Question: What Should I Consider When Choosing an Online Graduate Program
Some basic considerations apply for both traditional brick-and-mortar programs and online programs. Other apply mainly to online graduate programs. Consider each of these factors.
Answer:
Residency Requirement
Many online programs entail a residency requirement in which students and faculty are to meet as a group for a day or two at a time, to a weekend every few months, to several weeks each year. Learn about the residency requirement, when it is typically scheduled, and what is entailed.
Interactions
- How much interaction can you expect from instructors? Students?
- Are classes discussion-based, thereby permitting more contact with faculty and students?
Course Format
- What software platform does the graduate program use (e.g., WebCT)?
- While course format will vary by instructor, what course components are possible?
- Does the course management software permit audio and video lectures? Web cams? Synchronous communication (allowing students and instructor to interact in real time by web cam, chat, or other technology)?
Comprehensive Exams
- What are the program milestones?
- Are comprehensive exams required?
- When are they administered?
- What happens if students fail?
- What is the content of these exams?
- How much guidance are students given?
Theses and Dissertations
- Is a thesis or dissertation required?
- What form might a thesis or dissertation take?
- Must a thesis or dissertation be empirically based or may it consist of a literature review?
- How are thesis and dissertation advisers assigned?
- What about thesis and dissertation committees?
Faculty
- Who are the faculty?
- What are their qualifications?
- Do they publish? In what fields?
- Does their work interest you?
- Is that any faculty member(s) that you'd like to work with?
- What is their experience?
- How long have they taught at that institution?
- Do they have experience elsewhere?
- Are they active in applied activities (if relevant)?
- What is the student-instructor ratio in class and outside of class?
- How many students does each faculty member typically advise? v
- How many courses does each faculty member typically teach?
- How much time does it appear that faculty have for advising students?
Institution
- Is it accredited? By what organization(s)?
- What is the reputation?
- How many programs are offered?
- How long as it been in existence?
- Library resources?
- Access to applied opportunities (e.g., internships)?
