Online Education Opens Doors to Career Change

For many people mulling a change in careers, the most daunting obstacle is the extra education they need to take the plunge. How can you keep up with your current job, tend to your family, and earn your credentials at the same time?

One recent trend—online learning—has made the balancing act much easier. And that trend is growing quickly: according to one estimate, the number of students in fully online distance education programs grew by 34% in 2004 alone.

Why the trend in online learning?

To understand why, consider the SUNY Learning Network (SLN). Here, students find 4,300 courses — in more than 100 degree and certificate programs—entirely online.

This enables them to participate from anywhere, according to their unique schedule. If they need to complete an assignment at 3:00 a.m. , they can; if they want to review the professor’s latest lecture during off hours, they can.

SLN’s “from anywhere” flexibility also spares students the time and expense of commuting to a campus, along with associated costs like child care.

"Trying out" a Career Change

This same flexibility lowers other barriers as well. Through SLN, it is easier to “try out” a career by taking a course or two in the field. When certain of their desired career, students can complete the necessary degree or certificate program online.

And the educational experience is worthy of the SUNY name. Because more than 2,000 of the university’s world-class faculty teach courses through SLN, students benefit from the finest scholarship SUNY has to offer. The online learning experience can be surprisingly rich and hands-on: depending on the professor, the course might include anything from virtual study groups to online simulations.

The final result: A degree on your terms

The result of all this? A highly respected degree or certificate from one of the world’s largest, most distinguished university systems. A SUNY credential can qualify students to enter fields as diverse as health services and childhood education, accounting and broadcasting, human resources and criminal justice.

By offering both online access and SUNY-level curricula, SLN proves true to its promise: “Your place. Your time. SUNY online.” It is why tens of thousands of students have enrolled in SLN from around the globe.

To discover what career directions a SUNY degree could open to you, visit http://sln.suny.edu .