The Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted all aspects of life, including higher education. With classes canceled and students unable to learn online, there has been a major shift in how people are learning and gaining knowledge. In order to get a good understanding of how the education system has changed, and how it will continue to evolve, it is essential to review the changes that have occurred, as well as those that will take place in the future.

Traditional Learning Disrupted

For much of the 20th century, going to school was primarily viewed as a way to get an education and enter the workforce. College was seen as the ultimate goal of a child’s education, with most parents and students alike believing that higher education would lead to better job prospects and a more comfortable lifestyle. The world changed in March, when the spread of Covid-19 was identified as a major threat to the United Kingdom and its educational system. Limited testing meant that most people did not believe that they would be immune to the disease, and many viewed the virus as a grave threat to their wellbeing and that of their children. As a result, universities across the UK were closed for the majority of the year, with only online learning and remote work remaining as options for students.

With schools no longer a safe environment for children, parents began to see education in a different light, viewing it as a place to develop their child’s social skills and prepare them for the future. The benefits of a university education were no longer enough to justify the cost of higher education, as the job prospects for graduates were deemed seriously lacking in quality. As a result, thousands of parents pulled their children out of university and returned them to full-time education, with some even choosing to go back to school themselves to teach their children well.

The trend of opting out of traditional university education continued in America, where hundreds of thousands of children are now being raised without a formal education. In many cases, the children of wealthy families are even being home-schooled, with some private schools opting to have online learning as a supplement to the standard classroom experience.

Traditional Learning Reestablished

Once the world returned to some semblance of normality, with the benefit of safety measures in place, children were able to return to school. The UK government introduced special provisions so that students could continue their studies online, with many universities and colleges opening up for remote learning. In the US, the focus shifted to ensuring that students could complete their degrees, with institutions such as Howard University establishing a Covid-19 task force to assist with the transition to online learning. While some US schools have moved to fully online learning, with Kaplan launching a digital university, others have moved to a hybrid approach, with University of Phoenix establishing a partnership with Google to allow students to complete their studies online.

However, just because schools reopened and students were able to return to learning does not mean that the degree programs of the past remain the same. In fact, much has changed, with online marketing degrees becoming a popular option for students who want to become digital marketers or social media managers. With many institutions moving to online learning, and people needing to continue their education during a time when social distancing is valued above all else, there has been a major shift in how people are gaining knowledge and what institutions can offer.

What Degree to Pursue?

Deciding on which online marketing degree to pursue can be a difficult decision. With so much information available online, the degree pathways are many and varied. In order to make the decision easier, it is important to look at the various options that are available, both in the UK and in America. In the UK, there is the option of a purely digital marketing degree, which focuses on online marketing and conversion optimization. Students can follow a marketing analytics degree pathway, which includes courses in statistical analysis and research methods. Another popular choice is a social media management degree, which can lead to a wide range of careers, including digital marketer, content strategist, and content writer. In America, the demand for marketing graduates is high, with more than 55,000 job postings for marketing managers alone in 2020.

While many are choosing to go down the digital marketing or social media management route, the option of a traditional marketing degree still exists. This option is becoming increasingly popular, with many students showing interest in a marketing degree, but wanting to specialize in a different area. Some of the most popular specializations include e-commerce marketing, branding and advertising, and sales management. With the option of traditional and digital marketing degrees, interested students can find the perfect pathway to continue their education and gain the skills they need to enter the workforce.

Ultimately, the decision to study online marketing will depend on the individual’s needs and career goals. If a student is looking for a flexible option that allows them to continue studying during a time of social distancing, then an online marketing degree may be the perfect option. Alternatively, if a student wants to enter the workforce and gain a good level of expertise, then a digital marketing degree may be the better option. Further degrees in related fields may be achieved via digital marketing and social media management, with a specialist marketing analytics degree also becoming a popular choice. Whatever the decision, with so many pathways available, students can gain the skills they need to succeed in the future.