| A master's degree gives students training and | | | | seek positions as education experts in their field. |
| education in a specialized field of expertise with | | | | Online education masters degree programs |
| greater depth than studying for a bachelors | | | | provide educators with the opportunity to seek |
| degree. Students pursuing a master's degree | | | | advanced education while maintaining their current |
| traditionally need to hold a bachelors degree and | | | | positions and tenure in the field. |
| commit to one to six years of study in a | | | | Master of Science (M.S.). A master of science can |
| particular field. Online education masters degree | | | | be earned in a variety of research, education and |
| programs make it easier for working business | | | | health care fields. Pursuing an M.S. degree usually |
| professionals to complete their education and | | | | involves independent study as well field work. |
| attain advanced positions in their field. | | | | Graduates are employed in careers such as |
| Masters degrees definitely afford individuals an | | | | research, health care, education and more. Certain |
| opportunity to increase their earning potential. The | | | | M.S. Programs prepare students to enter |
| U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the | | | | doctorate study to become employed in positions |
| average weekly earnings for a masters degree | | | | such as physicians and health care administrators. |
| holder are $1,102, which is $200 more than people | | | | Online education masters degree programs give |
| holding a bachelors degree. These statistics | | | | busy doctors, nurses and scientists the chance to |
| further reveal that only 5.9 percent of adults in | | | | practice in the field while attaining higher degrees. |
| America hold a masters degree. | | | | Master of Arts (M.A.). A masters degree in the |
| Online education masters degree programs may | | | | arts is often considered to be a terminal degree. |
| consist of any combination of advanced study | | | | This means that graduates are prepared to enter |
| courses, internships and independent research, | | | | their chosen field and no further degree is needed |
| such as a thesis. Some master's degree programs | | | | to advance professionally. For example, the |
| enable students to go directly into a career, | | | | Master of Fine Arts (MFA) enables graduates to |
| others require internships or additional credentials | | | | enter directly into careers such as a |
| and some prepare students to enter doctoral | | | | photographers, sculptor, creative writer and |
| degree programs. To fulfill the requirements of a | | | | painter. An M.A. gives a greater level of distinction, |
| masters degree program, students must attend | | | | expertise accomplishment to those working in the |
| between 30 to 60 semester hours, which may be | | | | fine arts and can even qualify people to educate |
| completed online between 15 and 36 months. | | | | others on artistic pursuits. |
| Masters degrees are differentiated by | | | | Financial aid is readily available for all types of |
| post-nominal letters that indicated the level of | | | | online education masters degree programs. |
| academic achievement, honor or office a student | | | | Students can find out about tuition reimbursement |
| has earned. The most common areas of online | | | | from their employers, especially in fields such as |
| education masters degree study are: | | | | health care that need more certified people in |
| Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). The | | | | certain professions. Federal and state grants and |
| National Postsecondary Student Aid Study | | | | loans may be available, such as Stafford Loans. |
| determined that about one in five students | | | | There are also private students loans through |
| seeking to earn a master's degree pursue an | | | | entities such as Citibank. Certain online education |
| M.B.A. The masters degree in business | | | | programs offer payment plans to students who |
| administration is research-oriented and involves | | | | are unable to pay a lump sum at the beginning of |
| independent study and achievement. Online | | | | the semester. Finally, there are a wealth of |
| education masters degree programs give business | | | | scholarships available to students willing to apply |
| executives the ability to fit educational | | | | and pursue them. Financial assistance is readily |
| advancement into their schedules at their | | | | available for students who want to attend online |
| convenience. Further, according to "Taking the | | | | education masters degree programs. |
| E-Train" by Douglas Bartholomew there are quite | | | | The increased availability of financial aid coupled |
| a few opportunities for business networking and | | | | with the convenience and flexibility of online |
| making professional connections through online | | | | education masters degree programs have made it |
| education. | | | | easier for more people to earn advanced degrees. |
| Master of Education (MEd, MAT, MSEd). According | | | | "Earned Degrees Conferred by Gender, 1870 to |
| to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, | | | | 2000" revealed that between 1970 and 2000, the |
| about 28 percent of students study for a | | | | number of masters degrees earned by women |
| masters degree with a focus on education. There | | | | increased over 220 percent. The number of |
| are several specialization that students can | | | | masters degrees awarded to men increased 53 |
| choose, including elearning, corporate training, | | | | percent. According to the College Board 2006, |
| teaching and administration. Graduates can pursue | | | | these graduates are certain to benefit from |
| careers as teachers, in technology or as principals | | | | obtaining an advanced degree as only 6% of the |
| and administrators or pursue doctoral degrees to | | | | population have one. |