A definite consideration with any master degree online is of course the residency requirement. 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 be required by some to put in at least a few hours in a classroom or lab.
You might be wondering why you should even consider these types of online programs. There are many reasons for picking such programs. First of all, a master degree online with some element of classroom learning permits you to do better networking.
Naturally, networking is much more effective face-to-face. 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. This can speed up the exchange of knowledge, among other things. Because of the convenient and self-paced online environment, people tend to take their own time responding to you.
Some programs just seem to be made for residencies. This is because they have a strong focus on practical learning. There is great focus on practical experience in some programs and so the programs that offer online students a fair amount of lab opportunities would be ideal.
This is not as important in fields where knowledge takes preference. Online delivery of all information is entirely possible for some programs. Residencies are not important in these instances.
Should you see the benefits of a residency, you need to consider just how much time you can commit to it. Each school has a different residency requirement. The course could be divided equally between the institution and the internet.
People whose commitments limit the time they have for campus study need to seek out courses with low residency expectations. There are programs that offer a couple of days per semester in their residencies. There are courses that require just one semester out of all the years of study.
The hybrid versions of these residencies are those that have a high on-campus course component. You must take your limitations into account though, no matter what program you choose. Online programs are after all, attractive because of the lack of campus attendance requirements.
How far you are in relation to the institution's classrooms is a huge concern when one thinks of the residencies offered by master degree online programs. You will be inclined to take lower residency requirements should you be too far from the institution's base. You can then be spared to cost of your effort and also the travel.
