I really want to go back to school and get a Master’s Degree. In what, I don’t know yet, but while I was at my sister’s graduation earlier this month I got myself bitten by the academia bug. I tried to fight it (because I seriously don’t have the money to go back to college right now), but being back in that environment overwhelmed me with the urge to learn.

Ah, well. One day.

In the meantime, Productivity 501 has compiled a list of 105 free college lectures you can listen to online, and some of them have podcasts and RSS feeds to which you can subscribe.

Those related to the brain and mental health include:

• UC Berkeley’s Animal Behavior Biology: An Evolutionary Perspective Behavioral View
• UC Berkeley’s Clinical Psychology
• UC Berkeley’s Developmental Psychology
• UC Berkeley’s Developmental Psychopathology
• UC Berkeley’s Social Psychology
• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College’s Mental Health
• University of Cambridge’s Smart drugs? What do you think of brain-boosting drugs?

Online courses aren’t really my thing (especially those that don’t actually count toward a degree), as I thrive on the whole classroom environment (and want another degree), but given that our schedules get busier as we get older, they do make sense.

Of course, I realize that a degree is just a piece of paper (albeit, a powerful one) and that learning is the real goal. If I find time, I hope to listen to some of these.

If you do, or already have, feel free to share your thoughts!

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Post from: Blisstree

Listen To Mental Health College Lectures Online For Free

Yesterday evening, in a fit of sappy appreciation, I praised the Internet and mental health advocates.

In light of that, I’m going to pass along some news about eLearners.com, which is operated by EducationDynamics, LLC.

According to a recent press release, eLearners.com has just launched it’s “Mini-Guide” to Online Psychology Degrees. Perfect timing, too, as it’s not only Mental Health Month, but also the U.S. Department of Labor predicts jobs for substance abuse counselors and behavioral disorder counselors will grow 34% from 2006 to 2016, and jobs for mental health counselors will grow 30%.

“The ‘Mini-Guides’ we have created help explain careers, necessary education and other frequently asked questions. Many people would love to pursue a new career or get an advanced degree, but need a flexible schedule and don’t have the time to go to a traditional campus,” said Terrence Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer for eLearners.com, which connects prospective students with online learning providers. “Online classes can be tailored to fit any schedule, allowing people to keep true to their priorities and fit in school.”

I’ve checked out this “Mini-Guide” for myself, and found that it’s quite organized (and that’s a huge plus in my book!). Among many other things, it helps you:

• Determine whether online psychology degrees are for you.
• Find out what you will learn as an online psychology major.
• Discover possible job opportunities with your online psychology degree.
• Get an idea of the kind of salary you’re looking at.
• Gain information about schools that offer online psychology programs.

Jobs in the mental health field aren’t for everyone. They’re not glamorous, and they’re pretty stressful. I don’t know from firsthand experience, as I’ve never been on that side of the desk, but I gather as much from talking with the mental health professionals I know.

However, just like Thomas said, I image a career in this field can be an “[...] incredibly rewarding experience, helping people gain the strength, confidence and wisdom they need in their lives [...].”

So, if you’re interested, check it out. Online learning is just one more really good thing the Internet offers. Why not take advantage of it?

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Post from: Blisstree

Check Out The “Mini-Guide” To Online Psychology Degrees From eLearners.com