Online Schools in Michigan

Hybrid and Online Degree Programs: Making Education Accessible

Online colleges in Michigan can offer flexibility and increase educational opportunities for students across the state. Residents of the mostly rural Upper Peninsula, where healthcare providers are in high demand, and areas such as picturesque Mackinac Island, may be at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing higher education, as opposed to those who live in urban areas such as Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint and Lansing. However, distance is no match for top-notch technology, high-speed internet and innovative online programs. According to state information (michigan.gov), Michigan has nearly 100 postsecondary institutions, and that can be helpful in providing the academic opportunities sought by those in Michigan.

Online Schools in Michigan Help Meet Occupational Demand

Ever since America started mass-producing cars, Michigan has been the undisputed epicenter of the American automotive industry. While the economic downturn had a strong effect on the automotive sector, the state has rebounded after two of its leading employers, General Motors and Chrysler Group, emerged from bankruptcy. USA Today (usatoday.com) notes that the automotive industry in the state has been crucial in Michigan's job recovery. In fact, the GDP in Michigan increased by 2.3 percent in 2011, placing it among the states having the highest GDP growth that year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Students wanting to work within Michigan's automotive industry can turn to the University of Michigan (engin.umich.edu), one of the state's flagship research universities, to find an entirely online master of engineering in automotive engineering. The advanced professional degree program heavily emphasizes the practical side of the profession, and is designed mostly for engineers who are already working in the field and want to further their education. The curriculum focuses on interdisciplinary skills in automotive engineering and business, and emphasizes teamwork skills that engineers may benefit from in order to take any project from drawing to reality.

Oakland University (oakland.edu) offers an online Master of Science in Engineering Management program. The curriculum consists of a mix of engineering and management courses, designed to prepare working professionals for high-level positions. According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (michiganadvantage.org), the state has the nation's fourth-largest high-tech workforce with more than 87,000 engineers, 70,000 research and design professionals, and 75,000 skilled tradespeople. Supporting this data is a February 2012 article in the Huffington Post (huffingtonpost.com) that notes that the state has gained more than 80,000 manufacturing jobs since June 2009.

Distance Learning Benefits Working Professionals

Western Michigan University (wmich.edu) offers a master's degree in career and technical education, including a troops-to-teachers program, which could be an option for those wanting to enter the education industry. This innovative degree is part of Western Michigan University's College of Education and Human Development, and is designed for former military personnel who already hold a bachelor's degree. Job outlook could be strong for those who complete this training.

CareerOneStop (acinet.org), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, indicates that employment opportunities for postsecondary vocational education teachers working in Michigan could grow by 11 percent from 2008 to 2018. However, job growth for those who work in the field nationwide is predicted to be 17 percent from 2010 to 2010, increasing the number of opportunities available to graduates across the nation.

Many online schools in Michigan offer a variety of programs and options to prepare professionals to work in these in-demand fields. For instance, the RN Career Transition: Nursing for Life program at Michigan State University (nursing.msu.edu) is an entirely online course for registered nurses designed to prepare them to practice in community-based settings, which could be a good option for health care in rural areas.

Industries for Job Growth in Michigan

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), 4.2 million Michigan residents were active in the state's workforce as of December 2012. The trade, transportation and utilities sector led the state's employment with more than 700,000 positions, followed by the the health and education field and then the government sector. The manufacturing field and professional and business services (more than 500,000 jobs) rounded out the leading employment fields in Michigan, according to the same BLS data from 2012.

According to data from the Economic Modeling Specialists Intl., the fastest-growing jobs in Michigan in 2012 included many in the health care field, such as registered nurses (7 percent growth), dental hygienists (7 percent growth) and general practitioners and physician assistants (both 13 percent growth). Beyond health care, other professions that included significant growth between 2009 and 2012 include those for computer software engineers, engineering technicians and network systems analysts.

Sources:
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Widespread Economic Growth Across States in 2011, 2012
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Michigan Economy at a Glance, 2012
Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiative, Michigan Career Outlook Through 2014
Crain’s Detroit, “Michigan begs for $100,000 engineers after auto industry rebound,” August 2012
Economic Modeling Specialists Inc., Michigan's Top Jobs for 2012, 2012
Huffington Post, “The Fastest-Growing Jobs In The Recovery: What And Where They Are," October 2012
Michigan State University, RN Career Transition: Nursing for Life
Oakland University, Online Master of Science in Engineering Management
University of Michigan Engineering, Automotive Engineering
USA Today, "Auto industry growth reduces Michigan's jobless rate," March 2012
Western Michigan University, Career and Technical Education, Master of Arts