Whether you are looking to a residency program or not should also be on your mind when you consider a master degree online. It may not be too well-known with those new to the online masters degree program world, but not all online degrees are purely online. You will need to put in some hours in the class.
At this point you might be thinking that it is not necessary to even explore the ones that require this time commitment. There are a couple of reasons actually, why these programs should be of interest. Obviously where there is physical interaction between students of a master degree online, there is better scope for networking.
Face-to-face interaction is of course the best method for networking. Programs that allow such networking opportunities are advantageous for this reason exactly. In addition, students also benefit academically.
After all, when your peers and professors are within reach, it is easier to ask queries relating to your subjects. Ideas and knowledge are shared quickly. Because of the convenient and self-paced online environment, people tend to take their own time responding to you.
Residencies just gel well with some courses. It could just as well be that these courses have a fundamental focus on the practical side of learning. If you are taking up a course in a field where practical experience is valued, you should look for programs with a good deal of laboratory opportunities even for online students.
Of course if your field is knowledge based this isn't too much of a concern. Some programs really can deliver all the information you need online. Residencies take a backseat in such cases.
You should think about the amount of time you can give to a residency should you be of the opinion that it will enhance your studies. The requirements vary for each school. Some ask you to perform virtually half the course online and half of it offline.
Those who cannot afford to spend too much time in a campus due to other commitments should look for courses with lower residency needs. Some programs actually offer residencies of only a few days per semester. Just one semester out of the whole course is the full residency requirement for some programs.
Hybrid versions take up as much of your time on campus as they do off it. Be sure to take your limits into consideration. We all know that the reason many go with online programs is to avoid going to campus.
Your location in relation to the actual classrooms of the institution are a critical concern when considering the residencies associated with master degree online programs. The farther your location from that base, the lower the residency requirements you may want to take. You can then be spared to cost of your effort and also the travel.
