Degrees received entirely online are becoming more possible these days with the influx of new technology and high-speed Internet connections that allow people to connect to online lectures and forums in only a few seconds. Students can usually chat with their teachers and turn in their papers and other assignments online, keeping them from ever having to set foot on campus.
The benefits of online degrees are numerous. Students are free to pursue other jobs and interests during normal daytime hours while fitting in their classes whenever they have the chance. This lets them spend plenty of time with their families and make their own schedules. It also gives them the freedom to live far from campus. Other benefits include cheaper classes and accelerated degrees to get into the workforce quickly.
While nearly any type of degree can be earned at least partially online these days, some majors are particularly suited for this style of learning. Students interested in these 10 bachelor’s degree programs will notice several distinguishing features. All offer extreme flexibility, can be completed entirely online and provide many future opportunities for career paths and ultimate career growth. They typically help students land jobs immediately upon graduation in growing sectors of the workforce.
1. Liberal Arts
Some students have stayed away from this most basic of degrees because they are not convinced that this major will lead to future career growth for them. Because it is not a specified major, they may feel that they will have no marketable skills and will be left at entry-level positions indefinitely. However, because the classes taken under this major are so broad, students will actually be open to a wide variety of possible career paths. Therefore, this is the perfect option for someone who knows he wants a college degree but who is not yet sure what his concentration should be. Most students must complete at least 120 credit hours in such subjects as history, literature, foreign language, philosophy, writing and communication.
Many companies are today hiring individuals with these basic degrees. Companies often want someone with a well-rounded education to whom they can further teach the specifics of the job. Some of the most high-demand jobs these days that require a liberal arts major include intelligence analysis, project management and business development management. Individuals with this degree typically are good at communications, research and basic management.
As the job market changes, this diversified degree choice may be the best option for many students. Emerging jobs will require new skill sets, and individuals with broad educational backgrounds will fit perfectly in these sectors. Many new jobs will be found in information technology sectors, which are growing at a rate of 13 percent by 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS. Research analysts, financial analysts and development specialists are other common jobs for people with this degree, and each is growing at a faster-than-average pace.
2. Computer Science
Computer science remains as one of the most popular degrees to be earned online as well as one of the fastest to be completed from the comfort of one’s home. After all, this degree looks at how computer and online technologies are used in everyday life. Therefore, it makes sense that this degree could be completed entirely online.
With this degree, students can go on to many fulfilling and exciting careers in computer repair and technology, information technology, software engineering and network communications. The degree is similar to but not entirely the same as a degree in information technology because IT classes also look at the business aspect of computer needs.
The BLS of the United States currently estimates that all computer and information technology jobs are to grow by 13 percent by 2026 with over half a million jobs being added in this sector from 2016 to 2026. Plus, this is a well-paying field with the average worker making $84,000 annually. The highest-paid positions that can be attained with a bachelor’s degree are software development, which can pay over $100,000 annually, and computer and information systems management, which pays upward of $135,000 annually.
A computer science course usually requires 120 credits, which will include such courses as programming, data algorithms and software engineering. Students will also focus on mathematics because this is the backbone of computer science. Advanced mathematics courses, such as statistics and calculus are usually included.
3. Business Administration
Not only is business administration one of the easiest bachelor’s degrees to receive online, but also it is one of the most popular. Much like a liberal arts degree, a business degree opens up a wide variety of possible job options.
However, they will all be based in the business world and could include upper management, human resources, health services management, marketing and much more. Many students choose to hone in on one particular aspect of business with a concentration in a particular field, such as health care, finance or communications.
In 2016, business administration was named as one of the topmost hirable degrees. Today, over 9 million Americans who work full time jobs have this degree. Many of them work in the financial, health care and technology industries, all of which are growing sectors. Others are managers of major companies. With a bachelor’s degree in this field, individuals can also go on to master’s degrees in specialty areas, and many have used this degree to become CEOs.
Entry-level business positions usually only pay in the $45,000 range with a bachelor’s degree. However, after working around 10 or more years, most people can expect to make over $70,000. Upper management positions may even pay in the three-figure range. Management analysts often make the highest salaries.
Students usually take a minimum of 120 credit hours and cover a variety of liberal arts classes before concentrating on such classes as microeconomics, accounting, marketing, business ethics, office administration and human resources. Students graduate with well-rounded knowledge bases in mathematics and the sciences.
4. English
An online English degree is similar to a liberal arts degree in that it provides a solid foundation for future career growth. It is an easy degree to get online because it does not require much hands-on work other than papers, which are turned in virtually. Courses typically focus on grammar, composition, professional writing, literature, communication, drama and fiction writing. Some students may concentrate in a particular field, such as literature or creative writing. It is the perfect option for those to whom writing and reading come naturally. Bachelor’s degrees typically require 120 credit hours.
This degree opens up a wide variety of doors to possible future careers. Students could go on to be professional writers, teachers or editors. Others use their skills in writing to work in public relations, to become reporters or broadcasters or to write for tech companies. Today, the need for writers is great especially in the online realm. Therefore, an online-based English degree prepares students for what their jobs will be like upon graduation.
Those with English degrees can find a wide variety of jobs, many of which are in rapidly expanding fields. Technical writing is among one of the most popular options, growing 11 percent by 2026. However, even the fields of public relations and high school teaching are growing at a rate faster than the national average, putting those with English degrees in high demand. The median pay range for a new graduate is $40,000 with mid-career salaries coming in at an average of $71,000.
5. Nursing
Although most people would not think of a bachelor’s degree in nursing as being an easy degree, it is surprisingly easy to get online these days. All of the lecture-style courses can be done completely online, and nearly all schools allow students to get their hands-on courses, such as clinical and preceptorships, completed at any area health care facility. Therefore, as long as students live near a hospital or skilled nursing facility, they can complete their coursework without heading to campus.
Most schools require 120 to 125 credit hours along with several hundred hours of hands-on clinical experience. However, many schools provide accelerated bachelor’s degrees, which may be completed in only two years, to get nurses into the workforce as quickly as possible.
Students will take a wide array of classes, which will begin with a solid foundation in science, including biology, human anatomy and chemistry. Students will then learn about paths of physiology, pharmacology and clinical nursing. Some schools also require basic statistics courses. Registered nurses make an average of $70,000 annually according to the BLS and can work in a variety of positions, including bedside nursing, nurse management and home health care. There are a variety of career paths depending on one’s skills and interests.
