There are a lot of benefits for those students earning their distance education degree. Students can enjoy flexibility, convenience and accessibility with their studies. They can even complete their assignments and join in lectures and class discussions at their convenient time. They don’t even have to spend time and money to commute to their campus since they can study anywhere as long as there’s a good internet connection. Although students may have to invest in appropriate technology and accessories to benefit their studies online such as good quality computers, speakers, video accessories, and even mail-in course materials. Those students who can effectively study by themselves with no minimal support from other students or advisors, can benefit studying online since they can perform better.

About distance education master degree programs 

There are several levels of education you can pursue in college or university.  After obtaining your undergraduate, or bachelor’s degree, you can end your education and enter the workforce, or you can go on to pursue a master’s degree.  This is a requirement in some fields, and it is given preferrential treatement in others.  If you have a passion for your field and you want to become an expert in one aspect of it, a master’s degree can make your name stand out to employers as well as increase your skills and salary.

Distance education master degree program categories

There are three main categories of master’s degrees, and many other specializations.  The most common masters degrees are the:

1. Master of Arts (MA)
2. Master of Science (MS)
3. Master of Business Administration (MBA)

These distance education master degree programs are credentials that are sure to impress any future employers.  There are other distance education master degree programs that you can obtain as well, if you are in a more specialized field.  They are:

1. Master of Social Work (MSW)
2. Master of Education (MEd)
3. Master of Public Health (MPH)
4. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
5. Master of Project Management (MPM). 

However, you are more likely to be working or considering a field under the three most common masters, so those will be the ones we examine in greater detail.

Distance Education Master of Arts (MA) Degree Programs

This degree has a wide range of specializations within its umbrella term of “Arts”, typically encompassing fine arts, humanities, social science and theology.  a student can obtain a Master of Arts degree through a fully-taught curriculum, which is similar to a more intense Bachelor of Arts program, or a purely researched-based approach, which requires a dissertation at the end of the term of study.  The dissertation is a defense of a particular theory or approach that the student develops and researches during the time he or she is enroled in the Masters program.  This defense usually takes the form of a written paper and a verbal defense in front of a panel of experts.  The structure of this degree varies greatly based on the institution you attend, so you must research and decide how you want to approach this before choosing.

Distance Education Master of Science (MS) degree programs

This degree usually focuses on the sciences, and in some rare cases, the social sciences.  As with the Master of Arts degree, this can be research-based or classrom-based in nature.  Students are taught scientific knowledge, laboratory techniques, business and other skills while pursuing this degree.  The approach to this degree varies by institution, so just like the Master of Arts, you must research and figure out your preferred method of learning before choosing how and where to obtain your degree.

Distance Education Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree programs

This degree originated in the United States in the late 19th century, and as such it is one of the most recent additions to the Masters category of degrees.  It provides students with a scientific approach to business management, and attracts students from a wide range of academic backgrounds and specialties.  There are two-year and accellerated MBA programs as well as Executive MBA programs that are most commonly available, and it is up to you to decide which one is right for you.  This degree is useful in many fields if you are considering working in a business setting.

Getting your Masters degree is hard work, but the end result will be well worth it.  Make sure it is something that you are committed to for several years, and choose the institution that you want to obtain your Master’s through wisely.  This is a life-changing decision, and not one to be taken lightly.  If you do your research and still think that it is right for you, you will end up with a degree backed by years of research and specialization that will set you apart from the crowd.

Ready to apply to a Distance Education Master Degree Program? Use our Distance Education Degree Search Tool.

The Master of Business Administration is a degree that is gaining popularity and employer preference as the workplace becomes more dynamic and business-oriented. It is a degree that takes in students with a variety of academic backgrounds, from science to liberal arts majors, and as such each MBA is different based on the institution at which it is offered and your personal educational background.

About MBA Distance Education Degrees

A distance education MBA degree program usually takes two years to complete, after the student has obtained a Bachelor’s degree. There is a basic two-year program, which accepts students who have a Bachelor’s degree as well as some prior work experience, and often is tailored for a particular field within business administration. There is also an accelerated program, which is structured so that students take longer, more intense courses with fewer vacations and weeks between semesters, in order to accelerate graduation.

There is also a Part-time MBA option, which typically takes 3 or 4 years to complete. This option offers evening and weekend course that are scheduled around the typical work day so that students may also be employed during their schooling. Finally, there is the Executive MBA, or EMBA, program. This is tailored for students who are executive or high-level employees in an organization to earn their MBA degree while maintaining their career status. It is usually geared towards students with 10 or more years of work experience.

Most of the MBA programs have a distance education option. This can come in a variety of formats, including correspondence courses, video and other multimedia lessons/classes, and offline or online computer courses.

MBA Distance Education Accreditation – Is it AACSB or IACBE accredited?

Regardless of whether or not your degree is an MBA distance education degree or an in-class degree, you want to make sure that it is fully accredited. Any school that you plan to attend should be accredited, but this particular program must also be approved by the governing body for business administration. There are two world-wide MBA accreditation institutions, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The United States has 6 regional bodies that will also review the MBA at an institution. This form of accreditation is extremely important, because students will be assured that the program meets independent quality assurance standards.

MBA Distance Education Degree Program Tuition

Tuition for an MBA program varies greatly between institutions. Universities and colleges that rank near the top of the world in terms of the quality of their graduates, such as Harvard, Yale or Wharton, will charge upwards of $150,000 or more for their two-year program. The more mid-level schools will usually charge about $20,000 to $40,000 per year, and the online degrees can be found for as low as $20,000 for the entire two-year program.

Application process for MBA Distance Education Program

To get accepted into an MBA Distance Education Program, students must prove several educational and work-related skills. Although admissions criteria vary with institutions, nearly all of them require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) to be taken. The grade that a students gets on his or her GMAT will be a part of the institution’s decision to accept or deny their application. As well, a student’s work experience, academic transcripts, essays, reference, community service and entrance interview may all be assessed for admissions. Because of the wide range of backgrounds that the students come to an MBA with, the admissions criteria change over time and it is important to research your particular situation to find the most accurate information.

• Small class sizes, averaging 22 students per class and a 17:1 student to faculty ratio
• Utica College is Regionally Accredited
• Chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York
• Has numerous pre-professional and special programs in addition to regular majors, minors and graduate programs
• Offers study abroad opportunities
• Expansive library houses the largest collection of 19th and early 20th Welsh-language literature in the United States

About Utica College Online

Utica College was founded in 1946 by Syracuse University, and as such, it maintains close ties to its parent administration. Undergraduate students at Utica College can earn Syracuse University baccalaureate degrees and Utica College bachelor’s degrees.

Utica is located in Central New York, but it is a smaller campus than most in the area, so it has a more intimate feel among the student body. Students can choose from 32 majors, 24 minors and 14 graduate programs. Utica College’s online program focuses on technology, law, analytical skills and fraud management.

Utica College Online Degree Programs:

• B.S. Degree in Cybercrime and Information Assurance
• B.S. Degree in Economic Crime Investigation
• Financial Crimes Investigator Certificate
• MBA Degree in Fraud Management
• MBA in Professional Accountancy
• M.S. Degree in Economic Crime Management
• Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy
• RN to BS Nursing

The online program at Utica College is geared towards the working adult who wants to further their education and join the law enforcement field. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to the vast areas of law enforcement in order to give students a global perspective.

The online program was covered in a story on CNBC, and it was touted as providing careers for its students in an area with exceptional future growth potential. Along with their law enforcement program, Utica College offers online health care programs. They are intended to enhance the skills and experience of a student already involved in the health care industry, in order to provide them with better salaries and jobs.

Utica College Online Tuition

The fees and tuition for Utica College are not cheap, but are average for a small university. A full-time student can expect to pay about $25,500 for tuition and $11,000 for residence and other fees for a year of school. If you are considering online courses, the fees are about half of the tuition for in-class lectures. For a full course load, it would cost a little under $13,000 for the year.

Utica College Online Financial Aid

Utica administration will work one-on-one with its students to ensure their time at Utica College is affordable. They have a variety of resources on scholarships, financial aid and bursaries that they will direct you to. They will take your individual situation into consideration and work hard to find you the aid that is right for you. Their website lists scholarship and grant options, typical award examples and a FAQ section to answer questions. Because of the small size of this school, they can spend as much time with you as you need to get the most out of your money.

Source: Utica College website, 2009.