What You Should Know About This Degree
Many students choose to attend Catholic schools because they’re interested in religious studies. Catholic universities do often offer seminary and theology degrees, but they also offer traditional degree programs for everything from psychology to nursing. However, all students are usually required to take some core religious classes.
In order for your degree to be accepted by employers, it must be accredited either regionally or nationally — although regional accreditation is generally considered the best. Attending a program that’s accredited also makes it easier to transfer your credits to another school if needed.
The average job growth expectations for all careers is around 4%, according to the BLS. However, this is going to vary widely by industry. In general, the higher your education level, the better your chances of getting a job in a high-growth profession.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online Catholic colleges:
- Am I eligible for this program? To attend an associate or bachelor’s program, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED. You may also need test scores, letters of recommendation, and a statement of faith for competitive Catholic schools. For graduate programs, you’ll need a relevant undergraduate degree — usually with a GPA of 3.0 or higher — and GRE scores.
- Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? Most online schools offer courses that are delivered asynchronously. This means you can complete work when it’s convenient for you, but you’ll still need to submit assignments by the stated deadlines. If you’re working in a people-facing specialty, such as healthcare, you may also need to take synchronous classes, where you must be logged in and in attendance at certain times.
Once you’re ready to start the application process, make sure to keep ahead of all deadlines. If you need help paying for your degree, check with the financial aid office to see what options are available.