What types of online degree programs are available through online colleges?

There are many online degree types available through many online colleges. Whichever one you choose, make sure you select a school that has its accreditation through an appropriate accreditation agency. The types of online degrees types available are online high school diploma or GED, certification programs, online associates degrees, online bachelors degrees, online masters degrees, online MBA, and online PhD or doctorate programs.

Could you tell me more about online high school diploma and GED programs?

GED stands for General Education Development and it refers to a series of five tests that test the equivalence of high school diploma completion and achievement. Pretty much for all intents and purposes, passing the GED exams is the same and finishing high school and getting your high school diploma. When a job requires having a high school diploma, that employer will usually have no problems accepting a GED equivalence. The five parts of the GED exams test proficiency in language arts of writing, social studies, science, language arts of reading, and math. The passing score for the GED is a 40 percentile score in each section as compared to high school seniors that have graduated. Some highly motivated students may view high school as a waste of time and take the GED to pass out of high school so that they can move onto college as soon as possible. Getting an online GED or online high school diploma is a good and effective way.

Could you tell me more about online associate’s degree programs?

Online associate degrees are given by many online colleges to indicate completion of curriculum equal to two years of courses. Associate degrees are the lowest types of post high school types of degrees, and many use online associate degrees and a stepping stone into online Bachelor’s degree programs. Most online associate programs are an advantage since they costs less than the first two years of an online Bachelor’s degree since they are usually conducted through online colleges or community schools.

Could you tell me more about online Bachelor’s degree programs?

In general online Bachelor’s degrees are given once a degree program or its equivalence usually designed to be finished in four years is completed by a student. Some of these degree programs will take a typical student five years to complete in some cases. Some online Bachelor’s degree programs will also require a senior thesis, project, lab work, or research in order to complete the curriculum. The most common types of online Bachelor’s degrees are bachelor of arts and bachelor of science, given for degree study fields in social sciences and natural sciences, respectively.

Could you tell me more about online master’s and online MBA programs?

An online master’s degree is one level of post baccalaureate degree that one could pursue. Online master’s degree programs can anywhere from six years to as little as one year for the highly motivated student. Almost all master’s degree programs will require that the student have finished a Bachelor’s or equivalent undergraduate degree. A popular choice of fields for an online Master’s degree program is the online MBA or Master’s in Business Administration, which allows those involved in the fields related to business to increase their earning potential.

Could you tell me more about online PhD and doctorate programs?

Online PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or doctorate programs are the highest level of a degree that someone could pursue; these advance degrees are only offered at online universities. In whatever field the candidate chooses, the student candidate must research and write an original thesis for consideration, publication, and defense in front of a panel of experts in that field. The student will also have to take and pass advanced classes in that field, as well as demonstrate grasp of that advanced knowledge in some way. Acceptance into an online doctorate programs requires at least completion of an undergraduate degree as well as graduate entrance exams, good grades on the applicant’s transcript, and letters of recommendation.

Could you tell me more about certification or vocational programs?

Online certification programs are usually in a vocational field or of some professional or trade designations. Different online schools with offer different online certificate programs in different fields; getting an online certification degree in a field shows that you have shown basic training and knowledge in a certain vocational field. Certificate programs can also be on a product-specific, profession-specific, or corporate-specific level of expertise and knowledge.

What are different fields in which you can earn an online degree?

You can get a degree in just about any field you choose, but here are some of the most popular categories of fields that people might choose:

• Business
• Art & Design
• Criminal Justice
• Earth Sciences
• Education
• Engineering
• Health Care
• Human Services
• IT & Computer Science
• Law & Paralegal
• Liberal Arts
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Vocational