Online degree programs in business, nursing, information technology and criminal justice have been popular offerings for years. Now, college catalogs for the fall 2010 semester and the web sites of virtual and traditional institutions have added a great variety of online classes and online degree programs to the mix. An increase in online degree programs at the associate degree level was recently reported in Southern California, and a university in Memphis is said to have added 18 new bachelor and master’s degree programs for the coming fall semester, bringing its total online degree offerings to 40. Online degree offerings from institutions throughout the United States include philosophy, history, African-American studies, the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects and more.

Scholars earlier in the 21st century anticipated a growth in online education, in part citing a 2009 high school class and constrained college campuses unable to take on increasing numbers of students. Their report, “32 Trends Affecting Distance Education”, in all forecasted a 16 percent increase in online college enrollment between 2003 and 2010.

That forecast didn’t include adults who form a good deal of the distance learning population. According to “32 Trends”, the number of adult students between 1970 and 2000 rose 170 percent as compared to the number of 18 to 24-year-old students that increased by 41 percent. And in much the same way that online classes and online degree programs make education convenient, online grant, scholarship and fellowship opportunities make finding money to offset the costs of education much easier. Online education is said to cost about the same as physically attending college, and online grant applications include the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Large companies, non-profit organizations, civic groups and more also make scholarship and fellowship information available online.

The education market has seen a dramatic move from classroom and lecture-room education to online education, a March Marketwire news release announced. Online education, in fact, is growing much faster than higher education as a whole, according to an article that same month in the San Diego Business Journal. More than 4.6 million students enrolled in least one online course during the fall 2008 semester represented a 17 percent increase over fall 2007 enrollments, the Business Journal reported, citing a 2009 Sloan Consortium survey. The entire higher education student population between fall 2007 and 2008, on the other hand, increased by only 1.2 percent, according to the survey information provided.

Online education can be provided by completely virtual colleges or by traditional institutions offering online classes and degree programs. In some instances, distance learning offerings contribute to more than 60 percent of a traditional for-profit college’s revenues, the Marketwire release reported. The number of students enrolled in online education programs offered by a Memphis institution jumped by nearly 50 percent in one year, according to an area newspaper known as the Commercial Appeal. Because online college registration areas fill up quickly, keeping up with the demand has been a challenge, one college representative reportedly told the San Diego Business Journal.

The “32 Trends” report, published in the 2003 Online Journal of Distance Learning Education, described for-profit higher education institutions as the fastest growing segment in online education and noted that, into 2020, the number of degree-granting institutions will continue to grow, while the number of traditional campuses declines. The report forecasted an Information Age work force in need of continuous retraining and “retooling” as well as a rise in accelerated online degree programs.

Distance educators at the time of “32 Trends” were exploring the ways that technologies such as wireless laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), videoconferencing, virtual reality, gaming environments and video streaming enhance distance learning. Looking ahead, the report forecasted that college accreditation and program approval is going to change, becoming more outcome-based and, by 2025, without one national accreditation system. Governments, testing companies and others, the report noted, would put testing programs into place, and large corporations would develop their own approval systems. To accommodate the accountability emphasis, distance educators should plan ahead to maintain accreditation and meet consumer demands, “32 Trends” suggested. Online education is going to evolve to focus on the student as consumer as well as on flexibility and global reach, according to the report.

Just as with traditional on-site learning, those wishing to attend college via distance classes will find scholarships and grants are available to help pay for the classes. Begin your search for grant online by finding all the forms of aid that apply in your situation. If you wish for find additional information about grant for online school, check out the internet.

As a response, online degree programs are being created that will give students a cutting edge in the area of information technology protection and systems security. The demand for these professionals is a growing industry, as more individuals and businesses alike are optimizing technology in their daily lives.

Recent studies show that Information Technology, or IT as it is abbreviated, was named as an industry full of high-salaried career opportunities. This has already begun to prove itself to be true, as statistics indicate managers in this field are already making a salary of over one hundred thousand dollars per year.

The BLS also reports that most employers in this field are more likely to hire candidates with graduate degrees with specializations in technology. Fortunately, individuals wishing to take advantage of growing opportunities in this field – which is expected to create 16 percent more jobs over the next seven years – have many career-launching educational options in online degree programs.

A program slated to begin at one university this month will allow students to gain an online masters degree in information security. Programs like these are being developed to give students preparation in the areas of safety and confidentiality of valuable data. Many large businesses are concerned with keeping their data and information under wraps. The program will give students the option to complete their coursework entirely online, on campus, or utilizing both of these options.

Curriculum will incorporate technology training and other relevant courses, including those in the social sciences, law, criminology and management. This coursework is intended to ensure graduates “possess not only the technical knowledge, but also the skills to make the most strategic decisions when dealing with security issues” so they understand “how information security risks are assessed and managed,” said Themis Papageorge, the program’s director.

Students who wish to prepare for a career in information security can take the route of obtaining an accredited advanced degree via online universities. Masters of Science degrees in information technology, business analysis and general information technology can be obtained. MBAs in information technology management are also available. IT employers often look for this, as it is a preferred method of certification.

As technology becomes further integrated into the daily lives of our society, the demand for professionals specialized in the management and operation of such technology will continue to rise and prosper. Taking advantage of an online bachelor or online university to further your employment prospects in these fields is a great way to get a leg up on the competition. The availability of government grants is allowing many to both get into this field and enhance their prospects while already engaged in IT. No matter your current level, the school grants can only help make your future employment prospects bright.