| Within the past decade, online degree programs have | | | | “working adults.” Society has become |
| multiplied at an astounding rate. While several schools | | | | faster-paced in the past two decades, and often we |
| have been based on these non-traditional programs | | | | are inundated with information and are expected to |
| (though, for the sake of neutrality and so as not to | | | | increase productivity within the fixed confines of a |
| unfairly give advertising to one program or another, I | | | | day. As a result, the ability to attend traditional |
| will refrain from giving these schools specific | | | | programs can be difficult, if not impossible, for |
| mention), many “traditional” brick-and-mortar | | | | prospective students. Online degree programs |
| schools have also begun offering online courses and, | | | | eliminate the time constraints, allowing students to |
| in some cases, complete online degree programs. In | | | | avoid traffic, meet work and family obligations, and |
| fact, colleges and universities ranging from | | | | provide a 24/7 classroom environment. All told, online |
| community colleges up through Ivy League schools | | | | degree programs afford more students the |
| have embraced the use of technology as a learning | | | | opportunity to attain academic goals than ever |
| vehicle; in a sense, this signals maturing of online | | | | before. |
| degree programs. | | | | Delivery of online programs varies greatly depending |
| What spawned this shift in academia? The answer | | | | on the school and the specific program. Some schools |
| lies in the affordability of computing technology | | | | offer some online courses, but require physical |
| coupled with the improved connectivity offered | | | | attendance at a local campus for the student to |
| through the Internet. More people worldwide have | | | | meet graduation requirements. Other schools offer |
| access to personal computers and high-speed | | | | completely online programs; in theory, a student could |
| Internet connections, though identification of accurate | | | | complete an entire degree program online without |
| statistics still proves difficult. These technologies have | | | | ever setting foot on campus. The key to selecting a |
| enabled schools to provide learning environments that | | | | suitable program depends on the individual, as some |
| meet modern student needs and accreditation | | | | students need some physical interaction with faculty |
| requirements. | | | | and students, while others can complete degree |
| Some schools have established evening or weekend | | | | programs completely online from the safety and |
| programs in an attempt to entice more non-traditional | | | | comfort of their homes. Deciding on the best |
| students. Even these programs pose challenges to | | | | combination of online coursework depends on the |
| the working adult, who may have to sacrifice | | | | individual. Many of the schools originally founded on |
| attendance due to work or family obligations. Military | | | | online degree programs have established local |
| students are also ideal candidates for online programs. | | | | campuses in major metropolitan areas. |
| In the 1990s, deployed service members aboard | | | | Few can argue that online degree programs are |
| naval vessels enjoyed onboard college courses from | | | | quickly gaining acceptance among employers, |
| universities that specialized in distance learning. In | | | | students, and traditional academic professionals. Online |
| some cases, faculty members qualified to teach a | | | | degree programs will continue to provide a vehicle for |
| number of courses were deployed on board the ship, | | | | students to attain degrees that might not be possible |
| thus offering service members the opportunity to | | | | through traditional means. Ongoing improvements in |
| continue studies while deployed. | | | | technology offer additional promise in the growth and |
| Online degree programs satisfy most of the needs of | | | | availability of these programs. |
| current degree seekers, particularly the needs of | | | | |