When students consider pursuing an online master’s degree in human resources instead of a more traditional option on a college campus, they’re often left wondering: Will employers even consider this a valid form of higher education? Though it might seem like an online degree program is so different that most employers wouldn’t understand it or consider it a serious credential, that’s just not the case. With the massive expansion in online education programs that has taken place over the past decade, and the entry of major regionally accredited schools into the marketplace, there’s never been a better time to be an online student. As far as employers are concerned, there’s never been a better time to hire graduates with any type of required credential, even if it was obtained via distance learning. An online student will find that employers care more about how well he or she did, rather than where the campus is. Here are a few key reasons for this.
Online Education Requires a Greater Degree of Discipline
Online degree programs are no less demanding than their on-campus counterparts. In fact, many professors and students who interact online would be inclined to argue that such programs are perhaps even a bit more demanding than offline coursework. Why? The reasons are intertwined with the very nature of online education itself:
Online Graduate Degree Programs Require Self-Discipline
An online degree requires a great deal of discipline for the student because there is no professor urging students to complete an assignment or reminding them of a deadline. The element of competition is less present because there is peer pressure in the classroom. Lectures do not happen at an assigned time. Students get out of a master’s degree program exactly what they put into it when they study online. This requires a great deal of discipline in order to interact robustly, succeed consistently, and graduate with a degree that’s useful for the workplace.
Students Aren’t Exempt from Traditional Program Requirements
If a school requires students to get an internship, that requirement applies to both online and offline learners. If a school requires in-person interviews for admission, that requirement is likely universal as well. Online course formats don’t preclude students from meeting traditional degree requirements, whether that means seeking an internship, passing comprehensive examinations, meeting state licensure requirements, or any number of other key metrics that measure student performance and long-term potential for success.
Most Online Master’s Programs Are Offered by Top-Ranked Universities
The most popular online master’s degree programs in human resources are offered by schools that already have an outstanding reputation for great educational experiences in the classroom. Major state schools have long been stalwarts of online, graduate-level education. Numerous private schools have opened their doors to online students in recent years as well. These schools proudly market that the only difference in the online program is the method of delivery. Curriculum, standards, and graduation requirements remain uniform and therefore reassure employers that their new hire will be up to the task.
Online Programs in Human Resources are a Great Choice for Busy Students
Online graduate education programs are increasingly popular because today’s students are increasingly busy. In a climate that encourages students to be seasoned professionals, active students, and engaged members of a social circle, these online offerings are designed to be both accommodating and rigorous. For this reason, employers consider most online master’s degree programs in human resources to be just as good as their more established, more traditional offline counterparts.
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