Online education has proven to be a flexible and effective learning method, especially following the 2020 pandemic. Many students prefer the ability to tailor their schedules and access course materials at their convenience which makes online programs ideal for their busy lives.
At Pacific Oaks College, our online Master’s in Education program includes specializations in Special Education and Elementary Education. Both degree options offer flexibility, allowing students to balance their graduate studies and personal and professional commitments. These online programs provide supportive and accessible pathways for students looking to advance their careers in education while managing other priorities.
Is Online Learning as Good as Face-to-Face Learning?
72% of online students believe online learning is better than face-to-face instruction. The ability to learn virtually depends on the student and their needs. Some students learn better in a traditional format, while others need the flexibility and resource availability that come with online degree programs. Tools like Zoom, Canvas, or Blackboard all help students stay on top of their coursework. Teachers can post lectures, create discussion boards, and publish due dates for each assignment for students to interact with.
Pacific Oaks offers undergraduate and graduate programs on campus, in Pasadena, California, as well as online for an array of degree majors to choose from.
What Are the Benefits of Online Learning?
Students who may prefer online learning need the extra flexibility due to family care obligations, finances, work commitments, or limited availability due to location, cultural, or political reasons.
Pros of Online Learning:
- Flexibility: The asynchronous format allows students to fit their education into their lifestyle, providing an opportunity for further education that would otherwise be unavailable. This is great for working students seeking career advancement opportunities through further education.
- Cost: It is typically cheaper to attend online degree programs since students do not have to pay for accommodations such as transportation, food plans, and housing while being able to work a full-time job if needed. Online public college 4-year degrees are roughly 35% cheaper than traditional 4-year degree programs.
- Time Management: Due to the flexibility of online courses and degree programs, students do not have to be in a classroom for a predetermined time that may conflict with other priorities. Students will have more time to pursue other endeavors and hobbies.
- Course Variety: Since most online courses can include pre-recorded lectures or videos, students can take advantage and take multiple courses that may have been unavailable in person due to overlapping schedules.
- Personalized Education: Students can adjust their course load to fit their schedules and optimize their time to study the material at their pace rather than being confined to set class times or unexpected deadlines. Online courses at Pacific Oaks provide a class schedule with tests or project deadlines in advance so that students can prepare properly.
- Access to Course Materials: Students can access presentations and lectures as often as they need to help them learn and process the material.
Is Online Learning Growing in Popularity?
Yes, online learning is in high demand by students, causing 98% of universities to offer online programs, becoming more accessible leading to a growing market size. 69% of students prefer fully online, hybrid, or blended learning models as opposed to the 31% that prefer face-to-face instruction.
Based on historical data, the project forecast for the online education market has an estimated compound annual growth rate of 20.5% from 2022 to 2030. This means that online education is not going anywhere anytime soon. It is expected to become more popular, forcing the market to develop more virtual learning services and tools.
Can You Get an Education Degree Online?
College students can earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees in education. In the 2021-2022 academic year, 880,249 students earned their Master’s Degrees. Of those 880 thousand students, 94,159 were online students. Of the total master’s program students, 151,707 enrolled in an Education degree program, either online or in person. Students can pursue their education degree while working or without moving to be on campus. Students who prefer to be onsite and face-to-face in the classroom still maintain that option. Pacific Oaks understands each student has unique needs and preferences for furthering their education degree.
In the same year, 1,124,509 college students were enrolled in primarily online degree programs. Seven percent of the total online undergraduate students were part-time, whereas nearly 4.5 percent were full-time students. As for online graduate students, 10.7 percent were part-time, and just over 8 percent were enrolled full-time. In fall 2022, 4.9 million students were enrolled in exclusively online courses.
Pacific Oaks provides online education master’s degree programs that are available for part-time and full-time graduate students. Whether our students are online or in person, we blend experiential learning and emergent curriculum. This encourages students to use their personal experience and newfound education to relate to theories and build a worldview that can be applied to children of diverse backgrounds. Our education graduate students also participate in fieldwork, and hands-on experience that prepare our graduates for real-world practice.
Start Your Online Education Degree
As the online learning market grows, Pacific Oaks College is committed to providing an innovative and personalized learning experience. Our online Master’s degree in Education offers flexibility and accessibility that accommodates students’ diverse needs. The benefits of online learning-such as cost savings, course availability, and access to educational resources- are ideal for students balancing work, family, or location constraints.
Apply to our online Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in Elementary Education or Special Education, and pursue a career in the academic field.
