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Getting a degree online is becoming increasingly common in the field of psychology. While most students do attend classes on campus, telecommunication options currently allow more students to gain the same level of education from remote locations. If you are considering either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology, you might want to consider the following reasons for choosing an online degree path.
Access to Better Classes
Psychology is one of the larger majors at most universities. Even if most students do not stick out the course of study over four years, it can still be difficult to get into classes. Even worse, it can be almost impossible to get into the higher level courses, as they tend to be dominated by those who have been at the school the longest. If you want to get access to the best classes, you may want to take them online. These courses tend to allow more students to register at once, and you will no longer have to worry if two of your valued classes overlap.
A More Reasonable Schedule
Scheduling is a huge issue for psychology majors. Due to the way the major tends to be structured in most schools, it is quite difficult to find a class that takes place outside of working hours. Even if you can find a single class, you might find that many of the major’s required courses are only available during those hours which are most open occupied by work or family obligations. If you choose to get your degree online, though, you can typically do your classwork at a more convenient time. This is especially useful for those pursuing graduate degrees, as this will allow them to pursue their education without requiring them to quit their current jobs.
Pacing Concerns
Perhaps the best reason to get your psychology degree online is the ability to set your own pace. Traditional lecture courses, while useful, are time consuming. There are only so many classes in a day, and it is often impossible to accelerate the speed of your education if you follow the school’s traditional schedule. Rather that finding a method of attending multiple physical classes at once, you can pursue your degree online and go as fast or slow as you like. Most online programs have different options for those who want to go more slowly or those who want to go faster, and it is easy to find a way to get into courses when you need them.
Getting an online degree gives you more freedom in choosing your courses, a greater ability to choose your own hours and a great chance to get the degree at your own pace. While choosing the online path may not be perfect for every student, it is often the best choice for those who value a bit of independence in their own studies. It can take time to get used to online classes, but those who have taken such courses are often amazed at how valuable the experience can be.
About the Author
Jim Rayfield is a columnist for Online Psychology Degree, a resource for prospective psychology students.