Are you eager to go back to school, but afraid you're a tad too nocturnal for the traditional college schedule? Perhaps your job and fam...
Either way, here's some great news for any night owl with college aspirations: There are online degree programs available that let you study at any time of the day - or night.
"If you've got a busy day schedule with family commitments and/or a full-time job, or even if you just work better at night, an online degree program is a great option," says Velvet Miscione, an academic counselor at Coastline Community College. "It allows the student to work school into their busy schedule."
So don't give up the kids, day job, or the nocturnal tendencies just yet. Instead, read on for six flexible online degree options that could go nicely with that midnight snack.
Night Owl Degree #1 - Health Care Administration
Do you have an interest in health care and a talent for management? A bachelor's degree in health care administration might go with both. And if you decide on an online program, you could pursue it at night, which would allow you to manage your daytime obligations, too.
If you're wondering what you might study, the College Board, an organization of colleges and universities that administers tests such as the SAT, has the rundown. They say that health services administration majors study important health care issues and laws that affect the industry.
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Classes might include health care law, epidemiology, human resources management, and statistics, says the College Board.
Related Careers: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a good chunk of medical and health services managers hold at least a bachelor's degree. A master's in health services, public health, or long-term care administration are other common credentials.
Night Owl Degree #2 - Criminal Justice
Crime seems a little more intriguing at night, doesn't it? Just ask Hollywood movie makers. So a flexible online criminal justice bachelor's degree could be a perfect fit for someone whose brainpower starts firing after the sun sets.
And like a good "CSI: Miami" episode, this degree has a little bit of everything, according to the College Board. In fact, it labels a criminal justice degree as an interdisciplinary major in which you might study subjects as diverse as law, public administration, psychology, and sociology.
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As for classes you might take, here's a College Board sampling: criminology, policing society, and victimology. Sounds like great bedtime reading, right?
Related Careers: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a bachelor's in criminal justice is one common option to preparing to pursue careers such as a probation officer or correctional treatment specialist.
Night Owl Degree #3 - Business Administration
Do you daydream of one day attending board meetings or maybe even running your own business? An online bachelor's degree in business administration - which could be worked towards during those midnight hours - could help you change your daydreams into a daytime reality.
According to the College Board, business administration majors study the philosophies that drive business. They also get a healthy dose of finance, marketing, and international business, while also sharpening their writing, speaking, and leadership skills.
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Typical classes for this major, says the College Board, include accounting, business ethics and law, human resources management, and business policy and strategy.
Related Careers: A bachelor's degree in business meets the requirements for a career as a financial analyst or loan officer, notes the U.S. Department of Labor.
Night Owl Degree #4 - Communications
Do you have the gift of the gab? If so, pursuing a flexible online bachelor's degree in communications could be a great way to spend your nights.
You say you already know how to communicate? Maybe, but according to the College Board, as a business communications major you could learn how to do it professionally. You'll likely refine your skills at writing, editing, and speaking.
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How? With commonly offered courses that might include psychology, organizational behavior, public speaking, and public relations writing, says the College Board.
Related Careers: This degree could prepare you to pursue a career as a public relations manager, a career that typically requires a bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, or journalism, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Editor and writer are other potential paths a communications grad could pursue.
Night Owl Degree #5 - Education
If you enjoy mentoring the next generation, then earning an online bachelor's degree in education could be a great late-night learning opportunity for you.
This major is focused on teaching you how to make learning more fun and successful for all students, no matter their age or background, according to the College Board. Therefore, you'll work on everything from school health and safety issues to creating interactive, interesting lesson plans and classroom activities.
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As you might expect, an education degree has some interesting coursework itself. Here are some typical classes for this major, according to the College Board: instructional technology, educational psychology, teaching methods, and philosophy of education.
Related Careers: A bachelor's degree in education, along with a state-issued license of certificate, is required to prepare to pursue positions such as a public kindergarten and elementary school teacher, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Night Owl Degree #6 - Computer Science
Are you up late surfing the Internet or playing the latest computer game? Why not turn your nocturnal computing passion into something a little more productive, like pursuing an online bachelor's degree in computer science?
This is a great major for those who are not just logical, but also creative and imaginative, says the College Board. If that's you, they say you'll likely be studying the relationship between computers and humans, computer programming, and software design and theory.
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According to the College Board, some techie classes often offered in this major are artificial intelligence, digital systems design, the theory of formal languages, and mathematics for computer science.
Related Careers: A bachelor's degree in computer science or a related subject is held by most computer programmers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Software developer is another career that computer science grads could pursue.
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