Three new online master's degrees offered at Friends University

Starting this month, Friends University in Kansas will offer online courses to obtain a master’s degree in business administration, management information systems and teaching.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, two more years of studying is sometimes required in the business administration even after a four-year bachelor’s degree has been completed. With the majority of people heading to work right after completing a four-year degree, being able to work and obtain an online MBA is becoming more popular.

The management information systems and online teaching degrees that are being added are also convenient for someone already in either of these fields of work. The BLS reports that jobs for computer and information systems managers will increase much faster than average over the next eight years, and that education is the second largest industry with most of the positions requiring a master's degree. According to the Sloan Consortium Survey of 2009, enrollment from 2008-2009 for online courses went up by 17 percent.

These new online master's degree programs have been added for demanding industries as the number of online students increases. The number of students enrolled into online MBA courses at the University of Phoenix in 2009 was nearly 70,000 according to BusinessMajors.About.com.

By Stephanie Hughes