Online Education

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Online college degrees have come a long way since the early days of the digital era. But that doesn’t mean all online degree programs are equal. As an accredited, nonprofit university specializing in convenient and flexible online degrees for busy working adults, Franklin knows what it takes to offer a high-quality online academic program that employers respect. Keep reading to find out the truth about online degrees.

Join Coursera for free and learn online. Build skills with courses from top universities like Yale, Michigan, Stanford, and leading companies like Google and IBM. Advance your career with degrees, certificates, Specializations, & MOOCs in data science, computer science, business, and dozens of other topics. Online education is not a new phenomenon. It has its roots in distance education and the emergence of digital technologies that facilitate the efficient and reliable delivery of lectures, virtual classroom sessions, and other instructional materials and activities via the Internet. Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more. Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission of providing a free, world-class education.

Why online classes are more than convenient

Taking classes in your jammies or logging on when the house is quiet and you can concentrate is, without a doubt, convenient. But the benefits of an online college education far exceed the so-called “comfort factor.”

Depending on your personal learning style, you may learn better via a virtual classroom. Learning this way takes a certain fortitude and self-discipline so you’ll also grow a little, both personally and professionally. And, at Franklin, we make everything -- including our online classes -- highly interactive and engaging so you may find you have to come out of that proverbial comfort zone and stretch your communication and technical skills a bit.

The truth is, taking online classes at Franklin is work -- hard work -- just like in a traditional classroom environment. And because our online classes and degree programs are designed with input from industry-leading professionals you’ll be highly engaged with plenty of interactive, hands-on assignments, as well as traditional learning concepts and application to real-world situations.

While you may be alone at your home laptop or office computer for your classes, at Franklin, you’re never truly alone. With our online curriculum, you have 24/7 access to your classes and grades, as well as our library, bookstore, and student services through the unique online learning portal, my.franklin.edu.

Here are just a few other benefits of an online education courtesy of Franklin’s Back to College blog:

You can attend online classes anytime, anywhere you have Web access.
You can access course materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can learn from instructors across the country and around the world, broadening your perspective.
You'll enhance your ability to communicate effectively through the latest technology.
You'll network with classmates from a wide range of backgrounds and locations.
You can access instructors immediately through chat, discussion thread, or email, without having to wait for office hours.
You'll have access to a broad spectrum of relevant content through your online course Web site.
You could earn higher grades because you can learn at your own pace.
You'll learn innovative strategies for virtual teamwork by using electronic communication to interact with a group. Employers highly value this skill.
You'll benefit from a flexible schedule, which is extremely helpful if you're balancing your education with work and family life.

Learn the truth about online learning

As the digital world continues to expand, more and more colleges and universities like Franklin are offering well-respected online degrees. As one of the first to offer a quality online education, we’ve made it our mission to ensure that our online classes and degree programs are equal in educational value to our traditional classes.

Of course, we let you choose how you want to learn: online, onsite or through a combined learning experience.

You should know, however, that our online associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs align with the rigorous requirements to maintain our position as an accredited university. In fact, we pride ourselves on offering unique, hands-on practicums to our online adult learners to better prepare them for the demands of a real-world career.

Here we examine (and bust) the myths surrounding online college educations:

The Myth: Online degrees are not respected.
The Truth: Employers appreciate the flexibility that online learning offers busy employees. They also respect the fact that Franklin’s online learning format includes the same curriculum, skills and outcomes as our onsite classes.

The Myth: Online learning is less rigorous.
The Truth: Hardly. While Franklin’s online classes are tailored to meet busy schedules, you may find you have to increase your time-management skills to ensure completion of your coursework.

The Myth: Online promotes “cheating.”
The Truth: Studies show that when it comes to shortchanging things, there’s no difference between online or onsite learning. And, at Franklin, we have built-in accountability to help hold our students to a higher standard, which increases the quality and reputation of your Franklin degree.

The Myth: Learning online is isolating and lonely.
The Truth: Fat chance. With Franklin’s online learning resources, including discussion boards, chats and video conferencing, you may experience even more peer-to-peer and student-to-faculty sharing opportunities than in the classroom.

The Myth: The instructors are inferior.
The Truth: With Franklin's online classes, you learn from the same industry-expert faculty that teach our onsite classes. While you won't necessarily see them in real time, you will interact with them through online discussions, emails, chat and lecture sessions.

Back to College Blog

Highly ranked programs. World-class faculty. Flexible format.

Welcome to Boston University’s online programs.

Since 2002, BU has been offering award-winning online learning programs that enable students worldwide to pursue their educational goals and earn a college degree from Boston University.

When you learn online at Boston University, you connect to world-class faculty, highly motivated students, supportive staff, and academic programs that provide specialized skills in some of the most competitive industries. Whether pursuing your master’s, completing your bachelor’s, earning a doctoral degree, or seeking a graduate certificate, Boston University offers an innovative approach to distance education, along with a deep commitment to online students and a trusted reputation.

Become part of the Boston University community—from wherever you are.

Applied Business Analytics

Art Education

Computer Information Systems

Corporate Finance

Crime Analysis

Cybersecurity & Cybercrime

Database Management & Business Intelligence

Enterprise Risk Management

Food Studies

Global Business

Health Communication

Higher Education Administration

Information Technology

Insurance Management

Investment Analysis

Medical Information Security & Privacy

Occupational Therapy

Public Health

Social Work

Strategic Management in Criminal Justice

Taxation Law

Visual & Digital Health Communication

Web Application Development

Online Student Focus

A BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development online student shares her experience in the course Methods in Teaching ESL (TL508).

Connect With Students Across the Globe

Experience the benefits of a global education community and interact with students in countries around the world.

3 programs ranked in the top 12 by U.S. News & World Report

3200 students currently enrolled in online programs at BU

Over 10,000 graduates with BU degrees earned online

Why Choose BU?

For more than 145 years, Boston University has been synonymous with pioneering research, academic innovation, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Today, BU’s online programs bring that unique experience to students worldwide.

BU’s award-winning online courses and programs are designed and taught by distinguished University faculty.
We bring together a diverse community of engaged, mature students.
Students benefit from the latest interactive technology and unparalleled support.
Upon graduation, you join BU’s network of 377,900+ alumni worldwide.

A world-class education is within reach—wherever you are. We invite you to explore our online programs.

“The mission of the Office of Distance Education is to enrich and expand Boston University’s online initiatives, delivering an unparalleled distance learning experience to students who demand expert instructional design, state-of-the-art media production, a strong sense of community, and comprehensive academic support resources.”