Online Schools are Always Open: One Soldier's Story

by Joe Cooper
Online Degrees Columnist

They say you can complete an online degree program anywhere. For a soldier in Iraq, it was his only option to advance his education and career prospects.

Double Duty
Sgt. Michael Hagy was a college student. He did not attend classes on-campus, nor did he talk to his professors every day. He attended them in Korea and Iraq, among other places.

He was a student at an online school, enrolled in a master's degree program in health services with an emphasis in healthcare management--a job market with big growth predicted for the future.

Active Student and Soldier
As if living and serving in an active combat zone near Baghdad was not enough to keep Sgt. Hagy busy, he sought out the online degree program to prepare for life after the military. His may be an extreme example, but millions of working adults all over the world have turned to online education as a way to further their careers without disrupting their work and family obligations

Most online courses begin anytime, providing individualized programs for students. Online schools are open every hour every day, allowing students to complete and submit assignments at their convenience. Independence and flexibility are two of the most popular benefits of online degree programs, attracting students like Sgt. Hagy (and millions of others).

An Online Degree for a Big Career
Sgt. Hagy is a medic in the military, an experience that will prepare him very well for a career in healthcare. Many online schools are offering degree programs in health services or healthcare management, responding to governmental predictions for over 3 million jobs in the industry by 2012. Military service and a master's degree--not a bad resume so far.

Sources
Yahoo! Finance

About the Author
Joe Cooper is a freelance education and technology writer and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.

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