10 celebrities who studied online

Studying online is a great option for those on the go, with jobs, children or other everyday responsibilities. The flexibility of online study is particularly favored by the famous for its convenience and privacy. Here are 10 celebrities who chose to undertake a course online:

1. Steven Spielberg

The Director of over 50 movies and TV shows, screenwriter, producer, co-founder of DreamWorks movie studio and 3 time Oscar winner is perhaps best known for Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, Jaws, ET and Jurassic Park. In 1968 Spielberg dropped out of California State University to concentrate on creating films, however in 2002 he graduated from the same University with a BA in Film Production and Electronic Arts after finishing his study through independent projects and distance learning courses. The school accepted Schindler’s List in place of the required 12-minute short film needed to complete the course.

2. James Franco

Known best for his acting, with roles in Pineapple Express, 127 Hours and Spider-Man, James Franco has had an amazing education for a freshman dropout. In 2006 Franco re-enrolled at UCLA receiving a BA, then attended grad school at Columbia in a Writing Program, the NYU Tisch School of the Arts in Filmmaking, Brooklyn College for Fiction Writing, Warren Wilson College for Poetry and most recently attained a Ph.D in English at Yale University and a Ph.D in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Houston.

The famous, actor-writer-director is so passionate about online learning that he’s now interested in teaching an online course. Currently a Professor at UCLA teaching graduate filmmaking and screenwriting classes, Franco says “I teach at UCLA and USC and Cal Arts (universities) but I’m gonna do an online filmmaking class… UCLA and USC are two of the best film schools in the world and it’s hard to get in, it’s expensive, so I like the idea of also teaching people that can’t afford that or can’t get in.”

3. Nelson Mandela

When working as a clerk in a Johannesburg legal firm, Nelson Mandela completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, correspondence style, through the University of South Africa. As no stranger to distance education, while incarcerated, the Nobel Peace Prize winner studied for a Bachelor’s in Law from the University of London’s External Degree Programme.

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can choose to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

4. Marcia Cross

Most famous for her roles on Melrose Place and Desperate Housewives, Marcia Cross took online courses through Antioch University and obtained a Master’s in Psychology over a long stretch between filming Seinfeld, Melrose Place, Spin City and CSI, between 1997 and 2003 right before her gig as Desperate Housewife Bree Van de Kamp began in 2004.

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Mr. Universe, Mr. Olympia, Governor and super-star actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger is best known for his roles in The Terminator, Total Recall and Predator. Attending college courses as a recent immigrant to the US at Santa Monica College in the early 70’s, Schwarzenegger obtained a B.A. in Business and International Economics in 1979 through distance learning from the University of Wisconsin – Superior.