How to Pick an Online Masters Program

In today's world, where online education has become increasingly common, choosing an online master's degree program can be difficult given the variety of choices available. Master's degree programs are available in a variety of fields. Degrees in business and education tend be fairly common. Master's degree programs tend to be shorter in length than bachelor's and doctorate programs, so completing one of these online is fairly simple for most graduate students.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine which field of study you wish to pursue. You do not have to pursue a master's degree in the field in which you obtained your undergraduate degree. The master's degree is not necessarily an extension of your undergraduate studies.

    • 2

      Research programs of interest to you that line up with your current interests and career goals. Things to consider in your research include cost, available financial aid resources of the school, length of the program, prerequisite courses you will need to take to get into the program and accreditation. In researching accreditation, schools that are regionally accredited by an agency associated with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are preferable. Regionally accredited schools are generally held to a higher standard than nationally accredited schools. Accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) can also be considered desirable. Some schools will obtain accreditation from both, while others will only obtain it from one.

    • 3

      Compare similar master's degree programs to determine which is best for your career path. Some schools offer both an online Master of Business Administration and other similar degrees like the Master of Management or Master of Leadership. All of these degrees require different coursework, have different emphases and are intended for people on slightly different career paths. Determine which is most appropriate for your career goals.

    • 4

      Contact faculty members who teach courses that you will be taking. Most faculty members are willing to talk to inquiring students. Ask them about how they structure their courses, what types of exams they offer, how many papers are generally required and how accessible the instructors tend to be throughout the duration of the semester. If you are entering a field where you may potentially move on to pursue a doctorate, learn about their research interests and accomplishments. You will likely be working closely with these professors, and their research interests should line up with yours, if possible.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved