Picture this: there抯 an exciting new role at your workplace, and you think you抮e
perfect for the job. You work hard to land the position, only to find out the
guy in the next cubicle has bagged it. When you dig deeper, you realize the one
thing that separates you two is the additional degree he has. And that抯 when you
start to regret thinking you were too busy to go back to school to get that
advanced degree, which could have put you on the road to corporate
success.
Doesn抰 paint a pretty picture, does it? But the good news is
that it doesn抰 have to stay that way. You can easily set your house in order by
getting an advanced degree through distance education.
Advancing careers
with distance education and other non-traditional means has become quite
commonplace these days, and there are many factors that contribute to the
growing popularity of these programs. Distance education makes sense for
full-time professionals, because it allows them to study without taking time off
work. Because of the flexible nature of distance education, most people are able
to strike a balance between their jobs and schoolwork.
Plus, there is a
growing acceptance and integration of distance learning programs into the
mainstream education system, because of the drastic improvements in the quality
of the course structure as well as content of these programs. Distance learning
programs have undergone a massive overhaul thanks to the technological
revolution. High-quality e-books and CD-ROMs that can be accessed at the click
of the mouse have replaced poorly-printed study material sent to students by
postal mail, plus online collaboration, chats, email, and more have made it easy
to communicate with instructors and fellow students.
What to Look
For
If you think you抳e had it with doing the same job year after year,
distance education might be your ticket to new opportunities. But before you
take the plunge into this unique pool of knowledge, there are some things you
should consider.
Needless to say, accreditation is at the top of the list
of things to check for before throwing yourself into a distance learning
institution. Not only is accreditation proof of the quality of an institution抯
education, it is also a good indicator of how your degree will be received in
the business world.
Another very important factor when selecting a
distance education program is its relevance to your goals. It抯 important that
you understand why you抮e pursuing this degree. Is it to move ahead in your
current job, or to acquire a completely new set of skills for a fresh start?
Look for a program that has the breadth of courses and programs you
need.
You also need to keep an eye on your budget. Any type of college
degree梬hether it抯 distance learning or a classroom-based degree梚s not going to
be easy on your pocket. You may have to dip into your savings or take out a
student loan. But if you select a university that participates in Title IV
Federal Aid programs and/or offers its own in-house grants and scholarships, you
will have more options for financing your education if you qualify.
How
Does It Work?
That distance education doesn抰 require you to sit in a
classroom is a well-known fact. What抯 probably not common knowledge is that even
within distance education, there are different course formats offering varying
degrees of flexibility.
Synchronous distance education, for example,
needs all students to connect to their computers at the same time for
pre-scheduled lectures, seminars, video conferencing, etc. The idea is to get
everyone together, even if they抮e not under the same roof, for an interactive
session on a regular basis.
Asynchronous distance learning programs
provide unparalleled flexibility, as students are generally free to complete
their coursework anytime they like. However, students in asynchronous distance
programs may also be required to listen in on recorded lectures, participate in
webinars, etc.
Both types of programs make liberal use of the Internet
through emails, live chats, online discussion forums, and more. In fact,
distance learning students may even be asked to submit their assignments and
take exams online.
Is It Right For You?
Distance education
provides a uniquely flexible opportunity for professionals to earn the advanced
college education they thought could not fit into their busy work and life
schedules. Before you choose a program, make sure you think about your goals,
research your opportunities, and select the program that fits your needs.
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