When looking for a master degree online you should be thinking about whether or not you want one with a residency requirement. Not all online degree programs are limited entirely to the online environment. There are quite a few with actual class time requirements.
Now you might be asking yourself if it is worth pondering programs with this requirement. Actually, there are a number of reasons to do this. 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. As such, it may prove to be to your advantage to get a program that has more opportunities for these. Furthermore, you may benefit from the heightened interaction too 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. Interacting with people online often leads to slow response time as this communication is seldom seen as urgent.
Furthermore, some courses are just better off with residencies. This is because they have a strong focus on practical learning. So if your course is in a field where a great focus is on practical experience, then naturally you would look for programs that encompass a large amount of lab time.
Of course if your field is knowledge based this isn't too much of a concern. It is truly possible for some programs to deliver entire courses 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. Each school has a different residency requirement. The course could be divided equally between the institution and the internet.
Those who cannot afford to spend too much time in a campus due to other commitments should look for courses with lower residency needs. Only a few days per semester are required by some programs. There are courses that require just one semester out of all the years of study.
These programs also have 'big brother' versions that demand a lot of time on campus. Whatever you decide, a primary consideration should naturally be your own limits. Online programs are after all, attractive because of the lack of campus attendance requirements.
A major concern when looking at residencies involved in a master degree online program is how far you are from the institution’s physical classrooms. You will be inclined to take lower residency requirements should you be too far from the institution's base. Not only will this spare you all the effort, it will also help you avoid the travel costs.
