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Best Workspace for Your Online Major
So you can take classes from anywhere. That doesn't mean that just any old space will put you in the right frame of mind to get the best education possible. Take a tip from us and model your workspace after these examples.
Business
Since you're probably already thinking about a few startup ideas, you're going to need to be ready to take this show on the road. A mobile-centric workspace is your best bet.
Smartphone
Battery backup
Laptop
Pen and paper
Business cards
Wall Street Journal (online subscription)
Starbucks gift cards
More than 1 in 3 online students are majoring in business. (1)
Best jobs in field (2)
Market research analyst
Median salary: $60,800
Marketing manager
Median salary: $123,220
Accountant
Median salary: $65,080
Social Services and Education
For students whose education and career paths will focus on serving others, now's the time to think about yourself.
Desktop computer
Tablet
Smartphone
Binders, shelves and other organizational items
Calendar
Family picture
22% of online college students are studying social services or education. (1)
Best jobs in field (2)
School psychologist
Median salary: $67,760
Elementary school teacher
Median salary: $53,590
Speech/language pathologist
Median salary: $66,920
STEM
With jobs that are all about precision, STEM fields draw students who are fastidious and exacting. And your workspace should match that.
Stark, white desk (need to ensure there's no clutter)
One large computer monitor with high-tech keyboard and mouse
Large, well-lit space for creating diagrams and engineering drawings
Periodic table of elements
Set of world clocks
Calculator
Smartphone
Keurig-like coffee maker
Nearly 1 in 5
Online students in STEM fields (1)
Best jobs in field (2)
Software developer
Median salary: $92,660
Mechanical engineer
Median salary: $82,100
IT manager
Median salary: $123,950
Health Care
With one of the fastest-growing fields, those seeking degrees in health care know the material is dense and it takes a lot of studying to get it right.
Small desk with laptop computer
Smartphone
Comfy chair for digging into medical texts
Diagrams of human body
Old-style coffee maker
Water bottles
Pads for scribbling notes
Healthcare draws 14% of online students. (1)
Best jobs in field (2)
Nurse practitioner
Median salary: $89,960
Pharmacist
Median salary: $116,670
Physical therapist
Median salary: $79,860
Humanities & Liberal Arts
With a field that's likely to involve some creative endeavors, best to surround yourself with inspiration.
Reclaimed wood desk
Laptop computer with drawing tablet
Window overlooking nice view
Radio for inspirational music
Art posters
Bookcase
About 1 in 10 online students are in the humanities or liberal arts. (1)
Best jobs in field (2, 3, 4)
PR specialist
Median salary: $54,940
Graphic designer
Median salary: $116,670
Lobbyist
Median salary: $65,000
Did You Know?
By 2020, half of college classes will be Web-based. (5)
2 million
Undergrads who take classes exclusively online or in distance-learning programs (6)
$56.2 billion
Estimated size of e-learning industry (5)
Online courses can increase information retention rates by up to 60%. (5)
E-learning cuts down instruction time by up to 60%, saving time for students and teachers. (5)
Sources:1. http://www.learninghouse.com2. http://money.usnews.com3. http://www.bls.gov4. http://www.payscale.com5. http://elearningindustry.com6. http://nces.ed.gov