Online Graduate Programs

1630 Words4 Pages

Online Graduate Programs

Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in the number of students enrolled in online graduate programs. Before online graduate programs existed, an undergraduate student could only receive a graduate degree if they physically attended a university. However, with the improvements in technology, students can now receive a graduate degree from their home by simply attending lectures online, and submitting their work through email to the professor. Although there are conflicting ideas about whether or not a student can retain the same amount of information from an online program as opposed to attending a graduate school, research shows that online graduate programs are equally as effective as graduate schools.

Although online graduate programs have been proven to be as effective as graduate schools, there a still a few problems with the system of online education. A major problem that people consider about online graduate programs is that there is no physical interaction between the student and professor. For many people, the student and teacher interaction is the main reason why they choose to attend a graduate school because they feel that without this interaction, they will not be able to have their questions answered.

However, although there is a lack of physical contact between the student and professor for online graduate programs, there are other forms of communication for them to engage in. For online graduate programs, professors often give out their personal email address as well as phone numbers for which they can easily be contacted through.

Students find that communicating through email is just as effective as being in a classroom environment. Through email stud...

... middle of paper ...

..., p. 402.

Berz, Martin. (2000). The Michigan State University M.S. and Ph. D Online Degree Program in Beam Physics. Quatery Review of Distance Education, Vol 1 issue 4, pp. 345-350.

Best of Online Grad Programs. (2001 November 15). U.S. News and World Report, 131, p.62.

“Can We Have Our Cake and Eat it Too?” (2003). Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, Vol 6 issue 4.

Coates, Dennis. (October 2004). No Significant Distance. Economics of Education Review, Vol 23 issue 5, p. 533.

Comeaux, Patricia. (2002). Communication and Collaboration in the Online Classroom. Towson Library Catalog, Vol 34, p. 281.

Faculty Mentoring Boosts Online Enrollment and Retention. (March 2004). Recruitment and Retention in Higher Education, Vol 18 issue 3, p.5.

The Online Grad Programs. (2002 November 28). U.S. News and World Report, Vol 133 issue 16, p. 64.

Open Document