When thinking about a master degree online you should simultaneously be thinking about the residency requirements of the program. If you are new to the master degree online environment you might not be aware of the fact that online degrees are not all entirely online-based. 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 a couple of reasons actually, why these programs should be of interest. Increased networking opportunities are definitely an advantage of a master degree online that entails classroom engagements.
It is easier to facilitate networking when you put people in the same room. This is the distinct benefit of programs that allow for this. In addition, students also benefit academically.
It is easier to ask for help from your peers and professors if they are within your reach. Among other factors, there is greater speed at which knowledge is shared. Because of the convenient and self-paced online environment, people tend to take their own time responding to you.
Some courses just function better with residencies. The emphasis on experience and practice is a reason for this. 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.
Some fields are knowledge-based, making class and lab time less urgent. It is truly possible for some programs to deliver entire courses online. In that case, residencies are not as important for the student.
If you do find that a residency can enhance your education, think about how much of it you want to do. 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. There are programs that offer a couple of days per semester in their residencies. Others have single-semester requirements for the entire program.
For high on-campus study you would be looking at one of the hybrid versions. Be sure that whatever you choose is in line with your realistic capabilities. After all, a lot of people pick an online program to spare themselves the trouble of having to go to campus, among other things.
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. 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.
