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. Some time is needed to be spent in the lab or classroom.
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. First of all, a master degree online with some element of classroom learning permits you to do better networking.
Face-to-face interaction is of course the best method for networking. This is the distinct benefit of programs that allow for this. There are also academic benefits from this increased interaction.
Naturally it is much better to be able to ask for help from people who are in the same room as you. Ideas and knowledge are shared quickly. Interacting with people online often leads to slow response time as this communication is seldom seen as urgent.
Residencies just seem to be a perfect fit for some courses. This is due to their emphasis on experience or 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.
Knowledge sometimes is the prevailing factor; and where this is the case then physical class time is not a priority. Online delivery of all information is entirely possible for some programs. Residencies are not important in these instances.
Just how great a residency component you wish to include in your studies is the next consideration for those who have deemed it necessary. Each school has a different residency requirement. You could be expected to do half the course online, the other half practically on site.
Obviously if your time doesn’t allow, you need to look for programs with low residency requirements. 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. Whatever you decide, a primary consideration should naturally be your own limits. After all, a lot of people pick an online program to spare themselves the trouble of having to go to campus, among other things.
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. The greater the distance, the fewer residency requirements you are likely to take. You can then be spared to cost of your effort and also the travel.
