Different Levels of Accelerated Online Degree Programs
Nowadays, there are many colleges and universities that offer accelerated online degrees. These are granted on various levels, which include the most common: bachelors, masters, and doctorates. There are also other types of degrees that can be achieved, depending on the level of success one wants to accomplish.
Certificates
Certificates, such as those attained under online certification programs, are ideal for students or professionals who want to refresh their knowledge or develop new skills. Walden University has an online certificate program for these goals. Certificates may be acquired in various areas such as Education, Psychology, or Project Management. Moreover, for graduates who want to enhance their cognition or add credentials to their masters or doctoral degrees, there are programs in Nursing and Clinical Research Administration.
Associates
These two-year degrees can be achieved for those who want to augment their knowledge or learn new skills as a steeping stone toward a career. Moreover, an associates can be completed in less than a two-year duration under acceleration. An accelerated online associate's degree at Ashford University, depending on applied transfer credits, can be completed in as little as 9 months. Furthermore, credits from an associates can be transferred to a bachelors for those who want to further their education or desire more rewarding careers.
Bachelors
For students who want to continue their education beyond an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree is the next step. This level of education is ideal for those who want to obtain credentials for entry-level positions in the job market, such as those in graphic design or social work. Moreover, these degrees, which usually take four years to complete, can be finished in approximately one to two years, depending on applied transfer credits and level of accelerated pace. Ashford University, for example, offers bachelor's and other degrees, which can be finished in less than 12 months.
Masters
For students wanting to pursue education beyond a bachelor's and who desire higher-level careers (in economics, for example) a master's degree can be more fitting. Argosy University, which can be an ideal school for graduates, grants accelerated online degrees in the masters in most of its programs, including College of Business, College of Education, College of Health Sciences, and College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences.
Under these disciplines, graduate students can obtain master's degrees to achieve concentrated careers in Business Administration, Adult Education and Training, Public Health, and Industrial Organizational Psychology.
Doctorates
Besides masters, Argosy University offers accelerated online doctoral degrees for graduates. Students can acquire these credentials if they want state licenses (depending on the state that one is in) for certain professions or dream of owning a private practice. Doctorates would be great for those who want to become psychologists.
Degrees and Career Paths
Whatever degree one wants to pursue greatly depends on the type and level of career the person desires. If a student wants to be an assistant to a professor or start off in an entry-level position, an associate's or bachelor's degree may be the best option. However, if a graduate student wants to further his/her education for more specialized and rewarding opportunities, then degrees in the masters or doctoral levels are more fitting.
Furthermore, all of these degrees can be studied under an accelerated pace. So, achieving even the highest level of education could take approximately half the amount of time as it would under a regular degree. With the popular demand of online instruction on the rise, as well as the booming of Internet technologies, there is no better time than the present to get an accelerated online degree.
Article Resources
Occupational Outlook Quarterly Online
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics