Online Masters Programs

[Dan Wambaugh]

Andrew,

Here in Charlotte I know a couple where the husband works as a police officer in Kalamazoo and the wife is a graduate student at MSU. They each have approximately an hour commute, but they make it work. There's certainly no substitute for a degree from a good school, especially if you plan to use that degree to eventually teach.


Best,

[High Private]

Online Masters Programs

Friends,

I just recently finished my undergraduate degree and would like to pursue further education in American History. The hitch is, with my wife being in school I am unable to move to go to school, and I have to work full time anyway. So I was wondering if any of you have had experiences with online masters programs. Are they legitimate? Reliable? All help and thoughts are welcome. Thanks so much.

[fahtz]

Re: Online Masters Programs

As a holder of a Master's degree from a major university I would ask one questions of yourself; "What do I want to do with this degree?" The two first questions I get asked by people I meet in my field are; "Where are you working now?" and "Where did you get your graduate training?". Academics are like that I guess... :D

If you get online with a major university like Va Tech, WV, or anyother big state school, your degree will mean something. Alot of state schools now offer a distance education program, you just need to find one that has it for History.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: Online Masters Programs

From second hand experiences from good friends, both Norwich University and American Military University offer excellent online master's programs.

[High Private]

Re: Online Masters Programs

Mitch and Ross,

Thank you both for your suggestions. My ultimate goal would be to work through the masters degree and eventually get a doctorate so I could teach at a university level. I definitely want to earn the degree from a place that holds some weight in the academic community. Anyway, thank you both for your help.

[Dan Wambaugh]

Re: Online Masters Programs

Andrew,

Have you checked with MSU as to whether they offer an online master's program for history? My brother and another friend both achieved their masters degrees in education entirely online. Michigan requires all their teachers achieve masters degrees within a certain amount of years, so certainly the demand for that sort of program is high, but perhaps they have the history program available as well.


Best,

[jake.koch]

Re: Online Masters Programs

I am currently a masters student. My profs have all had nothing good to say about online programs, especially if you plan to get a Phd. They look at them as a joke, and have refered to them as degree factories. In their opinion most Phd programs won't except someone that got a degree from an online type program.

I myself have no experience or opinion one way or another, just passing this along from what I have heard. One of the strongest critics is a member of my thesis committee that had Gary Gallagher for a dissertation advisor, so I would tend to think he knows what he is talking about. I am not knoking on the education you would recieve from an online program, I am just saying it may not be the best route to take if you want to get a Phd.

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Online Masters Programs

Like, Jake, I have not heard much positive out of people who currently hold PhD's in history regarding the online history programs offered by the usual suspects. Though none have mentioned Norwich. Unfortunately, in my brief Google searching it does not look like Michigan State can help you out.

However, one thing you may also consider, depending on where you live and what type of work you do, most graduate courses are in the late afternoons (post-3:00 PM) or evenings. Something to consider.

Good luck!!

Emmanuel "Only One More Year Left in this Master's in Public History/Museum Studies Program" Dabney

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Online Masters Programs

Hello all,
I have asked the same questions about the online degree programs and a friend of mine who has a PHD in education has moved around the country teaching said that a majority of the people who have those on line PHD's degrees applications wind up in the trash can .I think some online classes are not going to hurt you, but I would not take all of them that way.

[High Private]

Re: Online Masters Programs

Friends,

I want to thank each of you for your input on this matter. Before asking my question here I had literally done hours of searches for history programs through state schools and other large universities. I thought maybe I was missing something, but it would appear that there really are only a few online schools offering such programs. Since I am hoping to pursue a PhD in the future I guess for now I will wait until I can move close enough to a school to work on the degree. Many thanks.