What Degree Programs Are Best-Suited for Online Study?

by Robyn Tellefsen

Though online education is still a relatively new modality, there are certain areas of study that naturally lend themselves to e-delivery. For these programs especially, many feel that online education is just as good as -- if not better than -- traditional education.

Technology
If any industry is a perfect match for online study, it's the technology industry. By their very nature, fields such as computer programming, computer science, Web development, and software engineering require extensive knowledge of computers. Using a computer and the Internet to study computers and the Internet is just intuitive. Any degree programs that focus on computers and/or new media are ideally suited for online education.

Liberal Arts
Believe it or not, pursuing online degrees in the liberal arts is a wise move. Writing is an essential component of the liberal arts -- most notably journalism, creative writing, literature, and sociology -- and online study offers total immersion in the written word. Online degree programs rely heavily on e-mail, chat, and discussion forums for communication, which forces you to refine your writing skills in order to succeed in school.

Health Care
Though you can earn just about any health care degree online, the fields that require minimal patient contact and clinical hours are best-suited for online study. Programs like health care management, medical billing, and health information systems are ideal because they focus more on the organizational side of health care than on direct patient care. These degree programs allow you to blend health care with business in your online study.

Business
In a global market, earning a business degree online makes good sense. So many companies outsource work to independent contractors around the globe, which means that business professionals should be schooled in international business and also be prepared to work virtually. Online degree programs enable you to interact with classmates worldwide, providing excellent preparation for a 21st-century business career. Accounting, bookkeeping, global management, and MBA programs are especially well-suited for online study.

Criminal Justice
Even though criminal justice careers typically involve lots of personal contact, preparing for these careers doesn't have to. Court reporting, paralegal, and criminal justice technology are just a few of the criminal justice degree programs that are well-suited for online education. Criminal justice technology, for example, utilizes modern technology to solve and prevent crimes - which makes an online degree program a perfect way to prepare for this career.

Before you begin any degree program, online or otherwise, determine what qualifications are needed to enter your chosen profession. Online law degrees, for example, have not been recognized by the American Bar Association, though there are ways for online degree holders to gain admission to practice law. Many degree programs and careers, however, are incredibly well-suited for online study. Find the online degree program that's right for you, and get ahead.