Online Schools in Ohio

Hybrid Programs: Career-Focused Education for Professionals

Ohio professionals looking to continue their education while working full- or part-time can enroll in hybrid programs that combine in-person and virtual instruction, and usually offer more flexibility than traditional programs. Many online colleges in Ohio offer coursework that can be completed on a schedule that can often fit into a student's lifestyle, with classes occurring at times that could be integrated into traditional work-week schedules.

For example, Bowling Green State University (bgsu.edu) has a hybrid or “blended” executive MBA program, which is built for mid-career professionals and requires students to have at least five years of professional work experience. The program enables students to carry out the majority of their studies online and attend on-campus classes one weekend each month. This format allows students to earn a graduate degree while still fulfilling important professional and personal responsibilities.

Some hybrid graduate degree programs help answer the growing demand for trained professionals in specific industries. One such program, the hybrid master of science in nursing program at Ohio University (ohio.edu ) targets the job growth projected by the Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information for nursing care facilities between 2008 and 2018. The curriculum integrates advanced nursing theory and practical experience through case-driven studies. Coursework is completed online, and clinical requirements can be performed at the program’s multiple facilities throughout the state.

Online Education Assists Ohio Innovation

Ohio is home to the nation’s first fully accredited, online, accelerated one-year master of business administration program. Developed by faculty at Cleveland State University (csuohio.edu) and launched in August 2012, the program provides each student with a new Apple iPad 4G LTE preloaded with all of the digital course materials, including interactive education systems, course modules and studying apps. All coursework and tests are completed electronically, providing a convenient option for working professionals and students with an undergraduate degree in business. The program was modeled after CSU’s one-year global accelerated MBA program, which allows students to attend weekend classes.

As of November 2012, the postsecondary institution with the highest enrollment in the state, The Ohio State University (osu.edu), offers a limited number of online degree programs. These include a couple of master’s degree programs, one in art education and the other in agriculture and extension education. The innovative, agriculture-focused graduate program partners with local farmers to strengthen business, develop new technology, and increase efficiency while limiting environmental impact. The curriculum focuses on education and communication in the food, agricultural, and environmental sciences: fields directly linked to Ohio’s agricultural, horticultural and forestry industries, which contributed more than $93 billion to the state’s economy last year.

Online and Hybrid Degrees: Opening Doors to Higher Education

Though students seeking out postsecondary education in Ohio enjoy a variety of options, access to traditional campuses can be a challenge for some. The State of Ohio (ohio.gov) highlights that community colleges, University System of Ohio institutions, and university regional campuses are clustered around Ohio’s metropolitan areas: Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. Campuses are sparse in the rural northwest corner of the state, as well as the Appalachian region that runs along the Ohio-West Virginia border, limiting options for those who wish to pursue a traditional postsecondary education. As it does across the state, distance learning provides Ohio students in these underrepresented areas with the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Industries for Job Growth in Ohio

Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov, 2012) indicates that more than five million professionals were employed in Ohio in 2012. The trade, transportation and utilities industry was the state’s leading employer, accounting for more than 970,000 jobs in 2012. Education and health services was the second-leading industry by occupation in Ohio, employing more than 870,000 people, and government was the next highest state employer with approximately 760,000 jobs.

According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (jfs.ohio.gov), computer and mathematical occupations are expected to be a major area of growth in Ohio, with a projected job increase of 17.5 percent between 2008 and 2018. The number of network systems and data communication analysts is anticipated to grow by 43.2 percent, followed by computer software engineers, a role projected to grow at a rate of 31.1 percent. Business and financial operations is expected to be another fast-growing occupation group, increasing approximately 10.5 percent between 2008 and 2018. The number of financial examiners is expected to rise dramatically, at a rate of 30.7 percent during that time. Online schools in Ohio can help the state meet the need for qualified professionals, by educating students in high-growth fields.

Sources:
State of Ohio
National Center for Education Statistics
Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ohio Economy at a Glance, 2012
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, 2018 Ohio Job Outlook, 2008