Online courses may benefit those who are returning to college

Online courses may benefit those who are returning to college

Continuing education programs seek to assist adult students who have completed some college coursework, but have not earned a degree. Through these programs, learners are able to recover credits earned from their previous university courses.


For example, the Gateway to Online Degrees (GOLD) program, which is offered by the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM), allows associate's and technical degree holders to earn advanced certification, The News Star reports. GOLD was designed to benefit military service members, working adults and parents.


More than 470 students enrolled in the program last year in order to pursue bachelor's degrees in psychology, elementary education, marketing and dental hygiene, as well as master's degrees in educational technology leadership and business administration.


Lisa Miller, associate provost of enrollment management at ULM, feels that programs such as the one offered by ULM may be where education is headed in the future, according to the news source.



Students may choose to enroll in online degree programs, as they can avoid paying for housing, travel or meal plans. Learners who enroll in the ULM program will be charged an additional $50 per course. However, out-of-state students will not have to pay extra fees.


Online education is increasing in popularity, as more than one in four students are enrolled in at least one course online, according to a recent Babson-Sloan report.

By Mark Danson