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hours to complete. That’s roughly $65,000 total, or about the same as an on-campus international relations master’s program. “Check the graduation rates of the programs and how successful students have been after graduation,” says Francesca Reed, associate vice president for enrollment management at Marymount University in Arlington (marymount .edu). “That’s a good indicator of
the type of program you’re getting into.” Do some research on the faculty who will be teaching the online classes. Are they active in their field? What have they published lately? And are they enthusiastic about bringing their knowledge to the digital world? “Teaching in an online environment often requires faculty to adjust their teaching and assessment methods,” says Julia Kent, a spokeswoman for the D.C.-based Council of Graduate Schools (1 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 230;
“Just because a school might use an interesting platform for an online master’s program doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you.” — LT. EMILY H A M, WHO SAYS THAT IN RESEARCHING HER ONLINE MASTER’S PROGRAM, SHE LOOKED AT THE UNIVERSITIES SHE WAS CONSIDERING AS IF SHE WERE GOING TO ATTEND THEM IN PERSON
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A D.C. Commute SPORTS Offering more than 30 graduate and undergraduate programs online and throughout Virginia. } Alexandria – King Street Metro } Arlington – Ballston Metro } Ashburn – Off Routes 7 & 28 } Richmond – Off I-295 in Mechanicsville } Newport News – In City Center } Virginia Beach – Off Princess Anne at ATC } Many programs available online For more information, please visit www.gwu.edu/offcampusprograms or call 703-248-2800. The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action institution certified to operate in Va by SCHEV.
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202-223-3791, cgsnet.org), a national organization that advocates for and conducts research on graduate education. “See if the faculty in the program has received professional development that prepares them to teach in an online environment.” And choose a school and master’s program you’d be proud to attend either on campus or online. Ham used sources like RateMyProfessors.com and university rankings when weighing her options. “I looked at the universities just like I would if I was going to
attend them in person,” she says. “Just because a school might use an interesting platform for an online master’s program doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you.” After all, it’s the school’s name that will be on your diploma, not the techy tools you used to obtain your degree. “I chose Georgetown because I wanted to go to a reputable university that would expand job opportunities for me,” Gill says. “Employers will know what university I went to and the level of education I got.” BETH LUBERECKI (FOR E XPRESS)