Distance education programs are designed to help adult learners with multiple responsibilities earn their college degrees without being tied down to class times and without having to go to a campus center. Online degrees allow adult learners to better balance the responsibilities in their life with their education. Internet courses allow for more scheduling flexibility. Distance learning is an excellent option for adult education.
Types of Degrees Earned Through Distance Learning Programs
Usually students attending classes online are working toward earning a certificate or an Associate or Bachelors degree. Some colleges are even offering online graduate courses as well. Empire State College is an accredited New York state school that specializes in distance learning and online degrees. The programs offered there are either B.S., B.S., A.S. or A.A in:
- The Arts
- Business, Management, and Economics
- Community and Human Services
- Cultural Studies
- Educational Studies
- Historical Studies
- Human Development
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Labor Studies
- Science, Mathematics and Technology
- Social Theory, Social Structure and Change
While other similar schools have additional or fewer choices, the list offered by this school is a good example of the type of degree you can earn as a distance learning student.
Online Course Components
Online classes consist of posted lectures, lengthy textbook reading assignments, required discussions based on the readings and frequent written assignments due by midnight on specific dates. Instructors do not give traditional exams to test a student's knowledge of content, but rely heavily on written work to assess progress or problems.
Help with Online Courses
Usually the instructor will make himself or herself available to answer questions via E-mail. Sometimes instructors will also provide a telephone number where they can be reached as well. Many schools have online tutors available through chat sessions at certain times of the day.
Benefits of Distance Learning Programs
The benefits of online courses to busy adult are enormous and make it possible for people with families and jobs to get a college education without too much interference with their daily lives. These benefits include:
- Not having to be at a specific place on a specific day at a specific time.
- Lectures can be read before or after work or whenever the student has free time to focus on them, even if it is at three in the morning.
- As long as the school is accredited, students are still able to get full or partial financial aid through grants and student loans. Interested students should fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
- Despite not being in a classroom setting, students are still able to interact with both their instructor and fellow classmates.
- Tuition is usually similar to other universities in the area.
- Students can work on and submit assignments at any time of the day or night as long as it is in before the given deadline.
- Students are able to maintain full-time jobs or parenting schedules and work their classes around their daily activities rather than working activities around classes.
- Students have the pride in knowing they are doing something to help improve their own lives and the lives of their families, and that they are doing it on their terms.
Earning a college degree online is a great option for anyone who wants to gain knowledge and career mobility but has many other responsibilities as well. As with any form of college class, courses require a great deal of work, perseverance and self-motivation. When all is said and done, the benefits of taking this route of education far outweigh the challenges.
