Online Education Master's Degrees

A master's degree gives students training and education

in a specialized field of expertise with greater depth

than studying for a bachelors degree. Students pursuing

a master's degree traditionally need to hold a

bachelors degree and commit to one to six years of

study in a particular field. Online education masters

degree programs make it easier for working business

professionals to complete their education and attain

advanced positions in their field.



Masters degrees definitely afford individuals an

opportunity to increase their earning potential. The

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the

average weekly earnings for a masters degree holder are

$1,102, which is $200 more than people holding a

bachelors degree. These statistics further reveal that

only 5.9 percent of adults in America hold a masters

degree.

Online education masters degree programs may consist of

any combination of advanced study courses, internships

and independent research, such as a thesis. Some

master's degree programs enable students to go directly

into a career, others require internships or additional

credentials and some prepare students to enter doctoral

degree programs. To fulfill the requirements of a

masters degree program, students must attend between 30

to 60 semester hours, which may be completed online

between 15 and 36 months.

Masters degrees are differentiated by post-nominal

letters that indicated the level of academic

achievement, honor or office a student has earned. The

most common areas of online education masters degree

study are:

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). The

National Postsecondary Student Aid Study determined

that about one in five students seeking to earn a

master's degree pursue an M.B.A. The masters degree in

business administration is research-oriented and

involves independent study and achievement. Online

education masters degree programs give business

executives the ability to fit educational advancement

into their schedules at their convenience. Further,

according to "Taking the E-Train" by Douglas

Bartholomew there are quite a few opportunities for

business networking and making professional connections

through online education.

Master of Education (MEd, MAT, MSEd). According to the

National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, about 28

percent of students study for a masters degree with a

focus on education. There are several specialization

that students can choose, including elearning,

corporate training, teaching and administration.

Graduates can pursue careers as teachers, in technology

or as principals and administrators or pursue doctoral

degrees to seek positions as education experts in their

field. Online education masters degree programs provide

educators with the opportunity to seek advanced

education while maintaining their current positions and

tenure in the field.

Master of Science (M.S.). A master of science can be

earned in a variety of research, education and health

care fields. Pursuing an M.S. degree usually involves

independent study as well field work. Graduates are

employed in careers such as research, health care,

education and more. Certain M.S. Programs prepare

students to enter doctorate study to become employed in

positions such as physicians and health care

administrators. Online education masters degree

programs give busy doctors, nurses and scientists the

chance to practice in the field while attaining higher

degrees.

Master of Arts (M.A.). A masters degree in the arts is

often considered to be a terminal degree. This means

that graduates are prepared to enter their chosen field

and no further degree is needed to advance

professionally. For example, the Master of Fine Arts

(MFA) enables graduates to enter directly into careers

such as a photographers, sculptor, creative writer and

painter. An M.A. gives a greater level of distinction,

expertise accomplishment to those working in the fine

arts and can even qualify people to educate others on

artistic pursuits.

Financial aid is readily available for all types of

online education masters degree programs. Students can

find out about tuition reimbursement from their

employers, especially in fields such as health care

that need more certified people in certain professions.

Federal and state grants and loans may be available,

such as Stafford Loans. There are also private students

loans through entities such as Citibank. Certain online

education programs offer payment plans to students who

are unable to pay a lump sum at the beginning of the

semester. Finally, there are a wealth of scholarships

available to students willing to apply and pursue them.

Financial assistance is readily available for students

who want to attend online education masters degree

programs.

The increased availability of financial aid coupled

with the convenience and flexibility of online

education masters degree programs have made it easier

for more people to earn advanced degrees. "Earned

Degrees Conferred by Gender, 1870 to 2000" revealed

that between 1970 and 2000, the number of masters

degrees earned by women increased over 220 percent. The

number of masters degrees awarded to men increased 53

percent. According to the College Board 2006, these

graduates are certain to benefit from obtaining an

advanced degree as only 6% of the population have one.

Summitlearners.com [http://www.summitlearners.com] is

the leading resource for people wanting to learn

Online. They offer detailed information on online

education master's degrees

[http://www.summitlearners.com/masters-education-

online/master-degree-education-online].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?

expert=David_Doughlas_Powell

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/476217