Thursday, July 31, 2008

15.Online education - A stepping stone to professional success

Today, more 2.5 million college students are taking courses online, and earning their college degrees or accredited certificates without ever setting foot in a classroom. At this point in time, we have a good opportunity to survey the distance learning scene, and take stock. There are several ways to go about this.

We could look back, at the strides that have been made-the almost 40 states that have developed online schools for high school students, or the strong role distance learning has played in letting working adults earn online college degrees without giving up their job.

Or we could look forward: a point of view which gives cause for a great deal of hope about the dire state of education. Having seen distance-learning students perform well online and graduate successfully, traditional universities have begun tailoring their degree programs for the online environment. These schools are now designing curriculums specifically for online use, and the online student experience is set to continue positive, pragmatic growth.

Or, we could look through a more personal lens, and see the specific opportunity that online learning affords the individual person. Might online learning have something to offer you?

Quite naturally, the answer to that question depends-on several different things. What can be said, however-and said with confidence-is that the equation has changed, for everyone. Historically, if you were a professional adult who wanted to pursue further education, you'd be compelled to attend classes at a college nearby, during the evenings or weekends. Or you'd have to sacrifice a good deal of your life for a couple of years, at least, while you earned your degree.

No longer. As already mentioned, today there is a multitude of respected colleges and universities offering state-of-the-art classes and degree programs online. The individual's main question, then, is whether the degree or certificate you want is available online, and in a format that appeals to you.

You may want to learn new skills, and get the greater earning power that comes with a certified level of expertise. Or, you may want to grow your expertise in something you already love. Whatever the specifics of your story may be, it's easier than ever to match up your goals with prospective online colleges, get enrolled, and put online learning to your advantage.

Some of the most popular offerings from online universities include online MBA programs, online teaching degrees, and online PhD programs, amongst hundreds of other specializations.

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