class offers an opportunity to practice communication skills. [The Open University]
67. Social Visualization. Learn how to visualize the invisible crowd of Internet users, their activities, and interactions so better connect with them. [MIT]
68. Using Internet Communications. Study theories of communication as they relate to the Internet in this class. [UMass Boston]
69. Foundations of Language and Communications. Reading, writing, and presentation skills are emphasized in this communications course. [Western Governors University]

Copyright, Law, and Ethics

It’s a foolish web worker who doesn’t know a few things about copyright, ethics, and legal issues surrounding the Internet. Protect yourself by taking these classes and becoming an expert in this area.

70. Ethics and the Law on the Electronic Frontier. Discusses several timely topics and policies concerning the Internet and law in this course. [MIT]
71. Information Law and Policy. Find out about copyright law, protecting databases, licensing of information, privacy and much more in this course. [UC Berkeley]
72. Introduction to Copyright Law. Learn the basics of copyright law with an emphasis on Internet-related topics. [MIT]
73. Patents, Copyrights, and the Law of Intellectual Property. Learn US laws as they pertain to patents, copyrights and intellectual property in this seminar-style class. [MIT]
74. Innovative Businesses and Breakthrough Technologies–the Legal Issues. This introduction to business law covers several areas of legal concerns ranging from the legal framework of R&D to intellectual property protections. [MIT]
75. Literature, Ethics, and Authority. Study ethics through an examination of literature and films in this class from the Sloan School of Management. [MIT]
76. International Law. Learn the basics of International Law in this course that covers topics like dispute settlements, state responsibility, and international resource management. [Professional Educational Organization International]
77. Ethical Practice: Professionalism, Social Responsibility, and the Purpose of the Corporation. With a focus on business management, this class looks at the ethics and social responsibility of businesses. [MIT]
78. Ethics Part 1 and Ethics Part 2. Study the early history of ethics and make your way to modern ethical theories in this two-part class. [Western Governors University]

Marketing

Whether you are marketing yourself or a client, learn the basics as well as more complex marketing theories with these classes.

79. Introduction to Marketing. An excellent start for those just beginning to study marketing, this course from the Sloan School of Management covers all the basics. [MIT]
80. Marketing Management. This introductory course offers a basic overview of the concepts of marketing and is another place to start before moving to more advanced marketing courses. [MIT]
81. Special Seminar in Marketing: Marketing Management. Take this seminar to get the basics of marketing ideas and phenomena as well as learning market analysis and planning. [MIT]
82. Marketing communications as a strategic function. This class goes over the basic arguments for marketing communications as an important strategy, the changing role of communications, and customer preferences. [The Open University]
83. Marketing Strategy. Examine marketing in conjunction with company strategy in this course specifically recommended for entrepreneurs, consultants, and project managers. [MIT]
84. Entrepreneurial Marketing. Focus on general concepts of marketing problems in order to learn about basic marketing and new venture issues. [MIT]
85. Strategic Marketing Management. Learn to understand the market in this course, which will teach the skills necessary to complete a marketing research survey. [MIT]
86. Listening to the Customer. This course, the companion course to Strategic Marketing Management, approaches marketing from the needs of the customers rather than the market. [MIT]
87. Pricing. Learn important pricing strategies and tactics in this class. [MIT]
88. Innovative Product Development. Explore new product development in the context of technology, the innovation process, and more in this course. [MIT]
89. Too unimportant to fail? Innovations and competitive selection in markets. Learn about innovation and creativity in economies, the changing role of research and development, and much more in this class. [Gresham College]

Entrepreneurship

Many web workers are freelancers, but even if you aren’t, you may need to understand the unique perspective of an entrepreneur in dealing with clients. Take these classes to find out everything from raising capital to behavior of an entrepreneur to successful women entrepreneurs.

90. Developmental Entrepreneurship. Through examination of real-life examples of both failed and successful businesses in developing countries, this class explores developmental opportunities and business models. [MIT]
91. Entrepreneurial Finance. Entrepreneurs will enjoy the lessons in this course that examines raising money for technology-based companies and the early stages of development. [MIT]
92. Early Stage Capital. This course offers lessons on start-ups and early stage capital generation with a focus on building relationships with investors and advisors. [MIT]
93. Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning. Learn the basics of getting personal finances in order and planning for the future to positively impact your business as an entrepreneur. [UC Irvine]
94. Investment Risk. Entrepreneurs are smart to learn about risk. This course focuses on risk aversion, qualifying risk, risk factors, and discounted cash flow and the net present value rule. [The Open University]
95. Law for the Entrepreneur and Manager. This class strives to educate entrepreneurs in the basics of the legal issues that affect a business from start-up to going public. [MIT]
96. Special Seminar in Management The Nuts and Bolts of Business Plans. Specifically designed for entrepreneurs, this seminar looks at the basics of creating a business plan. [MIT]
97. Entrepreneurial behavior. Explore the definitions, qualities, function, and work styles of entrepreneurs in this class. [The Open University]
98. Managerial Economics. Learn the basics of microeconomics as it pertains to management decisions in this class that is important for any entrepreneur. [Utah State University]
99. How to Develop "Breakthrough" Products and Services. This course teaches how to create breakthrough products and services through concrete, systematic concepts. [MIT]
100. Entrepreneurship in Contemporary America. Learn what several successful American business women have faced in a field that has typically been viewed as a man’s world. [Harvard University]

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There are hundreds on online degree programs out there, many of them good and many of them not so good. While it’s easy to assume that the top schools in your state offer great programs, when it comes to online degree programs you might want to take a deeper look. If you are trying to find an online degree program, look for accreditation, reputation, and admission.

When looking for an online degree program, the most important thing to look for is accreditation. A quality program will meet educational guidelines and be regionally accredited. To be accredited an institution must have their programs evaluated by a third party, usually a accrediting association, who determine whether or not the curriculum and training meet specific educational standards. In the United States higher education programs are accredited either by regionally accrediting bodies or national accrediting bodies, depending on the nature of the program. Any school can say that they are accredited, so it is important to research who they are accredited by. If you want to find out more information about accreditation visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s Web site, which recognizes accrediting bodies and it a great resource for information on them.

When looking for an online degree program it is important thing to look for a good reputation. Employers typically do not spend more than a few minutes looking at your resume, if you are lucky. This means that you are going to want to make sure that the school at which you receive your education is a reputable one. Institutions with good reputations are more recognizable and will stand out to employers. You don’t want to lose your chance at securing an interview because a recruiter took one look at your resume and then threw it in the waste basket since you got your degree through an unheard of institution.

Lastly, when looking for an online degree program you should look for admissions requirements. If an online degree program has set requirements you have to meet in order to be admitted, it is a good indication that the school’s purpose is to provide you with an education and not just take your money for a piece of paper. While some schools have fairly simple requirements, such as minimum GPA or high school diploma, others may require more specific requirements like test scores and recommendation letters.

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One of the most important things about an online degree program is that it is accredited. Accreditation is a way to assure students that they are enrolling in a quality program that meets high standards and educational guidelines. Knowing about the process of accreditation will help you avoid "diploma mills" who give out academic degrees that have little to no academic value and are not recognized by reputable accrediting agencies. One of the purposes of accreditation is to protect the student and make sure that they are not only receiving a legitimate education but a recognized one. Before you choose to enroll in an online degree program, research the institution to make sure that the program has been evaluated by one of these agencies and passed their standards.

Colleges must go through a lengthy accreditation process where their programs are evaluated by a third party, usually an accrediting association, who determine whether or not their curriculum and training meet specific educational standards. While the process differs from one agency to the next, it generally includes intuitional examination, peer reviews, visits by the accrediting council, and program critiques and decisions. After an institution receives accreditation they have to maintain it by being reviewed every few years to make sure their programs are kept up to standard and up to date. Just because a school is accredited does not mean it is accredited by a reputable agency. Reputable higher education programs in the United States can be accredited by two types of associations, national accrediting associations or regionally accrediting associations.

Whether a program is accredited through a national or regional association depends on the nature of the program. National accrediting associations typically accredit schools nationwide that have career, technical, or vocational programs. Standards for these types of programs depend of specialty and may result in a degree or a certificate. The Department of Education lists five of these general associations; Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training, and Council on Occupational Education. Regional accrediting associations typically accredit schools that are academically oriented. These institutions, depending on which region they fall into, are generally accredited through one of six associations; the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission of Schools and Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

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