College for the Working Professional

How are colleges and universities accommodating career professionals?

As a working professional the idea of getting that advanced degree can seem impossible. Time is limited and a change to a completely new degree to accommodate a career change can feel like starting from scratch.

Colleges and universities are now doing more to accommodate the learning needs of working professionals. They are making it easier for professionals to put in their attendance for continued education and advance their degrees. Some of the options available include:

Online training: Using the Internet for training is not an especially new concept, but lately more and more institutions are including the option as part of their traditional programs. Students can attend class through a Web cast or review online lectures. They can communicate with the professor and other students through e-mail and online discussion groups.

Televised: Television broadcast of a classroom lecture was one of the first distance learning tools used. It is less heard of these days, but lectures are still broadcast on television. Students can attend at the scheduled time or record it for later study. Some classroom attendance is often required for orientation and exams.

Part-time: Even schools that required a full-time schedule to matriculate are now allowing part-time schedules that still allow for full matriculation.

New schedules: Colleges and universities are offering evening and weekend programs specifically designed to meet the needs of the working professional. Often the classes meet once a week to accommodate working schedules.

Modified programs: Colleges and universities are offering programs that take into account a professional's work experience and prior education for credit toward advanced degrees. One such program is found at the New England College of Finance (NECF).

NECF is a fully accredited, degree-granting college serving the financial services industry. NECF has incorporated insurance industry designations into their Associate's Degree program in Business Administration. The available concentrations include banking, mutual funds and investments, property and casualty insurance, and life and health insurance.

These credits are then available to seamlessly transfer to other advanced degree colleges NECF is partnered with. ACS, FLM, CPCU, and other designations can translate into a bachelor's or master's degree program.