| Online college degrees are quickly becoming a top | | | | education outside of the confines of the business |
| draw for a mix of students from all sectors of | | | | world's 9 to 5 schedule makes online education an |
| society. In fact, last year the number of students | | | | ideal tool for busy business people. |
| who enrolled in online programs increased to five | | | | Another draw for MBA students is the actual |
| million students. That's a nearly 17% increase in | | | | format of most MBA curriculum programs. |
| only one year. | | | | Generally, an MBA program consists of a rather |
| There are a number of important factors that | | | | extensive reading list that studies various |
| have contributed to this meteoric rise in | | | | corporate case studies. Finding time to read such |
| enrollment at online schools. One of the most | | | | a great amount of material on a flexible schedule |
| important contributors to this effect is the great | | | | is a great boon to someone who already has a |
| flexibility that students have in an online degree | | | | busy schedule to begin with. |
| program. Two other important aspects that have | | | | The technological format of communication within |
| also helped create a greater demand for online | | | | online schools is also a very attractive feature for |
| schooling are the price of tuition and the increasing | | | | MBA students. Once the heavy reading is |
| acceptance and respect for the online degree by | | | | completed, students can discuss, exchange, and |
| the business world. | | | | build upon ideas and theories in online formats like |
| The types of students who are seeking out the | | | | discussion boards, e-mail, and chat rooms. |
| versatility of an online degree are a diverse group | | | | Professors and instructors also like the online |
| themselves. Students who are enrolled in | | | | format. The ability to monitor the traffic in chat |
| traditional colleges often seek to boost their | | | | rooms and discussion boards makes it easier to |
| schedules by adding an online course that they | | | | monitor student's activities, and may even |
| can complete outside of their already rigorous | | | | contribute to a more academic educational |
| on-campus classes. Working parents are also | | | | experience than a lecture hall of hundreds of |
| adding to the trend of online schooling; because of | | | | students. |
| work and parenting responsibilities, the only time | | | | The format for online classrooms varies from |
| they may have for course work is at night after | | | | school to school. Some online schools allow a |
| the children have gone to bed. Finally, because of | | | | six-month period for a student to finish the |
| current economic conditions, many workers who | | | | required work in a given class; the students have |
| have been laid off are going back to school online | | | | access to all of the coursework online in that time |
| in order to increase their marketability by acquiring | | | | and must turn in all of the work before the period |
| new skills and additional education. | | | | is over. Some online schools require exams to be |
| There is a definite trend in the types of degrees | | | | taken in person, either on campus, or at a |
| online students are seeking. The top draw is the | | | | remote location like a library, that is supervised by |
| Master in Business Administration, followed by | | | | proctors. Other online schools may alternate |
| nursing and psychology. Filling out the top ten is a | | | | periods of on-campus activity with longer periods |
| mix of majors in a variety of fields. They include | | | | of online coursework. The online coursework may |
| health administration, criminal justice, early | | | | include online discussion boards that the professor |
| childhood education, counseling, religion, accounting, | | | | moderates, and which may take several days to |
| and human services. | | | | reach its completion. These type of online |
| The great number of students who are seeking | | | | discussion formats, combined with online |
| to complete an MBA may be focusing on online | | | | coursework over a longer period of time are an |
| college because they are already working full-time. | | | | ideal fit for typical MBA candidates, who must |
| In the business world, it may be difficult to get | | | | juggle the responsibilities of their daily job with |
| away from work for a couple of hours to go to | | | | their coursework. |
| school. The ability to continue a top-notch | | | | |