(ARA) - People earn academic degrees for many different reasons. For some, it may be the simple love of learning. For many, the motivation is more practical -- they want the skills necessary to pursue the career and the paycheck of their dreams. Having a college degree makes a big difference in earning power. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, annual average earnings in 1999 for those 18 and over who had completed high school was $24,572; those with bachelor's degrees earned on average $45,678, or 86 percent more.

But traditional four-year college programs aren't for everyone. Census Bureau 2000 figures show that 80 percent of adults in the United States have no college experience, and roughly 25 percent of four-year college students drop out after their first year. There are many reasons people don't start, or don't finish, their college education. Family obligations, the demands of holding down a job, and the cost of a traditional four-year program are among the challenges students face.

Online learning constitutes a cost-effective educational resource that provides unprecedented access to higher education in a flexible format to accommodate student needs. Jones International University (JIU) is a pioneer in online higher education, and the first fully online, accredited university. JIU recently launched a fully accredited four-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program, meaning that prospective students can gain their degree without stepping foot into a classroom. Students can choose from seven specializations that will prepare them for the latest careers in the business world.

"There are many adults today who want a college education, but who lead very busy lives, which is why the provision of convenient, flexible access to higher education is a JIU cornerstone," said JIU president, Dr. Pamela S. Pease. "These seven BBA programs mean individuals can now begin and complete their undergraduate educations with us, continue on to one of our graduate-level programs and enter the careers of their choosing armed with real-world, high quality educations."

The JIU BBA programs were developed in response to market demand for a complete BBA program online. The curriculum was designed by some of the world's most highly respected professors, including Dr. Carl Wieman, distinguished professor of physics at the University of Colorado and recipient of the 2001 Nobel Prize in physics; Dr. David Faulkerner, university lecturer in management studies at the Said Business School, Christ Church College at Oxford University; and Dr. Bala K.R. Balachandran, professor of accounting and operations management and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance at the Stern School of Business, New York University.

JIU focuses on individuals who are looking for training in business administration to enter the world of global or e-business administration or for those already in the field who want to accelerate their careers. JIU programs go far beyond other business administration programs that teach only an introduction to the field.

In an age of complexity and specialization, successful individuals have learned they need knowledge which extends beyond a particular skill. JIU has incorporated this need into the BBA degree program by combining a strong general education with high-demand areas of specialization.

"BBA students develop the capacity to learn new skills and ideas throughout their lives. They understand the larger social, cultural, economic, political and scientific context of business. Ultimately, students learn the critical skills necessary to succeed in the modern, globally interconnected business environment," says Dr. Pease.

To find out more about the BBA programs, or any of the programs offered at Jones International University, visit the campus at www.joinesinternational.edu.

Courtesy of ARA Content