It’s hard to quantify all of the different kinds of degree programs offered by online universities these days, because the options available are constantly growing and expanding. One thing is certain: today, students can earn associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as professional certifications, online from accredited universities in subject areas people wouldn’t have dreamed possible even 10 years ago.
Many people are surprised to learn that you can earn a doctoral degree online. However, online universities such as Capella University, the University of Phoenix and Grand Canyon University offer quality doctoral degrees in various subject areas. While there are not as many schools offering doctoral programs online as those offering lower level degree programs, the options are steadily increasing each year.
The types of degree programs are as varied as the schools that offer them. For example, Capella University’s bachelor’s degree programs in the area of business include degrees in: accounting, business administration, finance, health care management, marketing and retail management. Their bachelor’s degrees in the area of information technology include degrees in: general information technology, health informatics, network technology and software architecture.
What about online master’s degree programs? Online universities like Everest University have a few options, like master’s degrees in business administration (with or without an accounting concentration) and criminal justice. But some online universities have multiple options, like Kaplan University, which also offers master’s degrees in education, higher education, information technology, legal studies, management, nursing and even a RN-to-MSN master’s degree track for nursing.
Perhaps one of the most viable options for quick and direct career education is online associate’s degree programs, which typically take an on-task student two years or less to complete. For instance, Colorado Technical University Online offers associate of science degrees in paralegal studies, medical billing and coding, accounting, business administration, criminal justice and general studies.
You may not think degrees requiring clinical or hands-on training could be found online, but that’s simply not true. Degrees you might not expect to be able to earn online include online bachelor’s degree completion programs in dental hygiene, an associate’s degree in medical transcription or an associate’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography. These online programs work because students do their "classroom" learning online and their actual clinical or workplace training at a facility near their home or through an internship. The possibilities are endless!