Once upon a time you probably sat in a classroom day-dreaming of the day when you were finished with school. Now, you find yourself wishing that you had taken those classes in statistics, finished your undergraduate degree, or applied to graduate school but you are wondering if you can balance the demands of a full-time job, family or other personal commitments, with school.
In today’s business environment of out-sourcing and right-sizing, the key to success is staying marketable. Adult education is one way to obtain the tools you need to position yourself for the next step on the career ladder or to prepare you for a career change. Even if you are not actively seeking to make a career move, taking advantage of adult education learning can also keep you in touch with other professionals for networking, keep your mind active to prevent job burn-out or boredom, and expand your social network. Granted, returning to school after a number of years in the workforce can be challenging but it is well worth the time and financial commitment.
When considering the options, you should choose the one that best suits your learning style and personal situation. In some cases, taking a few classes or getting a post-baccalaureate certificate will be sufficient to meet the requirements for a new position or a promotion. Many professional organizations offer seminars, short courses, or certification programs in topics relevant to that profession. There are also organizations such as the American Management Association that offer a variety of seminars and short courses on all aspects of business practices, management skills, and leadership development. Most of these courses are available on-line or through learning centers and are open to non-members of the organization. Technical training or technical learning centers that offer specialized trade or technical training courses present another avenue for adult learning opportunities. If a student prefers to attend a traditional college or university, a number of academic institutions offer adult education or continuing education courses, which are geared towards the working adult. These classes may be on-line, on-ground, or a combination of the two and will typically offer a certificate of completion. Finally, another option is to ask your Human Resources department if your employer offers any employee development courses or job training courses.
For those adult learners who do need an undergraduate or graduate degree to further their career, the options include traditional academic institutions as well as on-line or distance learning institutions. There are a number of accredited distance learning universities that offer Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and Post-doctoral degrees. Distance learning may be appropriate for the prospective student who is unable to attend a traditional college or university due to geographic location, time constraints, disability, or military deployment. When discussing admission to an academic institution you should inquire about work experience credits or placement exams that can save you time and money by skipping pre-requisite courses.
In short, adult education is what you make of it.
