Once upon a time you had to be physically present in order the go to college and earn a degree. This made it difficult for persons who were past the traditional college age and had jobs and families to be able to earn advanced degrees. The proliferation of online universities and distance learning programs has changed all of that. There are now many options available to those who would like to continue their schooling, whether it is to finally obtain a high school diploma, gain a certification, or even earn a distance learning masters degree.
These schools and courses are now fully accredited and as acceptable in many circles as traditional degrees. No longer are prospective students shut out by distance, family situation, or lack of options.
Benefits of distance learning
There are many benefits to obtaining a degree from an online university. The most obvious first benefit is that you are not limited by geography. With a good internet connection and programs like Skype, a virtual classroom in every sense of the word is now a reality.
You also have more flexibility in scheduling your classes. A virtual classroom is available when you are. You have the flexibility to attend class around your job and family schedule. Obtaining an advanced degree helps you in your career. Persons who hold an advanced degree earn more over the course of their working life than without degrees. You can either advance in your current career or start off on a whole new career path.
How do you begin?
The first step is to explore what options are available to you. There are a great many websites which list all of the schools that offer distance learning degrees. You can browse through the listings and explore the different degree programs that are available and further explore your options about curriculum and they way each particular school works.
Many of these websites have the added feature of listing what are the most in demand degrees, up and coming job trends, and other helpful information so that you can make an informed decision. Once you have chosen a school and a degree program, then online registration is a fairly simple and straight- forward process. There is even financial aid available to help you to finance your continuing education.
Can I really get my masters degree through distance learning programs?
Online schools offer people options in gaining diplomas and certifications in specific subjects, undergraduate degrees, and many schools are now offering distance learning masters degrees. A masters degree is a post-graduate degree which offers you specialization in various fields of study. If you have an undergraduate degree in education, adding a masters in special education would give you a specialization in that area of educational careers.
There are hundreds of schools that now offer masters programs in a variety of disciplines. The pre-requisite requirements for a masters degree either online or in a traditional setting is to have an accredited four-year degree first. Some masters degrees will allow for a bachelors in a general subject such as English, and some require a more specialized subject like criminology. Here are just a few online universities and their offerings.
- Ashford University has been around since 1918, and has a variety of advance degree Programs. you can choose from a wide range of masters programs such as business, education, health care administration, and public administration.
- American Intercontinental University, or AIU, offers masters degrees in business administration within specialized fields such as International business, IT project management, operations management, market, and many other areas of business. They also offer a part-time schooling option to give you more flexibility.
- Colorado Technical University has a masters program where you can obtain an advanced degree in criminal justice, health care management, engineering, and technical sciences.
- Kaplan University offers a range of options in their masters programs including masters degrees in various fields of business administration such as risk management and operations management and Master of Sciences degrees in fields such as human resources, organizational design and development, and information technology. They also offer a part time option, financial assistance, and a discount to active-duty military, military dependents, and veterans.
This has been just a sampling of what is out there. Never before has earning an advanced degree been so easy and affordable or offered so many viable options for those who have been considering continuing their education but thought that it was impossible. Your future is waiting for you.
