| iv> | | | | a college education is the need to relocate to another |
| Many people today, are engaging in some form of | | | | town or city to live on or near the traditional campus. |
| self-improvement activity. The bookstores and | | | | With online degree programs, however, students can |
| magazines are full of books and articles on how to | | | | continue with their current employment and fit |
| be a better human being. If you want to be healthier, | | | | classes in at their convenience. |
| you diet. If you want to feel younger, you exercise. | | | | Demand is the second force propelling the substantial |
| To expand our horizons, we travel or learn a foreign | | | | growth of online degree programs. Many students, |
| language. While these are all worthwhile activities, | | | | particularly adults, just want to finish their higher |
| perhaps none are as important as continuing your | | | | education as quickly and as inexpensively as possible. |
| education. | | | | People learn at different rates and in many different |
| Online education is no longer the wave on the future. | | | | ways. Most traditional college classes are geared |
| It is here now! Around the country and, indeed, | | | | toward the average learner, which means that some |
| around the world, most colleges and universities | | | | people get left behind, while others quickly get bored. |
| provide some or all of their classes on the Internet. | | | | Online courses allow students to set their own pace, |
| Some schools provide an entire degree program | | | | so that they get the most value out of the classes |
| online. Many people today, from all walks of life, are | | | | they take. |
| getting an online college degree by taking these | | | | An online college degree is more important than ever |
| classes at home. | | | | for several reasons. First, employers feel that we are |
| Not long ago, distance learning was perceived as | | | | presently in an employer's market. This means, |
| trendy, faddish and inferior. Today, however, "12% | | | | simply, that there are more workers than jobs at the |
| of all students are taking classes online and what | | | | moment and consequently the employers can be |
| they are learning is just as good as if they were | | | | more selective in the individuals they hire. |
| sitting in classrooms and lecture halls," says Dr. I. | | | | Secondly, jobs which pay the highest salaries are |
| Elaine Allen, Babson College associate professor of | | | | those that are the most specialized. Specialized |
| statistics. | | | | occupations require more training/education, primarily |
| A comprehensive survey released by Babson College | | | | because these jobs require the manipulation of facts, |
| and the Sloan Consortium concludes that online | | | | figures and technology. |
| learning is just as good as traditional, face-to-face | | | | Another factor driving people to obtain online |
| classroom instruction. The survey also reports that | | | | degrees is the indisputable fact that the current jobs |
| online learning is at historically high levels and predicts | | | | in the U.S. are becoming more and more service |
| that it will continue to grow at an annual rate of | | | | oriented. These jobs have relatively low wages and |
| nearly 20 percent. | | | | are labeled as "unskilled" work. Thus, to prepare |
| The driving forces behind the phenomenal growth of | | | | yourself to qualify for a job paying higher wages, |
| online education are convenience and demand. | | | | you need to retool or learn new skills and |
| Traditional colleges and universities set annual and | | | | competencies. |
| semester schedules for when classes are offered. | | | | Finally, we now live in a global economy which |
| This is not the case with e-colleges and online | | | | demands higher prices for homes, automobiles, |
| courses. Students pursuing online degrees can take | | | | utilities, medical care, and the like, without actually |
| the courses they want, when they want, and are | | | | providing enough gainful employment opportunities. If |
| not confined to any set schedule of class offerings. | | | | you want to increase, restructure or enhance your |
| Online degree courses offer much more flexibility in | | | | wage earning abilities, an online degree is, indeed, a |
| the lives of the students. You can literally go to class | | | | good place to begin. |
| in your pajamas since your classroom is your living | | | | The best online college let students apply past college |
| room (or office), and you can work on your online | | | | credit and even relevant work experience towards |
| degree any time of the day or night. Distance learning | | | | their online degree programs. Some employers will |
| degrees are now available to the | | | | even share the costs of your online education, |
| stay-at-homeparent, the single parent, the working | | | | because they appreciate your desire to improve your |
| parent, working class men and women of all ages, | | | | job skills--without leaving your job. |
| and home bound men and women. | | | | Online degrees have become widespread because |
| Potential students are no longer limited to local | | | | we want them, and we need them. Investigate what |
| community classes, universities housed on large, far | | | | an online degree can do for you. Search for a degree |
| away campuses, or night schools. Online degree | | | | that interests you. Do some comparative research on |
| programs provide students with a method to pursue | | | | the Web, then enroll in the classes and receive your |
| a valuable college degree without leaving their current | | | | online degree in a few short months. You'll be glad |
| job or living situation. A major part of the expense of | | | | you did! |