While the concept of an online degree has taken off, there are still those who have yet to give online learning a try. In fact, one question often emerges for this group: What, exactly, is meant by an online degree?

Essentially, to earn an online degree you need a computer and an Internet connection. That computer and Internet connection can be anywhere of convenience, at home, at the office or even at your local library.

Online degree programs are very similar to traditional learning in that you will take courses, do assignments, take tests, etc, but you do so all from your computer location. There may be lectures which are sent to you over the Internet, there may be assignments but you will not hand them in, you will e-mail them. And with exams, you will again do them over the Internet without the opportunity to take a peek at your neighbor's paper.

Courses often have a specific date to begin and end, but otherwise the timeline is completely flexible. You proceed at your pace, at a time of day or days that work for your schedule, and move through the material when you are ready. If a person is working during the week, courses can be done on the weekend, at night after a day of work, or at any time that is convenient for the student. If one week is filled with excessive family responsibilities, you may elect to do less work that week and make it up the following week.

Each degree consists of several such courses and an online degree is one where a student takes his entire program online. In other words, the student never visits a true college classroom or travels to some specific location. All coursework is done from that one computer.