Many inquisitive undergraduates notice that the bachelor's degree may not be enough to get to where they need to be - an online masters degree can be just the right choice. In many professions beyond medicine and law, a postgraduate degree is essential.
How can you take the time and effort to engage in a highly demanding course of studies if you have bills to pay and a family to feed? Thousands of people have discovered the answer to the postgraduate blues: the online master degree.
If a bachelor's degree is your standard ticket to a solid career, an online masters degree proves that you are a remarkable student who has mastered authoritative knowledge in your specialized field.
To help you decide if earning a master degree online is for you, eDegreeSteps offers this primer.
Postgraduate study is ideal for the distance-learning environment in many ways, allowing you flexibility in scheduling your classes and completing your projects at your own pace.
And because so many excellent universities are offering post grad opportunities online today, pursuing your masters degree online is an intelligent, more affordable choice.
It gives committed, independent-minded, and motivated students more options without having to consider geographical restrictions.
Although some post grad programs may require some residency, most offer all of their demanding curricula online so you never have to commute to classes. You will also be held to the same exacting standards as with traditional graduate courses.
More than ever, a masters degree earned online carries the same respect as a traditional masters degree, but you earn it on your terms.
While not every graduate program is suitable for distance-learning, many others are ideally suited for independent study and infrequent face time.
If you hold a masters degree, your résumé will usually find its way to the top, leading to more earning power over the course of your career. A masters degree also qualifies you for promotion and the higher pay and benefits that come with success.
Earning your masters degree is essential if you plan on a career role in leadership or administration, or if you wish to pursue your doctorate.
Many of the colleagues and professors you will meet in an online masters degree program have valuable connections to business and industry that you can use after graduation to forward your career.
In addition, your graduate school mentors can be among the most influential in your life and career, molding you in new and better ways to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
Masters programs are generally divided into 2 main categories, Master of Arts and Master of Science. Prerequisites vary, depending on the program you choose. Some graduate programs are competitive, accepting only students who have high GPAs.
Most students applying for graduate school must take a standardized test called Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), which may weigh heavily on a student's acceptance into a graduate program.
On the other hand, many graduate programs are tailored to working professionals and designed entirely online, and most universities offer special perks and financial aid to qualified graduate students.
Most online masters degree programs take about 2 years to complete, culminating in a written thesis, a comprehensive exam, or a practicum.
You will take advanced courses in your core field of study, as well as elective courses designed to enhance your core studies and postgraduate expectations.
Most graduate-level college courses have higher academic standards than their undergraduate counterparts. As a graduate student, you will be expected to work harder, provide more in-depth analysis and understanding, conduct both independent and collaborative research, and work closely with faculty mentors.
Succeeding in an online masters degree program requires motivation, discipline, and determination, not to mention a knack for using technology to study, communicate, and research.
Earning a master degree online will help you secure more career stability and success and increase your earning power drastically.
Many postgraduates go on to careers as top administrators, managers, teachers, artists, and community leaders. The only limit is your ambition and commitment.
Some masters degree programs are considered terminal degrees, while in other fields, you can pursue even further study in doctorate programs, the highest level of academic achievement.
Overall, earning your online masters degree could be your passport to a scintillating career.