Online Degrees in Montana

Although Montana's higher education programs were initially spared budget cuts, regents in that state recently began looking at cuts of up to 5 percent in reaction to declining revenues.

While that means larger class sizes and less student aid for those attending campus-based programs, Montana online programs continue to grow in popularity. Some schools actively seek requests from students to add more online programs.

Get the 411 on Montana Online Degrees

Montana's online classes allow students to take classes from anywhere there is an Internet connection. Courses at online colleges in Montana are offered every semester, and while some require that you be available online at specific times for exams or online discussions, most Montana online programs are very flexible and allow you to study at your convenience.

The online degree programs in Montana colleges and universities usually offer e-mail, chat rooms, forums, bulletin boards and other features that allow you communicate quickly and clearly with people in your class or with advisors and teachers. With online interaction, there's no sitting outside an office waiting for someone to show up for office hours or stage fright about asking your professor a question in front of your classmates.

Even those who are not technologically savvy can find Montana's online degree programs easy to master. Most schools have online tutorials that show you how to take advantage of all the resources that come with taking an online class.

Online Degree Programs in Montana: Which Degree Levels Do They Offer?

Montana online degree programs offer a wide array of online courses and degrees, from certificates and two-year associate's degrees to bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees. The list is growing every day, and some of the degrees you can earn online in Montana include:

• Associate in Computer Information Science
• Bachelor's in Environmental Science
• Master's in Psychology
• Doctorate in General Information Technology

What Benefits Can Montana Online Degree Programs Offer You?

Getting your degree online allows you to hold down a full-time job while you explore other professions through Montana online degree programs. This may be ideal for someone thinking of switching careers or hoping for a promotion and higher salary.

Montana's variety of colleges--including career, technical, vocational and land-grant colleges--offer online courses that can prepare you for careers anything from accounting to culinary arts to electronics, along with a host of other fields.

Which Jobs Are Available in Montana Once You've Earned Your Degree?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov, 2012), nationwide employment rates for forensic science technicians are projected to grow 19 percent between 2010 and 2020. 

Other careers that employ a large number of individuals in Montana include:

• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
• First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
• Secondary School Teachers
• General and Operations Managers

Some of Montana's online degrees are in fast-growing fields like the medical profession, with a strong need for occupational therapists, physician assistants, and mental health and substance abuse social workers.

Bls.gov indicates that the annual mean wage as of 2011 for the state's 425,110 workers was $36,840. 

Sources:
Forensic Science Technicians, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012
Montana, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012