While the point of inception for online programs is somewhat subject to debate, the success and growth of this particular brand of education is undeniable. Historically however, the offerings for online degree programs have been somewhat limited. Many schools, such as Pepperdine University’s Graziado School of Business and Management have been successful with more traditional offerings like MBA degrees, but increasingly the online offerings have become more and more niche. This post will outline a few of these infant programs and the relative merits of each in the online medium.

Taxation

The practice of taxation has been around almost as long as organized society. With organization comes government, with government comes laws, and with laws come taxes. The concept of taxation is not new to anyone, but taxation programs online are a relatively new commodity. For example, the current iteration of Northeastern University’s online taxation program has only been in place since late 2012. While the offering is somewhat unique, the nature of the material here seems to lend itself well to an online medium. Tax codes, spreadsheets, codes and the like all translate well to a digital forum and taxation seems like a logical subject matter to study online. With smaller class sizes, advisors to help students through, and plenty of forums for interaction, Northeastern’s tax program seems poised for long-term success.

Library Science

To me, one of the stranger adaptations to distance learning is the library science degree. On the surface, it seems strange that a profession many of us associate with physical media like books, magazines and newspapers. However, as a millennial, I rarely consume media in its traditional form, and I would imagine there are many who prefer the digital counterparts. This is particularly true in the field of research, where information technology, digital databases, and web-content have changed the game. Therefore, it stands to reason that the librarians of the future would be trained in the medium that future consumers will be using. While these programs are few and far between, I expect more programs like USC’s Online Masters in Library Science to crop up in the coming years.

Information Systems

While the other two offerings here might seem counterintuitive to some, this is one focus that seems to adapt seamlessly to an online delivery system.  It stands to reason that programmers, database managers, telecommunications experts and information systems experts would thrive in a digital environment. As technology has evolved, so have technology-related educational programs such as those from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  

As technology has developed, so has education. Even those professions that are rooted in tradition have been forced to adapt. With educational institutions seeking to bring these programs to more people worldwide and broaden their reach, the World Wide Web has been utilized for instruction at an unprecedented scale. The online education rush has attracted some major players and more and more, entrepreneurs are rushing to get their piece of the action. Ultimately, only time will tell if these programs will be successful, but they certainly seem to have the chops and the backing to make it for the long haul.