The Appeal Of A Quick College Degree

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 27th, 2010

It seems as if having a college degree is necessary to get almost any good job these days. Many employers don't even consider applicants without a degree, even for entry-level positions. Many individuals find themselves either unable to find a stable, long-term job, or are stuck in a job for many years because they did not go to college and earn a degree. But, technology is giving many people the opportunity to earn a degree in a short period of time. Online degree programs offer a wide array of subjects to study, offer flexible schedules, and a unique learning environment that benefits many adults accustomed to independent work. Attaining a quick college degree is an excellent way to secure a solid job with excellent benefits, or to reach new levels of professional achievement.

The primary advantage to earning a quick college degree online is the learning format itself. Online learning is adjustable to the needs of the student, offering flexible class schedules and continuously available course materials. A student who carries the responsibilities of a full-time job and a family does not need to worry about fitting in class time. And the time frame is often perfect for the needs of the working student. In fact, many online programs are geared toward the working adult looking to earn a degree in a short period of time. Because of this, online colleges and universities have designed programs that teach more pertinent material in compressed frames of time. If a student goes into an online program with an Associate's degree, it is possible to earn a bachelor's degree in a year (as opposed to traditional college, where it would take 2-3 years or longer, depending on the degree program). For the student who has no prior college credits, it can take less than 2 years to earn a bachelor's degree. The ability for a school and its students to achieve this involves a concept known as accelerated learning.

Accelerated learning involves teaching a few key components of a subject or field at a time in smaller periods that are shorter than the typical college semester, usually 4-6 weeks. The most important and pertinent information to the topic is taught. Students are better able to focus on one topic at a time, without having to cram different information from different courses into their heads. Therefore retention of newly learned information is often higher. In the business world, where a person is often accustomed to working on one task or project at a time, the ability to focus on and hone in on the nuances of one topic at a time is a key tool that can be improved upon for a person's professional future. In an accelerated learning environment, shorter class frames not only means better retention of learned material, but also mean that students are likely to remain more interested in the program. Therefore, students are more likely to complete the program and graduate from this quick type of learning program with a college degree.

The advantages of earning a quick college degree online are numerous. The ability to earn a college degree in less than 2 years means that you will be able to find a great job, or advance in your current position sooner than if you took the traditional college route. Online learning provides a flexibility that does not hinder your work and social life. It allows you to schedule school around life, not the other way around. The availability of your course materials, discussion archives, and research resources is great - they are all at your disposal online, which means that they are available to you any time you need them, from any computer. The biggest advantage of earning a quick college degree is by far the satisfaction you will have knowing that you achieved a huge goal, and that your professional opportunities will be limitless in the future. Getting a quick college degree through an online program is the ultimate way to get career and personal satisfaction in a short period of time.