| A few short years ago, when a handful of colleges | | | | to find locally is available for you on the Internet. Of |
| (some a little suspect) began offering online courses, | | | | course, if you want to prepare for a new career |
| the whole idea was considered offbeat. Now many | | | | without necessarily informing your boss, it's a lot easier |
| mainstream colleges and universities around the U.S. | | | | to keep that fact a secret than if you're caught |
| and throughout the world are offering courses online, | | | | hanging out at the local college three evenings a week. |
| some leading to a bachelor's or even a master's | | | | How to Pick an Online College |
| degree. | | | | Once you've decided on a course of study, there are |
| Both private and state-run colleges are offering | | | | a few ways to decide which online college or |
| courses through the Internet culminating in degrees | | | | university to choose. One place to start is the |
| ranging from Information Technology to Accounting, | | | | university system in your own state; although dealing |
| Psychology, and Business Management. In addition, | | | | with your own university doesn't guarantee good online |
| private, for-profit businesses offer courses in | | | | courses, the fact that it is an established, accredited |
| specialized subjects. Even Donald Trump has gotten | | | | institution suggests that it applies strict standards to its |
| into the game; in the summer of 2005 he announced | | | | online courses. |
| the creation of Trump University, teaching online | | | | Dealing with a nearby college for your online education |
| courses including "How to Buy a House" and various | | | | needs has an additional benefit; you can actually meet |
| real estate development and management courses, | | | | with college officials if you want, and do some |
| led by instructors with pretty substantial credentials, | | | | research on other students in the area who've taken |
| including a business professor from Dartmouth College. | | | | the courses, with the goal of gauging the quality of the |
| Why Study Online? | | | | course and the student's educational experience. While |
| With the constantly shifting work scene, it's becoming | | | | this can be done online, it's not as easy. |
| essential that workers keep up to date on the | | | | If you want to go farther afield for your online |
| demands of their profession, and even expand their | | | | education, you can do a Google search to find |
| knowledge base as a hedge against outsourcing and | | | | colleges and universities in other locations offering |
| all the other threats to job security. Online courses are | | | | courses over the Internet. One website which lists both |
| an easy way to keep abreast of information from | | | | accredited colleges and universities and training schools |
| current computer software and hardware to the latest | | | | is The site offers a wealth of information about a lot |
| business practices. | | | | of good online programs, but is not comprehensive; for |
| It's impractical for most fulltime workers to take time | | | | instance, the state of New Hampshire has a university |
| off from work to attend college, and attending evening | | | | system and other colleges which offer online courses, |
| classes can really cut into valuable family time. On the | | | | none of which are listed. |
| contrary, logging onto the Internet in your own living | | | | A final thought - make sure that before you sign up for |
| room, at a time chosen by you, can allow you to fit | | | | an online course, you know how it operates. Does the |
| valuable learning into a hectic schedule with minimal | | | | course you want take place at certain times of the |
| disruption. You also have unlimited access to the | | | | day, or is it constructed so that you can log in any time |
| educational institution of your choice without having to | | | | of the day or night? A regularly scheduled online |
| pick up and move - you can live in rural New England | | | | course may offer the additional advantage of real time |
| and access schools in California, Arizona, or wherever | | | | interaction with a professor and other students, but |
| you want. | | | | may not fit in with your schedule. So check this before |
| Studying online is also a good way to prepare for a | | | | you sign on. |
| change in careers; training that you might not be able | | | | |