Online Degrees Can Give Government Employees a Career Boost

For government employees, moving up the career ladder doesn't always just take hard work. In many cases, it takes a degree to land the coveted corner office.

Fortunately, online education options offer career-boosting degrees that fit in around a day job.

"Given sweeping changes in government regulations and mandates under the Obama administration, federal employees are under even greater pressure to upgrade their credentials," Susan Aldridge, president of Drexel University Online, said via email. "In general, working professionals are attracted to online degrees for their flexibility, quality and convenience. It allows them to excel in their career and in college at the same time."

Just as the number of government workers is increasing, so too are the numbers of online programs that appeal to employees in local, state and federal governments. Below are a few popular fields with plenty of online education options.

[Find the right online training to boost your career.]

1. Public administration: For government workers who want a comprehensive degree as opposed to a more specialized program, an online master's in public administration is among the best options, says Leisha DeHart-Davis, associate professor of public administration and government at University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill's school of government. "It's a generalist degree and it's very versatile," she says of her school's online program, which draws attorneys, police officers, teachers and others.

Government employees in search of a general degree can also consider pursuing an online master's in public affairs, says Barbara Bichelmeyer, senior director of online education for Indiana University, which offers the degree through its School of Public & Environmental Affairs.

"A person might pursue the MPA if they were in a government agency or doing public affairs work and planning to pursue a position in management or administration," she said through email. Students who graduate from Indiana's master's in public affairs program, which combines elements of master's degrees in public administration and public policy, leave with knowledge of statistics, economics of public management and public finance and budgeting.

2. Health care and public health: Demand for workers in the health care industry is projected to increase as the baby boom generation ages, according to the Bureau of Labor Statics. Government workers who want to move up in the health care sector have a variety of different online education options, experts say.

Online degrees in nursing can be good opportunities for those interested in working within school systems, correctional systems or the Department of Veterans Affairs, says Patricia Harris, associate director of the online RN-BSN program at Arizona State University. The VA is the country's largest employer of nurses, according to its website.

Health care workers who want to update their skills can also consider an online master's in public health, says Julie A. DeLoia, associate dean for academic affairs at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, whose program draws people from local public health departments, the Food and Drug Administration, the military and beyond. "A big part of public health is understanding data and population trends -- you get formal training in epidemiology and statistics and how you communicate risks," she says.

[Try convincing an employer to pay for an online degree.]

Another health-related online degree option is a master's in health administration, which can be a good fit for adults with experience in the field.

Virginia resident Thomas Jackson was working as a program analyst at a VA hospital when he enrolled in George Washington's online master's of health administration program last summer. He hopes the degree can help him improve veterans care and rise within the ranks of the VA.

"I want to focus on veterans' care, primarily returning veterans," says Jackson, a disabled Army veteran who served in Iraq.

3. National security, cybersecurity and criminal justice: "National security will always be a top priority for the U.S. Government, especially with increasing threats of terrorism," writes Aldridge, with Drexel. "Daily attacks on our online infrastructure -- from government agencies to banks to retailers -- are putting consumers on high alert about keeping their information, identity and bank accounts safe."

To address those needs, Drexel offers online master's degrees in cybersecurity and national security management as well as several national security management certificates.

Larry Snyder, director of cybersecurity programs at Bay Path University, says he's seen a significant number of veterans enroll in his program, which offers online bachelor's and graduate degrees in cybersecurity. "They like government work and they like the environment," he says. "It's a natural transition."

For current or aspiring law enforcement officers, colleges are also offering online bachelor's and graduate degrees in criminal justice, some of which also touch on national security and cybersecurity.

[Maximize an online criminal justice degree.]

4. Education: For many of the county's 3.1 million public schoolteachers, earning a master's degree is a way to make more money and advance professionally. In some states, it's required that teachers receive a master's degree to maintain licensure, for example. Others give pay raises to teachers with a master's. Either way, earning an online master's degree in education can be a good option for busy professionals.

Educators can also pursue an online doctorate of education to find high-level administrative positions in public schools, district offices, colleges and universities.

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.

Devon Haynie is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering online education. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at dhaynie@usnews.com.