Enlisting in the military is a major accomplishment and honor for anyone. Today, there are over 1.3 million active duty U.S. Department of Defense members, including military servicemen, officers and enlisted personnel. Because of the sheer amount of active members joining the military for a variety of reasons, it brings up the question of what degrees would most benefit military servicemen and women. Whether it be degrees focused on increasing their communication skills, strengthening their business knowledge, or their passion for conflict management, there are a wide variety of programs that can provide lasting benefits for those interested in rising up within the ranks or seeking post-secondary education.
ACU Online offers dozens of degree programs and personalized academic advising opportunities for military personnel. With flexibility, cost, and relevant programs in mind, it’s no wonder why ACU Online has opened the door for military men and women to earn their degrees from the comfort of their homes or duty stations. Interested in learning now? Here are our top versatile degrees for military soldiers.
Business Management
Business management is the process of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the activities of a business or organization to achieve its goals and objectives. Though it involves overseeing all aspects of a business, from finance and operations to marketing and human resources, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Business Management can provide military personnel with a deeper understanding of human motivation and behavior. Applying management models in real-world situations, you can learn how to conduct business in various settings including internationally and stateside. In fact, besides taking courses in accounting, finance, marketing, business law, and management, business majors often learn how to work as a team player and leader – a transferable skill into the military. Whether working on team projects or with industry partners, a degree in business management can take you far even as a serviceman or woman.
Through ACU Online, you can obtain your bachelor’s degree in business management in as few as four years (120 credit hours) via our three concentrations: human resources management, leadership, and operations. With classes like managerial accounting, business statistics, global strategy, and principles of marketing, you will earn a degree that can make you a more qualified job candidate. While there are many management jobs, the job outlook for managers is projected to grow 8% between 2021 and 2031, meaning that the need for exemplary managers will become equally critical.
Cybersecurity
Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives, and the rate at which individuals worldwide rely on it continues to grow. As the tech world expands, the threat of data breaches and cyberattacks increases, putting crucial personal and military-related information in jeopardy. Because of this, the demand for highly trained cybersecurity professionals is greater than ever. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate of information security analysts is projected to grow 35 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than any other occupation. With close to 20,000 open positions projected annually across the country, the need for educated and trained professionals is at an all-time high. And that’s where ACU Online comes in.
With our bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, you can learn the latest skills to ensure confidentiality and protect cyber threats from affecting your branch’s infrastructure or secured network. Taking classes related to information technology, computing system integration and administration, cybersecurity policies, and cloud and network defense, you can gain insights into the vulnerabilities found on a local, national, and global scale as well as understand the latest trends and policies for highly complex networks without losing sight of your promising career goals in cybersecurity.
Criminal Justice
Regardless of the branch you serve in, we know your goal is to build a safer world for all. Holding strong to your values for justice, earning your degree in criminal justice can help you expand your understanding of sociology and political science fields. Preparing you to enrich society through an understanding of ethics and leadership, this degree is ideal for those interested in comprehensive perspectives of the legal and justice systems. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a significant growth in jobs for those holding criminal justice degrees, upwards of 7% between 2020 and 2030. With a wide range of potential opportunities in law enforcement, probation and parole services, emergency management, homeland security, and social services, military men and women can feel at ease knowing they hold the necessary skills and requirements to meet the challenges needed to excel in such professions.
Under ACU Online’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, you will take classes such as law enforcement leadership, professionalism and ethics in criminal justice, crime and delinquency, and domestic violence. Aimed at building the next generation of ethically driven enforcers of the law, the degree can be applied to many career paths in and out of the armed forces.
Organizational Communication
Communication is key in any situation. The National Communication Association has noted that the skills taught in communication courses help students and professionals become “valued assets in a variety of contexts—from organizations to politics, from families to multinational corporations.” As a result, students with a communications degree learn to think critically about interpersonal interactions, making them great communicators and managers. In fact, getting a degree in communications can enhance your skills in leadership, organizational communication, persuasion, public speaking, small group communication, training and development, and crisis communication – all of which are vital for today’s leaders. Providing students, like you, with practical hands-on experiences to exercise your training, you will become an excellent facilitator of information in little to no time.
With our online Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication degree, the knowledge and experience obtained can be applied to almost any industry and career. By offering tools and courses related to administering conflicts, crisis management, and organizational analysis, you can explore your passion in a faith-filled environment.
To further assist our active duty military service members, ACU offers a Military Tuition Assistance program to recognize the financial challenges of pursuing a higher education. Don’t wait any longer! Within the span of four years (or less), you can walk the stage knowing you have served your county, community, and family well.
As a national supporter of our country’s military men and women, ACU understands the difficulties that come with demanding schedules and frequent relocations. By hosting several military service members in our collaborative online learning platform, ACU aims to champion our military students who need assistance balancing their military duties and educational aspirations.
For more information about our Military Tuition Assistance program and how ACU seeks to provide opportunities for service members across the country, visit acu.edu/admissions-aid/military-students. Or, you can give us a call directly at 855-219-7300.