What Online Degrees are Accepted by Employers?
People have questioned whether online degrees are accepted by employers since online programs have been introduced to the general public. Of course, nobody wants to spend their time and money obtaining a degree that cannot be utilized for gainful employment once it is completed. Fortunately, online degrees are widely accepted by employers, as long as they are obtained through an accredited online school. Numerous graduates with online degrees have already moved into their chosen fields and are not only succeeding, but also progressing up the chain of command as they earn hands-on experience.
It has been said that employers view people who can handle both work and school as multi-taskers who can successfully negotiate their own personal schedule, which is a quality that is essential in most work environments. There are several online degrees that are acknowledged, accepted and sought after by employers who are interested in hiring qualified candidates. Obtaining one of the following online degrees will ensure that employers will take a second look at a resume:
1) MBA – The Master in Business Administration is definitely a degree that is lucrative for any professional who wants to pursue corporate positions in companies. Students will want to select a major that is focused in the field that they desire to work in. For example, if a student desires to work in the accounting or finance department of a company, they will want to select accounting as a major for their MBA. If government and politics is the career path of interest, business and public policy could be the major of choice. Combining both finance and business and public policy can lead to jobs in micro-finance.
2) Bachelor of Computer Engineering Technology – The computer world is expanding exponentially by the day. Companies, banks and government offices are changing from the old-fashioned paperwork to computerized processing and many are moving toward online sales. With these changes comes the need for more experienced and educated professionals who know how to finagle computer systems and networking efficiently. The Bachelor of Computer Engineering Technology leads to software design and implementation and hardware configuration in offices. In addition, graduates will be able to create advanced software for iPods or Smartphones or equipment for defense, as well as work in manufacturing, research, consumer product markets, security or communications, to name a few.
3) Bachelor of Science in Health Administration – The healthcare industry is projected to grow continuously in the future, along with the population of the U.S. With a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration, graduates will enjoy the opportunity to land a job in healthcare management. Injury, patterns of disease, management, and application of healthcare theories and concepts are all part of the integral learning that a student will accomplish with this online degree. After completing it, graduates can look forward to management level careers in hospitals, retirement communities, clinics, rehabilitation, home health care setting and long-term care facilities.
4) Master of Science in Forensic Psychology – Crime rates and court systems certainly are not slowing down in cases. As a matter of fact, this field of expertise is expected to increase by 36.4% between 2004 and 2014, according to MSNBC. The average pay for someone starting out in the field with their Master of Science in Forensic Psychology is in the $ 50,000 range. General job duties include gathering, classifying, identifying and analyzing evidence during routine criminal investigations, many are called to testify in the court of law as expert witnesses, and others are experts in one area, such as handwriting, fingerprinting, ballistics or biochemistry.
5) Bachelor of Science in Nursing – The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected the nursing career field to continue to grow through the year 2020 at a phenomenal rate. As a matter of fact, it is one of the fastest growing occupation fields for the future. Although an Associate’s degree in nursing will qualify graduates for a successful career, the bachelor’s will open up more prospects, including management-level positions such as Head Nurse of Nursing Chief. For those students who want to achieve the highest level in nursing that can be reached in order to be more competitive in the field, the Masters of Science in Nursing can be obtained in as little as two years after the bachelor’s degree is completed.
Some might say that online degrees are not respected by employers like “regular” degrees that are completed at brick-and-mortar colleges, however times have changed and employers are much more inclined to hire candidates who have worked while they have pursued their online degrees, as they demonstrate the desire to achieve. Any of the above degrees will help graduates to make a smooth debut into the workforce; however they are focused toward specific career fields. Essentially, employers will definitely accept candidates with online degrees, as long as they are focused on the field of work that the graduate is interested in entering.
