| It might come as a surprise to many people to | | | | In these cases, it is common for there to be a |
| learn that you can obtain a masters degree | | | | thesis or major research paper component that |
| through distance learning. Part of the explanation | | | | forms the bulk of the program, thus providing |
| for this view can be found in the confusion over | | | | extensive opportunity for students to acquire |
| the structure of many graduate programs, and | | | | advanced research and writing skills that might |
| the motivation that people have for entering | | | | prepare them for doctoral programs or serve as |
| them. | | | | a means of signaling special expertise within their |
| Very often, due to changes in the work | | | | field. |
| environment, or just through the desire to learn | | | | While this type of masters degree might appear |
| more about a particular aspect of their field, | | | | less suitable for the distance learning format, |
| people who have completed an undergraduate | | | | advances in communication technology, especially |
| education, perhaps many years before, seek the | | | | interactive video-conferencing and high speed |
| opportunity to continue their formal education, | | | | internet access to library databases and electronic |
| thereby obtaining a higher level credential. This | | | | journal collections, have gone a long way to |
| holds true, particularly for people in education and | | | | facilitating these programs. Regardless of the type |
| business, where new knowledge, new methods, | | | | of program desired, or the individual motivation |
| and new opportunities for advancement are | | | | for obtaining the credential, several universities are |
| constantly emerging. | | | | responding to the demand. |
| For example, teachers, who want to become | | | | In fact, as the popularity of obtaining a graduate |
| department heads or qualify for positions as | | | | education in this way increases, many distinguished |
| vice-principals and principals, need to obtain a | | | | universities and specialized institutions are beginning |
| graduate-level diploma in order to be considered | | | | to offer masters degree programs through |
| for promotion. Similarly, managers and junior | | | | distance learning. They know that students from |
| executives in the business world, with their eyes | | | | around the world, who would easily qualify for |
| set on controlling large corporate interests, want | | | | admission into their regular full-time graduate |
| to ensure that they acquire a broad and yet solid | | | | programs, might not be able to study on site. |
| knowledge base to complement the skills and | | | | However, they recognize that these students |
| experience they have accumulated in the so-called | | | | would greatly benefit from the opportunity to |
| real world. | | | | learn from internationally renowned faculty, and |
| In these instances, obtaining a masters degree | | | | obtain an internationally recognized credential. |
| tends to be based on the completion of set | | | | Similarly, there are certain programs that are only |
| number of courses, and thus these programs can | | | | offered at a limited number of institutions around |
| be readily offered through a distance learning | | | | the world, and distance learning provides a means |
| format. At the same time however, graduate | | | | for students from various countries to obtain a |
| education can also serve to enhance and build | | | | masters degree in these specialty areas, thus |
| upon an individual's knowledge of a particular | | | | serving to enhance the reputations of both |
| academic subject area. | | | | parties. |