A number of universities and schools offer degree programs via the Internet. Usually these are not much different than attending a local university. You will apply online, and discuss with a counselor your specific goals. This route will take you as long, or longer than a traditional 4-year degree program, depending on how many credit hours you begin the program with.

Remember the alternative is sitting in class, five days a week, and you are trying to fit in your class requirement around your job. The realistic expectation would be to take one or two classes a semester.

In general, I would not suggest an external or non-traditional degree to someone just getting out of high school, or in lieu of a more "formal" university setting. There is a lot to be said for moving out at 17-18 years old and going through the college experience. However for those who have enlisted in the military, or entered the labor force with no formal higher education, an external degree program may fit into exactly what you are looking for.

A typical scenario would be to do what I did, after looking at my military resume, all the courses I had taken, my EMT certification, and pilot's ratings.

I submitted all my paperwork to Thomas Edison State College (T.E.S.C.), and asked, "Hey what do you make of this mess?"

T.E.S.C. assigned me to a counselor in both the general studied/liberal arts, and the aviation program they offer. The counselors evaluated all my credit hours, and determined how many would be germane to the course of study I was going to choose. Of the 140 Credit Hours I submitted, they accepted about 2/3rds of them, however, most were in the electives. And I needed to take some of the core classes. I could enroll in the actual classes or "test out" in the subject areas.

This is where it got fun!

All I needed to do was take the Advanced Placement (AP) test in American History, Government, English (with essay), and World Religion, and I would have my degree.

It was either taking all of the Advanced Placement exams or actually enroll in the classes, and have to wait for a semester to get the 3 credit hours I needed for each of those four subject areas. I took a gamble. I studied on my own, with the intent of passing each test and circumventing the more formal online or in-person classroom environment.

Another choice is to participate in a credit bank institution, like the one at, Excelsior College, formally known as New York State Regents College. (http://www.regents.edu/) what this allows you to do is, under the guidance of your educational counselor; take classes at your community college, accredited correspondence courses, continuing education center ("Votech", etc) or advanced placement tests.

The credit bank works just like a bank account, you keep sending in transcripts or certificates, they are evaluated and credit is awarded. Once you have reached the number of credit hours, in the subject categories needed, you will be eligible for graduation.