Non-traditional education includes night classes, online classes, personal enrichment and lifelong learning, independent study and more. Read on for more information on the types of non-traditional education and the benefits you could gain from them. Find out what you could study as a non-traditional student.
What Is Non-Traditional Education?
Non-traditional education is education that is offered in ways other than common daytime college classrooms. There are many versions of non-traditional education, such as college-prep education, evening courses, independent learning, online learning, residencies, cross-registration and one-on-one learning.
Independent study allows you to choose a topic of your interest that corresponds to your concentration and create a class around it. For instance, if you major in English, perhaps a course in novels turned into movies is for you. Or if you are majoring in History, maybe you'd enjoy learning about 18th-century English social classes.
Cross-registration is something often found in online or individualized programs. In this case, you'll take courses with one college, but if another college offers a course that yours does not, you can cross-register to take courses at both colleges.
Residencies provide online students the opportunity to meet during a small timeframe (such as a weekend). You'll meet professors and have a highly intensive study of special topics or courses. It'll also afford you the opportunity to meet your cohort students, or students who complete a program following the schedule that you follow.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Common Versions</b></td><td>College prep, independent learning, online learning, cross-registration, residencies</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Course Options </b></td><td>Almost any subject at any level; usually not hands-on study or lab work; research methods or art courses can happen with one-on-one individualized study</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Student Availability</b></td><td>High-school students, working adults, stay-at-home parents, military personnel may enroll</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Decision Factors</b></td><td>Online study can take as much time as traditional classes; you need to be organized and self-motivated</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 2% decline (<i>for writers and authors</i>)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$67,120 (<i>for writers and authors</i>)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSubjectsCanIStudy">What Subjects Can I Study?</h3><p>One of the advantages of non-traditional study is that you can study almost any subject at any level. The only subjects that may be difficult to study are ones that require hands-on study or lab work. For this reason, courses in the natural sciences, allied health and technical areas are uncommon for non-traditional study.
</p><p>Studies that are not offered through online study, such as research methodology and art courses are available through one-on-one study, where teachers can provide guided, individualized study. Some of the programs available throughthe programs available through these non-traditional study techniques are:
</p><p>•Japanese culture
</p><p>•Middle East studies
</p><p>•Nutrition
</p><p>•Historical fiction
</p><p>•Vampires in literature
</p><p>•Psychology of fandom
</p><p>•Literature
</p><p>•American history
</p><p>•European history
</p><p>•Psychology
</p><p>•Childhood education
</p><p>•Anthropology
</p><p>•Business
</p><h3 id="section---WhoCanBenefitFromNonTraditionalStudy">Who Can Benefit from Non-Traditional Study?</h3><p>These programs may be of interest to a large number of people. College-prep courses can be helpful for students who want to earn college credit while they are still in high school. Online study may appeal to working adults, stay-at-home mothers and military personnel.
</p><p>Some students cannot handle the structured style of traditional colleges. If this sounds like you, you'll be better off with online, independent or one-on-one study. Also, if your college (or any other college near you) does not offer the program you want to major in, online study and individualized majors are helpful.</p>
