Is Distance Online Learning Right for You and Your Career?
Distance Online Learning vs. the Conventional Campus Route
Today, distance online learning is becoming increasingly popular. Rather than attending classes on campus, many people are obtaining a degree by attending college online. Advancement and employment opportunities are at your fingertips with online education, whether you’re considering jobs in healthcare, sales jobs, or a career in finance. Still, many people question, “is an online degree acceptable to employers?” The answer is, yes. Online degrees are as good as degrees earned the conventional way and are suitable for employment. In fact, there are many colleges that offer both and these institutions consider the degrees to be identical.
Photo by Ed Yourdon
Consider Your Reasons for Distance Online Learning
Two good reasons to choose distance online learning are convenience and financial savings. The wrong reason to choose the online route is “because it is easier.” If that were true, the degree certainly wouldn’t carry the same weight as a campus-earned degree, would it? Distance online learning requires time, effort, and dedication, the same as you would expect from any other college-level course. In fact, achieving your degree online may even require more discipline and determination.
Online Degrees: Educational Progress
While most realize an online degree is equal to that of a traditional degree, the employers who would consider an online degree differently are faced with having no choice but to alter their thinking. Such old-fashioned views cannot withstand today’s rapid technological progress. We bank online, shop online, even pay taxes online. Many people work from home these days instead of commuting into an office. Employers cannot afford to hold education to a “dark ages” standard. In addition, people are turning to online degrees in great numbers, even more so in today’s economic climate. People who have recently lost jobs or are looking to keep their competitive edge in the job market are choosing to advance their education. More and more they are choosing the online path for how it offers them a way to balance their responsibilities. In fact, a March 2009 CNN Technology article, noted that Excelsior College in Albany, New York saw registrations for online classes increase 30 percent over the same time last year.
Online Program Legitimacy
To be sure that your online degree is legitimate, make sure it is from a certified and accredited learning institution. You can check with the state’s Department of Higher Education to find out this information. There are several good college programs that are only available online, such as the University of Phoenix Online. There are also online programs available from known and reputable schools, like Villanova University.
Distance Online Learning May Be Perfect for You!
If you are considering continuing your education to achieve career goals or better your employment opportunities, but traveling to or staying on campus does not fit into your current schedule, distance online learning may be the perfect fit for you. Remember, it will still take a considerable amount of time and work, but you’ll be taking a significant, worthwhile step for your career. With more education you’ll have more opportunity for jobs, receive higher pay, and even statistically lower your chance of being unemployed.
