Higher Education

Members of the military community in Europe, whether active duty, family members or civilians, want higher education. They know that an associate, bachelor or postgraduate degree can mean promotions and better paying jobs, whether in or out of the service.

That is why the command here has established an elaborate program of university-level instruction. Five colleges and universities presently have contracts to provide this instruction: University of Maryland University College-Europe, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, The University of Oklahoma, Central Texas College and the University of Phoenix.

You may earn your degree while you are overseas, even if deployed, or you may transfer credits to a stateside college or university. It's possible to attend classes evenings and weekends, to get college credit without study for things already known, or to take advantage of the exciting new "virtual classrooms" of the cyber age.

So the excuse of "no time" is rarely valid here. Nor is the "can't afford it" excuse. An array of financial assistance is also available to deserving students.

DISTANCE EDUCATION

The cyber age has made possible a vast improvement over the old fashioned, mail-order correspondence course. Video/audio, CD-ROM, computer-based instruction, e-mail, internet and even satellite techniques provide a whole new dimension.

The "virtual classroom," which simulates the traditional classroom in many ways, arrived in the last decade and is here to stay, with a possibly revolutionary impact on the whole education system. Its presence is strongly felt in Europe. People here who can benefit from it are not only ones located in remote areas, but also people who do a lot of traveling (your "classroom" is anywhere you can find a networked computer) and persons whose work or personal situation demands that they be at a certain location during the time that classes are usually offered.

Much of this new kind of education differs markedly from the pencil-and-paper correspondence courses of yesteryear. A large portion of the distance learning taken within the military today is either video-based or web-based. The web-based courses have an instructor and last for a semester just like the traditional courses. The widely-dispersed students are expected to check in several times a week, read what the instructor has to say, ask questions, do their homework, write term papers and take an examination at the end of the semester. Most final exams are online but some are taken at an education center under proctored conditions.

A big advantage of distance education is that the student isn't required to be at a certain place at a certain time. Communication between members of the class and the instructor is generally asynchronous, meaning "not at the same time." Classes aren't chat rooms. Things are left posted until the student or instructor accesses them.

CREDIT FOR WHAT YOU KNOW

At the end of World War II, the Army realized that it had in fact interrupted the high school education of hundreds of thousands of young American men by drafting them to active duty. Likewise, the Army realized that a large majority of those soldier/veterans had acquired knowledge and skills because of their Army training and experience. Out of this realization came the original tests of General Education Development or the GED, tests originally owned by the United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI).

Civilian educators rapidly realized the applicability of these GED tests to the general population and soon the civilian GED Institute was created to make these tests available to non-veterans as well. These tests were the forerunners of today's College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Likewise, the USAFI was the forerunner of today's Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).

The servicemember doesn't always have to be examined on what he or she knows. The American Council on Education (ACE) has recommended the number of credit hours that civilian schools may wish to award based on a servicemember's military training and experience. All five colleges and universities presently under contract to EUCOM accept these recommendations.

DANTES also certifies distance education courses other than the ones offered by the contracting universities. There are thousands of such courses covering an incredible range of subject matter. And it is possible, in some cases, to get tuition assistance for taking these courses. But don't undertake one without first consulting an advisor at your nearest education center.

WHAT YOU CAN STUDY IN EUROPE

The University of Oklahoma (OU) offers three graduate degree programs in Europe: the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership; a Master of Human Relations, and an Interdisciplinary Master of Arts with an emphasis in International Relations. OU has offered programs to the military around the world for over 40 years. Unique to OU is the intensive course delivery format designed to meet the needs of working adults. Courses are taught in Europe and around the world by faculty from the Norman, Oklahoma campus. OU integrates technology into its program delivery through continuous on-line enrollment, electronic access to syllabi, textbook ordering, library resources for distance learners, student services, and through distance education courses and application of technology within the curriculum. Completion of a master's degree is possible in 16 to 24 months at any of the 15 OU sites in Europe.

University of Maryland University College offers students moreÑmore programs, services, flexibility, and convenience. Students can enroll in a full range of lower and upper level courses leading to certificates and associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. To ensure that courses and programs are readily accessible, the university offers a wide array of on-site and online learning opportunities at over 70 sites throughout Europe and the Middle East, including Afghanistan. This makes education an attainable goal, even for servicemembers in deployed locations.

UMUC students have a choice of over 16 majors and 18 minors in Europe, as well as many additional majors online. With the expansion of the Distance Education program, the university's reach now extends across the globe enabling students to take UMUC classes that originate in Europe, Asia, or from the home campus in Adelphi, Maryland. Most students combine the traditional on-site courses with online alternatives to earn their degrees. And since adult students may have gained college-level learning from previous work and life experiences, UMUC offers a number of innovative credit options to accelerate progress towards a degree.

Emphasizing quality, flexibility, and responsiveness, Bowie State University, in partnership with UMUC-Europe, offers graduate-level professional certificates and master's degrees in counseling psychology, guidance and counseling, public administration, and management information systems. Also, UMUC offers a graduate certificate in information assurance and a master's degree in information technology in Europe.

At UMUC, everything is designed so that students can continue their education without interruption. Classes are offered in convenient locations and formats, including evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of busy students faced with balancing work, family, and study. Additionally, UMUC offers a wide variety of student services such as extensive financial aid options, on-site academic advising, GoArmyEd assistance, and library resources. Students can begin courses in any of the five terms offered each year.

UMUC-Europe has been providing top-quality academic programs and services to members of U.S. military communities for almost 60 years. As the leading provider of education for the U.S. military, UMUC serves over 88,000 students annually. As an integral part of this visionary and global institution, students leaving Europe can continue and finish their degrees with UMUC wherever they are in the world.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has been delivering programs overseas for nearly three decades. More than five thousand students, stationed in eight European countries have earned undergraduate and graduate degrees, and have gone on to pursue successful military and industry careers.

ERAU offers multiple certificate programs for students who want specialized training. Certificates include the Aviation Maintenance Technology Type 65, Aviation Safety, Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

ERAU offers an Associate in Science Aircraft Maintenance, an Associate in Science and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in the Professional Aeronautics degree program.

The AS in Aircraft Maintenance program offers experienced maintenance technicians an opportunity to broaden their knowledge of aviation maintenance while gaining a solid foundation in the principles of management and communication.

The AS and BS in Professional Aeronautics was conceived and developed specifically for people who work or have worked in aviation careers. The curriculum was designed to build upon the aviation knowledge and skill students bring with them from their training and experience. Applicants who qualify for admission to and matriculate in the degree program may be eligible for credit for prior learning.

The Master of Aeronautical Science (MAS) degree program is designed to provide the aviation/aerospace professional with a rigorous academic approach to a generalist education oriented degree. It provides an unequaled opportunity for flight crewmembers, air traffic control personnel, flight operations specialists, industry technical representatives and aviation educators to enhance their knowledge and pursue additional career opportunities. There are four specializations from which the student may choose: Aeronautics, Aviation/Aerospace Management, Aviation/Aerospace Operations, and Aviation/Aerospace Safety Systems.

The Professional Aeronautics Bachelor of Science and the Master of Aeronautical Science degrees are now available in their entirety via electronic distance learning. Students may also register for individual learning courses in order to maintain progress when unable to attend a classroom delivery. Further, all academic services available on the Daytona Beach, FL home campus are available to Embry-Riddle students residing overseas. These include academic counseling, career placement assistance, various forms of financial aid, and all the resources and services offered by the Jack Hunt Memorial Library.

University of Phoenix. In addition to its MBA program, Phoenix offers three types of Master of Arts in Education degrees; 1) Adult Education and Distance Learning, 2) Teacher Education (Secondary or Elementary specialization) and 3) Administration and Supervision.

Instruction, which can provide these degrees in less than two years, is offered in Europe at: Hanau, Heidelberg, Hohenfels/Vilseck, Mannheim, Ramstein, Spangdahalem, Würzburg, SHAPE, Aviano, Naples, Vicenza, Sigonella, Lakenheath and Mildenhall. In addition, many courses are offered online enabling you to attend class when it's most convenient for you.

University of Phoenix programs are delivered in a fast-paced, interactive Classroom format that provides a high quality education in the most expedient way possible for working adults. You'll develop a thorough understanding of subject material that incorporates lively discussion, applied research and class projects.

University of Phoenix was established in 1976 to answer the unique needs of working professionals and their employers. It is now the largest private accredited university in the United States. Accreditation is by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. With more than 12,000 highly qualified instructors, over 100 campuses, and Internet delivery worldwide, University of Phoenix serves more than 100,000 students per year.

Central Texas College has been operating in Europe on a continual basis since 1972. Since August 2003 the college has been offering vocational-technical programs leading to Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Applied Management, Military Science, Automotive Technology, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Early Childhood Professions, Emergency Medical Technology, Food Service and Hospitality Management, Paralegal Studies and Fire Prevention Technology. Classes are taught in the classroom or suitable facilities, and at times and dates designed to accommodate the students' work schedules. Online courses in several of these vocational-technical programs are available to help students finish their degree.

The college's other educational programs include an on-line Microsoft Certification Program and an on-line High School Completion program.

In addition, the college offers a large variety of education support functions. These include personnel to work in education centers as Administrative Assistants, Test Examiners, Learning Center Operators, Language Program Mangers, Facility Administrators, Automation Technicians, and Counselor Aides. Central Texas College provides foreign language instructors to teach Headstart and Refresher Maintenance and Interoperability courses as well as tutorial instruction. The college also provides academic instructors to teach NCO development courses and basic, remedial academic instruction.

CTC Texas College sponsors the CLEP Pilot National Test Center in Mannheim, Germany. The completely electronic test center, the first of its kind at a military installation in Europe, offers all 35 College Level Examination Preparation tests, including English, Math, Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and History.

At present Central Texas College operates at bases and posts throughout Europe, the Balkans, the Sinai, and in Southwest Asia in Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan and Qatar.

TUITION ASSISTANCE

A wide variety of financial aid opportunities are offered to members of the military community in the form of scholarships, student loans, Federal Pell Grants, Federal Loans, Veterans' Educational Benefits, the G.I. Bill, and more.

The services are currently establishing centralized tuition assistance management systems. The Army's portal is called GoArmyEd, and the Air Force is in the process of establishing a similar program. These will make tuition assistance available to servicemembers anywhere 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Under the Army's program, a total of 2478 degrees are offered at some 1750 schools. DANTES also offers tuition assistance in some cases.

Financial aid advisors are available to answer questions and guide students through the financial aid process. Financial aid can be used concurrently with VA educational benefits, scholarships, military tuition assistance, and military spouse tuition assistance.

ONLINE UNIVERSITY

Army enlisted men and women worldwide have a special distant learning tool: the Electronic Army University (eArmyU). Through a consortium of leading hardware and software companies, and 28 accredited institutions of higher education, they will be able to work for certificates, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees and even master's degrees in some 145 programs while continuing to serve.

And it will cost them little. Once enrolled, they will get tuition and books, a personal laptop computer, a printer, Internet access and an email account. (They'll be expected to return the computer if they don't complete the course.) Interested Army personnel should check with their Education Centers and the website at www.earmyu.com.

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