Online Degrees Can Help Adults Switch Careers

If you are considering pursuing a new career field, online learning might be the right choice for you.

While both online and face-to-face learning can help students achieve their new career goals, online study often allows for greater flexibility, particularly when it comes to balancing a job with an education, says Melissa Venable, online instructor and course designer at Saint Leo University and University of South Florida.

In a 2014 survey conducted by Aslanian Market Research and Learning House, Inc., a company that helps colleges and universities develop and deliver online degree programs , 26 percent of undergraduate respondents and 19 percent of graduate respondents said they pursued online learning because they wanted a career in a new field.

"Before online learning, I think you had to make more of a sacrifice," says Venable. "You would say, 'I'm going to switch and go to school on the weekends,' or 'I'm going to have to save money so I can stop working and go to school.' It was a little more risky."

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Now, she says, "you can continue to work and study around your scheduled hours online."

Before students begin their online journey, experts say it's important to examine the necessary steps involved in doing so.

1. Pick y our f ield of s tudy: Before starting an online degree, experts say prospective students should make sure to switch to the right field of study.

"I think a lot of careful research is the first thing, to make sure that the career you think you want to go into will be a good fit for your aptitudes and interests, and also that there's a market for it," Venable says.

Some online learners, like Shelly Vidmar of Clearfield, Utah, use the skills they have already mastered to begin a new career path.

Vidmar earned her undergraduate degree in civil engineering about 20 years ago, and then, after working for a few years as an engineer, took time off to raise her children. She eventually started working part-time as a math teaching assistant at the charter school they attended.

Realizing that she enjoyed working with teenagers, combined with the fact that she already had a math background, she decided to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics from Western Governors University, an online school.

"I needed a pretty flexible schedule and figured that online would be a good option for me," says Vidmar, who finished early by testing out of a few math courses. "The program fit really well with what I've already done."

As useful resources for learning about different fields, Linda Spencer, assistant director of career advising at the Extension School at Harvard University, points to Vault guides, which provide information and advice on working in different industries, and LinkedIn, which lets users research the career paths of those already in the industry.

It's also important to speak with workers already employed in the field, experts say, and, if need be, take a career assessment test. Prospective students can test the waters of a certain field by trying internships, shadowing and volunteering before going for a credential, Spencer says.

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2. Determine the online credential you need: To change careers, you will also need to determine what type of educational credential you might need to enter a new field.

This decision usually comes down to where candidates are in their career and life, and what type of education they already have, says Lori Shreve Blake, senior director of alumni and student career services at the University of Southern California.

Venable, the online instructor, recommends prospective students look at relevant job listings, learn the requirements for specific companies of interest and speak with recruiters. An informational meeting with someone already employed in the field could also help adults find out what type of credential they need, Harvard's Spencer says.

Venable says another option is to start small. For example, prospective students can look for a program that has both certificate and degree options, start with the certificate program and then pursue the degree if needed.

3. Select an online program: Once you know what type of credential you will need in your new field of study, you can finally explore the different online options available.

Shreve Blake advises students to look at a few different qualities, including the program's ranking and whether it offers career services. Venable says learners should also examine whether the program is accredited with qualified faculty.

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And, experts say students should determine whether an online program has courses that will fit well into their schedule.

Jason Good, a 36-year-old who lives in Nebraska, was a truck driver for more than a decade before he decided to pursue an online bachelor's degree in information technology. He's now a help desk coordinator with the Gothenburg Memorial Hospital.

Since he was constantly on the road for work, he turned to a program offered through Kaplan University because many of its classes were self-paced, providing him with greater flexibility on when he could complete them.

Good says he would drive for 11 hours a day, using his cellphone to complete schoolwork.

When it comes to asking questions about possible online programs, Venable says social media sites and forums are one place where prospective students can turn, she says.

"It's a good place to get started without any commitment or formal appointment," she says.

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