Several studies have proven that military-friendly online colleges help veterans in making a smooth change from their military life to a civilian life. Attending one of the best online universities for military veterans will not only help to boost their educational stock but will also help to build their confidence and prepare them for jobs in their particular field of interest. Most military-friendly online universities offer programs in a wide range of subjects which makes it easier for veterans to choose an area of study based on their interests.

Here is a list of some of the best online universities for military veterans:

American Military University – Founded by a former military officer, AMU caters to the needs of military veterans. Their degree programs are designed such that veterans can complete them at their own pace. They offer affordable tuition rates that also concur with several veterans benefit programs.

Norwich University – It is one of the first online colleges for military veterans that focused in helping the veterans to make a smooth transition to civilian life through education. They offer various online degree programs for veterans in business, engineering, nursing, military history, justice, diplomacy and much more. At Norwich the experience of military veterans is highly recognized and used effectively to enhance any given program.

AIU Online – At AIU Online veterans can pursue degree programs of their choice at regular or an accelerated pace depending on their needs. Some of the degree programs offered in AIU Online include business administration, visual communication and information technology. Payments from several veteran education assistance programs are also accepted at AIU Online.

Saint Leo University – Saint Leo University has been ranked as one of the Top Military Friendly Schools of 2010 by GI Jobs Magazine. They offer quality educational programs and recognize the experience of military veterans. In addition to online programs they also offer campus education and participate in the post 9/11 GI Bill’s Yellow Ribbon Program.

Liberty University – Liberty is one of the best military-friendly online universities and they offer several benefits to veterans and other military students who want to achieve their professional and academic goals. Some of the benefits for online military students include tuition assistance, Heroes Fund Scholarship, military tuition discount and more.

Colorado Tech Online – The Department of Military Education of Colorado Tech Online offers quality online degree programs for veterans who are looking to advance their career opportunities as civilians. They offer flexible program schedules and help veterans to make a smooth transition to their academic environment.

The above are some of the best online universities for military veterans and with a little effort and research you will be able to find one that is perfect for your needs.

With the current trend of everything around us from laundry detergent to automobiles “going green”, may be its time that we “go green” with our careers too.
Here is a list of top 8 green careers that might be of interest to you:

Farmer
There are only 2 million farmers in America and since sustainable agriculture is possible only with local small-scale organic methods and not with non-renewable fuel based machinery and fertilizers, the demand for farmers is huge and growing. Many reputable colleges and universities offer degree programs in sustainable agriculture to pursue many promising green jobs in agriculture.

Energy Efficiency Builder
With the growing concerns of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, there is a great demand to convert existing buildings and build new buildings to be energy efficient. To make this possible, not only highly skilled architects and engineers but a huge workforce of retrofitters is also required to convert energy guzzling buildings into energy efficient ones.

Urban Planner
Urban as well as regional planning is probably the most needed skill in America’s quest to lower its carbon footprint. Career opportunities in this sector have been projected to increase by about 15% in the next six years. Courses for urban studies and planning are offered in several top rated universities.

Environmental Engineer
This is one of the top green jobs with rising opportunities for obvious reasons. The fundamental object of this job is to prevent our planet from deteriorating any further. The scope of this job is wide ranging and includes limiting the effects of soil erosion, acid rain, greenhouse gases, car emissions, ozone depletion and global warming. It is estimated that environmental engineering careers will rise by 25% in the next 7 years.

Conservation Biologist
A promising green career that is not just limited to lab coats and test tubes. With the responsibility of preserving the integrity of our ecosystems, conservation biologists can look forward to growing opportunities in research, teaching, field work and several government and non-profit organizations.

Sustainability Systems Developer
For the green economy to prosper, specialized system developers and engineers are a must to design, build and maintain the stochastic framework to support the renewable energy resources like smart energy grids and wind farms. Software developers skilled in web 2.0 applications and open source have ever increasing opportunities to make their careers “green”.

Wind Turbine Fabricator
Manufacturers of wind turbine are in great demand as wind is the fastest growing source of renewable energy. This green job has promising and growing opportunities that you might want to look into.

Solar Power Installer
This is a fast growing career that is suited for those looking to start fresh and for those with construction background looking to make a transition to green careers. You don’t have to worry about opportunities as this career is in great demand wherever the sun shines.

Top rated online universities offer structured classes in numerous areas of study like business, arts, science, technology, nursing and management just to name a few and within each category you can find a specialty that suits your talents, abilities and interests.

These universities offer unique challenges that are oriented towards preparing you to face a work place environment with confidence. You will receive relevant training in the field you choose which will make you a valuable asset to prospective employers. The projects and online assignments of these universities and colleges are designed to hone your skills in problem solving, communication and much more. You will learn how to make effective use of the latest technology to complete your assignments and projects efficiently.

Last but not least, with a degree from one of the top 10 reputed and recognized online universities your resume is sure to stand out from the others. Every little advantage will help to open new doors of opportunity for you to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment.
To help you make a better choice here is a brief look at the top 10 online universities:

Kaplan University – One of the most renowned and largest of the top online universities, Kaplan offers numerous associates, bachelors and masters degree programs.

Westwood College Online – Westwood is consistently ranked best in the nation for their programs in IT, computers and arts. They offer flexible schedules for your convenience for many associate and bachelor degree programs.

Grand Canyon University – This University is the favorite choice for students looking for quality online education at affordable rates.

Liberty University – Liberty is nation’s top ranked evangelical university that offers many online programs in a Christian learning environment.

AIU Online – Renowned for their high job placement records and is considered as a best choice for career advancement.

Ashford University –Their numerous grants and scholarships has been a boon to many working students and is a one of the top choices for those looking for prestigious and affordable degrees.

Devry University – Pioneers of online universities also offer numerous campuses for those looking for both online and campus experience.

Everest University – Considered as the best for working adults with their numerous grants and flexible schedules.

ITT Tech – This largest network of online and campus schools has been rated as one of the best online universities in many student surveys. They offer a wide range of technical programs.

The developments in the field of graphics and multimedia touch all aspects of art and design and an online degree in this field gives you the opportunity to stay on the cutting edge of this technology.

Along with from learning, interacting with peers, and getting real-time feedback you gain exposure to the job environment and business climate that prevails in your chosen line of specialization and its allied sectors. There are arts and design courses online that will not only instruct you in your preferred core competency but also train you to think from a business perspective and acquire problem solving skills that you can use when leading a project team. Also an online course gives you the freedom to juggle academic and professional commitments.

If the visual arts are something that appeal to you then you should consider an online course in visual media where you will learn about the principles of visual arts and how to relate them to marketing to a target audience. A BS in visual design and brand communication can be of great professional value to those working in the advertising industry.

Because most courses are specific to a niche, it is important that you consider a course that gels with your past work experience and is something that you can take to smoothly. You can go for a bachelors or a masters course, depending upon your present qualification. Assess the university for job placement, average salaries, and course content. You should be exposed to the creative, technological, and business aspects of your line of work.

Job opportunities in the field of art and design are huge and will continue to grow. Your salary and income will of course depend upon your talent, work experience, and size of your employer. Location may or may not be an issue because you may very well be working from home.

The GED tests are available only to those without a high-school diploma; these tests are a great way to move up the income ladder. A working person without a high school diploma is liable to be stuck in a professional rut. With relevant work experience and a GED under your belt you qualify for a higher income. This also opens the doors for higher qualification in the form of online associate and bachelor degrees. The GED is a foundation stone for many who have missed out on a high school degree but aspire for professional success. Even with just a GED, you improve your chances of getting a full-time job as against a high-school dropout. A GED makes you more valuable to your employer and increases the chances of you getting on-job training that adds to your skill sets. U.S. Department of Education stats reveal that GED holders can earn up to 11% more than high-school dropouts.

A GED is a stamp of academic and social approval; it means that you have the necessary education to make a useful contribution to society. Immigrants and those who have been homeschooled also can benefit from the GED. Apart from English, you can take the test in Spanish, French and even Braille. The test covers math, science, social studies, reading and writing.

You need to study diligently for the GED as it can be a life-changing experience. You will have to look up and work on subjects that you have probably left behind quite some time back. You need to ensure that you put particular emphasis on subjects that you have been weak in. You have to score more than 60% of the high school graduates to pass the test. The GED is a multiple-choice test and is neither very easy nor very difficult. Your preparation and the time you take to finish each test make a difference.

The GED consists of a battery of five tests, and if you are unable to clear any of these you only have to appear for that test the next time round.

The bottom-line is that a GED can help you achieve financial security and it opens up more job opportunities for you.

The advantage of having an educational degree in this field is that most chefs have built their careers on experience; with a degree in hand you can take on your first job with a measure of confidence having undergone some measure of practical training and apprenticeship during your studying days. Couple this with the fact that you continue to get real world experience in the culinary arts while pursuing your online degree and you have a real win-win situation. Another valuable advantage is that the hospitality industry is global and a degree can be your passport to jobs in foreign countries.

An online degree in the culinary arts offers both width and depth when it comes to scope for employment. You can work in restaurants big and small; hotels; malls; airlines; caterers; work abroad; start your own business; etc.

When pursuing a degree in restaurant management and culinary arts keep in mind that everything cannot be learnt online; stuff like food science and cost control can be learnt theoretically but there is no substitute for getting in the kitchen and sweating it out stirring beans in a wok and chopping cabbage to make it look attractive for the salad. Practical demonstrations and hands-on learning are vital to understand the nitty gritty of cooking. Therefore search for an online degree program that has enough of practical class work to go with the online theories.

An online degree in restaurant management is in demand because it creates managers so that hotel chains do not have to spend time and money on grooming them; this makes a big difference in the hospitality industry where image means a lot. An under prepared manager can be a liability and a manager that is just right is a great asset. The areas in which you can aim for expertise should you go for such a degree include food and beverage management; nutrition and sanitation; human resources; marketing; business administration, and more.

People are not going to stop eating nor are they going to stop eating out; this is one job that’s never going to go out of fashion.

An online Bachelors Degree in Crime Scene Investigation is one way to gain the requisite qualification for venturing into the challenging world of hardcore investigation. Your job will be primarily to investigate for evidence and try to reconstruct events so that a correct conviction can be made. You could end up working with the FBI, NSA, CIA, start your own agency, state police, federal police, etc.

If you like working odd hours, better still if you’re a night owl and like to solve puzzles then you could consider yourself a good fit for this job. But remember, you need to be driven by a desire to ensure public safety.

An online bachelors degree in crime scene investigation offers flexible study hours. You get to choose from a wide range of subjects to study from such as chemistry, biometry, biology, biochemistry, forensic science, criminal justice, crime scene investigation, and many such very interesting and tantalizing subjects. By the end of your degree you will be expected to demonstrate strong investigative and technical abilities, be aware of the latest in CSI techniques, be able to reconstruct crime scenes, work as a team, liaise with experts, etc.

You can expect to work as a forensic scientist, a crime scene photographer, medical assistant, private investigator, forensic researcher, etc. So, basically there is no dearth of career opportunities in this field for a person with the right qualification.

Computer forensics is probably the hottest and most in-demand field in CSI. You fight cyber-crime and thwart risks to the networks and databases of your employers. In order to work as a computer forensics specialist you need to possess good programming skills, be able to combine forensics knowledge with IT security best practices, etc.

Kaplan University, Colorado Technical University and Bellevue University offer online courses in crime scene investigation.

A masters’ degree essentially further narrows down the scope of study of subjects that you covered in your bachelors’ course. It is a specialized course that covers a niche and by the end of the course your theoretical domain expertise puts you in a great position to leverage the information in the real world. An online masters’ degree is yours after you have achieved the required number of credits. The time taken to earn the credits will depend upon the type of course you choose and the time you are able to devote to the course. It could take you upwards of two years to get a masters’ degree online.

Here are some in vogue masters’ degree courses that you can consider:

Online masters’ degree in business management: This degree is guaranteed to never go out of fashion. There is no business or enterprise, big or small, government or private that does not need effective business management to achieve customer satisfaction and efficient business. Subjects covered include economics, international trade, human resources, planning, strategy, logistics, e-commerce, accounting, marketing, and more. You may be required to participate in case studies in order to fine tune the knowledge that you acquire.

Online master’s degree in criminal justice can get you into senior management positions in services such as police, fire fighters, and guards/security. The American criminal justice system is vast and complex. You can choose subjects in a masters’ degree that complements your previous qualifications and work experience.

Online masters’ degree in engineering covers courses such as electrical, computer, systems, mechanical, and civil engineering as well as general engineering. You learn about the technical as well as the administrative aspects related to your field of engineering. You reach a position from where you can be a change agent offering insight acquired from your work experience and academic qualification.

Online masters’ degree in nursing lets a licensed nurse grow in his field and lead a team of nurses. There are many nursing courses available. You can look to a getting a good job with a large hospital, community based clinic, residential care home, nursing home, children’s home, mental health drop in center, etc.