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Like any school program, completing an
online degree takes a different amount of
time depending on the individual student.
Often it takes students two years to finish
an online program, versus four to five years
on a traditional brick-and-mortar campus.
Often one of the reasons students work more
quickly when enrolling online is that they
are going back to school after having worked
for a number of years, so they are more
motivated to finish quickly to get the most
for their time and money. Another reason for
the faster pace is that many online programs
don’t require elective credits, which can
greatly reduce your total credits needed,
not to mention that the learning is more
student-oriented, so each particular learner
can alter the program to fit his or her
needs and strengths.
It is possible that it will take the same
amount of time to finish an online degree as
it does a traditional one. In some cases, it
may take even longer if you are only
attending online classes part time while
juggling work and family. Generally,
associate level degrees require around 60
semester hours, while bachelor’s demand 120
or more credit hours. Each course is about
four credit hours and will take somewhere
between 6 and 12 weeks to finish. Plug in
some specific numbers from your school to do
the math, set your pace and figure out ahead
of time how long it will take you.
Especially if you are a part-time student,
this will also help you have some set goals
about what needs to be finished when, so you
can stay on track and graduate within a
reasonable amount of time.
Also keep in mind with online classes:
- Classes are generally shorter and
more flexible. Students can work as
quickly as they like, moving through the
material at a rapid pace if they are so
inclined. Be sure to find out if your
program is synchronous or asynchronous
-- meaning held in real-time or
available online 24/7. If you have a
synchronous program, it may take longer
to complete because the entire class
will be moving at the same speed.
- Find a reputable, accredited
program that’s worth your time.
Although they have been in existence for
quite awhile, there is still controversy
over the quality of online classes. It
is wise to make sure your chosen program
is accredited. With certain programs,
this is especially important; for
example, a student hoping to study
business would benefit from finding a
program that has been approved by the
Association to Advance Collegiate
Schools of Business (AACSB) or the
Association of Collegiate Business
Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
- Look into what qualifications
your teachers have and what graduates
are up to. Do the faculty members at
your school have master’s degrees? Have
they published dissertations and books?
Are graduates able to secure top-notch
jobs in the industry you are hoping to
pursue? These questions and many more
are great to ask before you enroll.
- Plan your schedule wisely to
finish in the minimum amount of time.
Certain classes have prerequisites, some
of which can be avoided and some which
are not flexible. Do you have to take
Chemistry 101 in order to move on to
Chemistry 102? Is there a way to waive
the class by transferring credits or
taking an exam to pass out of the class?
Be aware of your school’s specific
policies.
- Your outside activities,
extracurricular and other commitments
will impact how long it takes to
graduate. If you are a student who
is going to be holding down a part or
full-time job while completing your
degree, keep in mind that it may take
longer than the textbook number of years
that most students take. Not only will
these other obligations and endeavors
take up your time, but they also drain
you of energy and focus to put toward
school. Keep yourself motivated by
utilizing outside hobbies and social
time to rest and renew, not distract you
from studying. Also try connecting with
students from your classes either online
through e-mail or chat room forums or in
person in order to study together and
stay on track for assessments and
projects.
- Be flexible; sometimes life
surprises you. As with anything,
it’s always a good idea to keep an open
mind about being flexible in case
something comes up along the way to your
degree. Health issues, family changes,
job loss: often we don’t see these
emotional and physical changes coming
and it can help if we maintain a
positive, adaptable attitude toward
them.
How long you take to complete your degree
is up to you -- in some cases, you may be
able to speed up the process to just a year
or two, or be able to stretch it out while
you fit it in between work and home life.
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When Making Plans for a Degree,
Look to the Future. |
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When
calculating how long your online
degree will take, consider future
events in your life. Will you plan
on taking classes year round? Those
extra summer semesters can make a
big difference. But maybe you need
to be home more because your
children will be out of school. If
so, you may want to skip taking
classes at that point. Other big
life events that will take up a lot
of your free time -- like moving
across the country, getting married,
or having a child -- may require a
semester off. |
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