Six Flexible Degrees You Can Pursue While Working
Can't fit education into your daily grind? These six flexible degrees beg to differ.
By Lia Sestric
Are you juggling work, family, and a social life? Listen, we get it. The beauty of life is that it often has us playing a big balancing act. The circus we live in, however, shouldn't jeopardize your education or career ambitions - whatever they may be.
Don't think you can add classes to your to do list? Well, you might think again because online education might provide just the flexibility you need. "Taking online classes means you can study at your own time and in some cases at your own pace," says Audra Barrett, Dean of Distance Learning at Dallas County Community College.
Not only that, but you don't have to jump through any hoops to fit classes into your schedule, adds Rebecca Van de Vord, associate director of Washington State University's global campus.
"Online is convenient and flexible and just as rigorous," she says. "Even if you live in a town where there is a major university and you are working full time, you can't work your schedule around the classes. If you do online you don't have that hurdle."
Of course, the self-discipline and determination required of going to school online while working may present another kind of hurdle for others. But if you're the type who thrives in a busy environment, keep reading to learn about six great online degree programs that may help you advance in your career while still on the job.
Online Degree #1: Business Administration
Do you find yourself sitting in your cubicle at your 9 to 5 job thinking you can run the show but need the degree to move up the ladder? If you have that gut feeling, but can't pull yourself away from the desk, an online business administration degree could be your golden ticket.
Some of the coursework you may take while earning a business administration and management degree includes marketing, economics, and business policy and strategy, says the College Board, an organization that promotes excellence in higher education. The College Board also notes, "This program prepares students to plan, organize, direct, and control an organization's activities."
Why Go Online? An online bachelor's degree in business administration is perfect for people who want to advance, says Van de Vord. "There are very few jobs that people may have that a business administration degree wouldn't enhance their ability to do their job."
Not to mention, online is the perfect platform for the program, she adds. "Businesses are communicating online and they're meeting people within other countries, and so by doing your degree online, you develop and hone a lot of those skills."
NEXT STEP:
Click to Find the Right Online Business Administration Program.
Potential Career Paths*:
- Human resources manager
- Market research analyst
Online Degree #2: Computer Science
Consider yourself a computer wiz? Want to develop your tech-savvy skills without giving up your paycheck? An online computer science program could be right at your fingertips, with a simple click.
Do classes like digital system design, artificial intelligence, and software engineering pique your interest? Good, because those are some of the classes you may take in this major, according to the College Board. Not only that, the College Board says you'll learn about "the way humans and computers interact from a scientific perspective."
Why Go Online? Barrett says it isn't rocket science how these two go hand in hand. You're learning essentially by doing - and that's something you can't get from sitting in the classroom alone.
Plus, there is the given perk. "For those juggling a family and a job - it gives them the flexibility to go to school when and where it is convenient to them - it might be at three in the morning or midday. Students can time shift and arrange their schedule for school when they need it."
NEXT STEP:
Click to Find the Right Online Computer Science Program.
Potential Career Paths*:
- Computer programmer
- Software developer
Online Degree #3: Criminal Justice
Does date night for you involve sitting down on the couch and watching your favorite crime drama on TV? If you are solving crimes with the good guys, why not make it real by studying criminal justice in your spare time?
If you choose to pursue this degree, you may learn all aspects of law, interpret statistics, and study court cases, says the College Board. Sound interesting? Courses might include policing society, the U.S. criminal-justice system, and juvenile justice.
Why Go Online? "Criminal justice online is a valid delivery mechanism, when done correctly, and can meet and exceed the learning outcomes," says David Makin, a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology for Washington State University.
Why might it exceed expectations? Makin says employers need applicants with better communication skills, specifically written. He says students earning the degree online are often more engaged in online discussions.
"The nature of online affords tremendous opportunity to improve written communication skills, for obvious reasons, but I would add that it is not merely the opportunity, but the depth of conversations that take place. I have had discussion threads 300-plus deep, with a class of 30," he says.
NEXT STEP:
Click to Find the Right Online Criminal Justice Program.
Potential Career Paths*:
- Probation officer
- Police officer or detective
Online Degree #4: Health Care Administration
Are you an organized problem-solver? Health care could use you. And if you're already working in the field, an online degree in health care administration could provide you the flexibility to study and eventually get a leg up.
The degree will help you understand the issues and policies at the forefront of the field, says the College Board, in addition to learning about "health care facilities and the services they provide." Some common courses may include human resources management, long-term care and aging, as well as health care law.
Why Go Online? According to Barrett, this degree is especially advantageous for someone already working in health care and looking to advance. "If someone is already working in the health field, it is a way to keep their job while using their current environment to help assist them in their learning," says Barrett. "Also, they are free to study according to their own time table."
NEXT STEP:
Click to Find the Right Online Health Care Administration Program.
Potential Career Path*:
- Medical or health services managers
Online Degree #5: Accounting
Do you like to keep tabs on your daily spending habits? If you consider crunching numbers fun, you should also consider earning an online accounting degree. You can complete the coursework at your convenience, rather than calculating the time you need to get to class and subtract that from your work day.
The College Board says "Accounting majors learn how to gather, record, analyze, interpret, and communicate information about an individual's or organization's financial performance and risks." Tax accounting, business law, and auditing are some of the courses you might take in this major.
Why go online? "Being primarily a quantitative class, it is possible for students to receive immediate feedback when they work problems. Thus, students can practice at their own pace and as much as necessary to truly master the concepts," says Sandra Kranz, a CPA and accounting department chair at Bemidji State University.
NEXT STEP:
Click to Find the Right Online Accounting Program.
Potential Career Paths*:
- Accountant
- Financial analyst
Online Degree #6: Master's in Business Administration (MBA)
Are you looking to advance within your company or switch careers? An online MBA program may give you the competitive edge and the flexibility.
According to the College Board, many undergraduates in business administration go on to get an MBA. These programs may include courses in organizational behavior, decision sciences, management, and finance, says the Princeton Review, a company that provides testing resources for students preparing for college and graduate school.
Why Go Online? "Online - especially for an MBA - I feel is much more focused and advantageous for what you are going to be doing in your job," says Susan Luck, an MBA professor at Pfeiffer University, in North Carolina.
Why? "What I see with the online MBA, is you get a much more diverse student population. Here in Charlotte, for example, it is a banking hub, so if you go to a classroom, your fellow classmates are going to be nothing but bankers. Where if you are online, you have people from all over; you get exposure to thoughts from different industries, different trends."
No, career change is not easy but my life is never easy and I given up on life being easy. I dont think my life ever will be easy.