Most Popular Online Degrees

25-Oct-2008

Online degree programmes are becoming increasingly popular due to the variety of options now available to students. Online education can help those who are interested to obtain their secondary education degree, an Associate’s Degree, a Bachelor’s Degree, or even a Master’s Degree or Ph.D. Even though there are a myriad of online degree programmes available, there is a trend toward course work in the more popular programs. These trends do fluctuate within the different degree levels, and do also fluctuate quarterly and yearly. Consistently, the main front-runners of interest include:

• Business
  

• Healthcare
  

• Education
  

• Engineering
  

It is also useful to note, that more and more students each year are pursuing more advanced degrees and certifications to stay competitive in today’s job market.

Business Degrees

The business world is ever competitive. That being said, professionals are seeking to increase their qualifications through the convenience of online education. The Masters in Business Administration is the most sought after degree within the business world, as it has become an industry standard. The most recent surge toward specialising the MBA in an area such as Finance or Human Resources indicates a desire to not only be more educated, but more specialised as well.

Healthcare Degrees

With new technology being created seemingly overnight, the Healthcare industry is constantly evolving. As seen in other career avenues, there is trend toward specialisation emerging in the field of Healthcare; unfortunately, this movement creates job shortages within those specialties. Nursing degree programs are not only among the most popular degree programmes, but the career area with some of the greatest personnel shortages because of the widening gap between retiring nurses and the influx of new recruits.

Education Degrees

The drive for increased education pushes those in the Education field to seek more advanced certification. The current trends show an increased drive for positions within administration. That being said, those within the Education field are not only pursuing their Master’s degrees, but also working toward Ph.Ds.

Engineering Degrees

The field of Engineering offers not only career stability, but also financial stability. The increase in the availability of on-line degree programs for those to seek post-graduate certification also shows an increase in those interested. It is important to note that for the most part, the Undergraduate Engineering degree is still constrained to a campus environment due to the significant amount of hands-on learning.

Sources: Online Degrees, http://www.onlinedegrees.org/popular.htm, site visited September 12, 2008.