I earned an A.S. degree from Ashworth College.  My experience was valuable and started me on the path towards distance education.  I then earned a B.S. from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas which taught me that I could succeed at any college if I applied myself.  Southwestern College also opened my eyes to a new career that I would love to have which is that of teaching online.  

I am passionate about few things in life, but the things I am passionate about I am almost obsessive over at times.  I am passionate about God and my Christianity (though I could always use a little improvement).  I am passionate about leadership.  I am passionate about guitar.  I am passionate about Criminal Justice as both a field and academic discipline.  I am passionate about ideas and education.

I have found oodles of great guitar instruction online and in my local “hood” so I don’t really think I need or want a degree in that.  Just let me play.

As for the other areas of my life, I have found 3 degree programs that so closely illustrate and expand upon my passions I just drool over their curriculums.  Hey, some guys are into cheerleaders, I’m into education does that make me a dork?  My wife thinks so but I digress.

First on the docket is the Harrison Middleton University Doctor of Education.  Oh yes, I have a zeal for education, specifically that of online learning.  But what makes this program so unique however is that it is one of the few that use the “Great Books” method of teaching and research.  What exactly does that mean?  Well the Great Books method of education is based upon the idea of a liberal arts approach to education using 100 of the “greatest” works in Western thinking and literature.  The idea being that education is about more than learning occupational skills but growing personally in critical thinking and understanding the world around you.  You will learn from the works of everyone from Einstein to Plato to Freud.  Basically the kind of thinkers who formed the ideals by which a large part of our society today is built upon.  

The most famous of traditional campus based colleges to offer this method of learning is St. John’s College which is one of the oldest colleges in the United States and strictly adheres to the Great Books method of learning.  Basically the public school system at large is modeled after the liberal arts approach to education and St. John’s College is to liberal arts what Harvard is to Business and Law.  Why do you think you had to take Literature, History, Mathematics, Art, Speech, etc?  

Personally I think anyone who takes advantage of this particular doctorate will not only have a first rate education, but have a deeper understanding of our laws, culture, society and of course education as well.  Perhaps one day I’ll pull the trigger on the program.  

Check it out http://www.chumsci.edu/

Next on the docket would be the Master of Science in Leadership from Southwestern College.  Personally I feel it is something of a toss up between this program and Luther Rice’s.  Southwestern however has developed a 36 hour leadership program which focuses on leadership in every single class as indicative of the class titles.  The course does not deviate once from leadership as the focal point.  Probably the most thorough leadership degree out there.  Check it out www.sckans.edu

Second to that would be the Master of Arts in Leadership from Luther Rice University and Seminary which as you may imagine is a Biblical based leadership Masters degree.  With a strong foundation in understanding the Bible then applied leadership studies for the last 18 credit hours it combines two of my passions. I believe that the concepts of ethical behavior, servant leadership and Judeo Christian values in general have a very practical use in today’s modern managerial and leadership positions.  Check them out http://www.lru.edu/

Lastly I would love to teach Criminal Justice at the collegiate level.  I have scoured far and wide to find the best bang for the buck graduate degree in Criminal Justice that would allow me to do this without risking a ton in tuition as this would likely be a part time or seasonal type of job for me.  I have a few schools that meet that criteria.  

First is Columbia College which has a great curriculum and is only $290 an hour.  I’ve always been impressed with their MSCJ because it does not delve too far into the management type of stuff that graduate Criminal Justice degrees frequently will do.  This focuses upon Criminal Justice in of itself, though there are a couple of management classes like Human Resources and Organizational Behavior, but for the most part a focused and streamlined program.  Find them on elearners.

Secondly American Public University offers a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice.  I really like how focused this program is and at $275 an hour it’s even cheaper than Columbia.  There are two problems however, first the school is 100% virtual which is something of a turnoff to some potential employers, especially those in say the academic fields.  Secondly, the degree format itself is different what with the comprehensive exam or whatever that is at the end.  Maybe it’s a different name for a capstone course, I don’t know, it just sound weird to me.  Check them out www.apus.edu

Lastly there is Indiana State University which has either the MA or MS in CJ online.  At about $300 an hour, not the best deal out there but it IS a major state university, which looks REAL nice on a resume.  The only downer?  The internships you as a student would be forced to possibly undergo.  Find them on elearners.   

Well, that’s my wish list.  Too bad I’m not rich and will live forever right?  Honestly though I may take one of the above.  I really like that Ed.D.  “Doctor” Cajun has a ring to it no?