Online degree program in Spanish nearly doubles enrollment

Online degree program in Spanish nearly doubles enrollment

The only online degree program for those who would like to become Spanish teachers is based at New Mexico State University, and it has just announced its enrollment almost doubled since last year.

NMSU Spanish faculty say the 87 percent increase in enrollment in their online master of arts in Spanish program is largely due to the collaborative relationship with the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese at a conference that sees high school teachers as its main attendees, according to KRWG, a local radio station.

"We have so many students for whom leaving home to pursue a master's degree was really difficult, for one reason or another," said Beth Pollack, Spanish professor and instructor of the 20th Century Spanish American Theatre course, quoted by the news provider.

"It shows there is a real need for [online education in this area]," she adds.

In fact, education experts say busy professionals who would like to switch careers may find online degrees the most convenient and cost-effective option to earn new qualifications on their own schedule.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for secondary school teachers is expected to grow by 5 percent over the next seven years, and the top professionals already earn between $67,490 and $76,100.