Degrees and Careers

If you’re looking for the Fastest Online Degree program there are several factors you’ll want to consider.  If you’re not careful, you can end up investing your time and money into a school that will end up being a waste of money down the road.  It’s also important to know how a program works to make sure it will be a good fit for you.  Below we’ll discover several of these factors as well as which online programs will get you a college degree the fastest.

The Advantages of an Online Degree Program

There are a number of advantages to pursuing an online degree program. One of the most popular reasons is convenience. Many online degree programs allow you to attend online courses at a time that is most convenient for you. Some of them do require you to participate in an online class at a certain time each week. But for the most part, online programs leave it up to you to perform the online learning necessary each week.  If you have a job that is very inconsistent, an online program may be the way to go. For example, if you’re a nurse that has to be on call all the time it can be difficult to commit to a set school schedule. Online degree programs give you the flexibility to be able to learn online at a time that is most convenient for you and that fits around your life and work schedule.

Some people actually prefer learning in an online format. It can be easier to focus than being in a classroom and having the distractions of other classmates around you. It also can be easier in the sense that you can pause and rewind information in order to review it until it makes sense to you. You don’t have that option while attending a normal class. You might be able to ask a question to gain clarification, but otherwise the teacher or professor needs to keep on presenting the material.

A lot of people like online degree programs because of the time and money it saves you. You don’t have the added expense or time commitment to travel to and from class each day or each week. Instead of spending time traveling, you can take that additional time and put it toward studying.  if you have family commitments it can also save you money from having to pay for babysitters or someone to watch your kids.

The Disadvantages of an Online Program

As great as an online program sounds, there are some disadvantages to be a ware of. One of the biggest disadvantages can be the lack of accountability that an online degree program provides. For some, it’s important to have the accountability of knowing you’re expected to show up for class each day or each week. Many online programs don’t require you to show up at a specific time. So it is up to you to have the discipline of attending your online class each week. Some students will find they keep putting off their online class attendance in till they get so far behind it becomes impossible to catch up.

There are many online programs available today which are poor quality programs. People sign up for these programs thinking they’re getting a quality degree. But the reality is they’re getting a degree that isn’t transferable to most other schools or programs. For example, you might decide to complete your associates degree program online. Unless the school year attending has a good accreditation, you may find that you won’t be able to transfer any of your credit score units to another school so that you can get your bachelors degree. This is probably one of the biggest dangers of pursuing an online program. Most people don’t know what to look for or what kinds of questions to ask to ensure they are pursuing a good school.

Another disadvantage of online programs is that they can cost more than taking the same courses in a traditional classroom setting. The natural reaction for many people is to try and find the least expensive online degree program. As mentioned above, the problem is you can end up spending money on something that ends up being worthless to you in the end.

What Are Some of the Fastest Online Degree Programs?

there are several different schools which offer online degree programs that can be completed very quickly. Some schools actually structure their programs in an accelerated format so that they are designed to be completed more quickly than a traditional program. Also, some programs allow you to take several courses per session or term which greatly speeds up the time it takes for you to get your degree. Each school or program has some different benefits to it. As you learn about these different schools you can determine which one might be the best fit for you. Below is a list of several reputable schools that have online degree programs which can be completed very quickly.

Western Governor’s University

Western Governors offers a great balance of being a reputable school and yet still offering a relatively low cost program. As you compare other reputable online programs to Western Governor’s University, you’ll find they cost less than most. Of course there are still cheaper online degree programs out there, but as was mentioned earlier you run a much higher risk of ending up with the degree full of worthless or useless credits. A nice feature about Western Governor’s University is you pay by the semester and then you can take as many courses as you like during that time. You can think of it as being similar to an all-you-can-eat food buffet. If you go to an all-you-can-eat restaurant, you pay one price and can eat as much food as you like for the time you’re at that restaurant. Similarly, Western University charges one rate for their semester and you can take as many courses as you can handle during that time.

This is definitely an advantage for someone who has a lot of time on their hands. For example, if someone is not working or if they don’t have any major family responsibilities then they are able to devote a lot of time to school. Hypothetically, what might take someone two years to accomplish at a traditional university, you would be able to complete in one year or even less.

Probably the biggest disadvantage to Western Governor’s University is that there is not much handholding. It is really up to you to take control of your education and be able to figure out what you need to do and when you need to do it. There are people to help work with you and guide you but it is definitely not the same level of attention or support that you may receive at other universities. If you’re pretty good at figuring things out on your own and don’t need a lot of additional support then this shouldn’t pose any problem.

Brandman University’s Online Program

Brandon University is part of the Chapman University system which is based in California. Brandon University has both a multitude of ground campuses and a fully functional online program. to be admitted into Brandman University’s undergraduate program you will need to have at least 12 transferable credits and above a 2.0 GPA. As long as you have these two things it shouldn’t be any problem been admitted into their program. Their online graduate program has different requirements depending on which program you’re interested in.  For example, to be admitted into their online MBA program you will need to have completed your bachelors degree program and ideally have above a 3.0 GPA for your most recent credit hours.  Other graduate programs they offer may require additional items such as letters of recommendation.

Brandon University has both a part-time and full-time option. As a part-time student you’re attending class once a week and as a full-time student you are attending class twice a week. Each class is five hours long and can be completed at a time that is most convenient for you. So if you are a full-time student you would be attending two different classes each week for a total of 5 hours per class or 10 hours per week total.  because Brandon University caters towards working adults, their entire program is based on an accelerated format. This means that as a full-time student you would be completing 36 credits for units per year. In a traditional school or university you would most likely be completing 30 credits for units per year as a full-time student.

However, some students are able to move even faster through the program by taking additional classes each session.  Brandon University has eight  week-long sessions.  they have six of these sessions each year. Instead of just taking two classes per session as a full-time student, some students will take three or even four classes per session. Hypothetically, let’s say you have the time to take four classes per session. This would mean you are completing 72 credits or units per year. An Associates degree normally takes about 60 credits or units to complete.

A bachelors degree normally takes around 120 to 124 credits to complete.  if you are attending a typical university or college you can expect it to take two years to complete an Associates degree or four years to complete your bachelor’s degree. As an example that, if you are taking four classes per session at Brandon University then you could complete your associates degree in approximately 5 sessions or 10 months and year bachelors degree could be completed in approximately 10 sessions or one year and eight months. If you have the time to dedicate to school, Brandon University’s online degree program is one of the fastest online degree programs around.

The biggest downside to Brandon University’s online degree program is the cost. Brandon University is a top-tier private education. Their tuition cost is $570 per credit or per unit (for their online program).  This means your cost for 60 credits is about $34,000 or a little over $68,000 for 120 credits.