Online education has revolutionized the way education is delivered. Now people living in far-flung areas can enroll in their favorite college or university's online program without ever having to set foot on campus. However, it would be unfair to classify online education as nothing more than distance learning. Over the years, online education has grown in popularity among students due to its ever-improving quality. Furthermore, employers at the time of hiring have shown no preference for traditional graduates over online ones.
Online education is available at all levels. Online certificates, diplomas, associate, bachelor's, master's and even Ph.D. degrees are available in various academic disciplines. From computer science to cooking science, online education is becoming popular day by day. Some of the most popular online degrees (in no particular order) are:
- Healthcare administration
- Graphic design
- Psychology
- Accounting
- Criminal justice
- Education
- Nursing
- Computer science
- Engineering
- Business administration
An accredited online business administration degree in fields such as marketing, finance and management can be the start to a promising career. According to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),financial managers with a bachelor's degree and work experience of more than 5 years were earning in excess of $100,000 per year in 2010. There were in excess of 500,000 financial managers in 2010. If you have the following skills, that are characteristic of a great financial manager, it is advisable that you consider enrolling in an online business program:
- Organizational skills
- Math skills
- Communication skills
- Analytical skills
- Detail oriented
Nursing is another popular online degree. There are different types of nurses and academic pathways to becoming a nurse. Those with an online associate's degree in nursing and no prior work experience can have a promising career as a nurse. The nursing profession is growing in leaps and bounds and there is a great demand for qualified licensed nurses in the United States. According to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurses were earning in excess of $60,000 per year in 2010 and there were more than 2 million registered nurses across the country back then. The job outlook for the industry for the period from 2010-2020 looks great as well, with a growth rate that is 26% faster than the average for all other occupations. Therefore, if you have the following skills and qualities, it is advisable that you consider enrolling in an online nursing program:
- Compassion
- Critical-thinking skills
- Patience
- Organizational skills
- Speaking skills
- Emotional stability
- Detail oriented
Online courses and programs, in addition to providing quality education, also provide students with academic flexibility. Students pace themselves and make their own study schedules rather than following more rigid ones. Therefore, students who are mature and holdfull-time jobs have found online courses and degree programs to be of great academic value. In some cases, online education may be more cost-effective than traditional education.