Having a college degree opens doors to many other opportunities in life. It could be either for higher studies or better job prospects. But currently, the level of competition has soared on an unimaginable level. This has certainly made academic pursuits tough to achieve as well as expensive. Although it is never late to consider getting back to learning and you can opt for another alternative, that is online degree programs.
Online degree programs have vastly reinvented themselves in the past several years, and they are not only legit but also impart a high quality of education. If you are contemplating about the possibility of online degree programs, then you must peruse through the advantages mentioned below.
Budget friendly Unlike traditional colleges, online degree programs can benefit you widely in terms of cost. This doesn’t mean that all online degree programs are cheap, but rather they are comparatively cost-effective as you aren’t using any physical facilities. You also don’t have to move from your city or have to deal with the hassle of daily commutes. Even the academic material offered is available on digital mediums, which can significantly lower your financial strain.
Convenience An online degree program can be an extremely great opportunity for people who haven’t been able to attend a traditional form of college. For instance, due to some reason, if can’t leave your work, you can always opt for online degree programs. This will not only help you to keep your job but will also elevate your professional profile once you complete your degree. Similarly, if you cannot find a course of your choice in your city, you can consider online degree programs which will eliminate the pressure of relocating.
Time You end up saving a lot of time, as you don’t have to commute back and forth to your college. This can help you learn in a relaxed manner, where you can comfortably balance all the other aspects of your life as well. For example, an online degree program can be beneficial for a stay-at-home parent, who has to constantly multitask and take care of his/her child.
Choices Online degree programs may not encompass all kinds of courses but they do deal with a variety of disciplines. You can find online degrees which include studies like botany, accounting, nursing, design, computer science, psychology, business, education, social services, etc. You can pick any degree program you fancy without having to deal with geographical and financial drawbacks.
They say it is never too late to pursue your dreams. This is especially true when it comes to career and education. Unfortunately, not all can afford to quit their jobs and go back to school. This can make it difficult to pursue higher studies or certain courses that can enhance skills. Fortunately, there are several free online learning platforms that allow anyone and everyone to be able to have access to good quality learning resources.
Here are some of the best websites for free online education that you can sign up for.
Coursera
Coursera is one of the most popular platforms for taking free online courses. It features classes, both free as well as paid, on a variety of different topics. This platform is currently being used by over 35 million learners that have access to 150 university partners, 2,700 courses, 250 specializations, and four degrees. These courses are curated in partnership with leading universities and organizations from around the world, such as Stanford and Harvard.
edX
edX is a platform that was founded by Harvard and MIT that brings together top-ranked universities. This platform was founded to help eliminate the primary barriers that prevent people from pursuing education, i.e., cost, location, and access. Along with free courses, edX also offers certain specialized courses for a specific fee. The platform can be accessed by interested educators and technologists through Open edX if they wish to assist in developing new educational tools.
Udemy
Udemy is another online learning platform that is quite similar to Coursera in terms of the format of the courses. The unique aspect of this platform is that it allows users to build their own custom courses by compiling individual lessons so that these can be taught online. There are over 100,000 courses in 50 languages on this platform that are taught by 42,000 instructors from around the world.
TED-Ed
TED-Ed is a platform made by TED to help share ideas and knowledge from teachers to students. This award-winning platform has a global network of more than 250,000 teachers that teach several free courses on a variety of categories and themes. The lessons are taught using animated videos and interactive content so as to make them more interesting for the students.
If you are planning to pursue an accounting degree, you should consider doing it online. There are more than 580 institutions in the country that offer master’s degrees in accounting, and many of them offer their courses online. Therefore, you can pursue this course without shifting to a different state, and you can also continue with your current job. Here are the top picks of online master’s degrees in accounting that you can consider if you are interested in this field.
Auburn University
The online master’s degree in accounting at Auburn University is open for you if you hold a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business, and if you meet all the prerequisites for the business and accounting department. Students who enroll in this program receive study materials, instructions, and assignments that are similar to the on-campus course. The schedule is extremely flexible and can accommodate working professionals as well. Full-time students of this course can complete it within one year. They get to select electives like real estate finance and information risk analysis, among others. This course also prepares students for the Uniform CPA Exam. This whole program is available online, including the exam. However, students have to complete a three-day on-campus residency during their final semester.
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina offers an online Master of Accounting (MAC) degree through its Kenan-Flagler Business School. This school accepts students from all undergraduate backgrounds. However, students who have business or accounting backgrounds may get course waivers. Students who enroll in this course can choose a concentration in Tax or Audit. If you take up the full-time course, you can finish it in less than 15 months. You can start this course either in June or December. This way, even if you miss the application deadline for one semester, you do not have to wait for an entire year to enroll in the course. The MAC degree is entirely online, except for a one-week leadership immersion on campus, which is mandatory and takes place at the beginning of the course.
University of Connecticut
An online master’s degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut is one of the best online courses in the country. This university offers a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program. Full-time students can complete it in two semesters. Working professionals who enroll in this degree take two courses per semester. The University of Connecticut also offers you electives like Forensic Accounting, Disclosure for Not-for-Profit Entities, and Fraud Examination among others.