1999-2011, Universal Class, Inc., UniversalClass, UniversalClass.com List of Instructor-led, online courses in Office Skills . http://www.universalclass.com/i/subjects/office-skills.htm Quicken Deluxe is a personal finance management tool that provides features that we all need to keep track of where our money is going. However, this software gives you more than just the power to log your finances and manage your bills. It can also be used to plan for retirement and increase the amount of money you put into savings. Watch your net worth increase, monitor your 401(k), and pay your mortgage. You can do all this and more with Quicken Deluxe 2010. This course is designed for anyone who has ever used Quicken in the past or is searching for a software program that will help them better manage their money. Starting with the simplest tasks like entering a transaction into your account register and advancing to tracking the price of your most watched securities, you'll learn everything you need to know to master this software and take control of your finances and#8211; all within this course. Over the duration of this course, you'll learn how to: Set up checking, savings, and credit card accounts in Quicken. Manage your accounts online through Quicken. Write and print checks. Schedule bills for payment so you're never late again. Monitor your cash flow and increase savings Keep track of all your tax information in one, easy spot. Create tax reports for tax season to make filing easy. Manage your investments and track securitie Use Direct Connect to manage all of your accounts online with just a few clicks of the mouse And, much, much more! Although there are several software programs out there that claim to provide the same benefits that Quicken does, there's not one out there that is so easy to use and#8211; or so beneficial to your finances. This course will teach you the Quicken interface, then explain how to use all its features to finally take control of your finances once and for all. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550300.htm Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Home Business Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills Outlook 2010 is a personal information software program that's available with the Microsoft Office Suite. Although it's mostly used as an email client, it can also be used for managing tasks, keeping your calendar, managing contacts, taking notes, journaling, and even connecting with friends and colleagues via social networks. Unlike other email programs out there that you can install on your computer, Outlook 2010 can be your email program and planner all in one. This course is designed to teach all users, regardless of experience, how to use Outlook 2010 for business or personal use. You'll learn all aspects of this program that you need to know in order to use it like a seasoned pro. In this course, you'll learn: How to compose emails How to send and receive emails How to use the calendar How to set appointments, meetings, and events, then share them with others How to take notes How to connect to social networks using Outlook 2010 How to create a To-Do list How to have Outlook answer your emails for you when you're away How to assign tasks and schedule meetings and#8211; all from Outlook And much, much more MS Outlook 2010 is a comprehensive program that can be hard to use if you don't know all of its features and shortcuts. This course is designed to make it simple. Even if you've never used Outlook before, you'll come away from this course with enough experience to start using it like a pro. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550527.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Technical writing is the art and science of translating technical information into readable, accessible writing usable by a wide audience. If you have ever read the user's manual for a piece of software or equipment you've purchased, you've seen technical writing in action. Creating manuals, help and technical support systems, online help systems, and instruction manuals are some of the main projects technical writers take on. Since nearly every business in every industry imaginable has at least an occasional need to bring technical information to its users and customers, technical writing is found in nearly every business, government agency, and non-profit organization. If you work in a high tech industry, technical writing may be a part of your job description and daily duties. If you love to write, enjoy learning, and have an interest in technology, technical writing can be an exciting, rewarding career in itself. Job opportunities in the field are expected to grow as technology continues to advance. Whether you are called upon to communicate technical information to clients and coworkers, or you are thinking of technical writing as a new and interesting career, this course is designed to help you get started. We'll talk more about the kinds of products technical writers get involved in, and discuss the kinds of skills that successful technical writing requires. We'll talk about ways to approach and organize a technical writing project, and look at the kinds of materials technical writers produce, from written manuals to video tutorials. For those looking at technical writing as a new career, we'll discuss ways of improving your skill set, getting training, making contacts, and breaking into the field. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550201.htm Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:50:51 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Legal Studies Career Development Business Applications Gregg Shorthand is the most widely used system of its kind in the world. It is used by millions of professionals from all walks of life in nearly every country worldwide. This system of shorthand is the most efficient of any other type created, it is considered the easiest to learn, use and read, it is simple, straightforward and elegant in design. As the Gregg system evolved, since its inception in 1888, it has become even easier to learn over the years. This course addresses the newest version of Gregg Shorthand, which is the second edition and#8220;Simplified.and#8221; You will find that by learning this system of shorthand that your work will become much easier and the knowledge you have obtained will give you valuable access to numerous positions in the business world. There are ten comprehensive lessons written in an easy to follow, informative manner. Lessons will contain the following elements: Introduction to the Lesson: 'Introduction' The Lesson body broken down by topic: and#8220;Learn Itand#8221; Lesson Conclusion: and#8220;Conclusionand#8221; Practice writing and audio activities following each lesson Brief lesson review quiz Highlighted key terms, checklists, exercises, and Web site resources will be threaded throughout the entire course when and where appropriate and necessary. Making full use of this course, in its entirety, is the first step in getting more of what you want in life and business. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33894.htm Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:30:01 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies Business Applications Basic Skills Public and Motivational speaking is often a cause for anxiety for millions of people, and it need not be. With the proper preparation, knowledge, and mindset, you can become an extremely effective public speaker. Public and motivational speakers are in very high demand in today's society, and they are a part of nearly everyone's daily life. Effective public speaking opens many opportunities for those willing to increase their ability in this important skill. In this course, you will learn how to deliver your message clearly to an audience. We will include advice from professionals on how to inform, entertain, and motivate an audience into action. This advice includes how to combat stage fright and banish it forever, what elements to include in an effective speech, how to research an audience before you arrive, how to develop your own style, how to organize a speech's structure, how and when to use visual aids, how to control and train your voice, and more. We will also cover other aspects of public speaking such as nonverbal communication, and how to best prepare yourself questions from an audience. Other topics include how to give your best delivery when problems arise and how to deal with foreign audiences. This comprehensive course will give you the self-confidence you need to be an excellent speaker. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550402.htm Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:25:07 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Marketing Career Development Business ethics is an important part of any industry. Students or managers, unfamiliar with many ethical challenges, behaviors, or regulations will find themselves struggling in business industries that include finance, accounting or human resource management, marketing and retail. Today's managers must necessarily concern themselves with ethical issues, because unethical behavior creates legal risks and damage to businesses as well as employees and consumers. Business ethics have become an integral part of business education in general. A student or manager who is well-versed in ethical behavior in practices, not only in the domestic market but internationally, will find him or herself better prepared to deal with issues or situations that may arise that don't always involve easy answers or decisions. Each one of us, from the individual consumer to the CEO of an international corporation, is affected in some way by business ethics during the course of his or her life. Therefore, everyone has a stake in the ramifications resulting from unethical business decisions. This business ethics course offers an introduction into the concept of values, morality, as well as cultural beliefs and upbringing in all areas of business, from consumer rights to corporate social responsibility. Decisions made by shift managers or corporate presidents may affect thousands of individuals or entire communities. Consumers today expect and demand integrity, honesty, and transparency in all levels of their environment. Understanding those expectations is the key to communicating core values and behavior not only to employees, but society in general. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550323.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing Legal Studies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Learn the basics of Employment Law , the potential pitfalls, and ways to keep yourself out of court so that you can grow your business by hiring, evaluating, and managing employees. This course will discuss all the necessary information you need to know about employees and independent consultants, what benefits you are responsible for, taxes, discrimination issues, unionization, and workplace safety. You will learn the ins and outs of how to advertise a job position, and how to effectively interview so that your hiring process goes smoothly. Learn good evaluation techniques and how to resolve problems before they become really big issues. However, not everyone is in the right place, and you may have to terminate someone from your employment, and this class will help you to do it the right way. Employment laws are both at the federal and state levels and every business owner is responsible for them. While this course is NOT a replacement for knowing and understanding the employment laws that affect your business, this course will reveal the most common employment laws and how they can affect the way you do business. This course is a must for anyone who wishes to learn how to be an effective employer, supervisor, or manager and will be of benefit to any small business owner or a corporate executive, manager, supervisor, or human resource specialist. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550199.htm Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Become a Skilled Proofreader or Copyeditor If you're looking for a new career path or if you're a writer who wants to improve your writing skills, learning how to proofread and copyedit with our easy to follow, in-depth course, may be just what you need. Learning these specialized skills will help improve your overall writing ability and may provide a career path that is both lucrative and in high demand. In today's world, proofreaders and copyeditors are sought after not only in the corporate environment and Internet-related ventures, but also by start-up companies, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Freelance proofreading jobs are bountiful, and many companies offer work-from-home opportunities as an additional benefit. This online course will cover: Exactly what proofreading and copyediting will entail. The tools you need to be an efficient proofreader or copyeditor. The basic skills you need to learn, taught to you in an easy-to-understand manner. Step-by-step instruction on how to proofread or copyedit. How to apply your newly learned skills. Tips to make you a professional proofreader or copyeditor with just a little practice. How to proofread and copyedit different kinds of writing such as fiction, blogs and articles. How to proofread and copyedit your own work. How to secure employment as a proofreader or copyeditor. How to start your own proofreading or copyediting business upon completion of the course. Current salary information. Practice exercises to implement your new skills. This course is designed for everyone, regardless of education, experience, or background. No matter who you are or what you want to achieve in life, gaining proofreading and copyediting skills will improve your written communications, help you think more clearly, and perhaps start you on the road to a brand new career. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550008.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:54:12 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Legal Studies Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills We know that effective writing will help students in their coursework but it's equally important to write well in the workplace. If a job interviewer is considering two qualified candidates, the candidate who can write well will have the edge. If you're interested in improving your basic writing beyond correct grammar and punctuation, this course will help you. The more you write, the more confidence you will have in your abilities as a writer. The best grammar and punctuation in the world can still produce average or even poor writing if you don't know how to use the sentences properly or which type of sentence works best to get your point across. By the same token, if you can write lyrical sentences but you string them together into paragraphs that are a tangled mess, the sense and impact of each sentence is lost. This course is designed to give students the most flexibility and independence. You set your own schedule and learn at your convenience. Just because this course is online doesn't mean you're left on your own. The instructor will be reviewing and grading assignments and is always available to answer questions through email. This course assumes you have a high school reading and writing level in English, and that you understand sentence structure, grammar and punctuation. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550412.htm Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:54:02 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Today, knowing how to type fast is almost a necessity in the business world. More and more corporate-world employees are being asked to create reports, sales letters, business plans, blogs, web content, forecasts and more. Knowing how to type can save you hours of valuable work time, increasing your productivity. This course, Typing and Keyboarding for Business Professionals, is entirely self-teaching. Each lesson is short, simple and easy to master, with easy-to-understand text and custom-designed typing drills. Here are some features you will like about this course: 1. Cumulative Reviews: At the end of each lesson, you will be quizzed on the most important points to remember. This will help to reinforce your understanding of those keys before you go on to the new ones. 2. Accuracy and Speed-Building practice: Learning how to type faster means nothing without the accuracy that goes along with it. Weand#8217;ve created special practice drills that will help you master both. 3. Learn Business Correspondence Formats: This course helps you learn and understand the correct format and etiquette for the most common letters, documents and notes used when communicating in the business world. 4. Speed and Accuracy Tests: Weand#8217;ve provided tests that allow you to see how your words per minute (wpm) rate and your accuracy have improved over the course of the class. 5. Online Typing Aids: To help you continue to practice, weand#8217;ve provided links to several websites offering free typing games and tests. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550009.htm Wed, 6 Feb 2008 13:02:46 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Skills The role of an Internet Specialist in today's business marketplace is in exceptionally high demand. The Internet is a global web of interconnected networks that contains an immense amount of information. It has transformed how businesses conduct commerce in a global economy, and it has dramatically affected how individuals communicate. We start the course with a brief introduction to the personal computer and the history of technological advances that has led to the development of the Internet. We will examine a variety of topics that are required in order to have a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively use the Internet for both business and personal enrichment. This course will include an overview of how computers connect to the Internet and cover such topics as email, building websites, communication on the Internet, protecting against hackers, keeping children safe online, software, hardware, and many more topics. We'll also cover the many career options for an Internet Specialist and examine what roles they may fill in today's businesses. We'll also cover the popular topic of social media, which is the fastest growing segment of the Internet community. It has brought people together and increased our ability to communicate and forge friendships with people around the globe. This course is a comprehensive overview of the power and potential of the Internet. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550350.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Most of us learned spelling and grammar in elementary school and brushed up on the rules occasionally in junior high or middle school. Once we entered high school, it was assumed we knew and remembered all of the essentials -- and slowly we discovered that although there were some rules we just had to look up, we simply stopped worrying about 'the minor details.' It's time to relearn those 'minor details' that can help you write, and read more effectively. But it's hard to fix something unless you know how it works. This self-paced, stress-free course was developed not only for students wanting to improve their basic writing skills, but also for business writers, creative writers and office staff wanting to improve poor work related writing and avoid embarrassing their boss and themselves. Our innovative course is designed as a refresher course for those who need to brush up on their skills and a reference for anyone who wants to be able to look up the rules for confusing grammatical questions quickly and easily. After you've reviewed the basic rules of grammar and spelling, you can move on to the lessons on writing style for tips on improving your sentence and paragraph structure, how to polish your writing and how to avoid common errors. And because the course is online doesn't mean that you'll be left on your own. The instructor will be grading assignments and tests and is available through email to answer questions and provide guidance. Why not join us, learn at your own pace and your own schedule and reap the benefits? http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550406.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:58:10 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Career Development Have you ever been involved in a complex project that just did not go the way you wanted? Often failure is pre-ordained due to the approach to the project. The concept of project management exists because it helps assure completion of a project successfully. This course covers the basics of project management where you will learn what project management involves and how to approach it successfully. While project management can be a very complicated and dry subject, we have attempted to make the subject easy to comprehend and identify the necessary skills and learned behaviors a project manager needs to succeed. We cover the major subject areas of the topic and provide valuable information and insight in to the how's and why's of dozens of important subjects such as: why a plan is so important to the success of a project. the importance of good teamwork and how to select the right members of a team for a project. what tools are available to help you be a better project manager. and much more. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33432.htm Fri, 5 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Industrial and Organizational Psychology or I/O is a varied field of study filled with many career opportunities. The importance of this field has never been more prevalent than in the last decade. The use of I/O methods has been proven to increase productivity, profits and general workplace satisfaction by startling percentages. Most large and successful companies have implemented some or all of these methods into their workplace environment within the last several years. I/O Psychologists may work within organizations, act as consultants to various organizations, or they may move into the area of academic research. The topics of this course primarily concern themselves with careers within organizations or as acting consultants. While there are numerous sub-fields within I/O, for the purposes of this course we will be focusing on the tools and methods that are common to all specialties. In the lessons contained herein you will learn about how to properly prepare for a career in I/O and what some possible specializations in the field are; additionally, we will cover some of the most important aspects of this profession including the use of various techniques and tools to help companies best utilize and motivate their most valuable resources--their employees. Whether you choose to later enter into Training and Development, Employee Motivation or Diversity Coaching this course will teach you what you need to know in order to make the leap towards the growing field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33430.htm Thu, 3 Apr 2008 13:46:03 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Business Applications Basic Skills This course is designed to get you up to speed on the basics of business budgeting and cost cutting. You will be introduced to the different aspects of business financial tools and will have an essential primer to current business trends in cost cutting and increasing profits. At the conclusion of this course, you will understand important budgeting concepts, time tested strategies, and be able to see and easily implement savings for your company. These topics will be discussed: Business Budget- We will discuss the different aspects of a business budget and how to implement a discipline for your budget that will be reasonable for your staff. Cash Flow and Related Issues- We will cover the basics of cash flow, short-term cash flow, long-term cash flow, how they affect your PandL statement and profit sheets. Business Savings and Cost Cutting- We will discuss the various areas of savings and cost cutting to explore in your company. We will also discuss employee involvement and motivation and non-traditional areas to examine. Payroll Budgeting- We will cover the basics of payroll budgeting, essentials to keep in mind, and both the trend in handling them and some non-traditional methods. Tax Concerns- We will discuss effective strategies for managing taxes is to establish a budget for your company's taxes. Business Plan- We will cover the importance of creating a business plan, how to create one and how to make it a strong presentation. Business PandL Reports- We will take an overview of your Profit and Loss Reports, what goes where, how to read them and the essentials for a successful business manager to know. Profit Margin Guarantees and Staying in the Black- We will cover basic and popular theories and practices in the business world. Balance Sheets and the Business Cycle- We will cover the importance and uses of the company's Balance Sheet and we will briefly visit the concepts of the Business Cycle. Traps and Mishaps- We will address the dilemma of overcoming our inevitable errors in business and managementCompany Savings- We will focus on savings and how to make the most progress toward savings by utilizing the good will and brain power of your staff. You will have an overview of how to continue to increase your company's savings and how to encourage sales and staff members with rewards without giving away the savings. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550130.htm Mon, 6 Oct 2008 12:19:03 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing Home Business Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills Most computer-savvy people out there today know that MS Excel 2010 is a spreadsheet program that you can use to record data, create charts, and utilize mathematical equations. However, most people who are familiar with Excel aren't fully aware of all that MS Excel can do. Maybe that's you. You'd be surprised about the things that you can do using Excel that you're currently doing by hand or using other inappropriate software (such as the familiar sibling to Excel, MS Word). But that's okay. That's why we designed this course. But first, let's dispel the myths that MS Excel 2010 is complicated to use, or to use its mathematical functions and capabilities that you must be good at math, or worse yet, that you must know some complicated programing in order to make it work for you. The truth is, most people like you that use MS Excel use it for a single defined reason. Because there are so many options and features available within the software, most people feel overwhelmed and don't take the time to explore just how many other things they can actually use it for. With Excel 2010, you can: Organize, sort, and record data. Enter in text and mathematical equations. Keep, track, chart, graph, and compare statistics. Maintain records. Create mathematical equations and functions to accurately keep records and statistics whenever data changes. You can even use Excel to balance your checkbook, calculate the dollar amount you're spending on interest rates for credit cards and mortgages, as well as track your corporate spending accounts! Y ou can also turn around and use Excel for something as simple as listing who is bringing what to the next family reunion. MS Excel can be used for the most complex or simplest of tasksand#8230;and all these tasks can be done quite easily when you know how to use Excel 2010. But telling you how convenient and easy MS Excel 2010 is to use isn't enough--we're going to show you step-by-step. So join us today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550533.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Business Applications Basic Finance Skills Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the client or customer gets out of it. (Peter Drucker) We are exposed to customer service (of one kind or another) at least once a day, every day of the week, fifty-two weeks of the year. There are times when individuals, organizations and companies take the provision of good service, and the people who deliver it, for granted. We should not and#8211; giving top quality Customer Service is an art form. Customers love and cherish companies that treat them the way they (the customer) want to be treated. People are now prepared to pay more for good service. So the providers of the good service and#8211; YOU and#8211; are gems beyond price these days. Whatever your reasons for considering this course, we can promise you that you will get even more than you might have thought from its contents. You will most likely pick up things you might not have considered before, or even been aware of and#8211; CRM for example! This course will focus on these topics: 1. A Customer Centered/Focused Organization How important is good customer service really? The evolution of Customer Service, TQM, Perceptions, The and#8216;Hot Button' of the and#8216;90s 2. Taking an honest look at your own customer service Your current customer service profile, Self-evaluation and#8211; honestly! How does your company rate? Protocols, How do you and your company deal with Feelings? 3. Your company's Customer Service focus In-focused, Customer-Focused, The 3 Basic Elements of Excellent Service, Are you friendly to customers? Customer Friendly Reflections, Expanding your understand of your Company's Definition of Service 4. Developing a Winning Customer Service Strategy What are your current Customer Service Strategies? Key Strategies , Top Down Approach, Actually using the Feedback you ask for, Know thyself and it shall be true! The creation of client centric practices, The sheer economic necessity of Top Customer Service 5. The 'Plus's' of exceptional Customer Service Critical success factors , Consistency, Criteria, Recognizing Excellence/Reward and Recognition Factors, Awareness, Education 6. The WOW Customer Service Training and Service Excellence The wisdom of choosing appropriate training, Brainstorming and Problem Solving Customer Service Enhancers, TIPS - The Coaching Approach, The Listen and Learn Approach 7. Which is the way to go: Surveys/Questionnaires, Interviews or Focus groups? Surveys, Questionnaires, Interviews, Focus Groups, Who should conduct or run them? Which one should you use? HOW TO prepare a Top Customer Service Survey 8. Acquiring Customers and Keeping Them Put yourself in the customers shoes, What does my customer actually want? Standards and#8211; making, measuring and managing, What you can measure you can manage, Reinventing your processes to suit the customer, Quality Groups What NOT to Do if you want to keep your customers 9. Those and#8216;Extras' and Miscellaneous Factors Body Language, It's How You Say It that really counts, Your computer isn't always your best friend, The differences between data and information, The 2 'E's' and#8211; Ethics and Espionage 10. When the Going Becomes Rough -- What to Do! When you need to say NO and how to say it! Seeing Red and Dealing with It! Take the Initiative and Bounce Back 11. Working in the World of the WEB! The Internet has changed the rules and HOW! Automating the personal touch? Clicking with your Customers, Developing Trust and Loyalty and#8211; online, Customer Acquisition, Some rules for staying on the road to Success with E-Commerce 12. CRM and#8211; It's not just an Option and#8211; It's here to STAY! Exactly what is CRM? Is it the Latest and Greatest? How do we use it? Automating the personal touch, Defining the technical requirements, Choosing the right CRM tools, The amazing power of CRM, The correct CRM program for you, What defines success with CRM? 13. Customer Service Management Options of the Future! People Orientated? Technology Orientated? Strategies, How to best organize Customer Service for the future http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550271.htm Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Do you need a refresher course in basic punctuation and grammar? Is your business writing, school writing or personal writing a disaster and you're tired of stressing over mistakes? Improper grammar and punctuation is a sign for some people, right or wrong, that you may be less educated or less intelligent. Your writing reflects more about your personality than you realize: it reflects your attention to detail, your education and how you think. Even the most basic writing -- like thank-you notes and emails -- can be sabotaged by just one grammatical error. In the business world, this can give clients the impression that you aren't careful. If your work is as sloppy as your writing, you aren't the person they want to hire or promote. This self-paced course will help you learn what you need to polish your grammar and punctuation skills. Punctuation and Grammar 101 is divided into two subjects which focus on grammar and punctuation topics. At the end of each lesson will be a brief quiz and/or assignment based on the lesson material. Your knowledgeable and caring instructor will review and grade all work and you can ask questions anytime. Isn't it time to finally master the critical writing skills of grammar and punctuation? So join us today. As always, you can attend this course at the times that fit your schedule. Our system requires no special software or hardware, so why not enroll today and become informed and inspired? http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550404.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Do you use your Spell Check on your computer obsessively? Are you afraid to write anything without a dictionary or computer spelling program? Are you receiving low grades on schoolwork because of poor spelling? Are your business emails filled with embarrassing spelling errors? Well then, it sounds like you can use this online course! Spelling 101 will help improve your spelling abilities in American English. This course will teach you how to avoid misspellings by recognizing spelling errors quickly. We'll review not only the basic rules of spelling but also the most common spelling 'trouble spots' (commonly missed words and word patterns). We'll also discuss those tricky synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, suffixes and prefixes. This class is self-paced and practice exercises are reviewed by the instructor with feedback. You set your own learning schedule so there's no pressure. Why not learn to write error-free English, and improve your grades or help with the quality of your professional writing? So join us today, and let's improve your spelling skills. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550405.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Speedwriting is for anyone out there who needs to write faster. You may be a student struggling frantically to make sense of the lectures that you attend, but your method of taking notes only seems to capture about one-third of the material that is provided, and when it comes time to take the exam, you find that you are not well-prepared. Or perhaps, as a student, whether high school, or a Ph.D. candidate, you need to write a paper, you need to do it fast, but you have to make sure you aren't in danger of plagiarizing the material that you used in your research. Or, maybe you're a writer, and you need to write or rewrite articles faster, or you have to get a bigger project written--a thesis, dissertation, or book--and fast. How do you do it? This Speedwriting Course will answer all of these questions, helping you toward your academic and professional goals. You will learn the techniques that the masters use when it comes to capturing information that is provided in the form of a lecture or presentation. You will also learn how to take notes that will provide the necessary information, help you write your paper fast, and in your own words. So why not join us today? http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550526.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Are you interested in building your vocabulary? Do you feel that your writing or your speaking vocabulary is below average? The purpose of ' Vocabulary Building ' is to beef up your everyday vocabulary with words that you could use in everyday conversation. A strong vocabulary will not only give you the tools to say and write exactly what you mean it can also help you on a job interview, communicate better with a doctor or your lawyer and certainly help you with school work. A good vocabulary makes you sound smarter, feel more assured and practically guarantees you'll be a better writer and speaker. The purpose of this vocabulary class is to beef up your everyday vocabulary with words that you could use in everyday conversation. The larger our vocabularies the more clearly we can communicate with others and understand what others are trying to communicate to us. This course will introduce some simple ways to learn new vocabulary words by practicing reading in context, by writing sentences using the words and by doing practice exercises and quizzes. The class is not a beginning or advanced vocabulary course. It's that 'in between' course where so many people's vocabulary skills fit. So if you're interested in expanding your vocabulary skills in a self-paced, no stress format where an instructor actually reviews and corrects your sentence writing, why not give it a try? Enrich your life by enriching your vocabulary. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550415.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Improvement The individual who pursues a career as a mediator can look forward to a job that is personally satisfying and financially rewarding. With its emphasis on fairness and cooperation, this career is an ideal choice for those who are empathetic and want to help others bring their conflicts to a positive resolution. Mediation allows the parties involved to reach resolutions more quickly, inexpensively, and amicably than may be possible through the court system. This Mediation 101 course is not only geared toward those who are interested in learning what it takes to become a professional mediator, but it also makes a great tool for those who will be involved in any aspect of mediation. By explaining the stages involved in the process, as well as clearly outlining the roles each party plays, this online class can help reduce anxiety and answer any questions that might have arisen over the issue of whether or not mediation is the right alternative for a particular case. From the basics of defining just what mediation entails, to the more in-depth issues surrounding mediator liability, this course creates an excellent starting point for those who would like to have a solid understanding of the process. This class also covers the types of information necessary to determine whether or not a case is a good candidate for mediation, the confidentiality issues involved, and what follow-up activities can be expected. Additionally, each section concludes with a quiz that allows you to assess your comprehension of the information presented. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550251.htm Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:01:33 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Business Applications Most CPAs will tell you that the number one mistake people make in starting a new business is that they fail to write a business plan. Without a written set of plans and directions, a new business will struggle on many levels. You may start out doing well only to find yourself shipwrecked a year into your work. On the other hand, you may sit and struggle to ever get your business off of the ground and productive. You may find yourself struggling with small things that have simple solutions and for which the answers are easy to implement. But if your plan is not written, then you don't have a clear vision in a very literal sense of the word. A well written business plan takes time, patience, detail, research, and a right approach to presentation. This course will walk you through the process of writing your business plan. You will learn why certain details are vitally important, which parts of your business plan can make or break your finance query with investors, and how to sharpen your public presentation of your company and its business. You will also learn some writing tricks to help you create a polished written plan without necessarily having to hire someone to write it for you. At the end of this course, you should have enough information to make a well informed effort in writing your business plan. Happy planning! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550132.htm Sun, 8 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Finance Skills Speaking in front of a group of people is one of the most common fears people experience. In fact, it may be more feared than death...or even spiders . Yet being able to present ourselves, our companies, our ideas and products to others is one of the most essential skills to have in life. The ability to communicate our ideas effectively helps other people catch our enthusiasm--and without that enthusiasm and support of others, many great projects would never get off the ground. During the course of this training, we will discuss exactly what a presentation is and how improving your public speaking skills can positively influence many different aspects of your life. We will talk about understanding the situation at hand, knowing your audience, and believing in your subject matter. Then, we will present strategies for researching, organizing, and developing your presentation. We'll also discuss some techniques to help you deliver a confident presentation and review what you can do in the future to improve your presentations skills for the long-term, making each future presentation you do, easier on you and more rewarding for those attending. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550101.htm Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills This course takes you through an overview of the wonderful world of business mathematics. The course is designed for a person of any age and anywhere in the world. All that is required of the learner are a computer, a connection to the internet, a calculator or spreadsheet, skills to use these tools, and a willingness to learn. First we begin with a comprehensive review of the decimal system and basic calculations. Next are fractions, percent, and ratios. Then we move on to exponents and square roots. In the lesson that follows, the learner sets a personal budget and reviews personal finances, including thrift buying, and calculating interest on a loan. Then there is a discussion of conservation of energy used in the home. Later we are encouraged to budget our personal time and energy as well as money. The trip then takes you into the business world of purchases and sales, then bookkeeping, with a thorough explanation of debits and credits, petty cash, and an overview of financial statements. In the following lessons, we take a look at graphs, measurements and statistics. (Is mode the same as average?) After that we find ourselves in the business office for office etiquette, netiquette, and telephone etiquette. Also the science of Ergonomics is discussed. We finally arrive near the end of the course when we emphasize lifelong learning, goal setting plus good health habits for a balanced life. From the beginning, the advanced learner is encouraged to click on web references and search for more information via the internet. And everyone is encouraged to 'surf' and 'google' the world wide web often for more fun. The course material includes plenty of examples and exercises for practice, interesting anecdotes about the character, history and origins of our math system from many parts of the world. Math can be fun! However, calculations do require practice, and then more practice to be easier, more proficient and more fun. Enjoy the course! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550318.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing Home Business Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills The idea of running one's own business is the dream of hundreds of thousands of Americans. The reasons for opening your own business are myriad; to be your own boss, to set your own hours, to do what you want to do, to provide a product or service where you perceive a need, to follow your passion. Any one of these reasons are good ones for opening your own business. There are really only a few real reasons for not just jumping into the process and opening your doors to new customers and your heart to an entirely new and wonderful way of life. The biggest reason is fear; fear based on lack of information. When you do not know how to do something, there is underlying fear that it will likely be done wrong. In order to tackle your fear, you need knowledge and that is what this course on Retail Business will give you. By going through Retail Business you will discover whether or not you have the true entrepreneurial spirit to leave the corporate world and all that goes with it, and enter into your new world of Business Owner. The beauty of being a business owner is that you will never be bored, you will spend time doing the things that you love, and perhaps even with the people you love if you decide to join forces. This course will take you through the lists of things that you need to do or consider before you open your doors. Once you have completed the course, you will have enough information to decide whether or not business ownership is for you. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550124.htm Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:07:23 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Introduction to Business Management The world of business management offers an array of career opportunities unparalleled among income earning possibilities. Industries from mining to waste disposal have management-level positions in many companies. Business management requires a combination of skills and knowledge, coupled with good judgment and leadership qualities. There are several fundamental aspects of operating a business and#8211; whether you run your own small business or hold a management position in a national corporation and#8211; that a manager should be aware of. Our course takes you through some of the various requirements you may encounter while managing a business. We begin by examining the various disciplines and levels in business management and give you hints on how to get a management job in your company. In lesson 2 we cover areas of financial management such as types of capital, debt and equity financing alternatives, a business plan and a budget. Lesson 3 deals with legal and regulatory compliance issues. Human resources and personnel issues are discussed in Lesson 4. Sales management fundamentals and#8211; the sales cycle, customer relationships and pricing and#8211; make up lesson 5. We examine the marketing functions (lesson 6) right after sales functions because the two disciplines work hand-in-hand to drive business. Lesson 7 covers some key accounting principles and practices. Inventory control techniques make up Lesson 8, focusing on the role of inventory control, the processes involved and control mechanisms used. Lesson 9 'Taxes and Your Business Organization' delves into types of organization and some key business tax requirements. Order fulfillment follows the purchase from sales inquiry to delivery in Lesson 10, and explains how fulfillment is important to customer relationships. We finish with lesson 11 explaining the importance and function of information technology. Once completed, you will have a basic understanding of how to manage a business. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550322.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Whether you are seeking to raise funds for your non-profit group, a worthy charity, political or religious organization, your local school or to provide community specific aid, this detailed course will provide you with everything you need to know about the basics of fundraising. Although Fundraising 101 is geared towards the novice, even those with past fundraising experience will find useful ideas and the latest information. Fundraising is a fulfilling and worthwhile endeavor, it can also be overwhelming and confusing if you are not sure where to start or how to stay on track. With the magnitude of charities out there soliciting funds from givers it also becomes a difficult task to make your own group stand out from the others. Convincing potential contributors to rally to your cause requires the efforts of several dedicated individuals and substantial organization long before you ever ask that defining question--'Would you please help with your donation?' Making full use of this course in its entirety is the first step in turning the dreaded response ' I gave at the office,' into the much desired 'Sure, I can donate!' http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/32862.htm Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills Unexpected events occur frequently in all aspects of our daily environment. Whether on a school playground, a university campus, a factory, a post office or a major corporation headquarters, understanding the importance and challenges to individuals when addressing crisis management or emergency situations is vital for the safety and security of human life, revenues, and reputation. This course on crisis management offers students the basics in identifying, preventing, and controlling crisis situations. Crisis management basics, from preparation to training and compliance are discussed, as are various stages of a crisis, and the need to establish a crisis management team. Clearly identifying the roles and functions of each crisis management team member is essential for the ultimate success of contingency planning, which is also discussed. This course also helps students identify potential risks or situations that may precipitate a crisis or emergency and learn approaches on how to respond to such incidents. The importance of communication and making instant and effective decisions is also covered, as are a variety of emergency response scenarios; from planning evacuation from a local elementary school affected by an earthquake to a major hospital suffering a massive power outage to the threat of a rogue employee. Crisis management also depends on developing, assessing and determining consequences of contingency plans, and helps students identify the most common weaknesses found in many crisis management plans. Finally, the course concludes with guidance regarding damage control, the restoration of confidence in a business, company or entity, and offers students a basic checklist that may be utilized as a jumping off point for a crisis management team in a variety of business environments or public sector scenarios. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550348.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Business Applications We live in world where communication is paramount to survival. In a work environment where communication is equated with the professionalism and efficiency of an individual, would you jeopardize your career because of bad writing? Do you want the embarrassment of sending out a poorly written email to your peers? Can you risk sending out badly written communications to customers and putting your company's reputation on the line? Of course not, no one aspires to be a bad writer. No one wants to communicate badly. This crash course in business communication may help remedy your writing woes. From the basic do's and don'ts of business communication to the nitty-gritty of formatting, punctuation, tone and language--this course covers all the fundamentals. As a one stop guide to a professional's writing career, the class is ideal for assistants, secretaries, executives, managers, and senior managers of any company or organization. Learn about the common mistakes we make when writing a business letter. Learn how often people mistake 'affect' for 'effect', and 'except' for 'accept'. Learn about how to write business emails. This course will also give you insights into your reader's mind. Who are they? What do they want? How can you effectively reach out to them? So join us today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550413.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Starting and operating a business is a minefield of rules and regulations. The regulations set in the moment you decide to start your own business. You need to get licenses and permits from the authorities. There are restrictions on the type of business you can operate in a neighborhood. Tax and employee regulations are perhaps the most strictly enforced regulations. Non-compliance can even lead to cancellation of the business license and at times, imprisonment. This course will guide you on the main requirements of the regulations so that a business can develop a strategy for compliance. This course will also provide guides on how to protect the intellectual property of the business , the types of insurance a business must generally have in place, and sources of funding. Every business has its own assets. You must know how to protect the assets of your business, such as: registering the intellectual property right of the business with the appropriate authorities; insuring the business against losses; growing your business with funding. Find out what you need to know so that you can focus on making your business successful. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550083.htm Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:25:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing Legal Studies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills With the job market becoming seemingly impossible to crack, career coaches are more important than ever. This online course will teach students the basic of career coaching, including the definition of career coaching, the ethics, how to find clients, how to assess client needs, matching a client to their true calling, improving the work life of a client, helping clients find new careers, using road maps, uncovering client motivation, client branding strategies, interview advice, negotiating for a better benefits package, teaching a client to be successful in the long term, and how to ensure career coaching career success. These career coaching lessons include checklists, examples, and clearly outlined steps to ensuring a career coach is ready for any client and any situation. By learning the basics of coaching, the student will be able to start their own career coaching business, helping others find the work which truly sustains them and#8211; while also helping their own career goals. From the basics of finding clients, to helping them, and to insuring their success, this career coach course offers a self-paced, self-study opportunity to become a career coach who guides clients to their true vocation or just to a happier work life. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550349.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development 'How to Start and Run an Online Business' is an online course that is organized into 16 different sections to help you understand how to create an online business, even if you don't have any online business experience. From the basics of learning how to choose your market to designing a website and building an online marketing strategy, you will learn what you need to do in order to create an online business that's built to succeed. You will begin with equipping your office for online success, and then move on to website building, payment processing, online marketing, writing great copy, spreading the word, utilizing online marketing tools, understanding search engine optimization, promoting an online brand, employing affiliates, planning beyond your website, and even handling legal issues before they become issues. This an essential course for those who have a business idea, but want to move it online instead of into a traditional store. Billions of people around the world now have access to the Internet, making online businesses primed for success. Each section also includes review assignments and exams to ensure you have learned and mastered the most important concepts. This approach allows you to instantly have the information you need at your fingertips, while also helping you learn learn what you need to understand as your online business grows. Using the high quality information and resources provided in this course, at class completion you will know how to start a business online, how to grow your online business, and how to secure the future of your online business. So why not join us today? http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550535.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Microsoft Excel 2007 is a very popular business productivity application for the management and manipulation of data. Microsoft Excel is often packaged as part of Microsoft Office that includes other applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Outlook. Other desktop applications such as Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft Tools have also been added in recent releases of Office. Since its launch in 1985, Microsoft has released 24 Excel application versions for Windows, Macintosh, and OS/2 based computer systems. Each successive release incorporated new functions and features that allowed the user to customize how data was displayed, and to do more and better data management. However, Excel 2007 is by far the most powerful and versatile of them all ! In addition to a whole new look and feel, Excel 2007 has modified its underlying technical foundation that enables businesses to expand the uses, integration and reach of Excel. Microsoft has also has continued to improve security, plug security gaps, and address functional issues. All this has helped to make Excel a very stable and reliable business application. Many new features await the Excel 2007 user. Below are just a few highlights: Horizontal 'ribbons' that display commands left-to-right instead of the traditional vertical water-flow look. More rows and columns to help manage your really massive spreadsheets! Memory management increased from 1GB to 2GB's which allows for faster computations and increased performance . New options for applying themes and styles which enhance the look of your spreadsheets and graphics. And, Excel now supports up to 16 million colors ! Easier creation and use of formulas . New Pivot Table User Interface to help the user more effectively use pivot tables. With the right training and understanding of Excel 2007, businesses and individual users can unlock the world of opportunities that this powerful business application offers. This Excel 2007 Online Training Course does just that and more! It assumes users have no prior experience with Excel or other spreadsheet programs. We start with the basics, and move up from there. So join us today, and lets learn the fundamentals of Excel 2007! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550337.htm Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:37:32 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Home Business Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills This self-paced All-In-One Math Course reviews the basics of arithmetic, algebra and geometry. This condensed course covers the following material: -Arithmetic: reviewing the use of numbers, signs and symbols, how to perform various operations, how to solve problems with Fractions, Percents and Decimals, and much more. -Algebra: reviewing Linear Equations and Inequalities, how to solve various word problems, how to simplify and factor numbers, and much more. -Geometry: reviewing Geometric Concepts and Relationships, Understanding Measurements of Congruence and Similarity, the Pythagorean Theorem, and much more. This compact course is an ideal 'crash course' for anyone needing review or instruction in these math areas or anyone who wants to improve results on high school or college exams. If you want a jump start before starting college or just interested in learning how to solve Math problems this is the course for you. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550473.htm Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:54:40 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Did you know that there is a difference in hearing and listening? There is! Have you ever been told that you just don't listen? Most people have at some point in their life, so you probably have experienced it as well. But the problem is that good listening skills are not something we are born with. Nor are we taught it in school. They are habits that we create, starting in our childhood, that are carried with us throughout our adulthood. Your listening skill habits can impact every area of your life, including your personal relationships and your career. Being a good listener can earn you respect, appreciation and help you build stronger relationships in your social and business dealings. This course explains the ins and outs of what good listening skills consist of, why they are important and how you can improve them. The course helps you determine what type of listener you are, provides basic skills of listening, barriers to listening, listening habits, body language, and activities to improve listening habits. You will learn the importance of physical attributes, active listening, attitude, perception, bias, language barriers, key gestures, and even how to take good notes. If you have a child or work around children, this course also explains how you can use this information with helping to teach good listening habits to children. By the time you complete this course, whether taking it for personal or professional reasons, you will be know the direction you need to follow to improve your listening habits. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550304.htm Fri, 5 Mar 2010 12:04:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Basic Skills With the opportunities to work in the healthcare field, particularly that within the Medical Transcriptionist (MT) arena, foreseen to be on the rise for the next ten years; it makes a great deal of sense to acquire specialized training within the field. Within our Medical Transcription course, we provide a comprehensive look at what the profession entails from translating physicians' dictations to learning a significant amount of medical terminology. Further, we have identified the supplies you will need to embark on a successful career as an MT, as well as, the resources available to help you get a strong foothold on what has all the makings of being a most stimulating and rewarding career. Whether working from home (Medical Transcription has been ranked as one of the top ten growth industries for home-based businesses) or within a hospital or physician's office, the duties of an MT are best suited for those persons who are able to concentrate for long periods of time, excel at using reference materials and have an ear for various dialects and accents. Bear in mind when you decide to become an MT your work will not only be assisting physicians and medical facility administrators but also that of patients who rely upon the accuracy of medical information in order to receive quality care. Thus, while both diversified and scientific in nature, the profession of medical transcriptionist is one of which you could be most proud. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550401.htm Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:25:07 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing Home Business Career Development Business Applications Good customer service is not about satisfying the cu stomer, it is about 'wowing' the customer! It's about making the customer walk in, do business, and walk out again absolutely stunned that their transaction was so enjoyable. Customer service is a crucial buzzword in the corporate world today. Just about every company seems to understand just how important customer service is and many have started to find ways to improve and measure customer service. In this course we are going to look at what customer service is and isn't and identify how you can understand and provide good customer service. Many businesses want to achieve 'good customer service'. Right now that's the brass ring of business training and vision-casting and many companies are analyzing their current mission and realigning it to be increasingly customer-focused. Do you give return business to a company that provides poor customer service support? Probably not! You and everyone else want better customer service, and it's one of the driving forces of why consumers shop at one place and not another. This course will show you and your employees how to give not just 'good' or 'average' service but great customer service. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/31686.htm Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:12:53 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Legal questions come up regularly in our daily lives and the language of law is everywhere. Legal Terminology 101 is a comprehensive guide to the language of the legal system. If you're planning on purchasing a house, involved in a landlord-tenant dispute, making a will, buying a car, getting health insurance, applying for a credit card or hiring a lawyer then understanding the terminology of the contracts, forms and systems is vital for a successful outcome. This course is ideal for anyone wanting to quickly and easily learn common legal terms. Each of the self-paced lessons includes sound files so you can hear the pronunciation immediately. Whether you're a homemaker or a student or looking for work in the legal or business world this course will help you learn a new language the 'legal language' . http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/32170.htm Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:55:54 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies How to Build Your Own Business Business Applications Basic Skills Many professionals who enter into the world of human resources quickly believe that they will succeed in their new found field simply because they have a knack for relating with people from all walks of life. While having 'good people skills' is certainly a positive attribute for working in the human resources field, being in tune with the ever-changing policies and procedures that successfully make a team or company tick, is just as important as being the boss that everyone loves. Managing your rules and guidelines works in tandem with managing 'your humans.' Today, many managers enter the world of human resources simply because they are exceptional managers. They have climbed the rank and file of the corporate ladder, succeeding at each rung, to the point where they are now managing a team, which may include 'kids' fresh out of college or professionals who have been in the workforce for some time, sometimes even longer than the manager himself. Having the ability to create synergy on his team, to drive productivity and provide opportunities for employee growth while developing policies and procedures that apply to all are just a few of the trademarks that make a great manager. Others enter the human resource field by choice. They are the 'people' people who want to work in the actual Human Resources department of a company to become 'the people that staff and operate an organization as contrasted with the financial and material resources of an organization. The organizational function that deals with the people ...' Whether its entering the world of human resources by choice or by being thrown in because of your professional successes, the basic principles remain the same: you not only want to get the job done, but also you want to get it done with good people who work collectively and cooperatively toward a common goal successfully. Hiring the right people, training them, affording them opportunities for growth, all while setting parameters and guidelines, is the key to great human resource management. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550050.htm Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances How to Build Your Own Business Basic Finance Skills This medical terminology course covers the medical language and terminology used by health care professionals everywhere. If you're interested in pursuing a health and science career requiring the ability to communicate with physicians, dentists, or other medical professionals, this class will meet all your needs. In easy to review lessons , you'll find our user-friendly format will not only give you a solid foundation in medical language, but can be completed in less than 25 days! You will analyze individual word parts such as prefixes, suffixes and word roots, along with learning body system dynamics, basic medical language, body orientation, health, wellness, and disease terms. You will learn the basic components of medical terminology as it relates to each body system plus the instruments used in assessment will also be reviewed. So if you're planning on pursuing a career in medical transcription, medical billing or medical coding, physician's secretary or medical support staff, or you just need a review or extra tutoring for your anatomy and physiology classes, or maybe you want a jump start in the medical field before starting college; or perhaps you're just interested in learning the latest in medical language--you can begin today--enroll right now! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550368.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:53:17 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing The field of law for a secretary is one of the best positions to have in the world of office work. A good legal secretary will, quite frankly, never be out of work. It is a high paying job with many rewards and benefits. Salary ranges for legal secretaries can enter the three digit range in some parts of the world, particularly New York City . This course is designed both for those who are already in the field and want to hone their skills in order to demand a higher income and for those who wish to enter the field but are not sure where to start or what aspects of secretarial work are important to be hired by a good firm. While a legal secretary's job can often be quite demanding, it is rarely boring or uninteresting. You will always be busy and things often must move rather quickly at the spur of the moment. You can expect to work occasional weekends and evenings, but don't let that daunt you, as law offices are often generous with holiday time off (when courts are closed) and short work days when things are quiet. There are numerous areas of law that those in the profession may focus on whether it be litigation, divorce, real estate or criminal law. This course will cover each prevalent area so that you might get a better idea of which is best for you to pursue. It will also tell you about what skills are vital for winning that prized position you are after, or making yourself more valuable to the attorney or firm you are currently working for. For those who lack experience, the trick is often getting your 'foot in the door,' this course will show you how. For those who have experience, it is often difficult to become 'unstuck' and earn what you feel you deserve, this course will sharpen your skills so that you may either request a raise or be prepared to move on to another firm or sole practitioner who pays more. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550015.htm Fri, 5 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Marketing Legal Studies Career Development Bookkeeping Basic Skills This self-paced online course will provide you with a review of the grammar and writing skills necessary when taking any high school or college test, or with your everyday work-related writing and correspondence. Divided up into 15 easy-to-understand lessons, this grammar course concentrates on usage, the mechanics of a sentence, spelling, and a general review of grammatical problem areas. Each lesson focuses on frequent errors, gives examples, suggests strategies, and offers further study guides. This course is ideal for all types of students who want to get an edge on taking a high school, college, or a job related English exam and anyone wishing to update and improve their grammar skills. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550403.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Basic Skills In order to be effective at any business endeavor learning how to negotiate properly is not simply a 'nice skill to have,' it has become an essential requirement in career advancement. This course will teach you what you need to know in order to become accomplished at finding that perfect 'middle-ground' in any deal. For those who relish the idea of engaging in what some call the 'dance' of compromise, you will also profit from the beneficial information contained within this course. Lastly, those who tend to overshoot their mark will learn how to be more restrained in their negotiations. There are ten comprehensive lessons written in an easy to follow, informative manner. The end of each lesson will provide you with multiple summary review questions so that you may effectively test your new found knowledge. We encourage you to use these self-test questions to determine whether you are ready to move on to the next lesson or if you should review portions of the preceding lesson before taking the next step. Don't rush yourself. Take the time to read all portions of the lessons and complete the exercises and self-tests. Making full use of this course, in its entirety, is the first step in getting more of what you want in life and business. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550241.htm Sat, 4 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Marketing Legal Studies Career Development Business Applications Managing time effectively is fundamental to success. It also factors into achieving balance in our lives. Today, we're busier than ever--at work and at home. Having enough time for things that are important, things we want or need to do, or even to have enough time to devote to a special project, there just isn't enough time to go around. This course is a practical 'how to' that will guide you through the maze of conflicting priorities, self-doubts, disorganization, over-commitments, and limitations that in the past have kept you from successfully managing time. It offers a step-by-step format for achieving balance between your personal and professional lives. As this course shows, managing time isn't just about making lists. It's about everything that encompasses your daily routine. Discover how beliefs and values factor into success. Find out what part sleep and nutrition play. Learn how including yourself in your 'to do's' helps create time for 'special' projects you've put on the back burner. See how to stop wasting time on annoying situations. Learn to carve out more time for friends and family. If life is in the details, then manage them well. This eleven-session course encompasses a variety of tools that, if used, will help you achieve what we all want--more time for things that matter and a better ability to manage it all. Making the time for this course could just be the key to creating enough time for you. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550056.htm Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Sexual harassment is a hot topic in today's world--both in the corporate arena and in the personal arena. In this online class we will explore the concept of sexual harassment and look at solutions. Most of the ideas here will be directed toward the corporate arena, however many of the definitions and concepts apply equally to both arenas. Be aware that many aspects of the rules and concepts governing sexual harassment are part of law. That means they must be respected and followed, but it also means that they are changing--constantly. Any sub-topic within the legal field is part of a living code, that means the code has been set out but is always being refined, talked about, tested, renewed, and sometimes discarded. Fifty years ago, online sexual harassment wasn't an issue; today it is. So be aware that this course is not going to replace solid legal council in the area of sexual harassment. Instead, this course will be a guideline to help you understand and end sexual harassment in the workplace. To that end, we'll provide practical advice, suggestions, and ideas on how to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, and moreover, we'll go into the necessary procedures/guidelines your personnel/HR department should have in place (and posted) in case there is an instance of sexual harassment. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550240.htm Sat, 4 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies Career Development Business Applications Do you hear stirring speeches that inspire to go out and take to heart what the speaker was talking about? Do you wonder how some people can sell nearly anything simply by how they talk? If you do, then chances are you are wondering about being persuasive. Being persuasive is one of the greatest skills you can have, because a true master of persuasion can convince people to do nearly anything. Every great politician, army general, business leader and community organizer have been experts at persuasion because they have to inspire you to follow them. You too can be an expert at persuasion. In fact, you can learn to be an expert in the most difficult type of persuasion: written persuasion . Being an expert at written persuasion means you have the ability to convince people not with your verbal skills, but with your written skills. Whether it is a business proposal, letter to the editor, advertisement, or even an essay, you will have the ability thanks to this comprehensive online course on how to persuade people with your written words. By utilizing the tools within this Persuasive Writing Techniques class, you will find everything in your life increases, from your potential pay as you begin impressing bosses with your persuasive writing, to purchasing cars because you will know the persuasion tricks before they happen to you. Learning persuasion techniques can be one of the best skills you ever develop for yourself. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550210.htm Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications The purpose of this course is to help you understand what PowerPoint 2007 can do for you, whether you are familiar with PowerPoint 2003 or new to the application altogether. One of the most noticeable changes is the new user interface called the Microsoft Office Fluent which allows for the creation of dynamic, professional presentations in a much shorter period of time than earlier versions of PowerPoint. The Fluent interface has all commands, toolbars and task panes categorized into tabs and related groups. For the purpose of this course, we will call the Fluent user interface the 'ribbon.' In general, the Ribbon tabs are separated into three levels (see corresponding numbers in Figure 0.1): The general type of task (i.e., Home) Categories of sub-tasks (i.e., Slides) Specific commands (i.e., New Slide) Figure 0.2 shows the Insert Tab, which displays PowerPoint 2007's larger, easier to read icons along with an overall view of the application's new look. Among the many new options offered by PowerPoint 2007 are new themes and quick styles, custom slide layouts, Smart Art graphics, more advanced graphic effects for text, pictures, objects, charts, graphs and tables, more effective proofing tools, user-friendly collaboration and permission features, and much more. This course will walk you through PowerPoint 2007, beginning with the basics and lead you through to some of the most advanced features available, offering additional helpful tips and hints along the way. Course Goals After completing this course, students will be able to: Demonstrate understanding of the terminology and elements of presentations Distinguish between the different options available for creating a presentation Utilize the basics of a slide show including goals and effectiveness of a presentation Create and manipulate text and text boxes using available tools and features Employ the use of themes, styles and backgrounds Create, format and make use of charts, graphs and tables Insert, format and edit Smart Art, pictures and clipart Incorporate sound, video and animation into a presentation Create macro enabled presentations Utilize the quick access toolbar and the slide master Troubleshoot error messages and utilize both online and offline help files Package and publish a presentation on the web and in other Office 2007 applications Course Structure This course is broken down into twelve lessons to take you through each of the tools that PowerPoint 2007 offers the user. Each lesson will cover learning goals and each goal is associated with one aspect of PowerPoint 2007. You will be able to confirm your knowledge and understanding through a series of mini quizzes at the end of each Lesson. Answers to the quiz are at the back of this course. We recommend that you practice with PowerPoint 2007 to gain the best understanding of each lesson. Each lesson will also include hyperlinks for you to find further information online along with hot tips. As with all software, not everything runs smoothly all the time in PowerPoint 2007 and in each lesson we will also alert you to common errors or 'pitfalls' to watch out for. Before you begin: If you are a current user of Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 or an earlier version, before you download 2007 we recommend you uninstall these programs. PowerPoint 2007 may not download properly if you are operating a previous version. While this course is aimed at both beginners and advanced users, we take for granted that you already know how to turn your computer on, use your mouse and can understand in basic terms how to operate your computer. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550338.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills The ability to be assertive is difficult. Because most people do not want to be perceived as selfish, demanding, hostile, stubborn or just plain hard to get along with, they allow others to take advantage of them or they do more than is necessary or required of them, all the while not getting what they need in return. This behavior creates resentment in the non-assertive person and confuses their co-workers, friends and family. For those who have difficulty in this area (and there are many), people who are assertive and confident seem to have been born that way. For all appearances, this quality comes easily to them. They naturally know exactly when and how to ask for what they want without seeming aggressive or hostile. While some people do have an innate ability to assert themselves, most do not, so if they were not 'born' with this ability, how did they get it? They had to learn new behaviors and methods of expressing their desires to others while remaining calm and appropriately communicative. The good news is, you can obtain these behaviors too. Anyone can learn to be more confident in expressing their needs without being demanding or creating relationship problems. This is the course that will teach you how to do just that. Whether you are having trouble being confident and assertive in your career or personal life, or if you are simply interested in learning more about this topic, this course will introduce you to a better way of getting what you want and need from the people in your life. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550534.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Basic Skills Have you ever been reading a newspaper or listening to a commentary and been confronted with a word you didn't know -- like for instance, plethora ? Over the years, you've seen and heard this word 20 times but you don't quite manage to remember the definition or use the word yourself when writing or speaking. You were supposed to have learned all this vocabulary stuff in high school or college but maybe you were absent that day? Well, It's never to late to fill in some of the gaps. Increase your vocabulary at your own pace! Memorize just 10 words a day - or a week - whatever works for your schedule. In some cases it's not really memory work - it's just 'refreshing'. Amaze your business associates, family, friends, and (more importantly) yourself by enhancing your conversational skills. Not only will you avoid the embarrassment of misusing or mispronouncing words, but also with the right vocabulary you may impress others with your dexterous and inventive handling of important concepts without being considered a show-off. Plus vocabulary enrichment does wonders for your self-esteem and certainly has the added benefits of helping with crossword puzzles and Trivial Pursuit. Through these interactive lessons, which have divided up ten different words in twenty lessons, you will learn interesting and relevant vocabulary. Words used frequently by 'experts' to describe various cultures, words used in restaurants, words used in economics and business, legal words, technology terms, psychological jargon and much more. You'll not only practice using the words in a sentence you create, you'll also be writing short paragraphs with some of the words. Although the course emphasis is on vocabulary building, you'll have the added bonus of receiving some general writing assistance. So join the class and retain some of those words you once learned and promptly forgot. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550414.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Career Development Business Applications Speed reading provides you with the tools and information you need to improve not only the speed that you read, but your comprehension and concentration as well. Speed reading will also provide you with effective tools that you can use when you're in a pressure reading situation. Throughout the course, you will find a number reading passages to test your words per minute reading rate as well as your comprehension abilities. A number of drills are also provided so that you can retrain your eyes and expand your vision, which is an essential skill for reading at a much faster rate. Far too many people still read at the same rate they were taught in elementary school and speed reading will help you to break your elementary reading habits. Additionally, you will learn how to break other bad habits that are slowing you down. This includes subvocalization, using your fingers while you read, and reading aloud or under your breath. These are bad habits that many people have developed from poor reading skills and never being taught more effective reading habits. When you learn to speed read, you are able to break these bad habits and improve your reading rate as well as your comprehension of the material. Many people believe that speed reading requires months of training and that you need to work with someone specialized in speed reading. However, with just a few minutes of practicing each day, you are able to improve your reading level, improve your reading rate and comprehension, all on your own. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550418.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Communication influences all factors of your life. From daily interactions with strangers on the street to the way you present yourself in the board room, the way you communicate is a reflection of who you are and the way you establish relationships with those around you. Although there are many sides to communication (including verbal interactions, nonverbal cues, and even using technology to maximize impact), there are a few basic fundamentals that span across the nation and around the globe. By understanding the way you communicate and increasing your knowledge of conflict resolution and negotiation, you can increase your probability for success with others. Whether you are working in the business community, strengthening your personal relationships, or simply seeking to increase your comfort in reaching out to others as a whole, effective communication is your bridge from potentially hazardous misunderstandings to personal--and professional--success. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550121.htm Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:00:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Concentration is a part of our daily lives. We concentrate on our work and our life situations, either consciously or subconsciously. Is focus the same as concentration, and if not why are the terms often used so interchangeably? Why can some of us read a book, listen to music, and think about the day all at once? Why can some of us simply focus on the task at hand and find it difficult to think about anything else? How does age play a role? Are your concentration skills and ability to focus improved or taken away from based on your age? This course consists of eleven distinct lessons that will explore the process of concentration, factors that affect and enhance concentration, and ways of improving the concentration process. We will delve into the thought process, and how different circumstances can affect one's ability to focus and concentrate effectively. Furthermore, we will investigate the relationship between focus and concentration. Studies indicate that diet and the way we exercise our brains now can decrease the risk for Alzheimer's later. Certain foods and vitamins have also been reported to increase brainpower and improve the power of concentration. Lastly, the method and environment for your concentration will depend on the task that you need to accomplish. Not every task requires a loud music filled environment, nor does every task require a quiet library like setting. Can your concentration skills use some fine-tuning? We invite you to find out! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550156.htm Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Basic Skills 'It's surprising how much of a memory is built around things unnoticed at the time.' - Barbara Kingsolver, novelist Memory is one of the most basic and important functions of the human brain. In fact, without memory we can't learn. Most people think of memory as how we recall past events, but it is also the building blocks for almost everything we do in the present and future. Our memories provide us with a sense of our own personality and give us the information we need to function properly in the everyday world. Communication, problem solving and relationships all rely to some extent on memories that we use to inform us as we take action. Of course, our brains can't remember everything. Brains simply don't have the capacity; if they tried to remember everything we experienced, there wouldn't be room for anything else. Involuntary muscle function, thought processes, the senses and numerous other activities would be crowded out. There are dozens of variables that affect how much we remember, how long we retain it and whether we can recall it. Fortunately, we can learn ways to improve how much we remember and enhance how long we remember it. This course will explain how memory works, and will also cover these topics: - Strategies to improve Memory - Peg Memory Systems - The Loci Method - Memorizing Numbers - Mnemonics - SCAD: Learning to Become an 'Expert Witness' - Faces and Names - Powerful Public Speaking - Everyday Memory Aids The class is self-paced and you can take it when it fits your schedule. So why not join and learn how to maintain a healthy memory and learn some memory improvement strategies! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550096.htm Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills One of the most profound effects of Marshall McLuhans' description of the world as a 'global village' was its effects on human rights' activities. Today, with technology, most international human rights organizations have branches and affiliates all over the world and can therefore easily monitor human rights' violations. The world as presently constituted, therefore, provides an opportunity to get educated about one's basic rights and the events that shape history in different parts of the world. This course provides a general overview of international human rights and a thorough knowledge of fundamental human rights. It also discusses the role of international pressure groups and international courts and tribunals in observing and enforcing human rights. Lesson One and Two traces the philosophical background and types of human rights. Lesson Three focuses on 'the engine' on which human rights operate - The Rule of Law, while Lesson Four examines how international human rights organizations mould public opinion and ensure observance of international human rights covenants. The course ends with the analysis of high profile cases of Senator Pinochet of Chile , Slobodan Milosevic of former Yugoslavia and Charles Taylor of Liberia - all former Heads of State. This course is meant for undergraduates and graduate students taking human rights courses and anyone seeking a career or an update on human rights. It will aid them in understanding the dialectics involved in human rights practice in the world, in addition to equipping them with current information on human rights' activities. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/16438.htm Sat, 9 Dec 2006 14:08:08 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies Preparing for your job interview could very well be one of the most important moments of your career. Landing the perfect job can be a challenge, but with the determination and passion you will need to begin a successful career, you can easily overcome this challenge, and bring a lot of valuable experience with you to the next interview if you don't get the job. Just a little preparation and thought ahead of time can have wondrous effects on your interviewing skills. This course will go over the issues and provide an in-depth analysis of the interviewing process. With some independent practice, this course can help you prepare successfully for any job interview! Topics will include: Common Interview Questions What Employers Want Attitude and Effort Body Language Research The Mock Interview Phone Interviews Behavioral Interviews Closing the Interview Thank You Notes http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550092.htm Mon, 5 Jan 2009 13:42:09 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills It's amazing how many of us own personal computers at home, belong to Internet networking systems in work environments, and yet don't understand the very basics regarding Internet Security. While we've all heard terms like worms, spyware and Trojan horse, we're not exactly sure what they are or what they do to our computer. Nearly every one of us has experienced an Internet virus in our computer's lifetime but still neglect to take adequate steps to protect our computers, our data, and our privacy from others through best-practice protection methods. In this course, we'll define the difference between a virus and spyware. We'll break down the source and damage a virus can cause to your computer and share information on protecting your computer against virus attacks. Safe computer usage is the primary focus of this course. You'll learn how to reduce your vulnerability to online spam, spyware and viruses and take steps to protect your computer against all malware. This course will help you pay more attention in regard to monitoring your computer usage and downloads and how to detect, identify, and clean an infection. Options for virus removal may help protect your computer, your privacy, and your important documents from attack. We'll explain why the installation of security patches is just as important as installing antivirus software to your computer. We'll discuss Internet Security options and where you can find popular antivirus software downloads or where you can purchase them for installation onto your computer. Finally, we'll discuss Internet safety tips for you and your family. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550463.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Career Development This self-study medical coding course will emphasize the rules and guidelines on the CPT coding manual. The course benefits those who work or want to work in the medical field whether it be as a medical biller, medical coder, medical collector, or medical office administrator. The class format is designed to help the beginner coder learn and understand the concept of coding using the CPT-4 coding manual. The course is designed to help the experienced coder gain additional knowledge and practice on their speed in preparation for the coding certification exam. Coding scenarios are provided to help the student continue his/her knowledge in the field of medical coding. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550018.htm Wed, 4 Aug 2010 13:57:05 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing Owning a home business can be one of the most rewarding career moves you will ever make. Not only do you get the freedom of answering only to yourself, but our increasingly Internet-savvy society makes reaching out to worldwide consumers easier than ever. Whether you are tired of a nine-to-five work schedule or you are bursting with ideas for ways to make money, there are countless reasons to consider working from home and being your own boss. However, small businesses are not always successful. Oftentimes, a lack of poor financial planning is at fault. Sometimes it's not having the right permits or licenses. Other times, it's simply that you don't know how to manage your time or where to look for help. These should never be a reason for failure. This course is designed to provide you with everything you need to know to start on your path toward home business success. From determining whether or not you're suited to become a business owner to providing information on the tax implications of hiring employees, this Home Business e-Course is a comprehensive source of tips, tools, and tricks of the trade. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550094.htm Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills Do you find yourself intimidated by computer jargon? Would you like to have a clearer understanding (in non-jargon language) of how your computer works? Computer Basics 101 will both demonstrate and explain how your computer works in an easy-to-follow, self-paced format. This class is designed for the first time computer user, but it's also intended for those whose familiarity with computers is limited and who want a better understanding of the basics. It's also geared towards anyone who has not grown up with a personal computer and now needs to acquire the same assuredness of the younger 'internet-surfing' generation. When you complete this course, you will be able to navigate your computer system, be familiar with some of the most popular software, know how and where to find difficult information quickly, and navigate the internet with the utmost confidence. Whether you're a novice or simply someone facing a daunting basic computer skill challenge, this course will give you a greater understanding and confidence in your technical skills--whether on your home or office computer. So why not join today and let's take the stress out of using your computer! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550331.htm Sun, 5 Jun 2011 08:52:39 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Basic Finance Skills We're excited to now provide an intermediate to advanced proofreading and copyediting course for students who have requested more in-depth information about these fields. This self-paced class is geared for those people with little or no experience in these fields but who have a really good grasp of grammar, syntax, punctuation and spelling. Freelance editors and proofreaders are used not only by book publishers, but also by newspapers, magazines, government agencies, printing companies, large corporations, and internet journals, manuals, newsletters and blogs. Technology is currently changing the proofreader's and copyeditor's requirements and that's why this course will not only cover the basic skills and procedures but will also provide an understanding of computer applications within the publishing industry (i.e. copyediting software, editing electronically without software, and MS Tracking changes). For those of you who have a passion for grammar and punctuation, and an eye for finding errors, find out how you might turn your talents into money as a copyeditor and/or proofreader. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550351.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 08:15:30 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Basic Skills If you have been at the mercy of the negative consequences that result from mishandled anger, Anger Management 101 will provide relief. This insightful course is filled with both practical wisdom and application that will end the anger trap for good. Everyone occasionally gets angry and anger is a natural reaction to the things that happen: to you, around you, to someone you care for. Anger is a normal emotion unless the result of your anger is such that your reaction becomes uncontrollable, violent, or destructive. When anger becomes your reaction of choice to even the most minor of situations, or if you find yourself lashing out unnecessarily at people you love, respect, or care for, your anger may be spiraling out of control. Out of control anger can lead to many psychological and emotional issues, as well as many difficulties with your career, important relationships, and friendships. This course will provide the information you will need to end the anger cycle and live up to your true potential. We will discuss these topics: What are Various forms of Anger What are the Responses to Anger How to Control Anger Developing Empathy Passive Aggressive Behaviors Stress Factors Anger in Relationships Professional Help Resources Breathing and Relaxation Exercises http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550244.htm Sat, 4 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Business Applications Conflict Resolution: In the Workplace and Beyond Did you know that a little conflict in your office today can shut down your entire operation tomorrow? That is no exaggeration! Workplace conflict costs. It starts by reducing productivity and employee health. It will finish your business by reducing customer loyalty and profitability. In this self-paced course you will learn how you can avoid conflict from developing, and methods you can use to resolve conflicts that are occurring and affecting your workplace. Animosity. Dissent. Anger. Frustration. Rage. Disagreements. Differences of opinion. Yelling. Personal attack. Vindictiveness. Conflict. They make great TV but a terrible work environment. Enroll today and learn how to put a stop to it now. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550238.htm Sat, 4 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Business Applications How can you make a significant difference in your organization? One way is to be part of a project that improves the company's performance or launches it in a new direction. The business analyst (BA) plays a key role in the development and execution of company projects. Maybe it's a new product launch or a change to a more efficient software package. The BA is responsible for gathering input, analyzing the needs of the project, documenting the criteria to be met, sharing information among project team members and presenting findings to company executives. This course will provide a solid foundation for a career in business analysis. We explore the strategy, phases, components and process a BA uses to develop a project. From conducting an enterprise analysis to assessing the solution's implementation, you will learn the basics of how to manage the process and determine the appropriate parties to be involved. We look at project requirements (the needs that must be fulfilled to complete the initiative), how to develop a communications plan, distributing work responsibilities, creating a business model and more. The course finishes with a discussion about tasks that the BA encounters when the solution is put into place. When you are finished, you'll have a broad understanding that can launch your career in business analysis. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550320.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills Dealing with a difficult or toxic personality can be damaging both emotionally and physically, particularly if the person is your boss or sitting in the cubicle right next to you. Confronting those who compromise your comfort and job security can be very difficult for many people, but standing up for yourself is essential in the workplace. If you can't stop thinking about a problem with someone at work- be it a bullying boss, a subversive coworker, or a sexist client- it's important to know that you can take control of the situation. This class will allow students to explore what feeds these kinds of behaviors, ways to address these situations, and when to call for outside assistance. In 11 easy to follow lessons, students will learn to identify various types of difficult personalities and address conflict before it begins to chip away at their well-being and job satisfaction. Course material includes: An overview of your rights in the workplace Simple tips for reducing stress on the job Establishing boundaries Effective collaboration Conflict resolution Interpreting body language Coping with aggressive behavior Dealing with critics and power freaks Working with slackers and energy vampires Avoiding the gossip mill Gender differences in the workplace What to do when prejudice rears its ugly head Standing up to a bullying boss http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550249.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:57:40 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills ~Part Lender, Part Real Estate Aficionado~ In this course we will discover the workings of mortgage bankers/broker specialists and the unique role they play in partnering with individuals when they make one of the most important purchases of their entire lives--that of buying property. While somewhat technical, the training to become a mortgage banker/broker entails a good amount of knowledge in such areas of lending as: mortgage types, interest rate structures, and matching loan instruments to individuals based upon the nature of their personal financial situations. To assess whether an individual would make a good mortgage loan candidate, mortgage bankers/brokers spend a great deal of time evaluating clients' credit backgrounds, income statements and additional financial factors. Further, with new onuses in place whereby bankers/brokers are being required to critically analyze an individual's credit background prior to granting him/her a mortgage loan, it is more important than ever, that there be well-qualified mortgage bankers/brokers helping consumers navigate through the home finance lending process. And with the help of this Mortgage Banker/Broker course, we have gone to great lengths to familiarize you with the major tenets with which a mortgage banker needs to be well acquainted from credit applications and pre mortgage loan approvals to interest rate fluctuations and subprime markets. And in light of the current US economic crisis, it is very important for mortgage bankers/brokers to be fully up not only on the regulations and legislations affecting the mortgage industry but also on the steps clients can take to avoid negative pitfalls and reduce unnecessary costs. Hence, as you explore the career options that exist within the mortgage lending field, we believe you will find this cross-section of mortgage-related tools, steps, and activities to be both helpful and applicable to the daily work performed by bankers/brokers. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550183.htm Sun, 5 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Business Applications Basic Finance Skills Accounts Receivable management is a demanding job. You'll be making decisions that can make or break a company. Your role is unique and complex--one that is closely integrated into the overall customer service of your company. In this course, we'll look at what exactly AR is, what it is you're going to be doing, what you'll need to know to get started, why your company needs an accounts receivable department to begin with, and what some of the keys are to a successful accounts receivable department. In this course, we're going through all the basics. You don't need any prior accounts receivable experience or knowledge to successfully complete this course. Using a 'ground-up' approach, we'll be covering topics such as 1. approving credit, 2. the billing process, 3. collecting money, 4. customer service, 5. handling deductions, 6. legal considerations, 7. bankruptcy, as well as many other important topics. So come join the fun...Let's get started now! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/31060.htm Sat, 7 Apr 2007 10:41:44 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills The paralegal field is highly rewarding for those who seek to be a part of the justice system. On a day to day basis, the paralegal is the attorney's right hand. From the perspective of the law, the paralegal is a sort of junior attorney in so far as she must know a lot of what he knows and she creates and presents his documents for execution upon his approval. She is his detail person, and she is necessary for him to follow up on his communications, check his court dates, check client backgrounds, client relations, law office to law office relations, check every detail and every reference in all of his documents, research applicable laws and case references, prepare all of his court documents, and generally keep him going. Trial paralegals also prepare the case interrogatories, file with opposing counsel for discovery, prep the client for deposition and accompany the attorney to court. Although the work is quite detailed, in practice a paralegal's work is anything but secretarial and many have equal use of their attorney's secretary so that the paralegal can follow up on the details of her work. Some paralegals also have legal assistants junior paralegals to whom they delegate details of their responsibilities. The Paralegal Studies course is designed to give you information you need to be a successful paralegal. It will take you through a survey of what is needed to become a paralegal, how you may choose to go about it, all of the business details which are generally not known until you are into the firm, and some of the social skills and information you will need to survive and thrive in a firm. It also covers issues which will never be said to you by anyone in your firm; some of the material cannot be said by members of your firm without putting them in legal jeopardy because they possess licenses or practice in certain areas of law. If you already have your paralegal certification, then this course will be beneficial if you are seeking your first firm position. You will get an insider's scoop on common mistakes and pitfalls, and you will know how to avoid or overcome common faux pas. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550162.htm Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies Career Development Business Applications MS Office 2007 will provide a comprehensive tutorial of these programs- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. MS Word 2007 It doesn't matter if you're new to MS Word or an experienced user, this comprehensive course teaches the most basic features as well as focuses on the more advanced tools that all students will find useful. Additionally, this course introduces new features exclusive to MS Word 2007, as well as includes detailed instructions on how to use them. You'll learn your way around the toolbars and menus, b asic editing features, how to insert items into a document, how to create and edit tables, Macros, And much, much more! MS Excel 2007 Microsoft Excel 2007 is Microsoft's latest version of its very popular business productivity application for the management and manipulation of data. With the right training and understanding of Excel 2007, businesses and individual users can unlock the world of opportunities that this powerful business application offers. This Excel 2007 Online Training Course does just that and more! It assumes users have no prior experience with Excel or other spreadsheet programs. Many new features await the Excel 2007 user. Below are just a few highlights: Horizontal 'ribbons' that display commands left-to-right instead of the traditional vertical water-flow look. More rows and columns to help manage your really massive spreadsheets! Memory management increased from 1GB to 2GB's which allows for faster computations and increased performance . New options for applying themes and styles which enhance the look of your spreadsheets and graphics. And, Excel now supports up to 16 million colors ! Easier creation and use of formulas . New Pivot Table User Interface to help the user more effectively use pivot tables. PowerPoint 2007 The purpose of this section of this course is to help you understand what PowerPoint 2007 can do for you, whether you are familiar with PowerPoint 2003 or new to the application altogether. One of the most noticeable changes is the new user interface called the Microsoft Office Fluent which allows for the creation of dynamic, professional presentations in a much shorter period of time than earlier versions of PowerPoint. The Fluent interface has all commands, toolbars and task panes categorized into tabs and related groups. Among the many new options offered by PowerPoint 2007 are new themes and quick styles, custom slide layouts, Smart Art graphics, more advanced graphic effects for text, pictures, objects, charts, graphs and tables, more effective proofing tools, user-friendly collaboration and permission features, and much more. This course will walk you through PowerPoint 2007, beginning with the basics and lead you through to some of the most advanced features available, offering additional helpful tips and hints along the way. Outlook 2007 This section has been developed to be of benefit to new users of Outlook, individuals migrating from previous versions of Outlook and individuals wanting to learn to use the advanced functionality of Outlook 2007. After completing this section, learners will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental features of Outlook 2007, set up new email accounts along with understanding how to convert their previous Outlook information to 2007, u tilize the toolbars and navigation panes in Outlook 2007, understand how to operate the email tools in Outlook 2007, demonstrate an understanding of how to customize email options and tools, perform personal information management tasks, manage and utilize Outlook 2007's contact management tools, u nderstand and utilize Outlook 2007's calendar, tasks, notes and journal entry tools, and d emonstrate an understanding of the collaboration and remote access tools in Outlook 2007. Before you begin this course: It is strongly recommended you have MS Office 2007 or have access to this version. If you are a current user of Microsoft Office 2003 or an earlier version, before you download 2007 we recommend you uninstall these programs. MS Office 2007 may not download properly if you are operating a previous version. While this course is aimed at both beginners and advanced users, we take for granted that you already know how to turn your computer on, use your mouse and can understand in basic terms how to operate your computer. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550340.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:08:43 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Marketing a company's products and services to potential and existing customers is not only necessary, but a key ingredient to growing sales. Outreach marketing is the facet of marketing in which a company representative actively seeks out potential leads by meeting with local businesses or the public, speaking at local events, or getting involved with the local chamber of commerce. By networking and creating a lead base you are opening doors for your business and others. You need not spend an immense amount of money all the time to market your products and services, but by working smarter, and connecting with the right people you can generate business and that is priceless. Marketing in a sense is building relationships, and through those relationships you can gain viable resources that will contribute to your success. In this course you will learn how to increase business sales. Topics covered include: Outreach Marketing for Your Business Type, How Outreach Marketing Can Drive Sales, Approaching Outreach Marketing Contacts for the First Time, Follow Up and Maintaining a Rapport, Marketing and Advertising Working Together, Incorporating a Referral Program into Your Marketing Plan, Outreach Marketing Via Online Sources, Tracking Outreach Marketing Success, and Other Marketing Successes. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550171.htm Mon, 5 Jan 2009 13:44:20 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Career Development Business Applications Team Management Is -- Designing and Developing a Team Committed to a Common Purpose 'No man will ever make a great leader who wants to do it all by himself or to get all the credit for doing it.' (Andrew Carnegie) 'Managing' used to be just telling people what to do and getting merchandise out the door. But as time marched on, workplace conditions changed again and again -- and workplace complications paralleled the pace of these changes. Today's working world requires much more of the average supervisor or manager than simply setting goals backed up by ultimatums. Managers need to be team leaders. They need to understand and accommodate their employees' different working styles and personalities. In a team oriented atmosphere, individuals contribute to the overall success of an organization while working with other team members to attain the objectives of the team and organization as a whole. A team is not just a collection of individuals. It is so much more. The total 'team' being far greater than the sum of its parts. A properly developed and managed team synergistically harnesses its individual members' talents, experience and energies. It really is the together part that makes a great team. For example: R Teams intensify focus on the task at hand R Teams do work that ordinary workgroups can't do. R Teams make better use of resources. They are a way for an organization to focus its most important resource, its brainpower, directly on its problems. R Teams mean improved production. As they straddle all the functions contributing to a process, teams naturally understand all steps needed to improve production. Join our insightful Team Management in Business course today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550168.htm Sat, 7 Mar 2009 10:20:26 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Public relations can contribute immensely to the success of a business large or small. In short, it is a message, an image, a story or a brand, that is vital to communicate and can grow a business. A solid and well thought out public relations plan can bring awareness to a company's products and services. But can also provide a wealth of exposure that is necessary to keep a business alive. Not only can public relations be your number one fan, it can provide low cost or no cost advertising that is easy on a budget. The role that public relations will play for your particular business, or organization will depend on your goals and what you intend to accomplish. In a marketing plan there are four major components a. public relations b. marketing, c. advertising and d. selling. These are four distinct areas that are interrelated but play unique roles. While we will briefly touch on the relationships of each and how they affect one another, this course will primarily focus on the Public Relations actions your business can take that can contribute to business success. Topics will include: Tools for Public Relations, Your Message, Your Story and What You are Trying to Accomplish Using the Internet, Putting Together a PR Plan, Sample Press Releases, and the Importance of a Media List and Media Relationships, Reaching Your Audience, Events that Draw Press, and Media Attention, Avoiding Bad Customer Service Can Mean Avoiding Bad Press, The Role That Marketing Plays in Your Business http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550174.htm Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications This ESL basic grammar and writing course will provide an introduction to the basics of American English grammar and writing. We'll be covering the following topics in detail: - review the basic English structure in the form of nouns, verbs, prepositions, adjectives and adverbs - review the proper use of pronouns, prepositions, and conjunctions - practice sentence structure and mastering subject-verb agreement - cover writing basics - improve reading comprehension - increase your vocabulary - learn how to write clearly and more effectively - learn how to organize your thoughts and write a personal or business letter Whether you are learning English as a second language or are a native speaker striving to improve your English and writing skills, using proper grammar rules and writing guidelines are essential building blocks to creating clear and understandable thought processes and ideas. Communication is vital in today's society. It is not enough to merely be able to speak and understand spoken English. In the United States, English writing and comprehension is a necessary job skill for nearly all job industries and career paths. In order to develop practical writing skills, you must understand the basics of English grammar and sentence structure. Knowing the proper way to communicate in a wide range of fields will help promote your self-confidence, increase your skill levels, and ensure your job advancement and promotion. This course will guide you through the basic grammar structures and rules as well as focus on improving the necessary skills leading to clear and accurate writing. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550409.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:10:46 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Improvement Career Development Basic Skills Estate planning was once a buzz phrase reserved only for the wealthy. However, today many people are beginning to realize that estate planning is important for everyone. Anyone who has assets, no matter how small or wants their medical wishes carried out should have an estate plan. If you have no easily identifiable heirs, the lack of a proper estate plan and/or will could result in all your property ending up in the hands of the government rather than in the hands of those you designate. Your life insurance policy may clearly assign the beneficiaries of that money, but it does not account for the other assets you may have, including cash, your home, real estate, car, bank accounts, valuable collections and other belongings. Without a proper estate plan you could be kept on life support indefinitely, or be forced to endure painful life saving procedures that would only serve to prolong a debilitating terminal illness. Some find the idea of estate planning morbid or negative and prefer to ignore it rather than think about it, but this is simply avoidance of the facts of life. Others take a 'lets just get it over with' approach to estate planning; this is also not recommended because errors could be made when creating a 'rushed' plan. It is wise to put a well thought out estate plan in place that you feel confident about, put it aside, and get about the business of living and enjoying your life. It will give you peace of mind to know that when the time comes your assets will be distributed as you desire and your medical wishes will be carried out in accordance with your beliefs. Creating a simple estate plan is much easier than you think and can be done in a relatively short period of time, if you know how. This course will teach you how. You will be given information on particulars of estate planning such as how-to properly plan for the future distribution of your assets, how-to establish a power of attorney, create a Will in Testament and prepare a Living Will. This course will also cover trust funds, how best to incorporate charitable giving into your plan and how-to take proper inventory of the assets you have now. Lastly, there is a lesson for singles and their special requirements. Making full use of this course, in its entirety, is the first step in setting your future affairs in place so that you may fully focus on enjoying your life to the fullest. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550178.htm Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Finance Skills There are many aspects that need to be covered when running a successful business. One of the most important aspects in any business is of course, payroll management. The members of the business involved in payroll management have unique responsibilities to ensure that the business operations can maintain momentum. In essence, the payroll management team is at the heart of any business. While managing the payroll may seem easy enough, it is actually a complicated process involving finance and record keeping. Payroll Management 101 provides you with the information and guidance to become a key member of the payroll management team. The curriculum is designed to give an overview of all the core skills you will be required to attain in an easy to read manner. Most importantly, Payroll Management 101 provides you with the tools to quickly start using your new vocational skills in an operational environment. By covering the topics contained in Payroll Management 101, you can be assured that you will have the necessary skills and abilities to tackle just about any payroll projects you are assigned. The course has been designed to assist not only people involved solely in payroll management, but also for small business owners, and business people looking to get the edge over their competitors. Written for both seasoned professionals and business newcomers Payroll Management 101 is sure to provide you with all you need to know. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550184.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:05:26 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills The Photoshop Elements software package is a condensed version of the popular Adobe Photoshop. Lesser priced, it contains all the features of Photoshop, but contains fewer options that are much easier to understand. Elements was designed with the consumer in mind and is ideal for any budding photography enthusiast, home user with photos they want to organize or edit, or for anyone wishing to do basic photo manipulation or graphic arts. Unlike Photoshop, navigating through Elements and completing tasks is simple. Whether you want to share, organize, or edit photos, you can do it quickly and easily using Elements. In this course, you'll learn your way around Elements to make navigating it a breeze. You'll also learn all the features and how to utilize the options so that editing, organizing, and sharing your photos is quick and fun. You'll learn how to: and#216; Upload your photos into Elements. and#216; Organize your photos in albums and catalogs. and#216; Adjust the colors in your photos to make them crisp and clear. and#216; Change the mood of your photos. and#216; Crop and resize photos and images. and#216; Add layers. and#216; Print images. and#216; Create albums, calendars, and other projects. and#216; Save your projects. and#216; Share your photo projects with others. This includes online albums, slideshows, photo emails, and more! It doesn't matter if you already use Elements or you're completely new to the software. All lessons are comprehensive and easy-to-understand. Using step-by-step directions, you'll master even the most complex tasks. By the end of this course, you'll know everything about Elements that you need to know to easily organize, edit, print, and share your photos and images http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550186.htm Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:53:57 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Business Applications Administrative Assistant Fundamentals 'A clueless boss gives you a wide-open field. Learn what's important to your boss, understand what your company is looking for and help the fool meet those expectations.' ( John Hoover) Oh how times, and people, have changed in the world over the last few years. Presently and into the foreseeable future, business people will not only have to continue picking up the pace but will need to adapt to new methods, systems and responsibilities that would have seemed unsustainable a few years ago or even just last year! Due in part to the recession--technology and necessity has amplified the requirements and pace of this change. It's not all bad news though, the truth of the matter is that the recession is providing opportunities to people in certain segments of the business world--administrative assistants are one of them. AA's are now, and will in the future, be performing roles that middle managers would have done only a year or two ago. They are acting on behalf of their bosses on a regular basis and have full authority to do so. Whether you are returning to the workforce after a number of years away or you are new to the administrative side of the business world, there are some great opportunities out there for administrative assistants, especially the new kind of administrative assistants--i.e. those who are skilled, prepared to take on extra responsibility and don't mind taking a risk or two. This is a 3 Part Course , which will begin covering some very important basics before going on to deal with the importance of training others to fulfill the position. We will then focus on the innovative role which has a place both in the present and future--that of a Virtual Assistant ! This course will open your eyes wider in regards to the choices you have available in an Administrative Assistant career, as well as introduce you to the business sector and the opportunities that now exist in this demanding field. This course provides a basis on which you can build your new future, so join us today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550190.htm Tue, 19 May 2009 13:03:21 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills This course focuses on workplace safety, health, and inspection. Throughout this course you will learn what workplace safety is, why it is important and how it affects a business. Common areas of workplace safety are discussed, including office safety, workplace hazards, and other areas. Additionally, you will learn preventative measures to help create a safer work environment which will benefit everyone. We will also deal with mental health issues, workplace violence, health and wellness initiatives, and drug free workplaces. You will also learn the ins and outs of conducting a routine inspection, filing reports, and the importance of creating a workplace safety committee. Tips, lists, suggestions, and helpful tools will be provided so by the time you finish this course you will have a thorough understanding of what is involved in workplace safety and how to create a safer and healthier work environment. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550195.htm Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Microsoft Publisher can be an amazing tool. It can help us complete impressive tasks in a fraction of the time, and help to accomplish things that we could never have done on our own. But you have to know how to use this program. This course will show you how. Through a series of 13 different lessons, you will familiarize yourself with the program and its capabilities. By starting at the beginning and working your way through you will cover everything from opening a new publisher document, learn how to add punch to otherwise boring copy, learn how to create different mailing lists, learn how to create brochures and other business material, learn how to create a website, learn how to highlight important facts, or add other design elements, and much more. Microsoft Publisher 2007 provides a great source of templates, tips and layout ideas which will cut your design time in half. Having this knowledge will make the design process shorter, and help curb unnecessary frustration. By the end of this course you will be able to create material ready for a professional presentation. The latest version of Microsoft Publisher is used, but students will not need a copy of this program in order to benefit from this course. It will be of use to anyone from the brand new Publisher user to the person who is simply looking for a little refresher. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550196.htm Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Business Applications Whether you are already running a business, have yet to start one or have been hired to support a business owner, it is important to know the basics of the business administrative process. This course will trace a path through the inception, setup and growth of a typical business. It is separated into three sections: Getting Started, Setup/Administrative and Growing Your Business. Each section has valuable information including: creating a business name, whether or not to write a business plan, office supply lists, checklists and much more. So, no matter what part you play, by the end, you should have a firm grasp of what it takes to start, run and grow a business. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550321.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Finance Skills Managerial accounting is not as widely used as other forms of accounting, nor is it as known. While companies concern themselves with financial accounting methods like audits, budgets and financial statements, they often completely ignore the forward-thinking methods of managerial accounting. Managerial accounting is a form of accounting that deals not only with financial information, but information that is not always easy to quantify into numbers and reports. Things like employee performance, efficiency, product rates and customer satisfaction stats are all things that managerial accountants deal with. They take that information and put it into reports that are easy for managers to understand. By doing this, managerial accountants help managers make the important decisions to turn the company in a new direction, or help it continue on as a profitable and respected organization. Financial accounting looks at the company as a whole. The net profit of the company, the revenue and expenses of the company and more. It does not look at the parts that make up the whole. This is what managerial accounting does. It takes the company and breaks it into parts that can be studied and analyzed. Maybe one department is bringing down the rest like a lead weight attached to a strong chain. If this is happening, the methods of managerial accounting will find it and that will help managers take the information and use it to make the company better and more efficient as a result. Managerial accounting is not new, but it is revolutionary and despite originating over 100 years ago, companies are only now realizing the true power of this amazing form of company management. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550324.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Medical Billing Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills Business Credit 101 provides potential and current business owners with the necessary knowledge to successfully use credit within their business. There are many reasons why business operators rely on credit to maximize their business potential, but it is necessary to have an insight into the business credit arena to ensure that business credit is used effectively. This course takes you through the basics of business credit giving you an opportunity to understand what business credit is, how to obtain business credit, the best type of business credit and even explores the taxation aspects of business credit. Business Credit 101 will provide aspiring and current business owners the necessary knowledge to effectively manage their business credit and financial needs. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550203.htm Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:52:38 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills Are you in the dark about how the Internet works? Do you wonder how in the world it is possible to communicate with someone on another continent in the blink of an eye? This straightforward course clearly and plainly lays out the basics of the Internet in a light and interesting way. It also offers valuable information about how to protect your computer, your family and yourself from the inevitable dangers that naturally arise in a system so open, and so very powerful. With a tool as elegant and robust as the Internet, it is good to know what you are looking at when you see or hear about things like 'TCP/IP' and#8211; it's not all complex programming language, but often just logical abbreviations for simple terms that best describe the process. You will be more comfortable using the Internet after taking this course. You will be able to hold a meaningful discussion, not only socially, but with technicians and computer geeks. Get online and get informed with our Internet Fundamentals class! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550332.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Since as far back as Ancient Greece and Rome, there has been a system in place in all civilized societies to compensate those individuals who have become injured or disabled due to a work-related accident. The laws and regulations governing what is known today as Workers' Compensation have changed dramatically over the last 1700 years. This course will take a close look at the entire Workers' Compensation system, from the filing of an initial claim, to a detailed look on how to choose the right doctor and lawyer, how to represent yourself in the absence of a lawyer, and, most importantly, a detailed look into the specific federal, state, and private benefits that are available to people who have become injured in their workplace. Filing a Workers' Compensation claim need not be a daunting task. Every worker must seek the advice of qualified professionals. This course will provide an understanding of the core concepts in a Workers' Compensation claim, as well as education on where to get further information. Being injured in the workplace can mean a significant change in one's life, and it is important to ensure that one's rights and#8211; either those of an employee or an employer and#8211; are being fully protected. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550193.htm Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Legal Studies Home Business Career Development Business Applications These days, everyone can benefit from an online presence, and that means developing a website. This course covers a basic introduction of how to create your own website page-by-page using HTML, a common website coding process. From basic HTML definitions to different types of websites, this course offers novice website builders information regarding the foundation of HTML basics and the difference between using HTML to design your website and using popular forms of webpage building software. The course also explains the difference between different graphics and images, and when to use each. Learn how to lay out and format your webpage, as well as some common mistakes to avoid when designing a website. From the five most important tags necessary for web page creation to search engine optimization, this course gives new webpage builders enough information to get started. When you're finished building, you're going to need to know how to enhance your website as well as launch it. The course offers students information regarding registration of websites to finding the right web host. From internal links to outbound links and from organizing your webpage structure to choosing the right heading and font sizes, this course will help any student get started creating webpages and offers enough HTML to help you on your way to developing a well thought out, organized and attractive website that will suit almost any need. We'll teach you the difference between HTML and WYSIWYG and provide you with the tools to know which is best for you. Have some fun and design your own website starting with the basics offered in this course. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550192.htm Tue, 19 May 2009 13:01:20 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills There you are, cold-calling yet another sales prospect. Your verbal pitch is pure gold; your prospect is attentive--interested--and seems ready to buy. But just as you're about to close the deal, you hear that eternal refrain: ' Send me something in writing!' And the line goes dead. What do you do now? Oh, we're so glad you askedand#8230; This SALES, MARKETING and ADVERTISING WRITING course will demonstrate that virtually every sale depends on the written wordand#8230;ranging from a three-word caption in a movie poster, to a multi-page booklet that covers every conceivable aspect of a product. It will also demonstrate that when used properly, the written word can be your least expensive yet hardest-working employee, willing to work in any number of formats to bring in millions in revenue. When used improperlyand#8230; or not used at alland#8230;the written word can cost you millions. The ability to write all three subjects effectively is crucial to success in any businessand#8230;and, in fact, life itselfand#8230;for what is a resume if not an and#8216;advertisement' for oneself? While Sales, Marketing, and Advertising are often considered separate entities within the business world, they do in fact influence each other, and are dependent on each other. Without properly written Marketing materials, crucial time and resources are lost as a product or service is presented to the wrong consumersand#8230;.or the right consumers in the wrong manner. Without effective Advertising copy, consumers are oblivious to the product or service's existenceand#8230;or, worse, notice it in a negative light. A savvy sales professional may be able to initiate a sale through mere spoken words, but without well-written sales materials to back them up, such sales will be few, and the company and#8216;dies on the vine' for lack of income. Proper business writing can, and should, combine these three elements. But since these three crucial business elements tend to flow sequentially--a product or service is marketed, then advertised, then sold--the course will duplicate this and#8216;flow', with examples of marketing writing, advertising copy, and sales materials. We will define each element and its influence and dependence on the others, then demonstrate its place in the business cycle. We will show you the words to use, and as many formats as possible. Mastery of these three elements of business writing will ensure you're a creative employee that your company can't afford to lose, or will ensure that your own business soars to the top. It can also enhance your life in other ways--the properly written and#8216;personal ad' might just catch the attention of and#8216;Mr. or Ms. Right'! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550287.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications One of the most important and intimidating steps in the job search process is writing a solid resume that gets the attention you want and need. Unfortunately, many job seekers get overwhelmed before they even get started. The result is poorly-written resumes that are built on top of templates that don't do the job seeker any good. Today, resumes must appeal to potential employers while also being optimized for the electronic age. Whether you are handing a resume over in person or are emailing an electronic copy to be added to an online database, the words you use and the formatting you choose will make a big difference in whether or not you get that interview. This course teaches you not just what a resume should look like, but what it should say. It walks you step-by-step through the creation of the most common sections found on resumes in today's job market. In addition to helping you determine what information should be included, it also goes a step further to help you realize what pitfalls to avoid when creating this powerful, job-searching tool. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550211.htm Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Every small business owner or new entrepreneur knows that the success of their company will depend largely on the effectiveness of their sales team. After all, if you are not selling something, then you can hardly call yourself 'in business' since business is by definition an exchange of goods or services for money. The key to increasing your company's exchange with the buying world rests with your salespeople. Creating an effective sales team, however, is more than just wanting a good team or hiring strong personalities. In many ways it is an ongoing process and simultaneously a work of art in progress. A team that flows well together, serves the public and the company and is highly motivated for their own purposes is one that will perform and exceed your goals. But there is even more to it. In this course, you will learn how to conduct a staff search, how to screen your applicants for top selling personality traits, how to avoid character traps by looking for right attitudes and right thinking patterns, how to retain a top seller and much more. This course addresses generational and cultural concerns along with issues of sex in the workplace. We will cover issues of motivation which vary depending on personality and age as well as how to find the best and the brightest for your company. At the end of this course, you will know what to look for in top salespeople, how to recruit them and how to retain them. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550216.htm Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Today's consumers have a variety of options for shopping, obtaining services and getting the help they need. They can use catalogs, the mail, the Internet and face-to-face contact, yet telephone customer service is still the first choice for most customers when they have questions or a problem that needs to be resolved. In order to ensure your customers or clients are happy with the customer service they receive, it's even more important for you to provide exceptional customer service, including outstanding telephone service. Consumers expect better service than ever before, and the limitations of telephone communications don't exempt you from offering them the satisfaction and resolution they demand. This course focuses on honing outstanding telephone customer service skills in order to meet customer needs and presenting a professional, knowledgeable image that reflects well on your company. When you have finished this course, you will know everything you need to make your customers feel valued and satisfied even under the most difficult circumstances. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550225.htm Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:53:35 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Think back to the last time you went to a convention, a wedding, or an off-site business meeting. Everything you saw--from the sign-up posts, to the table decorations, to the folders you've been handed--had to be created by someone. That someone would be an event planner. This is someone who plans events--large or small, corporate or social. Any event you have ever attended had someone at the helm who shouldered the responsibility of looking after every minute detail, from the key-note speaker all the way down to how many knives, forks, and spoons were needed for the meal you ate. This course will take you into the world of special event planning, giving you a very accurate behind-the-scenes look at a career that is almost invisible, but so very important. Whether you are looking to plan a family reunion, a wedding, an off-site meeting, or a giant product launch, this course will give you the necessary information and insight into what you need to know to pull off a successful event. Perhaps you are looking for a change of career. If so, this course will illustrate in great detail the qualities you must possess to be a successful special event planner and exactly what the job entails. This is one of the most versatile jobs in the hospitality field, and people with drastically different backgrounds will find that they have the perfect experience to step into their new role as a Special Event Planner . This course is designed to assist both the seasoned and novice Event Planner become better organized, save both time and money, and enjoy the entire process. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550226.htm Thu, 2 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Large sets of numbers can be daunting, and characterizing them in a few words or numbers can be even more daunting. This course considers how to take data sets--whether large or small--and describe them using a few numbers (descriptive statistics). This, however, is only a small portion of the course. The majority of the course is dedicated to reaching statistically justified conclusions on the basis of these descriptive statistics. For instance, does the average value of one data set deviate from another in what might be called a 'statistically significant' manner? To this end, the course covers cross tabulation of data (including the chi-square test), correlation, linear regression, Student's t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measures analysis, and factor analysis. Closing out the course is a brief overview of SPSS, which is a powerful statistics software package that can automatically perform many of the tasks described in the lesson. Although the course does not always provide rigorous mathematical justifications for every aspect of the statistical tools and theory discussed therein, it does provide common-sense explanations of many of these aspects, and it includes numerous real-world examples to illustrate the use of these tools. Thus, this course teaches students to take sets of data, describe them using a few numbers (including the mean, variance, and skewness), and then reach statistically justifiable conclusions about those data sets. Students should come away from the course with confidence in their ability to tackle basic applied statistics problems and with the fundamental knowledge needed to learn more in-depth statistical theory. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550454.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 08:15:30 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Finance Skills As we move into a new era of lending, one in which there will be increased regulations and scrutiny of loan officer activities, it is very critical to have well educated and trained professionals in place capable of knowledgably working with clients and guiding them on their process to secure a loan. Regardless of whether your goal is to work with mortgages/home loans, automobile loans, school/college loans, small business or personal loans, this course will provide you with the tools to help you better understand the overall lending industry and the specific responsibilities undertaken by loan officers from evaluating client's credit histories and financial data to seeking out appropriate lending sources and preparing final loan documentation. Also important for potential loan officer candidates to understand is that the lending environment has a great deal of options with respect to the types of loans available to clients. With varying payment structures, there is a loan type that is custom fit for each and every individual based upon his/her individual earning styles and motivations for paying off the loan with a defined period of time. And, pertaining to the loan officer's earning, there is also a range of incentive structures via which to earn money based upon one's performance as opposed to being relegated to earn a flat fee on an ongoing basis. This is just a sampling of the many options that exist within the wide world of lending. An exciting and worthwhile career, our course has been designed to act as a guide to help you to get a foothold in the industry. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550143.htm Sun, 8 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Home Business Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills This course will help you demystify the stock market and start making money! Everyone yes, everyone is sure to find something suitable in the stock market to invest in. It doesn't matter if you are looking for a very safe investment to protect your nest egg or a risky investment with a huge potential to make a killing! Everyone finds themselves along that spectrum and will discover that the stock market has investments for people who want to protect their savings and for people who want to grow their savings. The stock market can be confusing. Using examples, actual stories from real investment advisers, and lists of great online resources, each lesson builds on the last to give you the clarity needed to understand investments. By the time you're done with this course, you'll have found a few investments you can enjoy and you'll be able to start investing right away with the assurance that you know what you're doing. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/30609.htm Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:35:18 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Home Business Business Applications Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills QuickBooks 101 is a course geared for the small business and the small business owner. It contains the features that you loved in Quicken, then goes a step further to give small businesses the accounting software they need to take their numbers from an expensive CPA's desk to their own computers. This course was designed for any small business who wants to start doing their accounting in-house. It's also perfect for the student who wants to learn this software program for their employer or to further their skills and career. Whether you want to learn QuickBooks Pro or Premier, this course will teach you everything you need to know to be able to use the software program for almost any business type. You'll learn: and#183; How QuickBooks is organized and#183; How to create lists that you'll need to be able to use the software efficiently and#183; The features of QuickBooks 2011 and, much more importantly, the ones you'll need and#183; How to set up QuickBooks. QuickBooks 2011 has a difficult setup process. We'll walk you right through it and explain everything along the way and#183; How to create bank accounts and other accounts in QuickBooks and#183; How to track your expenses in QuickBooks and#183; How to track inventory and#183; How to use QuickBooks to generate invoices and sales receipts and#183; All about Accounts Payable and QuickBooks 2011 and#183; How to write checks using QuickBooks and#183; How to write credit memos and#183; And how to do all of your business accounting, including payroll and taxes, using QuickBooks. Each lesson gives step-by-step instructions and provides detailed screenshots of the actual software whenever possible. After completing this course, you'll be a pro at understanding and using QuickBooks! So why not join us today? In order to benefit fully from this course and its exercises, please make sure you have a working copy of QuickBooks installed on your computer before registering. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550461.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills Find out how algebra is simply a natural extension of the math you learned in elementary school. Basic Algebra is designed for all students who need a basic understanding of algebraic operations including simplifying, factoring, solving equations and inequalities, working with fractions or exponents, graphing, and word problems. In Basic Algebra we will walk step-by-step through a wide variety of explained problems. Learn to perform the steps to solve equations and graph solutions. Understand FOIL (when it isn't wrapping your baked potato). Discover methods for factoring trinomials quickly and easily. Understand slopes and line equations so that you can identify a slope from two points or draw a line with a slope and a point. See how word problems help you translate your math skills to your real world. Explore additional resources for more explanations and practice problems with immediate feedback. Allow the course to lead you from topic to topic, building on what you already know. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550420.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:11:28 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Business Applications Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills This Microsoft Word 2007 course is not only designed to give the experienced MS Word user a tour of the new version of Word, but to also introduce new MS Word users to a comprehensive look at the features and utilities that this word processing software offers. It doesn't matter if you're new to MS Word or an experienced user, this comprehensive course teaches the most basic features as well as focuses on the more advanced tools that all students will find useful. Additionally, this course introduces new features exclusive to MS Word 2007, as well as includes detailed instructions on how to use them. You'll learn: Your way around the toolbars and menus. Basic editing features. Comprehensive editing features. How to insert items into a document. How to create and edit tables. Macros. And much, much more! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550336.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Basic Finance Skills Economics is an inherent part of our world. And, with every passing day, economics becomes more and more pivotal to our survival. From the items we buy at the store and our personal banking accounts to the types of industries in which we work and the resources government employs to sustain our communities, we are surrounded by economically-based challenges on a daily basis. With this course, our goal is to equip you with a working understanding of economics and its myriad of business and personal applications. As such, we have crafted an easy-to-understand course comprised of economic's principle tenets while specifically highlighting such central ideas as: supply and demand, interest rates and inflation. True, economics can be a complex subject. Yet, it remains highly pertinent to our modern-day lives not to mention a most stimulating topic. From gaining a sense of the forces that drive the economy to understanding how statistical and economics come together to forecast future monetary trends, this course offers a great deal of valuable information for both business and personal purposes. Knowing how the system operates has a range of benefits from the practical-why we pay taxes to the more lucrative possibilities and#8211;tips for investing within the money markets. Regardless of whether you want to become more familiar with economics so that you can better budget your household expenditures or so that you can became the entrepreneur you have always dreamed, has the fundamentals to guide you without overtaxing your brain. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550316.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Business Applications Basic Finance Skills The average individual knows very little about economics and tends to believe whatever was seen or heard on television. However, we all contribute and are impacted by economic factors and need a basic understanding of how this works as economics becomes more and more pivotal to our survival. With this course, our goal is to equip you with a working understanding of economics and its myriad of business and personal applications. As such, we have crafted an easy-to-understand course comprised of economic principle tenets while specifically highlighting such central ideas as: and#183; History and Various Forms of Economics and#183; Schools of Thought and#183; Ten Major Principles of Economics and#183; World Economic Systems and Comparative Economics and#183; Components in Societal Economy and#183; Basic Tenets of the U.S. Economic System and#183; Global Economies: Ranking National Economies and#183; Micro and Macro: Styles of Economics and#183; Federal Reserve System: aka 'The Fed' and#183; Managerial Economics and#183; Gross National Product (GNP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Regardless of whether you want to become more familiar with economics so that you can better budget your household expenditures or so that you can became the entrepreneur you have always dreamed, has the fundamentals to guide you without overtaxing your brain. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550314.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Business Applications Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills This course is a training guide for the new manager of an accounts payable department. It will help you step into your new role and take a commanding and successful lead. This course will take what you know and enhance it by adding management principles to those practices. Accounts payable is not just processing checks, mailing them and then filing the backup paperwork. To truly manage accounts payable, you must understand all parts of the deparment including but not limited to customer service, vendor management, check requests and POs. This course will discuss how to handle invoices; check processing ; preventing errors; annual audits; and technology uses in the department. Learn all about the best practices to adapt for your A/P department, PLUS, get expert advise from a well-seasoned disbursement manager with many years of A/P experience. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/30873.htm Mon, 11 Sep 2006 09:07:01 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills 'Accounting and Bookkeeping 101 for Everyone' is a course that covers the fundamentals of accounting with the newcomer in mind. Accounting is more than just memorizing terms and procedures; it's a whole new way of thinking about finances. This course assumes students have no prior knowledge about accounting or finance, and delivers lessons and examples to build accounting skills. Specifically, this class addresses accounting terminology, revenue, expenses, net income, the accounting equation, debits, credits, and balancing the accounting formula, the accounting structure, the accounting cycle, journals, ledgers, the trial balance and more. It also guides students to learn how to read financial statements properly, and how to grab meaningful information from the balance sheet, income statements and cash flow statements. After completing this course, you will have a solid understanding of accounting in today's world. By applying the concepts learned in this course, you will understand the processes behind Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, you will understand how and why financial transactions are documented, you will know what cash flow is and how to improve it, you will know what profit is, how it's interpreted, and what influences its growth. Moreover, you will know where the money in the company you work for, or own, goes. Learn accounting now and achieve a skill that is an invaluable (if not required) asset to your professional development. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550309.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Bookkeeping Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills Retirement for many of us can already be a fact of life. For others, it is looming on the horizon and the closer we get the more uneasy we feel about that next step. We are filled with questions about just how we will pay for our retirement. What will it cost? How much will you get from Social Security? What if you do not wish to quit working entirely, but are being forced into retirement by your company? Are you ready for retirement emotionally? There are many questions about retirement, mainly because retirement is now considered a phase of our lives rather than a couple years spent marking time after we stop working. The latest statistics indicate that most people who retire today can look forward to decades of time spent in retirement, and with that much time on our hands, it is imperative that we plan carefully. We need to develop a financial plan. We need to develop a health and exercise plan. We need to develop and emotional and social support plan. This online class will address a number of these issues and give you a place to start. Financial concerns regarding IRA's, insurance, and what you should do with your house will be addressed. Specific health recommendations will be made to maximize your physical condition during retirement. And what about your social and family relationships? Most of us have allowed these very important relationships to lapse when our happiness during retirement is actually based on them. Finally, we will talk about how to prepare for retirement and what you will do with your time. There are many of us who really wanted to do something else with our lives. Once you retire from your 'real' job, you may be very pleasantly surprised to realize that you can now finally pursue the life of your dreams. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550163.htm Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Bookkeeping Basic Finance Skills Credit governs everyone's lives. It is what allows people to buy a house, get a car, have a credit card and generally live a life they cannot really afford. Sadly, many people get into a debt spiral that soon goes out of control. They have trouble keeping their head above water, and soon they fall under as the weight of debt drags them down. Thankfully, credit can be managed and all it takes is having the ability to change how one lives their life. By implementing the lessons explained in this course, an individual will be able to take their credit and repair it. This is not to say that it will be easy. If anything, it will be very difficult to do. They will be struggling to keep their head above water, but as they persevere, they will be able to slowly fix their credit and get credit relief. The statistics are staggering with how many people suffer from credit problems. Millions, with that number growing because of the economy, are actually using credit to keep their heads above water. This is a losing strategy that only results in them losing nearly everything they have as the water quickly pulls them under and the debt rock shows no signs of letting go. There are many ways that a person can get rid of debt, and they are covered in this course. These include: Understanding Credit Understanding a credit score Understanding how credit is affected Understanding Credit Cards Understanding Foreclosure Understanding Bankruptcy Understanding the Debt to Income Ratio Understanding the Debt Spiral Finding Debt Counseling Finding Debt Consolidation Learning to live within one's means Learning how to budget Knowing how to stay on track Understanding Credit Reports Fixing Credit Errors These must be done right, and cannot be rushed. To get out of debt and realize credit relief, one has to work hard to do so. This course will explain how to repair credit using the tips that have helped millions of other people raise their credit score hundreds of points through know-how and determination. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550109.htm Sun, 4 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills Can you predict which direction corn prices will go? Are you the type of person who enjoys taking risks? Do you want to be a part of an often fast-paced, emotional environment? A career in futures trading can lead to a great income and a large bank account. You can trade with your own account or manage a portfolio for a group of clients. When trades go the right way, it can be one of the most exciting industries to be a part of. But it's not for everyone. There are significant financial risks, and trading without a firm knowledge of the marketplace can lead to a rapid loss of money. Not sure how it works? Well, if you're looking for a general understanding of the commodity and futures market, this course is for you. This course on Investing 201: Commodity Markets and Futures Trading is a comprehensive class that takes you through the history and regulations of the marketplace, how trading works, exchanges and trading participants, and trading strategies and systems. You'll learn the lingo and how to read a chart. When you complete the course, you'll have the knowledge to take the next steps in becoming a futures trader. If you think you have the patience to hold on while the market moves against you; if you can stomach a disappointing loss and move ahead with your trading strategy; if you have money to risk while you learn the ropes, then you may have the qualities to become a futures trader. Start by learning the basics with this informative course. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550212.htm Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies How to Build Your Own Business Career Development Business Applications Basic Finance Skills The purpose of this course is to equip you with a working understanding of economics and its myriad of business and personal applications. As such, we have crafted an easy-to-understand course comprised of economic's principle tenets while specifically highlighting such central ideas as: supply and demand, interest rates and inflation. Economics is an inherent part of our world. And, with every passing day, economics becomes more and more pivotal to our survival. From the items we buy at the store and our personal banking accounts to the types of industries in which we work and the resources government employs to sustain our communities, we are surrounded by economically-based challenges on a daily basis. The average individual knows very little about economics and tends to believe whatever was seen or heard on television. However, we all contribute and are impacted by economic factors and need a basic understanding of how this works as economics becomes more and more pivotal to our survival. Knowing how the system operates has a range of benefits from the practical-why we pay taxes to the more lucrative possibilities tips for investing within the money markets. This complete course will discuss these topics: Definition, History and Various Forms of Economics Schools of Thought Ten Major Principles of Economics World Economic Systems and Comparative Economics Components in Societal Economy Basic Tenets of the U.S. Economic System Global Economies: Ranking National Economies Micro and Macro: Styles of Economics Federal Reserve System: aka 'The Fed' Managerial Economics Gross National Product (GNP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Supply and Demand Model Supply and Demand Curves and Elasticity Marginalism Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy Economic Growth, Stimulus and Stabilization Interest Rates - Part One Interest Rates- Part Two Inflation and Deflation Financial Markets and Investing Taxation Structures Public Finance Revenue and Economic Forecasting Economic Indicators and Statistical/Probability Economics Marriage of Statistics and Econometrics Regardless of whether you want to become more familiar with economics so that you can better budget your household expenditures or so that you can became the entrepreneur you have always dreamed, this complete economics course has the fundamentals to guide you without overtaxing your brain. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550317.htm Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:50:39 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Business Applications Basic Finance Skills Fear fractions no more. And learn whether to add first or multiply first in a string of operations. Whether you are struggling with basic math functions in a course today, you are taking a new job that demands understanding of math, or you simply need to review or remember some part of basic math, this course will bring you up to speed. Learn to really understand addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; know how to calculate and move among decimals, fractions, and percents; figure out ratios and proportions like a pro; and learn to use a calculator for basic math functions. This course deals with the nuts and bolts of Math. Students will become equipped with a solid foundation of the mathematical tools required to solve more complex mathematical operations. This course would benefit any student (regardless of age) who requires help understanding basic math skills in order to pass a placement test, a course, a specific job, or a review or brush up on math skills. No previous education is required though understanding lesson material assumes students at least have a 7 th grade reading level. Lessons will focus on the steps involved in adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing as well as the order of operations. In addition this course will focus on the various forms of numbers such as fractions, decimals, percents, radical signs, absolute value signs exponents, ratios. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550272.htm Thu, 1 Apr 2010 10:25:44 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Business Applications Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills Imagine you're going on a tripand#8230;It sounds odd, but your journey to understanding, growing and maintaining personal finance starts with your imagination. That's not all it takes, but, by imagining, dreaming and believing, these intangibles will begin to take shape. Of course, you'll need tangible actions to achieve your results. After all, you can believe you want to go on a cruise, but until you step on the boat, you'll never get there. During this course, you'll learn the ins and outs of your individual financial journey in a fun and unique way--as a travel itinerary. You'll be provided with everything you need to understand your spending habits, chart your progress, grow your current savings and achieve your dreams. This course is broken up into three parts: Plan, Execute and Travel. Plan --maintain checking and savings accounts, create assessments in order to understand your financial standing and create a foundation for your financial standing, Execute -- manage debt, build and manage your credit score as well as balance accounts for future financial security--and finally, Travel --live your dream by generating wealth and controlling spending, making sound investments in stocks and bonds, and even begin starting and growing retirement accounts. These are your steps to financial freedom and you can achieve them all from within the comfort of your home. No matter where you are in your journey, by end of this course, you'll have a clear map to where you want to go and helpful hints to guide you along the way. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550469.htm Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Bookkeeping Basic Skills Basic Finance Skills This is a two-part class, the purpose of which is to provide you with the tools necessary to develop your own unit studies course for either homeschool or classroom purposes. Part 1 walks you through the process of building your own unit study course in general terms. Part 2 applies the concepts discussed previously to the topic of baseball and gives you a variety of suggestions for creating a unit study that covers all the major subject areas. During this course, you will learn the purpose of a unit study, how to pick a suitable topic, how to find resources to support it, how to apply your chosen topic across subject areas, and how to research and plan a unit study. These are strategies you can use to build a unit study using any topic you like. To help you apply these concepts more specifically, Part 2 uses all the principles learned in Part I to build a unit study on baseball. You will learn how to turn the sport of baseball into a way to teach U.S. History, race relations in the U.S., Economics, Comparative Social Studies, Art, Science, Music, Math, and Language Arts. You will also learn some helpful strategies for developing a capstone activity: the Field Trip. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550419.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills An understanding of algebra is a foundational skill to virtually all topics in higher-level mathematics, and it is useful in science, statistics, accounting, and numerous other professional and academic areas. This course builds a bridge between simple whole-number arithmetic operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and algebra. This course begins by reviewing the basic arithmetic operations and their mutual relationships, and it then goes on to develop an understanding of fractions and how to perform operations on them. Exponents and their properties are then derived, and radicals (and other roots) are presented. This course shows how exponents and roots are related, as well as how these are related to multiplication and division. Throughout this first portion of the course, the use of symbols in place of numbers is introduced and developed, leading to an investigation into variables and algebraic relations in the latter portion of the course. This course also describes how to graph algebraic relations and how to solve simple linear equations. Finally, the course applies these various concepts to geometry by considering some of the characteristics of triangles, rectangles, and circles, and it also applies them to basic probability and statistics. Thus, this course not only provides a fundamental set of algebra skills, but it demonstrates how these skills can be used to study various problems that have real-world applications. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550335.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Beginner to Intermediate Algebra is intended for students who need to gather a basic understanding of how to perform Algebra operations. This course will benefit current students and adult learners who need to know how to perform basic Algebra operations which involve simplifying, factoring, or solving equations in the form of inequalities, fractions, exponents and word problems. This online course takes the student's knowledge of arithmetic and extends it by introducing the concepts of variables and functions. These new concepts allow students to solve a range of problems involving unknown quantities in areas such as geometry, probability and statistics, and various real-world scenarios. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550325.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills In this easy-to-follow course discover the fun and easy way to play and win popular card games! You will understand how to play top trick-taking games, point-based and banking card games, some card games for children, classic stand-bys such as BlackJack, Rummy, Stud Poker, , and much more. Card games are excellent diversions that build numerical, analytical, and strategic skills. Since around the Tenth Century A.D., when the earliest-known cards were created in China, card games have become more and more popular. Since around 1800, the United States has been one of the world's leaders in playing card games and the popularity of games like Blackjack and Poker continue to increase to this day, even to the extent of having online equivalents with no real 'cards' whatsoever! Get the inside deal on many card games, learn the etiquette and terminology, and teach and entertain children, family and friends. Each of these games is explained with an eye on enlightening, instructing, and entertaining both veteran and potential players. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/32860.htm Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:46:17 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Whether you are looking for a part-time job, a summer job, work to help you through college, to supplement your family income, or a possible career, working in the restaurant industry as a waiter or waitress can be your answer. This course will discuss all the necessary information for you to learn what the job is about, how to prepare for it, what you need to know, and whether or not you have the personality to do the job well. Waiting tables is a time-honored tradition that started long ago in England and Europe, and came over to America and continues to this day. At one time, serving others for money used to be viewed as a lower-class line of work. Today there are people who make an excellent living waiting tables, pulling in nearly two thousand dollars a week. Interviews with waiters, waitresses, hiring managers, and restaurant owners provide the information that you need to supply what they are looking for in a good waitress. Whether you wish to work in a family-style restaurant, or you want to work in a fine dining establishment, this course will guide you through the information you need to have in order to make a good decision about your work, and possibly whether or not you can improve your situation by waiting tables. In this course you will learn who you work with and why, what your job is in different restaurant settings, the various serving methods that have their origin in other countries, etc. You will also get some insight into serving alcohol, learning the requirements of your patrons and how best to serve them and their desires. Lastly, the course will reveal the very great need for safety and proper sanitation in order to avoid contaminating food that you will be serving to your customers. Waiting tables will turn you into a student of human nature. By the end of this course you will be prepared to apply at even the highest end restaurant. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550098.htm Thu, 5 Feb 2009 14:22:21 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Basic Skills Although we may not always recognize it, we use basic geometry skills regularly in everyday life. For instance, we consider whether a picture on the wall is parallel with the floor, or we calculate the area of a room when installing new carpeting. Geometry is also an integral part of many other areas of study, including physics and other natural sciences. This course provides a more rigorous mathematical foundation for both practical and theoretical geometric thinking. The course begins by considering basic figures such as points, lines, and planes, and then expands into the concepts of parallelism and perpendicularity as well as more complicated geometric figures such as polygons (triangles, quadrilaterals, and so on) and circles. The course considers mainly two-dimensional figures, but two lessons on three-dimensional geometry provide more complete coverage of the subject. Each successive lesson in the course builds on previous lessons, culminating in lessons that teach the student how to calculate lengths, areas, and volumes of more complicated figures. In addition to its in-depth discussion of the mathematical aspects of geometry, the course also includes lessons on how to draw various figures using a compass and straightedge as well as a lesson on strategy for solving real-world geometry problems. The course concludes by applying all that the student has learned to a brief introduction to trigonometry, thereby providing a jumping-off point for a more rigorous study of geometry as well as other areas of mathematics. By the end of the course, the student should feel comfortable tackling a range of basic to moderately difficult geometry problems. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550326.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills What do you enjoy about clothing? The colors? The design? The fit? What is the most difficult part about finding clothing that falls into all three of these categories? Right, the fit. Every human being has a body shape that is just a little bit different from the person next to you. Ready-to-wear clothing manufacturers use standards or 'averages' to design and produce clothing that fits the 'average' person. What happens when you aren't an 'average' size? Your clothing might be well designed and sport the latest in color and fabric, but it just doesn't look good on you. How do you get around that? By learning how to sew! Sewing your own garments is really not as difficult as it may sound. This course will take you through the very basic elements of fabric choice, how to decipher the pattern envelope and instructions inside, getting to know your sewing machine and how to begin expanding your wardrobe by sewing your own clothing, or clothing for your family. Your first project will be to stitch together a set of pajamas where you will learn most of the basic elements of how you put a garment together. After that you will learn how to sew a jacket and a basic fitted skirt with a centered zipper. Then you will complete your wardrobe by learning the ins and outs of shirt/blouse construction that includes cuffs, collars, buttons, and buttonholes, ending with the creation of a pair of pants. Once you finish this course, you will be able to fit patterns to your body, choose the correct size, and stitch together garments that you like and that fit you well. So what are you waiting for? Let's get started now, because once you begin, you won't be able to stop. A pattern is just where you begin. Once you understand the basics of putting a garment together, you can change and embellish it to your heart's content. Did you see a ready-to-wear garment you like, but doesn't look good on you? Find a pattern that is similar, and create a one-of-a-kind design that fits you and only you. We'll teach you how! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550477.htm Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills The home inspection field is one that has been rapidly growing since its inception in the mid-1970s. Not only are they an important part of every home buying purchase, but the industry also relies upon people that are knowledgeable in the field. This course covers all aspects of home inspections and is a great educational tool for anyone considering hiring a home inspector, and more importantly, someone looking to become one. Lessons in this course cover everything from the basics of what is included in an inspection, and in-depth information as to what inspectors look for when it to comes to plumbing, electrical, and all other areas of the home, both inside and out. Students taking this course can expect to learn home inspection 101, the basic tools of the trade, the role ethics play in home inspections, and how to conduct an inspection. Students will also learn about red flag issues such as mold, radon, and carbon monoxide, as well as how routine maintenance can extend the life of a home. The course rounds out with everything one needs to know in order to start their home inspection business and keep it successfully running. This course features helpful checklists, examples, links to sites of interest and videos, and an introduction to everything one needs to know about the home inspection field. Whether you are someone interested in knowing more about what it takes to be a home inspector, how it can help you in the home purchasing process, or are ready to start your own home inspection business, this course has you covered! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550108.htm Sun, 4 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business Career Development Basic Skills Acquiring and developing the fundamentals of English composition is a vital skill that can be used in a variety of settings and situations. Being able to competently compose an essay and organize a thesis is not only useful in academic environments, but is also useful for business and personal applications. Learning and practicing the basic components introduced in this course will assist those in high school and college; it will help those who will be taking college and/or graduate school entrance exams, it will assist anyone who is currently job hunting by helping them create coherent, concise written material during the interview process. For those already in the business world, this course will help you create written presentations and other materials required on the job. It will enhance and expand your writing ability in the world of business. This course will also be of benefit to those in supervisory positions where a great deal of writing is required. Lastly, it will help anyone enhance their personal written communication skills. There are eleven comprehensive lessons written in an easy to follow, informative manner. The end of each lesson will provide you with multiple summary review questions so that you may effectively test your new found knowledge. We encourage you to use these self-test questions as well as a writing assignment to determine whether you are ready to move on to the next lesson or if you should review portions of the preceding lesson before taking the next step. Don't rush yourself. Making full use of this course, in its entirety, is the first step in becoming a master at using the written word to communicate your ideas and thoughts clearly and with great effect. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550410.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Basic Skills Stress is one of the most common words used in society today and a phenomenon that each one of us will experience at some point in our life. Stress affects people of all ages, professions and life situations. While we have an innate understanding of stress and what it feels like to be stressed, defining stress can be tricky because we all react to it in different ways. However, stress can be defined as a physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension caused by our exposure to different incidence or occurrences in our lives. When we respond positively to these incidence or occurrences we do not feel stress. However, the minute we are faced with an incidence or occurrences that we feel we cannot handle, we may feel our stress mounting. Stress is subjective to each individual; what can be considered a stressful event by one person may be less stressful to another. Therefore, stress is not caused by the event itself, but how an individual interprets the situation and deals with it. When an individual cannot cope with the demands placed on them and begins to feel negatively, this is considered a stress response. Even though stress has become part of our everyday life; excessive stress can affect a person's health and emotional stability. It can also affect our overall quality of life by reducing productivity, creating, or exacerbat ing , existing health problems, and contributing to premature aging. So what do we do about stress in our lives? How do we deal with it? Prevent it? This course comes in. Working through the lessons in this course will help you understand the origins of your stress and provide you with a practical approach for reducing stress in your life and thus, improving your health and emotional well being. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550250.htm Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:39:21 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Basic Skills Music shapes and is shaped by our lives. Learn and appreciate the history of music. A well-rounded study of music appreciation begins with basic elements of music. Knowing the basic elements of music will aid any music listener in developing a working vocabulary for discussing music, determining different qualities of music, and evaluating a composer or performer's choices with a composition. These elements can then be applied when presented with a new piece or even genre of music. Jazz, for example, is a genre of music started in the United States within the African-American culture, using syncopated rhythms of African music, call-and-response forms used in slave songs and spirituals, and European musical influences. This unique blend of music origins still accounts for new developments and experiments in jazz music today. We will also study how Classical music has changed since the days of Beethoven and Brahms. The twentieth century contained a rich tradition of new styles and brilliant new composers from Europe and the United States . Visionaries such as Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel set the stage for the early twentieth century with new ideas, and Arnold Schoenberg ushered in the Modern era in 1945 with his revolutionary sound. Finally, we will review the myriad contributions to the musical repertoire from non-Western regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa, India , and Japan . Both European and American music have been greatly influenced by these regions and the history of these musical styles are both diverse and enlightening. Students in this course will have the opportunity to sample many kinds of music, from the Gregorian Chants of the Middle Ages to the song that currently occupies the #1 spot on Billboard' s Hot 100 Chart. You will learn such things as: and#183; Who wrote the heart-stopping movie music that accompanies the teenage girl going into the dark basement at midnight? and#183; Who thought of the call-and-response cadences that keep the infantry marching? and#183; Who developed the Big Band beat that makes us want to get up and dance? and#183; How did the sailors on tall ships use music to work together as they hauled the long lines? and#183; What songs helped escaping slaves find their way north? and#183; How did 16 th century music find its way to the top of the popularity charts in the 1980s? and#183; How did a fire bring about the first Broadway musical? and#183; How did singing together change people's hearts and minds during the Civil Rights movement? Learn about the composers and performers whose music has provided the soundtrack for our lives. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550543.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills There have been few environmental issues that have polarized a nation as much as Global Warming. From those who predict that the Earth will eventually get so hot that it will self-incinerate to those who believe that the entire notion of a warming planet is something manufactured by political operatives anxious to please their constituents, Global Warming is an issue that has been and will continue to be hotly contested in both public and private arenas. Unlike many other hot-button issues, however, Global Warming is widely misunderstood by the general public. Confusion surrounding Global Warming comes at many levels: there are some who steadfastly believe that it is entirely a man-made issue while others equate Global Warming with the expanding hole in the atmosphere's ozone layer (a condition widely believed to be caused by widespread use of aerosols). In this course, we will learn exactly what Global Warming is, why supporters believe it is a real problem and the ways in which it is thought to affect the world in which we live. Along the way, we will learn a little bit about the climatic history of the Earth and take a look at some of the ways in which we can help to reduce the warming effects of some of our activities . To be sure, the issues surrounding Global Warming are complex and there is still a great deal that we don't know about how the Earth will respond to changing conditions. This course is not intended to teach you everything you need to know about Global Warming -- such a course probably doesn't exist. What this course will provide, however, it an overview of the issues as they are currently known which should help to provide a basic understanding of the topic. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550431.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 10:25:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Bartending and bartending skills are always in demand. If you're planning on hosting a cocktail party at your home, or thinking of starting a new career, or just want to learn how to make a certain drink, Bartending 101 is a must for all do-it-yourself bartenders . This self-paced online course can help you be an impressive bartender by showing you everything you need to know about tending a bar; such as the difference between Highball and Lowball drinks; how to shake, stir, strain and pour; the most effective remedy for hangovers; how to set up a bar; plus recipes and useful tips. Take the mystery out of mixology and learn to put together a perfect martini or create the coolest cosmopolitan. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/30004.htm Sat, 15 Apr 2006 12:09:36 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Basic Skills The study of Numerology is one of the easiest, yet least understood of all the occult arts. When applied correctly, Numerology can give you a good idea of the direction in which your life will likely proceed. It can also give you insight into the work you might have to complete in order to keep your life progressing according to plan. In this course, you will learn a little bit about the history and evolution of Numerology. You will then progress to calculating and learning the meaning of the five Core Numerology Numbers, Pinnacles and Challenges, and Karmic Numbers. Finally, you will learn how Numerology can influence decisions such as what to name your child or which house to buy. An open and curious mind is all that is required. All course materials are provided. Why not join us? http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550041.htm Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:04:36 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills The study of microbiology is extremely rewarding, leading to advances in the welfare of the environment as well as human populations. Pursuing this fascinating subject lead to such careers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical research and forensics among other challenging professions. Regardless of whether you are a serious student considering a career in microbiology or a layperson who just wants to learn everything you can about the world around you, Microbiology 101 is guaranteed to change the way you look at the world. What will you gain by taking this course? Appreciation for the vital roles microbes perform; Awareness of the advantages--soil fertility and decomposition of organic matter--and disadvantages--food spoilage--of microbiology; Understanding of the comprehensive history of microbiology; Introduction to cellular respiration, bacteria, viruses, diseases, vaccines and drugs used for medical treatment. Join us in the comprehensive online course as we explore in detail all aspects of microbiology, including microbiology history, as well as an in-depth look at cellular respiration, bacteria, viruses, diseases, vaccines, and even drugs used in medical treatments. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550434.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 10:25:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Welcome to the world of Physics! Here, we will explore the natural laws of how the universe operates. This introductory course covers all the fundamentals of Physics, and is comprehensive enough for students already familiar with the subject. Join now, and together we'll learn about momentum and energy, force and motion, gravity, particles, the five states of matter, temperature and heat, sound waves, electricity, magnetism, and light. Today, much of technology and our lifestyles are brought to us by the laws of Physics, yet surprisingly, most people don't understand the fundamentals. Acoustics, astronomy, electromagnetism, electronics, nuclear power, optics, nanotechnology are just a few of the industries requiring an understanding of Physics. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550327.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills This course will provide the learner with a better understanding of the underlying concepts of geometry. Through readings, lessons, quizzes and independent explorations, the learner will leave the course with more complete understanding of geometry and begin to be able to think in a geometrical fashion. Websites are also provided to help the learner further explore the topics on his/her own. At the end of this unit, the learner will be able to describe some of the basic premises behind geometric thinking, reasoning and study. They will also be able to demonstrate the following learning objectives: Objectives (based on the Van Hiele levels of geometric thought): Students will be able to demonstrate the ability identify the ways geometry is used by people in their daily lives (i.e. professions, synthetic universe, natural universe, in the home, etc...) Students will be able to recognize and name figures (triangle, square, rectangle, rhombus, parellelogram, polygon, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, kite, rectangular and triangular pyramids, prisms, cone, sphere) Level 0 Visualization Students will be able to analyze various properties of shapes (i.e. right angles, parallel sides, number of sides, number of corners, etc...) Level 1 Analysis Students will be able to construct relationships between classes of figures (i.e. rectangles are parallelograms with a right angle, etcand#8230;) Level 2 Informal Deduction Students will be able to think deductively in regards to geometrical concepts. Level 3 and 4 Deduction/Rigorous Proof http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550045.htm Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Business Applications Basic Skills Are you mystified by maps? Would you like to know how mountains are made? You can find out the answers to these questions by taking our Geography Course. In eleven easy lessons, you'll learn all about the different geographical features that make up our planet. You'll learn to distinguish islands from atolls and peninsulas. You'll learn how the huge tectonic plates interact to create mountains and valleys and how wind and water shape our world. You'll also learn about the way people, plants, and animals have changed the world. This course covers the way humans create order by drawing maps and creating areas that we can recognize. You'll learn how mapmakers divided the oceans and why. The lessons will touch on how culture and experience influence the way people map the world. In addition you will learn the natural processes that create specific landforms. The various spheres of the planet, the lithosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the biosphere are defined and examined in detail. You'll learn how these different layers of Earth interact to shape the patterns of the planet. Once you have finished this course, you'll find yourself looking at the world with a whole new perspective! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550429.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 10:25:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Without a doubt, one of the most important events in all world history (not to mention American history) was the American Revolutionary War. Through the battles that were to take place between Great Britain and its American Colonies, the face of the world would be changed forever with the birth of a new nation. The Revolutionary War and the significant events that transpired immediately before and after are essential to understand. The American Revolution set the stage for the creation of the United States of America, one of the most powerful and influential countries in the history of the world. Throughout the years that followed the American Revolutionary War, the fledgling nation would form, expand, and grow to become a dominant power in world affairs by the early twentieth century. This course will describe many of the key aspects of the war: the precipitous events that led up to the war, the shot heard around the world, the Battles of Lexington and Concord, portraits of American patriots and loyalists, the Battle of Long Island, portraits of Redcoat (British) generals and leaders, Valley Forge, the Battle of Yorktown, the Treaty of Paris, and more. Each lesson will focus on particular aspects of the conflict, drawing to light important facts and other information relevant to the events at hand. This course is ideal for those seeking review, extra tutoring, test prep, or the non-academic hobbyists and life-long learners. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550436.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 01:01:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Good parenting skills are something we learn, not something we are born with. Being a more effective parent or caretaker is possible for everyone! This course can help you get your parenting skills to where you want them to be. It covers a broad range of topics, including what parenting skills are, child development, understanding temperament, intellectual development, communicating with your kids, the dynamics of discipline, instilling self-esteem, teaching children values, meeting their needs, being a good role model, and more! This course will help you understand your child's personality, challenges, and how to go about being the most effective parent you can be! You will learn about those things that are crucial in the first years of life, how to use positive discipline, avoid power struggles, and how to determine a need from a want. This course is ideal for all parents, but can also be a very useful tool for caretakers, grandparents, teachers, and anyone who spends a lot of time helping to shape the minds of the next generation. This course provides an overview of all the parenting skills that are necessary to raise a healthy and well adjusted adult. It will also help you learn where and why some challenges may arise and how to best go about overcoming them. If you are about to become a parent, would like to become a more effective parent, or you want to learn more about how to effectively guide children, this course is for you! After taking this course you will never look at parenting in quite the same way again! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550458.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Do you need to brush-up your knowledge of the American political system? Have you forgotten or feel slightly 'hazy' about the structure of the American government, the details of the Constitution or the exact division of the three branches of government? Are you interested in discovering how our current political parties were formed or the impact of public opinion, mass media and special interests groups on today's American policies? If you answered 'yes' to these questions, this online course can be your ideal learning resource. Rather than focusing on the history of the American federal government, this course is a comprehensive evaluation of how the government is set up and how it works. We will start with a look at how the American government is organized, and then we will focus on American culture and how it forms the environment in which the government functions, and the influences that the citizenry exerts on the policy-making process. Public opinion plays an important role in any republic so we will examine how public opinion is measured and how it contributes to the democratic process. The citizens of United States enjoy many freedoms and liberties, but, as in all republics, they also live according to a Constitution and an established set of laws. We will examine the balance between freedom and law, and discuss the development of civil liberties. The political participation of Americans, both as individuals and as a part of interest groups influences nearly all functions of the government. We will also take a look at the media's increasingly important role in politics, and how the political parties of the United States work together to create legislation. The social welfare and safety of Americans is a significant part of the priorities of the federal government. This course will outline the development of important programs that have served as model to other governments throughout the world. In the process, we will also evaluate how public policy is made from several important perspectives: economic, foreign relations, and environmental. Written with the belief that understanding the foundations of the America system of government is necessary to fully comprehend America's current political system, this self-paced course is appropriate for learners of any age (homeschoolers, high schoolers, college students or just inquisitive people). Our easy-to-understand online format is perfect for those seeking review, extra tutoring, test prep or general educational enhancement. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550446.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 01:01:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Reading Body Language, Using it to Your Advantage H aving the ability to read body language can go a long way in helping you throughout your life. You can learn to understand the cues, or signs, that people show when they tell a lie, or when they are unsure of themselves. Knowing what to look for and how to use this information can be helpful in your personal life, as well as in your career. Being able to read body language can help you ace a job interview. It can make a date go smoother and it can help you excel at reaching your goals. In this course you will learn what body language is, about different emotions, how to read body language and how to use the information to your personal and career advantage. You'll learn about cultural differences as it pertains to body language, the power of first impressions and intuition and how to ask the questions and be an active listener when you get responses. Don't shake another hand until you have learned all you can from the information in this course! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550242.htm Sat, 4 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing Legal Studies Basic Skills Do you feel totally clueless when it comes to Greek Mythology? Do you often say to yourself: 'It's all Greek to me'? You were supposed to learn this stuff in school but classical mythology isn't really taught anymore in elementary or secondary schools. This basic self-paced course can help. Greek Mythology will give you an overview of the huge collection of stories explaining the creation of the world and the lives of the gods, goddesses, heroes and heroines. The scope of the Greek myths is astounding. Starting with the birth of the world, through bloody wars like Troy and Thebes , heroic acts of Hercules and childish pranks by Hermes, and the touching stories of mother love in Demeter and Persephone. Greek myths have passionate love stories, adventure stories, superhuman tales, fairy tales, magical stories, tales of gods and monsters and beasts and stories of witchcraft and sorcery. We've inherited these myths in the form of art and literature. It's really entertaining to discover them. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550449.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 01:01:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills GED Language Arts, Reading Course Introduction If you're preparing to take the GED test, then you know how stressful and worrisome it can be. You want to make sure you study the right things and that you know everything you're going to need to know to pass. We've created this course just for you, to relieve some of the pressure you feel as you prepare for the Language Arts and Reading section. You'll learn everything you need to know about reading and interpreting fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction. If your reading comprehension skills aren't what you think they should be, this course will walk you through and help you improve your critical reading skills. You're going to learn: and#183; How to read and understand any piece of prose fiction and#183; Tips for understanding what you read and#8211; every time and#183; The key to 'getting' poetry and#183; How to determine the meaning of a poem. and#183; How to be able to enjoy reading a play or drama. and#183; How to understand what you read by recognizing the tools writers use and#183; How to infer meanings from fiction, poetry, drama, or nonfiction and#183; How to read nonfiction and#183; The different types of nonfiction and#183; And much more You have enough to worry about without stressing yourself out, wondering if you'll pass the GED test or not. This course will teach you what you need to know to pass the Language Arts, Reading Section. . http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550568.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Welcome to Windows 7, the latest operating system introduced by Microsoft. Chances are, you were just getting used to Vista when this came out. And, most likely, some of you are still bound to the old and familiar (now) XP. We know that the thought of having to get used to a new system can be aggravating, to say the least. It's like moving into a new house with brand new furnishings. You don't know where anything is at. But take a deep breath and relax! Whether you're considering an upgrade to Windows 7, have already upgraded, or got 'stuck' with it on a new computer that you've bought recently, you'll be pleased to know that Windows 7 just might arguably be the best operating system that Microsoft has yet to create. While Windows ME is considered a big mistake by a lot of people, Windows 7 is being hailed as the best yet. Over the duration of this course, we're going to cover all the features of Windows 7. It's our goal to make the new features familiar to you. However, it's also our goal to teach you to use Windows 7 in the way it was intended so you can enjoy its benefits and reap the rewards from this modern, insightful operating system. You'll learn to: Quickly and easily navigate the desktop Take advantage of new shortcuts and features Use libraries to organize all your files like never before Keep your system safe and secure from spyware and viruses Set parental controls Use Windows Media Player to watch TV Easily view all open windows at once using the taskbar And much, much more! By the time you finish this course, you'll know Windows 7 even better than you knew your previous operating system. What's more, you'll love it so much that'll wonder why Microsoft didn't think of creating something easy, yet user friendly, before. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550344.htm Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Business Applications Basic Skills Hair styling and hair braiding is not a recent trend. The word Braid means a complex pattern created by intertwining three or more strands. A braid can be formed by any flexible material such as fibers, wire, thread, or hair. This course will cover all aspects and types of hair braiding. With a little work and practice, you will become an expert as this self-paced course is designed to help individuals who would like to do hair braiding on their own and for the aspiring hair braiders who would like to start a hair braiding salon. This course includes instructional photos making the learning process easy. Course topics include: Lesson 1: History of Hair Braiding Lesson 2: Hair Braiding Accessories Lesson 3: Preparations for Hair Braiding Lesson 4: Simple Hair Braiding Styles I Lesson 5: Simple Hair Braiding Styles II Lesson 6: French Braids and 5 Strands Braiding Lesson 7: Different Types of Hair Buns Lesson 8: English, Dutch, Cornrows, and Pig Tail Braiding Styles Lesson 9: Updo Hair Styles Lesson 10: Basic Fishtail Braids Lesson 11: Licensing, Regulations, and Tips for Hair Braiding http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550115.htm Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Biology 101 is an excellent learning resource for the college or pre-college student. This logical and easy to understand class is divided into self-paced lessons, complimented with well-written text, diagrams, pictures, critical-thinking assignments and end of lesson review exams. This course is a wonderful, stand-alone resource covering all concepts in biology, and can also be used aa comprehensive review or a personalized tutor. Join today! And let's discover the wonderful world of biology together--from the structure and function of the cell to the complexities of current ecological issues. Additional topics include: Chemistry Fundamentals, Cell Biology, Classic and Molecular Genetics, Origin and Principles of Evolution, Plant Form and Function, Animal Form and Function, and Ecology. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550425.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:56:01 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills The universe is comprised of infinite space both on Earth and beyond. It is quite illuminating to discover the expansiveness that can be found by studying the night skies and not only learning about the array of celestial objects that exist but also understanding the reasons behind certain formations and intergalactic activities. In this course we're going to explore our night sky, constellations, our solar system, our galaxy, and what lies beyond the far reaches of space. In addition, we'll learn about past and current projects for space exploration, as well as future ideas for space travel. Our journey will also take us to black holes, quasars, supernovaes, brown dwarfs, and the string theory. And Lastly, we'll explore in depth on how we make observations from earth, and touch on the mechanics of optical telescopes that aid us in exploring the night sky. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550424.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 10:25:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills If you are currently pursuing or are interested in working in areas of law, this course will provide you with the background information you will need to get started. The increasing demand for paralegals, legal secretaries, and law clerks to help attorneys gather and evaluate evidence offers many job opportunities. This course will equip you with basic skills to more effectively deal with the gathering, preparation and presentation of evidence in both civil and criminal cases. In today's modern American society, it seems that there is an ever-increasing amount of litigation in the United States court system. The act of filing a lawsuit for an increasing number of grievances, whether real or imagined, has become quite easy. And, as a consequence of less restrictive tort regulations, it becomes more and more likely that most Americans will spend at least some time in court at some point in their life. While most experiences with court will be routine and mundane civil actions (i.e., without any criminal implications), evidence is still required to substantiate the claims of the parties involved. For criminal cases, the need for a solid understanding of what is admissible evidence becomes increasingly important. It can be seen that, in either of these situations, it is important to have a basic understanding of evidence law and how it works. In cases of life and death, an understanding of evidence is critically important. It can literally mean the difference between a guilty party being punished and being set free. It can also exonerate those falsely accused, thereby preserving the reputation of those truly innocent. This introductory course is designed to familiarize the student with the basic concepts of United States law, the admission of evidence, different types of testimonies, burdens of proof, and more. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33204.htm Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:42:34 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies Basic Skills Unlike anything that had gone before it, the first great conflagration of the twentieth century was to set a precedent for all wars to follow. Involving nations from around the globe, the world had never seen a military conflict on this scale. This brutal struggle is known by many names: 'the Great War', 'The War to End All Wars', 'the First World War', and 'World War I'. Beginning in 1914 and lasting until 1918, this event would change the face of the world forever. Fought primarily in Europe, World War I claimed the lives of over nine million people and was one of the most deadly military conflicts in history. Much more than just an isolated incident in the history of humankind, the developing political climate in Europe had been brewing for a very long period of time. Alliances were formed, wars were fought over disputed territories, and bitter rivalries were established. What resulted was an epic-scale struggle for the domination of a continent and, perhaps, the world itself. For the first time in the history of warfare, aerial combat was used extensively. The trench-style warfare, complete with artillery fire, barbed wire, and chemical weapons, was unlike any conflict ever seen before. The aftermath of this brutal war would resolve little and, ultimately, pave the way for establishment of Nazi Germany and the next World War. In this course, the major issues and causes of the First World War will be discussed, along with a summary of the major battles, powers, and personalities (both military and political) that shaped the events and ultimate outcome of this epic struggle. This information should give the student a working understanding of the basic history of the war and how it helped set the stage for the next tragic global conflict. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550439.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 01:01:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills This course introduces the methods, theories and main concepts used by psychologists to develop a real insight into the world of children. Child psychology is extremely important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is being able to understand and accurately predict a reasonable norm for child development. Proper discipline, teaching styles and communication styles are all based on understanding the psychology of childhood, which changes and develops over time. Intervention on behalf of children who have been raised in difficult circumstances or faced traumatic events also hinges on understanding child psychology -- children don't cope with situations in the same way adults do because they do not process information the same way and do not have the same emotional or reasoning skills. By studying child psychology, we can better understand children and equip them to become well-adjusted, more adaptable adults who are capable of living rich and varied lives. We can help our children through crises and enrich their daily lives by interacting with them in ways that are appropriate to their developmental levels. Is it any wonder that so many people choose to study child developmental psychology every year? This course is for all those who want to find out what psychology can tell us about the nature and development of children. This study is intended for students of psychology , those training to work with children in a variety of professional roles, or anyone just interested in understanding how children develop. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33248.htm Sat, 1 Mar 2008 11:05:43 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills The purpose of this course is to help you understand what Outlook 2007 can do for you, whether you are familiar with Outlook 2003 or new to the application altogether. This course has been developed to be of benefit to new users of Outlook, individuals migrating from previous versions of Outlook and individuals wanting to learn to use the advanced functionality of Outlook 2007. Course Goals After completing this course, learners will be able to: Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental features of Outlook 2007 Set up new email accounts along with understanding how to convert their previous Outlook information to 2007 Utilize the toolbars and navigation panes in Outlook 2007 Understand how to operate the email tools in Outlook 2007 Demonstrate an understanding of how to customize email options and tools Perform personal information management tasks Manage and utilize Outlook 2007's contact management tools Understand and utilize Outlook 2007's calendar, tasks, notes and journal entry tools Demonstrate an understanding of the collaboration and remote access tools in Outlook 2007 Course Structure This course is broken down into eleven lessons to take you through each of the tools that Outlook 2007 offers the user. Each lesson will cover between five to six learning goals and each goal is associated with one aspect of Outlook 2007. Each lesson will also include hyperlinks for you to find further information online along with hot tips. As with all software not everything runs smoothly all the time in Outlook 2007 and in each lesson we will also alert you to common errors or 'pitfalls' to watch out for. Before you begin: We recommend you back up your current Outlook information including your inbox/folders/address book using the File menu/export/.pst files. If you are a current user of Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or an earlier version, before you download 2007 we recommend you uninstall these programs. Outlook 2007 will not download if you are operating a previous version. While this course is aimed at both beginners and advanced users, we take for granted that you already know how to turn your computer on, use your mouse and can understand in basic terms how to operate your computer. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550339.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills One of the most divisive and important events in American history, the Civil War (also called the War Between the States) pitted countrymen against countrymen in the new and developing republic of the United States of America. Among the many issues at stake were the role of central government, state's rights, slavery, and the fate of the Union itself, which had borne our fledgling nation through the American Revolutionary war and the War of 1812. Grim, brutal, and utterly personal, the Civil War claimed more American lives than any other war fought before or since the founding of the United States . No other war contains such philosophical and emotional impact, since the issues and concerns that were on the hearts and minds of the politicians, statesmen, combatants, and ordinary citizens of the late nineteenth century can still be seen in evidence even in modern times. No modern politician can ignore or discount the attitudes and mindsets the were forged in the Civil War and expect a measure of success--for many of those attitudes for both the North and the South still thrive in American society, culture, and debate. This course attempts to briefly summarize and present the major events and battles related to the War Between the States in chronological order. In addition, this course will set forth the major political issues and philosophies that set the stage for the Civil War, sustained the conflict, and continue to linger on to this day in the hearts and minds of most Americans. Finally, a list of the major figures related to the Civil War will be presented to highlight each notable person's contributions to the struggle itself and to the overall development of our nation. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550437.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 01:01:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills This self-paced anatomy and physiology course will cover all the bodily systems playing a major role in human anatomy. The material is presented in a practical and comprehensive manner. The focus of the course is on the need-to-know facts that must be understood in order to pursue any healthcare career or related education in the field of science. These easy to follow lessons are ideal for anyone requiring a solid understanding of how the human body works. Lessons include the following topics: The Skeletal System The Integumentary System The Muscular System The Nervous System The Sensory System The Endocrine System The Cardiovascular System The Lymphatic System The Respiratory System The Digestive System The Urinary System The Reproductive System http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550365.htm Sun, 1 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing Basic Skills Special Education 101 is the first in a series of relevant, innovative and dynamic courses developed and taught by a leading educator in this field. This course explains why people with disabilities deserve respect rather than pity in their quest for full engagement in school and post school life, why special education is mandated by policy and law to meet the education needs of students with disabilities, how its goals are affected by the nation's commitment to equalize educational opportunities for this group of learners, the revolutionary basis of these equal opportunity goals, why an equalized educational experience should empower students with disabilities to be self-determined at school and beyond, and how current practice falls far short of these equal rights expectations. This self-paced online class is ideal for teachers wanting to update their professional skills, classroom assistants seeking more knowledge about the field and parents trying to understand how best to argue for equal opportunities. Be informed and inspired without the hassle of commuting or matching a pre-determined schedule. If you are a well-disciplined and motivated learner, you will thrive in our instructor-led environment. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33392.htm Thu, 6 Sep 2007 17:29:49 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills CHEMISTRY: It is Not Your Great-Grandfather's Science Anymore At a minimum, a basic understanding of chemistry is needed for it offers a foundation for comprehending the inner workings of biology (how cells function and the behavior of organisms), as well as, the ecological relationships that exist between organisms and their environment. In short, chemistry offers us a way of understanding the world in which we live. Chemistry provides us with insights into how our bodies function; the ingredients that are contained within the foods we eat; the reason cars, planes and trains are able to run as efficiently as they do; the manner in which computers are built and operate; and the materials used to construct our homes and buildings within our communities. Basically, chemistry is a part of almost everything we do for everything is comprised of chemical compounds. The claim that chemistry is everywhere is, thus, entirely accurate. Chemistry encompasses a multitude of specialized sub-disciplines which have proven highly useful to chemistry as they have provided for the following: the production and testing of stronger materials, creation of pharmaceuticals to treat disease, and the study of life processes. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550427.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 10:25:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills World Religions 101 provides a clear and concise introduction to the major world religions. You'll learn about the people, places, practices and philosophies shaping today's events. Some religions might be familiar, some strange and some you may never have heard about but why not discover karma, nirvana, yin and yang and the Holy Trinity? Although many of us think of religion as a belief system practiced through faith, obedience, prayer and worship, you'll find that some religions are more than just a belief in a deity, but an entire philosophy and way of life. Explore the religions that have shaped history, civilizations and your next door neighbors views. You will learn about the founders, the history and essential teachings of each of these major religions: Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, and Taoism, plus brief descriptions of other religions and religious practices. Why not join this self-paced course and learn about the diverse spiritual paths humanity has taken? Everyone is welcome! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550450.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 01:01:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills This course will provide the learner with a better understanding of the underlying concepts needed to improve the reading skills in children and adults. Through readings, lessons, quizzes and independent explorations, the learner will leave the course with more complete understanding of the development of reading skills from preschool through adulthood and begin to be able to think about specific strategies which could be utilized to increase the skills and development of anyone's reading. Websites are also provided to help the learner further explore the topics on his/her own. At the end of this unit, the learner will be able to describe some of the basic underlying principles of reading development, activities which can be incorporated to increase skill levels, and the importance of developing reading throughout life. Those undertaking this unit will also be able to demonstrate the following learning objectives: Students will be able to identify the purpose and value of improving reading skills. Students will be able to identify and define the major components of reading instruction Students will be able to apply strategies to improve reading skills in each of the major components of reading instruction. Students will be able to transfer knowledge learned about reading development into their own personal experiences or that of others to increase reading skills. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550416.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Memory, concentration, focus, communication, problem solving and relationships all interconnect and interact to give us the information we need to function properly in the everyday world. T his course will focus on these topics and explore how memory works, factors that affect and enhance memory, strategies to improve memory, the process of concentration, ways of improving the concentration process and how different circumstances can affect one's ability to focus and concentrate effectively. Studies indicate that exercises for the brain now can decrease the risk for Alzheimer's later. Certain foods and vitamins have also been reported to increase brainpower and improve the power of memory and concentration. Find out how you can improve and maintain a healthy memory and increase concentration skills today. Topics covered include: How Memory Works Healthy Habits and Memory Peg Memory Systems The Loci Method Memorizing Numbers Mnemonics SCAD: Learning to Become an 'Expert Witness' Faces and Names Powerful Public Speaking Everyday Memory Aids Concentration and the Brain Concentration Frustration Exercising Your Brain The Sound of Music Food for Thought Concentration Barriers Concentration Helpers http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550175.htm Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:52:08 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Business Applications Basic Skills Reading is the process of absorbing the written word. Whether in English or another language, reading is an essential part of communication between human beings. Reading comprehension is the ability to process, think through and connect ideas that are expressed on paper. Reading may be achieved through a variety of methods and techniques that best suit individual learners and students of all ages and levels. This reading basics course is designed to help students increase their reading speed as well as their ability to comprehend content, directions, and absorb materials for retention. Whether a student is taking this course to increase reading skills as a second or foreign language or by native English speakers wishing to increase their comprehension of a wide variety of materials, students will be introduced to different techniques and materials to do so. Whether a student needs to increase his or her comprehension for work environments, pleasure, or school, styles of approach, engagement, as well as the potential of using a wide variety of resources and tools are explored in this course. From learning the basics of reading comprehension such as decoding and retention to understanding how vocabulary is created and using the Internet to improve reading skills, this course offers students a basic and solid foundation in reading multiple types of materials for a wide range of daily living scenarios and needs. Understanding the difficulties that may face many students, as focused on helping students gain the most from their reading experiences, this reading basics course is designed to encourage students to excel in their reading adventures and endeavors. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550417.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Whether you are a student who is seeking to pass the reading comprehension portion of such standardized tests as the SAT, ACT, CLEP, College Placement Test, ACCUPLACER, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, or GMAT, or you need to improve your reading comprehension for work or for other personal reasons, this course is for you. You will learn the best way to approach a variety of reading materials and how to improve both your comprehension and speed when reading those materials. In today's world it is more important than ever to understand how to draw meaning from what you read. Students and employees are actually required to read more than they ever have in the past--how-to books, technical manuals, and on-line reading resources. In order to position yourself at the top of your organization or the top of your class, learning to read with greater comprehension is a skill that will set you apart from the competition. Whether you already like to read and simply want to sharpen your skills, or you find that you struggle with reading comprehension and speed, this course has something for everyone. It has been said that reading one book a month every month for five years on a particular topic will position you in the marketplace as an expert. What if you were able to accelerate that speed by reading two books a month for two and a half years, or four books a month for 1.25 years? Reading is power. Learning to read faster, more accurately, and with greater comprehension is a skill that you need in today's competitive world. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550539.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Basic Skills This comprehensive course provides an up-to-date presentation of the essentials of sociological study. Students will learn a wide range of classical and contemporary perspectives which will encourage links between theories and current research. With the addition of numerous net links, thoughtful exercises and examples, and review quizzes--this course will help students develop a sociological imagination. This is an ideal environment in which to examine ourselves, study our own society, as well as study our neighbors. Topics covered will examine the sociological perspectives, sociological research, cultural debates, the process of socialization, groups and organizations, crime and deviance, stratification, inequality and discrimination that effects ageism and gender, race and ethnicity, issues involving the economy, different forms of government, marriage, religion, health and environment safety, urbanization, and social movements. This course is an excellent resource for any age student pursuing aspects of this study or the non-academic hobbyists and life-long learners. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33335.htm Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:53:47 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Studying ancient civilizations is one of the most fascinating areas of all human history for the precise reason that it is human history. As we learn more about those who have come before us, we understand more about ourselves in this modern age and how we have come to be. From empires to city-states, the historical civilizations from around the world have each made a contribution to the development of mankind. When we think of the major innovations that have propelled society forward: writing, the wheel, fire, brass, bronze, iron, electricity, indoor plumbing, and so forth, it is important to remember that each of these was a significant technological innovation, discovered hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Likewise, the indelible influence of certain ancient civilizations on modern aesthetics, ethics, religion, politics, and conventions can also be felt today. This course will provide a general introduction to several of the most prominent ancient civilizations from across the globe, introducing the student to the most salient features of each and examining its major influences on those who came later on. To paraphrase the late philosopher, George Santayana, 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it'. So as it is with any historical study--what we can learn from earlier men and women can benefit us today. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550487.htm Mon, 6 Jun 2011 16:31:52 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills Essays are a vital part of writing, both in academic circles and in many professions. Being able to write good essays is a rare ability and those that can demonstrate a mastery of this writing form will quickly distinguish themselves from those who write poorly. In school, this can be the difference between a good or bad grade; in industry, it can mean being passed over for a promotion, creating a safety hazard, or even limiting an applicant's prospective job pool. Learning to write good essays will boost academic performance in school and college, but will also be a valuable skill in today's increasingly competitive job market. Creating concise, informative, and compelling essays can form the basis of many careers, such as authoring non-fiction books, getting into print journalism, writing legal briefs, rendering judicial opinions, or just creating some persuasive advertising text for a business. The ability to write a good essay is a foundational block that can unlock numerous opportunities. This course will examine the nature, history, and structure of essays; the various types of essays; and provide a refresher course in English grammar, focusing on the parts of speech and rules for good syntax. Furthermore, examples will be provided of both good and poor writing, as well as common mistakes to avoid when creating an essay. When completed, this course will enable the student to better understand how good essays are written and how to go about writing them for academic or professional use. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550411.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:55:21 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Basic Skills Communication is vital in today's society. It is not enough to merely be able to speak and understand spoken English. In the United States, writing English is often a necessary skill in many job industries and fields. In order to develop practical writing skills, one must understand the basics of English grammar and sentence structure. Learning essential vocabulary and continually expanding knowledge is one of the best ways to succeed, both in personal and professional lives. Learning how to write English may be difficult for many individuals, and takes much practice and patience. ESL students as well as native English speakers who wish to improve their writing skills need to have a basic understanding of grammar structure, tense usage, vocabulary, and how to commit thought processes and ideas onto paper. This ESL basic writing course will help you improve your writing skills through lesson plans and samples that explain many grammatical style rules and functions in easy-to-understand examples and skill-building usage. This course will also help students learn to write natural and clear sentences, as well as help in composing personal and business letters to better increase job skills and communication. In today's modern world, increasing proficiency and clarity of the written language is fundamental in all human communication. In order to write well, you must practice concepts that involve grammatical structure, voice, style, and vocabulary usage. This course will carefully guide you through the basic structures and rules of the English language and focus on improving skills that are necessary in order to write clearly and accurately. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550408.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Career Development Basic Skills Whether you are learning English as a second language or are a native speaker striving to improve your English and writing skills, understanding proper grammar rules and guidelines are the essential building blocks to creating clear and understandable thought processes and ideas. This ESL basic grammar course will provide an introduction into the basics of English grammar. We'll cover many relevant topics, including sentence structure, writing basics, as well as review basic English structure in the form of nouns, verbs, prepositions, adjectives and adverbs. English grammar is essential to promoting communication, both verbally and in writing. It is a necessary aspect of many jobs and careers. Understanding the proper way to communicate helps to promote self-confidence, increase skill levels, and ensure job advancement and promotion. While many of us were taught the basics of English grammar in elementary school, very few adults in the 21st century understand the basic concepts of how to create cohesive and complete sentences--let alone complete term papers, thesis papers, or doctoral dissertations. Native English speakers as well as those learning English will benefit from the examples and reviews of basic English grammar structure and foundations presented throughout this course. Don't think of English grammar as boring, but as a building block to greater understanding, enhanced skill levels, and stepping stones to better jobs and greater earnings. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550407.htm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:15:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Basic Skills Reading and learning about American literature is synonymous with understanding the history and culture of a nation that has undergone dramatic social, economic, and cultural change in its relatively short history. This course is a reveiw of the literature of America and the people who made it, from earliest days to the present. Learn about the major literary movements; realism, romanticism and transcendentalism and the authors who have contributed significantly to the development of American literature in its different aspects. If you're looking for test prep or review for school or college or just interested in understanding the changes in American literature for your general educational enhancement, this course will meet your needs. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550447.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 01:01:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Basic Skills 'Basic Research Skills' teaches you how to determine what you need to know when you need to know it. With all of the information readily available today, it's difficult to deciper good information from bad information. Instead of turning to an Internet search engine for all of your information, there are other sources that can help you learn what you need to learn and#8211; quickly and accurately. This course will cover library use, the Dewey Decimal System, dictionary use, thesaurus use, encyclopedias, Internet search engines, Internet news resources, Internet publications, journals, and bibliographies. With this information, you can research any topic, no matter the purpose or the goal. Instead of simply looking in one place for the answer you need, why not learn how to use all of the tools available? The more you know, the more you can use this information in your everyday life. 'Basic Research Skills' includes real life strategies to help you learn where you need to look for information and how you can be certain the information is accurate. Each of the 11 lessons include 5 True and False questions and 5 multiple choice questions at the end of each section. These questions are designed to ensure you retain the main concepts before you move onto a new lesson. In each lesson, you will learn what the selected research skill is, how to use it, and other tips as to how to improve your researching abilities. With 'Basic Research Skills,' you will be able to find information in a variety of ways, ensuring no question goes unanswered. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550472.htm Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies Career Development Basic Skills This course on building self-confidence reaches beyond the standard self-help program by addressing the core issues surrounding confidence problems and exploring how to reprogram our brainand#8216;s negative self-talk. Based on the concept that we come into this world with a strong sense of self-esteem, this course encourages students to recognize that low self-esteem is often the result of mistaken perceptions about ourselves that start in childhood. Journaling exercises help the student organize and understand exactly what triggers his or her personal lapses in confidence. This course delves into crafting succinct, personalized affirmations as well as visualization techniques for reframing the self-concept. Confidence busters, such as procrastination and cognitive dissonance are discussed at length, as well as the healing associated with forgiveness and service to others. Building self-confidence is not a course to be taken lightly, rather, it is designed for those who are sincerely ready to create positive changes in their self-perception. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550544.htm Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:00:58 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Basic Skills Introduction To Financial Accounting and Bookkeeping For Beginners is an introductory course to accounting, finance and bookkeeping designed to give you a great start in the wonderful and profitable field of accounting. Accounting is not an exact science and neither does it follow a random process; lessons are usually built on the previous ones. For this reason, the course is laid out in a systematic format that allows anyone to not only learn the techniques and principles involved, but also get an overall picture of the accounting cycle, step-by-step, through examples, exercises, flowcharts, and diagrams. We focus extensively on the fundamental accounting concepts as they are laid out by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The course covers such topics as the accounting equation, the double entry system, debits and credits (a challenging area for newcomers!), the matching principle concept, inventory valuation: First in, First out (FIFO), Last in First out (LIFO), Specific Identification and Weighted Average methods. Depreciation charts explain and show the difference between straight-line depreciation, double declining balance, sum of the year's digits and units of production. Depletion and Amortization are also discussed. We look into assets, liabilities and equity accounts (including contra-asset accounts), T-accounts, prepaid expenses, bank reconciliation, petty cash, posting transactions, adjusting entries, financial statements, closing entries, post-closing trial balance, ratio analysis and much more. An important accountant's worksheet is presented that greatly simplifies the preparation of financial statements. Learn how to prepare and read the statement of Cash Flow to extract meaningful information about a company's financial position. COURSE INCLUDES FULL MOTION VIDEOS AND CROSSWORD PUZZLES TO REINFORCE KEY ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS. After successful completion of the course, students will feel very confident about his or her accounting skills and may want to pursue it as a career. The course also allows anyone to analyze their skills and decide whether or not this is the right field for them. The class may also be used as a study guide for those already taking accounting. Students who are struggling with accounting now, will find this to be a strong reinforcement to their current study. They will find this material easier to understand and therefore increase their confidence level. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/3614.htm Tue, 16 Apr 2002 13:47:29 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Bookkeeping This course is a practical one that follows my QuickBooks Accounting class. It focuses primarily on those who have an interest in starting their own bookkeeping business, although anyone with some basic QuickBooks and accounting experience stands to benefit from it. The course expands and goes into an in-depth discussion of bank reconciliation, online banking, payroll taxes, federal tax preparation, the statement of cash flow, ratio analysis, depreciation and of course a whole lesson on starting a bookkeeping business. This lesson offers practical advice and discusses the basic tools you will need to start your own bookkeeping practice. Among other topics, this lesson looks into the forms to fill out to register your business, where to begin, how much to charge for your services, advertising, education, qualifications and more. Students will also see a sample Service Agreement, which they can customize to their own particular situation. This contract will be the basis for signing up new customers and getting your business off the ground. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/5550.htm Fri, 18 Oct 2002 20:10:29 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Bookkeeping Hotel Management will provide a realistic look at every major portion of the hotel business which will help anyone planning or currently pursuing one of the many different career opportunities available in this burgeoning and dynamic industry. A great hotel manager leads by example. Like any business intent on survival and success, the hospitality industry requires insight into the financial aspect of every facet and every detail. Hotel Management is a course for those who wish to enjoy both personal and professional success in the hospitality industry; and need to have a more than casual understanding of the business and financial operations of the industry. Hotels and motels are not only places where a guest can obtain tasty food and comfortable lodging, they are an integral part of community life, with facilities for meetings, entertainment, and personal services. The career choices for a person seeking a job in the hospitality industry are vast: guest service manager, head chef, front office clerk, security officer, banquet manager, bookkeeper, concierge and many more opportunities that can be personally satisfying and financially rewarding. Renewed business travel, and domestic and foreign tourism will boost employment growth of lodging managers in full-service hotels. Additional demands for managers are expected in suite hotels. Business customers are willing to pay more for rooms with kitchens and suites that are spacious enough to conduct small meetings in. Other trainee and managerial opportunities will be available in large full-service hotels offering restaurants, fitness centers, ample meeting rooms and play areas for children, among other amenities. The hospitality industry offers today's young men and women an interesting and exciting career. Management of a hotel or restaurant calls for a wide range of capabilities. For those wishing a rewarding and challenging life of service to others, a future in the hospitality field should be seriously considered. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33024.htm Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:34:16 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Business Applications Marketing for the 21 st century small business is more dynamic and more challenging than ever before in the course of history. The world has simultaneously opened up and yet niched closed in many ways. Today's businesses are challenged by a couple of dynamics that did not previously exist in the business world: 1) choosing between traditional brick-and-mortar and web-based business or one that combines both features; and 2) deciding whether to focus locally, nationally or to spread into the international waters of business. Both of these dynamics add concern and a new focus on strategy for most businesses. Starting a new small business is both more challenging and more interesting. This course offers fresh insights to many marketing issues that you may otherwise dismiss as 'not me', but which will help you to create your marketing plan. Your new company's ability to withstand the tests of time and the challenges of our fluctuating economic world will prove this course to be a well spent investment. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550395.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 08:15:30 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Career Development Business Applications Do you have strong business skills? Can you analyze information and construct a recommendation on a course of action? Do you have good communication, observation and character analysis abilities? Then you could be a good candidate to provide business consulting services. Organizations of all types and#8211; commercial, nonprofit and government and#8211; seek outside assistance to enhance their performances. A business consultant can uncover issues, solve problems and determine new opportunities on behalf of your clients. In this course you can learn if this fast-paced, exciting and financially rewarding industry is for you. We discuss specialized consulting and comprehensive management consulting. You'll learn who the major firms are and how you can become a part of those companies. This course will provide guidance on qualifications and certifications that are required to become a consultant with an existing firm. And we'll show you what you need to start a consulting business. We'll give you insight into the six phases of problem solving and introduce you to Root Cause Analysis. Included in the course are a discussion of data analysis and an examination of qualitative and quantitative strategies. You will also learn how to conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis. Finally, we'll cover some important steps to consider when opening a consulting business, and how to attract and retain good paying accounts. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550346.htm Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Adobe Photoshop is a complex graphics and image editing software and paint program. Chances are, you've heard of Photoshop frequently in the past even if this will be the very first time that you use the program. Adobe's Photoshop program has become a mainstay with graphics designers, professional photographers, and even hobbyists to edit graphics as well as create and manipulate images. It's fun to use, and it can turn the most amateur photographer to a professional with just a few clicks of the mouse. If you've ever used any software program to edit graphics or images before, then the Photoshop interface may seem familiar to you and some things may be quite easy to learn. The reason is because most image editing programs on the market today are based on the Photoshop program. Everyone wants to copy it because it is simply that convenient and effective. However, Photoshop is by far the most extensive program available and offers the most features and options. Over the duration of this course, you're going to learn how to use Photoshop CS4. You'll learn the basics so that you can complete the most basic of tasks, but you'll also get the chance to delve into some advanced features. Whether you're a graphics designer or photographer who wants to improve your Photoshop skills and#8211; or a hobbyist who enjoys editing and manipulating images and#8211; you'll learn everything about Photoshop that you need to know in the upcoming lessons. ** This course will focus on Adobe Photoshop CS4 but the majority of the features and tools discussed are present in other versions of Adobe Photoshop as well. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550296.htm Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Business Applications Etiquette 101 is an overview of today's etiquette rules, updated for today's fast-paced lifestyles and ever-changing codes of conduct for work and leisure. The role of etiquette has changed over the years. At one time, it served as an indicator of each person's proper station in life. Today, etiquette helps smooth the path of our daily activities, whether it's meeting others in our daily interactions, talking to someone on the phone, offering condolences properly or understanding how to talk to colleagues at a business conference. In Etiquette 101, you'll learn the rules of good behavior for today's most common social and business situations, including the common courtesies of life that many of us have forgotten or may not have learned, from when to offer your seat on a bus to a stranger to how to share a cab. It will also go over telephone etiquette, with the updated rules for cell phone use and the new rules for office calls. Correspondence, including emails, entertaining and being a polite guest, giving and receiving gifts and life's big events are all covered, with examples and#8211; both good and bad! There is also a section on life situations that are never easy, such as death and divorce, with etiquette suggestions that will help you navigate the minefield of emotions surrounding these situations. Finally, a section on workplace etiquette covers the details of everything from how to relate to your boss and subordinates to keeping your social life and work separate. Etiquette 101 will teach you everything you need to know to move graciously through today's world. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550110.htm Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:28:57 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Business Applications Every time you trade an item, attend a sporting event or buy a soda, you enter the world of contracting. When an exchange is made willingly a contract exists. But do you know how US law interprets and enforces contracts? We've designed an introductory course to help you understand the components, processes, and legal impacts of contracts. This 11-lesson course will take a broad, yet detailed view of contract law in the United States. In this course we will begin by examining contract basics by explaining what a contract is and the various contract types. Key elements to most contracts are covered , along with an explanation of how US law governs contractual activity. We'll discuss enforcement and dispute resolution options, and the three critical requirements of a contract and#8211; offer, consideration and acceptance. We will explain who can enter a contract, how to approach negotiation and designing a written contract. This course will also examine unfair and improper contracts that could be challenged; focus on contract termination, covering breach, voiding and rescission claims; and provide details on special contract situations, including real estate, financing and social contracts. We conclude with an examination of contract law governing Internet use. When completed, each student will gain an edge when buying a car or home, getting a job, and handling everyday agreements. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550180.htm Sun, 5 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Business Applications Microsoft Project 2007 is a project management software that helps project managers better structure, organize, and plan for all their projects. This includes budgets, tasks, resources, assignments, and everything in between. It can create critical path schedules, generate budgets, and create detailed reports on whatever aspect of your project you want to view. If it relates to managing your project, Project 2007 can help you do it. The purpose of this course is to introduce Project to users and to teach them the features they need to learn in order to successfully be able to use this software for small or large projects and#8211; or any size between. Microsoft Project 2007 is a large software program and can seem complex to someone who has never used it before or has limited experience. However, the basics of the program are easy to learn and, once you've learned the basics, mastering the advanced techniques becomes quick and simple. It's safe to say that this program can easily become a project manager's best friend because it makes the hard work and headaches of managing a large project a lot easier. Whether or not you've used a version of Project before, this course starts out with the basics so you're never left stumbling and confused. In the beginning, you'll learn how to navigate through so the look and feel becomes familiar. Then, we'll move on to the features and teach you how to apply each feature to your projects. When you're finished with this course, you will have the skills to use Microsoft Project 2007 to assist you in managing all your projects. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550333.htm Thu, 1 Apr 2010 10:59:16 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Computer Basics Career Development Business Applications The idea of leadership is one that seems to constantly change. What was once valued in a leader in past centuries, is no longer valued in our modern era. So then, how do we define leadership? And is leadership the same as supervision ? In this Leadership and Supervision course, you will learn not only what makes a great leader, but how a person's attributes and skills can affect their leadership abilities. We will also address the roles of problem solving and planning in the scope of leadership, as well as define the role supervision plays in leadership (and vice versa). This course features several historical examples of real-life leaders and how their skills were able to cement their place in history as some of history's greatest leaders. All the leaders are addressed in-depth to give those taking this course a practical example to base their own leadership traits. For anyone who thinks they may be a leader, and for all of those who want to be one, this course will give you a practical guide to becoming a powerful and respected leader. At the end of this course, you'll be able to apply what you have learned in a final exam that can show you if you have what it takes to be a leader that history will remember. So...what kind of leader are you? And what can you do to improve upon your leadership skills? Join us today, and let's find out. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550075.htm Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Career Development Business Applications Today's business marketing efforts require an internet presence, an active campaign and a steady attention to the details of your company's internet marketing efforts. Don't let your company get left behind in the marketplace of ideas and sales. UniversalClassand#8482; offers this terrific introductory course to internet marketing to help you get up to speed on this important and detailed topic. You don't have to be a computer genius to make internet marketing work for your company, and you don't have to spend a boat load of marketing dollars to have a decent online presence. This course will help you to easily understand the importance of such things as your company's email marketing list, search engine advertising and blogs. You will gain an understanding of how to make your B2B relationships help you to build an increased internet presence and how such relationships help to build your online marketing efforts. You will walk away from this course with a working knowledge of how to plug your company into social networks, e-books and Adwords. You will know how to implement full SEO for your company's site; what to pay for and where to find good help with it. You will learn how to carve out an internet niche for your company and why that is important to your online success. This course covers these basics along with link exchanges, expanding business relationships, using your personal network to expand your internet marketing, details and#8211; important details, and so much more. So, relax, learn and know that at the end of the course you will no longer be intimidated by the technicalities of the web and its marketing avenues; indeed, you will be ready to plunge your company forward into this important marketplace of 21 st century capitalism. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550188.htm Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Diversity training is not a new concept, but one that many organizations have been implementing into their training programs. The idea is that when employees are exposed to a variety of different cultures, individuals with different sexual preferences and people with various personalities, conflict may occur. Diversity training is designed to assist people in dealing with these various situations so that civil rights violations do not occur. Diversity training has been utilized in the workplace for quite some time, but often under different names such as: Race Relations Training Cross-Cultural Training Multicultural Education Diversity extends far beyond race relations in the workplace. It is not only the acceptance of people of color that upper management and CEOs are worried about, it's the acceptance of women, homosexuals and even aging individuals in the workplace. Although there are often several complaints that exist due to the diversification in employees who are hired, such as older employees don't feel as though things work as smoothly as they used to; white males complain about being overlooked for promotions; work isn't as much fun with all of the sexual harassment laws and the many other complaints that people can come up with when presented with a diverse workplace. However, diversification ensures that with properly managed employees and managers in leadership positions, the business can do nothing but grow when they expand the personalities, the racial backgrounds and the genders in the workplace. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550245.htm Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:41:44 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications This Personal Protective Equipment Course is designed to help those working in the various industries that utilize PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as a means to protect the worker from the natural harm that comes into their work area. This online class discusses the various hazards that personal protective equipment is designed to protect the worker from and outlines the various pieces of personal protective equipment, such as hand wear, footwear, face protection, eye protection, garments, partial garments and other equipment used to protect the physical body, eyesight and hearing for workers who work in various capacities. The types of personal protective equipment vary with job descriptions and are described in detail, according to body parts protected. Each item is defined in terms of its use, its common function, and the materials utilized to make the various parts of personal protective equipment. This course also includes separate modules for different job descriptions--such as firefighters, construction workers, beekeepers, the military and even the police department. Those working in firefighting, as is shown in the course, wear completely different personal protective equipment as do workers working in a chemistry laboratory or in a beekeeping facility. The equipment is explained, the materials they are made of is discussed and the standards to which they must adhere to is explained. Personal protective equipment must be tested for its ability to maintain its integrity and properly do its job. Standards are discussed in this course and vary depending upon which type of equipment a person is dealing with. We'll identify the standards and their varying degrees of protectability for various uses. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550185.htm Tue, 19 May 2009 13:01:44 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business Career Development Business Applications Adobe Flash CS4 can be a complex program to use and understand, even if you already have basic knowledge. It's very easy to get lost in the interface and confused by the many features it offers. This course was designed to solve the mysteries of Adobe Flash CS4, no matter if you're a beginner or more advanced user. Each lesson is extremely comprehensive, but written in easy-to-understand terms so that, by the time you finish the course, you can use the Flash software as easily as you can tie your shoe. The course starts out with an introduction to the software, followed by a tour of the interface. Once you know your way around the numerous panels and menus, you'll start to learn the drawing modes and tools that allow you to create vector and raster images to animate. Each lesson gives you plenty of instruction to learn, then plenty of time to practice. All students are encouraged to take their time and become comfortable with each aspect of Flash that is taught before moving on to frame-by-frame animations and tweens. By the time you finish this course, you'll easily be able to create: Animations Slideshows Banner ads Movies Graphics presentations And all sorts of other animation projects using Adobe Flash CS4 It's a fact that once you learn everything you need to know about vector and raster images, as well as movie clips and graphics, creating animations becomes a breeze. You'll spend the rest of the course learning to bring graphics and other images to life, and delving into ActionScript to learn to create even more complex Flash presentations. If you've spent time trying to learn more about Flash without much luck, then this course is exactly the solution that you need. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550218.htm Thu, 2 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Business Applications Six Sigma is a methodology of implementing a highly successful project, or producing a high quality product or service, using techniques and principles that ensure excellence. The Six Sigma methodology incorporates many years of studying best practices in business and its goal is ultimately the creation of a nearly error-free business environment. The name of the methodology takes its name from a letter in the Greek alphabet, sigma , which is used by mathematicians to measure variability. In business, the principle of variability is used to measure the number of errors in a process. The goal of a Six Sigma implementation is to produce a product or service with fewer than 3.4 problems per million transactions. A transaction may be defined as a product produced or a service performed. Six Sigma has been so successful because it dispenses with some of the more cumbersome aspects of older business implementation methodologies and, as such, it has risen to become one of the most respected and followed project management systems. Many of the world's most successful companies utilize the principles of Six Sigma because customers in today's business environment expect excellence and companies must be willing to deliver it if they want to survive in today's highly competitive marketplace. This course will give a complete overview of the Six Sigma process and prepare you for the path of a 'Black Belt,' or a Six Sigma team member. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550470.htm Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Organizational Finances Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Business Applications Wedding Planning Basics is the basic wedding planning source for anyone getting married or just thinking about starting your own Wedding Planning Business. In this course we will start planning a wedding from the time we say 'I Do' until the honeymoon. This is a great course with lots of vital information to help plan that perfect wedding! From sending out the invitations, choosing reputable vendors, and keeping families happy, this course gives you the opportunity to be able to plan a successful and stress free wedding. In this course, you will be able to download wedding files that will assist you while you plan your special day. If you are considering becoming a wedding planner, this course dedicates a special lesson just on what it takes to become a professional wedding planner. If you need help planning a wedding or just want to see if you would like to start a wedding planning business then this course is for you! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/9036.htm Wed, 10 Sep 2003 10:07:55 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development If you are the kind of person who... thrives on cooking for your friends, wants everyone to come to your house for dinner, feels like you have more party food ideas than you could ever possibly execute in your own home ...then you might want to start your own catering business. Caterers cook and transport food for other people's parties. Unlike restaurants where all the cooking and serving happens at the same location, caterers have the added logistical challenge of transporting food from their kitchen to the party venue. Caterers work closely with their clients to develop a menu and a party plan that meets their clients' desires and budget. To be a successful caterer, you must have business savvy, be great at dealing with people, and able to handle stress. Additionally, you'll need be an excellent cook as well as be creative, organized and efficient. Some caterers have several of these qualities when they start out, but they have to develop the others as they go along. This course discusses in detail the critical aspects of management involved in running a catering business like how to get the appropriate licenses and permits, what kind of kitchen you need, basic food safety practices, party planning, cooking for a crowd, planning meals, dealing with customers, understanding how to price your services, and moving the food safely from one location to another. If you are passionate about food and you feel like you have what it takes to start your own catering business, this course can help you understand the critical steps involved in starting off on the right foot. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550523.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development If you have a talent for organizing and want to find out how to set up your own Professional Organizing business, then this course is where you need to begin. Not only will answers be provided on what a professional organizer is, potential earnings and possible clientele, and various organizing tips; this course will also provide information about available resources and how to begin the nuts and bolts of writing up your business goals. Provided Marketing strategies and tips will wrap up this informative course and get you ready to begin! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/30140.htm Sun, 1 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Home Business Career Development Qualified restaurant managers are always in demand. They earn salaries far above the national average ($45K-$60K and higher), receive generous benefit packages and bonuses, rapid promotions and opportunities for travel. But that's really just the 'icing on the cake'. Restaurant managers learn, apply and continually improve myriad business skills adaptable to scores of other industries. Sales, marketing, human resources, customer service, shipping and receiving, maintenance, food and beverage preparation and accounting are all in a day's work...you'll truly 'have a finger in every pie'. In addition, you'll meet, interact with and satisfy every conceivable restaurant guest, and have the opportunity to be a true leader, a role model and a positive force in the lives of hundreds of your associates. And let's not forget those autographed photos of you with Jack Nicholson or Tiger Woods, thanking you for one of their best nights on the town in a long time. Ready to Dig In? http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550157.htm Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Home Business Career Development There has been a sharp increase in vacation destinations over the past 50 years. With that increase, the concept of timeshares has blossomed. Owning a timeshare allows travelers to occupy accommodations for a period of time each year. This long-term strategy has become a travel industry standard and has provided vacationers with an option to hotel stays. This 11-lesson course takes you from the history of the vacation timeshare industry through the process of buying and selling a timeshare. We begin by briefly examining where and how the concept developed. Then we'll discuss properties and characteristics of timeshare ownership. Lesson II provides guidance about where to find timeshares and preparing for a purchase. Next, we go through the process of buying a package. Lessons IV, V and VI cover legal rights and responsibilities, the various types of ownership, and financial considerations. We move on to industry organizations you should know about. In Lesson VIII, you will learn about the scheduling aspects of timeshare ownership. We cover a variation of ownership called fractionals in Lesson IX. Lesson X deals with exchanging and renting a timeshare unit. The series concludes with Lesson XI discussing important information about selling a timeshare. We include a glossary of common industry terms for reference. This course will give you a broad understanding of timeshare ownership, but does not contain every detail pertaining to this subject. Once you complete the course, we encourage you to discover as much as you can about this appealing concept of 'owning your vacation.' http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550049.htm Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Did you realize that you are most probably an experienced grant writer already? 'NO' , you say, 'I've never written a grant in my life before' -- but you have. Most people out there have asked somebody, at some time, for something in writing (one way or another), so you have most likely followed some of the basic principles and procedures of putting a good case forward for something you want (and not necessarily for money). And basically that is what a grant proposal is all about. Okay, there's a little more to it than that--but the techniques you consciously (or unconsciously) learned when putting together those requests, when submitting them and SUCCEEDING, are a fabulous place to begin. BUT obviously you need to polish up that gem by building on the basics, learning the techniques, and following the requirements and conditions for writing successful grant proposals. And there is no better place to start than with this course. It doesn't supply all the answers, no one source does, but this approach to the subject of grant writing is clear, straightforward, and easy to understand. It doesn't matter whether you are looking at grant writing just as a means of helping your child's school, or looking at it as a part or full-time career. You can and will be successful if you set your mind to it and invest a little of your time in carefully going through this course, researching sites suggested in it, and building from there. Join us today, and let's learn how to write a successful grant proposal! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550155.htm Thu, 5 Feb 2009 14:23:09 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Career Development Have you ever purchased something or agreed with someone and wondered later what made you give in so easily? Do you want to learn how to give a persuasive presentation by yourself? This course offers a blend of the science and the art of persuasion in a friendly format with thought-provoking information to help raise our awareness of the tools of influence. Based on Dr. Robert Cialdini's six principles of persuasion, this course is an enlightening way to learn how to wield more influence, as well as to learn what techniques are being used by others who are good salespeople. Learn about 'reciprocation,' and how this age-old technique of mutual giving works in influence. Commitment and Consistency and Social Proof are tools that are absolutely necessary in the art of persuasion, both to use and to recognize. Additionally, Liking , Authority and Scarcity are all fascinating concepts that are used in our daily lives. Become skilled at identifying and employing these tools so that you can become a master of the art of persuasion. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550520.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Looking for a way to throw a children's birthday party on a budget? Easy crafting and good old creativity can balance the budget and still bring joy to all the little party guests. In the party planning business, there is no right or wrong, only a desire to make your client happy. This Party Planning course is a helpful tool for you to learn what you need to know to get started in one of today's most popular and lucrative businesses. For those who enjoy creating the life of the party, this course takes you through setting up and running a business, finding clients and planning everything from social events to major corporate events. Using easy to follow language, the Party Planning course takes you through developing a theme, arranging entertainment, estimating start-up costs and completing a marketing analysis for your business. You'll learn to work with and search out the best photographers, entertainers and performers, caterers, and other vendors who can make or break a party planner's career. You'll understand how to think out of the box and how to gain knowledge of the latest trends in party dand#233;cor, cocktails and food. The field of party and event planning has blossomed into one of the nation's top jobs, rating number 39, with a future prediction of double digit growth. Put your people and organizational skills to good use, and become actively involved in the exciting world of party planning. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550334.htm Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Career Development Anyone interested in beginning a profession as a travel agent should first determine the type of skills, training and certification necessary to provide travel services for clients--whether you work at an established travel agency, as an independent contractor, or as a home-based travel agent. This course offers both the history and future prospects of the travel industry as well as discusses different types of travel enjoyed by individuals, including domestic and international travel and travel by land, air, and sea. Popular travel services will also be explored, including escorted and self-directed tours and cruises. We'll also talk about travel technology that helps not only travel agents but also clients to get the most for their money regardless of their chosen type of travel. This travel agent course also introduces students to the office and business needs of a home-based travel agent. It will show you how to make use of computer reservations systems, and how to bank your business, develop small business know-how and will provide tips and strategies that will enhance the success of your new business while at the same time offering clients well-planned vacations. Students of this course will also learn the basics about passports and visas and various regulations and restrictions determined by embassies around the world--offering customers and clients up-to-date travel warnings and alerts that ensure ultimate safety and security. Additionally, students completing this course will understand how a travel agent is able to match travel and personalities to a multitude of travel options and opportunities that take into consideration budgets, needs, and desires of the traveler. Avoiding problems or conflicts with clients and helping clients deal with unforeseeable situations are also covered, as is the importance of consistently researching new technologies in the travel industry that will help build and enhance your career as a successful travel agent. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550206.htm Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business Career Development Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art that is designed to help you improve your life personally and professionally. The Chinese believe that your environment has a large effect on you mentally and your physical well-being. When you are unbalanced in your life, you open yourself up to negative emotions and illness. However, when you are balanced in your life, you open yourself up to greater wealth and health. Much of what is utilized in feng shui is interior decorating designed to align your home or office with the various elements of the universe and create harmony in your life based upon your specific personal requirements. Throughout this course, you will learn how to use feng shui in your personal life step by step. Each lesson will guide you through the next step in the process of feng shui. From determining whether you are yin or yang, what type of occupation you have, to the type of personality you have based upon your birth stars, you will learn how all of these elements combine and how to harmonize them in your home. Additionally, you will be able to assess other members of your family living in your home and harmonize your birth stars and element with the others in your home. This harmony is created by learning how to determine which elements in your home work for you or against you, as well as the various colors and types of surfaces that should be used within your home. Finally, you will learn how to cleanse your home of not only clutter, but also ill spirits and memories that may be inhibiting you. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550355.htm Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:40:26 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business Career Development Wellness coaching is a relatively new field, intriguing anyone who desires to get all areas of their life into balance. This Wellness Coaching course is a general survey course designed to give you a well-rounded introduction to this exciting discipline. This self-paced class is designed to appeal to both potential clients of wellness coaching, as well as anyone interested in pursuing this career opportunity. Explore the main concentrations of wellness coaching--physical wellness, mind wellness, spiritual wellness, and financial wellness. While it's not necessary for every person to work on all of these areas, it is a wonderful and comprehensive profession for anyone with a wide variety of interests and the desire to be in charge of their own career. Wellness coaches can set their own schedule, pay rates, choose their clientele, work from nearly any location, and enjoy unlimited creativity and flexibility in their coaching approach. For potential wellness coaching clients, it's important to know what wellness coaching can and cannot offer. This course can also teach you enough basics that you may be able to apply the lessons to yourself and get the help you need without further expense or consultation. Wellness coaching can help you identify and set realistic, measurable goals, remember and act on the joys and positive memories of childhood through exploration of the five senses, and unlock the creative energy that lies in each of us. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550363.htm Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Event planning is one of the hottest new fields available to people from all walks of life today. Although some event planners may possess a college degree in business or a related field of study, a college degree is not required to be an event planner, nor is a certificate or any other formal training--although any training and/or education you can receive would certainly be very beneficial and give you an edge over others just starting out. Those who are brand new to the field of event planning can earn excellent money in this career path, and the benefits and salary only increase with the event planner's contacts, networking and skill level. Those at the top of their game can earn in excess of millions per year. Event planning is an exciting, lucrative and interesting career choice; however, it is not for everyone. Those who have a lot of energy, are comfortable with self-promotion, enjoy talking to and socializing with strangers, who are well organized, can handle multi-tasking and have an eye for detail will enjoy this career. If you are laid back, shy and prefer to be 'behind the scenes,' you may want to choose another profession. This course will give you a great basic understanding of event planning. It will also explain some of the details of how the business works and what an event planner does exactly. Lastly, it will give you the basics to help get you started in this exciting, rewarding and often fun filled career. There are ten comprehensive lessons written in an easy to follow, informative manner. The end of each lesson will provide you with multiple summary review questions so that you may effectively test your new found knowledge. We encourage you to use these self-test questions to determine whether you are ready to move on to the next lesson or if you should review portions of the preceding lesson before taking the next step. Don't rush yourself. Take the time to read all portions of the lessons and complete the exercises and self-tests. Making full use of this course, in its entirety, is the first step in getting more of what you want in life and business. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550035.htm Tue, 8 Apr 2008 17:49:50 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies Marketing How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Coaching has long been an accepted method of improving performance, specifically in sports. The excellent results shown in the sports arena have been expanded to those in executive positions in business. For the last fifteen to twenty years, many more people have been exposed to the idea of coaching in all aspects of their lives. Coaches must have the necessary life experiences and communication skills to be totally present to their clients, to really listen to them, and provide a safe arena to express ideas. This course will focus on how to be a Life Coach. Life Coaching is an occupation where you work with individuals who wish to make a change in their lives. By working with clients to evaluate their lives on a personal, professional, and spiritual level, you help them to make realistic goals and establish the necessary steps required to reach those goals. As a life coach, you will join the client in focusing on his or her goals. Together, you will formulate ways to approach those goals, and in a nonthreatening way help your client be held accountable to those goals. As a life coach, you must be constantly observant and flexible, when one approach to a perceived problem is not working, then you must be able to formulate another approach. Similarly, if something worked well for a client, your job will be to help your client incorporate that successful approach in other areas of their lives. Additionally, as a life coach, you will work with your client to identify and name areas of strength and talent and help your client to strengthen those. Understanding the mechanism of motivation will be the key to your success. 'If we go down into ourselves, we find that we possess exactly what we desire.' ~Simone Weil http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550342.htm Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business Career Development This medical terminology course for medical coders covers the medical terminology used by professional medical coders in today's healthcare industry. We'll start with the very basics of medical terminology, reviewing word roots, prefixes, and suffixes that make up medical words. We'll then move on to each body system where we'll work on recognizing and defining their related medical terms. This comprehensive review of medical terminology will not only benefit those new to medical terms used in medical coding, but also act as a refresher for those already experienced in medical coding. So join us today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550370.htm Fri, 4 Sep 2009 16:35:25 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing Career Development Whether a full-time mom, a young business person or simply someone looking to build a growing and viable business, an errand service is ideal for those with an entrepreneurial spirit. Small upstart dollars, flexibility and a growing industry are just some of the benefits to this business. This course will help you to get the upstart information under your belt necessary for starting your own personal concierge service. You will gain practical business knowledge, insights into what is driving this new industry, information on how to best position yourself within it, how to market yourself and much more. You will learn what to do to make yourself stand out in the crowd and how to grow your new business. The business is ideal for stay at home mothers, part-time artists and others who want a different pace to their livelihood. A personal errand service can be started with relatively small capital and can be expanded to your personal comfort level and in your timing. And remember, if you run your service as a business, then you will eventually expand it, eventually hire others to do the daily errands that you begin doing, and eventually become truly an executive of your own business. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550099.htm Mon, 8 Sep 2008 10:19:51 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Whenever the field of medicine is mentioned, people generally think about doctors and nurses. In fact, not that many years ago, those medical practitioners just about covered the subject. In recent years, however, the field has grown beyond imagination. In this course, we will look at Careers in Healthcare as a guide for planning an exciting future. Specialization in the medical profession has produced a need for many trained personnel in specific areas. Even physicians have specialized in one field because over the past few decades the amount of knowledge in medical practice has become so vast that one person cannot know everything. Unfortunately, this trend has produced an overabundance of specialists and a shortage of primary healthcare physicians (General Practitioners). As the medical field grew, there arose a need for more support staff in hospitals, doctor's offices, and related areas. Whole careers sprang up in the healthcare profession from Medical Billers to Patient Advocates. This course will discuss some of these areas of specialization within the field as an educational guide for Healthcare Career Planning. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550366.htm Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:25:07 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing Career Development Becoming a Nursing Assistant is one way to have a career in the healthcare field without spending tens of thousands of dollars and years of your life on a college education. In this course, you'll learn exactly what a Nursing Assistant is and the duties of a typical day. You'll also learn the procedures, knowledge and training that are essential to being a successful nursing assistant. Chapters will include information on basic anatomy, crucial testing procedures, the most common ailments a nursing assistant will see in her patients, personal care needs, and proper guidelines for patient mobility. We will also cover topics such as patients' emotional needs, your own emotional health when working with patients who are suffering and legal and ethical issues you may face during your career. Each chapter will end with a brief review in the form of questions about what you've learned. These will help you understand each chapter more fully and prepare yourself for the certification exam required by most health care organizations for employment. You can refer back to this material as a refresher whenever you feel the need to brush up on particular topics -- keep it as a reference guide after taking your certification exam. A nursing assistant fulfills a complex role in the life of patients. She is a caregiver who provides compassion, emotional support, physical mobility and day-to-day dignity in addition to basic medical needs. If you have chosen to become a nursing assistant, you are a special individual. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550371.htm Sun, 1 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Career Development Today's businesses, both new and established, are desperately in need of administrative type assistance at an affordable rate. They need versatility in the services performed and flexibility in the way the services are performed. If you have a career as an administrative assistant or executive assistant and would like to break out into your own business, there has never been a better time to do so. This Virtual Assistant course is designed to walk you through the process of preparing for a business of your own, upstarting your own business and transitioning into a successful VA business. You will learn how to research, what to research, how to target your market, how to make your VA business a boutique shop that caters to a particular industry or a general office that caters to all, how to grow you business and so much more. This course and some planning will position you to upstart your new business as quickly as possible. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550341.htm Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Career Development Welcome to advocacy for the elderly patient. With growing numbers of seniors in our aging population, families and extended family members are finding themselves in a position where they're providing for some or all of the care for their senior loved ones. Understanding basic rights of patients and how such rights apply to the elderly will help you become an advocate for not only elderly patients, but for other family members and friends. In this course, you'll learn what an advocate is, what one does, and why it's important to be an advocate for patient care today. You'll also learn not only how to be a well educated advocate, but to do your part to preserve the dignity of seniors, prevent elder abuse, and understand the basics of elderly patient care at home, in assisted living facilities and in nursing homes or other care scenarios. You'll learn the importance of nutrition and providing senior-friendly living spaces. You'll learn how to effectively evaluate nursing homes and understand the legal rights of seniors and how to protect them from scams. As an educated advocate, you'll also learn how to identify and report red flags when it comes to senior care, including elderly abuse and more personal aspects of care, including hygiene. You'll also learn the importance of documents such as advance directives and powers of attorney in order to provide the best in secure, comforting and effective senior care that maintains their independence and dignity in all areas of their life. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550468.htm Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing Career Development There is no question that computers offer many benefits to their users. Whether they are used for pleasure or business, computers enable us to connect to the world in ways never thought possible. And to get the most out of them, computers need to be set up correctly, maintained and protected. When a computer encounters a problem it can be difficult to diagnose and correct the issue because they are such complex machines running complicated pieces of software. This course can help you navigate the basic concepts of computer troubleshooting and repair so that you will be better prepared to understand and resolve issues as they arise. The good news is that many of the issues you'll encounter can be resolved without involving a technician or seeking outside help. Repairing a computer will depend on many different things such as the type of computer, the operating system, the accessories used with the computer and much more. This course focuses on the general setup and repair of a desktop PC and although it includes general ways to resolve issues, it focuses primarily on Microsoft Windows (the most used operating system in the world) as an operating system. However, if your computer does not have Microsoft Windows as an operating system, some of the included repair and troubleshooting techniques will still pertain to you. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550467.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Whether performing a minor repair, such as your phone or DVD player, or applying for a new and technology focused career, an understanding of the principles directing basic electronics will prove helpful throughout life. This course in basic electronics will lay a foundation for understanding how things work in our modern world. In the process of this course, you will become increasingly aware of how your telephone, television, radio, music and recording equipment work. In beginning this course, keep in mind that many of the components discussed in the lessons exist both in an electrical or gadget context and in the context of being a part of an integrated circuit. That is, the components exist in the larger application of everyday things you encounter such as an electrical switch, and in they exist as micro-components which are microscopic in size and within the manufactured structure of an IC chip, only 2-5 mm in size. We will explore the basic elements of electronics, the components of an integrated circuit, and we will cover the fundamental how-to of how things work. You will be prepared to competently converse at an entry level with any human resources person, or quiz your local Radio Shack employee with intelligence and confidence. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550329.htm Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Whether this is your first time using Dreamweaver or you've used it in the past, this course will walk you through the program step-by-step and teach you how to use its many features and options to create professional web pages with little more than a click of the mouse. You'll learn how to: Design basic HTML websites, even if you don't know HTML Design with tables Build websites using frames Learn about and#8211; and even understand and#8211; CSS Learn basic HTML. You won't believe how easy it is! And much, much more. Like most Adobe programs, Dreamweaver can seem more complicated than it really is because of all the additional options and features that it offers. For that reason, if you're new to Dreamweaver, trying to figure out how to accomplish even the simplest of tasks can seem overwhelming and impossible. But take heart, it's not. With just a very little bit of time and study, anyone can master Dreamweaver and be on their way to designing professional web pages quickly and easily. This course was designed to teach the amateur how to effectively use the program and take advanced users from building basic web pages to stunning masterpieces. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550274.htm Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics The Photoshop Elements software package is a condensed version of the popular Adobe Photoshop. As the lesser priced version of Adobe's Photoshop, Elements offers all the same features, but just with less options. However, don't let that scare you away from the software! Elements offers every single option a hobbyist or photo enthusiast might need -- and probably a few extra to spare. Completing tasks with Elements is very simple. For the user that has tried Photoshop and gotten lost in the process of trying to figure it out, or is new to photo editing and wants something simple to understand yet effective, Elements is the answer. It's amazing what Elements lets you do with just a click of a button and, with the help of this course, it won't take you any time at all before you're using the program like an expert. You'll learn how to: and#216; Upload your photos into Elements. and#216; Organize your photos in albums and catalogs. and#216; Adjust the colors in your photos to make them crisp and clear. and#216; Change the mood of your photos. and#216; Crop and resize photos and images. and#216; Add layers. and#216; Print images. and#216; Create albums, calendars, and other projects. and#216; Save your projects. and#216; Share your photo projects with others. This includes online albums, slideshows, photo emails, and more! Whether or not you've used Elements before doesn't matter when you take this course. We start out with the very basics of the program and teach you what you need to know. As the course progresses, we'll move into advanced topics, but by then you'll be more than ready to learn them -- and surprised at how easy and fun that using this popular software program can be. By the end of this course, you'll know everything about Elements that you need to know to easily organize, edit, print, and share your photos and images (and everything in between). * This course will use the interface of Photoshop Elements 8 to teach you how to use this image editing program. This version is not required to complete this training. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550422.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Microsoft Publisher 2010 is a desktop publishing software program that comes with the Microsoft Office suite. While Microsoft Word is a word processing program, Microsoft Publisher is used for page layout and design. You can use Publisher to create brochures, flyers, menus, business cards, certificates, and any number of things that you want to design for either use on the computer or to print and#8211; yourself or by a commercial printer. In this course, you're going to learn how to use Microsoft Publisher 2010. If you've used previous versions of it in the past, we'll show you what's new, then how to make the best use out of the latest features. However, if this is your first time using Publisher, don't worry. We're going to start at the beginning and teach you everything you need to know. After completing this course, you should be able to use Publisher like a pro. You'll learn how to: Create publications using a template Create publications from scratch Use building blocks such as Page Parts to make creating pages even easier Use the Backstage View to manage information about your files Add text to a publication Add images to a publication Create a layout And everything you need to know to create stunning publications from your computer and#8211; even if you don't have any graphics design experience. Microsoft Publisher 2010 makes designing professional publications as easy as tying your shoe. That's not an exaggeration. We're going to walk through this software step-by-step so that, by the time you're finished with this course, you'll know how to use every feature and be able to create your own publications with ease. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550532.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Computer Basics Make the wedding day an even more memorable occasion for the bride, the groom and guests by handcrafting all or parts of the bridal event. Wedding crafts are such a fun, creative and unique way to personalize a wedding and also to involve friends and loved ones in the preparations. This wedding crafts course presents interesting and entertaining wedding history to help you plan and organize wedding accessories. Course lessons will include inspiration plus designs for paper crafts, floral crafts, favors, bridal party gifts, scrapbooking and more. Wording and layout instructions are given along with sample finished projects to further inspire the wedding crafter. You can invite family and friends to help with the work, adding to the fun and excitement of the big day or do it all yourself. Wedding planners will also benefit from our creative ideas. We're certain this crafting course will be a fun and exciting addition to your wedding planning. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550019.htm Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:09:28 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business Have you ever wanted to be a landlord? This multi-faceted career can be challenging and rewarding both personally and financially. Our course provides a broad yet detailed examination of the many areas that a property manager must blend together to be successful. Lesson 1 asks the question: are you ready to be a landlord? It focuses on the disciplines involved in property management and discusses planning and goal setting. In Lesson 2, you'll discover the benefits of commercial and residential properties, and what types of tenants will be renting from you. We explain what to do before purchasing a property and how to make an offer in Lesson 3. Ownership rights and responsibilities are discussed in Lesson 4, including laws and regulations you must abide by. Lesson 5 examines the financial factors to consider and how to set rental prices. You'll learn how to choose the best tenants and how to attract them to your property in Lesson 6. Dealing with tenants (and how to avoid bad ones) makes up Lesson 7. Lesson 8 covers handling tenant issues and explains the eviction process. We focus on the lease in Lesson 9 by explaining how to create a lease and the lease dispute resolution options are available to you. Lesson 10 will help you understand the five types of property maintenance and describes common trouble spots. In Lesson 11 we discuss financing options for purchasing your property. The course concludes with Lesson 12, which explains how to sell your property. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550158.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Money Making Strategies How to Build Your Own Business Home Business You won't find a more comprehensive of a wedding course online that isn't offered by a bridal association! This eleven-lesson course teaches you all that you need to know to become a well paid, successful wedding planner and#8211; starting the day after you finish this course. It doesn't matter if you don't know anything about weddings right now. This detailed course gives you all the information and knowledge you need. You'll learn: How to put together your portfolio even if you don't have any experience. What's more, we'll help you put one together during the course. Your responsibilities and duties as a wedding planner. The wedding industry including all you need to know about vendors. How to plan a wedding no matter what the budget. This easy formula will have you planning everything from small, intimate weddings to elaborate ceremonies and receptions. What you need to do and when you need to do it. Don't know when to order invitations? We'll tell you. Everything about planning and coordinating the wedding ceremony About the rehearsal dinner How to plan and coordinate a reception All about destination weddings How to plan honeymoons Wedding etiquette and protocol About weddings of different faiths And everything you need to know to start your business right away! Did you know that the average wedding planner is paid a minimum of 10% of the total cost of the wedding? With today's average wedding costing $19,000, that means you'll make at least $1,900 dollars for each wedding you plan! Just working part time would equal an excellent new income for you. Best yet, you can start making that money the day after you finish this course. Sign up now. You're just eleven lessons away from becoming the fairy godmother that has the power to convert the simplest weddings into the most beautiful affairs. And that is what you want, isn't it? You want to make wedding dreams come true for all your clients. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550040.htm Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business How to Buy and Sell Antiques and Collectibles offers a highly successful approach to acquiring and selling antiques and collectibles for both fun and profit. This course incorporates many strategies of acquiring and selling desirable objects and pieces, with the goal of personal enjoyment and fulfillment. All collectors start somewhere. It begins somehow, usually with an interest developed early on as a child. Almost mystically, the collection begins. Eventually, there comes a time when the collector desires to sell an antique or collectible, perhaps because it is a duplicate or to make room for another object. Successful collectors learn what sells, and what to buy in order to sell later. Many of the most profitable collectors and dealers learn the principals necessary to trade, barter, acquire and sell both antiques and collectibles. They avoid expensive mistakes and missteps. They use knowledge as their best tool to acquire items for their collections or resale. This course will present many strategies and concepts to prepare you for the path of becoming a successful buyer and seller of antiques and collectibles. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550536.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business This is a guide to the ins and outs of starting and maintaining a successful pet sitting and pet walking service. Pet sitting and pet walking businesses were almost unheard of a generation ago, but today they are in every major city and most towns. Today's pet owners treat their pets like members of the family and want them to be comfortable, happy and well-exercised. Unfortunately, our busy lifestyles make it difficult for many of us to be able to give our pets everything they need, particularly with demanding work schedules keeping us from being available during the day like we would like. Pet walkers and pet sitters give pet owners the ideal solution by providing professional care and companionship for their pets during the hours they can't be there. If you're an animal lover, you may have considered this rewarding career path, but it isn't for everyone. You'll also have to have a good head for business, organization skills, dedication and the ability to handle crisis situations with calm and professionalism. There is a great deal to know about running your own business as well and#8211; it's not just about your interaction with the animals. It's about working with your human clients, managing a budget and understanding marketing and a business plan. This course will give you the bones of what to expect and point you in the direction of the resources you'll need to set up your fledgling pet sitting and/or pet walking business. If you read this and know that it's the right job for you, you'll soon be on the way to a career you love! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550131.htm Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business How would you like to be your own detective? Are you interested in tracking down someone who owes you money, or getting information from credit bureaus or locating lost children or friends, or finding out whether a spouse or lover is being faithful or do you want to learn more about one of the fastest growing careers? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions then this is the perfect course for you! Through this private investigator course you will be given the tools to perform searches over the internet, the skills to assess public records online and the methods for performing background investigations. The class will include real life examples from actual private investigators. So if sleuthing is something that intrigues you, join this self-paced online course. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/30447.htm Sun, 1 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies Home Business Finding quality daycare these days is not always easy. Working parents are constantly seeking educated and experienced childcare providers to meet the needs of their children. There has been and always will be a need for home daycare settings for children, and for those willing to start a home daycare business, there is already an existing market waiting for your services. Creating a safe, stimulating, and caring environment for children is one of the most important aspects of starting a home daycare business. Becoming a childcare professional requires a little bit of research, the ability to obtain adequate licensing, and the capability of learning how to run and operate a business from your home. This course provides individuals with the basics necessary to start a home daycare business - from defining your aptitudes, motivations, and capabilities to the necessary legal requirements involved in starting a home daycare business. This course will help interested individuals learn about training, insurance, startup needs and costs as well as the need to assess what age groups might be best suited to your personality. From setting ground rules to dealing with parents and providing nutritious meals and stimulating activities for children of all ages, this home daycare business course will take you through every step of the process to ensure your success. From learning about first aid training to dealing with behavior problems and difficult parents, students of this home daycare business course will learn how to start, maintain and grow their business step by step. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550140.htm Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Congratulations on considering opening your own craft business! This course offers an introduction to business and guidelines that will help you create a successful and sustainable crafting business. In this course, you'll learn what to expect, how to create a business name that people will remember and determine what type of crafts you want to sell. Targeting your market is essential for the success of any business, and we'll give you the basics on how to determine who will buy your crafts, how much to charge for them, and how to market your business to reach the widest audience range. You'll also learn some important marketing skills that will help you run your business. We'll discuss different ways to sell your crafts, including online venues and craft shows. Creating a sustainable business means keeping your overhead low. Lessons in this course will offer tips on wholesale and retail purchasing of supplies, developing attractive packaging, and how to determine how much to charge for your crafts, as well as a number of pricing strategies that will help you set prices that generate profits. No business, and that goes for home-based craft business, can succeed without customers. Good customer service is essential. We'll explain some of the do's and don'ts when dealing with customers, as well as how to deal with difficult customers. Finally, we'll discuss (briefly!) your financial obligations regarding income taxes and the importance of keeping good records. Balancing your craft business with family responsibilities will be discussed, as will reaching the masses to help you develop the best ways to reach audiences both locally, domestically and abroad. This course will provide you with enough information to feel confident when starting your own business, and provide pointers that will help to ensure that your business endeavor is successful. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550456.htm Fri, 1 Jan 2010 12:15:45 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Welcome to this course on eBay: How to Buy and How to Sell on eBay. Whether you're looking for an antique or the latest in electronic gadgets, eBay is one of the most likely online resources for you to find what you're looking for. eBay can also be a lucrative home-based business for men or women looking to generate more income, whether you're struggling in a tough economy or you want to make extra money selling your crafts, collectables or even your car. We hope you'll enjoy this basic how-to course regarding buying and selling on eBay. In this course, students will learn how eBay got started and grew from just an idea to a multi-billion dollar business in less than a decade. We'll give you a brief background and tips on deciding what to sell on eBay, how to set up an eBay and PayPal account, and how you can bid for everything from a skein of yarn to rare jade and autographed collectibles to sports equipment to a new engine for your car. Selling on eBay, the importance of creating good item descriptions and taking good photos of your items is covered in this course, as is encouraging loyalty and positive feedback that enhances your moneymaking efforts. The importance of customer service is also discussed in this course, as is a discussion of how best to resolve customer complaints or disputes. We'll also share ideas with you on what to do (and not do) when listing an item for sale or auction. We'll show you how to make and send payments or items for your eBay purchases or sales, and how to make the best use of eBay's seller's tools. We'll wrap up the course with a brief mention of tips for success on eBay, setting up your own eBay store, and how to register your eBay business online. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550548.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business Medical billing is one of the fastest growing healthcare jobs. Hospitals, private practices and clinics could not survive without someone who efficiently handles their day-to-day Medical Billing procedures. A medical biller's job responsibilities can include: expert management of healthcare billing--processing, adjusting and resubmitting of claims; adherence to current healthcare industry regulations and policies; and compliance with insurance procedures and allotted benefit coverage. This self-paced course will quickly and easily train you in these procedures. There is a great need for medical billers. In this course you're going to learn all about medical billing from the ground-up. This course assumes you have little or no knowledge about medical billing. Written in 'layman's terms', this course is an ideal preparation course for any persons interested in this booming area in the health and medical administration industry. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550400.htm Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing Home Business Wedding Planning/Consulting and Directing is a fun and fast growing industry. Every day people are in need of assistance in planning their special day. This course will cover every aspect of wedding planning from the definition of a wedding planner all the way to directing the Wedding Day Events. If you are serious about starting a new career as a Wedding Planner/Consultant then this class is a must. I am the owner of a successful Wedding/Event Company and author of The Little Wedding Handbook for Brides and Grooms. Don't fall for other classes written by someone just getting into the industry or spend money uselessly on a seminar when you can get everything you need right here. I will tell you the ins and outs of wedding planning and what it takes to be a successful wedding business owner. You will learn the secrets of trade shows, how to deal with hostile and diverse clients, creating a budget for every wedding, how to get your client to sign on with your company, getting your business up and running successfully and legally, and so much more. You will get experience in creating your business forms to making your company successful, choosing what works for you in dealing with clients in your locale, dressing for different types of weddings, working with wedding/event vendors in your area, growing your business, and becoming a well known Wedding Consultant in your area. You will even get the opportunity to plan an event!!!! We will even cover where Bridal Consultants go to continue their education in this ever growing industry. The associations that you definitely need to be in and what to do to insure your clientele will continue to grow and prosper. Start today and be on your way to a new career in the Wedding/Bridal Industry! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/6950.htm Thu, 20 Feb 2003 18:19:21 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business Home Business More people every year are discovering the joy of scrapbooking to capture memories and create unique family and friend albums to keep and share. In this comprehensive course, the beginner scrapbooker will learn how to start his/her scrapbooking hobby without being overwhelmed. Everything from choosing the right supplies to get started to tips for journaling effectively is included in easy to follow lessons that reflect the wide variety of scrapbooking styles and themes popular today. Traditional Scrapbooking 101 also includes a reference section with helpful advice on designing interesting layouts, developing an artistic eye and the story-telling aspects of scrapbooking. Original project suggestions are included as well as advice on how to make the time to enjoy your hobby properly. A resource guide with links to online scrapbooking sites that offer support, supplies and networking opportunities gives everyone from the beginner to the most advanced scrapbooker the opportunity to learn more. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550460.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Home Business If you have ever dreamed of being a freelance writer this course is for you. Get started today learning about this exciting field and in no time you can be on your way to earning a living, extra income, and more, by doing something that you love and#8211; writing! Chock-full of all the inside information you need to understand the career field and be successful in it, this course can teach you what freelancing writing is, how much you can expect to make, how to find markets, creating successful queries, what to do once you get an assignment, and how to market your skills. You will also learn some of the tools of the trade that will help you be successful, such as how to build a portfolio, where to get ideas and topics from, common writing rules that are outdated, and various ways you can increase your earnings as a writer. This course will not only give you a look at everything you need to know to become a freelance writer, but when you finish, you will be ready to put what you learn into action to build a freelance writing career. Whether you would like to freelance on a full time basis, do it to supplement your current income, or learn freelance writing skills to get your product or service noticed, this is the place to start! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550289.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement How to Build Your Own Business Home Business Learn how to make your own soap in our self-paced online course. If you've always wanted to try different soap-making recipes, create your own signature items for personal use, for gifts or for profit, or just learn about what goes into making a soap, this class is for you! With or without any experience you will learn the foundations of soap making: the history behind the craft; basic melt and pour techniques, popular cold-process methods; how to create your own recipes (using a simple set formula); how to create signature soaps, basic aromatherapy, special soaps and what to do when your recipes need a little fine tuning. Best of all the course has video demonstrations of the soap-making techniques as well as photos, step-by-step instructions and your instructor will not only be grading quizzes and assignments but is available through our class email to answer questions. 'Handmade' things are springing up everywhere -- in stores, boutiques, as take out food and in health care items. People are returning to the retro feeling of 'home made' from home decor to high end, custom embellished clothing to homey foods. Soap can be a big part of this retro trend. Take advantage of this marketing trend and profit from your tiny investment in this class. Soap making is actually easy. The lessons provide recipes for soaps in several lessons. They have been tested. You can use them 'as is' or, at completion of the course, feel confident about personalizing the recipes to make them your own. Included are marketing ideas to get you thinking about how to name, how to make them special with your package and styling and how to price them for both wholesale and retail applications. Learn a new creative 'art'! Try Soap Making today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33022.htm Tue, 29 May 2007 22:06:29 GMT Universal Class, Inc. How to Build Your Own Business How does our Criminal Justice system really work? This course will answer that question and provide an impartial and balanced look at current policies and legal issues facing the police, courts and our corrections system. If you're interested in pursuing a career in the criminal law field, business law or behavioral sciences, this class provides insights on crime control, criminal mindset, controversies involving the police, due process, prison life, rehabilitation and many other areas. An ideal course for anyone who wants to know how the criminal justice system really operates. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/30652.htm Wed, 26 Jul 2006 17:30:35 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies Terrorism, is it the scourge of our time? Are you fearful of being involved in a terrorist attack? Quite frankly it almost depends on where in the world you live. It is often because a safe place today is a terror target tomorrow. With the desire on the part of the terrorists to obtain weapons of mass destruction, i.e. chemical, biological, or even a dirty bomb or nuclear bomb, the potential for a massive destructive attack increases exponentially. This course looks at the recent history of terrorism from the early twentieth century to today. You will learn: - The extent to which terrorism has become a part of life in the twenty-first century. - Why there is not a generally accepted definition of terrorism. - Acts of terrorism in the old world, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the new world. - Who in the world is acting to fight terrorism, or acting to support terrorism. - What the world is doing to combat terrorism. - The known terrorist groups and what are their goals. - The momentous influence that religion plays in terrorism - The continuous problems with political and military tactics in defeating terrorism. If you're p ursuing any career involving the field of political science or criminology, or if you are interested in understanding the reasons for terrorist acts, or want to know what the prospects are for the future of terrorism, this course will provide lots of disquieting but interesting information http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550445.htm Thu, 1 Jan 2009 01:01:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies This introductory course examines the important principles of an insurance contract.Legal principles such as insurable interest, premiums,compensation,claims payment and the principles of good faith like misrepresentation,disclosure and consumers rights' against manufacturers of goods are examined in an in-depth manner,devoid of legal technicalities. Issues discussed in these topics are: What is an insurance contract? Who can be parties to it? What are the rights and obligations of these parties? What is the extent of their liabilities? What is the significance of agency in insurance contracts? What are the duties an agent owes his master (the Principal)?H ow broad and or limited are these duties? Who can sue or be sued in insurance contract? How does the court make assessment of claims - what are the guiding principles? Do consumers have rights against manufacturers of items they consume - how can these rights be enforced? W hat are the contrainsts? Answers to these questions are discussed in a very lucid manner so that the learner can gradually come to a basic understanding of how insurance works in our everyday life. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/3930.htm Tue, 21 May 2002 17:11:31 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies This course sheds light on what the contents of a contract are that makes it a document that one can rely on in courts. What does a contract mean? What are the rules that guide contracts that are international in nature?What specific role do Clauses - Words, Phrases and Sentences have on contracts? How can they be inserted into a contract to achieve parties' objectives?What are the constraints to these insertions?What are the various types of contract? What are the differences between these various types of contract? What effect does external factors have on the making of a contract? What effect does a public notice by a business outfit stating for instance ' Cars are parked at owners risk' mean? What does exclusion and limiting terms mean? Why do people insert exclusion and limiting clauses in contracts and what effect do they have on contracts? This course provides answers to all these questions with recent and well illustrated real life cases written lucidly to aid understanding. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/3369.htm Sun, 19 Jan 2003 12:19:11 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies When the requirements necessary for a valid contract are present and all the clauses in a contract are correctly stated,it is still possible for a contract not to be a contract.This course,a follow up on an earlier course, 'Contract Law (Introduction), is in 6 parts. It discusses lucidly these circumstances,with thought provoking questions and very stimulating tests and assignments. The knowledge gained from the course will guide anyone in any position of responsibility in taking decisions based on sound legal principles. The course is useful for students in higher institutions, professionals in any position of responsibility and anyone who desires an update or knowledge of Contract Law. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/10273.htm Thu, 17 Mar 2005 11:40:52 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies If you're interested in pursuing a career in crime scene investigation, this course will introduce you to the basics of practical crime scene investigation procedures and techniques. Covering the history of forensic investigation from the ancient Chinese culture to the phenomena known today as the 'CSI-Effect' on the general population, this course explains the methods and protocol involved in the crime scene investigator's two prime directives: protect and preserve the evidence. This course covers such topics as how to initially approach a crime scene; the importance of following proper procedure and protocol in searching, collecting, and packaging crime scene evidence; how to ensure the integrity and chain of evidence rules that will be acceptable in a court of law; how to identify and collect various forms of evidence ranging from biological fluids to weapons and firearms; and how to document a crime scene as well as explain different techniques for handling evidence. This crime scene investigation course also offers techniques for interviewing witnesses and family members as well as understanding such terms as victimology and equivocal crime scenes. We'll also study the basics of blood spatter interpretation, wound anatomy, and how to observe a crime scene properly. From initial arrival at a crime scene to testifying in court, this online class offers students the basics of one of the most fascinating jobs within the field of law enforcement. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550011.htm Sat, 2 Feb 2008 12:43:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies The objective of this course is to provide an introduction to the fundamental facts that anyone should know about the Law of Contract. It discusses the principles that makes a contract valid or not.The basic components that must always be in a valid contract - offer, acceptance, consideration (money) and intention to enter legal relations are explained. With the aid of real life cases, the rights and obligations that contracts create and which the law will enforce are thoroughly examined. Issues focused on range from how many people are needed to form a contract,what are their duties.What must they avoid not to be liable in law. When can they decide not to continue with a contract. A very important fact which affects a contract is whether or not letters and or documents are posted promptly. When do this affect the validity of a contract and when does it not? It is also very important for people who are involved in a contract to communicate exactly what they mean to each other.If they do not,the validity of the contract could be affected and the court might refuse to enforce the contract.When do these situations occur? Does the death of someone involved in a contract affect its validity? What would the court say about this scenario - and reward cases such as when the United States put a ransom for information leading to the whereabout of Saddam? What would happen if the US government decides not to honour its promise.What would be the court's intepretation? These and more are the issues that are discussed in this course.The overall objective is to teach what makes a contract valid and what does not, so that expertise gained could be used to analyze properly situations and circumstances of a personal and professional nature. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/6728.htm Mon, 8 Sep 2003 10:52:10 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Legal Studies Statistics are used in a variety of contexts ranging from scientific experiments to political advertisements and beyond. Because statistics can be used to mislead, an understanding of the topic can be helpful for more than just the mathematical skills that it imparts: knowledge of statistics theory can also be a strong defense against attempts by the unscrupulous to mislead others. This statistics course introduces the basic concepts of statistical analysis, with a focus on both univariate (single-variable) and bivariate (two-variable) data. The course starts with an introduction to statistics terms and then moves on to organization and display of data. Analysis of univariate data by way of measures of central tendency (such as the mean or average), dispersion (such as the variance), and asymmetry ('skewness') is presented next, followed by an introduction to probability theory. The relationship of probability to statistics is also discussed, providing students with the tools they need to understand how 'chance' plays a role in statistical analysis. Statistical distributions, with a focus on the normal distribution and its uses, are also considered, along with a discussion of bivariate data and linear (least-squares) regression. Finally, the course culminates with a low-level introduction to hypothesis testing. Although this last topic could be a course of its own, the student is provided with enough theory and sufficient practice to conduct analyses of simple statistical hypotheses. The course assumes a minimal understanding of and proficiency in algebra, but many of the concepts can be understood, and even many of the calculations performed, without an extensive mathematical background. This course is designed for anyone who wants a little more than just a cursory overview of statistics, but who doesn't want to get bogged down in the mathematical theory that underlies it. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550297.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:00:23 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Marketing The spirit of a person is reflected in his/her true personality. Participants will learn to identify and analyze the features of the face and gestures that characterize personality traits. Excellent for Team Building, Sales,Jury Selection,Job Placement, Consulting/ Counseling,and just having fun. This class is self-paced and it is designed to provide you with observable information about yourself and others that reflect the human spirit. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/2200.htm Sat, 12 Jan 2002 18:31:18 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Marketing Medical terminology is the specific language used by professionals in the medical industry and for success in this field, understanding and communicating in the language is critical. Medical Terminology 201 is an advanced course for those with some experience or training ( Medical Terminology 101 is not required but recommended). The course will focus on the medical terms and concepts used to understand anatomy. Lessons are organized by body system. Each lesson begins with structures and functions of a system followed by pathology, diagnostic, and procedural terminology. This easy-to-read, compact format of our online classroom makes for quick learning. Understanding medical terminology is vital for entry in a wide range of medical professions including those entering the medical coding or medical billing fields, those looking to improve or expand job opportunities in any health-care related career, those who are seeking careers in the hospital, insurance companies or government agencies, or those in the legal profession needing to understand medical information for exchange and interpretation. If you are interested in pursuing a health and science career requiring the ability to communicate with physicians, dentists, or other medical professionals, this class will provide the necessary skills. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550369.htm Sun, 1 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing This comprehensive medical terminology combination course covers both courses: Medical Terminology 101 and 201. We'll start with the very basics of medical terminology, reviewing word roots, prefixes, and suffixes that make up medical words. We'll then move on to each body system where we'll work on recognizing and defining their related medical terms. This comprehensive review of medical terminology will not only benefit those new to medical terms used in medicine today, but also act as a refresher for those already experienced in medical terminology. So join us today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550457.htm Sun, 1 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing Medical Office Procedures is a course that's designed to help those interested in setting up a medical office or who want to learn how to manage their current medical office more efficiently. With 20 different lessons, this course takes learners from the basics of a medical office to the more specialized concerns that face modern medical practitioners today. Lessons include: 1 - History of Medical Offices 2 - Types of Medical Offices 3 - Medical Office Staff 4 - Medical Office Management 5 - Computer Skills 6 - Telecommunications 7 - Appointment Scheduling 8 - Proper Patient Care 9 - Triage 10 - Handling Medical Emergencies 11 - Office Maintenance 12 - Billing 13 - Medical Terminology 14 - Medical Coding 15 - Transcription 16 - Medical Records 17 - Privacy Practices 18 - Medical Ethics 19 - Hospital Resources 20 - Medical Office Education Medical offices take more than just a medical degree to begin and to run effectively. With this Medical Office Procedures course, you will not only learn how to set up a well-run office, but you will be able to create a medical team that offers the highest standards in patient care for each appointment and each person that walks in the door, while still making a profit. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550547.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing The healthcare industry, complex and rigorous even for the most knowledgeable and thorough of professionals, requires that paperwork be submitted both in a highly accurate and very timely manner. The area of healthcare involving the completion of paperwork outlining patients' billing histories and submission of them to the individual's insurance company for reimbursement is known as 'medical billing'. Within medical billing there exists the practice of 'medical coding' whereby codes are assigned to medical procedures and diagnoses in order to relay--in a universally accepted medical language--information to the insurance company or in some cases, governmental agencies and/or consulting firms. Also known as 'insurance coding', medical billing/coding is viewed to be essential to the healthcare industry for it creates and maintains a single, unified language by which all (physicians, medical administrators, insurance companies, government healthcare officials) integrated parties are able to effectively communicate. In this course, we're going to learn medical coding from the ground up. Whether you are new to medical coding, or already have experience, this course is written in 'laymen's terms' yet is comprehensive enough to help even seasoned medical coders. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/31868.htm Tue, 9 Jan 2007 11:31:05 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing This self-study medical coding course will emphasize the rules and guidelines on the ICD-9-CM coding manual. The course benefits those who work or want to work in the medical field whether it be as a medical biller, medical coder, and/or medical assistant. The class format is designed to help the beginner coder learn and understand the concept of coding a diagnostic statement. The course is designed to help the experienced coder gain additional knowledge and practice on their speed in preparation for the coding certification exam. C oding scenarios are provided to help the student continue his/her knowledge in the field of medical coding. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/31234.htm Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:09:14 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing The primary focus of this self-study course is medical coding on the Digestive System utilizing the ICD-9-CM and CPT coding manuals. Medical Terminology pertaining to the Digestive System is also reviewed to educate the student on the Digestive System. Procedures and surgical instruments are discussed in the lesson to help the student advance their knowledge when coding Gastroenterology procedures. The experienced coder will gain additional knowledge in Gastroenterology and Colorectal specialty coding, both in ICD-9 and CPT. ICD-9 and CPT scenarios are provided for coding diseases and disorders of the Gastroenterology and related procedures (CPT 40000 series). For the less advanced student, it is a course that would help gain knowledge of coding guidelines as implemented in the coding industry and to build confidence and speed when assigning codes. This a great way the novice student to practice on their speed in preparation for a coding certification. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/31569.htm Fri, 29 Dec 2006 21:21:26 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing Medical assisting is a relatively new career choice, and it is a booming industry. With the current economic crisis, many health care providers are looking for talented and willing individuals to train with them as assistants to help them care for more patients each day. With the coming of senior citizen status for baby boomers, the opportunity to serve them is mushrooming. Medical people range from the highly skilled physicians and surgeons, radiologists, clinical lab technologists and nurses to the less highly educated nurse's aides, and respiratory technicians. As a Medical Assistant you will be working as part of a medical team. There is no greater job satisfaction than helping others. If you can relieve a person of pain and anxiety, that is gratifying. If you are able to help diagnose a problem for the patient, this is self-satisfying. If you are able to ease the load of your fellow workers, that is a great feeling. This course will provide a wealth of information about this career path. You will learn how to increase opportunities to expand your skills and abilities. Pursuing this career path and you may be given the opportunity to learn how to become an x-ray assistant or a phlebotomist. There is also the possibility to branch out into the physical therapy assisting field or train to become a hemodialysis technician. The more you can do, the more value you will bring to the job, the more you will be able to help the patients under your care, and the more money you will make. This course will help you see your future in this booming industry and provide you with the information you'll need to be successful. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550531.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding Medical Billing and#160; This self-study medical coding course will discuss neoplasms, cancer and/or carcinoma with focus on the ICD-9-CM coding manual and the Neoplasm Table. Medical Terminology relating to the neoplasm is also discussed to educate the student on the subject of cancer. This class is helpful when preparing for a coding certification. This course will benefit students in all levels of the medical field (medical billers, medical coders, and medical assistants.), from beginners to advanced. The focus of this course for the experienced coder is to gain additional knowledge in specialty coding. More than 200 coding scenarios for neoplasms are provided to help the student continue his/her knowledge in the field of medical coding. For the less advanced student, it is a course that would help gain knowledge of coding guidelines as implemented in the coding industry and to build confidence and speed when assigning codes. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/15379.htm Wed, 2 Nov 2005 14:17:15 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Medical Coding From character and plot-conflict development to infusing a unique style and specialized writing techniques, the steps to writing a novel--while not utterly impossible--do require a dedicated, disciplined approach. By committing to the steps outlined within this course, aspiring (and even experienced) novelists can find the structure they need to create a well-crafted manuscript, one they will be proud to shop to potential agents and publishers. While some creative types may balk at the idea of adhering to a framework, the truth is that following such guidelines actually frees up writers to focus on the genesis and flow of ideas as opposed to be bogged down by the myriad of format and publishing style particulars. That is why we have provided you with insights into how, from start to finish, you can develop the varying elements of your novel: characters, plotlines, setting, tone, conflict, climax, and resolution/denouement. Labeled as dramatic construction, every novel ought to have a foundation in these basic principles. Plus, we will help take you one step further by offering you the specifics as to what is required to submit your completed work to potential agents and publishers. With an end goal in mind, this will help inspire you to actually finish your novel. Outfitted with both practical and creative writers' tools, there is no reason you can not successfully write a novel and get it published. If indeed you are truly committed and willing to invest the necessary time and effort to put your literary skills to the test, there should be nothing, absolutely nothing, stopping you from producing memorable prose. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550282.htm Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:03:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Getting a book published can be one of the most exciting things you will ever do. It can also be one of the most frustrating. Not only is the book industry incredibly specific about how they want you to go about approaching editors, literary agents, and other publishing professionals, but you have to compete with thousands of other aspiring authors. This course will explore what you need to do to transition from a completed manuscript or nonfiction book idea to book publication, including traditional avenues, options in self-publication, and even ebook applications. It includes everything you need to know about crafting the perfect query letter, creating a nonfiction book proposal, and even what to do in the face of rejection letters. With a comprehensive list of resources to top it all off, there is no better place to turn for learning how to get your book on the shelves and into the hands of readers. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550273.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement It doesn't matter if you're a famous politician, suburban homemaker or someone in between, the fact of the matter is that everyone has a personal story worth telling. Whether you want to honor someone who's made a difference in your life, heal old wounds, document unique experiences or travels, record your family history, or leave a legacy to future generations, 'Journaling and Memoir Writing' is a comprehensive step-by-step guide that will demystify the process of finally putting your story on paper. No matter if you're a novice or a professional writer interested in the memoir form, 'Journaling and Memoir Writing' is designed to help you decide what story to tell and the best way in which to tell it. Whether you are interested in writing a memoir exploring your personal struggles such as addiction, abuse or divorce or a travelogue based on your experience backpacking through Europe, this course will help you narrow the focus of your life story and define the underlying theme that will connect you with an audience. You will also learn how to find your true voice that will make your story unique and authentic. Through varied and comprehensive writing exercises you will learn how to sharpen your instincts and hone your storytelling craft. 'Journaling and Memoir Writing' will also teach you how to dig deeper into your life and mine important memories that will enable you add incredible depth and richness to your story. In addition to the extensive writing lessons, you will learn what to do with your memoir once it is finished. Whether your goal is pass on your memoir as a family heirloom or to become a New York Times best seller, 'Journaling and Memoir Writing' will address the various publishing options available to you. Everyone has a story to tell. Let this online class help you write yours today. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550285.htm Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:46:59 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Do you long to write but feel like you're too busy? Writing for children can be the answer. Children's stories are generally far shorter and simpler than stories for adults. You can draft an 800 word children's story during a couple of lunch hours or during your child's nap times. Many noted children's authors started writing in short bursts when their own young children were sleeping or playing nearby. Writing for children is by no means easy, however. Children's book and magazine editors expect well developed characters, engaging plots, and vivid description, all in a very small package. Good children's writers learn to make every word count. Communicating effectively with kids means using language they can understand but not talking down to them, and this is easier said than done. In this course, we will look at the elements that go into an effective children's story, from initial idea to finished manuscript. If you've always wanted to write but don't know where to start, we'll cover that too. And once you have a few good stories under your belt, you'll want to find publishing outlets for them. We'll go over the basics of submitting to publishers and even of publishing books yourself. Writing stories for children can be a fascinating hobby or a challenging career. You can write for your own kids, or publish stories and books that will reach thousands of eager readers. Either way, you will gain the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of children who hear or read your words. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550284.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement 'Creative Writing 101' is an attempt to capture what cannot be held in hand or thought--the elusive riddle of human creativity as we find it in our writing. Here we look at various forms and genres (books, dramas and plays, poetry, essays, film-writing, stories in general, etc.) as they relate to the creative impulse. We also talk about the Writer's Voice and personality, writing as therapy, illusions about writing, legend and mythos, and other areas where a creative writer may find inspiration, advice or enlightening conjecture. This self-paced course is offered to writers everywhere with hat-in-hand, for what it may be worth. Test and review questions, and also lesson exercises are included at the end of each lesson to build mastery. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550281.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement If you're a reader and thought you might like to try your hand at short story writing but just don't know how to get started, this course will help! We'll take you through the entire processand#8230;preparing your mind, getting ideas on paper, and help you through the editing and proofing process. You'll learn new skills, and find new ways to express yourself. As you advance through this course, you're going to learn the correct way to write a short story. More than that, you're going to learn the aspects of every good short story as well as learn how to create your own wonderful works! Amateur short story writers try to write their stories like miniature novels. Their stories read as either an excerpt or a condensed novel. Unfortunately, undisciplined writers do not write short stories that are complete. They overlook the fundamentals--such as--what sets the short story apart from a novel, and why one can never be substituted for the other. This course will show you how to write effectively and creatively. So join us today! And let's write some short stories that people will want to read! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550283.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Writing historical fiction is quite simply writing a story that is set in the past. You will do research to create a correct and realistic setting, based upon facts. Historical fiction can even include real people. You are writing fiction, but it is so very important to do your homework so that you can pin down the mannerisms, costumes, conditions, vernacular and so on in order to make your novel realistic. In fact, historical fiction novels can take years to write due to the amount of and#8216;homework' (research) required. When you choose to write historical fiction, you are putting on two hats--you are both historian and storyteller. You are going to tell your readers both what happened at the time and what it felt like. Your characters will no longer be one-dimensional people we have read about in history; they will now be people whose thoughts and feelings we will be partial to. In this course, we are going to explore the genre and all its offshoots. We'll discuss the various sub-genres, the types of characters and settings you may want to explore, character motivations, conflict, plot, plot mapping, editing, and pacing. We'll even cover agents, queries, and so much more. You will walk away from this course (at the end!) feeling as if you know exactly what you want to write and exactly how to write it. So join us today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550563.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Humor Writing There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you. (Will Rogers) Laughing- the salve of the soul. When we feel at our lowest sometimes the only thing that can turn our mood around and lift us up is a good hearty laugh. The comedy capers of some people can at times save our sanity. We envy those who can readily laugh and even more so those people that can make others laugh. This course will help you join this group, by covering things such as the advantages of keeping your humor in flow, how to guarantee laughs, the power of shock value, the importance of preparation and humor as a group effort -- and that's all just for starters! Writing- when we think back to the things that have moved us deeply, that have stirred us emotionally, many of those have been pieces of writing. It takes skill to create a piece of writing, one word after another, one sentence after another and put it together in such a way that people really want to read it. During this course you'll not only be given advice on how to write, but what not to write, how to market your material in a way that gives you the best possible chance of establishing a continuing comedy writing career and some tips you can utilize to assist you in writing good humor. This course is not like many others, in that it is not exercise after exercise and so-called hot tips guaranteeing to give you instant writing success, there is no such thing. What it will do for you is give you the best possible advice on how to build a solid foundation for your humor writing future, i.e. a career in writing that lasts! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550293.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Writers are a unique breed. They spend their lives creating things that were, or never have been, and they hope to make enough money so that they can live comfortably while others read their work. To be a successful writer, one needs to do many things. According to Stephen King, it comes down to reading a lot and writing a lot. However, there is something else that a writer must do to be successful and that is to edit as well. Too many writers choose not to edit, believing that it is something someone else will do for them; but how can you know your book if you do not go through and edit it as well? When you edit a book, you learn more about your characters, your plot and how they all mesh together. While you edit you may think of a new plot device that will work better for the book, or you may discover that the book would be better suited in a different genre. Editing turns a good book into a great book, and all the great writers know the power of editing. In this course you will learn everything you need to know about editing a book. From how much of an edit you need to do, the things that need to be edited and even the tools you should employ to make your edits successful. In addition, you will learn about what you should do before sending your manuscript away for review to raise the chances of successful publication. Throughout the lessons, tips and quotes from the immortals of literature will show you that editing and even rejection are all part of the journey when you are a successful writer . http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550306.htm Thu, 1 Apr 2010 11:20:58 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement This online course will prepare students to take the Language Arts, Writing (Part 1 and Part 2) portion of the GED (General Educational Development) test. The testing format is explained and broken down to highlight the content the Language Arts part of the exam will cover. The class will provide study resources for students including test strategies, practice tests, practical assignments, and essay writing. This course will review the role of English usage, mechanics and organization in sentences, plus show you frequent sentence structure logic and typical spelling errors. This course will also provide each GED student writing skills required to successfully tackle the GED essay test. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550567.htm Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Improvement Do you dream of writing poetry, short stories, or novels? Have you ever watched a movie or a play and felt the desire to write a script of your own? Or have you already done some writing but want to find ways to bring more creativity, more originality, to your writing? Have you ever read a so-so novel or seen a lousy movie and told yourself, 'I bet I could do better?' Do you find yourself excited and intrigued by words, and by their sounds and meanings? If you said yes to any of these questions, then this course is for you. A creative writer makes art just as a painter or sculptor does, but with different tools. Instead of brushes, canvas, and pigments, the writer uses words. While the painter produces a painting we can see in front of us, the writer makes magic of a different sort. With a simple palette of letters and punctuation - just lines and symbols scratched on paper or scattered on a computer screen - the writer can create pictures and even entire worlds within a reader's mind. There are many forms of creative writing, from fiction, to poetry, to stage play and screenplay. Within each form there are countless genres and flavors. As a writer, you can (and should) try your hand at as many forms as you like, or you can specialize in one. There are techniques and practices that are common to all forms of creative writing, and we will discuss those here. We will also touch on the challenges and techniques that make writing in the different forms unique. Throughout this course, you will find numerous exercises designed to get your brain - and your hand - moving. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550286.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:54:54 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement This poetry course is created for the lover of poetry who wants to learn how to appreciate the art even more. It is also for student poets who want to improve their craft. This course is thorough in teaching all students everything they need to know about reading, interpreting, and writing poetry. This course is a must-take for any budding poet out there who wants to hone their skills and learn to write high quality, great poetry that others will appreciate. Through various assignments and essays, each student will learn to do the following: Determine and understand the meanings of poems. Recognize and utilize the devices used in writing poetry. Understand the theory and history of poetry to strengthen their skills and appreciation. Write different types of poetry. Become a skilled, knowledgeable poet or lover of the art. Identify different types of poetry. Create a chapbook suitable for publication. And much more. Poetry is a verbal art form that requires both understanding and appreciation to master. Simply reading a few poems and having their meanings explained to you is not nearly enough to fully appreciate poetry and#8211; or to become a great poet. That is why this course will provide each student with a great deal of lessons, explanations, essays and assignments to deepen understanding and apply what has been learned. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550295.htm Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:06:24 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement The famous Ayn Rand once wrote, 'Like every human activity, writing requires practice and knowledge. But there is nothing mystical about it. Any person who can speak English grammatically can learn to write nonfiction.' This is as true today as when Ms. Rand first penned it, and you will find it true for you as well as you begin to venture into the world of writing. Nonfiction writing is the most common and broadly dispersed form of writing known to mankind. Nonfiction is based in truth, experience, events or in all of them. It is what the reporter reports; what the biographer writes; what the course writer explains. Everything that is not imagination and invented by the creative mind is nonfiction. This course is designed to take you beyond the basics and to guide you through the writing process to the finish line. In the course, you will learn how to think like an editor, how to choose your subject matter and examine your competition. You will learn how to structure your writing and what to do when you inevitably hit the infamous 'writer's block.' If you have basic writing skills and if you follow the course content, you should be ready to submit your writing by the end of the course material. You will know what to do with your article or book when you are finished and how to polish it for presentation to a publisher. Remember, 'Writers Write' and#8211; so get to writing! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550291.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Writing a romance novel is the dream of many people all over the world. It's no wonder: as the most popular fiction genre in the United States for the past three decades, there are more opportunities in romantic fiction than ever before. What's unique about the romance genre is that it is a very specialized industry. There are standards for plot, characterization, novel length, and even formatting that are required before most literary agents or publishers will even consider turning your manuscript into a published novel. Most readers know exactly what they expect from a romance novel, and you have to meet these expectations in order to succeed. This course will take you through everything you need to know to write the kind of romance novel that gets noticed. From creating a hero and heroine that sizzle to understanding point-of-view and knowing where to go for more resources, you'll get access to insider information on making the most out of your manuscript. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550290.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement Travel writing is a fun, interesting and fulfilling career. If your goal is to become a full-time travel writer who is able to live off your income from writing alone, it is important to understand that travel writing, like any other career, requires you to develop specific skills and to have perseverance in order to succeed. There is a lot of competition in the field of travel writing. Some highly successful writers in this genre have compared their climb to success with those who aspire to become actors, songwriters or musicians. In other words, most aspiring writers work at other jobs while they build a reputation strong enough to financially support themselves on payment for their writing alone. How long it takes you to achieve that goal is dependent upon how ambitious you are and how well you write, but the average is between three and six years. Alternatively, you may only wish to earn extra money as a travel writer and continue working in the field you are already in; perhaps you travel frequently for your current job and feel you have a lot to share with others about the places you visit. You can create a great additional source of income as a travel writer this way. Whether it is a full or part-time profession you desire, this course will help you get started, provide you with the necessary information you need to build a strong portfolio, as well as improve your overall skill set required to succeed in the travel writing industry. So join us today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550222.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement This course is perfect for those who have an interest in either Creative Writing or the Mystery Genre . If you love to write and want to move into this popular genre, or you love to read a great mystery and have often thought you could do it, this course is for you. Taking you through the processes of creating your Mystery Novel, this course begins by looking at the mystery genre itself and examining this type of writing attribute. We'll then move on to helping you become inspired and motivated as you get started. We'll also focus on some of the important elements of a good mystery--the setting, the characters, the plot, etc.--and help you to become familiar with all the tools the mystery writer uses to create multi-layered, addictive mystery fiction that a reader just cannot put down. Our innovative writing exercises will get your creative juices flowing by bringing out the writer in you and sparking new ideas. Additionally, there are questions after each lesson which will allow you to recap what you have learned and test your knowledge. The entire course is designed to offer you great information in a way that will get you thinking about your own mystery and personal writing practices. Whatever your age, experience or level of ability, this course constantly challenges and informs you so that your writing can't fail to improve and you will learn how to stay motivated and inspired through the entire writing process. For new, aspiring writers--become the mystery writer you have always wanted to be! And for seasoned writers looking to expand their horizons--we'll help strengthen your writing abilities with this very informative course. So join us today! http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550292.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools Writing Improvement This is a basic, nuts-and-bolts course, for people who wish to write screenplays, but don't know much about it. Because screenwriting is demanding both technically and in the market for jobs and sales, 'Getting Into The Screenwriting Game to Win' attempts to go through each essential aspect needed for a beginner to get started, stick with it, and yes, make a sale or get a job. In this course you will learn basic rules and skills. There's no excuse for a poorly formatted script, you're really only wasting your time. Traditional three-act structure for film-stores can be debated endlessly, but it works, it's very functional, it's fairly easy to understand, and you can't neglect at least a passing familiarity with this mode of expression for your stories. Get in touch with the industry, the markets, what's selling, where to find opportunities, how to deal with people. Approach your work standards and work environment seriously, because you'll be spending a lot of time there. If you get a deal, don't get screwed for careless anticipation of the money involved, and if you get screwed, don't be surprised. And remember that if you can't make it to the top and win an Oscar for some super-big film you wrote, it's still a wonderful way to make a buck at your computer doing smaller gigs and 'for-hire' work. Screenwriting is also therapy. It's good for you, and your imagination and thoughts will develop wonderfully as you work through each visualization---but be sensitive to the audience, don't exploit our world with endless images of violence and gore (at least not without a reason), and don't hop in bed with unethical projects or money-sources just because you can. It's a wild world for films and film-makers---stay on the bright side and keep it safe and legal. The hope is that for the beginner, this course presents a working knowledge of what is needed to get started writing screenplays in a realistic and informed way. Beyond this, you're now free to roam where no screenwriter has gone before---and what a wonder it is to wonder. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/7550280.htm Sun, 1 Feb 2009 14:32:00 GMT Universal Class, Inc. Writing Tools