Online Masters Degree

As more positions require job seekers to have a minimum of a Bachelors degrees, Masters degrees have become a sought-after commodity. But how can you get one if you can't take time off work to go to school? Or if you don't work regular hours? In response to the growing demand, online Masters degrees have popped up, allowing anyone to pursue a graduate degree.

While not all majors are available in purely online degree programs, more are being added every day. At this point, however, there are a number of degrees you can expect to find easily.

The Masters in Business Administration is probably one of the most popular and sought after online degrees. For those who are looking to make the next move in management, this is often the choice. Some schools offer Business degrees with specializations, including Communications, Accounting/Financial, Organizational Management, Human Resources Management, or Project Management.

There are several different options for a Masters in Education. Some schools offer a Master of Arts, others offer a Master of Science. What's the difference? Not much - it's normally just a classification within the school. Specialties within Education include Curriculum, Technology, and Instruction.

These are Master of Science degrees, and while the exact name and specialties may vary, most will be Information Technology or Information Systems degrees.

These degrees run the gamut from Master of Science Nursing degrees to Master of Science Psychology degrees to Master of Science Healthcare Administration or Management degrees. Some nursing degrees may not be completely online. Depending on the program, you may be asked to partner with a local university or hospital to do clinical work.

While not one of the easiest degrees to find, the Master of Science in Criminal Justice is becoming a popular choice.

Art degrees are notoriously hard to find online, however as times change, more are appearing. Many require residencies, but that is not true of all of them. Some different art degrees being offered are Master of Arts in Liberal Arts, English, Professional Writing, Graphic Design, and Computer Animation.

Depending on the university offering the class, the length of a course can vary. Classes can take anywhere from six weeks to the "normal" sixteen-week semester undergraduate degrees usually entail. Quarters are popular, with schools usually offering four 10-week quarters with a shorter summer term.

While many online masters degrees are completely online, art and English degrees often require residencies. A residency requires you to be on campus for a specified amount of time. During a residency, you may attend seminars, meet with advisors, and get feedback on works in progress. Residencies are not normally optional, so if you enroll in a degree program that requires them, you will need to be there, with no excuses or exceptions. Residencies can vary from one weekend a month to two weeks a term. Residencies may be on the campus of the school or at different locations, including international options.

The list below is just a sample of the schools offering online degrees. Many local universities also offer one or two online degrees, so make sure you check your local options!

• University of Phoenix
• Strayer University
• American InterContinental University Online
• Keller Graduate School of Management
• Kaplan University
• Baker College Online
• The Art Institute Online

Just like any other degree, the cost can vary. Public universities' tuition and fees are often less than private universities. Extra fees for technology are not uncommon for online classes, so don't be surprised to see any on your fee statement. You can pay anything from $400 a class to $400 a credit hour, making a 3 credit hour course a $1,200 investment. Costs can be higher or lower, and financial aid is available for most degrees, although available aid may depend on whether you're enrolled as a part-time or full-time student.

If you're not ready to take the plunge to a fully online degree, don't be dissuaded from pursuing a graduate degree. Many programs offer one-night a week programs, or a mix of online and on-campus courses, allowing freedom for the attendee.

Be careful of non-legitimate diploma mills offering meaningless degrees. If you see an offer that seems too good to be true, it is. Degrees that are 100% "life-experience" based, or that mention "novelty degree" anywhere in the fine print are not real degrees. These diplomas may cost anywhere from $100 and up. Several will offer a special phone number that is answered by a person who will confirm the degree to potential and current employers. While these may seem to be a good idea with a fast return, they are not considered legitimate degrees.

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