{"id":624,"date":"2023-11-17T10:00:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T18:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=624"},"modified":"2024-08-05T18:49:22","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T01:49:22","slug":"getting-a-degree-while-in-the-military","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/getting-a-degree-while-in-the-military\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting a degree while in the military: What you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A

Albert Diaz is a graduate of Oregon State University, as is his wife, Samantha (foreground). Albert earned a postbaccalaureate degree in computer science online after serving in the Navy.<\/p><\/div>\n

A Navy veteran and Oregon State graduate shares tips on how to balance life while earning a degree online<\/h2>\n

Six years in the U.S. Navy gave Albert Diaz<\/a> a lifetime of experiences, knowledge and friendships from coast to coast. It was a demanding time for him and his family.<\/p>\n

When he transitioned to civilian life, he wanted more of the same.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Diaz, using his Post-9\/11 G.I. Bill<\/a>, enrolled with Oregon State University to pursue a postbaccalaureate degree in computer science online<\/a>. It\u2019s a considerable workload for a father of three and husband. And he uses the in-demand computer science skills he gained in his work as a cybersecurity analyst.<\/p>\n

Now that Albert has his degree, here\u2019s his advice for active duty members, veterans and their families who are thinking about learning online and getting a degree while in the military.<\/p>\n

Family support means everything<\/h3>\n

\u201cAt one point my wife, Samantha, and I were both attending Oregon State online. I was working full time, taking part-time classes, and she was taking part-time classes. We had two kids with one on the way.<\/p>\n

Military work ethic comes in handy<\/h3>\n

\u201cWorking full time and taking classes is difficult, but the organizational skills, discipline and time-management skills I learned in the military are very helpful. The military instilled a grit in me that has helped me push forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learning from faculty members who care<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe instructors go far beyond what you would expect. They\u2019re really involved and care about our education, and when they\u2019re willing to put in the work, it helps me want to put in the work.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can do it, too<\/h3>\n

\u201cMy advice to active duty military or veterans who are considering pursuing a degree is do it. It may look intimidating, but it\u2019s definitely worth the time and effort. There\u2019s a strong military community at Oregon State.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Discover how Oregon State University supports <\/em>military-affiliated students<\/em><\/a> who learn online, and explore the degrees, certificates and microcredentials OSU delivers at a distance.<\/em><\/p>\n

Browse 100+ programs<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 2<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>Six years in the Navy gave Albert Diaz a lifetime of experiences and knowledge. When he decided to pursue his degree online, he wanted more of the same. Here\u2019s his advice for military personnel who are thinking about learning online.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2415,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6,16,672],"tags":[120],"class_list":["post-624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-ecampus","category-military","category-learning-experience","tag-military"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/albert-diaz-military-student.jpg?fit=800%2C449&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-a4","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":689,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/diaz-family-stater\/","url_meta":{"origin":624,"position":0},"title":"On the right track: Hard work and online learning with OSU Ecampus help this family to a better life","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"December 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"When Albert Diaz gets home and his kids are asleep, he\u2019ll study alongside the only Oregon State student he has met face-to-face: his wife, Samantha, a psychology major. She was the first in the family to enroll with OSU Ecampus. They have never set foot on the Oregon State campus.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Albert Diaz lifts up his son Gabriel and the two laugh.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Albert-Diaz.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Albert-Diaz.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Albert-Diaz.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1776,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/2021-graduation-preview\/","url_meta":{"origin":624,"position":1},"title":"To the Oregon State Ecampus Class of 2021, your time has come","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"June 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"June 2021 is the month you officially become a college graduate, the one in which you\u2019ll put a celebratory bow on all of your hard work and perseverance. You\u2019re primed to enter a community of thousands of Oregon State Ecampus graduates who are out there, changing the world.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A large black sign surrounded by red brick that reads \"Oregon State University\" in white lettering.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":222,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/samantha-diaz\/","url_meta":{"origin":624,"position":2},"title":"Bringing out the best in others","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"August 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"When Samantha Diaz enrolled online with Oregon State Ecampus, she was a new mom with a job and a husband in the military. Over the years, her family added two more children and moved across the country twice. Through all of life\u2019s twists, she thrived as a distance student and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Samantha Diaz and husband Albert Diaz walk together. 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By earning your bachelor\u2019s degree, you could earn as much as $1 million more than someone with a high school diploma over the course of a career.","rel":"","context":"In "Advancing Your Career"","block_context":{"text":"Advancing Your Career","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/learning-experience\/advancing-your-career\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A bar chart showing the financial benefits of a college degree, based on April 2026 median yearly full-time earnings and educational attainment according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 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