How to Get a Master's Degree in Distance Education

Earning a master's degree in distance education means standing at the forefront of pedagogy and technology. With the growing popularity of distance learning, the master's degree in distance education becomes a way to advance your training and keep your skills current with the changing scope of education.

How to Get a Master's Degree in Distance Education

Earning a master's degree in distance education means standing at the forefront of pedagogy and technology. With the growing popularity of distance learning, the master's degree in distance education becomes a way to advance your training and keep your skills current with the changing scope of education.

How to Earn a Master's Degree in Distance Education

Enjoy a graduate level of instruction in the technology and management aspects as they relate to distance education. A distance education master's degree can be completed in 1 to 2 years of full-time study. Students choosing to study part time may take longer to complete a degree.

It's important to spend time researching potential master's degree programs in distance education. The effort you spend beforehand on research is sure to be rewarded as you save on application fees and time, and apply to only the master's degree programs with the greatest applicability to your career. Your first step is to learn the basic distinctions within the major.

Step 1: Learn More About Different Types of Distance Education Majors

No two distance education programs are alike, and the differences begin with the names of the degrees you can earn. Consider the distinctions between distance education master's degrees:

• Master of Distance Education (MDE): A highly targeted master's degree, the MDE is designed specifically for distance education majors. Programs offering the MDE degree may have been created more recently, with the future of distance education in mind.
• Master of Science (MS): Considered a broader degree than the MDE, the MS nevertheless requires targeted research and study from students. You may find MS degrees in instructional technology with a specialization in distance education.
• Master of Arts (MA): This degree is broader than the MDE and offers less scientific, research-heavy work than the MS.

It's perfectly acceptable to search for degree programs from both categories. Both degrees are considered academically equivalent, and while coursework and requirements may differ slightly, you can feel confident in the strength of each degree.

Master's degrees in distance education may have different titles. Take a look at a few alternative degrees:

• MS in Instructional Technology and Distance Education: Because a master's degree in distance education itself is a specialization of an instructional technology master's degree, you may find a degree with both titles.
• MA in Education, Adult Education and Distance Education: This broad degree covers the details of adult learning as well as online education.
• Master's in Education (M.Ed.), Specialization in Teaching Online: Distance education master's degrees are generally not ideal for teachers; this M.Ed. degree is designed with pedagogy in mind.

These are just a sampling of the distance education master's degrees available to students. Whether you choose a general MDE or MS in distance education, or choose one of the listed options, your career goals should help dictate your ideal degree.

Step 2: Choose From Distance Education Specializations

You may choose to pursue a broad master's degree without specialization, or focus your education into one aspect of the distance education field. Here are a few potential specializations for distance education master's degree students:

• Training and teaching: Created for leaders and managers in distance education. Graduates go on to work as online resource managers, online pedagogical experts, and managers or supervisors of online trainers.
• Program and policy management: Ideal for those who wish to work in government policy organizations, private training groups, and schools hoping to implement distance education programs.
• Technology development: Designed to help students create and manage the high-tech side of distance learning. Graduates go on to become course support specialists, technical directors, production managers, and more.

As a general note, the distance education master's degree is not intended for those interested in teaching within a particular subject matter--such as math or science--using distance education. In general, subject-specific master's and doctoral degrees are more appropriate for academic career goals.

Step 3: Choose Between an On-Campus and Online Master's Degree in Distance Education

After you've chosen your major and specialization, you should consider your preferences for how to earn your degree. If you earn a master's degree online, you get the chance to explore the online mode of education while you work toward your degree. Working adults often prefer the online degree method, which makes it easier to keep a full-time job while earning your degree.

Distance education degree programs can also be found on campuses nationwide. Campus-based students enjoy the chance to interact with fellow students, work one-on-one with professors, and learn in a traditional classroom environment. If you prefer working on a team, you may prefer an on-campus degree.

In addition to all-online and all-campus programs, hybrid programs offer a mix of distance learning and campus-based education. The type of degree you choose should be dictated by your learning style, the accessibility of campuses near you, and your personal preferences.

Step 4: Create Your List of Distance Education Master's Degree Programs

Continue your master's degree research by compiling a list of potential colleges and universities. Whether you choose a campus-based, online, or hybrid degree program, you should be able to come up with a list of possibilities. Use these tools to create your list of potential master's degree programs in distance education:

• See WorldWideLearn.com's list of campus-based master's degrees along with their listing of online master's degrees. Use WorldWideLearn.com to establish a list of potential programs and make first contact with the schools.
• U.S. News and World Report maintains its rankings of best education schools. Rankings include education administration and supervision, education policy, and higher education administration.
• Use professional publications to learn more about potential degree programs. Use the University of Wisconsin-Madison's listing of journals and magazines related to distance education.
• The Chronicle of Higher Education maintains the Wired Campus blog, which focuses on issues of distance education. Check this site for industry information, career tips, and degree program information.

Because the distance education master's degree is such a targeted major, it may work in your favor to make a list of general education master's degree programs and find out if they offer the specialization. You may choose to complete a broad education master's degree, limiting your research and thesis to the concept of distance education.

Step 5: Determine Distance Education Master's Degree Accreditation

After you have created a list of potential MDE, MS, and MA programs in distance education, it's essential to confirm the accreditation status of each program. The process of accreditation is carried out by third party agencies, who review a school's financial practices, faculty, and academics and make their findings public. There are many advantages of confirming the accreditation status of each potential program:

• Guarantee the value of your master's degree
• Help ensure that hiring managers respect your years of training
• Take advantage of financial aid and transfer your credits to other institutions

Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Education makes it easy to confirm accreditation status for each school. Use their accreditation search feature to search by school name, location, or accrediting agency. Whether you choose to earn a master's degree online or on-campus, confirming a school's accreditation status is an important step. For more information about accreditation, see WorldWideLearn.com's Accreditation Answers page.

Step 6: Organize Potential Schools Into Your Strongest Options

At this stage, you should have a list of accredited colleges and universities offering a distance education master's degree that meets your goals. Next, you need to narrow down the list so it represents only your best options. No school is objectively the best; rather, your ideal schools should be chosen based on your individual personality and requirements. Use the following categories to help focus your search:

• Location: If you're only considering campus-based master's degrees, you need to consider the work and social environment of potential locations. Earning a master's degree online likely means fewer questions about location.
• Application: Each master's degree program differs in terms of admission requirements. Some programs require that you complete and submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and international students must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam.
• Program Rank: In general, the highest-ranked programs are also the most exclusive and expensive, though this is not always the case. Consider how important it is to you that a school maintains a high ranking on lists like the one published by U.S. News & World Report.
• Funding: Financial aid packages are often designed by schools in order to appeal to the strongest potential applicants. Find out which distance education master's degree programs offer the most funding in terms of grants, teaching stipends, and other financial aid programs. All accredited schools should have access to federal funding.
• Faculty: Look for programs with a faculty publishing relevant and engaging research and articles. Reading publications by groups such as The Sloan Consortium can help give you an idea of where distance education professors can be found.
• Perks: Think about the extras offered by each potential program. One school might help students find internships in the community, while another may boast the latest software and tools. Think of program perks as the last step toward narrowing down potential programs to the strongest choices.

It takes time to properly research prospective master's degree programs, but the rewards begin before you step foot in a classroom. Your efforts are streamlined and you save personal time and application costs by applying only to programs that meet your criteria. As the application process proceeds, it becomes clear that your detailed research time was well worth it.

Step 7: Begin the Master's Degree Application Process

Whether you intend to earn an MDE, MS, or MA in distance education, you need to apply to each prospective program. After you've focused in on a group of distance education programs that are the strongest contenders, you should know more about each school and what they have to offer. In order to present the strongest application possible, keep the following tips in mind:

• Personalization: After fully researching your strongest prospective master's degrees in distance education, you should have a good idea of the type of student each school tries to attract. Personalize your application to show how your personality matches that of each school. A personalized application is very appealing to admissions representatives and department chairs.
• Requirements: At most institutions, you are required to submit undergraduate transcripts, letters of intent, application fees, and other paperwork. Additionally, a certain undergraduate GPA may be required. Some schools require a résumé and proof of professional accomplishments.
• Deadlines: Each school has its own deadline for application, transcript receipt, financial aid requirements, and more. Stay organized on the deadlines for each potential school; use a calendar or organizer to help ensure you don't fall behind.

Staying organized means a lower stress level for you and a stronger application for the school. By the time you begin the application process, your months of research and work can begin to pay off. Use a basis of research to enter your master's degree program in distance education with the confidence that you've chosen the best school for your needs as a student and your future career in distance education.

Sources

• Best Education Schools U.S. News and World Report
• Graduate School of Management & Technology University of Maryland University College
• Institutional Accreditation System U.S. Department of Education
• IT Distance Education Nova Southeastern University
• The Sloan Consortium
• Wired Campus The Chronicle of Higher Education