A Guide to the Top Online Degrees
According to a 2016 report from the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET), one out of every seven students is enrolled in an exclusively online higher education program. These numbers are increasing as companies such as Google collaborate with universities to admit their employees into distance courses. Because 74 percent of online students cite career advancement as the key reason for their continuing education, this guide serves to highlight today’s top online degrees.
Online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Typical Coursework Includes:
Accounting
Acquire a foundation for financial accounting theory and techniques by learning how to record transactions and prepare financial statements.
Business Law
Review cases related to employment rights and liabilities to gain an understanding for the legal and ethical concerns of the business world.
Leadership and Organization
Develop skills in the four main roles of a manager, which include planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
Economics
Delve into both microeconomics and macroeconomics through the study of supply, demand, market equilibrium, and international trade.
Marketing
Understand the principles and strategies of marketing by exploring product life cycle, branding, and consumer trends.
Human Resources
Investigate the evolution and purpose of human resource management and consider the importance of diversity in the workplace.
Careers with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Typical Coursework Includes:
Fundamentals of Computer Science
Most online programs include a beginner’s course, which covers the basics of computer programming.
Web Development
Teaches techniques for creating and maintaining websites and examines issues of online security and publishing rights.
Operating Systems
Introduces key operating systems such as Unix and Linux and guides students through communications and linkages.
Analysis of Algorithms
Provides a foundation for designing, sorting and selecting algorithms.
Software Engineering
Explores the engineering lifecycle, project management, design strategies, and requirements analysis and specification.
Computer Graphics
Learn to use various graphics applications and programs for projections, texture mapping and shading.
Careers with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
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Systems Software Developer
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 10-14%
Earnings from BLS 2017: $51/hour, or $107,000 annually
Systems software developers use their skills in computer software, electronics and engineering to develop software systems for science, military or business applications. Attention to detail and critical reasoning are important traits for this position.
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Database Administrator
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 10-14%
Earnings from BLS 2017: $41/hour, or $87,000 annually
Administrators test and modify computer databases to make them effective and secure. Strong knowledge of software platforms is essential, as well as the ability to apply clerical, information ordering, and telecommunications skills.
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Information Security Analyst
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 15%
Earnings from BLS 2017: $45/hour, or $95,000 annually
Information security analysts are in high demand for creating security systems to protect computer programs and confidential information from online breaches and attacks. The best people in this field possess strong problem-solving skills and an interest in current cyber trends.
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Computer Hardware Engineer
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 5-9%
Earnings from BLS 2017: $55/hour, or $115,000 annually
Computer hardware engineers use their knowledge of design and electronics to create circuit boards, memory chips, and more. The best computer hardware engineers are creative thinkers, have an eye for detail, and exhibit the strong analytical skills required to create and test computer-related equipment and components.
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Web Developer
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 15%
Earnings from BLS 2017: $32/hour, or $67,000 annually
Web developers typically develop and maintain websites through acquired skills in writing code, content creation, digital media and graphic design. Successful web developers should have a strong foundation in programming and operations analysis.
Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN)
Typical Coursework Includes:
Nursing Fundamentals
Students are introduced to and become familiar with various theories of nursing and the ethics and principles that guide nursing practice.
Research in Nursing
Learn how to use research and data analysis to implement evidenced-based nursing practices.
Nursing Leadership
Understand the nurse’s role in advocating for effective and safe healthcare environments through various management styles.
Public Health
Explores health promotion, disease prevention, and contemporary health concerns on a communal and global scale.
Pharmacology
Gain knowledge in key physical changes and health concerns occurring throughout the lifespan.
Informatics
Prepares students to communicate healthcare information in an appropriate manner using various tools and computer programs.
Careers with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
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Critical Care Nurse
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 15%
Earnings from BLS 2017: $33/hour, or $70,000 annually
Critical care nurses are in demand and will continue to be so as our aging baby boomer popular requires more medical care. The position involves providing emergency interventions to patients, including monitoring vital signs, setting up oxygen devices and administering medications. A desire to care for others and the ability to respond to problems quickly is necessary to be a successful critical care nurse.
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Travel Nurse
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 15%
Earnings from Payscale 2018: $33.67 per hour, or $65,798 annually
As contract workers, traveling nurses take temporary positions in hospitals and other healthcare settings throughout the world. Salaries are greatly dependent on where the position is, and housing and travel expenses are covered. Although job tasks vary for each position, traveling nurses are often fulfilling typical RN duties such as patient intake, routine check-ups and administration of medicine.
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Oncology Nurse
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 15%
Earnings from Payscale 2018: $31.67 per hour, or $67,298 annually
Oncology nurses are responsible for working with patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. From providing treatment to counseling patients on ways to live with an illness, the position’s tasks are different every day.
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Public Health Nurse
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 15%
Earnings from Payscale 2018: $27.79 per hour, or $55,893 annually
For those that enjoy both nursing and teaching, this is the position for you. Public health nurses plan and implement workshops, trainings, and curriculums to educate the public on hygiene, preventative care, and human growth and development. There will be more employment opportunities by 2026, and these educators make $53,000 annually.
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Dialysis Nurse
2016-2026 BLS expected job growth: 15%
Earnings from BLS 2017: $31.23 per hour, or $65,477 annually
Dialysis nurses work in the specialized field of nephrology, or the study and care of kidneys. Their main focus is typically caring for patients undergoing dialysis, which is a procedure some kidney disease patients must undergo on a regular basis. Tasks include monitoring and treating patients with kidney failure and educating patients on their condition.
Online Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Typical Coursework Includes:
Introduction to Engineering
This course introduces students to the multiple models and fields of engineering.
Differential Calculus
Students will participate in multiple mathematics courses for this degree. Foundational classes introduce the basics of differential Calculus.
Engineering Physics
Students learn about electronic and magnetic forces and fields, review Newton’s laws and study kinematics through lectures and laboratory work.
Circuit Theory
Become acquainted with the principles and equations for analyzing linear and nonlinear circuits.
Measurements and Instrumentation
Gain an understanding for the International System of Units, as well as essential measurement instruments and strategies used in electrical engineering.
Energy Conversion
Teaches students how energy conversion and transportation work in electrical, electromagnetic, electromechanical and electrochemical systems.
Careers with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management
Typical Coursework Includes:
Construction Course and Materials
Teaches the identification of various construction supplies and techniques.
Surveying, Metrics, and GIS
Learn to use geographic information systems (GIS) to survey land for construction purposes.
Field Inspection and Safety
Students will be prepared to assess for and prevent hazardous conditions on construction sites.
Estimating and Bid Preparations
Become trained in effectively estimating costs for construction and organizing bid documents.
Soil Mechanics and Foundation
Examines various soils and their characteristics and equips students to work with geotechnical engineering specialists.
Project Management
Explores administrative processes, computer applications and documentation procedures necessary for construction projects.
Careers with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management
What Makes These Online Degrees Some of the Best?
- Recent findings from CareerBuilder and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) demonstrate that graduates of the above degrees are among the most sought-after by companies.
- Job opportunities within each discipline are expected to grow 2-19 percent over the next decade, with employees earning an average salary of $77,000.
- As distance education becomes more popular, with over 5.8 million students enrolled in at least one online course, options to complete the above degrees in a fully online format are increasing.
- Eighty-five percent of students perceive their online studies to be just as beneficial as on-campus education.
- Distance programs offer convenience and flexibility, may be less expensive than on-campus studies, may allow for credits to be transferred and can be completed in four years of full-time study.
Examples of schools offering these programs include:
Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio
Offers an online RN-BSN program, which is designed for those already working in the nursing profession with an associate in nursing or nursing diploma to finish faster.
The accelerated program is comprised of nine six-week online courses.
University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Online students can earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration (BBA) for $8,430 annually (2018).
The flexible program was designed for adult learners who may have full-time jobs or other responsibilities that make attending college on campus difficult if not impossible.
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