Online Business Degrees: Which Business Area To Choose?

Have you have made the decision to get an online business degree but do not quite know what business area to specialize in? If you are looking for flexibility, it is hard to think of another field as vast as business. Online business degree programs tend to incorporate classes from all specialties of business, giving you the knowledge to tackle any business project. You may choose a general online business degree such as an online business administration degree or you may specialize by pursuing a specialty such as an online accounting degree. To help you decide, here is what you can expect to learn in the many online business degree programs that are offered.

Online Accounting Degree

Accountants are essential to all organizations, as accountants log income and assets. To remain competitive today’s economy, organizations are actively seeking job candidates who are thoroughly knowledgeable of accounting theories and practices. Upper level positions in accounting are always available for those with the essential understanding of generally accepted accounting principles practiced in today’s accounting profession. An online accounting degree will provide you with the knowledge of financial, managerial and tax accounting practices. Besides organizing and preparing a company’s financial statements, accountants are may also get involved in projects such as reviewing new accounting technology and evaluate financials for mergers and acquisitions.

Online Business Management Degree

For ultimate flexibility it’s difficult to think of a degree as valuable as an online business management degree. Organizations are actively seeking job candidates who are well-rounded in their knowledge of business practices and management methodologies. For those with the understanding of the skills to effectively direct the required imperatives that today’s marketplace demands, upper level positions in management are always available. An online business management degree will teach you critical communication and problem-solving skills, along with practical knowledge about how businesses operate and function successfully.

Online Business Administration Degree

Can’t decide what business specialty to pursue? If so, then an online business administration degree is the way to go. With a degree in Business Administration, you will learn all of the fundamentals required in business & management including communication, critical thinking, strategizing and problem solving. An online business management degree is your ticket to a wide variety of specialties, from office management and accounting to financial administration and human resources.

Online Communications Degree

With an online communications degree, you will become a vital part of any company seeking to stay on top of the fast-changing communications curve. After obtaining a an online communications degree, you will have a thorough knowledge of the different methods of communication including print, television, radio and the web. You will also learn the best practices to apply whether the you are trying to get a message across to one person, a community, or the entire world.

Online Finance Degree

The finance of any organization must be properly managed to make sure that the company is profitable and an online finance degree would make you invaluable to any organization as you help them to stay above their profit margins. With an online finance degree, you’ll learn the principles of accounting and finance, asset and debt management and financial analysis. After obtaining your online finance degree, you will know how to plan, evaluate and manage a company’s financial position and make recommendations to improve a company’s standing.

Online Human Resources Degree

As companies hire new recruits, companies turn to their human resources team to assist them in the company’s growth. Your online human resources degree can make sure that you have a thorough understanding of human resources practices to help any organization grow. There is more to human resources than just interviewing and hiring. Earning an online human resources degree will not only provide you with the skills to interview and recruit new staff for a company, but you will also learn about employment law, labor policies, and proper hiring and training procedures.

Online International Business Degree

When companies have reached a maximum in their U.S. market share, companies often look to grow by gaining market share abroad. With an online international business degree in, you will be much sought after since you have the knowledge to take any company to an international level. An online international business degree will combine basic principles of business theory and management with an international focus. With the knowledge you gain, you will learn about the factors that affect international business activity and how to face roadblocks that international companies run into.

Online Management Information Systems Degree

Information is the lifeblood of every company and companies rely on MIS personnel to make sure that information is handy and can be shared in the fastest way possible. With an online degree in Management Information Systems, you will have a great understanding of both information and technology and how to combine the two together. Earning an online management information systems degree will teach you how to think like a businessperson and a programmer, enhancing your understanding of technology within the business world. This will allow you to deliver information technology solutions to any organization.

Online Marketing Degree

The deeper we move into our fast-paced information age, the more important it is for corporations to invest in people with the most current, cutting-edge, marketing knowledge and expertise. An online marketing degree will provide you with this expertise. With an online marketing degree you will learn necessary skills related to marketing strategies and planning, price setting and product development, how to identify key customer needs and trends, how to promote products and services internationally, different communication avenues available in the digital age, and creative approaches that will arm you with the latest in vital marketing information.

Online Masters of Business Administration – MBA

An online MBA - Masters in Business Administration will give you the credibility you need to succeed in a competitive business environment. Earning an online MBA will broaden your chances of success as you will learn how to think like a business owner. An online MBA will also train you in critical thinking and enhance your understanding of the business and financial world.

Online Business Degree Programs

As you can see, an online business degree will prepare you for any career in the business world. Whether you want to join a corporation, already work for one, or want to start your company, an online business degree will embark you on your journey to success.

By: Kimberly Diane

Kimberly Diane is a contributor to EducationAdvancementOnline.com. Education Advancement Online promotes higher education for students seeking an online college degree and is a premier online education directory. For more information on Education Advancement Online or to search for online business degree programs, please visit EducationAdvancementOnline.com

How Trustworthy Is An Online Degree? Myths Surrounding Online Education

Online education provides a way to balance work and family life while studying to better yourself professionally. Distance education is a method of studying that is private, flexible and convenient. Students can design a schedule that suits them, as opposed to attending classes that are set by the school.

Is an online degree equivalent to a degree obtained offline? Indeed, they hold the same weight, as long as you choose an online school that is regionally accredited. It is best to find a school that has been accredited by the appropriate regional association in order for your degree to be as legitimate as a degree obtained from a physical college in the real world.

Here are some myths surrounding online programs and the truths:

Myth #1: Online schools are not as worthwhile as traditional schools.
An online education is every bit as worthwhile as any other type of education, as long as the student chooses the proper program and puts effort into the studies. The opportunity to interact with instructors is available while studying online, and there is plenty of software available to facilitate this.

Myth #2: Online degrees are not as widely accepted by prospective employers.
This is not an issue as long as you study online at an accredited school. However, avoid studying through a phony school or what are known as “diploma mills.”

Myth #3: Credits received through a distance learning university cannot be transferred to other learning institutions, including either online schools or offline schools. If you have credits and/or a diploma from an online school that is accredited by the correct agency, transferring credits will not present a problem at all.

Myth #4: If the school is accredited, it will yield an excellent level of education.
You have to be careful with this one. Diploma mill schools can fool students by creating accrediting agencies that actually do not exist. If you want your hard work for your online degree to pay off and to be accepted as many places as possible, it MUST come from an online school that has been granted accreditation by one of the six nationally recognized regional agencies in the United States.

Myth #5: Online colleges offer a speedier and simpler education than conventional colleges. There are online schools that offer accelerated programs, while others allow students to work towards their degree at a pace that is right for them.

Break the myths surrounding distance learning and take your education to the next level with an accredited online degree.

By: Rebeca Stevens

My name is Rebeca Stevens and I am the resident blogger for Online Degree Center. Online Degree Center matches students with the online college or university that meets their needs.

Online Degrees Now Widely Accepted By Consumers And Employers

High quality and cost-saving make online education increasingly attractive

Consumer acceptance of online education is now at an all-time high. Convenience, flexibility, and eliminating costly commutes to a campus have broadened the appeal of getting an online degree for busy adults. Over the past five years enrollments in online courses and online degrees have been growing over ten times faster than traditional higher education.

What about employer acceptance? Are employers reluctant or hiring graduates of online schools?

It depends, basically, on the individual job seeker. Does the candidate possess the requisite skills and knowledge to perform the job at a high level? Did he or she get the real education needed, not just a piece of paper?

These days online graduates are no longer at a disadvantage, if they ever were. According to George Lorenzo, publisher of Educational Pathways, hiring managers "have come to realize that the vast majority of online higher education graduates are adult lifelong learners who are self-disciplined, reliable and have a knack for applying practical, experience-based knowledge in the workplace."

Lorenzo is the author of "Online Education Makes the Grade: Employer Acceptance Now Common," a white paper sponsored by non-profit, award-winning Western Governors University (WGU). According to the special report, "Most employers will look at prospective employees who have online degrees on a case-by-case basis and will not make a radical yes or no judgment simply because of an education delivery mode."

Richard Garrett, senior research analyst for Eduventures, an education research and consulting firm headquartered in Boston, notes, "If you ask employers about their sense of the quality of online education—is it of equal quality to traditional education?—the response you typically get is a growing adherence to it being of equal quality."

"Quality will continue to be a major concern," according to Patrick Partridge, vice president of WGU. "And rightly so. Students should be even more concerned about quality than employers. They need to realize that the skills and knowledge they learn are more important than the diploma itself if they are going to excel in their careers."

WGU is on a non-profit online university founded by 19 U.S. governors to expand access to quality online education for working adults. In 2008 WGU was awarded the national "Best Practices in Distance Learning" award from the U.S. Distance Learning Association. TIME Magazine recently featured WGU as "the best relatively cheap university you've never heard of." (Nov. 2008)

WGU's special strength is its rigorous "competency-based" model that focuses on demonstrating knowledge rather than seat time. The approach relies upon challenging assessments, including actual industry certifications at no extra cost, to measure a student's academic progress. Students who have prior expertise, study hard, and put in extra time can accelerate their programs and save dramatically on tuition. That's because WGU's modest tuition is charged at a flat rate every six month term, not per credit. Part of WGU's mission is to keep online education affordable for working adults. "The value was phenomenal," said IT graduate Sean Onion. "I would have paid thousands more at other schools." WGU students are also eligible for federal financial aid.

Today there's a good chance employees at a large corporation are themselves online students, maybe even the hiring manager. In a 2007 research study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) over 70 percent of the respondent companies offered tuition reimbursement for online degrees from regionally accredited colleges. According to Gerry Crispin, who was a member of the SHRM Technology and HR Management Special Expertise Panel, "There are many more adult learners out there who are getting their degrees online, and many of them are now hiring managers." In fact, most college transcripts never indicate if the degree was earned online or not.

The world has changed and online education no longer creates worries. Just the opposite. When Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, was asked the question, "Would you hire someone with an online business degree?" his answer was revealing. "To count out a candidate based on an online degree may be shortsighted," he responded. "People working all day and studying online all night have the kind of grrrr most companies could use."

The complete white paper provides more analyses, data, and case studies about employer acceptance of online degrees. For more information about WGU's online degrees, visit the website at www.wgu.edu.


Western Governors University (WGU) is a non-profit, online university. WGU grants degrees in education, business, information technology, and healthcare professions based on competency. WGU's programs are not based upon required courses, but instead on a student's ability to demonstrate skills and knowledge through various assessments, including exams and assignments.

3 Reasons Why Distance Education Is Ideal For An Online Associates Or Bachelor’s Degree

When it comes to obtaining your education, studying at an online school gives you as fine an education as does studying at a traditional school with four walls. An associate’s degree is basically a two year degree that can then be used to work towards a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and other advanced programs. Some people choose to study for their associate’s degree and then dive right into an occupation that appeals to them.

There are many beneficial reasons why a person should choose to study for their associate’s or bachelor’s degree online. Taking online courses through an accredited college is a flexible way to earn an education. It is not uncommon for a person working full time to decide that they want to better themselves professionally. Earning an associate degree is an excellent way to advance in your present job or to move into a different field of work.

Flexibility

Many individuals cannot afford to quit their jobs to study full time, and this is where an online education makes the most sense. Online courses can be completed in your own time, and therefore they allow for flexibility and convenience. Those who have children at home or elderly parents to care for can benefit from the ease of studying from home. There are no worries about traffic, finding a parking space, or even making a lunch.

Self-Paced Study

Another advantage is that many online courses are self pacing, which means that students can work and complete assignments as quickly or as slowly as their schedule allows. This is as true for those studying for an associate’s degree as those studying for a bachelor’s degree.

Lower Tuition Costs

Another advantage of studying online is that distance learning institutions usually charge lower rates for tuition. The reason for this cost-benefit is that many of these institutions operate exclusively online, and therefore do not have to pay the high cost for buildings, classrooms, offices, etc. Online colleges offer their students payment plans for tuition in the same way that conventional colleges do. If you conduct research, you will find colleges online whereby payment arrangements can easily be geared towards your budget.

In order to be successful in earning an online associate’s or bachelor’s degree, you must be able to work independently with no supervision and you must be disciplined and motivated. You also must treat your distance education with as high a regard as you would the education you earn by other means.

Move forward in your present career or work towards a new one by learning about associate and bachelor degrees online.


My name is Rebeca Stevens and I am the resident blogger for Online Degree Center. Online Degree Center matches students with the online college or university that meets their needs.