Those of us who have been, or are, stay-at-home moms or dads know that it is at least a full time job. For those stay-at-home parents who wish to further their education, the most daunting task may be to find the time.
The biggest difference between a full-time job and being a stay-at-home parent may be that those employed full time have a set schedule and a steady income. The stay-at-home mom or dad doesn't have the luxury of knowing what's going to happen and when. Nor are they being paid for their work. Not monetarily anyway. Time and money may prevent many parents from taking advantage of educational opportunities.
Stay-at-home parents can take advantage of the flexibility, both location and scheduling, that online classes can provide. Internet courses allow parents to work on course work any time their schedule allows, and they can be completed at home. There is no travel to a campus or classroom involved. You can learn more about the
flexibility of online classes here.
Online schools are usually cheaper than traditional colleges as well. Tuition may be less expensive, but students attending an accredited online school are eligible for federal financial aid programs and online institutions offer scholarship opportunities.
Although the U.S. Department of Education does not accredit educational institutions or programs, it does publish a
list of those that have received accreditation. In order for students to know they are receiving a level of education recognized by the education community and employers, their search for an online degree program needs to begin with accredited institutions of higher learning. Completing an accredited online degree program ensures the diploma earned will be worth the investment of time and money.
Whether stay-at-home moms and dads are seeking educational opportunities to make them better parents and homemakers, or they wish to enter a new career outside the home, there is an online school to accomodate them. The main decisions for stay-at-home moms and dads are what they wish to study, what kind of program they want to attend, and finding the right school to meet personal education goals.
Educational opportunities abound on the internet. Just about any topic that comes to mind is available for study via distance learning. There are vocational technical programs as well as university programs available through internet courses.
The tougher part may be making a decision on which opportunity to pursue and which program to attend. The program choices are:
- Certification programs can provide entry-level job opportunities or provide introductory knowledge on a specific topic.
- Associate degree programs require about 60 credits to graduate. People choose this opportunity to gain admittance into a bachelor's degree program, advance in their career, or to gain entry-level employment.
- Bachelor's degree programs usually take approximately 4 years to complete. A bachelor's degree is the minimum required in many professions. It is also required if the desire is to continue on to a master's degree or PhD program.
- Master's degree and PhD programs educate students on a specialization within a career field. Master's degrees provide graduates with options within the industries that require their area of expertise. A PhD is the highest academic degree given. Most often PhDs use their degrees to teach at the university level or conduct research.
There are many education opportunities stay-at-home moms and dads can take advantage of. It really depends upon individual interests and goals.
Stay-at-home moms and dads have plenty of educational opportunities to choose from, particularly if they look to accredited online schools. The flexibility of online degree programs are attractive to stay-at-home moms and stay-at-home dads. There are a myriad of online certificate and degree programs available that will fit into their busy schedules and won't break the family bank.
