World University Rankings by Subject: Philosophy

Rank Title
1 Harvard University
2 University of Oxford
3 University of Cambridge
4 University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
5 Princeton University
6 Australian National University
7 University of Toronto
8 Stanford University
9 Yale University
10 University of Chicago

Do You Have The Time? How Deal With Professors Who Don’t Dismiss Class

We've all had to sit through a class or two that goes on longer than the official time block scheduled in the student catalogue. There are always a few students who didn't follow along exactly and need to ask questions that unnecessarily waste everyone's time. There is always that one professor who doesn't have a watch and tends to ramble on. There's always that one classroom with a broken clock telling the wrong time on the back wall. So what about those of you who haven't had this happen yet? How will you deal with it?

Take our advice. We've dealt successfully with these situations before, so don't fret too much. You have plenty of options. Depending on the atmosphere of the classroom, on whether or not it's an easy-going class, you could simply raise your hand as suggest that the class dismiss, letting the students who needed to stay have one on one time with the professor. Or, if that would cause discomfort, you could always sit through it and talk to the professor afterward and let him know that you need to get to a class right after his. This is a great strategy because it avoids confrontation and shows the professor that you still care about his class, but have other responsibilities. He or she will appreciate the honesty, most likely.

If the problem persists, you could try to place yourself near to an exit door so that you can make your escape should the need arise. You might consider letting your professor know that you just absolutely cannot stay longer than necessary, but again, get a feel for your professor's mood before bringing that up. Ideally, you can get out of the classroom without causing too much of a distraction.

At the worst, you might have to drop the class, though it should rarely come to this. If professors continually hold classes over, you can also consider talking to someone in the department that oversees their courses, and the department can speak with them. However, as with all your interactions with professors, be as respectful as you can.

Staying Safe in College

The college experience should be a time of personal growth, learning new things and meeting new friends. All too often, though, a student's experience is dampened by crimes that take place on or near his or her campus. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to deterring crime. It's far better to do what you can to prevent a crime from happening in the first place than to find yourself reporting a crime to campus police. Here, we will discuss ways to keep safe while in college.

By far the most frequent crimes that occur on most college campuses are thefts and burglaries. Prevention of these crimes starts in the residence halls. While it's helpful that many dorm rooms now feature self-locking doors, many students are tempted to prop them open while they run a quick errand or visit a friend in a neighboring dorm room. This is never a good idea, as a theft can occur in a matter of minutes. Next thing you know, you return to your dorm to find your iPod or laptop is missing. It is also a good general practice to place anything of value, such as cash or jewelry, out of plain sight in a dorm room. Thieves will be looking for a quick and easy opportunity.

The same is true of vehicle burglaries on campus — don't leave items such as books, purses or shopping bags in plain sight in your car. Place them in your trunk, or at the very least place a blanket or coat over these items to conceal them. Even a visible backpack can be a temptation, as a burglar may wish to steal it to search for textbooks to quickly resell for cash. Even if the burglar finds nothing of value, you've still got a broken door or window to deal with.

Students should consider taking self-defense classes to protect themselves from physical assault. Women especially should take self-defense classes to protect themselves from sexual assault. These classes are offered by many universities and often count as a P.E. or elective credit. At parties, never leave your drink unattended, as this places you at risk of getting slipped the date rape drug.

Finally, never walk alone at night on campus, even if it's just back to your residence hall after class. Walk with a friend, ask a campus police officer to escort you or take advantage of a night escort service offered by many universities.

The Coolest Dorms in the Country

For students who have never had a taste of freedom, their first dorm room will be great no matter what condition it is in, or how many empty pizza boxes are stacked in the corner. Most colleges and universities provide an average housing experience that pushes many to move off-campus as soon as possible. However, some institutions are known for their diverse housing options. Here is where you can find the country’s coolest dorms.

* Live like a king. Have you ever dreamed of living in a castle? If you enroll at Brandeis University in Massachusetts you just might get the chance. The institution’s Usen Castle offers 120 sophomore students the chance to live in the oldest building on campus, which also offers views of the Boston skyline from its balcony, according to the school’s official website. In addition, no two rooms in the castle are alike. Usen is also the home of Cholmondeley’s, or Chum’s, a student-managed coffee shop. According to U.S. News & World Report, this spot was the model for Central Perk on the television show Friends.
* Room with a view. Cramming for exams is a part of most students’ college experience. So when you are stuck inside your tiny dorm room all weekend, wouldn’t it be nice to look at your window and see an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean? According to U.S. News, that is just what some students get to see from their dorms at Loyola Marymount University in California.
* An architect’s dream dorm. Over 300 Massachusetts Institute of Technology students live inside the shimmering Simmons Hall, which is also known as the Sponge. This architectural landmark is 10 stories high and glows with interior light after dark, according to the school’s official website. This dormitory is home to a computer cluster, fitness center, music rooms and street-level dining. If all this was not enough, students can let off some steam in what U.S. News refers to as a playground-style pit filled with tiny plastic balls.
* Camping anyone? So it is not really a dorm experience, but each fall, a few students from New York’s St. Lawrence University head to the Adirondacks where they study the environment, U.S. News reports. They also live in electronics-free yurts, which are portable, felt-covered structures that are a little homelier than tents. This arrangement is a part of the university’s outdoor program. Though it probably is not for everybody, it is definitely one of the more interesting college living experiences.
* Historical living. Students have the opportunity to be a part of history at the University of Virginia, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. The institution’s official website states that seniors can apply to live in a Lawn room at the heart of the former president’s original school. A total of 54 seniors can reside in this historic residence. Rooms come furnished with a bed, desk and a rocking chair. Some even have their own fireplace. Not many other schools offer students a chance to have fireside chats with their dormmates.
* Dorm of the future. Vassar College in New York is where students can live like it is the future. The curved Noyes House has been referred to as the Jetsons’ Lounge, according to the school’s official website. Though Vassar’s other residence halls are more Victorian and Edwardian in style, the futuristic Noyes House, which was built in 1958, stands out for its modernist exteriors and futuristic interiors.
* See for yourself. A cool college dorm should not be the main reason for applying to an institution. However, you will be spending a lot of time there, so it is important to like your residence. The best way to get a look at what could be your future home is to take a campus tour.

Survive a Field Trip When You’re in College

Field trips in elementary, middle and high school rock, quite simply. You don't have to sit in class, you get a packed lunch — or even get to eat out in some cases — and don't have homework. Basically, you get to spend the day talking with your friends and getting to see kids from other classes whom you normally don't get to socialize with at school. In college, field trips are usually never like that. With the occasional exception of art students visiting a museum, or voluntary or extra credit field trips that let you tour a place on your own time, college field trips destroy your schedule, and sometimes even your weekends. If you masterminded your schedule so that you didn't have class on Friday, how awful is it to have to go on a field trip all day on a Friday? And if your field trip is a day trip, you can say goodbye to happy hour, power hour, and nap time, too. Even if you'd normally be in class during your field trip, it's not like skipping a class in high school: it's actually more trouble than it's worth. You're going to fall behind and have to do extra work chasing down the professor and making up your work — especially if there was a quiz — just because of that stupid field trip.

To make your day-long (let's hope it's not any longer) field trip less annoying, you've got to pack the right bag and make some preparations. Get with your professor ahead of time so that he or she knows you'll be leaving because of another class, and bring the reading or lecture notes — if they're already online — with you on the bus. Also let your friends know your miserable luck, and have them keep you updated on plans so that you can meet up with them as soon as your bus gets back to school.

Your survival bag should of course include some schoolwork so that you can catch up as much as you can, as well as things to keep you happy. Bring snacks, your iPod, a magazine, and even an eyemask or small pillow so that you can sleep away the bus ride.

From Power Hour to Happy Hour: Adapting to the Work Week After College

College students' schedules change with every semester, quarter, and/or vacation, and even the schedules they do have vary day to day. On Mondays and Wednesdays, you might have to wake up for an 8:30a.m. class, but you can take a nap until your part-time job starts at noon, and then spend the rest of the afternoon studying and taking more classes. Tuesdays and Thursdays might allow you to sleep until 11a.m., but you're in class until 8p.m. Your main concern as a college student with a busy schedule is keeping it all straight as each day brings something new, but when you graduate and enter the workforce, adapting to a regular 9-5 (plus overtime) is harder than it seems.

Just because you've got to be in the same place at the same time every day doesn't mean you'll have an easy time adjusting. You might have less to remember, but your body isn't going to like the change at first. Your mornings will most likely start much earlier, and you won't have time to go back to your room and take a nap, or even eat according to your own preferred schedule. Top that with wearing uncomfortable work clothes and getting minimal exercise as you sit in one chair all day, and your new schedule could seem like a trap.

With a few tricks, however, you can ease your way into the five-day work week. When you first start your job, you might be tempted to start going to happy hour every evening after work: you're exhausted, lonely and just want to unwind in a way that reminds you that you're still young and crazy. But in the early days at least you should limit yourself to one or two dinners, coffees or drink dates per week, and commit to going to bed at the same time every night. Ideally, you'll head home after work and give your body and mind the kind of rest and rejuvenation it really needs: some exercise, a healthy dinner, and uninterrupted sleep. Drinking alcohol greatly impairs the quality of your sleep, even if you pass out right away. It will also be much easier for you to wake up on time in the morning if you had a relaxing evening the night before.

If you're able to wake up on time each day but find yourself crashing before lunch or during the mid-afternoon slump, arm yourself with healthy snacks and scheduled breaks. High-protein, low-fat snacks with complex carbohydrates — and not starchy, sugary carbs — will rev up your energy and keep your mind focused. Since you can't eat actual meals whenever you want like you could in college, keep these snacks in your desk and in the office refrigerator for break times. Take a walk around the block to clear your head, get some fresh air, and free yourself from the confines of your cubicle. It'll boost your mood and help acclimate you to the work week. It's not so torturous if you find out how to give your body the rest it needs and to indulge yourself in little treats and breaks throughout the day.

What to Expect During Your First Week of College

No matter how many times you've watched Animal House, Old School or any other college movie, you're not totally prepared to start the school year if you think it's going to be one non-stop party. You'll be living on your own and will have surprisingly easy access to alcohol and other substances even if you're underage (or they're illegal), can eat whatever you want, sleep on a random schedule, and choose whether or not to go to class, but if you regularly indulge in all of the above, you'll probably be kicked out on your fat, wheezing self after the first semester.

Getting ready for college means having more realistic, balanced expectations for college life, and that starts with educating yourself about what will happen during your first week at college. Whether you attend a large university or a small liberal arts school, your first few days will be taken up with registration and orientation activities, though no school's welcome week is the same. The first day obviously involves moving in, meeting your roommate and saying goodbye to your teary but proud parents, and later on you should expect to have some sort of dorm meeting to explain basic policies, rules, study breaks and how other things around the dorm work, like laundry.

For the next few days, you should expect to have a pretty busy schedule, but you may have already been able to check it on your school's new student website before arriving on campus. You may be assigned to a mentor or orientation group to make the process go more smoothly, meet students right away and be able to ask questions of an older student or other guide who can help you. Registering for classes, buying books, taking placement exams and attending mixers are all a part of freshmen orientation week, but it's up to you to figure out which events you need to go to, which you should go to (in order to meet new friends and mingle with professors), and which aren't worth your time.

This week of college is a great opportunity to reinvent yourself from the start and give everyone a solid first impression of yourself, socially and academically. Everyone's nervous, exhausted and anxious to get on a real schedule, but push yourself to attend parties and events sponsored by departments or extracurricular groups you might be interested in joining, like the drama improv group, volunteer network, or student government association. Official and unofficial parties will be thrown at night, especially if your campus has a lively Greek population, but make sure you don't go overboard, at least not until you've met friends you can trust and have taken all your placement exams.

Getting Your Rear in Gear: Staying Active in College

Ah, college. Those glorious years when you study hard, party harder, and put on 25 pounds by the time you graduate. Wait a minute. Was that last bit not exactly a part of your ideal college experience? Sadly, packing on the pounds is a reality for many students as they enter college life and begin to form habits like studying over the pizza box and downing beer and junk food at parties. The food that's the worst for you is almost always the cheapest, and students' health often suffers from a lack of physical activity.

Your required physical education courses are not always enough to keep your body healthy. That's why it's important to incorporate exercise into a college lifestyle. One luxury that most college students have is access to a fitness or recreation center on their campus. Not only do these centers generally have cardio machines, weight training machines and free weights, but they also usually have open workout rooms where different types of fitness classes are offered, such as yoga, pilates or aerobics. Some college recreation centers even feature pools for open lap swimming. These gyms can get packed in the early evenings with workout junkies, so you may want to get in the habit of hitting the gym every other day in the morning before class.

Another exercise option for those who don't care for the gym scene is joining an intramural sports team. Many students would rather join a softball, basketball or sand volleyball intramural team than hit the gym because it's a more fun way to stay active while hanging out with like-minded friends. And sometimes having people you know surrounding you is what it takes to stay active.

If intramurals don't interest you, there's always running, where the only competition is against yourself. If you go to a school in a larger metropolitan city, chances are there is an organized group of runners in your city and you can connect with them through their various blogs after a brief Internet search. If you live in a smaller college town, you may need to get creative and search out your own running routes near your campus. Then again, there's always your university's track, when it's not in use by the track team.

Whatever choice you make, remember that you are doing the right thing for your body when you make exercise a part of your lifestyle. With a healthy body and an active lifestyle, you will have the confidence and the energy you need to succeed in college.

Five Steps to Figuring Out Accreditation

by Robyn Tellefsen
You've made the decision to earn your degree online. You know what you want to study, how you'll fit school into your busy work and family life, and you have some inkling of how you'll afford it. Here comes the hard part: How do you choose the right school? Ask anyone - it all boils down to accreditation.

Select Your Program:
Select Business Legal Education Healthcare Trade Hospitality Arts & Design Technology Nursing AdvertisementLearn the terminology.
Accreditation is a status granted to an education institution or program that meets or exceeds predetermined criteria of education quality. Basically, it's an academic stamp of approval. As of April 2006, there were 6,814 accredited institutions and 18,152 accredited programs nationwide. Schools that aren't accredited can exist legally by meeting their particular state requirements, and are known as "state-licensed" or "state-approved." Costs for such programs are comparatively low, and courses tend to be vocationally-biased toward adult degree completion.
Choose to go accredited.
Here's why: Accreditation ensures the quality of an institution or program and assists in its improvement. Plus, if you ever want to transfer credits to an accredited school, you'll have a hard time getting non-accredited coursework recognized. Other benefits of pursuing accredited education include eligibility for federal and state student financial aid; tuition assistance and/or credential recognition by employers; and eligibility to sit for state licensure examinations in professional fields.
Consult the experts.
Knowing a school should be accredited isn't enough, though. You need to find out who is conferring the accreditation, and if that particular accreditation is recognized. The recognizers? Washington, D.C.-based Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a private nonprofit national organization, and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). They each review the quality and effectiveness of accrediting organizations, recognizing many of the same ones, but not all. USDE recognition is required for institutions that seek eligibility for federal student financial aid, and CHEA recognition confers academic legitimacy.
Verify your program's accreditation status.
Don't let the name mislead you ; regional accreditation is the highest level of accreditation an online or brick-and-mortar institution can obtain, and is recognized throughout the country. Regional associations accredit mainly nonprofit, degree-granting institutions in specific geographic areas (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, or Western).
National accreditors consist of faith-based, private career, and specialized and professional associations.

Faith-based accreditors review religiously affiliated or doctrinally based degree-granting and nonprofit institutions. CHEA and USDE recognize four faith-based accrediting associations.

Private career organizations accredit mainly for-profit, non-degree granting, single-purpose institutions (e.g., education in Business or information technology). Of the seven associations recognized by the USDE, CHEA recognizes two: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools; and Distance Education and Training Council Accrediting Commission.

Specialized and professional associations accredit particular programs within a college or university, rather than an entire institution, with the exception of some single-purpose institutions. A school may be regionally accredited and also have specialized accreditations for its professional programs. As of February 2006, the most current data available, there were 46 accrediting bodies recognized by CHEA, and 41 by USDE (with some overlap), including the American Psychological Association Committee on Accreditation; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council Accreditation Committee.

Stay tuned for updates.
Think you've got it down? Not quite. As it turns out, the process of accreditation is a work in progress.
In September 2006, after a year of deliberation, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings' Commission on the Future of Higher Education submitted its final report on the role and performance of higher education in the U.S.

Now, the U.S. Department of Education is challenged to carry out the commission's work, and addressing accreditation tops the to-do list.

According to the commission, the accreditation system is falling short of its purpose - ensuring quality education. To make sure accreditation measures up, the commission has highlighted goals of determining, in comparable ways, how well students are learning; ensuring that these student learning outcomes are more central in accreditors' assessments of college performance; and making these learning outcomes and accreditation decisions public knowledge.

"The growing public demand for increased accountability, quality and transparency coupled with the changing structure and globalization of higher education requires a transformation of accreditation," the panel said in its report.

The ultimate goal? For colleges to better measure and report their successes and failures in educating students.

We'll keep you informed as this process unfolds. In the meantime, log onto www.chea.org or http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation to verify that your education program's current accreditation is legitimate.

What are the benefits of online learning?

Flexibility is one big benefit. With online learning, you set your own schedule, although you will still be responsible for maintaining assignment deadlines and courses along with may have set online chat times or other synchronous elements as mentioned above. Convenience is another benefit. Lecture notes are often available online, as are transcripts of class chats and discussions.

How can I earn a college degree online?
How can I earn a college degree online? Visit http://www.classesusa.com to find out more.

Are you cut out for the online classroom?
Going back to school has been on your to-do list for what seems like an eternity, and you're finally ready to do something about it, especially now that there's a convenient option like online learning. Of course, when it comes to recommitting yourself to higher education, there are a multitude of factors to consider. Make sure you're prepped and poised to make the move to the online classroom by taking this quiz.

What do you need to succeed?
The right attitude makes all the difference in taking online classes. "Are you disciplined? Can you set aside a dedicated amount of time? Are you a self-starter?" Find out how if online learning is right for you and if you have what it takes to succeed.

Can I transfer credit to or from online schools?edit to or from online schools?

Can I transfer credit to or from online schools?
Your ability to transfer credits is determined by the receiving school. If the credits are from a regionally accredited school, they will often be accepted. For additional information, please contact your school of interest via the convenient information request form.

Can I get an online degree if I live outside the USA?
Most of the schools listed on ClassesUSA are unable to accept inquiries through ClassesUSA from students outside the USA. If you reside outside the USA, please visit our International page for a list of schools that accept international inquiries.

Can I get a college degree based entirely on my life experience?
Legitimate colleges and universities will not offer a degree based entirely on your life experience. Some will allow you to test out of required courses by showing competence and passing a proficiency test. Further, some will offer partial credit for "life experience," but not without you completing a rigorous screening and evaluation process.

Social Science Degrees

Earn A Counseling Degree Online

With an online counseling degree, you may find yourself in a position where you can help others make life changing decisions. Counselors provide support to people dealing with mental health issues, marriage counseling, career goals, educational goals, and a number of other life issues. If you enjoy working closely with people and helping them to set priorities to shape their lives, then you may find an online counseling degree a rewarding opportunity for you. Be sure to check the qualifications of admittance for the online counseling degree program. In some cases, it may be required that you have a certain number of years experience in the field or in practical training prior to taking the online counseling degree courses.



Learn Psychology Online

If you enjoy studying individual human behavior, an online degree in psychology may be right up your alley. This degree allows you the opportunity to learn more about the field from child development and gender issues through death and dying. You will explore the impact that certain phenomenon have on individuals and learn how people cope. By taking online courses towards an associates, bachelors or graduate degree in psychology, you can prepare yourself to work in an exciting field thanks to the flexibility offered by psychology schools online.



Online Psychology For the 21st Century

The web has become quite a source of information for people in the 21st century. You can even diagnose medical or psychological problems all from the comfort of your living room sofa. However, to become more than a couch psychologist, you can take online courses in psychology. While many websites are very credible, you may not find all of the information you need for analysis on the Internet. To make up for that, you can learn more from your instructor in the online psychology class who has completed years of training to develop an expertise in the field. If you want to be in a position to accurately diagnosis psychological problems, complete your online psychology degree and gain a mastery in the subject.



Sociology Online

Earning an online degree in sociology can provide you with a better understanding of how people interact in society. In studying the various relationships people have, this degree can provide you with an opportunity to learn different viewpoints in topics that include gender and race. You may also have the opportunity to study the role of the family in society as well as various societal social problems. Since interactions occur even in an online environment, many sociologists have embraced the technology and offer online courses. Visit an online degree information site to find information on schools that offer an online degree in sociology.



Study Social Work Online

The requirements to become a licensed social worker vary by state. Before you start your degree in social work, make sure the program and any online social work courses will help you become eligible to be licensed. In addition, if you decide to seek a graduate degree in social work, make sure you understand the admission requirements. These may include having already completed a bachelor's degree in social work. To complete thed egree requirements, you may be able to find a number of online courses that lead to the completion of the social work program and improve your chances of a career in the social work field.

Online School Application Tips

Be Tech Savvy With An Online Application

When you apply to be admitted to an online degree program, show the college that you are technically savvy. If they offer you the choice between having an application sent to your home or completing it online, this should be a no-brainer. Complete the admissions application for the online degree program by applying online. While this is not a requirement, the online school wants to know that you are comfortable working in an online environment. For those students who lack the needed technical skills, don't dismay. Knowing the technology is not a must to get into an online program, but if you lack these skills you may need to participate in additional training when you enter the program to get up to speed.



Completing Your Essay For An Online Application

Some schools require you to complete an essay to submit with your online application for admission. If this is the case, print out a copy of the application before you begin filling it out. Review everything that is being requested by the school and take some time to think about your responses. You don't want to be rejected for admission into your desired program just because you didn't put any thought into what you wrote. Instead write your essay response using a word processing program. Take the time to make sure that it is complete and error free. You also should read through it a couple of times to make sure it answers what the college wants to know. Then when you are prepared complete the information for the online application by just cutting and pasting the essay response.



Fill Out Your Online Application Correctly The First Time

Every impression counts, so make sure your online application is filled out correctly the first time to help you get accepted for admission. To start, you should complete the online application completely and accurately. Read through each item carefully before responding to make sure you are providing the information they are requesting. If you don't understand what is being asked, then don't be afraid to call and ask for help. It is better to stop and ask to get it right than to be rejected because you don't understand what the school wants to know.



Follow-Up On Your Online Application

After you submit your online admissions application, don't expect an immediate reply from the school. Generally, the school will send an email verifying that the application has been received and may even tell you when to expect a formal notice indicating if you have been accepted. Do be patient and let them review your application. Only call the school if you did not receive verification that they received your application within a day or so of submitting it online. Also, wait to call and check the status until they have had time to process your information. If they are waiting for you to send additional information, then make sure everything has been forwarded to the school before checking. Admissions offices get a lot of calls regarding the status of applications from anxious students so expect it to take some time to complete their review of your application.



Send In All Required Admissions Information

When you apply for admission to a college program, there may be additional information that is requested that has to be mailed in separately. This may include transcripts from schools you previously attended. Generally, when you identify on your college application that you attended another college or university in the past, whether it was to earn other online degrees or not, it will be expected that you submit the transcripts by the application deadline. There may be other items as well that need to be submitted including an application fee. When you complete the online college application, read everything carefully, understand all deadlines, and send in all required materials in a timely manner. If you do not send in everything that the school requires, your application for admission may not even be considered.