Overview to Online Graduate Degrees

Thanks to advances in Web technology, online degree programs are becoming a popular way to receive a competitive education. Not only do online programs rival traditional programs in terms of quality, but also the flexibility they offer enables students to meet their employment and childcare responsibilities while pursuing their educational goals.

For many, it is this added convenience of online courses that allows them to finally begin working toward advanced degrees. Unlike traditional students, online students do not waste time or money commuting to campuses, and they don’t have to limit their work schedules in order to be present at classes. Instead, they tend to their course work when it is most convenient for them.

Types of Graduate Degrees

Students can enroll in graduate degree programs after they have earned bachelor’s degrees. There are two types of graduate degrees – master’s degrees and doctorate degrees.

Master’s Degrees:

Typically, a Master of Arts degree (MA) takes two or three years, but some accelerated master’s degree programs can be completed in one year. Many online master’s degree programs can be completed more quickly than traditional programs since online students can take more courses per term given that they can study around the clock.

Master’s degrees are awarded in almost every area of study including liberal arts, social sciences, natural sciences, languages, engineering, education, medicine, and many more.

Those interested in careers as working artists should consider a Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA), a specialized degree to help burgeoning artists develop mastery of their craft. Like most other master’s programs, MFA programs give students the opportunity to develop valuable professional connections that can propel their careers forward after graduation.

Since artistic disciplines are traditionally taught through hands-on instruction, many online MFA programs do require students to periodically attend seminars or workshops on campus – usually referred to as blended or low-residency programs. This structure gives students and faculty members the opportunity to build relationships and discuss the finer points of their contemporary art.  

Doctorate Degrees:

For most fields, the terminal degree (meaning the highest possible degree available) is a doctorate degree. The most common doctorate degree is a PhD, which stands for Doctor of Philosophy. Some fields, however, offer their own doctorate degrees. For example, business students can earn a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) while a doctorate in education is called an EdD. Humanities, engineering and public administration also offer their own doctorate degrees.

Traditionally, doctorate degrees take 4 – 6 years to complete. The first two years of a doctorate degree is dedicated to completing master’s degree requirements, so doctorate candidates that already hold master’s degrees often finish doctorate programs in less time.

As terminal degrees, doctorates usually culminate in a dissertation, a book-length paper accomplished with the guidance of a faculty member. Dissertations are based on considerable academic research, and once completed, doctorate candidates will undergo an oral exam administered by their dissertation committee. This exam is the final step before graduating and being awarded a doctorate degree.

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