Online University Canada

 The world of online education is expanding at a rapid rate as more and more universities offer online courses. Canadian universities are no exception. If you are looking for professional development courses, an Associate's degree, a Bachelor's, a Master's, or a Doctorate offered online and you live in Canada or want to attend a Canadian university, there are choices for you. Like anywhere else, online education in Canada is becoming more and more accepted in the workplace, especially for working adults looking to better their futures.

If you are looking for an online education in Canada, you have several routes you could take to get there and several options to choose from along the way, all of which fall under one of the following categories:

• Canadian universities offering online courses or degrees
  
• Online universities that accept Canadian students
  
• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and distance learning

Let's explore each of these categories in detail and see how one or a combination of education from these different categories may fit your education goals as a Canadian student.

Canadian Universities Offering Online Courses or Degrees

There are several universities in Canada that offer programs with degrees that can be partially or entirely earned online. Some have a more extensive offering than others, some have open enrollment while others do not, and most are accredited. Let's highlight a few of the more well-known and trusted universities offering online courses or degrees.

Walden University: Walden University offers accredited courses for Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees. Their focus is expanding you education so you can expand your influence for good in the world. Their choices for online courses taken with a traditional schooling, or as fully earned online degrees are many and varied. They offer various Bachelor's degrees in business, education, health, and law and criminal justice. If you are seeking a Master's degree, they offer online courses and degrees for business, education, engineering and construction, health, social sciences, and technology. A Doctoral degree can be earned fully online or with online courses in business, education, health, and social science. All of their programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. If you like directing your own education and want to get a degree from a university who wants you to achieve you goals of professional enrichment, Walden University has a lot to offer.

 University Canada West: All programs at University Canada West are accredited and offered online or on campus. They are committed to your success and offer many opportunities for you to achieve your education goals. They offer a, "Finish Faster" program which allows students to earn a four year degree in just two years so they can get back to real life sooner. Their online education programs are tailored to students who want quality learning through advanced internet technology. Online course takers can expect the same instructor to individual support you would find in a traditional classroom setting. Besides several programs offering Bachelor's degrees, advanced degrees in Business Administration are also offered fully online.

Athabasca University (AU): AU is Canada's leading online university servicing over 30,000 students. Their online programs and degrees are offered in a wide range of interests including accounting, business administration, art history, biology, chemistry, career development, communications, computer science, information technology, criminal justice, economics, education, healthcare, and much more. They are based out of Alberta. Their student body is mostly Canadian, but international students make up a good portion.

Penn Foster College and Career School: Penn Foster College International is the premiere community college online. They offer Associate's degrees in business, health services, technology, engineering, criminal justice, paralegal studies, early childhood education, and more. The Penn Foster Career School offers affordable, exceptional home study programs that will help you advance your career. Course work is offered in almost all major areas of study.

Online Universities that Accept Canadian students

There are several widely known online universities based in the United States or elsewhere that accept Canadian students. Each of these offers its own unique experience. Let's highlight a few that Canadian students are welcome with.

American Intercontinental University (AIU): The philosophy behind American Intercontinental University is that you don't have to give up your life to get a degree. They help you fit education into your schedule and support you ever step of the way in earning your degree. AIU was founded in 1970 and offers a wide range of Bachelor's and Master's degrees. They offer a virtual campus to the international community and have several resident campuses as well. If you have a passion for learning and motivation to make your career aspirations come true, then AIU has the tools and support available to achieve your goals. They are expanding their offering of career programs, but currently offer Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Education, Healthcare Management, Information Technology, Marketing, and Visual Communication.

Capella University Online: Capella University Online has one of the most extensive accredited online learning networks available. Online courses are conducted through lecture notes, message boards, and online discussion. Capella starts every student with a course on online learning that will help them achieve the most successful educational experience possible while pursuing their degree. The degree programs offered vary from Bachelor to Doctoral degrees in business, education, information technology, and psychology. Capella has an open enrollment policy which extends access to education to all adults seeking to maximize their potential.

University of Phoenix: The University of Phoenix was founded in 1976 on the idea of expanding educational opportunities to everyone, especially working adults. They have grown to be one of the largest continuing education institutions in America, with 200 campus locations and a student body of over 50,000. They offer more than 100 degree programs that can be earned fully online or in a mix of online and campus settings. Their no-nonsense approach to education provides continuing education to working adults world-wide.

 Grand Canyon University Online: Grand Canyon University Online offers a much more structured approach to online learning than your typical online university. Rather than giving you all the coursework up front and having it due at the end of the semester, coursework is assigned and due much like in a traditional classroom setting. Students are expected to log on and participate in board discussions at least four times a week. The more structured setting allows for greater learning and instruction than your typical home study or online education program.

Baker College Online: Baker College, one of the largest private institutions in the United States, now offers more students access to their high quality courses and faculty through Baker College Online. Baker offers degrees and programs that help students get completely ready to enter the work industry in the shortest amount of time possible. Baker's track record indicates that their graduates are some of the best educated in their field as over 97% of them are employed. They are affordable, convenient and will work with you to achieve maximum results in your chosen career field.

Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and Distance Learning

A distinct avenue of online learning that Canadian universities and colleges offer is distance learning through the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. This is a group of 94 Canadian public, non-profit universities and university-degree level colleges that allow students to take online courses through one or several of the universities and have all the credits earned count toward their degree. This makes online learning very simple for the distance learner. Some colleges offer one or two classes online that you need for you degree while the others are only offered on-campus, but you can take the classes only offered on-campus at your university through another university that is a member of the association if they offer it online. This makes getting a degree from a traditional institution much easier as you can take as many classes as you would like online and not miss a beat because your university will accept all the credits earned through another institution.

A smaller version of this educational opportunity is also available through the Canadian Virtual University. Nineteen universities offer over 350 distance degrees, diplomas, and certificates and over 2,500 courses. You can take as little as one course and as many as your entire degree online through leading Canadian universities that have agreed to accept one another's credits toward a degree. Thousands of Canadian students are taking distance courses through one of these two programs and are able to complete their degrees either partially of wholly online. The only catch is that you have to be accepted into a college or university that participates in the program and only take courses offered by the universities that are members of the program in order to earn your degree.