Graduate Study & Degrees

Are you looking to continue your education and build on your hard-earned bachelor's degree? Do you want (or need) to pursue graduate study to continue in you chosen career? Are looking to enhance your opportunities for promotion or career advancement? Graduate study, particularly for working adults, may be the answer. It is available in convenient and flexible formats to allow you to work and study simultaneously. We have information on courses and programs, both via e-learning and through traditional on-campus study, to help you continue your education. Follow the links below for tools and tips to guide you into graduate study, and use our search tools to find the right college and program for your needs.

A graduate degree has become, for many working professionals, a necessity. While historically a full-time, campus-based and multi-year experience, graduate education has evolved and now serves a huge number of working professionals who are combining full-time work with part-time graduate study. Many colleges and universities are responding to the increased demand for these flexible programs by offering complete online graduate programs that have no residential or on-campus requirements (although you may opt to take courses on campus as many students do in a "blended" program). The number of programs is increasing as are the number of disciplines. Master's degree programs and post-baccalaureate certificate programs are numerous. Doctoral programs are also emerging, although most still require some form of residency. If you are looking to pursue graduate study, your options are plentiful.

Many of the "rules" governing undergraduate education do not apply or are applied in different ways in graduate study. Few if any legitimate graduate programs award credit for life experience (although some requirements may be satisfied by your knowledge in a particular area). Transfer credits are typically limited at the graduate level, not permitting students to "bundle" credits from multiple institutions towards a degree. Financial assistance is available but in a more limited fashion.

Here are some tips you should consider as you begin your search for the best graduate program to meet your needs.

1. Graduate education IS different from your undergraduate experience, and you should know this going into your search. First and foremost, you will focus in-depth in a particular subject or discipline at the master's level (indeed even more so if you are pursuing a doctoral program). So be sure the discipline you are interested in is one you wish to study in depth. Know that more will be will be expected of you, both in writing and speaking, and that the motivation for succeeding must come from within — you will not be coerced to keep up with others as you might have at the undergraduate level.
   
   
2. What kind of graduate program are you looking for? There are many to choose from, including traditional research-based programs and the emerging (and quite popular for online degrees) "professional" graduate programs that are more practice oriented and focus on working professionals seeking graduate degrees. Another popular graduate programming option is "executive" programs (e.g. Executive MBA) that are designed for participants who continue their full-time management/administrative positions while they attend school. Each program is carefully structured to meet the needs of a specific audience and is usually delivered in intense formats, including weekends, supplemented by e-learning and internship-type activities.
   
   
3. Research the requirements of the program thoroughly. Is it a thesis, non-thesis or optional (your choice) degree program? If thesis only, be aware of the requirements for completing this major research activity.
   
   
4. Know the program requirements! How many credits must be earned to complete the degree, how much time do you have to complete your degree program (some institutions place limits on the number of years you have to complete requirements) and what specific coursework is required? Is there a suggested or required internship or a residency (on-campus) learning experience required?
   
   
5. Be realistic about the time commitment that will be required to undertake graduate coursework and completing your degree program. Make sure you have or can make the necessary time available to get the most out of your graduate program. The old adage you will get out of it what you put in it is very true in graduate education.
   
   
6. What requirements must you satisfy to enter the program, particularly if your undergraduate degree is in a different field? Is the GRE or GMAT required or not? Many graduate programs require you to have completed a common set of courses; others allow you to enter from any undergraduate major. This is particularly important for considering any prerequisite work or requirements that need to be met.
   
   
7. Graduate education is a collegial experience. Mentoring and advising are important dimensions to any graduate study, and you should be aware of the faculty you will work with and the mentoring/advising that is available. This is particularly important in e-learning programs where you will not have the benefit of direct and regular interaction with faculty on campus.
   
   
8. What support services are provided by the offering college or university? This is particularly important in e-learning programs where access to needed library resources and services, testing procedures, submission of coursework, and access to various graduate services is essential to a successful learning experience.
   
   
9. What financial support might be available to you to support your graduate efforts? You should check for financial support through your employer (e.g., employee tuition reimbursement program), local, regional and national scholarships, etc. The link below to financial assistance available through the Electronic Campus will help you in this search.
   
   
10. Finally, enjoy the graduate experience. While it is a lot of work, it is also very rewarding.

• If you need to search for undergraduate courses available online to complete prerequisite or preparation courses, use the Search for Courses tool.
  
  
• If you need to search for graduate degree programs available online, use the Search for Programs tool.
  
  
• If you need to consider financial assistance options available to you in support of your graduate education, visit the Financial Assistance page.