[ education articles : online education can be a smart move ]

home > graphic design > schools > article: online education

Updated 3/26/09

Article about Online Education:
From Classroom to Computer -- An Online Education Can Be a Smart Move

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division (ARA) -- With hundreds of thousands of students graduating from college and universities in 2004 alone, and with the fast-paced lifestyle of the technological age, a college degree has become a critical commodity. The job market is a highly competitive arena making the attainment of a college degree an important prerequisite for employment that can give someone that competitive edge over other job seekers.

Attempting to balance a family life, children, and a career may present a challenge in obtaining a traditional higher education. An online education serves as a convenient alternative in aspirations towards higher education. This is why many like Larry Daughenbaugh, an Interactive Media Design student at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division, and a full time information technology technician and Web specialist at Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts, chose to sign onto The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division to obtain a degree and enhance his career choices.

Online learning programs and degree programs may be the perfect solution in the fast paced lifestyle of working adults who yearn for advancement in their career but may not have the time to attend classes at a set time and place. Instead of rushing home to fit in dinner and time with the family before commuting to night class, online students can settle down in front of a computer and complete their coursework via the Internet at a time most convenient for them. School work can be completed on weekends or even during a lunch break as long as there is a connection to the Internet.

Approximately 915,000 students are currently enrolled in online learning programs such as those offered by The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division, one of the few institutions in the country to offer creative arts programs online.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division offers 11 degree and diploma programs including a Bachelor of Science in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Interactive Media Design and the school's newest degree program, Culinary Management. Courses are led by faculty members who have been trained by Socrates Distance Learning Technology Group to guide students in online learning.

A primary mission of the school is to "be a source of creative education for the working adult," says George Pry, President of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. "Our curriculum allows for students to attend class without geographic, lifestyle or physical constraints."

"The online classroom helps me focus on my work and I learn from participating with my classmates," says Daughenbaugh. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division offers a virtual classroom where the students may interact with their fellow classmates in addition to having direct one-to-one contact with their professor.

For those who want both the exposure to a traditional higher learning experience and the convenience of an online education there is another option. The Plus Learning Option through The Art Institutes allow for a comfortable blend of a traditional classroom education and online learning. The Plus Learning Option provides students with the flexibility to help accomplish educational goals. Degree or program requirements can be fulfilled through online courses and credited towards a degree at one of The Art Institutes.

"Through The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division, students can log in and earn a higher education degree in the creative arts. A degree that can be earned anytime, any place," says Pry.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division Program Listings:

BS in Culinary Management Diploma in Digital Design BS in Game Art & Design AS in Graphic Design BS in Graphic Design AS in Interactive Media Design BS in Interactive Media Design BS in Media Arts & Animation BS in Interior Design Diploma in Residential Planning Diploma in Web Design

For more information about the programs offered, visit The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division.