Trades and Vocations Online Overview

According to the 2009 study, "Educational Attainment in the United States," by the United States' Census Bureau, 29.54% of Americans age 25 and older held a Bachelor's degree. This implies that 70 percent of citizens in this country get by without Bachelor's degrees. Many of the jobs available to non-Bachelor's degree holders are also potential careers but simply require a different path of education. These jobs are known as trades and are learned in a curriculum that focuses strongly on the particular trade rather than a large set of subjects. An online trades and vocations degree prepares students to work in a trade.

What Kinds of Majors are Available for an Online Trades and Vocations Degree?

There are a number of different trades that a student can learn through an online trades and vocations degree. Some of these include:

Carpenters
Construction Trades, General
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
Personal Awareness and Self-Improvement
Online Trades and Vocations Degree Curriculum

While traditional online college degree curriculums require students to delve into many different subject areas unrelated to their major, online trades and vocations degrees do not have this requirement. The curriculum for an online trades and vocations degree has a nearly singular focus towards teaching students the concepts required to succeed in the trade they are studying. Online trades and vocations degrees typically have a shorter timeframe than traditional degree programs, usually one or two years. Instructors for an online trades and vocations degree program generally hold active careers in the subject they teach and encourage students to apply the concepts they learn to a hands-on approach.

What Levels of Education are Available for an Online Trades and Vocations Degree?

Online trades and vocations degrees are usually taught at an Associate's degree level or as a certificate program. This is because of the curriculum structure of an online trades and vocations degree. The focus towards the particular trade allow the material to be condensed into a shorter amount of time and taught as an Associate's degree or certificate.

Skills Learned in an Online Trades and Vocations Degree Program

Online trades and vocations degree programs prepare students for a career in a trade by equipping them with skills such as:
Ability to apply concepts acquired through instruction to real-world situations
Logical reasoning to tackle problems faced in the workplace
Ability to work with your hands
Understanding of communication techniques to deliver information to peers and customers
Time management

Where Can I Get an Online Trades and Vocations Degree?

The online trades and vocations degree is offered at most online colleges. It can be attained through online-only schools as well as hybrid institutions that offer online courses along with face-to-face instruction.

Possible Careers for Online Trades and Vocations Degree Holders

Earning an online trades and vocations degree opens the door for students to pursue employment opportunities specifically for their degree. Some jobs available to online trades and vocations degree graduates include carpentry, personal trainer, electronics installer, mechanic, and others.

Health and Physical Education/Fitness: Health and physical education/fitness online degree programs blend a number of disciplines to form a cohesive curriculum regarding techniques for maintaining health.
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