Some subjects are better suited to distance learning than others. The best topics for online study are where technology enhances the learning experience beyond what you can achieve in a classroom. Here’s a list of the top 5 subjects where distance learning really makes sense.
1. Marketing and Public Relations
Digital marketing, public relations and social media marketing are all areas where you need to connect to people online. If you work in these fields, you need to understand the habits of internet users and know how to reach online groups effectively.
You’re more likely to have a successful career in these areas if you are happy to work online. That also means you should be happy to study online. So it’s a good test of students to run public relations and related courses by distance education. Hopefully, students use the communication skills they are learning to connect to each other via social media.
These fields also suit distance learning for other reasons. Project and assignment work is often about digital communication. So it helps to be on a computer when receiving course material. You can easily switch from reading course material to working on related assignments.
Further reading: marketing courses
2. Information Technology
Information technology is an obvious choice for an online study subject. Everyone involved with an IT course should be technology-literate, including students, lecturers, tutors and support staff. Running a course that uses cutting-edge technology shouldn’t be a problem.
Because everyone enrolled in an online IT program is hooked up when working through course material, it’s easy to switch to practical work. You can also quickly check out IT forums for detailed subject information. IT professionals are among the strongest contributors to internet forums.
A possible worry with studying IT online is the social life of students and, in particular, the temptation to spend too much time on digital pursuits. It can be easy to jump on a computer to study or do something else useful and end up starting a computer game that goes for hours. Discipline and time management skills are definitely required.
Further reading: information technology and data science
3. Journalism and Communications
Journalism and communications are further examples of fields where the internet has taken over. Text-based journalism is fast paced and delivered largely through digital media. Communications is an increasingly complex area (though university courses usually focus on core skills). Like public relations and social media, you should be comfortable studying online if you hope to pursue a career in the field.
4. Law
Law is a highly literary kind of subject, making it a natural fit with online study. Law students do large amounts of reading and writing. Getting to and from classes is time that could be better spent on reading course material and doing assignments.
The law courses best suited to distance learning are shorter courses. A five-year combined law degree would be a long haul in the distance education mode. It might be more realistic to do a postgraduate law course online or a shorter bachelor program, such as a 3-year law degree.
5. Business and Management
Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs are often run online because of the convenience to students. As well as MBAs, postgraduate management courses such as health administration and project management are intended for people with established careers. It makes sense to offer them online so students can balance study with work. Busy professionals often just don’t have the time to study on campus. Logistically, they really couldn’t study without the convenience of distance learning.
Frank
We have to thank technology and all the constant advancements that have been made for us to be able to achieve smooth distance learning. I’ve been attending my MBA classes online and it has been a smooth experience.
Rachel
Journalism is probably the easiest path you can take for online learning as it doesn’t require you to really go anywhere and the schedules tend to be easy. That being said, I think there is a new wave of people and companies who will be seeking more educated journalists and I think it is a good idea to have something else you are studying.
Paul Vincent
Distance learning skyrocketed during the pandemic but that doesn’t mean that every subject is ideal for learning remotely. I’d say anything but something that involves lab work and/or clinicals can be learned online but it doesn’t mean it’s the ideal format. It’s good to see sites listing what are some good subjects. I’d like to see a list of subjects that are better suited for learning in a university setting.
Catherine
I grew up and studied in Canberra. After I graduated from the University, I moved to Hong Kong. I have been working full time as a Career Counsellor/Consultant role for 10 years time. Hence, to start an Online Degree is rather suitable to me for the time being. I am planning to choose a Counselling course where I can study online. Understood that there might be some sessions I may need to attend in person, I would like to know more details to help on my decision making and better planning. I hope you can assist me on this, such as the tuition fee, what kind of course I should take, the length of the course, etc.
Andrew Lancaster
You can find most of the info you need about studying social work on our social work course page. Because you already have a degree, a postgraduate course would be quicker. You need to choose one that enables professional accreditation. It looks like all the courses require some attendance (usually once per term). It may be possible to gain experience in Hong Kong. Suggest that you pick a uni and ask them. Requirements vary by course. Course costs for Australians are typically around $10k per year for an undergraduate course and upwards of $17k per year for postgraduate. You can get a loan to cover fees under HECS-HELP.