Whether you are looking to a residency program or not should also be on your mind when you consider a master degree online. 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. Some actually do require you to spend some hours in a physical classroom or lab.
At this point you might be thinking that it is not necessary to even explore the ones that require this time commitment. These programs actually appeal for many reasons. The number one reason is of course improved networking among master degree online students who engage occasionally in a physical classroom.
Face-to-face interaction is of course the best method for networking. This is the advantage of programs with opportunities like these. There are also academic benefits from this increased interaction.
It is easier to ask for help from your peers and professors if they are within your reach. There is speedy exchange of knowledge. There is sometimes a lag in the response time online.
Furthermore, some courses are just better off with residencies. This is because they have a strong focus on practical learning. Some courses place a great value on practical experience, and if yours does as well then you should definitely choose an online program that offers a lot of classroom time.
Take note that this may not be as urgent if you are in a field that is knowledge-based. These programs are fully capable of delivering the entire program online. In cases like this students don’t worry too much about residencies.
Should you see the benefits of a residency, you need to consider just how much time you can commit to it. The residencies are different for each school. You could be expected to do half the course online, the other half practically on site.
Time being a huge factor, those who don’t have too much to spare will seek out programs that are not too demanding residency wise. It's possible to find programs with just a few days in a semester as part of their residency component. Others have single-semester requirements for the entire program.
These programs also have 'big brother' versions that demand a lot of time on campus. You must take your limitations into account though, no matter what program you choose. After all, a lot of people pick an online program to spare themselves the trouble of having to go to campus, among other things.
Of course one of the biggest concerns with regards to the residencies offered by master degree online programs is your distance from the actual institution. The further you are from the institution, the less likely you are to take up too many residence requirements. Not only will this spare you all the effort, it will also help you avoid the travel costs.
