California resident Joe Rosol wanted to become a certified financial planner. But he couldn’t do that without first taking a certificate course, then an exam.
He came across UCLA Extension, part of the University of California–Los Angeles, which offers online and on-campus classes for working adults. Access to both types of courses, Rosol says, was one of his main reasons for picking the school. He figured he could complete the more difficult courses in person but primarily work around his own schedule.
Ultimately, “I did choose to do the entire program online,” says the 35-year-old associate wealth advisor, who finished the program in 2015. “Because at my workplace, it’s hard to commit to being on site in a classroom at a specific time each week.”
Rosol isn’t alone. Many students choose to pursue an online credential at an extension school or a college of professional studies or continuing education. Experts say these are typically affiliated with legitimate, accredited universities and cater, at least in part, to working professionals aiming to switch careers or get higher-up jobs.
The types of courses offered vary, though they are often held on weekends, at night and online.
[Learn how to decide between an online graduate certificate and degree.]
“You can continue your education while dealing with everything that is life, whether it’s work or family, and you can come do it in a flexible manner,” says Joshua Meredith, assistant dean for the master’s program in technology management at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.
Here are four things prospective online students should know about continuing education and extension schools.
1. They offer a variety of credentials online. This allows students to satisfy either their short- or long-term professional goals, while also providing greater flexibility than an on-campus option.
At UCLA Extension, for instance, students can complete online certificates and standalone noncredit and for-credit courses to gain specific skills. Both are shorter in length than a degree. Other continuing education programs, such as the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies, have full online degrees.
Prospective online students should look into the best type of credential for their career goals and determine which schools offer them virtually. Unlike Rosol, the UCLA Extension student, Ty Mayberry, of Chicago, is pursuing an online master’s degree in technology management at Georgetown.
“The certificate, in my opinion, didn’t validate enough of what I was trying to accomplish,” says Mayberry, 43. “There are some career goals I have outside of my current role. I’d like to at some point get into IT leadership.”
2. They are created, in part, for busy professionals. Experts say online and continuing education both appeal to working adults who want to advance their careers quickly. So online extension schools meet their career needs and allow them to work around their own schedules, even if they are far away from campus.
[Explore time management tips for online students.]
“It’s more of a self-study, a self-pace,” says Mayberry, the Georgetown student. “So you have to be introspective and understand, are you the type of mind and do you have the study habits to be able to learn on your own?”
At Northeastern University‘s College of Professional Studies, all professional programs are also online for greater flexibility, and most have multiple start dates each year, says Chris Mallett, vice president of online experiential learning at Northeastern.
3. Many nondegree online programs aren’t highly selective. Because those who pursue alternative credentials usually already have some education completed, it often isn’t very difficult to enroll, though this can vary. UCLA Extension’s online offerings are generally open enrollment, though some do have prerequisites, says Wayne Smutz, dean of the program and continuing education.
“I think we would err on the side of access as opposed to selectivity in the College of Professional Studies,” says Mallett, from Northeastern.
[Discover 10 types of credentials you can earn online.]
At Harvard University‘s Harvard Extension School, graduate certificate programs and single courses — either in person or online — are open enrollment, meaning applications aren’t required. That’s different for its degree programs, including those online, which require students to earn a B or better in a few courses before officially being admitted.
4. You may be able to combine on-ground and online learning. At some professional studies schools, students can choose to blend their virtual education with face-to-face courses, as Rosol initially planned to do.
Some programs have in-person requirements, and prospective students should evaluate whether that’s right for them given their distance from campus. At Harvard, all of the extension school’s degree programs combine online and face-to-face learning.
In addition to being able to enroll in both types of courses at Georgetown, Mayberry says he also had access to campus resources. “I was able to walk my kids around as I went to the library to be able to pick up on a research project,” he says.
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4 Facts About Online Extension, Continuing Education Schools originally appeared on usnews.com
