Top Online Degrees for Marketable Careers
With the plethora of degrees and programs available through online distance education, the choices seem many and confusing! Researching the programs can be daunting! The questions that run through the students mind range from: Are these degree programs accredited? What does it take to be a successful online learner? Can I get a job with my online degree? What online degrees are marketable?
One trend is for people who may have started their degree but did not complete their studies, online distance education seems to be the currently most flexible way to return to school to finish up their degree. The convenience is particularly important for people with fulltime jobs and/or families to take care of. Another trend is that many traditional (campus-based) colleges and universities are also offering online courses and full degree programs to cater to students who are unable to attend classes physically.
Online studies suggest that although the popularity and marketability of online programs does fluctuate with economic and social factors, some degree programs have remained at the top of the popularity list. These programs are: Medical billing and coding, medical transcription, nursing, business and MBA, psychology, education, criminal justice and information technology degrees.
More research and evidence also suggest that increasingly, more graduate students at both the masters and doctoral level are enrolling in online degree programs given their need for flexibility and continuity in their professional endeavors.
For business degrees, the masters and bachelors programs remain very popular. The Masters in Business Administration (MBA) for example has become a requirement for most mid-level managers. This means that more business professionals are seeking to get higher qualifications and are doing so through online programs. It also means that more graduate schools are offering online MBA programs. Concentrations such as accounting, project management, risk management, human resource management and finance are capturing the interests of the students.
Certain areas in the health care profession have continued to grow, yet there is still a demand for certain professions. These areas are medical coding, medical billing, medical transcription, health administration and management and nursing. Nursing in particular continue to experience acute shortages, for example life care planning, legal nurse consulting, and forensic nursing. Much of the shortage has been a result of retirement of the aging baby boomer generation and medical technology advancement.
Another area of study with a growing number of graduate degrees is education for example math education, science education, and special education. There are many areas of concentration for working teachers for example educational leadership, instructional design and technology, and curriculum and instruction. There is an industry drive for administration and management positions as well as technology positions.
We live in the information age and as you can imagine the field of technology is one that continues to develop and grow exponentially. Programs that continue to experience a need are information systems, computer technology, and software engineering. Employment in these areas is not industry specific as most industries incorporate technology in one way or another.
Criminal justice courses also remain at the top of the list of popular online degrees. Criminal justice degrees have remained marketable at all levels including associates, bachelor and masters levels. Graduates of these programs go on to pursue careers in law enforcement, corrections, and the legal profession in areas such as immigration and homeland security personnel.
When deciding on your future career, several things need to be considered. One is the fact that while some degrees that are not every popular with students, there is an industry need in certain areas. These areas also tend to pay quite well. A second consideration is to ensure that the college you will to attend is accredited. This consideration is paramount; otherwise you will waste a lot of time and money. Finally, determine whether the financial elements and scheduling issues will work for you.
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