In either case, getting an advanced degree can be a dramatic stepping stone to your goals.
The prospect of juggling school and work may seem daunting, and rightly so. However, education delivery methods are now so advanced that attending college no longer requires sacrificing your current job. Online degrees are a newly popular, field-tested avenue for career advancement.
In fact, many employers, now seeing the light of online education, are offering tuition reimbursement and third-party billing programs. Individual results vary, but overall feedback is positive from both employers and students.
Up to 3.2 million students can attest to this. That is how many enrolled online in the fall of 2005 (source: Sloan Consortium), up from 2.3 million students in 2004.
High-Quality Marries High-Tech
At their best, online degree programs marry quality instruction with current technologies. There is a unique online class designed for your unique area of study -- with a unique alternative delivery option built into its learning model.
The 21st Century has spawned multiple online learning formats, including:
Webcourse -- consists of web site, online syllabus and email, discussion board and chat room correspondence
Telecourse -- videotaped lessons televised on local cable channels or viewed in campus libraries
Teleweb courses -- videotaped lessons along with companion website for instructor-student correspondence
These interactive formats have opened the door for business professionals to earn an advanced degree at their convenience -- any time, any place. You can find programs across the entire business spectrum through hundreds of accredited institutions nationwide, including accounting degrees, degrees in business administration, MBA degrees, and even online PhD programs.
Many non-degree certificates are also available in fields such as human resource management, financial planning and call-center management. Given the increasing national and international need for greater technical competence, you may gravitate towards earning a bachelor's in e-business, global business or organizational security.
Whatever program you choose, you are empowered by lifestyle control: Tremendous scheduling flexibility and expedited graduation time. Different programs have different rates of degree completion, but you can expect to earn a full-time MBA in as few as 18 months and a bachelor's degree in about 3 years.
When it's all said and done, you will have completed your education about 25% faster online than at a traditional, campus-based university.
Gaining Employers' Online Stamp of Approval
Convenience is a strong selling point -- for online students. But how do employers feel about online degrees? Generally, online colleges have come a long way -- they're now looked upon just as favorably as traditional campus-based institutions. A 2005 Vault Inc. survey revealed that 85 percent of employers believe attending college online is more acceptable today than it was five years ago.
Accreditation is the ultimate credibility check for online degree programs. The same accrediting bodies evaluate all schools -- online or traditional -- to determine if they provide quality education worthy of an accrediting organization's stamp of approval.
According to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), online schools are evaluated for student achievement, curriculum, faculty, services and academic support.
Possibly as a result of these rigorous standards, many studies now show that online students receive an education comparable to that of a traditional university and that diplomas will be universally recognized.
With more colleges now offering online degree options, finding a program that matches your field of study has made it easier than ever to launch a fulfilling career in business.
