www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Ready to find your ideal master's program?
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Are you interested in furthering your studies at accredited universities? If so, here is a list of the 10 best master degree programs that can be completed 100% online.
So grab yourself a coffee and get ready for some virtual learning for your graduate education!
Check out our ranking of the 10 Best Online Master’s Programs! Our editors first reviewed the Best Online Master’s article in November 2019. This ranking was last updated in November 2023.
You’ll find the best master online degrees at Capitol Technology University.
This school is just eight miles northeast of Washington, D.C.. Capitol Technology University has 12 online graduate programs. These online master’s degree programs integrate scientific theory with hands-on experience.
CTU is top ranked among other online schools for its online master’s degree plans in engineering, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Here, students have the opportunity to study for Master of Science degrees in:
Aviation
Aviation Cybersecurity
Construction Safety
Cyber Analytics
Cybersecurity
Critical Infrastructure
Engineering Technology
Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Policy
Risk Management
There are also some of the best masters online in business, including in:
Administration
Administration Cybersecurity
Business Analytics and Data Science
All online programs have between 30 and 60 credits. Most of these best masters online requirements are on the lower end of that scale. These online master’s degree programs often include research projects.
Students can also choose to pursue internships that may count toward course credits for certain online master’s degree programs.
These programs take as little as 18 months on a full-time schedule. Students may take up to six years on a part-time schedule.
When it comes to online schooling in engineering and computing, there aren’t many that can top the Missouri University of Science and Technology!
Students can earn a master’s degree with ease and without having to meet any residency requirements. They can study from anywhere in the world, even in the middle of the night, if they want.
MUST has 15 reputable online masters programs. Many of these are ranked at the national level, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Some of the graduate programs MUST offers online include:
Engineering
Business Administration
Computer Engineering
Technical Communications
Geotechnics
Psychology
Explosives Technology
Computers
The faculty is flexible when it comes to coursework in these best online masters degrees. They know that most students work full-time. They are willing to arrange in advance specific times to hold live sessions or conferences with students during the semester.
Students have up to six years to complete a graduate degree once enrolled. Most students take one to two classes per semester in a master’s degree online. This gives them an average completion time of three to four years.
Transcripts and diplomas for online students are identical to those who attend classes on campus. In addition to MUST’s 17 master’s degree programs, there are more than 50 graduate certificate programs available.
A majority of MUST’s online students are adult learners over the age of 22. These are students who are looking to enhance their professional careers by taking classes at online schools.
Applicants should also hold a bachelor’s degree from either MUST or another institution with regional accreditation. MUST has over 8,000 students and was ranked by Newsweek as one of the country’s Best Investments among public universities.
This one of the best online schools for a master’s degree is just a few miles from downtown San Francisco.
This is a well-respected state university with a lot to offer on campus. It’s also one of the best online schools to earn a master’s.
UC Berkeley ranks in the top 10 for its best master degree programs online in:
Business
Engineering
History
Law
Chemistry
Physics
Clinical Psychology
Public Health
Social Work
Statistics
Public Affairs
Mathematics
Earth Sciences
In all programs, at least part, if not all, of the curriculum can be completed through the UC Berkeley Extension.
The school is home to 20 Nobel Prize winners, 30 National Medal of Science recipients, and 250 professors who are also the founders of their own companies.
Another top state university at which to pursue a best online master’s degree is San Jose State University.
This state university wants to help students learn how to use the skills they’ve learned to make a positive difference with service to society.
SJSU ranks high on the list of Top Public Schools and Most Innovative Schools, according to U.S. News & World Report.
San Jose State University offers several hybrid master’s degrees that can be completed 100% online. Among them are:
a Master of Arts in Music Education
a Master of Science in Medical Product Development Management
a Master of Public Health
a Master of Science in Software Engineering
a Master of Social Work
Most all of the master’s degrees online can be completed in two years. They offer a fast-paced program to obtain a degree in a short amount of time.
Faculty expect students to have software that can support video and web conferencing (Zoom) as well as virtual and augmented reality education. This is part of the newest technology being used in master’s degree programs.
Professors often hold live sessions with students in addition to uploading lectures and lessons for the online programs.
There are 493 classrooms spread across the Arizona State University’s campuses. But by studying for a Master of Business Administration online, you can take courses in the “494th classroom.” That is, you can complete one of the best online master’s in business right in your own home.
ASU’s online MBA is one of just 80 available master’s degrees, and it’s truly one of the best in the country.
ASU ranks at the top of the list for the Master of Business Administration compared to other online schools. That’s according to U.S. News & World Report.
The 24-month Master of Business Administration program includes 17 courses and 49 semester credits. Each class in a master’s degree is 7.5 weeks long.
The award-winning faculty at ASU makes a point of conveying leadership skills. A primary goal of the Master of Business Administration, as well as other online master’s at this school, is in improving students’ knowledge of advanced business strategies.
Students also learn cutting-edge techniques and methods for strategic management and operational functions.
The Master of Business Administration program includes emphases in:
finance
international business
marketing
supply chain management
Among the faculty teaching these online courses in this master’s degree are one Nobel laureate and several National Academy of Science members.
With an MBA, students can set themselves up for a career as a:
Home to several of the best online master’s degrees, North Carolina State University was founded with the purpose of providing students a liberal and practical education. At the same time, these online master’s programs focus on military tactics/science, agriculture, and the mechanical arts.
To that end, NCSU is one of the best online schools to consider if you want a master’s degree that will prepare you for a rewarding career.
An online MBA from NCSU is ideal for working professionals. Students can study at their own pace and take control of their futures. In this broad university system, some online programs may even allow students to graduate in as little as one year.
NCSU’s MBA Online Program is ranked among the best online master’s in business in the nation. That’s according to The Princeton Review. The university is also ranked as one of the best online master’s in the list of Best Value Among Public Universities. That’s according to U.S. News & World Report.
The master’s degrees are taught by award-winning faculty. Students can opt to take the Accelerated Program, if they want to finish their studies in as few as 21 months. Or they can choose the Flexible Program. This delivery format is a part-time degree pathway that allows up to six years finish.
Online master’s programs in these online schools can be started in the fall or spring. Work can be completed where students are most comfortable.
For this master’s degree, there are two 3-day residencies required on campus in Raleigh. These in person classes are meant to give distance learners some hands on experience in fields like communication and networking.
But outside of those, all learning can be completed from a distance. These courses for students enrolled online are more or less self paced.
As part of the 40-credit curriculum, students complete a combination of core, elective, and practicum courses. It’s important to note these online programs charge tuition on a per credit basis.
Like other online schools, this university offers online master’s programs with a flexible delivery format.
Villanova University is one of the oldest Catholic universities in America. And it’s one of the most respected!
The School of Business ranks as one of the best online schools for business in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
It provides its online students the same rigorous and quality curriculum taught by the same expert faculty that serves its on-campus students. Yet the delivery format of the master’s degree online is self paced and flexible.
These online programs charge tuition on a per credit basis.
The six-semester program takes just two years to complete with a full-time schedule. It requires the completion of 48 semester credits. The program is rigorous and is taught by business professionals. Many of them work in the industry and teach part-time.
The MBA online graduate program includes the option for distance learners to choose a specialization in:
Finance
Marketing
Strategic Management
Analytics
International Business
The fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks long. The summer is just a bit shorter, at 14 weeks. MBA distance learners also have the opportunity to travel abroad for credit. According to Villanova’s website, 55% of MBA students travel globally with the program.
Typical Villanova students report a 25% increase in their salary after earning an online master’s in business. With this online graduate degree, students can also pursue leadership positions.
Auburn University is one of the best online schools in the country and is located in Alabama.
The online MBA is top ranked among the Best MBA Programs in the Country. That’s according to U.S. News & World Report.
Auburn’s online master’s program in business gives students the competitive edge they need to succeed in a competitive business environment.
This accredited online master’s relies on the online system Canvas. It offers a flexible delivery format for working professionals. From the luxury of their own home, students can:
navigate through modules
submit lessons and homework
communicate with their professors and classmates
access all course materials
The accredited online master’s in business has nine core courses and four electives. The degree takes an average of two years to finish. By studying online, students can work at their own speed and take courses on either a full- or part-time basis.
Along with an MBA, students can pursue a dual Master of Science degree in one of the following degree programs:
Information Systems
Finance
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Students can also choose a concentration in Finance or Information Systems for their online master’s programs. After completing the accredited online master’s , students can join one of Auburn’s 93 alumni clubs. These are spread throughout the nation and represent more than 250,000 graduates.
Texas A&M University, in College Station, TX, is the state’s oldest higher education institution. This university system is well-known for its student organizations.
Its accredited online master’s programs offer the same level of education as their on-campus counterparts. Like the in person classes, these online master’s degree programs allow working professionals to study at their own pace.
Texas A&M is top ranked by The Wall Street Journal’s list of Top Public Universities. The university also ranks high among the Best Graduate Engineering Programs. That’s according to U.S. News & World Report.
The Master of Engineering Program is the school’s most popular accredited online master’s program with 10 separate emphasis areas, including:
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Technical Management
Safety Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Subsea Engineering
Engineering Systems Management
Industrial Distribution
Petroleum Engineering
These online learning programs provide students with all the relevant software tools they need to navigate through the coursework.
Courses in the online learning programs programs are taught by well-trained and experienced faculty. These instructors provide students with rigorous coursework to maximize their potential learning. They prepare them for the working world following graduation. Often, programs may allow students to graduate in as little as one year!
In addition to engineering, Texas A&M offers distance higher education degrees in fields like:
This institution of higher education is located in the heart of Atlanta. Georgia Tech has graduated notables such as:
former President Jimmy Carter
pro golfer Bobby Jones
entrepreneur Dean Kamen
astronaut William McArthur
Georgia Tech ranks in the top 10 in many categories when it comes to accolades. According to U.S. News & World Report, it is on the list of:
Most Innovative Schools
Top Public Schools
Most Co-Ops and Internships
Best Graduate Programs in Engineering
Best Graduate Programs in Information Systems
Almost all of its engineering concentrations rank in the top 10. The school is well-known for having one of the best, if not the best, engineering schools and faculty in the nation.
By studying at one of Georgia Tech’s online schools, students reap the benefits of its rigorous and high-quality coursework. These online master’s programs are taught by world-class faculty.
Prospective students get to learn using the latest state-of-the-art technology using media-rich and digital learning tools. These are tools that many other universities just don’t yet have.
Georgia Tech offers 10 online Master of Science degrees, all of which are 100% online with a convenient delivery format for working professionals.
They all are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The six colleges in which students can enroll and explore online degrees as graduate students include:
Business
Design
Computing
Engineering
Liberal Arts
Design
Most online students earn a degree in two years. These online master’s programs have a flexible delivery format. Tuition is charged on a per credit basis and financial aid is available.
How to Choose the Best Online Masters Program for Your Needs
You’ve decided to pursue an online master’s degree. Congratulations! That’s the first step you need to take in order to take your career to the next level. But now you have some important questions to ask yourself to find the right school and program. Ask yourself the following as you begin searching for a school.
What Do You Want to Major In?
There are master’s programs out there for everyone. And the same is true for online master’s degrees! You just need to figure out what you are most interested. That said, here are some of the most popular online master’s programs:
Public Administration
Nursing
Business Administration
Education
Criminal Justice
Information Systems Management
Public Health
Organizational Leadership
Computer Science
Do You Want to Be Fully or Partially Enrolled Online?
Do you want to be enrolled full time or part time? There’s also a hybrid program, which is a delivery format in which some classes are offered on campus.
This may be better for students who need more hands-on instruction in certain areas.
That said, 100% online programs can give students more freedom and flexibility. It all depends on what your goals are for your education and how much time you want to devote to it.
What Does Tuition Cost Per Credit and How Many Credits Will You Take?
Tuition can vary from school to school. It’s important to do your research and compare prices between different schools and online programs. Pay attention to both the cost per credit hour as well as the overall tuition rate for students enrolled online. Also ask about financial aid.
Most master’s degrees have at least 30 credits. This number can go as high as 60 credits depending on the type of degree. Knowing how many credits are required for your degree will help you determine what your total per credit tuition will be.
Is the School an Accredited Online Institution?
Make sure that any school or program you consider is an accredited online masters program.This is done by a recognized accrediting body such as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Accreditation means that the school meets certain standards of quality. These are standards set forth by the HLC or other accrediting bodies. Without accreditation your degree may not be accepted by employers or other educational institutions.
How Long Will It Take to Complete the Degree?
The average master’s program requires 32 to 36 credit hours. That’s according to U.S. News & World Report. Some online programs require less. There are some more rigorous online programs that require up to 60 semester hours.
Do You Want the Same Access to Student Services?
When choosing an online degree program, one of the most important aspects is whether or not it will give you access to the same student services as on-campus programs.
That could range from academic advisors and tutors to career counseling and mental health services. Before making a final decision, make sure that your potential online program offers everything you need.
What is Required to Apply for the Online Masters Program?
The first thing on your checklist is transcripts from any college or university that you attended.
You’ll also need two recommendations, in most cases. They should also be able to provide insight into why they think you would make a good candidate for their program.
Other requirements include a resume, essay, and GRE scores. Remember, though, that all admission requirements will vary from school to school. Do your research, and pay close attention to deadlines!
Did you enjoy our list of the most reputable online masters programs? Be sure to check out the following:
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Ready to find your ideal master's program?
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
The Registered Nurse (RN) is a noble, necessay professional. Much more than the person administering shots or putting band-aids on skinned knees, nurses are part of a fast growing field with high-earning potential, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The profession promises to grow at a much faster rate than the national average over the next decade, and the median wage is around the $70,000 mark. A pretty nice set-up already, the move to pursue the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is often prompted by a desire to move into administration, education, or a specialized field. For RN’s who want to be a family nurse practitioner (FNP), midwife, mental health/psychiatric nurse, etc., an MSN degree is a must. And it bears mentioning that although it is not always necessary to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing (many RN to MSN programs can attest to that), it is pretty much commonplace for any online MSN program to require applicants to be currently licensed nurses.
We get it–you’re a working nurse, with very little time to spare looking for your perfect online MSN program. Don’t worry, we here at Master’s Programs Guide have got you covered! Since the online Master of Science in Nursing is one of the most popular online master’s degrees, there are a veritable plethora of MSN programs offered online. We waded through many programs to find the ones that really stand out, looking in particular at schools that are accredited. There are currently two main accrediting agencies for nursing programs, the CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Educations) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which was originally called the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The “NLN” of the NLNAC is beginning accreditation services again as the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), so programs may soon be displaying their CNEA accreditation. We also looked for schools that have National League for Nursing (NLN) Center of Excellence (COE) in Nursing Education designation (less than 100 institutions of higher education in the United States currently hold the designation of NLN COE greatness). All of the information we gathered to rank the schools is publicly available, and in addition to using our Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology Criteria, we also assigned points based on these features significant to an exceptional online master of nursing program:
Program accreditation
NLN Center of Excellence designation
Coursework that prepares students to take certification exams such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), and the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) exams
Any unique and extraordinary features that helped the program stand apart
Online Master of Science in Nursing Health Systems Management Track; Online Master of Science in Nursing Health Systems Management/Master of Business Administration Dual Degree Program
Program Details: The Johns Hopkins CCNE-accredited School of Nursing (which is also a designated NLN Center of Excellence) provides an entirely online MSN in Health Systems Management degree program that is grounded “in evidence-based practice” and can be customized based on the student’s coursework choices and practicum experience. The 35-credit Johns Hopkins MSN in Health Systems Management degree requires 376 clinical hours and a twelve-hour core of classes like “Context of Healthcare for Advanced Practice Nursing” and “Biostatistics for Evidence-Based Practice.” For students who desire more business coursework with their MSN curriculum, there is a dual degree option provided through the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Carey Business School online MSN/MBA. This 65-credit hour program requires the same 376 clinical hours and MSN core and additional classes such as “Economics for Decision Making” and “Business Communication.” In addition to the rigorous and practical coursework provided by the “internationally recognized” Johns Hopkins faculty, students benefit from the new School of Nursing Academic Success Center (ASC). The ASC makes available all manner of academic support and resources at no cost.
Named for abolitionist Johns Hopkins, who left money in his will for the establishment of an institution of higher education, Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1873 in Baltimore, Maryland. Hopkins also bequeathed money for a health center, which is the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Johns Hopkins University opened to students in 1876, and the current enrollment now exceeds 24,000 students. Ten academic divisions comprise this coeducational private research university, and Johns Hopkins is one of the original founding members of the prestigious American Association of Universities. Regional accreditation is granted by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: Located in The Ohio State University College of Nursing and provided through Ohio State Online, the online MSN degree program trains students to excel in a multitude of clinical settings through rigorous “coursework, clinical experience and evidence based practice.” Offering four CCNE-accredited tracks online, the MSN degree requires a core curriculum, a specialty core curriculum unique to each track, and clinical hours (distance students must find their own clinical site in their area). The Ohio State online MSN specializations include tracks in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PHMNP), and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). The core curriculum shared by all tracks include classes like “Quality Improvement and Informatics” and “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Life Span,” and the specialty coursework prepares each student to sit for their respective specialty certification exams. Ohio State Online’s “focus on faculty” translates into a winning situation for online students due to the level of expertise demonstrated by the Ohio State online MSN faculty, and all on-campus resources are available to online students as well through Ohio State Online Student Services and Benefits.
The Ohio State University (Ohio State), located in Columbus, Ohio, is a land-, sea-, and space-grant university that was established in 1870 and had its first graduating class in 1878. Additional regional campus locations are spread around the state, and eighteen academic schools and colleges make up this institution of higher education (known for having the third largest campus in the nation). The flagship university of Ohio, this public research institution serves nearly 60,000 students at the main campus in Columbus and over 66,000 students statewide. The Higher Learning Commission has regionally accredited Ohio State continuously since 1913.
Program Details: Saint Xavier University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program provides students with three CCNE-accredited tracks through the SXU School of Nursing and Health Sciences, which is one of only a small collection of schools in the nation to be designated as an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. Students can pursue the SXU online MSN in Clinical Leadership, Executive Leadership (Nursing Administration), or Saint Xavier’s online MSN Nurse Educator track. The Executive Leadership track requires 35-credit hours, and the other two tracks both require 38-credits—all three require some previous professional nursing experience. There is a practicum requirement for all three as well, and plenty of support is offered to help students successfully complete their hours. All coursework is taught by the SXU Online Master of Science Faculty, who are experts in the field with real-world, practical experience in both nursing and teaching, and successfully prepares students to take certification exams in their chosen area. The ample student resources include a dedicated Student Services Coordinator, and student testimonials attest to the program’s quality and accessibility.
Chicago’s first Catholic university, Saint Xavier University, was chartered in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy to originally educate women and the economically disadvantaged. Now, approximately 4,000 students are enrolled in the Chicago, Illinois campus, and nearly 100 academic degree programs are offered through the two schools and one college: College of Arts and Sciences, Graham School of Management, and School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Becoming coeducational in 1969, this private institution of higher education sits on over 100 acres in the southwest side of Chicago, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The KU School of Nursing, located at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), is one of the elite NLN COE in Nursing Education designated schools of nursing. The School offers an entirely online Master of Science degree program, and three of the focus area options can be completed online: KU MS in Nursing Informatics, KU MS in Organizational Leadership, or KU MS in Public Health Nursing. The 37-39 credit hour (depending on which concentration is chosen), CCNE-accredited MS in Nursing degree program can be completed within two years on a full-time basis, or in three to four years if pursued part-time. Students engage in a curriculum including a common nursing core, a leadership core, a two-credit hour research project, and their chosen specialty core. The KU Center for Online and Distance Learning supports the impressive KU School of Nursing faculty as they “envision and implement online courses” for the benefit of online students. An online tutorial, the KUMC Student’s Guide to Online Learning, helps prospective students orient themselves to online learning and the KUMC.
In 1864, the University of Kansas (KU) was established in Lawrence, Kansas. Initially a coeducational preparatory school, the first college classes were held in 1869. The main campus in Lawrence is joined by branch campuses around the state. The School of Nursing is located in the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), which is in Kansas City and also houses the School of Health Professions and School of Medicine. KU is a public research university, and over 345 academic degree programs are offered through thirteen schools. Over 30,000 students are enrolled in this institution of higher education regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: University of Cincinnati Online (UC Online) provides an entirely online MSN degree program with four Nurse Practitioner (NP) specialties from which students can choose to customize their academic and career path. The specialties (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner) range from 44 to 57 credit hours and can all be completed within two years at an accelerated pace. All online program tracks strongly encourage applicants to have at least one year of RN experience, but some require specialized work experience. The MSN degree program is located in the CCNE-accredited UC College of Nursing, and the renowned faculty include “professors who are either practicing in the field or are accomplished researchers.” In addition to the CCNE accreditation, the UC Online Master’s in Midwifery program is certified by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), and all programs prepare students to take their specific certification exams upon graduation. UC Online student support is provided from admission through graduation, and is evidenced by the student testimonials full of high praise.
Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio merged in 1870 to establish Cincinnati College, which would grow to university status and become the University of Cincinnati (UC)–one of the largest in the nation. Multiple campuses are located throughout Ohio, and the Cincinnati campus remains the main location. A public research institution with the Carnegie Foundation’s designation of Highest Research Activity, UC enrolls nearly 45,000 students in more than 350 academic degree programs. UC is a space-grant school and part of the University System of Ohio, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: As a member of both the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Western Institute of Nursing, the UA College of Nursing provides respected and reputable nursing programs. The UA Online Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Systems Leadership degree is accredited by CCNE and provided as both an RN to MSN program (for students who hold an associate nursing degree—the ADN track) or an MSN program (for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing—the BSN track). Offered entirely online, the coursework is comprised of eleven classes for the AND track and eight for the BSN track, and students can complete the program in as little as fifteen months. Classes such as “Population Health,” “Healthcare Business Dynamics,” and “Healing Environments and Practices” are taught by the invested and caring UA College of Nursing faculty, who are “award-winning educators, motivated mentors, and accomplished scholars.” Student resources (from outreach counselors to enrollment advisors and more) enhance the online student experience, and interested RNs can read about AU MSN in Clinical Systems Leadership graduates and their positive experiences.
Tucson, Arizona was chosen in 1885 to become the location of the University of Arizona (UA or “Arizona”), and construction began on the school two years later. UA is the oldest university in Arizona, and 32 students enrolled in classes the first year the school opened in 1891. More than 44,000 students are now enrolled, and UA offers over 350 academic degree programs through 20 schools and colleges. Designated with Very High Research Activity, UA is a public land-grant institution of higher education, and the school’s regional accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The UNC Charlotte School of Nursing, which has NLN Center of Education Excellence designation, provides the MSN in Nursing Administration degree program completely online through Distance Education (DE) at UNCC. A CCNE-accredited program, the 36-credit hour degree can be completed in just over two years on a part-time basis, and it prepares students to pursue ANCC certification in Nursing Administration or Nursing Administration Advanced. The UNCC MSN in Nursing Administration curriculum presents core coursework such as “Health Policy and Planning in the U.S” and system core coursework like “Health Disparities and Nursing,” which is followed by specialty courses that cover a number of topics, such as “Health Informatics and Financial Management for Nurses” and “Curriculum and Instruction in Nursing Education.” A final capstone course (“Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice”) completes the degree, and students are provided with UNCC Distance Education resources and services throughout the course of their education to help them succeed. Additionally, UNCC School of Nursing faculty are accomplished and connected, and an Advisory Board helps support the program.
Opening as the Charlotte Center to offer college education to returning veterans, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte or UNCC) began in 1946 and officially became UNCC in 1965 when it joined the statewide UNC System. Nearly 30,000 students are currently enrolled, and UNCC offers over 225 academic degree programs through nine colleges. Comprised of three campuses, UNC Charlotte’s main campus is located in University City on 1,000 acres. This public research university is classified as having Higher Research Activity, and regional accreditation is granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The CCNE-accredited UNC Greensboro School of Nursing, through UNCG Online, provides two entirely online concentrations for the MSN degree: Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The UNCG Online Master of Science in Nursing Administration degree requires 37-credit hours and 504 clinical hours—all coursework is delivered online, and the clinical experience is “determined by student interest area and geographical location” and coordinated by the student “in collaboration with the faculty and Graduate Program Clinical Coordinator.” Similarly, the 38-credit hour UNCG Online Master of Science in Nursing Education degree also requires a clinical practicum (210 hours), which students can set up in their area of residence along with assistance. In addition to the support offered by the Graduate Program Clinical Coordinator and various online student services such as the Career Services Center, the UNCG School of Nursing faculty have a wealth of experience and are “involved in collaborative, interdisciplinary research in community and health care settings.” Another stamp of quality on the online MSN program: UNCG is one of the few NLN Centers of Excellence.
Known as the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) since 1964, the school was established as a school for women in 1891 as the State Normal and Industrial School. The school was originally located on donated land in Greensboro, North Carolina, and when the institution opened for classes in 1892 nearly 200 students were enrolled. Having joined the University of North Carolina System in 1971, UNCG now has just under 20,000 coeducational students enrolled in the eight academic schools and colleges of this public university. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits UNCG.
Program Details: Ball State Online provides the online programs for Ball State University, including the fully online Ball State MS in Nursing program. The MS degree is located in the CCNE-accredited Ball State School of Nursing (which is also designated as an NLN COE) and offers three concentration options, two requiring 36-credit hours (Nurse Educator and Nurse Administration) and a 47-credit hour Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) focus. The curriculum for all three concentration options share a research core and a nursing core, and a specialized core unique to each. The Nurse Educator and Nurse Administration focus areas both finish with a 180-hour practicum experience, whereas the FNP concentration requires 690 supervised clinical hours (students are responsible for locating preceptors and clinical hours and supervision in their location). Additionally, students who complete the FNP program are prepared to sit for the FNP certification exam. All online courses are taught by the same Ball State School of Nursing faculty, who “are passionate about teaching and mentoring online students,” and online students are able to fully access all of Ball State’s student services to help them succeed.
When a school in Muncie, Indiana closed in the early 1900s, it was purchased by five brothers. The Ball brothers donated the school to the state of Indiana, and a new institution opened in 1918. The Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division was quickly renamed in the brothers’ honor and gained university status in 1965 to become Ball State University. Two campuses join the main campus in Muncie, and almost 350 academic degree programs are provided to the 22,000 currently enrolled students. Ball State is comprised of eight schools and colleges and has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Several specialty areas are made available for the online MSN student at the UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Students who are already licensed nurses can participate in one of three specific online MSN degree paths: a 36-credit hour MSN in Nursing Administration focus, a 39-credit hour MSN in Nursing Education focus, or an MSN Nurse Practitioner (NP) focus. The UTA College of Nursing MSN Nurse Practitioner Programs are presented as Accelerated Online opportunities, and five specialty areas are offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP), Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC), Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC), Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG PCNP), and Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG ACNP). All programs are accredited by CCNE and provide rigorous, relevant, 100% online coursework that prepares students for certification exams. The caring and committed UTA College of Nursing graduate faculty members are award-winning and share a passion for nursing as well as for teaching, and the small online class sizes allow for lots of individual attention. UTA distance learner testimonials provide insight into the program.
Established as Arlington College in Arlington, Texas in 1895, the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) started out as a private institution of higher education. The school changed names multiple times prior to joining the University of Texas System in 1967, the point at which the name was restructured to UTA. A public research university, UTA has a High Research Activity designation and enrolls more than 40,000 students in over 180 academic degree programs housed with in the nine schools and colleges. Regional accreditation for UTA comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Designed for students who live in Kentucky or Tennessee, the WKU School of Nursing MSN with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) concentration is available entirely online. The 43-credit hour online MSN PMHNP program is provided in a part-time cohort format, beginning every spring and summer. Already licensed RN’s will take courses such as “Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Concepts,” “Nursing, Politics and Health Policy,” and “Theoretical Foundations of Professional Nursing” and complete 600 clinical hours, and at the completion of the program will be fully prepared to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the lifespan) certification exam. All coursework is presented by the accomplished WKU School of Nursing faculty, who have experience in clinical practice, research, and teaching. Additionally, all faculty members have access to specific online resources, such as an “experienced staff of Instructional Designers and online media experts” to help them craft their online courses. The MSN program is offered through WKU Online, which also provides online student services and resources to help the online student successfully complete their program.
A complex and rich history of institutions of higher education moving locations, closing, merging, transitioning and changing names led to the foundation in 1906 of what is now Western Kentucky University (WKU). Sixty years later in 1966, the institution was definitively named WKU, and this public research university located on a hilltop in Bowling Green, Kentucky currently offers more than 300 academic degrees through its five colleges. More than 20,000 students (known as Hilltoppers) are enrolled, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission provides WKU with its regional accreditation.
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration; Online MBA in Nursing Administration and Leadership
Program Details: Through Global Online, Cal U offers two MSN degrees, a dual MSN-MBA degree, and an MBA degree with a Nursing Administration and Leadership concentration. The Cal U MSN in Nursing Education program (36-credit hours) and the Cal U MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership program (30-credit hours) are both CCNE-accredited and offered entirely online “for busy nurses who are looking to advance their careers.” Both specialty focus areas require 150 practicum hours and the relevant and rigorous curriculum, taught by the experienced and dedicated Cal U Department of Nursing faculty, leads students to successfully sit for their certification exams. Core courses for both cover topics such as “Health Policy in Nursing” and “Information Systems for Nurses in Health Care Organizations.” Students who want a stronger business focus can opt between the MSN-MBA Dual Degree or the MBA in Nursing Administration degree program. Both require 54-credit hours and are ideal for “nurse leaders who want to gain a competitive edge.” Regardless of program choice, graduate nursing students enrolled in Cal U Global Online programs receive full support throughout their education.
California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U) was established in 1852 as a community school by the local residents of California, Pennsylvania. The school would grow to offer college education, and the name changed several times before the school gained its current name in 1983. Almost 8,000 students are currently enrolled at this public university, and more than 160 academic degree programs are offered. Cal U joined the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and this institution of higher education is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: The Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies at Monmouth University offers its MSN program online “to accommodate the working nurse.” The CCNE-accredited MSN program ranges between 36 and 48-credit hours depending upon which focus specialty area is chosen; students can choose between Forensic Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, Nurse Practitioner (which also offers three additional tracks), and School Nurse. The 39-credit hour Monmouth School of Nursing and Health Studies MSN in Forensic Nursing is one of only a few programs of its kind offered in the United States. Provided entirely online, students engage in specialty coursework such as “Interpersonal Violence,” “Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology,” and “Advanced Health Assessment for Forensic Nurses” and are prepared to work in a myriad of settings—such as investigations, disaster response situations, and legal consultations. The faculty are caring and committed and have a wealth of creative research to share with their students. Monmouth University Graduate Studies Information Sessions are offered regularly throughout the year to provide insight into the online programs, and prospective online students can attend them virtually.
Monmouth University was originally founded as Monmouth Junior College in 1933. First becoming Monmouth College in 1956, the school became a university in 1995. Located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, Monmouth is conveniently situated within an hour from both New York and Philadelphia and is close enough to walk to the beaches. A primarily residential, private liberal arts institution of higher education with a current enrollment of over 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, eight academic departments and schools comprise Monmouth, offering over 50 programs and certificates. Regional accreditation for Monmouth comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: The University of Colorado Denver CCNE-accredited College of Nursing offers two entirely online MS in nursing degree programs: the 30-credit hour i-LEAD Nursing Leadership and Health Systems MS program and the 34-credit hour online MS in Nursing degree program with a Health Care Informatics concentration at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Both specialized programs are supported through CU Online and taught by the award-winning CU College of Nursing faculty. The i-LEAD program prepares nurses to become “effective leaders and managers in a variety of health care settings,” and, in addition to the MS in Nursing core, coursework includes topics such as “Relational Communication,” “Systems & Leadership Theory,” and a three-credit hour administrative internship. The Health Care Informatics program is interdisciplinary and students participate in a curriculum made up of the MS in Nursing core, informatics core coursework, specialty courses, and a practicum in their home area. The program progresses the ideals held by the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards of Nursing Informatics to produce competent informatics specialists. Both programs offer flexibility and CU Online student resources.
The University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) in the nearby town of Aurora are the two campuses of CU Denver. In 2011, the name of the school was officially designated as the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Denver/Anschutz). With a Carnegie Classification of Very High Research Activity, the Anschutz Medical Campus houses the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the School of Pharmacy, Colorado School of Public Health, and the Graduate School. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.
Program Details: The University of Pittsburgh CCNE-accredited School of Nursing has made two concentration areas for the MSN degree program accessible entirely online through Pitt Online. Two distinct tracks are offered: the 42-credit hour Pitt Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL®) program and the 37.5-credit hour Pitt Nursing MSN with a Nursing Informatics concentration, and both tracks prepare students to successfully sit for their respective certification exams. The core MSN curriculum (which offers classes such as “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse Populations” and “Ethics for Advance Practice Nursing”) is enhanced by both specialty courses and role development courses, and both specialty areas are taught by the same professors as the on-site program. The quality of the educational experience is evidenced by the impressive certification exam pass rates. All students are assigned an advisor to help them navigate the online MSN program and assistance is offered for distance students finding sites for their clinical hour requirement. For prospective students who desire to learn more, Pitt Online Virtual Open Houses (asynchronous online information sessions) are offered regularly.
The University of Pittsburgh was established as the Pittsburgh Academy by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Hugh Henry Brackenridge in 1787, and the school would grow and move locations to finally become University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) in 1908. A private institution of higher education until it joined Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth System of Higher Education in 1966, seventeen schools and colleges are housed within Pitt. Nearly 29,000 students are currently enrolled in this coeducational research university, and regional accreditation is provided to Pitt through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The Regis Richard and Sheila Young School of Nursing, an ACEN-accredited, NLN designated Center of Excellence, offers students with either a BSN or an associate degree a fully online MSN degree program with five Nurse Practitioner focus areas. Students can specialize in Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), or Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), and the five tracks prepare graduates to successfully sit for their specialty area certification exams. All programs can be completed in about two years (three years for RN’s who hold an associate degree as opposed to a bachelor’s), and range from 46 to 49-credit hours. Regis’ dedication to social justice, equity, and lifelong learning is threaded throughout the curriculum to prepare nurses who will “promote lasting change in the medical field by providing patients of any age the knowledge they need to lead healthy lives.” The MSN degree is provided online through Regis College Online, and students can look forward to multi-layered support system and a nursing faculty that are industry experts as well as caring professors.
Founded in 1927 by the Roman Catholic religious order known as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, Regis College is located in Weston, Massachusetts. Named for the Reverend Mother Mary Regis Casserly, who founded the Boston contingent of the Order, the school was a women’s college until 2007. The first classes were held in the fall of 1927, and 55 students enrolled. A private university, Regis College enrolls over 3,000 students currently in the four schools that comprise the institution. A Military Friendly Institution, Regis is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Program Details: Thomas Jefferson University’s Jefferson College of Nursing provides a CCNE-accredited online MSN degree program for current RN’s with eight relevant specialty tracks. In addition to the six Nurse Practitioner tracks offered (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Family-Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care NP, and Women’s Health – Gender-Related NP), students can pursue Nursing Informatics or the Jefferson online MSN with Community Systems Administration (CSA) specialty. The core curriculum for the Jefferson MSN is shared by all programs, which all require 36-credit hours to graduate, and the specialization coursework prepares students to successfully sit for their certification exams. Courses such as “Health Policy, Legal & Ethical Dimensions of Practice,” “Epidemiology for the Health Professions,” and “Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse” are taught by the Jefferson College of Nursing faculty members, who are “outstanding clinicians and exemplary teachers.” Thomas Jefferson University is designated as one of the elite NLN Centers of Excellence, so prospective students can be assured that the online MSN will be a program of high quality and rigorous academics.
With a history that dates back to 1824, the institutions of higher education known as Thomas Jefferson University and Philadelphia University united in 2017 (maintaining the name “Thomas Jefferson University”). Located in Center City and East Falls, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the school is known simply as “Jefferson,” and this private university has a strong focus on “redefining humanly possible.” Sixteen academic schools, colleges, and institutes make up Jefferson, and almost 8,000 students are enrolled in the over 160 degree programs offered. Regional accreditation is provided by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing (accredited by CCNE) provides a Master of Science in Nursing program with many concentration options and online core coursework. With tracks ranging from Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner to Nursing Administration & Financial Leadership to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (plus four other concentrations: CNL, FNP, Advanced Holistic Nursing, and Nurse Educator), students have many avenues of study with FAU. The percentage numbers for passing certification exams (such as the Family Nurse Practitioner) are an impressive 100%, so prospective students can be certain they will engage in a rigorous and insightful program within FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. The faculty have an impressive array of awards and research areas of their own, and the philosophy of caring deeply permeates the entire atmosphere at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, so students are surrounded by support and infused with a caring spirit in their studies. Additionally, the program can be pursued on a flexible full-time or part-time basis to accommodate the schedules of students.
Established in 1961, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) offered senior-level and graduate classes on a former army base in Boca Raton, Florida in 1964 with an initial enrollment of nearly 900 students. In 1984, FAU welcomed underclassmen, and five satellite campuses across the state join the Boca Raton main campus. Now over 30,000 students are enrolled at this member of the State University System of Florida, and FAU has a High Research Activity designation, offering almost 200 academic degree programs through its ten colleges. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits this public research university.
#19. Lamar University
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration
Program Details: Two entirely online MSN concentration options are available through the JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing at Lamar University, as well as an MSN-MBA dual degree in collaboration with the Business Department. The Nursing Education track (Lamar’s online MSNE degree program) and the Nursing Administration track (Lamar’s online MSNA degree program) are both 37-credit hours and share a common MSN core. Classes such as “Theoretical Foundations,” “Advance Nursing Issues,” and “Healthcare Policy and Finance” are taught by faculty who employ “innovative teaching strategies to assist students in gaining new knowledge and skills.” Graduates of Lamar’s MSN program “have high pass rates on national certification exams,” and a great deal of support is offered to current students through Lamar University Online. The Lamar MSN/MBA dual degree is 61-credit hours and can be completed in about three years. Information on the benefits of an LU Online degree are presented via a series of videos, and prospective students can explore topics such as “On-Campus Quality with Online Convenience,” “Why You Will Love Our Faculty,” and “Experience a Week in the Life of an Online Student.”
Established as the South Park Junior College in 1923, Lamar University (LU) first offered classes to 125 students. The school grew so successfully that a contest to rename it was held in 1932, and Republic of Texas President, Mirabeau B. Lamar became the namesake. Located in in Beaumont, Texas and a member of the Texas State University System since 1995, LU currently enrolls more than 15,000 students in over 150 academic degree programs. Seven colleges make up this doctoral research university, and the institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Through USC Online, the University of South Carolina provides an entirely online MSN in Nursing Administration (NA) degree program for students who want to gain the skills to effectively “manage the delivery of nursing and health care services across the spectrum of health care.” Locate in the USC College of Nursing, the 30-credit hour MSN in NA program is completely online but is joined by three other USC MSN program tracks that provide 100% online coursework with some required on-campus clinical course “check-offs” (MSNs in Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner). All coursework prepares students for certification exams and is taught by experienced University of South Carolina faculty who have real-world nursing experience and who genuinely care about their students. The MSN in NA curriculum is comprised of two leadership classes requiring field work hours, which can be completed at the student’s current place of employment. Other classes include topics such as “Theoretical & Conceptual Foundations for Nursing,” “Financing Health Care,” and “Introduction to Biostatistics,” and students can complete the program in twelve to eighteen months.
South Carolina College, the original name of the University of South Carolina (USC), was established in 1801. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, nine students and two professors were present when the first classes began in 1805. The Civil War caused the school to close for a time, but it reopened as USC in 1873. More than 34,000 students are now enrolled in the programs offered by the sixteen academic schools and colleges at this flagship of the University of South Carolina System. A sea-grant institution with High Research Activity designation, USC is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.
Program Details: The Department of Nursing within the NKU College of Health Professions offers an entirely online, CCNE-accredited Master of Science in Nursing degree program, with no less than six concentration options from which students can choose for a customized degree experience. The NKU Online MSN degree provides a core set of coursework required for all of the concentrations, with classes such as “Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice” and “Healthcare Policy & Economic in Population Health.” The MSN in Nursing Education and MSN in Nurse Executive Leadership degrees both require 33-credit hours, while the other four concentrations (Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gero Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) range from 43 to 47-credit hours. Students participate in NKU’s Online MSN program on a part-time basis, and it can generally be completed in about two-years on a part-time basis, depending on the concentration. All coursework is taught by the experienced and accomplished NKU Nursing faculty “who are focused on student success,” and students will find themselves positioned to take their respective certification exams upon graduation.
Northern Kentucky State College was founded in 1968 after the University of Kentucky’s educational extension classes had been offered in the northern region of the state since 1946. The school’s current location is in Highland Heights, Kentucky, just a few miles southwest of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1976, the school became Northern Kentucky University (NKU), and now nearly 15,000 students are enrolled in almost 130 academic degree programs within the eight schools and colleges. NKU is a member of the state university system and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Students participating in the online MSN degree program at Columbus State University reap the benefit of not one but two prestigious institutions. The online MSN degree is offered in collaboration between Columbus State and Georgia Southwestern University as part of the Georgia Intercollegiate Consortium for Graduate Nursing Education (GICGNE). Offered through Columbus State’s School of Nursing within the College of Education and Health Professions, the online MSN degree program provides three 36-credit hour specialty tracks (Informatics, Leadership, or Nurse Educator), or students could pursue the 44-credit hour Columbus State MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree program. ALl MSN programs are accredited by CCNE, and the MSN core curriculum offers some shared coursework in classes such as “Research for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice” and “Advanced Pathophysiology.” The CSU Online graduate nursing students get to partake in both the online student resources offered by the university, as well as the specialized support provided through CSU ADVISE. Within the School of Nursing, distance learners have access to support and resources such as a Clinical Placement Coordinator to assist them with finding a suitable practicum location.
Columbus State University (CSU) in Columbus, Georgia began as a junior college in 1958. Columbus College welcomed almost 300 enrolled students in its first year, and the school became a four-year institution in 1965. It was in 1996 that the school became CSU when it joined the University System of Georgia, and now two campuses—the main Columbus campus and the RiverPark campus—serve the current student body of over 7,000 with nearly 100 academic degree programs housed in six colleges. CSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration
Photo courtesy of William Carey University
Program Details: Through William Carey Online Learning, the CCNE-accredited Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing at William Carey University provides students with two entirely online graduate nursing programs. The 41-credit hour MSN degree with a concentration in Nurse Educator is ideal for RN’s “who are seeking advanced preparation and leadership roles.” Made up of a core curriculum, clinical experiences, and specialty electives (with choices such as “Integrating Holistic Healthcare in Nursing Education” and “Gerontology Nursing and Caring for an Aging Population”), graduates of the MSN program will be prepared to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification exam. The William Carey dual online MSN-MBA degree requires 53-credit hours, and “prepare nurses for administrative roles that facilitate quality patient care in the increasingly complex health care industry.” Coursework includes business classes like “Accounting for the Healthcare Decisions” and “Business Ethics and Leadership”. All online students are assigned an academic advisor as soon as they are admitted to their program, and William Carey Online provides tutorials and guides to help online students find answers and guidance.
With roots that stretch back to 1892, William Carey University has a rich history. Multiple fires and a move led to the Mississippi Baptist Convention establishing the Mississippi Woman’s College in 1911 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. By 1953, the Convention wanted the school to become coeducational, and so the next year men were admitted and the college was renamed after the eighteenth century missionary. The institution gained university status and became William Carey University (WCU or William Carey) in 2006. Nearly 5,000 students are currently enrolled at this private Christian liberal arts school, and regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administration
Photo courtesy of The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Program Details: Only offered online, the UAH College of Nursing online MSN – Nursing Administration degree is a flexible, entirely online program that can be pursued either full or part-time. The College of Nursing is designated as an NLN Center of Excellence, and the CCNE-accredited MSN is aligned with the competencies promoted both by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Requiring 30-credit hours, the MSN in Nursing Administration is comprised of coursework and 225 hours of clinical experience (which can be completed locally at the student’s place of residence). The asynchronous curriculum is made up of classes such as “Foundational Concepts for Nurse Administrators,” “Scholarly Inquiry for Advanced Practice,” and “US Health Care System,” which are taught by the UAH College of Nursing faculty. The faculty, who bring their own “experience in leadership and administration, research, scholarship, and teaching,” are “dedicated to educating and inspiring individuals to become nurse leaders” who are competent and caring, and who become scholars and advocates who work for the best for their patients and fellow nurses.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) started as an extension center for the University of Alabama in 1950. In the 1960s, the University of Alabama Huntsville Center was growing to the extent that a research institute was constructed. By 1969, UAH became an independent university, and now this public research university with a “high” designation from the Carnegie Foundation enrolls nearly 10,000 students. A member of the University of Alabama System and a space-grant institution, UAH is comprised of nine colleges that offer more than 100 academic degree programs, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits the school.
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
Program Details: Liberty University Online offers a fully online MSN degree program, as well as two additional dual MSN programs, also online. The Liberty University online Nursing and Healthcare Administration dual degree program (MSN/MSHA) and the Liberty MSN/MBA degree join the MSN degree, which is housed within the CCNE-accredited Liberty University School of Nursing (LUSON). The MSN degree offers five specializations—students can choose from Community Health, Health Policy, Nursing Administration, Nurse Educator, and Nursing Informatics. The core MSN curriculum requires fifteen credit hours, and students take classes such as “Health Policy & Ethics,” “Managing Population Health,” and “Nursing Issues, Informatics & Technology.” All specialization areas provide concentration coursework, and the Nursing Educator and Nursing Administration tracks have a curriculum aligned with the standards determined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and CCNE and both require 200 clinical hours via four practicum courses. Students can complete the degrees in one year at an accelerated pace or, more commonly, in two years. Cultivating a warm and inviting virtual atmosphere, Liberty University Online provides many resources for online students.
Founded as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971, evangelical Christian minister Jerry Falwell started what would become Liberty University. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty started its distance education offerings in 1985, which is now known as LU Online. Over 110,000 students are enrolled in online programming currently, and they join the 15,000 on-campus students to make Liberty the largest Christian institution of higher education in the world. Seventeen schools and colleges provide over 600 academic degree programs at this private university, and regional accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Located in the College of Health Sciences and provided online by EKU Online, two fully online MSN degree programs are offered by Eastern Kentucky University. EKU’s MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree is a 46-credit hour program, and the curriculum meets the “requirements of the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensing, Accreditation, Certification, and Education” and has a “high certification exam pass rate” for graduates. Classes such as “Advanced Nursing Practice Issues,” “Principles of Epidemiology,” and “Advanced Pharmacology” are shared with the 47-credit hour EKU MSN Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner program. Proud of the graduates’ “100% pass rate on national certifying exams,” Eastern offers not only rigorous coursework and extensive clinical hour requirements, but also “unparalleled staff and faculty access, rich engagement opportunities and every resource possible to succeed.” No on-campus visits are required at any point, and these CCNE-accredited programs are joined by three entirely online Post-MSN certificate options: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Family Nurse Practitioner.
The Eastern Kentucky State Normal School was established by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1906 to train teachers for the area. The school would be located in Richmond, Kentucky on the campus of the former Central University, which had been founded in 1874. Several name changes and expansion would lead to the definitive name change in 1966 to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU or “Eastern”). A public university, Eastern has multiple branch campuses and enrolls nearly 17,000 students in the academic degree programs of its six colleges. Regional accreditation is granted to EKU by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: Provided entirely online through Distance Learning, the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing MSN degree provides working nurses the opportunity to advance their skills and knowledge in a CCNE-accredited program. Four specialty focus areas are offered entirely online—students can opt to focus in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP), Nursing Educator, Nursing Management Leadership, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (there are two additional options—Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and FNP, but these specialty areas require some on-campus visits during the practicum courses). All students receive academic advisors once admitted to help them chart out their plan of study, and the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing faculty boast a “diversity in teaching experience, community service, clinical background and educational preparation” that they bring to the classroom. There are some shared courses between the specialty areas, such as “Analysis of Evidence-Based Practice” and “Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice,” and each specialty offers unique and specialized coursework as well. The programs are tailored to assure that students integrate the academic components in order to sit for certification exams.
The Saint Francis Medical Center is the University of Illinois College of Medicine’s teaching hospital. Located in Peoria, Illinois, the Saint Francis Medical Center is part of the OSF HealthCare System (Order of St. Francis). The hospital that led to the Center was originally established by the Franciscan Sisters in 1876. In 1905, the St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing was established for the nuns, and in 1918 women who were not members of the religious order could enroll. The Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, now coeducational, is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: All seven of the MSN tracks provided through the UTMB School of Nursing offer entirely online coursework coupled with a two-day on-campus online student orientation. Two of the CCNE-accredited tracks do not require any other on-campus residencies (the other five tracks have varying levels of on-campus requirements): Executive Nurse Leader (ENL) and Nurse Educator (NE). The 41-credit hour UTMB MSN Nurse Educator Program offers a specialized curriculum and shares a common core of MSN coursework with five of the other tracks, with classes required such as “Pathophysiology,” “Innovations in Community Health Practice,” and “The Learning Environment” and finishes with a capstone teaching practicum in the final semester. The UTMB MSN Executive Nurse Leader Program requires 39-credit hours and can be completed in two years on a part-time basis, and classes cover topics like “Public Health Principles in Advanced Practice Nursing,” “Leader as Communicator,” and “Health Care Economics.” The faculty are encouraged to practice, being provided support through the UTMB School of Nursing Faculty Practice Website. MSN graduates can stay connected through the UTMB School of Nursing Alumni Association.
Part of the University of Texas System, the University of Texas Medical Branch is located in Galveston, Texas. Founded as the University of Texas Medical Department in 1891 (an extension of the University of Texas, located in Austin), the school began with 23 students first in attendance and thirteen faculty members. Currently, over 3,000 students are enrolled and over 1,000 faculty work within UTMB’s seven schools and institutes, and there are four hospitals on campus as well as a comprehensive medical library. UTMB is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: Located in the Queens University of Charlotte Blair College of Health, the Presbyterian School of Nursing provides three entirely online MSN specializations. The CCNE-accredited degree program at Queens offers students a Nurse Educator MSN Specialization, Nurse Administrator MSN Specialization, and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) MSN Specialization. The Online MSN Nursing Curriculum at Queens requires for each specialization a set of core courses, which includes classes such as “Theoretical Foundations,” “Data Interpretations,” and “Health Policy,” and students can finish the program within two years. The three specialization options all feature specialized coursework that helps prepare students to successfully sit for their respective certification exams. All online classes are taught by the award-winning Queens Online MSN Faculty, who “act as mentors” in addition to providing rigorous coursework and who have an impressive array of collective experience. Current students and recent graduates provide MSN Program Testimonials to give prospective students a glimpse into the program, and the Queens Nursing Resource Center makes resources such as articles, student spotlights, and virtual open house information sessions available to assist students and those interested in the program.
Established as the Charlotte Female Institute in 1857, Queens University of Charlotte is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Men were first allowed to take classes in the 1940s, and the school became fully coeducational in 1987. The name changed several times through the years, and in 2002 when university status was granted, the school gained its current name. Nearly 50 academic degree programs are offered in the six schools and colleges that make up Queens, and over 2,500 students are enrolled at this private institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits Queens University.
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration
Photo courtesy of McKendree University
Program Details: The McKendree University Division of Nursing in the School of Nursing & Health Professions provides three MSN specialty focus areas as well as a Dual MSN/MBA degree program online through McKendree Worldwide for convenience and flexibility. Students can opt between a focus in Nursing Education, Nursing Management/Administration, or Population Health (Palliative Care) to specialize their degree. The 60-hour online dual MSN/MBA degree program at McKendree is ideal for the nurse who “desires to achieve an administrative role in health care” and offers classes, in addition to the MSN core, such as “Customers and Competitive Advantage,” “Stakeholder Management and Ethics,” and “Electronic Commerce.” The MSN core offers relevant coursework such as “Health Policy and Advocacy,” “Cultural Diversity in Healthcare Populations,” and “Health Promotion/Disease Prevention,” and each specialty track provides specific classes to enhance the chosen focus area. The CCNE-accredited MSN program faculty has experience in the field of nursing and teaching, and the McKendree Worldwide Online Student Resources offers services and support to help all online students find success in their program.
Both the oldest college in Illinois and the oldest in America to be continuously affiliated with the United Methodist Church, McKendree University was founded as the Lebanon Seminary in 1828. The Lebanon, Illinois institution of higher education welcomed 72 students in its first year. The first U.S.-born Methodist Bishop, William McKendree, became the namesake in 1830 when the school was renamed McKendree College, and university status was granted in 2007. Now nearly 3,000 students are enrolled in the academic degree programs offered by McKendree’s four schools and colleges, and this private university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Offering RN’s who do not have a bachelor’s degree in nursing an avenue to directly enter the CCNE-accredited program, Sacred Heart University’s Online MSN degree program is accessible completely online. The program can be completed in just two years, and requires either 36 or 39-credits hours (depending on specialization chosen). Students engage in core courses like “Theory and Professional Roles for Contemporary Nursing Practice” and choose from four Advanced Nursing Specializations (CNL, Nursing Management & Executive Leadership, Nursing Education, or FNP). The required practicum can be performed in the student’s area of residence, and understanding the need for flexibility and online convenience, Sacred Heart gives online MSN students up to six years to complete the program. All courses are taught by the same on-campus faculty, who have practiced clinically for many years and have participated in scholarly pursuits as well in order to strengthen their experience as professors. The program prepares graduates to sit for their certification exams and has many accolades–prospective students can read the SHU MSN Student Testimonials to learn more about the benefits of the program.
Sacred Heart University was established in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis as an institution open to all students regardless of sex, race or religion. The progressive university had less than 200 students in its first year, but has grown to become the second-largest Roman Catholic university in New England. Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, Sacred Heart offers more than 70 academic degree programs to 8,500 students through the seven schools and colleges that comprise the university. A private Catholic liberal arts school, Sacred Heart is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: The Jacksonville University Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences Keigwin School of Nursing presents a CCNE-accredited, fully online MSN degree program with three specialization options: Clinical Nurse Educator, Leadership in Healthcare Systems, or Informatics. The eighteen-credit hour MSN core includes classes such as “Organization, Delivery, and Policy in Healthcare,” “Nursing Leadership and Advanced Roles,” and “Information Systems & Technology for Improved Healthcare.” The 33-credit hour MSN in Clinical Nurse Educator specialization provides the skills for RN’s to train other nurses as part of staff development or teach at the higher education level. The other tracks are both 30-credit hours; the Leadership in Healthcare System specialization provides a focus on Nursing Leadership and Management, and the MSN with a Specialization in Informatics offers coursework in “Law, Ethics and Public Issues in Healthcare Informatics” and “Data Analytics and Impact on Patient Care.” Graduates of all three specialization options will be able to pursue certification upon completion of their program. The MSN degree program has not just an experienced Keigwin School of Nursing faculty, but also a full Leadership Team to assure the quality of the program.
Originally chartered as the junior college William J. Porter University in 1934, Jacksonville University (JU) went through several significant changes before gaining its current name in 1956 and becoming a full four-year institution in 1961. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the private non-profit university offers nearly 100 academic degree programs to 4,000 currently enrolled students. A member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), JU is comprised of four colleges and two academic institutes. This institution of higher education has been continuously regionally accredited since 1950 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The CCNE-accredited College of Nursing provides the online UMass Amherst Master of Science in Nursing Education concentration (MS-NE) for currently licensed nurses who desire to “be a leader in nursing education in academia and practice.” A 33-credit hour MS-NE program, all coursework is offered entirely online with an in-residence practicum required, and students gain the skills to both train nursing students and “provide patient education in healthcare settings.” The UMass Amherst online MS-NE curriculum is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for Master’s Education standards, and includes courses such as “Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning,” “Curriculum Development & Evaluation Process,” and “Advanced Pharmacology,” and students can be confident they will be equipped to pursue NLN Nursing Education certification. The College of Nursing faculty have an impressive list of both academic and practice-based achievements to provide students with both practical and educational excellence. Online MS-NE students benefit both from the UMass Nursing resources and UMass Amherst office for Online Education resources, which include services such as one-on-one academic advising and professional development.
Begun as a land-grant institution, the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) started as the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1863 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Classes welcomed 56 all-male students in 1867, and women began being admitted in 1892. The name became the University of Massachusetts in 1947, and UMass Amherst is the flagship campus in the University of Massachusetts System. Over 30,000 students are currently enrolled in nearly 150 academic degree programs offered in the nine schools and colleges of this public research university with Highest Research Activity designation, and regional accreditation comes from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
Photo courtesy of Samuel Merritt University
Program Details: The CCNE-accredited School of Nursing at Samuel Merritt University offers the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track entirely online. Available for RN’s residing in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia (although authorization for other states may be in process—interested prospective students are encouraged to check the website regularly for updates), the entirely online coursework is coupled with three semesters of clinical practice (totaling 630 hours—and SMU helps with placement). The program provides a “thorough, rigorous 49-credit curriculum,” and students can finish in under two years on a full-time basis. Classes such as “Family Centered Advanced Practice Nursing,” “Health Protection, Promotion & Screening,” and “Analysis of Health Policy Issues” are taught in such a way as to place “an emphasis on meeting the needs of multicultural and underserved populations.” The SMU School of Nursing faculty are “distinguished scholars . . . who conduct research to advance their scientific fields” and pass that experience on to their students. Webinars providing information on the SMU online MSN-FNP program are provided.
Both Samuel Merritt Hospital and the Samuel Merritt School of Nursing opened in 1909 and are named in honor of famed Dr. Samuel Merritt. This was the beginning of what would become first Samuel Merritt College in 1981 and then Samuel Merritt University (SMU) in 2009. This private, degree-granting, health sciences institution of higher education was founded in Oakland, California, but has additional California campuses in Sacramento and San Mateo. Nearly 2,500 students are currently enrolled in the health science degrees offered through two schools and three departments of SMU. Regional accreditation for SMU comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: The University of West Georgia Tanner Health System School of Nursing provides the completely online MSN program through UWG Online. A 36-credit hour CCNE-accredited MSN program, tracks focusing on either Education or Health Systems Leadership are offered to customize the degree (within Health Systems Leadership students have additional opportunities to customize through either a focus on Leader/Manager or Clinical Nurse Leader). Students begin the program in the fall with an online orientation and finish in two to three years. Classes are varied, including topics like “Role of Caring Healthcare Professional,” “Curriculum Development in Nursing Education,” and “Epidemiology for Nursing Education and Practice,” and are taught by UWG Department of Nursing faculty, who are comprised of research and practice-based instructors. Additionally, both the Education and Health Systems Leadership focus area tracks are offered entirely online as CCNE-accredited, post-master’s certificate programs (the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Systems Leadership offers both the Leader/Manager and the Clinical Nurse Leader tracks). Credit hour requirements range from thirteen to sixteen-credit hours, and students can transfer in up to six credit hours.
The University of West Georgia (UWG) was established as the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School in 1906 in Carrollton, Georgia. The school would transition into a junior college, a four year college (in 1957), and finally the university that it is today in 1996. Nearly 100 academic degree programs are offered through the seven colleges and schools of this public doctoral research university, and just under 14,000 students are currently enrolled. UWG is part of the University System of Georgia and regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: ODU Online provides entirely online coursework for the CCNE-accredited MSN Nurse Administrator program. Housed in the Old Dominion University School of Nursing, the 36-credit hour MSN program can be completed in as few as five months on a full-time basis and can lead directly into ODU’s DNP program if students choose to continue their studies. Coursework is made up of relevant classes such as “Evidence-Based Research and Theories,” “Strategic Leadership,” and “Ethical Concepts and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing.” The program promises “faculty committed to delivering high quality nursing education through the use of innovative teaching methods,” and resources are available for online students both through ODU Online and the School of Nursing (a particular benefit is the ODU School of Nursing Student Clinical Services Coordinator who helps Program Directors and students find the best fit for the student’s clinical practicum experience). The ODU School of Nursing also offers three other online MSN program tracks (with several additional specializations) as online programs with some on-campus requirements: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Midwifery.
Norfolk, Virginia’s Old Dominion University (ODU) had humble beginnings in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of The College of William and Mary. The extension center programs proved popular, and ODU became its own degree-granting, independent institution of higher education in 1962 and then gained university status in 1969. Over 200 academic degree programs are provided by this public research university to more than 24,000 enrolled students, and ODU has a Higher Research Activity designation in addition to being a space- and sea-grant school. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits ODU.
Program Details: The Ferris State University online MSN degree program, fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), is housed within the College of Health Professions School of Nursing and offered entirely online through Ferris Online. Two concentrations are provided with no on-campus requirements: Nursing Education and Nursing Administration (the Nursing Informatics concentration requires some on-campus courses offered by the College of Business). The 37-credit hour program starts with an orientation session (online students may access it virtually) and requires eighteen credit hours of core coursework, including classes such as “Introduction to Advanced Nursing Roles,” “Health Care Systems, Policy, & Advocacy,” and “Clinical Prevention & Population Health.” The remaining courses are determined by the student’s choice of concentration, and all students participate in two capstones: a practicum experience and final academic project. The Ferris MSN curriculum is aligned with the AACN Essentials of Master’s Education and includes the necessary competencies encouraged by the Institute of Medicine and QSEN. Students benefit from online resources, as well as from the highly skilled and caring Ferris School of Nursing faculty.
Ferris State University (Ferris) was established in 1884 in Big Rapids, Michigan by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris. Originally named the Big Rapids Industrial School, the institution would go through several name changes before becoming Ferris State College in 1963 and then gaining university status in 1987. Ferris became part of Michigan’s Higher Education System in 1950, and now this public university enrolls over 14,500 students, making it the ninth largest in the state. Eight colleges provide nearly 200 academic degree programs, and the Higher Learning Commission grants Ferris with regional accreditation.
Program Details: Herzing University provides their CCNE-accredited MSN degree program with entirely online coursework for RN’s who currently hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Students can choose from one of three specialty tracks: the Herzing Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program, Herzing’s MSN – Nursing Education program, or the Herzing MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration program. All three programs prepare students to sit for their certification exams, and the MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration curriculum is aligned with the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) core components. The MSN-FNP program requires 48-credit hours whereas the other two programs each require 36 hours. Another requirement of the MSN-FNP program is 675 clinical hours (for which practicum placement assistance is provided). A core curriculum is shared between all three, with courses such as “Health Policy and Management” and “Organizational Systems and Behaviors” taught by expert faculty members who provide individual attention and support. For nurses who already hold an MSN degree, additional online opportunities include Herzing’s post-master’s nursing certificate programs.
Initially a computer training institute, Herzing University was founded in 1965 by husband and wife team Henry and Suzanne Herzing. The original campus was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and now eleven campuses cover different parts of the U.S.—with corporate headquarters now located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (this is also where the online programs division is located). The school became Herzing College in 1996 and Herzing University in 2009, and gained non-profit status in 2015. Regional accreditation for Herzing is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: NSU’s Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing offers a fully online, non-clinical MSN degree program (additionally offered is the MSN Advanced Practice Registered Nurse program, which is a hybrid online degree program requiring some on-campus residencies. Students of this program have several concentration choices). The 36-credit hour MSN program offers students three non-clinical program tracks: Nursing Education, Executive Nurse Leadership, or Nursing Informatics. All three tracks begin with core courses such as “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention,” “Advanced Nurse Roles,” and “Evidence and Practice,” and they also require a practicum to complete the program. Ideal for nurses who want to advance in their career, “improve the practice of nursing, and support healthier communities,” NSU’s online MSN students will learn from the highly experienced and qualified faculty within the College of Nursing. The promise of successfully completing the program and achieving advancement is evidenced by spotlights on nursing alumni from the College of Nursing at NSU, and once prospective students enter the program the are surrounded by NSU Nursing resources and services.
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) was established as the Nova University of Advanced Technology in in 1964. Thirty years later Nova merged with the Southeastern University of the Health Sciences to officially become NSU. An initial student enrollment of seventeen in 1964 has grown to a current enrollment of over 20,000 students, and more than 150 academic degree programs are provided through sixteen schools and colleges. Main campus is in Davie, Florida, and is joined by campuses across the state and in Puerto Rico. NSU has a High Research Activity designation, and regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: An entirely online, CCNE-accredited MSN degree program is available through Chatham University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS). The MSN program is housed within the School of Health Sciences, and the three specialization tracks offered to students are in Nursing Leadership, Nursing Educator, and Nursing Informatics. The 33-credit hour “contemporary nursing curriculum” for the online MSN presents classes such as “Introduction to Organizational Leadership in Nursing” and “Health Assessment and Promotion Across the Lifespan” as part of the eighteen-hour core, and each track provides fifteen specialty track credits. All students complete the program with a practicum and a capstone, and are provided guidance as well as academic excellence throughout the program by the Chatham Nursing Faculty. The fast-paced MSN program begins each fall and students progress together as a cohort either as full-time or part-time students. Advisors and orientations help students get acclimated to the rigorous nature of the program, and the Chatham University SCPS Support & Resources (such as the Student Success Center and the University’s PACE Center) provides additional support.
Chatham University was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1869 as the Pennsylvania Female College. The first enrollment numbered over 100, and now the school has grown to become coeducational and has a student body of over 2,200. The name changed several times, becoming Chatham College in 1955 (named for William Pitt, First Earl of Chatham, who was also the namesake of Pittsburgh) and then Chatham University in 2007 when the school was granted university status. Over 60 academic degree programs are offered at this private institution of higher education, and regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Online Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Administration
Photo courtesy of the University of St. Francis
Program Details: The fully online MSN in Nursing Administration (NUAD) degree program at the St. Francis Leach College of Nursing, a CCNE-accredited school, is ideal for RN’s who want to “ethically manage nursing personnel and services in hospitals and other health care delivery agencies.” The St. Francis MSN NUAD curriculum ranges from 36 to 45-credit hours, depending upon a student’s educational history and current goals (students entering the program who have already earned a MS in Health Administration degree receive twelve credits towards the degree, and students can opt for an additional nine-credit hours of optional education courses). The coursework includes the graduate core of classes such as “Advanced Practice Nursing: Roles and Issues” and “Evidence-Based Healthcare” with an advanced core of administration classes such as “Health Care Law and Compliance” and “Management & Human Resources of Health Care Organizations.” There are no clinical hour requirements, but a final capstone completes the degree for all students. USF offers other MSN tracks online with some on-campus requirements: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or Nursing Educator.
The University of St. Francis was started by the congregants of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in Joliet, Illinois in 1920. Originally the Assisi Junior College, the school only admitted female members of the congregation. Within five years the school opened to all female students, and men were admitted when the school became coeducational in 1971. The name first changed to College of St. Francis in 1930, and again in 1998 when university status was granted. Nearly 4,000 students are currently enrolled in the four colleges of this Catholic, Franciscan university, and the Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.
Program Details: Offering three “pathways” to enter into the online MS in Nursing degree program with a specialization focus in Advanced Population Health, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene provides many opportunities for “future leaders for population health nursing with a focus on Hawaii and the Pacific Region.” Students can begin the 30-39 credit hour program (the program is 30 credits but if students opt for a thesis it is an additional nine credits) as an RN with a bachelor’s or associate degree or as a non-nurse with a different undergraduate degree. Coursework is all offered online, and students complete their fieldwork and capstone within their own resident community. The UH Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene faculty have an impressive history of research and active practice (such as community disaster preparedness and response and global health initiatives), and the classes they teach (such as “Leadership, Role, Identity and Organizational/System Change,” “Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing,” and “Global Health”) provide a rigorous and relevant academic experience for students.
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa) was founded in 1907, making it the oldest of the ten UH campuses. Located in the Mānoa Valley, UH Mānoa is also the flagship campus of the UH System. A land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant institution, UH Mānoa is a public doctoral research university with Very High Research Activity (as determined by the Carnegie Foundation). Over 17,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 240 academic degree programs offered through seventeen schools and colleges, and regional accreditation is granted by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
Program Details: Part of the MSN in Leadership in Nursing program at Kennesaw State, the CCNE-accredited Online MSN Nursing Administration and Transformational Leadership track is a 40-credit hour program that can be completed in just fifteen months on a full-time basis. Located in the WellStar School of Nursing at KSU, the MSN in Nursing Administration degree program offers mostly asynchronous, entirely online coursework, in topics such as “Conflict Management & Ethics of Leadership for Advanced Practice Nursing” and “Global Initiatives in Healthcare, Changing World.” A 135-hour practicum is required within the student’s geographic location, but because the faculty and administrators are “committed to providing guidance and advisement through the academic process,” students feel fully supported. The faculty provide “innovative teaching and scholarship” to enhance the virtual learning atmosphere, and distance learning at KSU provides plenty of online student support and resources. Applying to the MSN program has become even more convenient—the WellStar School of Nursing recently did away with the GRE requirement, and up to nine credit hour may be transferred into the program.
Kennesaw State University (KSU) was founded as the Kennesaw Junior College in 1964 in Cobb County, Georgia with an initial enrollment of more than 1,000 students. Two campus locations in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia serve the more than 35,000 students currently enrolled. Over 150 academic degree programs are provided through the thirteen colleges, and KSU is classified as having Moderate Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation. A public research university and the third largest in the University System of Georgia, KSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Indiana State University’s College of Health and Human Services offers an entirely online MSN degree with a Nursing Education concertation through the ACEN-accredited Department of Advanced Practice Nursing within the School of Nursing. The Indiana State Online MSN in Nursing Education degree offers students three culminating experience options (an Evidence Based Practice Course, Culminating Project, or Master’s Thesis), which determines the credit hour requirements of 37 or 40-credit hours. Classes such as “Nursing Theory Development,” “Measurement and Assessment in Nursing,” and “Advanced Pathophysiology” prepare students to meet the NLN certification competencies and are taught by “faculty who are leaders in nursing education, research, and community engagement.” Graduates of the Indiana State MSN in Nursing Education program sing the praises of the program, the faculty, and the curriculum. Other resources include an online-accessible library, Career Center, Time Management Tools, and for prospective students who are considering the MSN program, an Online Education Readiness Quiz is made available.
The Indiana State Normal School was the first incarnation of Indiana State University. Established in 1865 as a teacher training school, the school in Terre Haute, Indiana opened for classes in 1870 to 23 students. Name changes occurred before the institution became Indiana State University in 1965 (Indiana State Teachers College in 1929, and then Indiana State College in 1961). A public doctoral research university, Indiana State offers almost 200 academic degree programs through seven colleges, and more than 13,500 students are currently enrolled. Regional accreditation for Indiana State is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The U of A Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, which is housed within the College of Education and Health Professions, provides an entirely online, CCNE-accredited MSN degree program. Offered through U of A Online, the online MSN with a Nurse Educator Concentration offers students both a 42-credit hour thesis option and a 39-credit hour non-thesis option (this option includes a project and final comprehensive exam). The U of A Online MSN-Nurse Educator degree program curriculum is sectioned into a graduate nursing core, a graduate clinical core, the nurse educator concentration core, and the thesis of scholarly project. A practicum experience is required, and students can arrange for it to be within their local communities. The award-winning Eleanor Mann School of Nursing faculty provides the rigorous online coursework but also “recognizes the uniqueness of individual students as adult learners and strives to provide flexible opportunities for learning.” All online MSN students are considered part of the U of A community, and U of A Online provides a myriad of student resources, services and opportunities to succeed.
Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the University of Arkansas was established in 1871 as the Arkansas Industrial University. By 1899 the student body desired a name that better represented the expanded scope of the school, and the University of Arkansas (U of A) was chosen. Now over 27,000 students are enrolled in more than 200 academic degree programs offered through U of A’s eleven schools and colleges, and this land- and space-grant institution is also the flagship of the University of Arkansas System. This public doctoral research university is classified with Highest Research Activity, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Providing two online specialization options, the Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Professions offers RN’s a CCNE-accredited MSN degree that will help them advance in their career to become an “expert practitioner and innovative leader who will transform practice in an increasingly complex healthcare system.” Students can choose the 40-credit hour MSN in Nursing Education degree program, which offers specialty classes such as “Educational Theory and the Scholarship of Teaching” and “Role Transition for the Nurse Educator.” The 36-credit hour MSN in Healthcare Systems Leadership program provides specialty track classes like “Leadership Strategies for Administration and Nursing Practice” and “Financial Management for Nurse Leaders.” Both programs start with the MSN core courses, covering topics like “Applied Biostatistics for Advanced Nursing Practice” and “Healthcare Organizations, Systems, and Policy,” and the Lewis College of Nursing faculty all “have real world experience” and work with students individually to help them succeed. Online student resources start as early as the first inquiry—prospective students have available to them dedicated Graduate Admission Advisors, and that attention and care continues through to graduation.
Established in Romeoville, Illinois in 1932, Lewis University was begun as the Holy Name Technical School. The Chicago Archdiocese and Bishop Bernard J. Scheil founded the school to train young men in aviation technology, and Frank J. Lewis (a Catholic philanthropist) donated funding to help the school thrive. Renamed in his honor as Lewis College in 1948, university status was gained in 1973, and Lewis University is a coeducational private Roman Catholic with 6,500 currently enrolled students. The 410-acre campus is in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville, and over 115 academic degree programs are provided either on-campus and/or online. Lewis’ regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Drexel University Online presents an online MSN degree “designed to prepare nurses for leadership nursing positions in the rapidly growing and evolving healthcare landscape.” The Drexel Online MSN core curriculum offers fifteen-credit hours of coursework such as “Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Health Care,” “Confronting Issues in Contemporary Health Care Environments,” and “Research Methods and Biostatistics.” Located in the Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions, the program provides six specialty CCNE-accredited MSN concentrations in Clinical Nurse Leader, Clinical Research, Leadership in Health Systems Management, Nursing Education, Nursing Innovation, and Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare. The Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions faculty boast impressive and extensive research and practical experience that they pass on to their students. Some of the concentrations require a clinical practicum experience, whereas some require a final capstone project—the concentrations range in required credit hours as well. Drexel Online support is extensive for online students—with tutorials, resources, and services provided. Additionally, online MSN students whose concentration requires clinical hours will get assistance in placement.
Philanthropic banker Anthony Drexel founded the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1891, although classes would not start for the coeducational student body until 1919. This school would go on to become Drexel University, and the main campus is located in the Philadelphia neighborhood of University City. Almost 25,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 200 academic degree programs offered through Drexel’s fifteen schools and colleges, and this private research university (classified with Very High Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation) is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: Appalachian State University’s online MSN program provides a concentration focus in Nursing Education and can be completed entirely online on a part-time basis in just two years. Located in the App State Department of Nursing within the Beaver College of Health Sciences and provided through App State Online, the 39-credit hour program curriculum is aligned with the core competencies found in The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Currently seeking CCNE accreditation, the online MSN program offers classes such as “Contemporary Issues in Nursing,” “Education Tests and Measurements in Nursing,” and “Educational Theories for Nursing Academic and Practice Settings,” as well as a research project, a clinical practicum, and a thesis. Ideal for nurses who desire to move in to “leadership roles as educators in a variety of complex academic or clinical environments,” current students of the MSN program give praise to the caring and supportive App State Department of Nursing faculty, who have extensive experience both in clinical and educational settings.
Founded in 1899, Appalachian State University (Appalachian or App State) was started as the teacher training school Watauga Academy. Established by the Dougherty brothers in Watauga County (now Boone, North Carolina), the school quickly grew to become the Appalachian Training School in 1903. Three more name changes through the years led to Appalachian State University in 1967, and in the early 1970s the school became part of the UNC System. Over 19,000 students are enrolled in 150 academic degree programs within the nine schools and colleges, and regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences at UCCS provides an entirely online MSN degree with three Nurse Practitioner (NP) specialty focus options (the online MSN degree is not available in all states—students should check to make sure their state of residence is accepted). Students can choose between the 47-credit hour Primary Care Family NP, the 47-credit hour Primary Care Adult/Gero NP, and the 48-credit hour Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to customize their education—all three are CCNE-accredited. Core courses such as “Philosophical Foundations in Nursing Practice” and “Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics” are offered through Canvas, the online delivery system, and all students are required to participate in 630 contact hours of a clinical practicum. Students have up to six years to complete the degree, and student resources are provided to assist students both academically and professionally. The UCCS Beth-El College of Nursing faculty has a wide variety of experience, both clinical and scholarly, and students benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the College.
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) had its earliest beginnings as the Cragmor Sanitarium, which opened in 1905 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Many changes through the years would lead to the facility being purchased by the University of Colorado (UC) in the mid-1960s (extension classes had been offered by UC since the 1920s). The Colorado Springs Center of the University of Colorado would gain independence in 1972, and in 1974 the name became UCCS when the University of Colorado System reorganized. Over 70 academic degree programs are offered in six colleges to over 12,000 students, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The Vanderbilt MSN in Nursing and Health Care Leadership (NHCL) degree program is new and all coursework will be offered entirely online in a part-time format to accommodate working nurses. Known as the Vanderbilt Master of Science in Nursing degree in the Nursing and Health Care Leadership Program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, the MSN NHCL degree joins several other specialty tracks, and online students will reap the benefits of the prestigious school’s faculty expertise. The 39-credit hour program is accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), and begins with an on-campus orientation (there may be other on-campus requirements periodically). A clinical placement is an expected requirement, and students receive assistance in finding a practicum site within their local community from both the Vanderbilt School of Nursing faculty and the Clinical Placement staff. The faculty of the Vanderbilt School of Nursing (VUSN) are involved in cutting edge research and practice, and will prepare students to “manage and lead the delivery of nursing and health care services across multiple settings and specialty areas.”
In 1873, “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt, who resided in New York and had never been to the South, donated $1 million to endow a university in Nashville, Tennessee in order to try to heal some of the divisions amplified by the Civil War. Originally imagined as The Central University of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the school was named Vanderbilt University in honor of The Commodore. Ten schools and colleges comprise the university, and nearly 12,000 students are currently enrolled at this private research institution. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation with Very High Research Activity, Vanderbilt is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Public Relations professionals know how to make their mark. After all, the whole point of PR is to sway public opinion.
Public Relations is a broad field. It includes other topics. These include Strategic Communications, Integrated Marketing, and more. It is one of the most popular online master’s degree programs on the market.
So what should you look for when trying to find the best public relations programs?
Look for a degree with regional accreditation. Common organizations that offer regional accreditation for master’s in public relations degrees include:
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Most programs have 30-36 credit hours. The coursework covers theory and research, as well as communication and content building.
You’ll often find specializations in:
integrated communications
social media
and other communication-driven areas
And other fields. You’ll take courses in the following topics:
Public relations basics
Reputation management
Communications strategies
Media relations
Crisis management
Market research
Finance basics for fundraising managers
Mass communication for public relations specialists
Social media marketing
Capstone experience in public relations or related field
Aspiring public relations graduates students often need to have a bachelor’s degree. This should be in a related field. Samples include:
a bachelor’s degree in mass communication
a bachelor’s degree in media relations
an online public relations degree at the undergraduate level
Many graduate programs offer financial aid. Others offer minimal technology fees. Earning an online public relations degree is more affordable than you think!
Public relations professionals, after completing graduate programs in public relations, are prepared to work in all kinds of fields. A master’s in public relations can prepare you for work in:
reputation management
public relations managers
media relations
crisis management
market research
mass communication
public relations professionals
fundraising managers
social media marketing
Careers are exhilarating and fast-paced. The salary that comes with all that is pretty impressive.
Here’s a fun fact according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The public relations professional can expect a salary starting at $60,000 (with just a bachelor’s degree). After earning a master’s degree, that salary goes all the way up to $115,000. Again, that’s according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The job outlook for a public relations master is good, too. Again, that’s according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Get a master’s in public relations. It’s a smart choice. You can double your salary.
With all the great online masters in public relations, there’s no reason not to pursue one.
To help you find a stellar online Master of Public Relations, we’ve done all the research. We present to you a list of the 45 best graduate degrees. These are in public relations, strategic communications, and similar programs.
All are offered online for your convenience.
Ready to find a public relations masters online? Let’s take a closer look!
The Georgetown Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations & Corporate Communications (MPS PRCC) degree is one of the best. It is an award-winning online public relations program.
This master in public relations online is through the School of Continuing Studies. Georgetown’s MPS PRCC degree presents a strategic 30-credit hour curriculum. Students finish in two to five years.
This online master in public relations has three focus areas online. A fourth is on-campus only. Students choose five elective courses. These graduate programs focus on:
Master of Science in Corporate and Organizational Communication
The MS in Corporate & Organizational Communication degree program is another top master’s degree. It is in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. This online masters public relations degree is 100% online.
There are eight concentrations are provided. Four are relevant to public relations:
Public and Media Relations
Social Media and Online Communities
Cross-Cultural Communication
Leading Communication Strategy and Talent Development
All students take the same core courses. Concentration classes include a wide range of relevant topics such as:
Digital Era Skills: Platforms, Tools, and Techniques
Public Relations Content Development
Social Media and Brand Strategy Implementation
Public relations professionals who have the Accreditation in Public Relations credential have access to perks. These include program acceleration and tuition discounts.
Quinnipiac University’s School of Communications has an online MS in Public Relations degree program. It is one of only six master’s level programs awarded by the Public Relation Society of America’s (PRSA) Certification in Education for Public Relations.
The 36-credit hour program provides a curriculum with rigorous core classes. These include:
Strategic Public Relations and Reputation Management
Law and Ethics in Public Relations
Global Strategy
There is an optional Social Media Track. This has classes like:
The online Master of Arts in Mass Communication (MCOM) degree program at UA Little Rock has a professional mass media option. It includes a Strategic Communication/Public Relations concentration track.
The 33-credit hour program is through UA Little Rock Online. It allows students to choose their capstone experience. This is either a final master’s thesis or a professional project.
It is in the UA Little Rock School of Mass Communication. The online MCOM Professional Mass Media option in Strategic Communication/Public Relations boasts caring faculty members. They have “considerable professional experience.”
The University of Iowa’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication has an online MA in Strategic Communication. This online masters public relations degree is in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It is for both “current and aspiring communication professionals.” It is one of the best graduate programs for the aspiring public relations specialist.
This is a 30-credit hour program. Students learn:
Digital Strategic Communication
Strategic Communications Research
Capstone Project in Strategic Communication
Risk Communication
Public Relations Writing
Media Management for Strategic Communication
Financial and Budget Fundamentals for Communicators
You’ll find another one of the best online public relations masters at Ashland University. It takes as little as eighteen months. Both public relations professionals and those from a related field can apply.
The curriculum for the Corporate and Strategic Communication program has 30-credit hours of classes.
Students choose between the Health & Risk Concentration Track and the Public Relations Concentration Track.
The concentration in public relations offers classes like:
Seminar in Social Media Platforming
Public Relations Campaigns
All students in the MACSC program complete their degree with a Capstone in Communication Studies. The experienced Ashland faculty lead the way. Many of them teach at the bachelor’s degree level, too.
Students have access to a Public Relations Student Society of America chapter through Ashland. There is also a MACSC degree for high school teachers. This is to prepare students who already have their master’s degree.
Online MBA in Public Relations; Online MA in Strategic Communication; Online Master of Science in Marketing – Public Relations
Liberty University Online provides three online graduate Public Relations degrees. In addition to a master of science in public relations/marketing, there is an MBA and a MA. The business administration focus is truly unique.
Two of these online public relations masters degrees are in the Liberty School of Business. These are the 45-credit online MBA in Public Relations program and the 36-credit hour Liberty online MS in Marketing – Public Relations degree.
There is some shared core coursework between both degrees. This is coupled with the Public Relations Cognate courses in:
Media Technologies & Communication Strategies
Communication & Conflict
Strategic Communication Campaigns for the Digital Age
The programs both take about two years. Prospective students can transfer in up to 50% of the credit hour requirement. It is an excellent program for aspiring fundraising managers in particular.
The third degree is in Liberty’s School of Communication and Digital Content. It is a 33-credit hour program. The Liberty online MA in Strategic Communication degree engages students in classes such as:
UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications provides the MA in Journalism & Mass Communications degree. This online masters degree public relations option is in conjunction with the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
This master of science is a 36-credit hour program. Students have up to ten years to complete the degree. There is financial aid as part of this master of science degree as well.
Required core courses cover:
Advertising & PR Research
Brands & Branding
Integrated Media Communications Capstone
There are also a wide range of electives. These allow for a great deal of customization.
Don’t want to get a full graduate degree or who want to test the waters before committing? There is also an online UNL graduate certificate in Public Relations and Social Media.
This masters degree in public relations online is in the Online Learning at UMUC. This online MS in Management degree has a specialization in Public Relations. It builds students expertise and helps prepare them for PR certification.
The 36-credit hour program is “designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars.” It presents courses such as:
Statistics for Managerial Decision Making
Public Relations Theory and Practice
Public Relations Campaigns
The Strategic Management Capstone Course allows students to develop a public relations campaign proposal. This is for a client organization. It teaches them to form a detailed plan to respond to a fact-based public relations crisis. It also teaches them to provide actual materials for organizations.
There are many distinctive perks in this masters public relations online degree.
The online MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership (MCOM) is an online eighteen-month graduate degree program. It is in SAU’s Department of Communication and Media. These public relations programs are in the School of Arts and Sciences.
The unique program provides mentorship. It is unique from other public relations programs for this reason. Students will have access to financial aid. They can also conduct research of all kinds.
The curriculum for the 38-credit hour program includes classes such as:
Communication as Vocation and Calling
Digital Media Strategies
Communication Theory and Worldview
All coursework is presented with “both theoretical and Christian perspectives.” The faculty “are practicing professionals who routinely publish, present, and produce original work.” There are extensive online student services and support offered by SAU Online.
You’ll find another one of the best masters in public relations online at Queens University of Charlotte. Queens University of Charlotte has an online MA in Communication through the James L. Knight School Communication.
The Queens University online MA in Communication degree program is 36-credit hours. There is an optional concentration in Integrated Digital Strategy. It adds an additional three-credit hours.
The Integrated Digital Strategy concentration is ideal for professionals who want to “develop advanced and in-depth expertise in digital and emerging media.”
There is a broad selection of specific graduate communication resources. For example, there is an Online MA in Communication Virtual Open House. There is also a detailed explanation of the various career paths that are possible with the MA degree.
Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership Studies
The 30-credit hour Online MA in Communication and Leadership program at Gonzaga is one of the best masters public relations online degree you’ll find.
There are five optional concentrations. The “dynamic” curriculum is amazing. It provides a great deal of customization. This is through elective choices and two capstones. There is one on-campus Gonzaga three-day immersion residency experience.
Students are required to attend just one domestic immersion. But they are offered five times a year. Students can attend as many as they like.
There is plentiful student support through Gonzaga Online. There is a Student Services Team to answer any questions a distance learner may have. Other online resources include a Career Center and access to the Foley Library.
Are you a prospective student who is interested in GW’s online Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Strategic Public Relations?
Here, graduates of this public relations online masters share their insight as well as how the GW program helped them achieve their goals.
The 30-credit hour program is in the GW Graduate School of Political Management. Students learn from an esteemed faculty. They possess a diversity of professional experience. They are experienced in online instruction.
The curriculum is “designed to provide students a rigorous, contemporary and transformational learning experience.” It includes classes such as:
Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Fundamentals of Business & Finance for PR Professionals
Sustainable Communications
Public Relations & Public Affairs Capstone Research Project
This last capstone project happens with a current employer (or other organization) and GW faculty. It culminates in a “publishable quality research paper.” Student support is specific and dedicated.
American University has one of the best online master’s in public relations programs. The online master’s in Strategic Communication degree has a rich curriculum that imparts “conceptual tools and strategic-thinking skills.”
The online American Master’s in Strategic Communication degree is a 30-credit hour program. It takes as little as 20 month. There is corporate communications coursework in topics such as:
Communication Theory
Social Marketing for Social Impact
Strategic Communication Management
There is an optional concentration in Advocacy and Social Impact. This is for students who want to work in “social movements, election campaigns, public-policy debates, and legislation to achieve social change”).
There are Program Resources and Industry Updates supplied to help online students learn via the AU Online MA in Communication website. Plus, all aspiring PR professionals online have access to the same resources as the on-campus students. The quality of the support offered does not differ depending on the format from which the student earns a degree.
The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University has some of the best public relations degree programs. The online MS in Communications degree program has a Public Relations specialization, This online master’s in the public relations field combines the reputation of a renowned institution with the convenience of 100% online coursework.
The 33-credit hour MS in Communications program requires five core courses. Examples include:
Multimedia Storytelling
Digital Communications Systems
Four courses are dedicated to the Public Relations specialization. These cover theory, management, planning and design elements.
The online Master of Science experience assures a robust curriculum and well-supported atmosphere for the online student. There are two weekend immersion experiences for all students.
Master’s in Public Relations & Strategic Communication
TROY Online has an online master’s in Strategic Communication degree that takes just a year. The 30-credit hour online master’s in public relations is through the Troy University College of Communication and Fine Arts. It is delivered online through the eTROY campus.
Online MS in Strategic Communication students are guided by the TROY Online faculty. These part time and full time instructors are “seasoned instructors with real-world experience.”
Missouri State Online provides the online master’s in the public relations industry and communications.
A student has his choice of electives. In this online master’s in public relations, there are several areas of concentration are available. Core classes include:
Public Relations Campaigns
Concepts and Analysis of Public Relations
Communication Technology and Politics
Presidential Rhetoric
These core classes lead students to an emphasis in Public Relations that will help eligible students find work in all kinds of digital and social media realms.
The 32-credit hour program is in the School of Communication Studies. It takes two years to complete the courses required for the strategic public relations field.
The Missouri State faculty in the Department of Communication provides direct interaction. They have “a reputation of excellence through their teaching, research and publication accomplishments.” Missouri State Online Student Support Services and other academic resources are available to all online MA in Communication students.
Core courses cover topics like:
Theory and Research in Communication
Rhetorical Analysis in Communication Research
Creative Media Strategies
Public Relations for Public Opinion
Content Creation in the Digital Age
Strategic Public Relations
Applied Communication Research Methods
Social Media Management
These provide a solid communications foundation for both for-profit and nonprofit work. A final Masters Thesis completes the degree.
The Bellevue University MA in Business and Professional Communication degree program is online for ease and convenience. This is one of the best online master’s in public relations programs for those with professional and organizational communication career aspirations.
The 36-credit hour degree program allows students to conduct research and take courses in a variety of public relations industry areas. The online master’s in public relations is great for online students. It “focuses on professional communication skills applicable to public relations and strategic communication.”
It also focuses on other other valuable professional communication skills. These are skills necessary to work in the public relations industry.
Students choose from one of several predetermined concentration options:
Business
Computer Information Systems
Healthcare Administration
Executive Coaching
Human Resource Management
Project Management
Transnational and Cross-cultural Communication
They can also construct their own Interdisciplinary Studies Concentration (IDC). This is from several disciplines.
All online classes at Bellevue University are capped at 24 students.
WSU’s online MA in Strategic Communication degree program is a 30-credit hour program. This online master’s in the public relations field appeals to both seasoned professionals and those wishing to enter the public relations field. It is available through the WSU Global Campus.
This online master’s in public relations is a multidisciplinary program. Students participate in professional core courses such as:
Marketing Strategy
Social Media Management
Professional Multimedia Content Creation
Crisis Communication in Global Contexts
Consumer Behavior and Brand Development
Professional Marketing Communication Management and Campaigns
Creative Media Strategies & Techniques
The final Capstone Project culminates the program. The full-time WSU Murrow College faculty teach all the online courses.
The University of Florida online master degree in communications has a concentration in public relations. It is perfect for the digital age. The online master’s brings real-world, innovative techniques. It also brings best practices to its Public Relations students.
This online master’s is through the UF College of Journalism and Communications (CJC). It has 33-credit hours. There are core courses such as:
Measurement & Evaluation
Strategy & Messaging
Full-time students finish in just eighteen months. The online aspect of the program allows students flexibility. They can complete the degree at their own pace. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.
Ball State University has an outstanding public relations management degree. It is perfect for working professionals. It’s ideal for those who are interested in conducting research in public relations management, content creation, and other areas.
It is a well-rounded online MA in Public Relations degree. It takes just five semesters. The online Master of Arts in Public Relations degree program is in Ball State’s Department of Journalism.
Students can choose between two concentration options in public relations management. It is a 33-39 credit hour program. There are two twelve-credit hour concentrations in either Public Relations Leadership or Media Analytics. Classes include:
Case Studies of Global, Digital and Ethical PR Practice
Public Relations Campaigns
Media Audiences & Content Strategy
Data Visualization
Studies in Journalism and Communication Theory
Business Fundamentals and Entrepreneurship in PR
Students gain valuable connections through the experienced faculty. The program is entirely online through Ball State Online.
MA in Communication Arts: Concentration Marketing Communication
The APSU Department of Communication prepares students to become talented marketing managers. This is with its online MA in Communication Arts degree. This online master’s in public relations has a Marketing Communication Concentration. There is also a Media Management Concentration.
The 34-credit hour online master’s in public relations has a fast-track.
The curriculum has courses like:
Communication Law
Applied Communication Theory
Marketing Communication Strategies
Consumer and Audience Behavior
Ethics in a Changing Environment
Communication and Public Opinion
The APSU Department of Communication faculty teach all coursework. They have a range of experience.
If you want to be a public relations specialist, you’ll like the public relations degree programs offered at Montana State University.
The MSUB Master of Science in Public Relations (MSPR) online master’s program is perfect for students of all kinds. It’s ideal for those who have varying levels of public relations and communications experiences.
These public relations programs are in the College of Arts and Sciences. You’ll complete 30-credit hours. There are four different emphasis areas:
Public Relations Theory & Practice
Health Communication
Political and Public Communication
Media and Society
Some courses are shared between all four emphasis areas:
Media Criticism
Public Relations Ethics
Issues in Organizational Communication
Some are unique to each area:
Healthcare Marketing and Strategy
Public Influence
Multicultural Mass Communication
All students finish the degree program by taking a Comprehensive Exam.
Start date choices include the fall, spring and summer. The 30-credit hour program requires no on-campus commitments. The online master’s takes less than two years.
Core and concentration classes include:
Seminar in Global Strategic Communication
Persuasive Communication
Focus Groups and Interviewing for Strategic Communication
Purdue MS in Communication degree resources are plentiful and varied. Distance learners are given additional online learning support services.
Want to hone your critical thinking skills? Then you’ll find that the online master’s degree at Walden will prepare you to find employment in marketing opportunities around the world.
Walden’s online MS in Communication degree program offers a built-in Graduate Certificate in Communication. This is for aspiring marketing managers. It is for those who want both a degree and a certificate in communication.
The 30-credit hour online Walden MS in Communication degree allows up to fifteen of transfer credit hours.
This credit transferability allows students to complete the degree in an even shorter period of time than the 20 months that is advertised. It is a level of credit transferability that will allow you to find employment in all kinds of marketing opportunities even faster than you thought possible.
The degree programs are comprised of core courses and a Communication Capstone. The Walden MA in Communication degree has classes such as:
Public Relations Concepts and Strategy
Marketing Communications, Storytelling, and Persuasion
Crisis Communication
Walden is known for their student-centered, distance learning approach. As such it makes available many online student services. Walden online MS in Communication students are encircled with:
Marist College has some more of the best public relations programs. These programs prepare students to work at a global level. They can pursue careers of their own design.
The public relations programs are through the Marist College School of Communication and the Arts. The MA in in Integrated Marketing Communication degree (MA in IMC) is all online.
The Marist online IMC Degree program has 30-credit hours. All coursework is asynchronous for convenience.
The program takes just three semesters. Part-time students can take up to three years. The curriculum is made up of relevant classes such as:
Global Consumer Insights
Social Media Strategies & Tactics
Analytical Tools for Decision Making
A final Integrated Marketing Communication Capstone course finishes the program.
Public relations students will love the ability to create a program of their own design at Full Sail University. This school offers unique online programs for students interested in:
brand management
advertising
and public relations
Full Sail University has an accelerated twelve-month online MA in Public Relations.
The 36-credit hour program emphasizes hands-on learning. It has courses such as:
Innovative Public Relations Tools and Resources
Reputation Management Strategies
The Online Media Room
The culmination of the degree is the Full Sail Public Relations Final Project and Thesis course. This is a comprehensive capstone project.
Penn State’s online MPS in Strategic Communications degree program is online. These public relations programs offer a unique educational experience. This is through the Penn State World Campus. The degree is in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.
It is intended for advertising and public relations workers (such as one who might hold the title of “marketing manager”). But it does not require background educational experience in marketing.
No undergraduate degree in communications is needed. The relevant core Penn State coursework includes classes that will prepare you for a wide variety of work. A few key features of this master’s in public relations:
You’ll learn how to address corporate social responsibility and influence public perception.
You will learn how to craft advertising and public relations campaigns that target specific audiences at the local and global level.
You will be prepared to identify marketing opportunities and communication strategies at for-profit and nonprofit organizations alike.
You will take courses covering:
brand management
ethics courses
leadership skills
This is a far-reaching master’s in public relations that is perfect for the aspiring marketing manager.
Key course titles in this online master’s in public relations include:
Digital Media Analytics
Multimedia Content Development and Delivery
Ethics and Decision Making in Strategic Communications
Reaching Multicultural Populations with Strategic Communications
You’ll find another one of the best master’s in public relations at West Virginia University.
The online MS in Integrated Marketing Communications degree program is exclusively online. The 33-credit hour program is in the WVU Reed College of Media. It takes just two years to complete.
It can help communications professionals move on to advanced positions such as Public Relations Specialists or Public Relations and Fundraising Managers.
Four core courses are offered each term. Students choose two specialty courses along with five electives.
Elective choices cover a wide variety of public relations and communications strategies. Examples of topics covered include:
Crisis Communication
Applied Public Relations
Direct Marketing
Brand Management
How to Generate Interest in an Advertising Campaign
How to Identify Marketing Opportunities
Reputation Management
Crisis Management
Mass Communication
Advertising Ethics Courses
Communication Strategies
Leadership Skills
Many courses also offer a well-rounded educational experience. Students interested in developing their public relations research or public relations writing skills will benefit from this school.
This is yet another school offering a well-rounded capstone experience, too.
Drexel University’s online MS in Communication has a concentration in Public Communication. It is one of the best public relations programs you’ll find. There is ample financial aid for this public relations master degree.
There are two other non-public relation concentrations also available. These are in Science and Health Communication and Technical Communication.
The 30-credit hour program is divided into core Communication courses. These include:
Theories of Communication and Persuasion
Brand Management
Creating and Managing Communication Professional Identities
Want to hone your leadership skills to generate interest in marketing campaigns and media relations? The public relations programs at USC should be at the top of your list.
The Master of Communication Management Online is renowned for its rigor and quality.
The 32-credit hour program is excellent. It imparts a “full toolbox of advanced skills.” You’ll gain skills in public relations research and public relations writing.
Other public relations programs just can’t match it. Public relations graduates will gain skills through courses covering topics such as:
Communication, Attitudes, Values and Behavior,
Foundations of Effective Public Relations Writing
Online Marketing Communication Development & Analysis
Reputation Management for Public Relations Specialists
Communications Strategies for Mass Communication
Reputation Management
Crisis Management
Media Relations
Market Research for Public Relations
Social Media Management
These master’s in public relations programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission. These online programs are some of the best for you to consider regardless of your career path. It’s perfect for:
The Texas Tech College of Media & Communication has an Online MA in Strategic Communication and Innovation. It provides a superior preparation for work in public relations.
The 30-credit hour public relations program has courses such as:
The CBU Online MA in Public Relations degree program (MAPR) is one of the best master of science in public relations degrees.
It utilizes a faith-based and biblical context. The MAPR curriculum has 33-credit hours of courses. These are designed for aspiring public relations managers.
This master’s in public relations is similar to other online programs. It offers courses in mass communication and public relations.
Your professional studies will allow you to conduct market research and gain a keen understanding of corporate communications.
Prospective students take classes in:
Legal, Ethical and Social Foundations of Public Relations
The Lasell College MS in Communication degree program provides a concentration in Public Relations. The curriculum in this master’s in public relations is 100% online. There is generous financial aid.
The 36-credit hour online programs are housed within the Lasell School of Graduate & Professional Studies. All classes are capped at 23 students. This allows a close-knit community of faculty and peers.
The MS in Communication core curriculum offers classes such as:
Persuasion & Public Opinion
Negotiations & Conflict Resolution
Communication, Ethics & Society
The Public Relations concentration focuses on coursework in:
MA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations
The graduate programs in public relations at SNHU are designed for both seasoned pros and newbies. The SNHU online MA in Communication with a Public Relations concentration is one of the best master of arts in public relations programs out there.
This public relations master degree has 36-credit hours for graduation. The curriculum is all online. Master of Arts in Communication students engage in classes such as:
Law & Ethics: A Line in the Sand
More than Words: Communication by Design
Second Self: Identity & Personal Brands
The Public Relations concentration is constructed of four courses in topics like:
Integrated Public Relations Campaigns & Measurement
There are six concentration options. That includes one in Public Relations. The online public relations master degree takes as little as eighteen months. There is financial aid for qualifying students.
All students participate in the same twelve credits of core courses, such as:
Research, Measurement, and Storytelling
Business Fundamentals for Communicators
Communication and Society: Theories and Applications
Aspiring public relations specialists will love the master’s in public relations at Rowan. This master’s in public relations is a partial online program. It is through Rowan Global Learning & Partnerships. The master of arts in communication was first known as the Master of Arts in Public Relations.
Rowan University’s MA in Strategic Communication degree program allows students more freedom. That is especially in focusing on an area within their professional interests.
Prospective students can choose to focus on:
media relations
strategic writing
event planning and management
visual communication
online public relations
school public relations
Classes in the master’s in public relations degree are relevant and accessible. Public relations professionals take classes in a hybrid format. There are evening face-to-face classes. In this master’s degree, there are also some online classes. The public relations master degree has a 33-credit hour curriculum.
It is made up of required courses like:
Graduate Strategic Case Studies and Public Relations Planning
Here, you’ll find another excellent master’s in public relations. This master’s degree builds upon the core concepts of a bachelor’s degree. It is an online public relations degree that is broad. It is meant to help students learn everything from mass communication to social media.
The online MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership program has unique public relations research opportunities.
This makes it possible for students to “graduate with at least three in-demand professional certifications.” These professional studies certifications are from Google AdWords, Salesforce, and HubSpot.
Ample financial aid is available for this public relations program. The online coursework in the 36-credit hour program includes:
a Strategic Leadership core
a Strategic Communication core
public relations electives
an optional Emerging and Digital Media Concentration
Classes are rigorous but student-centered. They cover topics like:
The WNE College of Arts & Sciences has another one of the best master’s in public relations. There are ample financial aid opportunities. These financial aid opportunities include savings on technology fees. The online Master of Arts in Communications degree program has a Public Relations concentration.
Students can begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer. Finish the program in as little as fifteen months.
The Illinois Master of Science in Strategic Brand Communication (MS SBC) degree program is online. There is financial aid and a flexible curriculum. This is all to cater towards the needs of busy professionals.
The interdisciplinary 32-credit hour curriculum is split between two departments. The master’s in public relations takes just fifteen months. Class topics include:
Master of Science in Strategic Marketing Communications
Three start dates a year. The ability to complete the program in as little as twelve months. What more could you want in a master’s in public relations?
The online Master of Science in Strategic Marketing Communications degree at Fordham is a top choice. It is appealing to fast-paced PR professionals. It is in the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business.
The 33-credit hour online MS in Strategic Marketing Communications degree offers coursework that is second to none. Plus, there’s financial aid in this master’s degree, too.
The Fordham MS in Strategic Marketing Communications curriculum provides foundational and relevant online coursework. This is in both media and communication classes and marketing classes.
Master of Arts in Strategic Communication Management
CSP Online has an online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication Management degree program. These public relations programs provide students with well-rounded training. There is ample financial aid in this master’s degree, too.
The SFA online Master of Arts in Mass Communication degree programs are some of the best. These degree programs allow students to construct the bulk of the program from electives.
This public relations program has ample financial aid. For students interested in becoming public relations managers, it is a school offering ample opportunities for hands-on work.
Courses for this 36-credit hour public relations program are diverse. They include classes like:
This master’s in public relations is in the Department of Communication. This public relations program is in the School of Christian Studies and the Arts.
The 31-credit hour Mississippi College MSC degree program has a focus on Public Relations and Corporate Communication. This public relations program has ample financial aid.
There are other focus areas in Journalism and Theater. There are two additional degrees in Professional Communication in Health Services and Professional Communication in Sports.
Students engage in classes like:
Practices in Public Relations
Media Sales
Managing in a Global Environment
Consumer Behavior
Some coursework exists through the AACSB-accredited MC School of Business.
This is a master’s in public relations from an affordable and established institution. Mississippi College promises online students the convenience of online coursework. Yet they also get the prestige of a renowned school.
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Each generation, telecommunications tech takes a giant leap forward. That’s why the field needs graduates who are up-to-speed on modern topics. There’s no shortage of programs to qualify you for a lucrative career in the business. But before you dive into our list, you’ve got to understand what actually goes into a telecommunications masters degree.
The world of telecom impacts just about every aspect of our lives. This trend is only going to speed up. Deloitte predicts 370,000 new telecom job opportunities will open over the coming years. There may not be enough qualified workers to fill them all.
You may find the perfect program at your dream university. But to boost the odds of being accepted you have to pay attention to details. Ensure that you meet at least all of the minimum listed requirements.
One of the biggest requirements is your undergraduate degree. A master’s degree in telecommunications is designed to build upon the knowledge learned from bachelor’s degree courses. Review all requirements for undergraduate work. See if there’s an option to take prerequisite classes to cover any gaps.
Along with the undergraduate degree comes your Grade Point Average (GPA). The graduate school may have a general GPA requirement (often 3.0). The actual program’s admissions page might reveal that the average accepted applicant had a much higher GPA. Do your research!
Universities don’t simply look at grades. They look at your entire application. Graduate programs tend to be tightly knit. They don’t just want someone with great grades. They also want someone who’s a great overall match.
How can you persuade the school that you’re a great match? The statement of purpose and resume. These are your opportunities to showcase yourself. These items must be custom-tailored to the exact program you’re applying to. Don’t reuse the same thing over and over.
What About Financial Aid & Scholarships?
College isn’t getting cheaper. Graduate school costs more than ever, even for a telecommunications masters degree. It’s no surprise most students rely on financial aid. The good news is that there’s no shortage of funding out there.
Chances are that you know about (and perhaps used) Federal Student Aid. If not, the good news is that Pell Grants haven’t gone away. The bad news is the Department of Education only gives them to undergraduates. Graduates often qualify for Fulbright Grants or TEACH Grants. But for a Master’s in telecommunications, these aren’t the grants you’re looking for.
This brings us to federal loans. Loans aren’t as awesome as grants you don’t have to pay back. But the government offers some reasonable interest rates on their unsubsidized student loans. They don’t require a credit check, either. It’s still a good idea to shop around and compare. Keep in mind that a federal loan has a fixed interest rate.
Grad students may borrow up to $20,500 a year. They don’t have to prove financial need. The process for applying starts with filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This generates a Student Aid Report, sent to the school. Your school will do the math and see how much you can get.
Most colleges offer their own scholarships. Look at the department pages, to see if there are specific opportunities listed there. Many graduate programs offer paid teaching assistantships or research jobs.
Graduate students should search for scholarships that are specific to their field of study. Many professional organizations and alumni associations offer free money. These awards are for students pursuing degrees related to telecommunications or STEM fields in general. Geographic location is another factor to consider. Many scholarships are state-specific. All students are wise to consider demographic-based scholarships as well.
How Much Can I Make With a Master’s in Telecommunications?
STEM degree graduates are in ever-increasing demand. Earn a telecommunications master’s degree and you’ll be poised for a high-paying career.
Often BLS lists career-specific data in its Occupational Outlook Handbook. Information on the telecommunication subsector, however, is tagged on pages outside their handbook. BLS breaks the field down into the following groups:
The median salary listed for “electronics engineers, except computer” in the telecommunication subsector is $108,659 (as of 2022).
Glassdoor offers a wide range of salary data for telecom-related careers, such as:
Electronics engineer – $74K
Telecom engineer – $72K
Telecommunications manager – $67K
Network/telecommunications engineer – $67K
The highest telecom engineer salary the site reports is $108,659K. Again, that’s an average.
Now it’s time to check out our list of the 10 best universities for MS in telecommunication below!
What Are the Best Master’s Programs in Telecommunications?
We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue. But you may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology. It is based on the following three aspects:
40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni
30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year
30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school
At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals.
Master of Science in Telecommunications Engineering
You’ll find a top telecommunications masters degree at the University of Texas at Dallas. It is in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. This school offers a Master of Science in telecommunications engineering (MS TE). This rigorous program incorporates topics on electrical engineering, computer science, and even economics. It is meant to train graduate students for positions of authority within a range of sectors. Applicants should have a strong foundation in telecom software and hardware. They should also have a background in network theory.
Coursework dives deep into subjects such as:
Ad-hoc and PCS wireless networks
Digital signal processing
Electromagnetic-wave propagation
Fiber and integrated optics
High speed protocols
Network security
Telecommunications engineering
Operating systems
Communication systems
Communication technologies
Latest technologies in telecommunication systems
Data mining
Communication networks
Enterprise architecture
Systems engineering
Wireless communications
Information technology
Systems and networks
Information security
Mobile IP
Network design and optimization
QoS assurance protocols
This program requires 33 semester credit hours. There are both thesis and non-thesis options. Part-time students are enrolled in the non-thesis option to begin. They can apply to do the thesis if desired. The thesis is mandatory for most full-time students.
The school features several state-of-the-art facilities. These include the Engineering and Computer Science Building, TARGET Lab, and Wireless Information Systems Lab. There’s also the Antenna Measurement Laboratory. This is used as a testbed area for research. There is the Optical Communications Lab, and a facility housing the server network and Sun Engineering Workstations.
The program ensures graduates have a comprehensive foundation in all aspects of today’s complex communications networks and systems. Many MS TE alumni have gone on to great jobs as telecom software or network engineers. They work for a wide range of governmental and private industry organizations around the globe. Others go on to pursue their Ph.D. in telecommunications engineering at UTD. The department features a sprawling alumni network for students to stay connected to. That’s no matter what their goals are after finishing their master in telecommunication degree.
To apply to the telecommunications masters degree, students must meet UTD’s graduate admissions standards. They must also meet specific requirements for the Master of Science in the telecommunications engineering program. Applicants should hold a bachelor’s in electrical engineering or a related degree. This is due to the technical nature of the graduate coursework. They should have a minimum 3.0 GPA on upper-level quantitative classes.
The University of Maryland in College Park has been in the higher education business since its humble beginnings in 1856. This provider of one of the best masters telecom started as a small agricultural college. It is a true powerhouse in countless areas of academia. These include business and technology. Through the joint efforts of its Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and the Robert H. Smith School of Business, the university offers a high-speed 30-credit Master’s in telecommunications. It blends a technical curriculum with practical business coursework. The program can be taken full- or part-time. Many classes in this masters in telecommunications are held at night.
The program of study features a technical and business core, plus electives. Technical classes are based on the latest industry trends. They cover areas related to wireless communication and networking, and topics like:
Cybersecurity
Linux administration
Machine learning
Network security
Telecommunications engineering
Operating systems
Communication systems
Communication technologies
Data mining
Communication networks
Enterprise architecture
Systems engineering
Wireless communications
Information technology
Systems and networks
Information security
University of Maryland’s program differs from other similar Master’s degrees. This telecommunications masters degree has an emphasis on the practical business core. It dives into marketing, economics, and leadership topic. It’s similar to what one might find in an MBA program. Faculty and instructors have years of work experience in the telecom industry. This allows them to inject real-world insights into their lectures and assignments.
Most students take two years to finish the program, if attending full-time. This equates to about three classes each semester. The program does not have a thesis option. It does require a scholarly project to be completed.
Graduates are qualified for great-paying positions. The program offers a strong foundation that is essential for working professionals who wish to explore leadership roles. Alumni have some of the following employment opportunities as telecommunications professionals:
solutions architect
product marketing engineer
software engineer
technical staff roles
telecommunications engineers
systems engineering specialist
network engineer
network theory analyst
cloud engineer
telecommunications project management
RF analyst
software developer
system engineer
Employers of University of Maryland grads include:
TeleWorld Solutions
Cisco
Alcatel-Lucent
AT&T
Amazon
Verizon
Qualcomm
Sprint
There are two useful career resource centers that help enhance graduate employment outcomes. They are the University Career Center and the Engineering Career Services. These offer career advising and informational sessions. They hold career fairs and workshops. They also provide help with resume writing, finding internships, and ways to link up with recruiters. Many students take advantage of the Graduate School Writing Center’s invaluable consultations. These can help to improve their critical communication skills.
Master of Science in Telecommunications and Networking
Florida International University offers another top masters in telecommunication. This school is a public institution featuring two US campuses and four satellites. There is an off-site Engineering Center, and overseas locations in Italy and China. The university’s School of Computing and Information Sciences (SCIS) is located on the Modesto Maidique Campus. This is within the Engineering and Computer Science Building. SCIS’s Master of Science in Telecommunications and Networking is a popular option for students preparing for high-tech careers with great career opportunities.
The program’s plan of study includes 15 hours of core credits. They consist of the following general classes and prerequisite courses to get started in this field of study:
Computer Communications and Networking Technologies
Networks Management and Control Standards
Mobile Computing
Electrical Engineering
Network Security
Telecommunications Engineering
Operating Systems
Communication Systems
Communications Technologies
Data Mining
Communication Networks
Enterprise Architecture
Systems Engineering
Network Theory
Electromagnetic Wave Propagation Fiber
Information Technology
Systems and Networks
Information Security
Network Design
Project Management in Telecommunications
Secure Telecommunications Transactions
Telecommunications Enterprise Planning and Strategy
Students must also select to complete either six credit hours in a focus area track or a thesis option. Tracks include:
business
communications
software
security
wireless/sensor networks.
The thesis option requires thesis proposal preapproval.
The curriculum is informed by experts from the Industrial Advisory Board. It works hard to ensure courses relate the most up-to-date practical essentials needed for working individuals in the field. The board also assists in other aspects of training. Examples include research partnerships, scholarships, internships, co-ops, and other means. FIU hosts many facilities on campus where SCIS classes are held. These include the Tech Station. This is a nexus of cutting-edge research, innovative learning, and invaluable peer and external networking experiences. Tech Station also houses the Student Advising Center. It offers graduate academic and career assistance.
Florida International University holds the esteemed Carnegie ranking of an R1 Highest Research Activity institution. Admissions to its rigorous Master of Science in telecommunications and networking require a relevant bachelor’s degree. This may be assessed by the graduate school. Applicant undergrad GPAs should be a 3.0 or higher. Students will also submit official transcripts, a recommended statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and a resume.
Master of Telecommunications and Software Engineering
The Illinois Institute of Technology is Chicago’s only technical university. It has had an amazing responsibility to serve the community since its inception in 1940. One example is its 30-credit hour Master of Telecommunications and Software Engineering (MTSE). The masters in telecommunication was created through a joint effort of its renowned College of Engineering and College of Science. The program combines coursework from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as the Department of Computer Science. This master telecommunications is made to be finished in one year. It focuses in-depth on:
communications engineering
systems architectures
systems design
networks
software testing
The 30-credit, no thesis curriculum includes required courses in:
Communication Engineering Fundamentals
Software Systems Architecture
Software Project Management
Performance Evaluations on Computer Networks, or Design Optimization on Computer Networks
Students must also take one class each in the areas of software engineering, telecommunication systems, and communications. Electives round out the final credit requirements. All MTSE students must possess a solid undergraduate foundation in the necessary subjects. These can be satisfied through prerequisite courses such as:
Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science
Circuit Analysis I & II
Introduction to Differential Equations
Multivariate and Vector Calculus
Probability and Statistics
Signals and Systems
Illinois Tech assists graduates of its MSTE program to go on to exciting careers in the diverse areas of the telecom engineering field. It does this through an array of career services dedicated to offering students all the tools needed to obtain their dream jobs.
From coaching to networking with industry partners on the lookout for talented job seekers. The university’s professional team is adept at guiding graduates onto pathways of success. They also offer rewarding internships and co-op opportunities. These are outstanding experiences to cite on a resume.
The school accepts up to nine transferred credit hours. That is so long as at least a letter grade of “B” was earned. Students who do not possess an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 can still apply as non-degree-seeking students. They can later apply as degree-seeking once sufficient coursework has been satisfactorily completed. U.S. News & World Report ranked Illinois Tech No. 99 in a tie for Best Engineering Schools. It was No. 36 in Best Value Schools in the country for 2020.
Master of Science in Telecommunications Engineering
You will find another top masters in telecommunication located in the nation’s capital. George Washington University’s impactful research and world-class education are wrapped up in a tightly knit community. This community is devoted to excellence in higher learning. Through its Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, the university offers a robust Master of Science in telecommunications engineering. It is for graduate students looking for a comprehensive degree with relevance. The 30-credit hour curriculum consists of classes such as:
Cloud Computing
Computer Networking
Network Architecture
Optical Networking
Telecommunications Security Protocols
Transmissions Systems
Wireless Networking
The plan of study takes between two to three years. Requirements include a core of 21 credit hours and nine electives. Thesis students will take 24 credit hours of classes. They will spend the final six credit hours for their thesis research. This will be spread out over two terms. Required classes are:
Introduction to Computer Networks
Network Architectures and Protocols
Optical Communication Networks
Telecommunications Security
Wireless Networks
additional two classes selected from a preapproved list
The department is home to a plethora of diverse student and professional organizations. These include:
Alpha Omega Epsilon
Engineers Without Borders
the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
GW Optical Society
Tech Collective
the National Society of Black Engineers
the Society of Women Engineers
Tau Beta Pi
Theta Tau
Graduate students may apply for a range of scholarships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. There are other financial aid and career-building opportunities. GW students learn from distinguished departmental faculty. Upon graduation, they join the ranks of accomplished alumni. Examples include:
NASA astronaut Dr. Serena Aunon-Chancellor
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center director Christopher Scolese
Pradman Kaul, the president and CEO of Hughes Network Systems
George Washington University is ranked No. 79 in Best Engineering Schools in a tie on U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 grad school listings. It also comes in at No. 74 for computer science. This is related to the study of telecommunications.
The University of Oklahoma’s Master of Science in Telecommunications Engineering (MS TCOM) is part of the institution’s overarching Telecommunications Engineering program. It is overseen by the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in Tulsa. The program has five devoted full-time faculty and a graduate student body of 40 enrollees. Many of these graduate students are pursuing doctoral degrees. Students can decide if they want to pursue a thesis option or instead focus on coursework and a professional project. The classes in this M SC Telecommunication degree are often offered at the UO’s Norman campus near Oklahoma City. They are also offered on the Tulsa campus for more accessibility.
The 32 hours of required coursework include the following classes:
Telecommunications Industry Overview
Network Design and Management
Telecommunications Laboratory
Telecommunications Technology
Remaining coursework will depend on the student’s decision to complete a thesis or a professional project. Both of these require an oral defense. Electives will round out credit hour requirements. There is a minimum of 12 selected from technical areas such as telecommunications, computer science, math, or applicable engineering topics.
The school has an up-to-date curriculum. There are many new courses such as:
Internet-of-Things
Stochastic Systems
Linear Systems Analysis
Deep Learning
Information Theory and Statistical Learning
Big Data Analytics
Optical Quantum Technologies
UO students benefit from learning experiences within four cutting-edge laboratories. These labs are:
The latter features five unique “island” configurations related to researching:
internet protocol
asynchronous transfer mode
legacy
optical networking
wireless capabilities.
UO’s MS TCOM program places heavy emphasis on practical learning. It also features exciting organizations students can get involved in. An example is the IEEE Communications Society, which is filled with professionals studying all types of communications technologies.
Master of Science with Major in Telecommunications and Network Engineering
Southern Methodist University is a private university near Dallas, Texas. Its motto is “World Changers Shaped Here.” That’s no small boast! But with a $660 million operating budget (as of 2019), SMU clearly has the funding to back it up and to offer world-class education. Its Lyle School of Engineering features a convenient, straightforward 30-credit hour Master of Science in telecommunications and network engineering. It is for students interested in corporate communications management and telecom network engineering. The curriculum prepares graduates for a wide array of employment opportunities. They include working for major corporations and governmental agencies to academic research and consulting.
Students can expect to spend some quality time on foundational core topics. Examples include network protocols, switching and routing, and multiprotocol label switching. Then they will move on to more modern areas of study. The program also trains students on practical business matters. These include:
leadership
management
regulations
relevant policies.
Program elective classes are broken into two categories. These are advanced and additional electives. Advanced electives include classes such as:
Cloud Computing for Network Engineers
Internet Telephony
Linux and Programming
Network Analysis, Architecture and Design
Software Defined Networks
Switching and QoS Management in IP Networks
Telecommunications Regulation
Wireless, Cellular and Personal Telecommunications
SMU’s degree is offered both on-campus and online. This makes it perfect for busy working students. Courses in both formats are led by the same renowned faculty. They feature the same academic challenges and time commitments. Students attending SMU in person will utilize sophisticated department labs. Examples include the Wireless Systems Lab within the Jerry Junkins Building. All students will benefit from the courses utilizing advanced simulation software to design and troubleshoot networks. The program also offers incredible opportunities to learn directly from high-level industry guest lecturers. They possess decades of real-world experience.
SMU graduate students can use the school’s handy degree plan to map out their classes. This program requires sufficient technical background. Applicants should hold a bachelor’s in one of the following:
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Electronics
Information Technology
Networking
Telecommunications
The school has teamed up with SMU’s Cox School of Business. Together they crafted a dual degree ~68-credit hour MBA and Master of Science in telecommunications and network engineering. This two-year option adds the fast track MBA. It allows for up to six MBA credit hours to be counted as electives on the telecommunications Master’s. This program would be beneficial for those seeking to land leadership roles. Interested students should review the additional application criteria.
Master of Science in Information and Communications Technology with a Concentration in Telecommunications Technology
The University of Denver is nearly as old as Denver itself. And it is one of the best telecommunications schools you will find! One high-tech draw in particular is the university’s Master of Science in information and communications technology. It features an in-depth concentration in telecommunications technology. This 48-credit hour degree can be finished in as quick as a year and a half. Part-time students can opt to take up to five years to complete requirements.
The program of study consists of 12 ten-week courses. There is also a no-credit class on student success. It is designed for working grad students. Classes can be taken either on campus at nighttime or online through the University College. Classes start with a historical perspective then toward technology of today with predictions for the future. Core classes include:
Business Foundations
Technical Foundations
Enterprise Architecture
There is also either a capstone project or capstone seminar.
The four specialization classes are:
Network Communications and the Internet
Broadband Wireless Networks
Next Generation Wireless Networks and Services
Network Security with Lab.
Four electives are picked from a long list of options. They are often from the information and communications technology program. Other electives are permitted with pre-approval. DU’s website has a great interactive degree builder. This can be used to assist students with plotting out multiple routes to finish their courses.
The University of Denver also makes the application process easier than average. It considers up to 12 transfer credits. It doesn’t require GRE or GMAT scores. And it will accept applications from students holding a minimum of 2.5 GPA on their undergraduate work. Students must submit a personal statement up to 500 words, a resume, official transcripts, and the contact information for two personal references. International applicants will need to provide proof of English proficiency.
Master of Science in Telecommunications Systems and Networks
New York’s Pace University is on a mission to transform graduate students into skilled professionals ready to tackle the challenges of modern career fields. It has a 36-credit hour, STEM-designated Master of Science in telecommunications systems and networks. It is offered at the New York City and Westchester campuses. This master degree in telecommunication engineering equips students with the managerial and high-tech abilities that employers need. It is offered by the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. The two-year program features a rigorous curriculum. It dives into coursework on:
wireless and optical communications
networks
security topics
management
regulations
The 36-credit hour program of study consists of 27 core credits and nine elective credits. Sample core classes include:
Computer Networking and the Internet
Data Communications and Networks
Optical Communications and Networks
Security in Computer Networking
Simulation and Computer Network Analysis
Telecommunications Management
Wireless Communications
Up to nine prerequisite bridge credits can be taken. None count towards the degree credit requirements. Possible bridge topics include:
Fundamentals Computer Science I and II (using Java)
Computer Systems and Concepts.
Graduates of Pace’s Master of Science in telecommunications systems and networks go on to rewarding careers in a wide range of areas. Examples include:
telecommunications systems management
computer programming
software engineering.
Eighty-nine percent of program alumni reported finding employment within six months of graduation. High-profile employers include:
Intel
Verizon
Novisync
With job growth predictions as high as 22% within the coming years, it’s no wonder the program has gotten so popular.
Pace University students come from every state in the nation and around the world. There is an average 14:1 student/faculty ratio. Graduate students receive copious amounts of individualized attention. The Seidenberg School is devoted to providing practical, applicable real-world education. It takes great strides to ensure use of effective teaching methodology.
Students attending the NYC campus enjoy the close proximity to Wall Street, the South Street Seaport. There are all kinds of other vibrant activities just a short subway trip away. Being near the city also enhances networking opportunities. Westchester campus students can marvel at the blend of modern facilities and open spaces on the sprawling 200-acre nature setting. This campus features a tight-knit community. There are plenty of sports, clubs, and other student life activities to take part in.
Applicants should submit:
transcripts
a resume
two letters of recommendation
a personal statement outlining the reasons for pursuing the degree.
Our final school is nestled on 45 acres of Newark’s beautiful historic University Heights. The New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public polytechnic institution. It offers a stellar learning experience for all. Through its Helen and John C. Hartmann Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NJIT offers a MS in telecommunications. It has a unique option to specialize in a focus area of interest. The program combines relevant coursework from electrical, computer engineering, and computer science fields of study. There is an emphasis on learning about the latest developments in the industry.
NJIT’s MS in telecommunications requires 30 credits. It offers three variations for students to select from. There is a coursework only, Master’s project, or thesis. There are 12 credits of core courses. Students must maintain an overall grade of “B” for the core component. Core classes are:
Communication Systems I
Wireless Communication
Computer Networks-Architectures, Protocols and Standards or Computer Network Design and Analysis
Random Signal Analysis I
All students select an area of specialization from the following options:
Communication systems
Information technologies
Management and administration
Networking
NJIT’s Division of Academic Support and Student Affairs provides a treasure of services for graduate students. There is help with thesis preparation to career-building assistance. There are also fun cultural activities. There are numerous offerings to take advantage of. The school is home to ~140 student organizations and Highlander sports. When students are ready for a break from campus, Newark (New Jersey’s most populated city) is there waiting. There are over a dozen parks, the riverfront “Orange Boardwalk”, and an array of cultural delights to suit all tastes. New York City is a mere 20-minute train ride away. This makes NJIT’s location perfect for those who love urban life.
NJIT’s MS in telecommunications is accredited by ABET. This determines the program’s ability to meet specific program educational objectives. These outcome goals relate to which practical skills graduates should expect to possess and how they’re able to apply those skills after graduation. Per the program’s webpage, applicants must send in GRE exam scores. They should hold a related bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or better. The site doesn’t specify all application requirements without creating an account. Interested students can check out the graduate admissions page for details.
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
The online Master of Business Administration (MBA) is the most popular online master’s degree. The MBA is by far the most in-demand professional degree for good reason–combining business savvy with methodical critical thinking skills produces the competent and driven professionals that companies desire to be at their helm. And with all the specializations students can choose to tailor their degree to fit their career goals, many different jobs are within grasp. Graduates can go on to be chief financial officers, marketing directors, computer and information system managers, and high-end management consultants–just to name a few possibilities. Landing these sought-after jobs shouldn’t be hard either–according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs like these have been growing at a faster than average rate.
In addition to being one of the most customizable and prestigious degrees one can earn, it’s also one of the highest paying master’s degrees. Good news even for MBA graduates who go into the non-profit sector–traditionally a lower paying field than the for-profit business sector or government. U.S. News and World Report discloses that the average non-profit manager salary is still high at just over $81,000 a year, and for MBA graduates who do go into the business sector, salaries were well into six figures within just a few years after graduation.
All Programs are not Equal
We strive to present information on the best, most remarkable online MBA degree programs possible. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International is the hallmark of excellence for granting accreditation to schools offering online Master of Business Administration degrees. Less than 5% of all business schools worldwide have received the distinction of being AACSB accredited. For your convenience and assurance, all of the online MBA degree programs on our list have earned this renowned recognition.
The Methodology for This Ranking
Looking only at schools that are also regionally accredited and which offer distance learning master’s degree programs in business administration (as verified by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation), we considered multiple factors in which to determine ranking. Each college or university’s MBA program had to have high marks based on these factors to land on our list. Giving equal weight to each factor, we compiled our list utilizing our Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology Criteria and these additional factors:
Affordability
GRE/GMAT not required/waived
Look through our list to find the school that best fits your needs for an online MBA, and take charge of your future!
Program Details: The MBA@UNC at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School offers academic excellence in an online format. With the same celebrated faculty members teaching cutting-edge coursework, a career service team available for consulting, coaching and guidance, and a network of alumi all over the world, students in the MBA@UNC program are in good hands. Students have their choice of five concentrations in this 66-credit hour degree program that can be completed in as little as two years, and coursework is both asynchronous and synchronous, with the set-time login classes never larger than fifteen students. For experiential learning, students can participate in MBA@UNC Global Immersions that are offered four times a year. Students can go as far as Singapore or as close as Chicago to seek exposure to global business practices. Applicants with more than five years of work experience are exempt from the GMAT/GRE requirement, and once a student becomes a graduate of the MBA@UNC online degree program, they are not on their own–all MBA@UNC coursework is archived and available for as long as a student wants to access it. In addition, graduates can take MBA electives online as they desire.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill– called UNC or simply “Carolina”–was born when the first cornerstone was laid in the approximate middle of the state. Chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1789 and inviting first student Hinton James to class on February 12, 1795, now the campus incorporates over 700 acres in downtown Chapel Hill. Additionally, over 250 academic degree programs are offered across fourteen schools and colleges to almost 30,000 students. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has affirmed its regional accreditation of UNC.
Program Details: A concentrated, week-long required residency called Kelley Connect Week starts both the first and second years of the IU Kelley School of Business online MBA degree program. Students earn credits, meet their classmates and professors, and compete as a team on a real business exercise to be presented to corporate leaders and executives at the end of the week. With a required 51-credit hours, only 39 of them being core credits, students are able to choose twelve electives to customize their degree. For further specialization and unique experiences, students can choose to pursue a Kelley School of Business dual MBA/MS degree in seven different areas, take an immersion course, or participate in a Kelley Direct AGILE course elective (Accelerating Global Immersion Leadership Education) and study business abroad in places such as Botswana, Myanmar, or Brazil. For support and guidance, career coaches who specialize in working with online students are on hand to help navigate the academic choices and create a strategic plan for finding a job post-graduation. GMAT/GRE waiver requests are considered for applicants with at least five years of relevant work experience, an advanced degrees, or a previous degree from the Kelley School of Business.
In 1820 a proposal for a state seminary was passed by the Indiana State legislature, and by 1824 classes were attended by the first ten students in Bloomington. Four years later in 1828 the name was changed to Indiana College, and ten years after that changed to Indiana University (IU). The largest school in Indiana, IU has sixteen schools and colleges providing over 550 academic degree programs to its nearly 50,000 students. Indiana University at Bloomington is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The Hough Graduate School of Business within University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business offers an online MBA degree entirely online with no required on-campus visits. The 48-credit hour UF MBA at Warrington College of Business online MBA degree program is designed to be completed in 24 months, and the UF MBA Admissions team provides information sessions either online or at one of the UF campuses on a weekly basis to answer any questions a prospective student may have. All courses are taught by the respected UF Warrington faculty members, who provide a “career-focused curriculum” to help their students succeed, with classes like “Global Strategic Management” and “Legal Environment of Business.” For students who do not mind coming to campus, UF Warrington offers both an accelerated hybrid-online MBA for students with an undergraduate business degree that can be completed in just sixteen months, as well as a 27-month hybrid-online MBA for students who have an undergraduate degree in any subject. No matter which format a student chooses, all UF MBA degree programs are the same and impart to students a “well-rounded, rich MBA experience.”
The Gainesville Academy opened in Gainesville, Florida in 1858. In 1866 ownership of the school and land transferred to the state under the condition that the East Florida Seminary be relocated to Gainesville, and the two schools merged. Two more schools were joined with the Gainesville school to become the University of the State of Florida, and with the final name change to University of Florida (UF), the school has sixteen schools and colleges offering over 300 academic degree programs for almost 55,000 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits the University of Florida.
The USC Marshall School of Business Online MBA (OMBA) is the perfect blend of the University of Southern California’s “heritage of academic excellence with the flexibility of online learning.” Starting with the course called “Role of the Manager,” OMBA students participate in a week of online coursework and discussion and conclude with a six-day on-campus residency to begin the 51-credit hour program. Going through the program together as a cohort, students access the remainder of the coursework entirely online. The curriculum is guided by the capable instruction of the renowned USC Marshall faculty, who work with “instructional technology experts” to infuse “the best elements of the on-campus programs with a variety of new elements built specifically for the online experience.” The rigorous program is supplemented by exceptional online student services and resources, such as the Online Marshall MBA Career Services, and for prospective students, USC OMBA online information sessions are held to allow interaction with the USC Marshall faculty and staff in order to learn more about the program.
Established in 1880 in Los Angeles, California, the University of Southern California (USC) is the oldest institution of higher education in the state and a member of the Association of American Universities. This sea- and space-grant institution houses seventeen schools and colleges to serve more than 45,000 currently enrolled students. Over 200 degree programs are provided at this private research university, and USC is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: The ASU W. P. Carey School of Business online MBA degree program is the same as the on-campus program, with the same core curriculum, elective options, and faculty. The W. P. Carey Online MBA core curriculum classes includes topical subjects like “Statistics for Managers” and “Leading People, Teams and Organization: Organizational Theory,” and the student’s elective choices or opting into one of four MBA emphasis areas (Finance, International Business, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management) allows for customization. A student services team is available to offer assistance to online students through every step of the process, and there’s also a dedicated online tech services team. During the academic journey and even beyond graduation, the W. P. Carey Graduate Career Center provides career coaching and workshops, as well as alumni resources. In addition to the first-rate MBA program through W. P. Carey School, concurrent degrees in online MBA/Master of Legal Studies, MBA/MSE Electrical Engineering, and MBA/MS Industrial Engineering are possible through the Arizona State Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law or Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
In 1885, the Territorial Normal School was created in Tempe to educate teachers for the Arizona territory. Thirty-three students started classes a year later in a four-room schoolhouse on twenty donated acres. Growth and multiple name changes occurred through the years, and in 1958 Arizona State University (ASU) was settled upon. Unlike other schools, ASU’s current multiple campuses are seen as “one university in many places” rather than separate schools. Sixteen colleges and schools extend over the six ASU campuses and offer more than 350 academic degree programs to over 80,000 students. The Higher Learning Commission provides ASU with regional accreditation.
Program Details: Having been invested for such a length of time in distance learning means that the Penn State Online MBA delivered through the Penn State World Campus is not only the same high-caliber degree as one would get on-campus, but also an intentionally created program that provides a cut above the industry standard for online coursework. Starting with the Penn State Online MBA five-day residency in University Park, Pennsylvania, the 48-credit hour program focuses on real-world business logistics facilitated by the cutting-edge Penn State faculty members and utilizing an approach called ICE (Integration, Collaboration and Engagement). Penn State’s Smeal College of Business online MBA provides an array of opportunities for customization–an interdisciplinary 39 core credits are required, and students dedicate nine electives towards their chosen concentration (there are fourteen dedicated concentrations, and choices range from Negotiation & Influence to Business Sustainability Strategy to Business Architecture). Student support is also highly customizable–the online MBA career services makes available personalized career coaches and many programs and opportunities to assure a successful transition from student to working professional. Applicants with a terminal degree or work experience may request a GMAT waiver.
Penn State is the only land-grant institution in Pennsylvania, but was chartered prior to the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862. Its origins were in line with the intentions of the Morrill Act in that Penn State was created as a school to provide liberal arts as a practical education in addition to the scientific, agricultural training most students at the time needed. Now fourteen schools and colleges comprise this public, research intensive university. In addition to the 24 campuses across Pennsylvania, the Penn State World Campus has been offering online classes since 1998. The first students of this endeavor graduated in 2000, but now over 12,000 students are enrolled online. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools provides regional accreditation to Penn State.
Program Details: Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business online MBA degree program is a part-time program that is an exact model of the on-campus MBA program offerings, just provided through the convenience of online flexibility. The Tepper School Online MBA offers the same renowned curriculum taught by the same world-class faculty, with the same start dates and admissions requirements (it is anticipated that the program will be completed in 32 months with a start date in September). There are six opportunities to become engaged in the on-campus Tepper culture and network through “Access Weekends” that set this program apart. The Tepper School reaches out in many ways to present information on the school, culture, and opportunities for prospective students–offering virtual info sessions, meet-ups, webinars and other events. Once a student, Tepper emphasizes a firm foundation in business basics–requiring students to finish coursework in economics, finance, operations, quantitative analysis and organizational behavior before they move on to their electives. Additionally, eleven concentration areas are presented with the Tepper MBA–most students choose three or four for added customization.
Funded by a $1 million donation from Andrew Carnegie in 1900 for the express purpose of starting technical schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for both men and women, the Carnegie Technical Schools (the women attended Margaret Morrison Carnegie College) quickly grew into Carnegie Institute of Technology. In 1967 the school became Carnegie Mellon University as it joined with the Mellon Institute, and by 1973 the women’s college closed and the women joined in completely with Carnegie Mellon. Now a private research institution with seven schools and colleges offering over 140 academic degree programs, regional accreditation is provided by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: The UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management’s online Professional MBA (PMBA Online) degree program is offered completely online with no required residencies. A 53-credit hour program with unparalleled opportunities for customization, there are fifteen UT Dallas Online MBA concentrations and thirteen Naveen Jindal School of Management MBA dual degree options. In addition to the core courses made available online, students can choose from a wide selection of business area electives (such as Finance and Managerial Economic coursework and Organizations, Strategy and International Management courses). UT Dallas online MBA information events are offered regularly for prospective students, and once accepted students can start the PMBA Online program in the fall, spring or summer. GMAT/GRE waivers are provided for applicants with previous terminal degrees and other factors, and most students complete the degree in about four years. Student support is readily accessible for Online PMBA students, with such resources and services as the Jindal School of Management Career Management Center (CMC). Services such as the CMC and many others are specifically provided to online UT Dallas students as well to make sure their experience is just as rewarding as if they were on-campus.
In 1961 the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest was the creation of the three founders of Texas Instruments. Established to foster the talented, tech-savvy young Texans and keep them in Texas rather than going out-of-state, the school changed names in 1967 and then again in 1969 when its assets were transferred to the State of Texas and officially became the University of Texas Dallas. A gift of nearly 300 acres from the the Hoblitzelle Foundation and the Texas Research Foundation in 1973 provided a larger campus to the University. Now over 26,000 students study in nearly 140 academic degree programs provided by eight schools. UT Dallas is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: If getting the benefit of four university MBA degrees in one fully online MBA program sounds too good to be true, take a look at the University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium’s 30-credit hour general MBA degree program (the program is up to 47-credit hours if students need to take foundation business courses). A completely online program with no required campus visits, students can begin in the fall, spring or summer (the online, non-credit orientation course is only offered in the fall and spring). Courses are offered in modules and must be completed in sequence, and students usually finish in two and a half to three years but have up to seven as needed. All faculty members are trained specifically to teach online, and class size is kept small to ensure students have access to professors. Additionally, the MBA Consortium Executive Committee oversees the program, assuring that the quality and accessibility of the online MBA remains consistent. Students also have access to MBA Consortium student support services to make sure the online education process is a smooth one, and there are several opportunities to waive the GMAT/GRE requirement due with the application.
The University of Wisconsin (UW) System is a unification in 1971 of two systems of higher education in the State of Wisconsin. Combining the University of Wisconsin (which had its origins in 1849 in the land-grant university at Madison), and the Wisconsin State Universities system (which started as a Normal School in Platteville in 1866), as a single public university system under one board of regents, the UW System encompasses thirteen four-year universities and multiple other two-year colleges and extension programs throughout the state. There are approximately 180,000 students within the statewide System. The collaboration between UW–Eau Claire, UW–La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh and UW–Parkside, with University of Wisconsin Eau Claire serving as the managing partner for the program, is what makes up the MBA Consortium.
Program Details: The Raymond J. Harbert College of Business’ 39-credit hour Auburn Online MBA degree program is made up of thirteen classes and starts with an optional on-campus residency. Students on average finish the nine core business courses and four electives in two and a half years, but students may take up to six years to complete the program if needed. Core classes cover necessary topics such as “Strategic Analysis & the Competitive Environment” and “Information Systems for Competitive Advantage,” and all coursework is taught by the experienced Auburn faculty. Each student benefits from the Auburn MBA Programs leadership team that provides guidance throughout the entire MBA journey, and a final capstone course and project (“Integrated Business Project & Case Analysis“) culminate the program with a three-day on-campus residency right before graduation. Opportunities after graduation are facilitated with help from an advisor in the Office of Professional and Career Development, and there are also available Auburn Online MBA Dual Degree possibilities in Finance, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Information Systems. Students who already possess a terminal degree are waived from the GMAT requirement.
East Alabama Male College, chartered in 1856 in Auburn, was a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Methodist Church. The school transferred to the State of Alabama in 1872 and took advantage of the Morrill Act of 1862 to become the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama, the first land-grant institution in the South (it also has both space and sea-grant institutional status). In 1892 the first women joined as students and the name was changed to the Alabama Polytechnic Institute seven years after that. In 1960, the school became Auburn University, and today the twelve schools and colleges serve almost 30,000 enrolled students in over 140 academic degree programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides Auburn with its regional accreditation.
The Villanova School of Business (VSB) now offers the “distinguished” MBA online, providing an identical curriculum taught by the same accomplished faculty. The concepts and skills that are imparted through the online coursework is designed to be implemented immediately at the student’s workplace in tandem with the learning experience, which sets Villanova online MBA students apart. The 48-credit hour program can be completed in just two years, and students participate in several on campus residencies—the Leadership Challenge kicks-off the program, and additional practicum experiences are conducted at the middle and end of the student’s time in the program. Also offered is the VSB MBA program Global Consulting Practicum, an optional week-long international immersion experience available for students who want firsthand exposure to global business practices. The Villanova Online MBA faculty are internationally recognized authorities in the business field, and their expertise helps provide five specializations from which students can choose: Analytics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, and Strategic Management. An array of Villanova webinars and fact sheets are made available to potential students to help them find information on the program.
Started as the Augustinian College of Villanova by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842, Villanova University is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. A private research university (the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the state), Villanova was originally a school just for men (although nuns could take classes beginning in 1918). Fully coeducational since 1968, Villanova is a high research activity institution with nearly 11,000 students enrolled in over 100 academic degree programs in six schools and colleges, and regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: Housed within the Jenkins Graduate School of Management at NC State University‘s Poole College of Management, the Jenkins Professional Online MBA degree program is presented mostly in an asynchronous format, which allows for a lot of flexibility. Professors are available to online students “through a virtual collaborative space” in which students can call, email, or seek answers to questions while chatting online. With a choice between the accelerated (21 months) or flexible (up to six years) programs and starting in either the fall or the spring, the 40-credit hour NC State Jenkins Professional Online MBA program is truly adjustable and accessible. Online students receive the same student support as their on-campus counterparts, such as the Jenkins Career Management Center and tech support through the DELTA Department. Concentrations are not chosen by online students, but they do complete an area of emphasis of six credit hours in a specific area of business which is very similar to the concentrations available to on-campus MBA students. There are two three-day required campus residencies in Raleigh (active duty military may waive this requirement) and an optional week-long international Jenkins MBA immersion residency. GMAT waivers are considered on a student-by-student basis.
The North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was established as a land-grant institution in Raleigh in 1887. Two years later, 72 students and six faculty members held the first class in a single building. In 1914, the passing of the Smith-Lever Act established a collaboration between land-grant colleges and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This partnership, in which colleges sent educators to rural parts of the state to assist farmers by teaching agricultural techniques, helped North Carolina State College (its new name) thrive. Over the years the college grew into the State’s largest university and was officially renamed North Carolina State University at Raleigh (but is known by most as NC State). Over 34,000 students seek their degree in twelve colleges offering more than 300 academic degree programs, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission grants NC State regional accreditation.
Program Details: An enlivened and exciting 30-33 credit hour program (or up to 51-credit hours for students who do not have an undergraduate business degree and need to take foundational classes), the coursework for the Ball State University fully online MBA degree program is a mixture of both asynchronous and synchronous formats. Five concentration options are available in addition to the general MBA track: students can choose to participate in an Entrepreneurship concentration, Finance concentration, Health Economics, Policy, and Administration concentration, Logistics and Supply Chain Management concentration, or Sales Management concentration. The same Ball State Miller College of Business faculty members who teach the on-campus courses teach the online courses, and moreover Ball State makes a point of providing these professors with specific instruction on creating and implementing online classes. Many of the same services for residential students are available as Ball State Online student support services–career-planning, tech support, The Writing Center, etc.–but in addition online students can receive support from an Online Student Ambassador. Students with previous professional advanced degrees can receive a waiver for the GMAT/GRE requirement.
When a small school to train teachers in Muncie, Indiana closed its doors in the early 20th century, local businessman Frank Ball and his brothers bought the property and buildings and donated them to the State. The Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division became a new teacher’s school in 1918. Four years later the name was changed to Ball Teachers College in honor of the Ball brothers, and then the name changed again in 1929 to Ball State Teachers College. As the school continued to grow and offer more than just teaching degrees, the name was changed a final time to Ball State University in 1965. Now eight colleges serve 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in almost 350 academic degree programs. Ball State University receives regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: A 54-credit program that can be completed in as little as twenty-four months, the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland, College Park online MBA degree program joins excellence in academics with the ease of flexibility. Two required on-campus residencies (one a three-day experience at the beginning of the coursework and the other a final capstone project) gives Smith online MBA students an opportunity to be in the lead with actual real-world problems to be analyzed and solved through teamwork and innovation. Students can choose a general track or from specializations in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management. All online coursework is taught by the same “innovators and established thought leaders” who are the Robert H. Smith School of Business faculty, and online students and alumni benefit from the same extensive career services that on-campus students do–services such as peer-to-peer mentoring, career coaching, and interactive interview practice. Students with proven academic excellence and a “successful career trajectory” are encouraged to talk with an enrollment advisor in regards to a GRE/GMAT waiver.
Maryland Agricultural College was chartered in 1856 and 428 acres of farmland was secured to be the site of the institution in 1858. The following year the school opened its doors to 34 students. By 1916 the school became state supported and a public college, with the name changed to Maryland State College of Agriculture. Now the University of Maryland is the flagship in the University System of Maryland and boasts almost 40,000 students enrolled in fourteen schools and colleges. Located in College Park, MD, the University of Maryland is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
#15. Lehigh University
Online MBA
Program Details: The Lehigh University College of Business and Economics’s online MBA degree is available through what they call the “Flex MBA.” The Lehigh Flex MBA is delivered in multiple ways for students to choose the best fit for their needs–on-campus or online, part-time or accelerated, or any combination of those methods. The 36-credit hour program has two required on-campus components regardless of whether a student chooses to complete coursework online or on-campus; a required weekend orientation kicks-off the program, and an on-campus capstone project is the culmination. The core curriculum is comprised of classes such as “Managing Products & Services” and “Introduction to the Organization & Its Environment,” and students have their choice of six Lehigh FLEX MBA program concentrations. For students who need certain prerequisites that weren’t completed in their undergraduate work, Lehigh offers online courses that can be taken at the same time as their MBA coursework. Applicants with academic doctorate, juris doctorate, or medical doctorate degrees are automatically exempt from the GRE/GMAT requirement–others with ten or more years of experience are encouraged to request a waiver.
A donation of around 57 acres and $500,000 from Asa Packer, the President of Lehigh Valley Railroad, was the beginnings of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1865. Packer, an altruistic, enterprising businessman, desired to positively influence the intellect and morality of the men in the Lehigh Valley area, and 39 men were the first students. Now over 2,300 acres provide a campus for the nearly 7,000 coeducational students who are enrolled in this private research university. Lehigh University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: The UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management online MBA degree program offers an uncompromising education with the benefit of flexibility. The Isenberg Online MBA is the same MBA program as offered on-campus, with the same coursework and distinguished faculty and the same advising and support services available, just with the added benefit of learning at your one’s own convenience. Starting with the admissions process (applicants with a doctoral or master’s degree, and/or ten or more years of professional experience may request a GMAT waiver), there are three application deadlines and four class start dates for added flexibility. The coursework is just as detailed, and there are optional focus areas in Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Administration, Marketing, and Sport Management that allow for student customization (the program is 39-credit hours without a focus, and 45-credits with a focus area). For those who are a bit unsure or apprehensive about starting an online MBA, the Isenberg School allows interested parties to Try A Class and take up to two classes before they apply or while their application is being processed, and these class credits can transfer once the student is enrolled.
The University of Massachusetts in Amherst (UMass Amherst), like many other land-grant schools in the mid-1800s, was begun in 1863 as a college of agriculture. Located on 310 acres in the countryside, the first students started classes in 1867. By 1931 the school was renamed Massachusetts State College, but then changed again in 1947 to the University of Massachusetts. This public research flagship of the State’s five-campus university system is now officially known as the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Campus has grown to almost 1,450 acres with nine schools and colleges offering over 230 academic degree programs to more than 30,000 students. UMass Amherst is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: The 100% online Ole Miss MBA degree program at the University of Mississippi lives up to the reputation of the prestigious institution. The 36-credit hour MBA program is typically completed in two years (a set sequence of classes is suggested to finish in the two year time frame), but students have as many as six to work on the degree at their own pace. The required Ole Miss online MBA core coursework is taught by the same “world-renowned” Ole Miss School of Business Administration faculty, and classes include relevant topics such as “Managerial Economics,” “Leadership and Ethics,” and “Business Planning and Entrepreneurship.” Resources such as the Current MBA Student Calendar and recorded student testimonials are helpful both for prospective students and current MBA participants. The Ole Miss reputation supplies significant support in the form of the MBA Alumni Board’s Professional Development Days (a series offered several times a year), as well as the Ole Miss Alumni Association (a “hallmark of the University of Mississippi”) to maintain ties and network connections after graduation.
Fondly known as “Ole Miss,” the University of Mississippi was chartered by the Mississippi Legislature in 1844. In 1848, eighty students began classes in what would be the state’s one-and-only public institution for higher education for almost 25 more years. Today Ole Miss remains Mississippi’s flagship and largest university with almost 25,000 students earning their degrees in fifteen schools and colleges and four extension campuses. The University of Mississippi has achieved the distinction of being an R-1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification. The main campus is located in both Oxford and University, Mississippi. Ole Miss is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The online MBA program from Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management offers a great deal of customization opportunities through five concentration options. Students can opt for a focus in Marketing, Finance, Leadership and Managing Organizational Change, General Management, or Digital Innovation and Information Systems. Generally completed in about two years, the Pepperdine online MBA program requires the same 52-credit hours but allows for a lot more flexibility than the on-campus MBA part-time and full-time programs. Core courses include topics such as “Prices, Profit, and the Market Economy,” “Integration in Business Operations,” and “Political, Regulatory, Ethical, and Legal Issues of Business,” and as one can imagine with a school steeped in its founder’s faith tradition, there is a “values-centered” approach to the coursework, but it is also very experiential. For example, there are two required on-campus, weekend residencies in which students are given a real-world case-study and expected to work alongside currently-working company executives to solve it. Additionally, the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School faculty are “executives, entrepreneurs, consultants, and published authors,” so students are learning from professionals in the field.
George Pepperdine, an entrepreneur who founded the Western Auto Supply Company and a man of deep Christian faith, determined to create a place of higher education where young men and women could seek solid academics and have their faith nurtured by faculty and administration. In the fall of 1937, George Pepperdine College opened with 167 students in Los Angeles, California. Through the years expansions–the biggest a move into Malibu–and a name change took place to reflect the growth of both the student body and the academic programs offered. Today Pepperdine boasts five schools, 73 degree programs, and over 7,500 students. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges provides Pepperdine with regional accreditation.n
Program Details: The online MBA degree program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is ideal for those who do not possess an undergraduate degree in business. Offered completely online in the Nebraska College of Business, the 48-credit hour degree program known as MBA@Nebraska can be completed in as little as eighteen months, though most students complete it in three to four years (but students have up to ten years if needed). Thirty core credit hours and eighteen electives are required, and one can start in the fall, spring or summer (many opportunities are present to allow students to request a waiver for the GRE/GMAT requirement for admission). The relevant MBA@Nebraska curriculum offers core classes like “Strategic Management and Business Policy” and “Organizational Behavior,” as well as applicable electives such as “Talent Acquisition,” “Multinational Financial Analysis,” and “Marketing and Globalization.” Five optional specializations are offered in Business Analytics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management, and there is an UNL online exploratory website that gives prospective students a glimpse of the coursework, faculty contact information, and links to student support.
Chartered just two years after Nebraska was granted statehood in the newly designated capital of Lincoln in 1869, four city blocks became the first campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Within forty years student enrollment increased to almost 4,000 students. Now, campus encompasses over 600 acres and over 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled in nine schools and colleges, and there are over 300 academic degree programs offered. UNL is a public university regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: With an expected completion of just over two years and three possible start dates a year, the FSU College of Business online MBA degree program offered online through Distance@FSU provides a quick and flexible degree program for working professionals. Requiring 39-credit hours to graduate and offering core classes such as “Marketing Strategy in the Global Environment,” “Business Conditions Analysis,” and “The Legal & Ethical Environment of Business,” the program also promises quality and rigorous academics taught by the same faculty members as the on-campus MBA offerings. And for students who want a specialization focus, there are 100% online FSU MBA focus areas available in Business Analytics, Management Information Systems, Risk Management and Insurance (with an additional choice between track options of Financial Planning or Risk Management), or Real Estate. Some applicants may be eligible to request a GMAT waiver, and once accepted into the MBA program there is an online orientation to guide students through the process of beginning classes, and there are multiple Distance@FSU student support services to help them succeed.
Florida State University had beginnings as both the Tallahassee Female Academy and the all-male West Florida Seminary. The two schools joined in 1858 but maintained the men’s school’s name until 1863 when it was changed to The Florida Military and Collegiate Institute. Going through several more changes, the final name of Florida State University (FSU) was settled in 1947. Encompassing 1,550 acres, including the downtown Tallahassee main campus of over 450 acres, FSU now has sixteen schools and colleges and over 330 academic degree programs for the more than 41,000 students. FSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: A lot of thought goes into the making sure the coursework is stellar for the Online MBA offered through the Kate Tiedemann College of Business at USF St. Petersburg (KTCOB). Many of the MBA faculty members have received certification in their online course development through the KTCOB designation as a participating institution with the Quality Matters program for online teaching excellence. In addition to offering the KTCOB Online MBA Essential Modules that students will need to master in order to graduate (some students will not need the modules if they have a strong background in undergraduate business courses), there are nine focus areas from which to choose in the 36-credit hour program to customize the degree. Students have the option to integrate two tracks to form a more comprehensive concentration from within the dedicated focus areas in Business Analytics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Finance, Forensic Accounting, Healthcare Analytics, Information Systems Management, International Business, Management, and Marketing Strategy. A waiver is possible for the GMAT/GRE requirement–applicants are encouraged to seek information, and KTCOB Online MBA information sessions are readily available for prospective students.
On September 7, 1965, 260 students first attended class at the University of South Florida (USF) in the barracks of closed down United States Maritime Service Training Station in the Bayboro Harbor waterfront area of St. Petersburg. As the school grew, an expanded 63-acre campus was developed in 1978. This large, public research institution officially became its own separately accredited university within the University of South Florida System in 2002. Offering 41 academic degree programs to its almost 5,000 students, USF St. Petersburg is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: A 30-credit hour program, requiring 27 hours of core classes and three hours of electives, the Mississippi State University (MSU) Distance MBA degree program through the College of Business can be accessed entirely online. Most students finish the program in as little as two years, but the school allows up to eight years to complete the degree as needed. There are electives within the College of Business to satisfy the three hour requirement, but students can gain approval for other classes outside the College of Business if they choose–some courses that are considered MSU Distance MBA potential elective offerings include “Racism and the US Color Line,” “Elements of Persuasion,” and “Remote Sensing Physical Environment.” For students with an interest in engineering, the MSU College of Business offers jointly with the MSU College of Engineering a fully online MBA with a concentration in Project Management (MBA-PM) degree program. The MSU MBA-PM degree program requires 36-credit hours, covering topics such as “Process Improvement Engineering,” “Law, Business, Ethics, and Dispute Resolution,” and “Leadership Skills for Managerial Behavior.”
The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, established as a land-grant university in Starkville in 1878, opened in 1880. The name was changed first in 1932 to Mississippi State College and then again in 1958 to Mississippi State University. Main campus in Starkville now encompasses 4,200 acres, with additional research areas on the Plant Science Farm and the Animal Sciences Farm totaling more than 2,000 more acres, and twelve schools and colleges serve over 20,000 students with over 175 academic degree programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges grants regional accreditation to MSU.
Program Details: With eleven dedicated emphasis areas possible (in addition to the customized MBA track and the limitless creativity of the student), the online MBA degree program at the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics (COBE) is truly whatever a student could want it to be. Choosing from Data Analytics, Finance, Environmental Safety and Health, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Supply Chain and Operations Management, IT Management, Management, International Business, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, or whatever customization a student can devise, students can focus on the very specific business area in which they desire to pursue work. All 36 breadth and emphasis credit hours are provided entirely online, and the same experienced, research-focused faculty teach the online courses so the academic quality is identical to on-campus–just delivered in a flexible format. There are three start dates possible throughout the year and applicants are given several different avenues for seeking a GRE/GMAT waiver. For prospective students, there are multiple UW-Whitewater MBA degree program online information sessions to learn more about the program, and current students have access to many UW-Whitewater COBE Graduate Student Support Resources.
Founded in Whitewater, Wisconsin in 1868, the Whitewater Normal School was begun as one of several teacher education schools that came into being during the late 1900s. The school was successful through fires, wars and a great depression. By the mid-twentieth century, the Whitewater Normal School became part of the Wisconsin State College system and went through several name changes before landing on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. With over 12,000 students enrolled in about 70 academic degree programs, UW-Whitewater has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Offering the same renowned curriculum and expert faculty as the on-campus MBA program, the WSU Carson College of Business online MBA degree program ensures that distance students receive the best education with the added benefit of flexibility–and they have the student testimonials to prove it. Flexibility extends to when students want to begin their coursework as well: the start date options are unparalleled–WSU online MBA students can opt for three different term starts each in the fall, spring or summer. For students who have a bachelor’s degree in business, the program is 36-credit hours for the general online MBA track (sixteen additional credit hours in foundational business coursework are required for others). All coursework is entirely online, and students can complete the program in just 22 to 29 months. In addition to the general online MBA track, which offers core classes such as “Strategy Formulation and Organizational Design” and “Business Analytics: Transforming Data into Decisions,” students can customize their degree by pursuing one of four concentrations: Finance, Hospitality Business Management, International Business, or Marketing. Each concentration is also offered as a WSU Online MBA nine-credit hour certificate.
In 1890 the newly instituted state of Washington’s Legislature determined to establish a state college. After touring multiple cities, the town of Pullman was chosen and in January of 1892, the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science opened its doors. The name officially became Washington State University (WSU) in 1959, and now WSU has eleven colleges and over 200 academic degree programs on-campus, and 22 degree programs online. With four extension campuses and their thriving online degree programs, Washington State has over 30,000 students enrolled. WSU receives regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Program Details: A 33-credit hour program located in the Arkansas State University Neil Griffin College of Business and offered by A-State Online (AOS), the Online MBA degree program is made up of 27-credit hours of core classes and six of electives. Core curriculum courses include topics such as “Accounting for Planning and Control,” “Global Strategic Initiatives,” and “Corporate Financial Management,” and electives can be any of the offered classes or (with department approval) a “directed individual study” that has as the student’s goal a research paper or publication. The final outcome must be a presentation that is subject to review by faculty members in the graduate school. Two optional fully-online concentrations are available; students can choose from Supply Chain Management or Finance. Students can be sure they are receiving the best education via their experienced and highly-trained AOS faculty professors, and online students are able to access their additional support through the A-State Online Services for online students.
One of four agricultural high schools founded in Arkansas in 1909 to teach farming and textile manufacturing skills by Act 100 of 1909, the first classes in the Jonesboro, Arkansas “Aggie” school began on donated land in 1910 with 189 students and eight faculty members. On January 17, 1967, the agricultural high school became the public research institution Arkansas State University (A-State) after much advocating by administrators and the Jonesboro community. Now just over 14,000 students are enrolled in the more than 140 academic degree programs within the six colleges of A-State, which is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The online University of North Dakota MBA Program in the UND College of Business & Public Administration requires 43-credit hours and can be completed as a part-time program in two or more years. Taught as an interdisciplinary program across the College of Business’ Departments of Accounting, Economics & Finance, Marketing, Management, and Political Science & Public Administration, as well as the School of Entrepreneurship, students are immersed in important and well-rounded coursework. The curriculum features classes such as “The Successful MBA–Executive Skills,” “Accounting Information for Decision and Control,” and “Econometrics,” and students choose from a general MBA concentration track or from the Business Analytics Concentration, Government and Business Concentration, Social Entrepreneurship Concentration, or International Concentration (the International Concentration does require students to study abroad in an exchange with an international university). Student support services come in many forms–career services, online library services, personal counseling, and tech support, just to name a few, and UND online students gain the benefit of “the convenience of online learning with the personal contact and connection” of a caring and supportive faculty and staff.
The University of North Dakota was founded in Grand Forks, ND in 1883 (six years before North Dakota officially became a state). The first graduating class was comprised of eight students, and contained both men and women. On-campus living was very affordable then at only $3.50 a week for room and board, as long as one didn’t mind not having a furnace for heat or windows to open in the summer, and drinking water brought in from town by the barrel. Now the University of North Dakota is a thriving public research institution that enjoys educating almost 15,000 students in over 225 academic degree programs through nine schools and colleges. Regional accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The prestigious Heider College of Business at Creighton offers an online MBA degree achieved with only 33 credits taken as eleven classes in eight-week terms. (If students want to finish even more quickly than the prescribed 32 months, they are free to accelerate the program by taking more than one class at a time). The curriculum includes courses such as “Leadership & Organizational Behavior,” “Economic Analysis for Managers,” and “Information Systems Management,” and students can construct a concentration from among electives grouped in the areas of Finance, Leadership, Business Intelligence & Analytics, Accounting, Financial Psychology & Behavioral Finance, or Personal Financial Planning. The online Creighton MBA degree program is open to all undergraduate degree recipients, and students will become engaged in a non-thesis program taught by the “deeply connected” and experienced Heider College of Business faculty members. Most applicants are not required to submit GMAT scores, and the relevant program culminates in a capstone course in strategic management. For students with unrelated bachelor’s degrees and no significant business coursework (specifically in statistics), Creighton offers a noncredit statistics tutorial for a fee.
Creighton University is a coeducational, Jesuit university located in Omaha, Nebraska. Envisioned as a memorial by Mary Lucretia Creighton to her late husband Edward, Creighton College was founded in 1878 with money left in Mary’s will for the purpose of opening a school. Five Jesuit priests, two lay teachers and 120 students first held class that year. Today, over 8,000 students attend and study over 100 academic degrees and majors in nine schools and colleges in the university. A “Catholic and Jesuit comprehensive university,” Creighton is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: A three-year program requiring 55.5 credit hours to graduate, the GW Online MBA degree can be started in the fall, spring or summer, and GW Online Global & Experiential Opportunities provided as optional residencies can really serve to enhance a student’s experience. Students with over seven years of professional work experience may be able to waive the GMAT/GRE requirement, but even then competition for admission to the GW Online MBA degree at the George Washington School of Business(GWSB) is fierce due to the strength of the reputation and character of both the school and the MBA program. Offered online through the GWSB Digital Community, digital sessions and once-weekly live classroom sessions assure that the coursework is lively and rigorous. Faculty members are available to interact with students during online office hours, so there is no disadvantage to being a distance learner. There are six optional concentrations: Consulting, Finance, Global Management, Government Contracts, Information Systems and Technology Management, and Project Management, as well as the GW Online Healthcare MBA, and students may choose up to two if they desire a broader range of specializations.
In 1819, a group of Baptist ministers secured funding to purchase land in the capital and put in a petition to Congress to charter the college that they were in the process of organizing. By 1821 President Monroe signed an Act of Congress, and Columbian College was born. After 60 years, another Act of Congress in 1904 changed the name to The George Washington University (GW). Now, this private research university located in the District of Columbia educates more than 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the University’s ten schools on three campuses, and employs over 2,500 faculty members. George Washington has regional accreditation through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The UNT G. Brint Ryan College of Business presents six different accelerated online MBA degree program focus area options. Students can choose from a concentration in Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Analytics, or Supply Chain Management. The 36-credit hour program can be started at five different times during the year and completed in as little as fourteen months, and the UNT accelerated online MBA curriculum is comprised of core course, concentration classes, and electives. Students all participate in eighteen hours of core classes such as “Accounting for Management” and “Intro to the Business Decision Process,” and concentration classes cover fifteen credits of the required 36. Students can choose an elective from a large listing of offered courses, with topics such as “Leadership Research and Development,” “Employment Placement & Personnel Planning,” and “Discovery and Learning with Big Data.” With a commitment to “inquiry and shared discovery,” the UNT College of Business faculty are engaged as students’ “partners throughout the online course process,” so prospective students can be assured they are part of a community of learning, even though they are learning from a distance.
From a space rented above a hardware store to educate 70 men and women to one of the largest public universities in the nation, the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, Texas has grown beyond the humble expectations of its origins as the Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute. With twelve colleges and schools and over 220 academic degree programs for the 37,000 students who attend, UNT has gone through seven different names in its 125 year history, the final name of University of North Texas being bestowed in 1988. UNT is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: For graduates with at least two years of professional work experience, the UT Martin Online MBA degree program offers convenience, flexibility, and excellence. The online MBA is a cohort-based, eighteen-month program offered completely online with two start-dates each year, and admissions exam requirements of the GRE or GMAT can be waived with a previous master’s degree or seven or more years of professional work experience. Located in the UT Martin College of Business and Global Affairs, the online MBA provides two tracks: the 30-credit hour General Business track and the 42-credit hour Agricultural track. Core courses such as “Organizational Theory and Design,” “Legal and Ethical Environment of Business,” and “Accounting for Managerial Decisions” are required for both tracks, and Online MBA with the Agricultural track option students choose from electives such as “Commodity Futures and Options Market,” “Advanced Econometric Applications in Agribusiness, and “Applied Management Science in Agricultural Systems” to make up the remaining credits of their program. The top-notch UT Martin faculty provides instruction, and the College of Business and Global Affairs online resources to support students are plentiful.
Now a public university in the western part of Tennessee, the University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) was founded as the Hall-Moody Institute in 1900 by local Baptists and the Beulah Association of Northwest Tennessee. Named after two prominent Baptist ministers, J. N. Hall and J. B. Moody, the institute was originally created to provide religious education. By 1927 the school joined with Union University to become the University of Tennessee Junior College. Under its final name of University of Tennessee Martin, the school currently offers twenty-two degrees and over 100 specializations to its almost 7,000 students. UT Martin is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: SUNY Oswego offers a completely-online MBA degree program that is “equally applicable to private, public and governmental sectors of management” and can be completed in just two years. The same award-winning SUNY Oswego School of Business faculty as the on-campus MBA programs provides instruction for the 36-credit hour program (there are 21-credit hours required for students who need business foundational coursework, for a total of 57 credit hours). In addition to potential prerequisite foundational coursework, the core curriculum, and electives, students participate in Advanced Tool Courses such as “Futures and Options Market” and “Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management.” Elective choices are varied, and students have options such as “Sales Leadership and Strategy,” “Cyber Law,” and “Loss Control, Contracting, and Housing.” Classes are accessed via the SUNY Oswego Blackboard Learn online system, and online classes are generally available a week before the semester starts to allow students to become comfortable with the online delivery system. Admission is rolling so students can begin the process of admission at their convenience, and the program has start dates in the fall, spring and summer.
The State University of New York–or SUNY– at Oswego, NY was founded in 1861 as Oswego Primary Teachers’ Training School and moved to its current location in 1913. Going through several changes in the 1940’s, the current arts and sciences institution that it is today within the State University of New York system was established in 1962. Now offering over 110 academic degree programs to 8,000 students, SUNY Oswego is one of thirteen university colleges in the SUNY system (which includes 64 campuses in total). SUNY Oswego is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Higher Education.
#32. Oklahoma State University
Online MBA
Program Details: Housed in the Spears School of Business’ Watson Graduate School of Management at Oklahoma State University and provided online through the Michael and Anne Greenwood Center for Online Excellence, the OSU Online MBA degree program is 42-credit hours and can be completed on a part-time basis. With “twelve tremendous reasons” that the OSU Online MBA is a benefit for the business professional, students can expect tremendous flexibility, affordable quality, many student support services, and connections within the program and beyond. In addition to the stellar core curriculum classes like “Business Intelligence Tools and Techniques” and “Corporate and Business Strategy,” OSU Online students can choose from nine MBA concentrations that are offered entirely online (Business Sustainability, Data Science, Energy Business, Entrepreneurship, Global Marketing, Human Resource Management, Information Assurance, Marketing Analytics, and Nonprofit Management) and will gain a “higher realm of administrative versatility” through the program. Multiple tutorials are provided that cover many aspects of the online learning platform utilized by OSU Online called Brightspace, so before a student has even been admitted the program makes available services to help them succeed.
Classes first began for Oklahoma State University–originally known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College–in 1891 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The University has grown from a small A&M school with a first graduating class of only six male students to a coeducational, public research institution that has become the flagship of a statewide university system with extension offices and campuses throughout the state of Oklahoma. Boasting over 37,000 students across the state and ten schools and colleges, Oklahoma State is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The online MBA program offered by Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management is called MBA@Syracuse, and it doesn’t differ from the quality of the on-campus program in any way. The same Whitman School faculty teach all of the online MBA classes, and online students will “benefit from the scholarly expertise and practical experience” they bring. Offering rolling admission, a GMAT waiver for applicants with at least five years of work experience, and four different start dates a year, the online MBA@Syracuse is a part-time program that can be completed in as little as two years. Once accepted, each new student receives a welcome phone call from their student support advisor who will talk them through the process, expectations, and answer any questions they may have. Requiring 54-credit hours, MBA@Syracuse online students participate in three on-campus residencies, which provide unparalleled interactions and “allow students to apply their skills and network with classmates and professors.” Six optional specializations are provided as dedicated focus areas in which students can concentrate their studies if they choose: Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Marketing Management, and Entrepreneurship.
The Methodist State Convention, which was held in 1870 in Syracuse, New York, resolved to found a university within the city. By fall of 1871, seven women and thirty-four men became classical studies students in a four-year program or scientific fields studies students in a three-year program at the College of Liberal Arts in a rented building. Today, this private research university has thirteen schools and colleges that offer over 200 academic degree programs to its approximately 20,000 students. The Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools gives Syracuse its regional accreditation.
Program Details: Offering the exact same MBA program in which the on-campus students participate, the online MBA degree mode offered through the Department of Management, Marketing and General Business in West Texas A&M‘s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business delivers distinction with added accessibility. Designed to be completed in two years, and depending on a student’s background and choice in emphasis area (MBA General Business track, Computer Information Systems, Management, Marketing, or Healthcare Management), the MBA program requires between 31 to 46 credit hours. Up to nine credit hours in foundational coursework may be required for students not coming from a business background, and students have their choice of the credits that make up the core curriculum (with a wide selection of class options such as “Social Network and Media Analysis” and “International Human Resource Management”). For students who are having trouble deciding which online MBA class to take, Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business Graduate Course Introductory Videos are made available. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 may request a GMAT waiver.
The establishment of a State normal school by the Texas Legislature in 1909 prompted lively competition between many cities in west Texas to become home to the proposed institution for educating teachers. The town of Canyon pledged 40 acres and just over $100,000, which helped push Canyon into the lead. A year later, sixteen faculty members and over 150 students began classes at West Texas State Normal College. Now West Texas A&M University’s almost 10,000 students are enrolled in nearly 100 academic degree programs in six schools and colleges. West Texas A&M is provided with regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The online MBA degree program at Quinnipiac University School of Business marries high quality with a user-friendly program. The MBA program receives the support of the School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, and additionally students have access to the QU Online technical support team 24/7, financial aid resource counseling, administrative support, academic advising, as well as the dedicated business resources provided by the School of Business. Courses are taught by the same faculty that teach on-campus, and there are three optional professional focus tracks: the Quinnipiac online MBA Finance Track, the Quinnipiac online MBA Healthcare Management Track, and the Quinnipiac online MBA Supply Chain Management Track. Students can also choose their own electives to create a specialized area of focus customized for their specific career goals if desired. Elective choices vary based on the student’s professional focus track (if they have chosen one), and include such topics as “Health Policy and Politics,” “Managing Marketing Channels,” “Corporate Compliance in the Health Care Industry,” and “International Business Negotiation.” Applicants can submit a waiver request for the GRE requirement, and start dates are offered in the fall, spring or summer.
Quinnipiac University (QU) is a private, nonsectarian university with three campuses located in Hamden and New Haven, Connecticut. Originally started as a small college in New Haven in 1929, Quinnipiac has grown to a national institution with over 10,000 graduate and undergraduate students currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences or one of eight professional schools. Known for the Quinnipiac University Poll, QU conducts thorough, highly-respected polls on issues of politics and public concern, which are then used by many in the news media to assess and report on public opinion. Quinnipiac University earns regional accreditation by New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: The University of Nevada, Reno College of Business offers an online Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree rather than the more commonly known MBA. Adding the distinction of “executive” to their MBA degree program means this is a rigorous program ideal for professionals who want to finish their degree quickly while continuing to work full-time. Utilizing the University of Nevada, Reno online EMBA cohort structure in which students begin the program at the same time in the fall and move through the sequenced coursework together, the twelve-course curriculum program is completed in two years. Students can have undergraduate degrees unrelated to business but must have at least five years of professional work experience, and the GRE/GMAT admissions requirement is waived for students who already have a master’s or professional degree, or who are currently licensed as CPAs, CFPs, CMAs or PEs. The 37-credit hours needed to complete the program are offered as 21 credit hour core courses and 15 credit hour breadth courses, and range from core topics such as “Economics of the Firm” to breadth topics such as “Personal Branding.”
Founded in 1874 as the State University of Nevada and awarding its first degrees to three students seventeen years later in 1891, the University of Nevada, Reno now boasts over 18,000 students and almost 1,000 faculty members. The school was started due to the benefits the Morrill Act of 1862 and is the only land-grant university in the state. A public research institution offering over 145 degree programs, University of Nevada, Reno has been regionally accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities continuously since 1938.
Program Details: Provided completely online through the Georgia WebMBA® consortium of schools (a coalition of six AACSB-accredited University System of Georgia institutions jointly offering the online MBA), the Columbus State Turner College of Business online MBA requires 30-credit hours. There is an option to start the program either in the fall or the spring–both options begin with a two-day on-campus orientation, and students become engaged with their fellow students and the Turner College of Business faculty and staff right from the start. Students can complete the degree in five semesters but have up to six years if needed. The ten required classes are provided entirely online and include topics such as “Human Behavior in Organizations,” “Strategic Marketing,” and “Global & International Business” in order to fulfill Turner College’s mission of preparing “students to add value to their communities and employers in a globally competitive environment, by providing high quality, relevant business and computer science education.” Students can also participate in the online Georgia WebMBA™ program through George College & State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, University of West Georgia, and Valdosta State University.
Established as a junior college in 1958 in Columbus, Georgia with fifteen faculty members and almost 300 students, Columbus State University became a full four year institution in 1965. Now offering more than 90 academic degree programs, the Columbus State has about 8,000 students enrolled currently. Located about 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, Columbus State University has two campuses–main campus and the RiverPark campus–and also offers classes at army base Fort Benning. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides the regional accreditation for Columbus State University.
Program Details: Hofstra University’s Zarb School of Business offers a highly-flexible online MBA degree program. Students can start the 38-45 credit hour program (the credit requirements are determined by the student’s participation in and grade point average of previous undergraduate business classes from an AACSB-accredited institution) as a small, 20-month cohort group in the fall, or they can opt out of the cohort model in order to customize the program to their desired timeline. Two unique concentrations are available in Strategic Business Management and Strategic Healthcare Management, and all coursework is taught by the revered Zarb faculty–an accomplished bunch who have an impressive array of achievements, such as producing “over 350 articles in 190 different scholarly journals” in the span of five years. Online students have full access to Zarb’s Graduate Business Career Services center, and are supported through individualized sessions. In order to address the international needs of business education, an optional Hofstra MBA Global Practicum on Strategy (GPS) in which students travel abroad to get firsthand knowledge on how businesses in other countries are managed (the cost is in addition to the normal tuition).
Located on Long Island in Hempstead, New York and just miles away from New York City, Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational institution that was founded in 1935. The campus boasts a total enrollment of about 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The faculty to student ratio is 14:1, so students have a great deal of support in the almost 300 academic degree programs that Hofstra offers. Regional accreditation is provided by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: With rolling admission, two term start dates, the possibility to waive the GRE/GMAT requirement, and the option to complete the 36-credit hour program in as little as four semesters or up to seven years, Marist College School of Management‘s online, asynchronous MBA degree program truly allows students to work on their degree in their own time. A mixture of core courses, electives and optional concentrations also gives many opportunities to customize the degree to each student’s specific academic desires and career goals. Students can choose from the Marist Online MBA concentrations in Ethical Leadership, Financial Management, or Health Care Administration. And for potential students who would like to experience Marist prior to making the commitment to attend, there are multiple on-campus Open House events, online graduate information sessions, and there is even an online sample class tutorial available called Touch the Technology. Support and learning for students and grads continue in the form of the “Leadership Development and Experiential Weekends” that are open to current on-campus and online students as well as alumni.
Founded in 1929 as a training school and seminary for future Marist Brothers in the Catholic Church, Marist College is now a private, coeducational institution. Located on roughly 200 acres in Poughkeepsie, NY, there are over 6,500 students enrolled in seven schools and 75 academic degree programs. Encouraging students to see a vision of community around the world and serve globally, Marist offers students the opportunity to study abroad on the branch campus in Florence, Italy. Regional accreditation is provided by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The SIU College of Business presents an online MBA degree that waives the GRE requirement for applicants who have five or more years of work experience. The 42-credit hour online MBA program starts in the summer and is designed to be finished in just 23 months. Students can choose the general track of the online SIU MBA degree or either the online MBA with a concentration in Agribusiness Economics (offered jointly with the College of Agricultural Sciences) or the online MBA with an Analytics for Managers concentration. Delivered in the cohort format, the online MBA students benefit from a built-in peer group with which to develop group-building skills, support, and future business contacts, and in addition to the collaborative nature of the cohort peer group, at least two teaching assistants are assigned to assist both the faculty and the online MBA students as they do their coursework and move through the program. The SIUC College of Business faculty are “known nationally and internationally for their contributions in teaching, research and service,” so students can be sure that they are learning from some of the best.
Founded as the state’s second teachers school in 1869 with an impressive first class of 143 students and twelve academic departments, Southern Illinois University Carbondale now has a total enrollment of over 17,000 students and offers more than 300 academic degree programs in ten schools and colleges. The largest campus of the Southern Illinois University system and the flagship institution, SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and has regional accreditation provided by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The 49-credit hour William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business Online MBA degree program typically takes two years to complete, and provides a customizable, unique Mason Online MBA learning experience. Starting the academic journey with the William & Mary Renaissance Manager course, students come up with their own experiential “wicked problem” that will be central throughout their coursework, and complete the program with the Revolutionary Leader Practicum. There are weekend residency opportunities twice a year in which students can attend workshops and hear speakers, as well as benefit from connecting with Executive Partners, who are retired professionals who serve as mentors to both on-campus and online MBA students. Online students are only required to attend one of these residencies, but are invited to attend as many as they like. The level of support provided to Online MBA degree students at Mason is vast and comprehensive. Students are provided with a Student Success Coordinator before classes begin to offer encouragement in developing an individualized plan of success, and other services such as round-the-clock tech support, academic advising and career services are available. Certain applicants to William & Mary’s Online MBA program may be eligible for a GRE/GMAT waiver.
Older than every other institution of higher education in the U.S. except for Harvard, the College of William & Mary was chartered by England’s King William III and Queen Mary II in 1693 and located in an area in the colony of Virginia that would three years later be named Williamsburg. In 1695 (before the town was named), the Wren Building was under construction, and it is still in use today as the oldest college building still in existence in the United States. By 1906, William and Mary became a public university, and now William and Mary currently has over 8,500 students and offers more than 60 academic degree programs. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: Prospective students of the LSU Ourso College of Business online Flores MBA degree program are provided with support services from the first inquiry all the way through to graduation. The dedicated LSU Online support specialists guide students through questions regarding the application, financial aid, registration, and finding that work/life balance. Applicants with three years of work experience and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 can request a waiver for the GRE requirement, and in as little as eighteen months, students can find themselves completing the 42-credit hour program. The coursework builds on each student’s proven experience and is divided into 33 hours of core courses and nine hours of electives and includes classes such as “Understanding International Management Challenges,” “Understanding Financial Information,” and “Negotiation, Persuasion and Influence.” The LSU Online MBA faculty are both engaged and experienced, and LSU information sessions are held to provide information for those who are interested in the Flores MBA. For alumni of the program, the MBA Association offers continued support, socialization, and networking opportunities post-graduation.
Begun as a small, all-male military school beginning in the days leading up to the Civil War and continuing through the early 1900s, Louisiana State University is now the flagship for Louisiana’s college and university system. Located in Baton Rouge, LSU is a land, sea, and space-grant university. A public, coeducational institution, Louisiana State University has over 235 academic degree programs– with more than 120 programs for graduate degrees–and prides itself on the approximately 30,000 students currently enrolled. Regional accreditation for LSU is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business fully-online, part-time MBA degree program is designed to help students hone in on their areas of interest and expertise. Offering a 50-credit hour curriculum made up of thirteen core course and five electives, Northeastern gives online MBA students a choice between eight different concentrations: Finance, Healthcare Management, High Technology Management, Innovation Entrepreneurship, International Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Sustainability. The core curriculum includes relevant coursework such as “Managing Ethics in the Workplace and Marketplace” and “Value Creation Through Financial Decision Making,” and is taught by the esteemed D’Amore-McKim faculty, who “collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.” There are optional residencies for added experiential learning, offered both domestically and overseas. An online video provides a glimpse into what students can expect as they become immersed in their coursework, and the no-GRE/GMAT admission is rolling–students can choose between nine different start dates for ultimate flexibility. There are many Northeastern University Online Graduate Programs resources to assist online students along their way.
The YMCA of Boston, Massachusetts formed the “Evening Institute for Young Men” in May 1896. By the fall of 1898, the origin of Northeastern University was born out of this institute with its first class of students. Over a century later, over 20,000 students are now enrolled within Northeastern’s nine schools and colleges studying over 300 academic degree programs. There are also four regional Northeastern campuses– a southeast campus in Charlotte, North Carolina, two campuses on the West Coast in Seattle and Silicon Valley, and one in Toronto. Northeastern is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: The University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business states as its mission “to extend the possibilities through the University of South Dakota to learners through online, distance and nontraditional education to become more in their professional careers and personal lives,” and the online MBA degree program lives up to that mission by offering USD Online student support services such as a writing center, disability services, and veteran resources to all online MBA students. In addition to the general MBA track, four MBA specializations are provided in Business Analytics, Health Services Administration, Marketing, and Operations and Supply Chain Management. Eighteen credit hours of foundation coursework may be required for students without a strong undergraduate business background, and core coursework for the general track covers topics like “Leadership Development” and “Business and Its Environment.” Applicants may be able to waive the GMAT requirement and are offered three application deadlines and three program start dates once admitted, and the USD Online MBA program can be completed with as few as 33 core credit hours or up to as many as 51 with all foundation courses.
A flagship public institution located on almost 300 acres in Vermillion, South Dakota, the University of South Dakota (USD) is the oldest post-secondary school in the Dakotas. The establishment of the University was authorized in 1862, but because it was not funded classes did not start until 1882. Almost 70 students by the end of 1883 grew to 500 students six years later, and now over 10,000 students are currently enrolled in nine schools and colleges. The University of South Dakota has been regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1913.
Program Details: Clarkson’s Reh School of Business online MBA degree is designed for working professionals to obtain their 48-credit degree in less than two years by taking classes part-time. Students are not locked into this model however–Clarkson offers a Hybrid MBA in which students can take classes in a variety of ways–on-campus, online, part-time or full-time. This flexibility allows students to finish at an accelerated rate (in 21 months) or up to five years, and students can begin classes at four different times a year, offering even more flexibility. The GRE requirement is waived for students with relevant work experience or a master’s degree in another field, and the respected Clarkson School of Business faculty teach both the on-campus MBA program and all online classes, so the quality of the online MBA program is intact. Clarkson University’s online MBA program is a real boon for both students with a strong background in business and for those who haven’t done a lot of standard business coursework: Clarkson’s Summer Business Concept Program provides foundational business classes free of charge to incoming students, and the culminating final project before graduation is an actual consulting project with a real company.
Clarkson University is a private research university located in Potsdam, New York. Founded in 1896 as a memorial to Thomas Clarkson by his three sisters and a niece after his tragic death, seventeen young men and women became the school’s first class on September 2, 1896. Clarkson University now educates over 4,000 graduate and undergraduate students with over 50 academic degree programs and a student to faculty ratio of 15:1. Clarkson University is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The UM-Dearborn College of Business offers the exact same degree program whether online or on-campus–the only difference is that online students receive priority when it comes to registering for online courses. With rolling admission (and the potential to waive the GRE requirement with either three years business experience or a master’s degree in business or engineering) and start dates in September, January and May, this flexible online MBA program can be completed with 36 or up to 48 credits, depending on whether or not students decide to pursue one of the two fully online concentration options in Finance or International business. There are also two fully online, 57-66 credit hour, dual degree options: UM-Dearborn’s MBA/MS in Finance or UM-Dearborn’s MBA/MSE in Industrial and Systems Engineering (offered in conjunction with the College of Engineering and Computer Science). The online MBA degree program is open to students with any undergraduate bachelor’s degree, and the program offers nine core courses in topics such as “Applied Statistical Modeling,” “Operations Management,” and “Corporate Social Responsibility.”
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is a public institution that was founded in 1959 thanks to a gift from the Ford Motor Co. of over six million dollars. Campus is located on 200 plus acres (another gift of the Ford Motor Co.) in Dearborn, Michigan, within the larger metropolitan area of Detroit. With only thirty-four students in the first class and offering only three degree programs (Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Business Administration) in 1959 to over 9,000 students enrolled in 2016 and over 100 degree programs, UM-Dearborn continues to offer small class size and a student-focused approach. UM–Dearborn receives its regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Truly utilizing the online model to its fullest potential, Cleveland State University’s Monte Ahuja College of Business Mobile Accelerated MBA (AMBA) degree program offers multiple apps that allow students to access all coursework, textbook materials, required readings, interactive learning materials and course modules from anywhere they have a web browser. Assignments, tests, and quizzes are also fully online and can be accessed via computer. One of the quickest online degrees available, the AMBA ranges between 32 and 34-credit hours (dependent upon the student’s choice of electives) and is taken in a prescribed sequence over the period of one year. Coursework includes rigorous topics such as “IT for Competitive Advantage,” “Integrative Business Strategy,” and “Management of Innovation & Technology.” Students are required to submit GRE or GMAT scores (unless they have an MD or PhD) and have the option of cohort start dates twice a year, either in the spring or the fall. The CSU Monte Ahuja College of Business online AMBA benefits from the prestigious College of Business and is administered through the CSU College of Graduate Studies.
Located on 85 acres in downtown Cleveland, Ohio and with an extended campus in Westlake, Ohio, Cleveland State University is a public, state-assisted university. Cleveland State started in the late 1800s as free night classes offered by the YMCA in German and French to students who couldn’t afford an education. After reorganization in the early 1900s and again in 1929-1930, Fenn College was established as a private institution. By 1964, Fenn College’s programs, structures and employees were adopted into Cleveland State University. Classes began in fall 1965, and now almost 18,000 students are enrolled in eight colleges. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.
Program Details: With rolling admission, classes available online at all hours, and the same active-in-the-business-world Fox School of Business faculty members who teach on-campus, the Temple University online MBA degree program checks all the requirements off the list. The 48-credit hour program kicks-off with the seven-day Fox Online MBA residency in Philadelphia, and students become part of an intentionally-fostered online community that continues through to the day they graduate. During a student’s time in the Fox online MBA program, they can be assured that all student services are available to them just as readily as they are to their on-campus peers. Students have twelve online Fox School of Business concentrations from which to choose, and can complete the degree in as little as 20 months or up to six years, and it concludes with a final capstone project called the Enterprise Consulting Practicum–an actual business project in which clients from national or global companies seek assistance with their organization’s needs. Master of Science dual online degrees are also offered with the MBA in Business Analytics, Human Resources Management, Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, and Marketing.
Started as night-school tutoring in 1884 by altruistic Baptist Minister Russell Conwell, The Temple College was incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1888. . When the school became Temple College and offered admission to both men and women, over 200 applicants sought to be students. In 1892 the first class of eighteen graduated. By 1907 the college became a university, and the following year Pennsylvania recognized Temple as an official institute of higher education. Now Temple has grown to seventeen schools and colleges and educates more than 35,000 students. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation to Temple University.
Program Details: The University of Colorado Colorado Springs’ College of Business offers an extremely flexible and respected 100% online MBA degree program. The online UCCS MBA program was first introduced in 1996, so it has the benefit of many years of developing and improving upon itself. The program waives the GRE requirement for applicants with a master’s degree or relevant work experience and allows students to start in the spring, summer or fall. Students can finish the 36-credit hour program in an accelerated 18 months or up to five years (students who do not have sufficient undergraduate coursework in business will be required to take nine credits of foundation courses for a total of 45-credit hours). The same faculty and the same program as the on-campus MBA, plus access to career and placement services and the UCCS College of Business Alumni Association, ensure that the student support and the MBA degree online students receive is identical to their on-campus counterparts. Students can customize their degree to fit their career goals by choosing a general MBA track or an online concentration in one of seven areas of emphasis: Finance, Health Care Administration, International Business, Management, Marketing, or Project Management.
Established in 1965 and built on 80 acres acquired for just $1 in 1964, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) has grown to over 500 acres. Originally a satellite of the University of Colorado Boulder campus, UCCS was a modest-sized school for commuters. Now the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is its own institution with over 70 academic degree programs and around 12,000 students– about 5,000 of which take advantage of online learning opportunities in some measure. UCCS is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Housed in the Central Michigan University College of Business Administration and provided by CMU Online, the 40-credit hour MBA degree program can be accessed entirely online. Identical to the on-campus MBA program, the core curriculum offers classes such as “Managing Information Systems in a Global Economy,” “Data Analysis for Managers,” and “Marketing-Based Management,” and emphasis area focus concentrations are available in Human Resource Management, Logistics Management, Marketing, ERP Emphasis using SAP Software, and Value-Driven Organization. Although the GMAT is required for admission, there are several ways in which applicants can seek a waiver, and start dates are offered in the fall, spring and summer. The culture of support and cooperation extends from Central Michigan University to its Global Campus. In addition to the CMU Online Learning Resource Center, other support services available to the online student at Central Michigan include a writing center and a math assistance center, plus what the University calls an “online Ally” who is an “experienced, successful online student who provides personal assistance and advice” to new students still learning the ropes.
The Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute was founded in 1892 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan to educate 31 young people (many with no more than a middle school education) in teaching, business and stenography. Central Michigan University has expanded to offer over 200 academic degree programs to almost 27,000 students on the 480 acre main campus in Mount Pleasant and around the world. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation to Central Michigan.
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Recipients of a Masters of Engineering Management understand that Engineering is a critical field of study with a vast array of manifestations in terms of disciplines, career options and opportunities. Whether studying electrical engineering, civil or mechanical engineering, the related trades offer many opportunities to use skills for the betterment of national infrastructure, manufacturing and construction areas, to name but a few. Management within engineering is a vital component to ensure that projects stay on track and progress is steady.
Managers are the decision-makers within a business or project. Engineering managers are involved with such tasks as new product review and analysis, coordination of various teams within the organization, direction of maintenance, production and quality assurance as well as oversight of equipment, machinery, product and system designs. Career disciplines include automation, chemical, client services, construction, design, hardware, firmware, IT, cost, process, structural and technology.
A candidate with an engineering background and an aptitude for problem-solving would benefit from a Master’s of Engineering Management (MSM) and they can bridge the gap between management and technical disciplines. A graduate with a Master’s of Engineering Management (MSM) can speak both ‘languages’ within an organization and demonstrate their value to the company as a whole. Specific duties typically include (but are not limited to) team leadership, interaction with corporate stakeholders, interaction with business and accounting executives and technical creators to provide the “oil that helps the corporate machine run smoothly.”
Masters Program Guide is pleased to offer the Top 50 Online Master’s in Engineering Management (MSM) 2018. The methodology for this ranking is as follows: available online masters in engineering management programs were gathered. Values were assigned based on data points, which were designated for each of the following criteria: total enrollment (30%), % of students enrolled online (30%), student-faculty ratio (30%) and the overall net cost of the program (5%). Any tie-breaker was resolved by comparing % online enrollment. The Top 50 Online Master’s in Engineering Management (MSM) 2018 follows:
Program Details: Lamar University offers an on-campus and online Master of Engineering Management through the Department of Industrial Engineering. A 36-credit hour M.E.M. program, the non-thesis degree is available with both on-campus and online delivery options. Lamar’s Master of Engineering Management online degree pulls courses from the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, and College of Business to create a unique program of study. The program is designed to build on the education gained while completing an accredited undergraduate degree in engineering as well as the student’s unique professional experience. The coursework combines courses focused on business administration and general management, plus courses specific to the chosen technical field. Concentration options for the online M.E.M. include the areas of Construction Management, Management Information Systems (ERPs-SAP), Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Web-Mobile-Analytics development, Industrial Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.
Lamar University, located near Houston in Beaumont, Texas on a 292-acre campus, is a public institution and a member of The Texas State University System. Established in 1923 as South Park Junior College, in 1932 the institution was renamed in honor of Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas and the “Father of Education” in Texas. One of the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities, Lamar is focused on student’s success. Its mission is to engage and empower students by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to excel in their chosen career path and in their personal lives. Comprising multiple colleges, these include the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Fine Arts and Communication, the College of Business, the College of Education and Human Development, the College of Graduate Studies, and the Reaud Honors College. Lamar emphasizes hands-on learning at every level and is nationally recognized for the academic excellence of its core curriculum. The University is institutionally-accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: Arkansas State University offers an online Master of Engineering Management degree designed to equip students with the technical and leadership skills necessary for advancement into management positions within a variety of engineering disciplines. An accelerated interdisciplinary program, the online M.E.M. degree was created for both managers of technology in the areas of manufacturing, engineering, and high-tech organizations as well as engineers. Identical to the University’s on-campus Master of Engineering Management program – which is recognized as one of the top engineering programs in the country, – the online degree consists of eleven online 7-week courses and has no thesis requirements. Designed to offer convenience and flexibility to working professionals, the M.E.M. online program features multiple start days throughout the year as well as a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers through A-State Online.
Arkansas State University-Jonesboro is a public university located on a 1,376-acre campus in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Established in 1909, the University began as one of the first four Arkansas high schools created by Act 100 of the 37th Arkansas General Assembly. The new school originally provided a high-school-level education on the subjects of agriculture, horticulture and the art of textile manufacturing. Today, Arkansas State University is a doctoral-level national institution and has grown to become the second largest university in the state. More than 150 fields of undergraduate and graduate study are offered through the University’s several colleges. These include the Colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, & Technology; Business; Education & Behavioral Science; Liberal Arts and Communication; Nursing & Health Professions; and Sciences & Mathematics. Arkansas State University’s mission is to enhance intellectual growth, educate leaders, and enrich lives. More than 14,000 students are currently enrolled who are taught by more than 1,500 faculty and staff members.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM)
Program Details: National University offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management through its School of Engineering and Computing. Offered entirely online, the M.S.E.M. degree combines the benefits of modern technology with high-quality instruction for scientists, engineers, and technologists who are seeking managerial positions within various technological disciplines. Specializations for the online M.S.E.M. are offered in the areas of Project Management, Systems Management, and Technology Management. A highly customizable degree, learning outcomes of the online Master of Science in Engineering Management program include the ability to demonstrate quantitative analytical and critical thinking skills and techniques; identify, prioritize and select relevant solutions in solving complex engineering problems and processes; and assess tools and techniques, resources, organizational systems, and decision making processes for the successful management of projects and processes.
Headquartered in La Jolla, California, National University serves as the flagship institution within the National University System. Created in 2001 to meet the need for higher education, the System currently has 28 locations throughout the United States. The University’s nonprofit status is key to its core identity as one of the largest nonprofit institutions in California. The University is directly responsible to its students, rather than shareholders and is able to focus on providing top-quality education that is both affordable and highly accessible. The University’s nonprofit status also allows it to invest its resources in outstanding faculty and the latest learning technology; its overall goal is to “provide students a personalized experience in a modern setting with small class sizes and good faculty-to-student ratios.” Comprising several colleges and schools, these include the College of Letters and Sciences, School of Health and Human Services, School of Engineering and Computing, Sanford College of Education, School of Business and Management, and School of Professional Studies.
Online Engineering for Professionals Engineering Management
Program Details: Johns Hopkins University and the Whiting School of Engineering offer the University’s Engineering for Professionals Engineering Management program. Designed to help professionals succeed in high-level leadership positions, the program prepares individuals to take on increased technical responsibilities in their career field. Culminating in an online Master of Engineering Management, the degree is available with a vast range of concentration options, including: Applied Biomedical Engineering; Applied and Computational Mathematics; Applied Physics; Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering); Computer Science; Cybersecurity; Electrical and Computer Engineering (Communications, Controls, and Signal Processing); Electrical and Computer Engineering (Computer Engineering); Electrical and Computer Engineering (Optics and Photonics); Electrical and Computer Engineering (RF and Microwave Engineering); Information Systems Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering; and Mechanical Engineering. Available online, on-site, or in a combination of the two, the online M.E.M. degree program’s mission is to prepare “ethically grounded, technically competent professional leaders with technical, managerial, and leadership skills to produce innovative solutions to technical organization challenges.”
Johns Hopkins University is a private institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. A leading academic and research institution and the United State’s first research university, Johns Hopkins University is named for the 19th century Maryland philanthropist, entrepreneur, and abolitionist, Johns Hopkins. The University reported $2.306 billion in the fiscal year 2015 in medical, science, and engineering research and has ranked #1 in higher education research spending, according to the National Science Foundation, for 37 consecutive years. Johns Hopkins University’s institutional mission is to prepare students for lifelong learning, cultivating an appetite for original and independent research, and produce graduates who are eager to share their discoveries for the benefit of the world. The University boasts an impressive faculty and has been home to over 35 Nobel laureates, both past, and present, including several current faculty members. Maryland’s largest employer, the University has a total enrollment figure of approximately 25,000 students and is comprised of nine academic divisions.
Program Details: Pennsylvania State University offers an online Master of Engineering Management degree through the Penn State World Campus, also known as “Penn State Online.” A 33-credit hour program, the online M.E.M. degree is designed to prepare professionals for positions of leadership in their field, blending technical expertise with essential business and management skills. Admission requirements for the M.E.M. online degree include an accredited undergraduate degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or science as well as a minimum three years of applicable work experience which demonstrate the skills necessary to manage complex engineering projects, products, and services within a typical engineering organization. The M.E.M. program comprises 11 courses delivered in seven-week terms over two years. Coursework covers a range of applicable topics, including engineering management strategy, creativity and problem solving, technical project management, decision and risk, financial studies for engineering, and organizational behavior.
Pennsylvania State University (commonly referred to as Penn State) is a public, land-grant, research-intensive university headquartered in University Park, Pennsylvania on a 7,343-acre main campus. With 24 on-site campus locations across Pennsylvania as well as a teaching hospital and strong online presence, Penn State encompasses over 23,000 acres and 1,784 buildings statewide. Established in 1855, the University enrolls approximately 100,000 students and boasts over 600,000 living alumni worldwide. Out of its 17,000 faculty members, 30 are members of National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Penn State offers more than 160 bachelor’s degree programs as well as over 160 graduate degree programs. The largest public university and Pennsylvania’s only land-grant institution, Penn State’s land-grant mission “embraces teaching, research, and public service to support the citizens of the Commonwealth” and the University is built upon the core values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM)
Program Details: The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management through its School of Business and School of Engineering. Offered entirely online, the joint M.S.E.M. program combines technical engineering coursework with managerial and professional studies. The technical engineering coursework specifically focuses on teaching a multidisciplinary, systems-oriented approach to problem-solving for complex issues. The online M.S.E.M.’s business-related courses provide essential business acumen combined with the cultivation of professional work habits and the ability to think strategically. The M.S.E.M. online degree program combines 18 hours of core courses with 12 hours of a student selected concentrations and three hours of a capstone. Concentration options for the online M.S.E.M. degree include design and commercialization; biomaterials and tissue engineering; safety engineering; vehicle and robotics engineering; construction engineering; software engineering; power systems engineering; manufacturing engineering; and environmental engineering. An option to design a customized concentration is also available.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public, four-year, comprehensive urban university and the only one of its kind in Alabama’s largest metropolitan area. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, UAB is the state’s largest research institution and its largest single employer. The University origins date back to the founding of the Medical College at Alabama in 1859. In 1936 the institution branched out and opened the Birmingham Extension Center. By 1969 the campus became a fully autonomous institution. UAB’s mission is to meet the immediate educational and health-related needs of students, the community, and medical patients as well as the global need for knowledge dissemination, discovery, creativity, and application of innovative solutions. Comprising multiple colleges and schools, these include the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Dentistry, the Collat School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Medicine, the School of Engineering, the School of Public Health, the School of Health Professions, the School of Nursing, the School of Optometry, the Honors College, and The Graduate School.
Program Details: Ohio University offers an online Master of Engineering Management for working professionals. Available entirely online, the M.E.M. degree program has no GRE requirements for qualified students, features curriculum taught by full-time OHIO faculty members, and allows students to graduate in as little as two years. Recommended for professionals who already hold an undergraduate degree in an engineering or engineering-related field, Ohio University’s online M.E.M. is an advanced degree which provides an advanced understanding of the specific engineering and management skills necessary to excel as a competent engineering leader. The M.E.M. online degree curriculum is delivered 100% online and its dual focus allows students to immediately apply what they learn in the classroom in the workplace.
Ohio University is a public research university headquartered in Athens, Ohio. A large and primarily residential institution, Ohio University is comprised of several regional campuses and centers located throughout Ohio in Chillicothe, St. Clairsville, Lancaster, Pickering, Ironton, Proctorville, and Zanesville as well as extension sites in both Cleveland and Dublin. The University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and comprises several colleges and schools. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, the Patton College of Education, the College of Business, the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Fine Arts, the Scripps College of Communication, the College of Health Sciences and Professions, the University College, the Honors Tutorial College, and the Graduate College. Ohio University’s vision is to provide the best transformational education within a student-centered environment. Its mission is to cultivate the intellectual, personal, and professional development of students and to be recognized for its outstanding educators and scholars.
Master of Science in Engineering Management online
Program Details: George Washington University offers an online Master of Science in Engineering Management through its School of Engineering and Applied Science. Also available as a Doctor of Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy degree, the Engineering Management degree program is available at several campus sites, including the University’s main campus, as well as through online delivery. The M.S.E.M. online degree program provides a broad education in management and technology geared towards technical managers who are responsible for smooth operations within their organization and are interested in having an advantage over their competitors. The online M.S.E.M. program provides several areas of technical focus paired with courses on the most current management techniques specifically designed for scientific and technological organizations. Concentration options for the M.S.E.M. degree include economics, finance, and cost engineering; knowledge and information management; crisis, emergency, and risk management; environmental and energy management; and engineering and technology management.
Located in Washington, D.C., George Washington University (GW) is a private, independent institution of higher education. Established on February 9, 1821 by an act of Congress, GW is the alma mater of several notable alumni including former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy; the first woman to manage a U.S. space launch, Marjorie Townsend; former U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell; Arnold “Red” Auerbach, 16-time NBA Champion Coach Executive; and Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated actress, Kerry Washington. George Washington University’s mission is to instill in students the desire for lifelong learning by providing outstanding academics combined with top-quality and hands-on learning experiences for all students both domestically and abroad. As an institution, the University is committed to the ideas of intellectual and cultural diversity and values integrity, openness, creativity, and exploration.
Master of Science in Engineering Management Online
Program Details: Kettering University offers the Online Master of Science in Engineering Management. Created for professionals who require a program which goes beyond the scope of a typical MBA, Kettering’s Online Engineering Management degree takes the professional engineering knowledge of its students and applies it into a project management context. A highly customizable program, the online M.S.E.M. degree can be completed in as little as one year and provides an opportunity for immediate practical application. Graduate certificates may be added to the M.S.E.M. online degree with options including Healthcare Management, Supply Chain & Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Global Leadership, and Operations Management. The M.S.E.M. degree is accredited by the Accredited Council for Business Schools and Programs. The online engineering management program equips students with holistic communication and leadership skills which are necessary for the management of cross-disciplinary, high-technology teams.
Kettering University, located on a 90-acre campus along the Flint River in Flint, Michigan, is a private, cooperative education and experiential learning-based institution. Established as the School of Automobile Trades in 1919, the institution eventually came under ownership by the General Motors Corporation who undertook the financial support of the school in 1926, utilizing the facility to develop engineers and managers for its company. GM gave up complete ownership of the school in 1982. The University is known for its outstanding STEM programs and business-related degrees and certificates. Comprising several colleges and schools, these include the College of Sciences and Liberal Arts, the College of Engineering, the Graduate School, the School of Management, and Kettering Online. The University’s mission is to educate students for lives of service and leadership by providing a transformational learning experience. Over a dozen undergraduate and several graduate-level programs are offered including at least five 100% online program options.
Online Master of Science in Engineering (Engineering Management concentration)
Program Details: Purdue University offers a Master of Science in Engineering with a concentration in Engineering Management and Leadership. The M.S.E./M.S. online degree is offered through the College of Engineering and Purdue Online. A 33-credit hour program, the online M.S.E. curriculum is designed to equip professionals with the practical and engineering skills as well as the business and management necessary to lead within the context of the global marketplace. Hosted by Purdue Online, the M.S.E./M.S. program’s engineering courses are administered by the College of Engineering while the business courses are taught by Indiana University and the Kelly School of Business. A flexible online engineering management program, students are guided by an academic advisor who helps to create a Plan of Study (POS) best suited to meet each individual’s educational needs and career goals. Applicants are required to have earned their undergraduate degree from an ABET-accredited (or equivalent) engineering program.
Purdue University is a four-year, public, land-grant institution headquartered in West Lafayette, Indiana. Established in 1869 following the Morrill land-grant act which was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln, the University has graduated many notable students. Distinguished alumni include a first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong; Philip Nelson and Gebisa Ejeta, both recipients of the World Food Prize; and 2010 recipient of the Nobel Prize in chemistry, Ei-ichi Negishi. Purdue University is well recognized for its important contributions, scholarly excellence, and research in the areas of engineering, aerospace, technology, science, and math. The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers a wide range of programs through its several colleges and schools. These include the College of Liberal Arts, the Krannert School of Management, the College of Agriculture, the College of Pharmacy, the College of Engineering, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, the College of Health and Human Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Education, the College of Science, The Graduate School and the University’s Honors College.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM)
Program Details: The University of Southern California offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management (M.S.E.M.T.) through the Verbiti School of Engineering. Appropriate for students of any engineering discipline background, the program is specifically geared towards adults who hold an undergraduate degree in engineering or related discipline. The online M.S.E.M.T. is designed to prepare professionals for the management responsibilities of a technological organization. The curriculum focuses on how to lead technology projects and manage teams, engineering functions, and companies. A hands-on program, the M.S.E.M.T. online degree offers more than just theory and is taught by instructors who have accumulated years of relevant industry experience. Courses cover topics including information systems, technology creation, quantitative methods, management of invention, and managerial accounting. A 30-unit online engineering management program, 21 units must be at the 500 level or above and a minimum of 18 units are required to be administered through the Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. The offered online, the M.S.E.M.T. degree is available as a distance learning program.
Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, California in University Park, the University of Southern California is recognized as one of the leading private research universities in the world. An anchor institution of Los Angeles, USC is known as an international center for the arts, business, and technology. Established in 1880 and beginning with a little over 50 students and less than a dozen instructors, today the University boasts over 45,000 students, including more than 19,000 undergraduates, yet maintains a low student to faculty ratio of 9 to 1. The University offers a wide range of programs through its several colleges and schools and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Online Master of Engineering (Engineering Management specialization)
Program Details: Colorado State University offers the Master of Engineering (M.E.) through its online division with a specialization in Engineering Management. Designed to teach the industry-specific skills necessary for roles of leadership, the online M.E. in Engineering Management program combines engineering processes with business elements. Offered through CSU’s College of Engineering and College of Business, the M.E. online degree curriculum follows the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Knowledge Base standards. Concepts taught in the M.E. program include procurement and supply chain management; business analysis, communication, finances, and marketing; engineering project management and maintenance; and systems engineering foundations and architecture. Taught by industry leaders and faculty members, the online M.E. degree program is designed to bring real-world examples into the online curriculum, providing hands-on projects so that students can immediately apply what they learn in the classroom in their place of work.
Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Colorado State University is a public, doctoral, research institution. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Colorado State University (CSU) is known for its solid academic results and offers a wide range of programs through its several colleges and schools. These include the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences; Business; the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering; Health and Human Sciences; Liberal Arts; Natural Sciences; Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; the Warner College of Natural Resources; and the Schools of Music, Theatre and Dance; Biomedical Engineering; Education; Global Environmental Sustainability; Social Work; and Public Health. The University also possesses a strong online presence in the CSU-Global Campus. The University is committed to student’s success and to enhancing the quality of life among residents of Colorado and beyond by providing access to excellent academics and educational programs.
Program Details: The University of Idaho offers the online Master of Engineering Management degree. Available through the University’s College of Engineering, the multidisciplinary M.E.M. program integrates business approaches that apply to technology and engineering methods designed to solve complex technology-related concerns. UI’s online M.E.M. degree program is designed for working professionals and is available as a distance learning program with online course delivery. As a multidisciplinary online degree, the M.E.M. program is specifically designed to “bridge the gap” between engineering and business with the goal of equipping engineers with leadership skills and expertise necessary to advance in their career. The online engineering management program combines the application of organizational insights, communication skills, and business knowledge with technical knowledge in order to produce managers who are effective as leaders. A minimum of 15 engineering course credits is required within the 30-credit-hour M.E.M. online program. At the end of their program, students may either complete an optional capstone project or an additional elective with a written comprehensive exam.
The University of Idaho (UI), located in Moscow, Idaho, is the state’s oldest, flagship, land-grant public university. Established in 1889, UI serves as the state’s primary research university with approximately $110 million spent in research annually. A noted national leader in interdisciplinary research and student-focused learning, the University seeks to serve the local community and help businesses with a focus on instilling in students the values of citizenship, diversity, and global outreach. UI offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate-level degrees and programs through its several campuses, centers, and colleges. These include the Colleges of Arts and Architecture, Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, Education, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Health and Human Sciences, Law, Business and Economics, Science, Engineering, Natural Resources, and Graduate Studies. UI also offers a variety of online learning options including undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management
Program Details: The University of Arizona offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management through its College of Engineering and the department of online graduate programs. A practical focused degree, the online M.S.E.M. degree blends business, engineering, and mathematics electives in order to equip professionals with the necessary skills for effective leadership in a range of technology and science-related careers. The M.S.E.M. program’s curriculum is designed to teach skills that may be applied immediately in the workplace. Available with online course delivery, the M.S.E.M. online degree program is flexible and may be customized to suit individual students’ desired outcomes and career goals. The M.S.E.M. degree requires 15 units of required core courses including Law for Engineers & Scientists; Technical Sales & Marketing; Decision Making Under Uncertainty; Project Management; and Financial Modeling for Innovation. Students may conclude their studies with a capstone project or provide a written thesis.
The University of Arizona is a public, land-grant university located in Tucson, Arizona. An international leader in research, the University contributes over $622 million annually in research investments. A member of the Association of American Universities, UA produces real-world prepared graduates, thanks to its 100% Engagement initiative. UA is dedicated to serving the citizens of Arizona and beyond by providing top-quality education programs, opportunities for research, and encouraging creative expression. Comprising several colleges, these include the Colleges of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Fine Arts; Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture; Humanities; Agriculture and Life Sciences; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Education; Nursing; Sciences; Pharmacy; Optical Sciences; Medicine; Engineering; Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health; the Eller College of Management; the James E. Rogers College of Law; the Honors College; and the Graduate College.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM)
Program Details: South Dakota School of Mines & Technology offers the Master of Science degree in Engineering Management (M.S.E.M.) through SD Mines Online. A highly flexible, affordable, and user-friendly online master’s program, the M.S.E.M. coursework is designed with industry input in order to equip students with the necessary technical and management knowledge. The M.S.E.M. degree courses are delivered online with classes streamed live or recorded to be viewed at the student’s convenience. An interdisciplinary program, the online M.S.E.M. degree blends technical skills with management and leadership abilities in order to produce graduates who are equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in the field. Course topics for the M.S.E.M. online degree cover a wide range of engineering management including economics and finance, safety and ergonomics, project management and risk assessment, and taking innovation from the workspace to the marketplace.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a private institution of higher education located in Rapid City, South Dakota in the beautiful Rushmore Region. SD Mines is recognized for its excellent STEM academic programs, great value, and outstanding internship opportunities. The University’s mission is to provide academic excellence for students and the community in the areas of engineering and science academics and research. Each program is taught with the goal of developing the future generation of problem solvers and leaders. The School was established in 1885 for the original purpose of providing instruction in the region’s primary industry of mining. Today the institution is known as one of the leading science and engineering universities in the region, offering rigorous academic experiences taught by committed faculty members in small classes. SD Mine’s vision is to be known for its outstanding science and engineering programs and community where leaders are prepared to lead and serve in the local region, nation, and beyond.
Program Details: Rowan University offers the Master of Engineering Management (M.E.M.) through a combination of courses from the College of Engineering and the Rohrer College of Business. An interdisciplinary degree, the program is aimed at working professionals and offers a convenient, flexible option for pursuing higher education while balancing career and personal commitments. The program is specifically designed to prepare engineers who are equipped to lead as managers in a wide range of technical disciplines. The online M.E.M. courses focus on a number of proven business practices including strategic decision making, supervising, and budgeting. The M.E.M. online degree is offered in a part-time, accelerated, online format, requiring 30 graduate semester hours (10 courses). By scheduling two courses per semester for five consecutive semesters, students can complete the entire online M.E.M. degree program in less than 24 months. Each course is scheduled in 8-week modules. Required courses include Systems in Engineering Management, Engineering Decision Making, Engineering Economics, Management Skills for Engineers, Engineering Law And Ethics, Facilities Management, and Strategic Risk Management.
Rowan University is a public, comprehensive research university located in Glassboro, New Jersey. The University began as a teacher preparation college in 1923, gradually evolving into the vibrant institution it is today. The University is dedicated to providing a broad-based liberal arts education combined with practical career preparation with programs ranging from undergraduate to doctoral. Rowan University’s mission is to serve as a student-centered learning community made up of diverse members where collaboration, research, creativity, and community service, are integrated with scholarship and teaching. As a regional institution, the University desires to enrich the lives of students and members of the local community and is committed to service that begins locally and advances to the world. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate-level programs through its several colleges and schools.
Online Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (MEEM)
Program Details: The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs offers an online Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (M.E.E.M.) designed to prepare professional engineers for effective technical management. Available exclusively online, the UCCS’s M.E.E.M. degree program is consistent with the guidelines for the Master’s programs in Engineering Management as outlined by The American Society for Engineering Management. The online M.E.E.M. degree program’s core courses focus on the key skills necessary for success in a technology-driven work environment. The M.E.E.M. online degree program’s flexibility and online delivery format are designed to meet the unique needs of working professionals. Applicants are required to hold a Bachelor of Science from an accredited institution in engineering or related science discipline with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They are also required to have a minimum of two years of experience in a civil, government, or industrial technology or engineering position. A 30 semester-hour program, the M.E.E.M. degree’s courses are divided into 21 core courses and 9 hours of emphasis in Business.
The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (abbreviated UCCS) is a public comprehensive university located in northeast Colorado Springs. One of four campuses within the University of Colorado System, UCCS was established in 1965 and built on the original 1964 gift of 80 acres given by George Dwire, a local businessman. Today, UCCS is the fastest growing campus within the University of Colorado System and is a Member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, UCCS offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 22 master’s and five doctoral degrees through its six colleges and schools. The University’s vision is to be recognized as a premier research institution. UCCS is committed to providing academically rigorous programs combined with hands-on experiential learning for the advancement of knowledge.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM)
Program Details: The University of South Florida offers the online Master of Science in Engineering Management (M.S.E.M.) through the College of Engineering and the Office of Graduate Studies. An interdisciplinary program, the M.S.E.M. degree prepares professionals from a range of engineering and technology-related disciplines for positions in technical management. The M.S.E.M. online degree’s courses blend the concepts of resource management, engineering management, productivity, and strategic planning with qualitative approaches and quantitative techniques. A minimum of 30 credits are required to complete the online M.S.E.M. program, including 18 credits of core courses and 12 credits of electives; a thesis option is available for students who are interested in applied research. Core courses include Engineering Management Policy & Strategy (the program’s Capstone), Management of Technological Change, Technology and Finance, and Principles of Engineering Management.
Headquartered in Tampa Bay, Florida, the University of South Florida (USF) is a major metropolitan, public research university. A member of the University of South Florida System, USF was founded in 1956. Home to several colleges, these include the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Arts, Behavioral and Community Sciences, Global Sustainability, Engineering, Nursing, Public Health, Marine Science, Pharmacy, Graduate Studies, the Honors College, and the Morsani College of Medicine. More than 43,000 total students are enrolled as well as over 31,000 undergraduates with a 22 to 1 student to faculty ratio. Regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, USF offers 180 undergraduate majors and concentrations and numerous graduate, specialist and doctoral programs. The University is dedicated to serving students well, positioning them for success within the global marketplace. USF’s mission is to cultivate the intellectual, academic, professional, and personal success of each of its students.
Online Master of Science in Systems and Engineering Management (MSSYEM)
Program Details: Texas Tech University offers the Master of Science in Systems and Engineering Management (M.S.S.Y.E.M.). The online M.S.S.Y.E.M. degree is designed to prepare professionals to advance as technical managers within the areas of engineering, science, and other technical disciplines. The M.S.S.Y.E.M. online degree program provides a solid foundation in management and financial issues and is specially designed for individuals with professional engineering or technology-related backgrounds. The M.S.S.Y.E.M. program includes an option to add on 3-5 courses as a minor. These courses must be approved by the student’s graduate advisor and focus on a specific area of specialty; however, they are not required to come from the same department. Sample minors include (but are not limited to) Power Systems Minor, Formation Evaluation Minor, Software Engineering Minor, Drilling and Production Operation Minor and more.
Texas Tech University is a public research university located in Lubbock, Texas. The University is one of four institutional members of the Texas Tech University System (TTUS and is governed by the TTUS Board of Regents. The University is named as having the “Highest Research Activity” possible according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Texas Tech is committed to providing top-quality academics for the intellectual, personal, and professional development of each student. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the University offers a wide range of programs through its several colleges and schools. These include the College of Arts & Sciences, the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts, the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration, College of Human Sciences, the College of Architecture, the College of Education, the College of Media & Communication, the School of Law, the Honors College, and the Graduate School.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM)
Program Details: Drexel University offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management (M.S.E.M.) through the College of Engineering. The first institution to launch a graduate engineering management degree, Drexel’s online M.S.E.M. degree is taught by experienced faculty members with successful professional careers in the field, features a highly customizable curriculum which allows students to take electives from any engineering discipline, and automatically qualifies students for the Certificate in Engineering Management (CAEM) without needing to take the exam. Several dual degree options and related certificates are also available with the M.S.E.M. online degree, allowing students to earn two master’s degrees affordably with fewer credits. Hosted through Drexel Online, the Master of Science in Engineering Management program features a highly interactive online learning environment that is designed to be convenient for working professionals as well as challenge and engage students.
Drexel University is a private comprehensive institution, located on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The University was established in 1891 and has grown to be recognized as a top ranking institution and is currently one of the largest private institutions of higher education in the United States with a solid global reputation for its many contributions. Comprised of over a dozen colleges and schools plus Drexel Online, the University offers more than 200 degree programs. A pioneer in online education since 1996, the University is committed to providing accessible options for busy students with innovative online programs. Recognized as a leading globally engaged research institution, the University is committed to fulfilling its founders’ vision to prepare each new generation of leaders to lead productive civil and professional lives. Drexel is further committed to focusing the expertise of its members on solving the world’s most challenging and pressing issues.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM)
Program Details: The University of Michigan-Dearborn offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management (M.S.E.M.) through the College of Engineering & Computer Science and the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems. Students are required to already hold a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline plus have experience of at least two years within an engineering field. The M.S.E.M. online degree is designed to prepare professionals who already possess a degree of technical proficiency in managing projects, organizations, and engineering teams. Offered on-campus in evening programs, entirely online, or through a combination of on-campus and online courses, UM-Dearborn’s M.S.E.M. online degree comprises 11 required courses (divided into 12 business credits, 18 engineering credits, and a final capstone project worth 2 credits) and 3 credit hours of elective requirements. Learning goals for the online M.S.E.M. degree program include providing the requisite knowledge and skills to manage the engineering function at both lower and upper levels of management; providing experience in the integration of technical and managerial aspects in “real life” engineering project or problem; providing an understanding of core management areas vital for a technical manager, and providing knowledge of topics inherent and common to all engineering disciplines.
Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-Dearborn) is a four-year, public, comprehensive university. Established in 1959, the University is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and holds accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. UM-Dearborn is dedicated to providing the highest quality in teaching, scholarship, and research. Committed to student success, the University’s mission is to provide an inclusive, accessible, and affordable education to students. The University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, available both on-site and online through its four colleges. These include the College of Business, the College of Education, Health & Human Services, the College of Arts, Sciences & Letters, and the College of Engineering & Computer Science.
Online Master of Science in Administration (Engineering Management specialization)
Program Details: Central Michigan University offers the Master of Science in Administration with a specialization in Engineering Management through the College of Graduate Studies. The program is designed to equip professionals from a variety of engineering backgrounds with the necessary problem-solving skills for effective management and leadership. The online M.S.A. program specifically focuses on strategic planning and best practices. The online M.S.A. degree’s intention is to prepare students to manage engineering, industrial, green energy, and high-tech organizations. An interdisciplinary degree, the University’s M.S.A. is designed to equip professionals with the leadership, organizational, and management skills necessary for leadership and administration. A 36-credit-hour program, the M.S.A. online degree is divided into 18 hours of core classes and 18 hours based on the selected concentration.
Central Michigan University is a public research university located Mount Pleasant, Michigan on a 480-acre main campus. One of the nation’s largest public universities, the University began as the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, offering classes in teaching business and stenography. In 1895 the Michigan State Board of Education became responsible for the operation of the school and it was renamed Central Michigan Normal School. Central Michigan University focuses on student success, providing accessible education designed to cultivate intellectual, personal, and professional growth leading to meaningful lives and careers. The University values wisdom, knowledge, discovery, and creativity. Over 200 academic programs are offered through the University’s several colleges. These include the College of Communication and Fine Arts, the College of Health Professions, the College of Business Administration, the College of Science and Engineering, the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Medicine, and the College of Graduate Studies.
Program Details: The University of Kansas offers a graduate-level Engineering Management (E.M.G.T.) specialization through the School of Engineering. An interdisciplinary program, the Engineering Management curriculum blends management, business, and leadership courses with the technical skills necessary for successful management in various engineering or technology-oriented organizations. KU’s online E.M.G.T. program studies provide an emphasis on employable skills such as written and oral communication skills, team-based approaches, leadership, analysis and design, and management of technology skills. KU’s EMGT Program is designed with the working professional in mind and courses are offered as evening classes and online as a Distance Learning program.
The University of Kansas is a public research university located in Lawrence, Kansas. The University of Kansas offers a wide range of academic programs through its several schools, including the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Public Affairs and Administration, the School of the Arts, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, the School of Architecture and Design, the School of Engineering, the School of Business, the School of Social Welfare, the School of Health Professions, the School of Education, the School of Nursing, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Medicine, the School of Law, and the School of Music. The University is also home to the University of Kansas Medical Center, a unique and integral component of the University which provides professional training designed to meet the wide range of health needs ranging from primary care and prevention to highly specialized and innovative clinical care. Valuing scholarship, learning, and creativity, the University of Kansas serves as a major comprehensive research university and is the only Kansas Regents University which is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU).
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management
Program Details: Florida International University offers the Online Master of Science in Engineering Management. The online M.S.E.M. degree’s general track features coursework that provides hands-on learning experiences that allow students to apply managerial theories, engineering tools, and best practices to both design and operate industrial systems. A flexible interdisciplinary program, the M.S.E.M. online degree coursework combines business and law courses with technical skills. Students are expected to build a solid technical foundation in their chosen engineering track while simultaneously acquiring contemporary engineering management theories and techniques. A fast-tracked program for engineering leadership, the M.S.E.M. degree program is available entirely online, requiring 30 credits.
Located in Miami, Florida, Florida International University (FIU) is a metropolitan, public, research university and the oldest and only research institution in Miami. A top-tier research institute, FIU is classified by Carnegie as having the Highest Research Activity. Major emphasis is placed on research as a key component of the University’s mission. FIU is committed to cultivating a collaborative environment, providing top-quality academics with state-of-the-art research and creativity. The University offers more than 200 bachelor’s, masters and doctoral programs through its several schools and colleges. These include the Colleges of Business; Communication, Architecture & The Arts; Law; Arts, Sciences & Education; Engineering & Computing; the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs; ; the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management; the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine; the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences; the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work; the University Graduate School; and the Honors College.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management
Program Details: Robert Morris University offers an online Master of Science in Engineering Management through the RMU School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science. Available both on-campus and fully online, the M.S.E.M. program equips professionals with practical engineering principles and best business practices that combine theory and practice into the development and design of engineering management systems. A flexible, interdisciplinary program, the M.S.E.M. online degree requires 30 credits and combines high-level engineering specialties with financial analysis, project management, and system design skills. Sample courses from the program include Project Engineering Management; Engineering Systems Analysis & Design; and Engineering Cost Estimation & Financial Analysis.
Robert Morris University is a private institution of higher education located in suburban Moon Township, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. The University began in 1921, established by Andrew Blass, an accountant and educator. With humble beginnings, the school first met in downtown Pittsburg and was called the Pittsburgh School of Accountancy. In 1935 this name was changed to Robert Morris School for Business, chosen to honor American Founding Father, Robert Morris, who is known as the “financier of the Revolution.” The institution achieved its four-year status in the 1960s and was granted university status in 2002 by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The institution emphasizes engaged learning and operates with a mission to transform the lives of its students by providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and inspiration to serve as responsible leaders and citizens within a global community. The University’s vision is to be known as a leader with the highest quality academics, providing programs within a proactively engaged learning community.
Online Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM)
Program Details: Texas A&M University offers the Master of Engineering Technical Management (M.E.T.M.) through the College of Engineering. A part-time, lock-step program lasting 21 months, the bulk of the M.E.T.M. degree program is delivered via online courses; two weeks of residency is required as well as a final presentation/graduation on campus. An interdisciplinary program, the online M.E.T.M. blends industry-specific technical skills with project and people management skills for increased profitability within technical and engineering disciplines for the purpose of producing successful leaders who are prepared assume managerial positions within their industry or organization. Outcomes of the M.E.T.M. online degree program include the ability to lead a manage a diverse team of technical professionals; have a framework for data-driven decision making; to develop a technical program for an engineering project; effectively communicate with non-technical customers and colleagues; and create and implement corporate strategic technology plans.
Texas A&M University is a research-intensive university located in College Station, Texas. The flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System, the University was established in 1876, as the state’s first public institution of higher education. The University’s main campus sits on 5,200 acres and is approximately 90 miles northwest of Houston. Nearly 68,000 students are currently enrolled, including over 12,000 graduate and professional students, and the University boasts more than 440,000 living alumni around the globe. A wide range of undergraduate and graduate-level programs and degrees are offered including over 130 undergraduate options, more than 150 master’s degree programs, over 90 doctoral programs and more. Texas A&M University is committed to the development, discovery, dissemination, and application of information across a wide range of professional and academic fields for the benefit of society at large. Its institutional goal is to offer the best quality education, promoting and developing new and increased understanding through scholarship, research, and creativity.
Program Details: Old Dominion University offers Master of Engineering Management through the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology and the Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering. A specialized, interdisciplinary field of study, the M.E.M. degree program is grounded in the principles of science and systems engineering and builds upon student’s existing engineering experience. Hosted by ODM Online, students can access online course materials from any location. Certain classes feature live, regular online meeting times, while others are asynchronous. Likewise, instructors may schedule exams and assignments at specific times; however, the emphasis is placed on making the online M.E.M. program flexible and accessible for working professionals. A 31-credit hour program, the M.E.M. online degree is divided into 18 credits of core coursework, 12 credits of elective courses chosen by the student, and culminates in a one-credit capstone course.
Located in Norfolk, Virginia, Old Dominion University is a public urban research university. Formally established in the 1960s, the University was born out of an extension of The College of William and Mary, created as the Norfolk Division of the College. In 1962 the Division gained its independence, gaining university status just seven years later. Today Old Dominion University enjoys a reputation built upon its rigorous academics, entrepreneurial research, energetic community, and strong collaborations. A wide range of undergraduate and graduate level degrees are offered, including more than 60 bachelor’s degrees, over 130 graduate programs culminating in over 50 master’s degrees and over 40 doctorates and specialists degrees. The University comprises several colleges including an honors college and graduate school. It is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Old Dominion’s mission is to be known as a dynamic community built on a strong foundation of research and scholarship. Dedicated to serving the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world, the University is committed to student success offering rigorous academic programs within a community committed to civic engagement and backed by strategic partnerships.
Online Master of Engineering and Technology Management
Program Details: Washington State University offers an Online Master of Engineering and Technology Management degree program through the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. The M.E.T.M. online degree is tailored for working professionals with the goal of producing graduates who are equipped to make operational and strategic decisions as they lead in the management of technology. Designed to equip practicing engineers with the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to lead as effective managers, the M.E.T.M. degree is offered online via recorded lectures that may be accessed at any time. Outcomes of the online M.E.T.M. program include the ability stay at the leading edge and become a leader in the management of technology; the development of skills for managing changing technology; the ability to develop a systematic and analytical framework to support decision making; and demonstration of business and human resources management skills.
Washington State University is a four-year, public land-grant institution headquartered in Pullman, Washington. Washington State’s original land-grant institution, the University was established in 1890 and has grown into a top-tier research university. The University operates with a three-fold mission of advancing knowledge by means of strong scholarship and creative research in a variety of disciplines; to make education innovative and accessible; and to apply knowledge by means of local and global engagement for the benefit of society. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs both on-campus and online through its several colleges. These include the Colleges Arts and Sciences, Business, Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, Education, Communication, Engineering and Architecture, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and the Honors College.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM)
Program Details: The University of North Carolina-Charlotte offers a Master of Science in Engineering Management (M.S.E.M.) through the Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management in The William States Lee College of Engineering. Available both online and on-campus, the curriculum is taught by the same professors regardless of the course delivery format. A technical alternative to the traditional Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, UNC-Charlotte’s online M.S. Engineering Management degree combines elements of advanced study in various engineering disciplines with business and systems operations studies as well as organizational behavior. Designed to prepare professionals for careers in managing projects, programs, systems and organizations, the interdisciplinary M.S.E.M. online degree program provides students the combines business, leadership, and technical acumen.
The University of North Carolina-Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) is a public, comprehensive institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The State’s urban research university, UNC Charlotte offers an array of competitive programs which highlight creative activity and research. Noted for its exemplary undergraduate, professional, and graduate programs, the institution is committed to providing hands-on experiential learning especially through means of community engagement. Dedicated to serving the needs of the greater Charlotte region and beyond, UNC Charlotte offers more than 70 undergraduate degrees plus a variety of graduate-level degree and certificate programs through its several colleges, schools, and departments. These include the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the College of Arts & Architecture, the William States Lee College of Engineering, the Belk College of Business the College of Computing and Informatics, the Cato College of Education, the College of Health and Human Services, the Graduate School, the Department of Continuing Education, the Department of Online & Distance Education, and the Honors College.
Program Details: The University of Massachusetts-Amherst offers the Master of Engineering Management (M.S.E.M.) through the College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in Collaboration with The Isenberg School of Management. An interdisciplinary degree, the online M.S.E.M. degree program consists of 10 courses. Designed for working professionals, the program is available on-campus, entirely online, or in a blend of the two formats. The online M.S. Engineering Management degree, which builds on a long tradition of excellence in engineering management education, was recently redesigned for a fresh group of leaders. The M.S.E.M. online degree is designed to equip managers for successful leadership within a wide range of engineering-related disciplines, providing them with insights which foster creativity, utilizing management perspectives with engineering technology to provide solutions to complex issues, and to gain the skills necessary to manage risk and make decisions within the framework of an analysis and design system.
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst (abbreviated UMass Amherst) is a public research and land-grant university located on a nearly 1,450-acre campus in the scenic Pioneer Valley in Amherst, Massachusetts. Within 90 miles of Boston and 175 miles of New York City, UMass Amherst offers residential students a “rich cultural environment” within a rural setting close to major urban centers. The flagship campus of the Commonwealth, the University is nationally ranked and offers over 200 academic programs including several undergraduate programs and more than 75 master’s degrees through its nine schools and colleges. These include the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, the Isenberg School of Management, the College of Education, College of Natural Sciences, the College Engineering, the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, the College of Nursing, College of Information and Computer Sciences, the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Commonwealth Honors College, and the Graduate School.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management
Program Details: The University of Houston-Clear Lake offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management through the College of Science and Engineering. The online M.S.E.M. curriculum offers the unique option of customizing the degree to meet the local industrial needs of the Greater Houston metropolitan region. Featured classes cover the topics of decisions analysis, entrepreneurship, product design, negotiations, and technology management. Each course within the online M.S. Engineering Management degree program equal three credits and are 8 weeks in length. Two 8-week sessions are offered per semester (up to five sessions per year) in order to provide maximum flexibility to the schedules of busy professionals. The M.S.E.M. degree program is offered in several formats including 100% online, on-campus, and a blend of the two, making the program flexible and convenient for working professionals. Students also have the option of earning their Six Sigma Green Belt and Project Management certificates as part of the program.
The University of Houston-Clear Lake (abbreviated UHCL) is a four-year state institution and one of four distinct institutions within the University of Houston System. Located on a 524-acre campus in Houston, Texas, UHCL was founded in 1974; however, it was not until 2014 that the University began offering freshmen- and sophomore-level classes which enabled students to begin their college career at UHCL without needing to transfer from other institutions first. Currently, over 80 graduate and undergraduate programs are available both online and in a traditional campus setting through the University’s four schools. These include the College of Human Sciences and Humanities, the College of Business, the College of Science and Engineering, and the College of Education. Committed to student success, the University pairs its solid academic programs with community engagement and strong partnerships designed to enhance the educational, cultural, and economic environment within the greater metropolitan area.
Program Details: Iowa State University offers an Engineering Management Master’s Degree through the Colleges of Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences. Available as a residential or online program, the M.E.M. degree emphasizes the development of engineering, science, and management skills which are necessary to succeed in a technology-driven environment. A multi-disciplinary degree, the online Engineering Management degree program equips leaders who have the necessary managerial and technical skills to face the unique challenges within various engineering-relate disciplines. An Engineering Management Introduction and Core are included among the required courses; electives are offered in the areas of Engineering and Business. Taught by Iowa State’s outstanding faculty members, “real world” experience is prioritized and valued and most courses within the M.E.M. online degree are taught by faculty who possess extensive work experience in the field.
Iowa State University is a public, comprehensive, land-grant university. Ranked as one of the most beautiful in the country, Iowa State University’s 1,900-acre campus, located in Ames, Iowa, is just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the state’s capital and most populated city and business center. Established in 1858, Iowa State is known for its student-centered culture and excellence in science and technology. Famous alumni of the University include George Washington Carver, Carrie Chapman Catt, and John Vincent Atanasoff. Today home to more than 36,000 students, Iowa State University offers more than 100 bachelor’s, 112 masters and over 80 doctoral programs through its Several Colleges colleges and schools. The University’s mission is to “create, share and apply knowledge to make Iowa and the world a better place.” A member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only organization of the top 62 research institutions in the United States and Canada, Iowa State’s research enterprise includes nearly 100 centers and institutes with world-class facilities and award-winning researchers.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM)
Program Details: Syracuse University offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management (M.S.E.M.) through the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the College of Engineering and Computer Science in cooperation with the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. An interdisciplinary degree, the online M.S.E.M. degree program is designed to meet the needs of active professional engineers and scientists, preparing them to assume managerial and leadership positions within their current organization or industry. The M.S.E.M. online degree program provides a blend of management theory and practice, quality control, economics, statistics, finance, legal issues, and information/data management. Courses are hand selected, providing an opportunity for increased technical competency. Applicants are required to hold a bachelor of science degree in an engineering or pure science field (physics, chemistry, etc.).
Syracuse University is a private, nonprofit, research university located in Syracuse, New York. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the University serves over 22,000 students each year. The University is committed to student success, encouraging interdisciplinary scholarship and creativity, experiential learning, global study, and entrepreneurial endeavors. Professional studies are balanced with a broad-based liberal arts education, resulting in graduates who are well prepared to face the challenges and responsibilities of the real world. The University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered through its several colleges and schools. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Martin J. Whitman School of Management, School of Architecture, The David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the School of Information Studies, the School of Education, the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, the College of Law, College of Visual and Performing Arts, the University College, and the Graduate School.
Program Details: Kansas State University offers the Master of Engineering Management degree through its Global Campus and the College of Engineering’s Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering. The online M.E.M. degree program is designed for current industry professionals, equipping them with the business acumen and technical skill necessary to act as effective managers within engineering and technology-based organizations. Available almost entirely online, the M.E.M. degree program caters to working professionals and requires that students come to Kansas State’s campus only once at the end of the program for an oral examination conducted by the supervisory committee.
Kansas State University is a comprehensive, land-grant research institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The University is committed to serving the needs of the students and citizens of Kansas and beyond by providing top-quality academic opportunities, excellence in scholarship and research, and by offering programs that produce highly skilled graduates who are ready to serve as global citizens for the well-being of society. Its institutional goal is to produce graduates who embrace diversity, are committed to the discovery and dissemination of knowledge, and are focused on making improvements to the standards of living and quality of life of the world around them. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Kansas State offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate-level programs and degrees are offered through its several colleges, schools, and departments. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, College of Business Administration, the College of Agriculture, the College of Architecture Planning and Design the College of Human Ecology, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Engineering, and the Graduate School. Several programs are also offered through the University’s Global Campus and Kansas State University’s Polytechnic Campus.
Program Details: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology offers the Master of Engineering Management (M.E.M.) as a 30-credit hour distance education program. The online M.E.M. program is designed for practicing professionals in the fields of engineering, technology, or applied science. The M.E.M. online degree is offered live via distance education from the University’s main campus in Socorro. A synchronous program, courses are delivered through a virtual classroom which can be streamed on a student’s desktop, laptop, or other mobile devices. Courses are scheduled during the evenings and lectures are available for streaming for a period of time after each class. Applicants are required to possess competence in engineering, science, and mathematics comparable to a calculus-based Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or an applied science discipline. Outcomes of the online M.E.M. degree include the ability to understand the structure of databases; the ability to apply Management Science-based optimization techniques to problem situations in the real world; and an understanding of economic and financial modeling and simulation and its application to analysis and valuation of risky investment projects and portfolios.
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (also known as New Mexico Tech) is a private science, engineering and research university located in Socorro, New Mexico in the colorful and historic Rio Grande Valley. Established in 1889 as the New Mexico School of Mines, the University’s vision is to serve as the region’s premier institution recognized for its dedication to education, innovation, research, and service. Committed to meeting the needs of the state, nation, and world, the University provides affordable, accessible programs of education that focus on professional development, applied research, and teacher education. Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the University offers a wide range of programs available both on campus and online.
Online Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (MEEM)
Program Details: The University of Louisville offers the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management. Available through the J.B. School of Engineering, the program is offered entirely online and is designed for experienced professionals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related scientific field. The M.E.E.M. online degree equips students in the development of sharper skills for managing engineering projects, products, and services. The program builds on the mathematical and analytical expertise gained through professional experience and prior engineering education and requires 30 credit hours (10 courses) to complete. Offered entirely online there are no GRE requirements and each course within the online M.E. Engineering Management degree lasts 6-weeks in length with an accelerated format. With five starts per year (Fall, Spring, or Summer admissions), the online M.E.E.M. program is designed to offer maximum convenience and flexibility to busy professionals.
Located on a 287-acre campus in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, the University of Louisville is a public, comprehensive research institution. Founded as the Jefferson Seminary in Louisville, the institution’s roots reach back to 1798, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the nation. The University is currently accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate-level degrees and certificate programs through its several colleges and schools. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education and Human Development, the School of Dentistry, the Kent School of Social Work, the Brandeis School of Law, the School of Music, the School of Public Health and Information Sciences the School of Medicine, the Speed School of Engineering, the School of Nursing, and the School of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies.
Online Distributed Master of Engineering Management (d-MEMP)
Program Details: Duke University offers a Distributed Master of Engineering Management (d.-M.E.M.P.). Available with an innovative distance education option, the online degree blends the flexibility of online classes with the best features of a cohort-centric traditional residential program. A two-year program, the online d.-M.E.M.P. coursework covers finance, intellectual property, business law, marketing, and management. Most classes consist of recordings of on-campus classes and provide an opportunity for distance students to interact with classmates and faculty via email, social media, web conferencing, and instant messaging. The degree focuses on building expertise in operations and supply chain management, product design and development, data analytics and commercializing technology innovations. Additional technical electives are also offered in other areas. The d.-M.E.M.P. online degree program requires three weeklong residencies on Duke’s North Carolina campus which provide the opportunity for students to connect with fellow distance students, campus peers, program faculty, and the larger Duke network.
Located in Durham, North Carolina Duke University is a private, nonprofit, research institution. Established in 1924 by James Buchanan Duke as a memorial to his father, Washington Duke, the University is known for its top-quality academics, faculty members, and research. Recognized for its superior liberal arts education, the University is committed to creating an intellectual community that builds upon a foundation of open and free inquiry. Its mission is to promote the discovery, dissemination, and application of knowledge and to produce graduates who are committed to lifelong learning, active citizens, and engaged professionals. The University offers a wide range of graduate and undergraduate programs through its several schools. These include the Fuqua School of Business, the Nicholas School of the Environment, the Sanford School of Public Policy, the School of Nursing, the Divinity School, the Duke-NUS Medical School, the Pratt School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Medicine, the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, the Graduate School, and Duke Kunshan University.
Program Details: Lawrence Technological University offers the Master of Engineering Management through its College of Engineering. An interdisciplinary degree designed for engineers who are in or seeking to advance into roles of mid to upper management, the program combines management, leadership, and technical courses to create an engineering-specific alternative to the traditional MBA. Hosted by Lawrence Tech Online, LTU is committed to providing internet-based learning that is convenient, collaborative, engaging, and on-target. Students can study when and where they like without sacrificing academic quality or attention from professors and many electives are offered to make the degree customizable and help students achieve their unique career and educational goals. Taught by faculty members within the College of Engineering, the College’s mission is to prepare industry professionals who are prepared to apply their knowledge into a real-world setting.
Lawrence Technological University (LTU) is a private institute of technology and higher learning located in Southfield, Michigan. Founded in 1932, LTU enjoys an established reputation of excellence, built by delivering “well-prepared graduates to their respective industries.” Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, LTU offers over 100 academic programs through its four colleges. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Architecture and Design, and the College of Business and IT. The University is committed to the values of Character and Integrity, Theory and Practice, Student-focused and Caring, and Teamwork and Trust. Its vision is to be known for its innovative, transformational STEM and Design programs and for producing leaders who operate with a global perspective and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Program Details: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers the Master of Engineering Management (M.E.M.). The program is also available with an optional specialization in Construction Engineering and Management. Offered entirely online, the 30-credit-hour M.E.M. degree program has no thesis requirements but does require students to pursue a minor of at least 9 credits. Offered through the UNL College of Engineering in collaboration with the College of Business, the online M.E.M. is a professional practice-oriented advanced degree and a technical alternative to the MBA. The program is designed for professionals who already hold an undergraduate degree in engineering or quantitative area and is appropriate for engineers in all fields. Integrating business and engineering principles for solving problems, making decisions, and managing risks in complex engineering professionals, the MEM program’s mission is to provide students with “technical project management and organizational skills in the engineering workplace.”
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is a public research university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. A member of the University of Nebraska system, UNL is governed by a Board of Regents. The University was founded in 1869 and is comprised of several colleges. These include the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Sciences, Business, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Engineering, Architecture, Law, Journalism and Mass Communications, Graduate Studies, and the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. A member of the Big Ten Conference as well as the Big Ten Academic Alliance, as a land-grant institution UNL is also a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management
Program Details: The University of Dayton offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management through the Department of Engineering Management, Systems and Technology of the School of Engineering. An interdisciplinary course of study, the master’s degree program is designed to provide engineering professionals with skills to accelerate their career by equipping them with the business acumen combined with technical knowledge and skill necessary for successful leadership in engineering management. A flexible program, the degree requires 30 credits to complete and is designed to meet the educational needs of both traditional students and practicing professionals. 21 credit hours are spent on core courses with the remaining credits divided between management-focused electives, application-focused electives, and approved electives of choice.
The University of Dayton is a top-tier national Roman Catholic research institution. Located in the state’s sixth largest city in Dayton, Ohio, the University sits on the banks of the Great Miami River just a short walk away from the downtown section of the city. Founded in 1850 by members of the Society of Mary, the institution opened its doors to a first class of 100 students. Today, the University of Dayton is one of the largest private institutions of higher education in Ohio with over 114,000 alumni located around the globe. The University is committed to providing an academic experience that equips the whole person – intellectually, spiritually, and physically – and inspires students to become better citizens, professionals, and people for the benefit of society. The University of Dayton is well-known for its excellent academic programs and its solid commitment to community involvement and research. The institution is one of the top Catholic institutions in the United States for sponsored engineering and sponsored STEM research.
Online Master of Engineering in Engineering Management
Program Details: The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management. Available through the University’s Department of Engineering Professional Development, the M.E.E.M. online program is a practical alternative to the traditional MBA designed for engineers and professionals within technology-related careers. The M.E. Engineering management degree blends the practice of engineering with business, helping working professionals transition into management roles or grow as a successful technical leader. Offered primarily online, students progress through the program with a supportive cohort, working together on group projects; the program also has an optional residency each summer at UW-Madison. A 30-credit hour program, the online M.E.E.M. degree requires a total of 12 courses and students typically take two courses each semester spending about 20 hours a week on coursework and participating in team project activities.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a four-year, public, research institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. Established in 1848, the University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers a wide range of programs through its several colleges and schools. These include the College of Letters & Science, the School of Business, the School of Journalism & Mass Communication, the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, the School of Human Ecology, the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, the School of Education, The Information School, the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, the Mead Witter School of Music, The Wisconsin University Law School, the School of Social Work, the School of Medicine & Public Health, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Nursing, the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The University’s mission is to create an environment which fosters discovery, scholarship, the preservation and transmission of knowledge, and critical examination.
Program Details: The University of Maryland offers the Professional Master of Engineering through the College of Engineering. An online program, the M.E. degree is designed to provide professionals within engineering and technology-related careers with the practical expertise and business acumen necessary for effective management within rapidly changing industrial, business, and government environments. All courses within the program are taught by University faculty members as well as industry experts and the program is accredited by the Project Management Institute’s Global Accreditation Center – the first project management program in and engineering school to be so. A 30-credit program, the online M.E. degree consists of 10 courses and all students are expected to complete a preliminary course plan for their intended degree program. Required courses in the program include an Introduction to Project Management, Project Risk Management, Project Cost Accounting and Finance, Legal Aspects of Engineering Design and Construction, and Management of Project Teams.
The Flagship Institution of the University System of Maryland, The University of Maryland, located just outside of Washington, D.C. Established in 1856, the institution began as the tiny Maryland Agricultural College and has grown to become one of the nation’s preeminent public research universities. Recognized globally as a leader in entrepreneurship, research, and innovation, the University is dedicated to the “pursuit of Fearless Ideas.” Its mission is to cultivate a community dedicated to excellence in academics, research, and service. Committed to meeting the needs of the local region and beyond, the University serves as a national center for research and graduate education and endeavors to be the institute of choice among Maryland’s students. The University of Maryland offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs through its several colleges and schools and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Online Master of Science in Engineering (Engineering Management concentration)
Program Details: The University of Alabama in Huntsville offers the Master of Science in Engineering through the ISEEM Department of the College of Engineering. The online M.S. in Engineering degree is offered as either a thesis or non-thesis degree and is available with concentrations in Engineering Management, Industrial Engineering, and Systems Engineering. The Engineering Management concentration within the M.S.E. online degree contains a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate-level coursework with required courses including Engineering Management Theory; Engineering Project Management; Engineering Management Structures & Systems; and Managing Change in High Tech Organizations.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is one of the nation’s premier research universities. A research-intensive, internationally recognized technological institution located in Huntsville, Alabama, the University enrolls over 9,000 students from nearly all 50 states and over 80 foreign countries. The University offers nearly 90 degree programs through its several Colleges. These include the College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences; the College of Education; the College of Nursing; the College of Engineering; the College of Business; the College of Science; the College of Professional & Continuing Studies; the College of Honors; and the Graduate School. UAH is committed to the core values of Diligence and Excellence, Integrity and Respect, and Inclusiveness and Diversity. The University is committed to the values of exploration, creativity, discovery, and communication of knowledge. Its goal is to provide outstanding education, training students in critical thinking, leadership, innovation, and civic responsibility all while inspiring a passion for lifelong learning. UAH’s vision is to serve as a preeminent institution recognized for its top-quality programs in technology and research and to be the university of choice were “technology and human understanding converge.”
Program Details: Case Western Reserve University offers an Online Master of Engineering degree through the Case School of Engineering. A professional graduate engineering degree, the program equips professionals within engineering and technology-related fields with applicable business and management skills to give them an edge against the competition. The online M.E. degree program addresses critical competencies necessary to increase personal and professional effectiveness in the industry. A practice-oriented (rather than research-oriented) degree, a thesis is not required and students complete core courses plus electives. Four elective courses provide opportunities to enhance technical competencies within the student’s chosen discipline of engineering.
Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Case Western Reserve University is a private, nonprofit, comprehensive institution of higher education. Established in 1826, the University is founded upon the core values of Inclusiveness and Diversity; Academic Excellence and Impact; Effective Stewardship; Integrity and Transparency. Its vision is to serve as an internationally recognized institution of higher education which both influences and redefines the future. Case Western Reserve University’s mission is to enrich the lives of its students and those they go on to impact through transformational education paired with collaborative research. The institution is committed to scholarship, learning, and global citizenship. Case offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate-level programs through its several colleges and schools. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, the Case School of Engineering, the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Law, the School of Graduate Studies, the Weatherhead School of Management, the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, and the School of Medicine.
Online Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management (MSETM)
Program Details: Oklahoma State University offers the Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management. The online M.S.E.T.M. degree was created for professionals within engineering and other related technology-driven fields and pairs engineering-specific courses with business and management courses. A flexible degree option, the online M.S. in Engineering and Technology Management curriculum may be tailored to meet each student’s unique needs. The program is available entirely through distance learning with no on-campus requirements, making it a highly convenient and accessible option for working professionals anywhere in the world. The M.S.E.T.M. online degree requires 32 credit hours and can be completed in approximately three years. The program’s courses are selected from the ETM approved course list and graduate-level embedded certificates are also available to help students gain depth in specific areas.
Oklahoma State University is a four-year, public, land-grant university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The University’s mission is to provide outstanding academics which enriches lives, advances knowledge and stimulates economic development by means of scholarship, outreach, research, and creative endeavors. Committed to the betterment of Oklahoma and beyond, the University’s vision is to advance the quality of life for others and to provide a first-class education noted for its excellence in scholarship, research, and creativity. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Oklahoma State University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs through its several colleges and schools. These include the Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Health and Aviation; Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Engineering, Architecture and Technology; Education; Human Sciences; the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences; the Spears School of Business; the School of Global Studies and Partnerships; the College of Osteopathic Medicine; the Honors College; and the Graduate College.
Online Master of Global Engineering Leadership (MGEL)
Program Details: Ohio State University offers the Master of Global Engineering Leadership (M.G.E.L.) through the College of Engineering with support from The Fisher College of Business and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. The program is offered entirely online and is designed specifically to equip engineers with leadership and management skills that they can immediately apply within their industry. The online M.G.E.L. degree’s mission is to equip individuals with a solid understanding of business and management and to teach the skills necessary for leading strategic initiatives. The M.G.E.L. online degree program provides a strong engineering focus through its technical track specializations. Specialization options include Enterprise Services and Architecture, Welding Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Automotive Systems Engineering, Additive Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Radar Systems, and a Custom Track.
Ohio State University (OSU) is a public institution of higher education headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. As part of its strategic vision, the University is committed to the values of Research and Creative Expression; Access, Affordability, and Excellence; Operational Excellence and Resource Stewardship; Teaching and Learning; and Academic Health Care. OSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its several schools. These include the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and Human Ecology, the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture, the Fisher College of Business, the School of Environment and Natural Resources, College of Engineering, the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, the College of Dentistry, the College of Optometry, The John Glenn College of Public Affairs, the College of Pharmacy, the College of Social Work, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Public Health, the College of Medicine, the Michael E. Moritz College of Law, the College of Nursing, and the Graduate School.
Online Master of Science in Engineering Management
Program Details: Missouri University of Science & Technology offers the Master of Science in Engineering Management. The online M.S.E.M. degree focuses on converging engineering, management, and technology and is designed equip professionals with the necessary skills to lead as effective managers, teaching them to see the broader vision, understand the business impact of their decisions, communicate effectively, collaborate, and apply critical thinking. A 30 credit-hour program, students are required to take four courses in an area of specialization and two elective courses in addition to the degree’s set of core courses. Specialization track options include management of technology, industrial engineering, project management, financial engineering, manufacturing systems, and quality engineering.
Located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri University of Science and Technology is a four-year public research university. Abbreviated Missouri S&T, the institution was founded in 1870, one of the oldest technological institutions established west of the Mississippi. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the University offers over 95 degree programs in more than 35 areas of study through its two colleges, namely, the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business and the College of Engineering and Computing. Missouri S&T is committed to the dissemination of knowledge, the application of research, and effective service that benefits society and helps to meet the greatest challenges around the world. Its vision is to be known as a preeminent technological institution of discovery, innovation, and creativity. The University is committed to the cultivation of curiosity, confidence, and creativity and strives to instill in students a passion for lifelong learning, a commitment to innovative research, and a desire to act and serve as responsible citizens within a global society.
Program Details: Northeastern University offers the Master of Science in Engineering through the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering in the College of Engineering. With the goal of intersecting technical expertise and business acumen, the online M.S.E. program provides an opportunity for students to gain necessary business competence combined with technical expertise that will put them ahead of the competition within technology-based industries. The M.S. Engineering online degree program provides a competitive edge for professionals who are seeking or are currently in a wide range of leadership positions within technology-based product or service industries through its combination of technical proficiency and business skills. Available at the University’s Boston campus as well as online, the M.S.E. online degree offers enough flexibility to make it convenient and accessible for busy professionals.
Northeastern University is a global, experiential research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Categorized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 Institution, Northeastern is home to more than 21,000 students. In addition to its main campus, the University has graduate campuses located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Toronto and comprises nine colleges and schools. These include the College of Arts, Media and Design, the College of Computer and Information Science, the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Professional Studies, the School of Law, the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the College of Science. Northeastern is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The University offers a wide range of comprehensive programs, including 150 undergraduate majors and concentrations, over 100 graduate programs which are available online, on-campus or in hybrid (a combination of the two) formats and nearly 40 Ph.D. programs and industry-aligned professional master’s degrees.
Program Details: The Stevens Institute of Technology offers the Master of Engineering Management degree through its School of Systems & Enterprise. The online M.S.M. degree program’s mission is to equip students with a solid understanding of technology and engineering combined with applicable business and management skills. The overarching goal is to produce engineers who have the capabilities of interfacing between the technical and business aspects and provide valuable contributions to their respective enterprises. Potential careers for graduates are many and include data analyst, operational research analyst, project manager, application engineer, risk manager, and research and development. Taught by world-renowned and industry-connected faculty, the program is offered on-campus or online with flexible learning options, making it ideal for busy professionals.
The Stevens Institute of Technology is a premier private research university located in Hoboken, New Jersey, overlooking New York City. Established in 1870, the University is known for its unique curriculum which blends technological training, teamwork, design projects, internships, and cooperative education opportunities. The Stevens Institute of Technology is committed to educating, inspiring, and nurturing the future leaders of tomorrow without neglecting the most pressing needs and issues of the current times. As a private institution, the university is governed by a Board of Trustees, the Stevens Institute of Technology and comprises several colleges and schools. These include the School of Business, the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering & Science, the School of Systems & Enterprises, and the College of Arts and Letters. Home to 7,000 students, the value of Stevens’ education is evident as graduates are in constant high demand by both industry leaders and agencies.
Online Master of Management Science and Engineering
Program Details: Lehigh University offers a Master’s degree in Management Science and Engineering administered by the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Available entirely online, the program is offered as either a Master of Science or Master of Engineering degree. The latter is designed for students whose interests are in the practice of engineering management, rather than research, and requires 30 credit hours and concludes with a capstone project. The online M.S. Management Science and Engineering degree requires 30 credits, including a 6 credit thesis. Required courses generally include several offered outside the ISE department in computer science, mathematics, other engineering disciplines or business and economics. Regardless of the resulting final degree chosen, the Management Science and Engineering online program is designed to equip students with the necessary business acumen to make strategic decisions, analyze risk and cost, and act as competent managers within an engineering or technology-driven industry.
Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Lehigh University is a private residential research university. The University was established in 1865 by an industrial pioneer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Asa Packer. An internationally recognized premier research university, Lehigh University provides a comfortable, small college atmosphere. Located just a short drive away from both New York City and Philadelphia, the University boasts one of the largest campuses in the country with over 2,000 acres of land. The University holds regional accreditation through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Lehigh University offers a wide range of programs through its several colleges and schools, including the College of Business and Economics, the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Education.
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Many students see the appeal of pursuing an online degree program.
But students worry if their decision will affect their employment. Online programs vary in quality and reputation. Yet the same isn’t always true for face to face colleges.
The key to success in the professional world is choosing the right school. This should be a school that will give you the valuable experience you need to do the job you want to do.
So are online masters degrees respected? Let’s take a closer look.
Are Online Masters Respected? The Future is Now!
Online learning is nothing new. In 2011, about 6.7 million people took at least one online class. That’s a third of all college students!
Are online graduate degrees respected? That depends. Some employers are behind the times. They do not understand distance learning.
The good news? There is no need to point out that you completed your degree online when applying for jobs. That said, should the issue come up during an interview, you should be honest about why an online option was the best decision for you. The quality and reputation of the school is more important than whether you attended physical classes or not.
Choosing a Reputable Online Master’s Degree Program
The most important factor in choosing an online degree is to make sure it is coming from an accredited college. Research their relationship with the Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
Schools with regional accreditation are often better respected. That’s over those with just national accreditation. Some universities do not recognize degrees and credits from colleges that are just nationally accredited. Consider that fact if you plan to pursue a doctoral degree later on.
Earning an online master has become much more popular. Prospective students seek the flexibility and convenience that distance learning can provide.
There are a variety of online degrees and programs available. Each online learning experience caters to students with a wide range of interests and career goals.
For example, those interested in pursuing a career in human resource management may opt for a bachelor’s or master’s degree. This could be in business administration with a concentration in HR.
Those interested in a more creative field may choose to study for an online program in graphic design or web development. No matter what your goals, there is a degree online that can help you achieve them.
Employers respect online instruction just as much as traditional learning. Now is the perfect time to pursue your education from home.
How Does an Online Degree Look on a Resume?
An online degree can look good on a resume, depending on the hiring practices. Some potential employers might not think an online degree is as credible as a degree earned from attending a brick-and-mortar institution. Many credible schools, including Indiana University, Southern New Hampshire University, Purdue University Global, and more all offer online degree programs.
However, employers are starting to see the value in online degrees as they become more and more common.
When it comes time to apply for jobs, having an online degree can be a huge part of getting your foot in the door with a potential employer. In many cases, an online degree can give you the same level of education and training as a traditional degree, making it a strong addition to your resume.
How Credible is an Online Master’s Degree?
Are online masters degrees credible?
The online education landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years.
So are online masters programs respected?
Generally speaking, an online degree is just as credible as a traditional degree. The key is to make sure that you choose an accredited online program from an accredited institution.
Of course, there are some advantages and disadvantages to getting an online master’s degree. One thing important to note is that you can study at your own pace and in your own time. This can be a great option for adults working full time who want to go back to school but can’t commit to attending classes full-time in a traditional classroom.
On the downside, you may miss out on some of the social aspects of traditional degrees. These include interacting with professors and other students in person.
Do People Look Down on Online Master’s?
There has been a recent boom in graduate students seeking online master’s degrees.
This is largely due to the flexibility and convenience that online programs offer.
However, there is a perception among some that online master’s degrees are not as respected as their traditional counterparts.
This could not be further from the truth. In reality, hiring practices have evolved. They now keep pace with the increasing popularity of online master’s degrees.
Many employers now place equal value on online and traditional degrees. In fact, some employers even prefer candidates with online degrees. They often have more experience working remotely and are comfortable with new technologies.
What Do Employers Think About Online Degrees?
Research shows that some employers view schools that are 100% virtual as “less rigorous.” This perception doesn’t always reflect reality. Most online students complete classes at the highest level possible, even compared to college graduates at a physical campus. This misconception of online degree holders may soon change.
Are online degrees respected? Let’s look at what the data says to see the level at which online master’s degrees respected.
The report issued by the Department of Education attributed online learners’ better performances to a few specific traits:
Excellent time management
Self-motivation
Superior online communication skills.
Are Online Master’s Degrees Respected?
So are online universities respected? And is an online master’s degree worth it? Most online students and most employers would say yes. Even U.S. News & World Report says that these degree programs offer the highest level of education.
Some studies suggest that online programs are more difficult. That’s because they need more discipline. Most jobs use the Internet now. Mastering telecommunication is also a valuable skill. It can increase your value on the job market.
Is an online masters respected? Yes, but be careful when you start looking at online offerings compared to traditional on campus degree programs.
Be wary of “diploma mills.” These schools claim to issue master’s degrees based just on work experience. Some companies will send you a certificate that looks like a real diploma. This is often in exchange for your faxed resume and a large sum of money. Many don’t offer the highest level of education for these master’s programs earned online.
Some reputable colleges award limited course credit based on professional experience. A legitimate degree always has classwork.
So is an online degree respected? It all comes down to which program and school you choose.
If you choose a program that challenges you and prepares you to thrive in your field, employers will see that. They will not be so concerned with how you got your degree.
Online Learning vs. Traditional Master’s Degree Statistics
According to a recent study, more and more students are choosing to earn their degrees online.
In fact, over six million students were taking at least one online course in 2017, an increase of almost three million from just five years earlier.
Many online programs offer courses at the same level as those offered at brick-and-mortar schools. These include graduate-level courses. With so many advantages, it’s no wonder that online education is on the rise.
How to Market Your Online Education to Employers
The highest level education (master’s degree) has become increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more people have realized the benefits of online learning. While many employers are still hesitant to hire candidates with an online degree, the tide is gradually turning in favor of these programs. Here are a few ways to market your online education to potential employers.
First, be sure to list your online master’s degree and programs on your resume. Many hiring managers are now familiar with the concept of online learning, and will give your application extra consideration if they see that you have pursued this type of education.
Second, highlight the skills that you have acquired through your online degree programs. A prospective employer will value the self-discipline and time-management skills that are necessary for successful online learning. Be sure to emphasize these skills in both your resume and cover letter.
Finally, take advantage of the many networking opportunities available through online education forums and social media platforms. These platforms can be a great way to connect with potential employers and learn about new job openings. By using these tools effectively, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job.
Are Online Universities Respected?
Let’s recap. Are online colleges respected? And more importantly, is an online masters degree respected by an employer?
Yes. Advanced degrees completed online have just the same value as if you were to attend class in person. Just look for one that’s verified by one of the many accrediting agencies out there and backed up by U.S. News & World Report’s highest level higher education rankings.
An online master’s degree worth is just as high as degrees earned on campus. Start the search today and earn a degree at your own convenience!
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
When emergencies and disasters befall society, a dedicated force of professionals respond to mitigate the harm and provide care to those affected. No, we’re not talking about superheroes–at least not the kind that wear capes!
Emergency Management professionals are expertly-trained individuals that run to the source of the disaster instead of running the other way. As one of the most popular online degree programs, the Master of Emergency Management is a smart investment. It’s also a fast-growing profession.
These heroes construct emergency plans for when a crisis occurs. And, unfortunately, society faces no shortage of potential life-threatening disasters–from natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires to human-designed violence meant to cause harm and panic.
Pursuing a masters in emergency management online does not detract from the education and hands-on experience that you gain. In fact, you can get a high-quality graduate education while reaping the benefits of remote learning. Read on to discover some of the most respected and accessible emergency management graduate degree programs available!
Methodology
We used publicly available sources—such as FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute and the schools’ program websites—to research online Master of Emergency Management and similar degree programs. In doing so, we recognized several commonalities in programs that proved to be exceptional. In particular, the 30 programs outlined in this guide came to the forefront of our research.
Using those recognized commonalities, we developed a point system to rank the online emergency management degree programs. Programs that received the same point value were ranked with the lower out-of-state tuition per credit hour as the winning factor. The criteria for the ranking can be found below. Each criterion is equally weighted.
Multiple degrees, additional graduate certificate options, and opportunities for specialization
Program flexibility and accessibility
Faculty experience in the field, student satisfaction, and other uniquely impressive elements
Institutes within the school and partnerships with other emergency and disaster management organizations and institutes
The value of creating a methodology like this is twofold. First, you can compare potential programs side-by-side, knowing that they’ve been evaluated by the same set of measures. This allows you to better determine which programs are right for you. And second, this methodology is far more informative than just Googling “masters emergency management” or “emergency management masters online.”
Ranking the Best Emergency Management Master’s Programs
A donated 200 acres in Centre County, Pennsylvania, in 1851 would lead to the creation of the school that would become Penn State. The Farmer’s High School of Pennsylvania was established in 1855, and the school’s first president, Evan Pugh, was one of the main advocates for the Morrill Act of 1862 (a federal bill that allowed states to sell federal lands to fund universities). Penn State (officially named “The Pennsylvania State University” in 1953) was able to reap the benefits retroactively. Its main campus is located in University Park, which is also the flagship of the 24 campuses. More than 88,000 students are enrolled in the PSU system. As a participant in the Morrill Act, Penn State is the only land-grant university in Pennsylvania; it is also a space-, sun-, and sea-grant school. This public research university also offers online degree programs through Penn State World Campus. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools provides regional institutional accreditation.
Program Details
The Penn State World Campus offers an online “intercollege” Master of Professional Studies (iMPS) in Homeland Security degree program with two focus area options specific to emergency management: Public Health Preparedness and Agricultural Biosecurity and Food Defense.
Both iMPS degrees require 33 credit hours and prepare you to safeguard and respond to natural and human-caused disasters. Primary courses for both programs cover topics such as “Violence, Threats, Terror, and Insurgency” and “Homeland Security: Social and Ethical Issues,” but then also offer focus-specific classes such as “Agricultural Biosecurity: Protecting a Key Infrastructure” and “Public Health Evaluation of Disasters and Bioterrorism.”
In addition to this emergency management degree online are multiple twelve-credit graduate certificates covering these focus areas and several other certificates related to homeland security and emergency management. The coursework for this master’s degree is taught by faculty who have, among other achievements, trained governments, responded to major crises, and practiced epidemiology in multiple countries. Student success is evidenced by the experience of iMPS alumni working in emergency management roles worldwide.
Arkansas State University began in 1909 thanks to Act 100 of the 37th Arkansas General Assembly. As the First District Agricultural School, the institution was created to provide instruction in methods of agriculture and textile manufacturing. Located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the school opened to almost 200 students in 1910 for its inaugural year. The original faculty of eight professors grew as the school transitioned first into a junior college in 1925 and then a full four-year degree-granting college in 1933. Arkansas State University (ASU or “A-State”) became a university in 1967 and is the flagship university campus in the Arkansas State University System. The campus sits on nearly 1,400 acres, and over 14,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 140 academic degree programs housed within its colleges and online campus. This public research university boasts the second-largest enrollment in the state. Regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details
Offered through Arkansas State University’s online campus, this interdisciplinary online Master of Science in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (MSDPEM) degree program cultivates and prepares “professionals to effectively meet the demands of disaster preparedness, mitigation, planning, response, and recovery.”
Throughout this 36-credit hour masters of emergency management, you take an extensive selection of courses, focusing on relevant and large scale topics like “Crisis Communications,” “Health Care Issues and Policies,” and “Global Perspectives.” You can complete the required credits in as little as 12 months.
You can also customize your learning experience through the required Practicum Experience by taking a Seminar Topics Course or participating in a 60-hour practicum at a site that has received program approval. Furthermore, students must complete the Final Project in which you complete a Research Project or a 240-hour internship for hands-on experience).
All degrees under the umbrella of the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Program are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Emergency Management Education (CAEME). Upon graduation, you will have the knowledge and experience to pursue administrative, decision making careers in fields such as:
In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the 1960s, local business people and entrepreneurs thought a graduate-level institution emphasizing the social and physical sciences would benefit the area. This school concept would lead to Nova Southeastern University’s creation. In 1964, the Nova University of Advanced Technology was established and initially located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The campus has since moved to its current location on Forman Field, a former Navy landing field in Davie, Florida, and the school has also added undergraduate programs. In 1994, Nova and the Southeastern University of the Health Sciences merged to become Nova Southeastern University (NSU). A private university with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s highest level of research designation, NSU provides hundreds of academic degree programs to nearly 21,000 students. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides NSU with regional accreditation.
Program Details
The NSU MS in Disaster and Emergency Management (DEM) is provided online through the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM). Eighteen credits of core courses are required, with classes such as “Bioterrorism and All-Hazards Preparedness” and “Disaster Planning and Evaluation.”
Six specialization tracks are offered, some in conjunction with other NSU Colleges and Institutes, in the following areas:
Maritime Safety and Security
Cyber Security
Criminal Justice
Public Health
Environmental Hazards
Fire Administration
If you opt out of a specialization for this master’s degree, you will construct your elective choices from a general selection, which includes classes such as “Psychosocial Dimensions of Disasters” and “Grant-writing for Emergency Preparedness.”
Also offered online through NSU’s KPCOM is a Certificate in Emergency Medicine for professionals currently employed as physician assistants. The MSDEM program and the Certificate were crafted with input from ER department medical directors. Faculty members have experience as “both academics and emergency management professionals” to ensure you get the highest-quality education possible.
In the decades after the end of World War II, the need for expanding higher education in Maryland, as throughout the entire United States, became evident. The Maryland Legislature agreed through the passage of a bill in 1963 to allow the University of Maryland to establish four branch campuses throughout the state. What would become the University of Maryland in Baltimore County received a donation of 425 acres from the Spring Grove State Hospital in Catonsville, Maryland. Classes began in 1966, with 750 students enrolled that first year. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) now serves nearly 14,000 students in academic degree programs within several colleges and schools. A member of the University System of Maryland, UMBC is designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a top-tier research institution. The school is also a space-grant institution. UMBC is a public research university with regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Program Details
The oldest and the largest program like it in the nation, UMBC’s online MS in Emergency Health Services degree is a 30-credit hour program that takes around one to two years to complete. Alternatively, you can enroll in UMBC’s BS/MS program and complete your undergraduate and graduate degrees in five years.
This program is offered through the Department of Emergency Health Services, which allows you to reap the benefits of faculty and “other world-renown emergency medicine resources” from many Institutes and Centers close to UMBC. Students must choose between two tracks of study and an Education Concentration: Administration, Planning & Policy track or Preventative Medicine & Epidemiology track. A graduate certificate in Emergency Management can be pursued as well.
This program is interdisciplinary; electives can be chosen from within the “departments of Public Policy, Health Science, Preventive Medicine/Epidemiology, Sociology, and Nursing” (some may not be offered online). The Education Concentration is provided jointly with the ISD/Department of Education.
Though most students usually complete the degree in two years, you have up to five years to finish your graduate work if needed. This program can also offer a gateway to a Ph.D. in Public Policy with an EHS concentration in Emergency Management.
From humble beginnings as evening classes held in the YMCA to having classification by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with the highest level of research activity, Northeastern University has grown to cover all four corners of the United States. In 1898, the Evening Institute for Young Men offered an education at a YMCA in Boston, Massachusetts. The popularity caused the Institute to expand first into Northeastern College in 1916 and then Northeastern University (NU) in 1923. Nearly 20,000 students are enrolled in the Boston campus, and NU has branch graduate locations across the nation, in cities like Charlotte, North Carolina, Seattle, Washington, and San Jose, California. There are also campuses in Canada and the United Kingdom. Northeastern also enjoys partnerships with thousands of global organizations and agencies, allowing you to participate in a cooperative education experience. Nine academic schools and colleges comprise Northeastern University. This private research institution is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details
The MA in Homeland Security degree program through Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies “offers a comprehensive program of studies covering core elements of homeland security and emergency management.” The program requires a minimum of 42-credit hours, and you have the choice between three concentrations:
Corporate Security Management
Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Strategic Intelligence and Analysis
The Homeland Security and Emergency Management concentration provides relevant coursework, with classes such as “Critical Infrastructure and Protection,” “Continuity of Operations and Planning,” and “Essentials of Emergency Management,” each of which helps you develop and carry out emergency plans to address many different critical situations. All concentration options culminate with a capstone project, which allows you to address a real-world-inspired problem using the knowledge and skills you’ve gained in the master’s degree program.
Additionally, Northeastern offers a Graduate Certificate in Security & Resilience Studies that can be completed online. The twelve-credit hour certificate is offered by the Department of Political Science in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. Should you choose this path, you will be challenged by the renowned faculty with engaging, topical coursework in large scale fields such as “Cyberconflict,” “Counterterrorism,” and “International Security.”
The oldest Jesuit Catholic university in the United States, Georgetown University (originally Georgetown College), was founded by John Carroll, who would become the Archbishop of Baltimore. In 1789, Carroll, who was a bishop at that time, purchased 60 acres to become the campus. Classes began in 1792, and by the end of the year, 40 students were enrolled. Now nearly 21,000 students are enrolled in classes at the main campus located in the Washington D.C. area of Georgetown and four additional campuses: Medical Center, Law Center, School of Continuing Studies, and the facilities in Qatar, Italy, and Turkey. Although the school was never intended to be exclusively Catholic, the Jesuit way continues to influence the institution, as evidenced by the “commitment to spiritual inquiry, civic engagement, and religious and cultural pluralism.” The Carnegie Foundation has designated Georgetown with very high research activity. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.
Program Details
Georgetown provides students with one fully online and two hybrid online graduate degree programs in Emergency Management through the School of Continuing Studies. Georgetown’s Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Emergency & Disaster Management is a completely online, 33-credit hour degree program offering a “holistic approach” to emergency response.
Core courses such as “Ethics and Critical Decision Making,” “Project Management and Budgeting for Emergencies and Disasters,” and “Risk Perception Awareness” provide a comprehensive focus on the entire “lifecycle” of a natural disaster or man-made disaster. You can take these courses in the fall, spring, or summer terms, and you can attend full-time or part-time to fit your schedule.
The two hybrid Emergency & Disaster Management programs, the International Executive MPS and the Executive MPS are 30-credit hour programs with online coursework and five required residencies. All three programs share the benefit of a faculty with many years of real-world, cutting-edge experience and decades of collective training and teaching experience.
The success of this program is evidenced by the testimonials of the program’s graduates (most students provide glowing reviews). Prospective students like you have access to these testimonials, webinars, and information sessions to learn more about the program.
American Public University (APU) was established in 2002 as part of the American Public University System (APUS). The American Military University (AMU), which was founded in 1991, was the original institution established by a retired marine to address the unique and specific educational needs of military members. AMU exclusively provided distance education and grew to become the APUS with the addition of APU. APU is an online university, but the administrative offices are headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia. Six academic schools (School of Arts and Humanities, School of Business, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and the School of Security and Global Studies) provide hundreds of degree programs to a global network of nearly 90,000 students. APU is a private, for-profit institution of higher education. It is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details
APU provides an entirely online dual Master of Arts program that combines two popular degrees: Emergency and Disaster Management and Homeland Security. Of the emergency management degrees online outlined in this guide, this is the only dual-degree program.
The 60-credit hour program is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and can be completed in three years of full-time studies. The expert faculty includes many board-certified emergency managers (CEM) and respected professionals from a wide range of real-world emergency management and homeland security settings.
Coursework for this master’s program includes “Homeland Security and the Law,” “Domestic Terrorism and Extremist Groups,” and “Economics of Disaster.” You might also study topics like Fire Codes, Loss Prevention, and Intergovernmental Relations. A comprehensive capstone course is required as well. This course helps you synthesize what you’ve learned in the program and use those skills to solve a real-world problem.
A host of online Graduate Certificates in emergency management-related fields are available, too, and many are housed within different departments throughout APU. A handful of possible graduate certificate options include the following:
Competitive Intelligence
Emergency Management Executive Leadership
Environmental Hazard Mitigation and Restoration
Terrorism Studies
Most graduate certificate programs require eighteen-credit hours, and all are completely online. Some of these programs can even apply to earning various master’s programs if you desire to pursue a full degree.
Offering a “student-first philosophy,” Columbia Southern University (CSU) caters to working adults and non-traditional-aged students. Specializing in distance learning ever since it was founded in 1993, CSU has administrative offices in Orange Beach, Alabama. Three academic colleges—College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business, and College of Safety & Emergency Services—provide numerous degree and certificate programs solely online. A for-profit institution of higher education, CSU enrolls more than 16,000 students and employs hundreds of faculty members and staff. With a vision “to change and improve lives through higher education by enabling students to maximize their professional and personal potential,” CSU is part of the Columbia Southern Education Group. A military-friendly school, CSU is a member of GoArmyEd® and the Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative program. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) has continuously granted national accreditation to CSU since 2001.
Program Details
Columbia Southern University has an online MS in Emergency Services Management degree program that’s approved by the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM). Offered through the College of Safety and Emergency Services, the 36-credit hour degree program provides a comprehensive curriculum with classes such as “Global Terrorism,” “Advanced Interactions of Hazardous Materials,” and “Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management.” You will also take courses in “Theory of Crime and Criminology,” “Emergency Management Leadership and Decision Making,” and “Interagency Disaster Management.”
If you want to work in the emergency management field within a public administration setting, the online MPA in Emergency Services Management master’s program through the Columbia Southern University College of Business is an option. Also requiring 36-credit hours, this master of emergency management program “provides students with the skills necessary to respond ethically and effectively to issues that are inherent in public organizations . . . and minimize risk to both emergency responders and to the public.”
CSU has partnered with expert faculty who have experience in real-world emergency management situations. Using their insights and expertise, these faculty members have developed an online master’s degree program that dives deep into the art and science of emergency management. Likewise, the curriculum challenges you to be an effective leader in this field upon graduation.
Established in 1890 as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act of 1862, Oklahoma State University was originally an agriculture school known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the first classes were held in 1891 at the Stillwater Congregation Church before moving to a campus on 200 acres of donated land out on the prairie. The first student body included eight men, but now, nearly 35,000 students call Oklahoma State University (known as Oklahoma State, OSU, or OKState) their school of choice. Hundreds of academic degree programs are housed within the nine schools and colleges of this flagship university of the Oklahoma State University System. As a public research university, OSU has the classification of a high level of research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. Also a sun-grant designated university, Oklahoma State has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
This is the first emergency management masters degree program of its kind in the nation. The curriculum of this 30-credit hour degree is provided by faculty with years of real-world and academic experience. Classes include eighteen hours of core courses such as “Fire and Explosion Hazard Recognition” and “Structural Design for Fire and Life Safety.”
The wide selection of elective classes for this online program includes choices such as “Critical Infrastructure Vulnerability and Risk,” “Industrial Ventilation and Smoke Control,” and “Ethics for Practicing Engineers.” You have a choice of a thesis or a non-thesis option (the non-thesis option requires 32 credits to graduate). The program is part of the Department of Fire Protection & Safety, which has a Fire Protection Laboratory offering labs in fire behavior, fire pump, fire alarm, fire suppression, and industrial hygiene.
Jacksonville State University began as the State Normal School at Jacksonville in 1883 in Jacksonville, Alabama. Originally founded to train teachers for the area, three instructors were the entire faculty for the first students enrolled in the junior college. Growing through the years and changing names several times, the school became a full university as Jacksonville State University (JSU) in 1966. A 450-acre campus houses six academic schools: the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Business and Industry, the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Health Professions and Wellness, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences). Nearly 10,000 students are enrolled in this institution with the “friendliest campus in the South” that “strives to challenge students academically in a responsive environment, meeting students’ educational, career and personal goals.” JSU is a public university and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details
Located in JSU’s Department of Emergency Management, the online MS in Emergency Management degree is a 30-credit hour program drawing on the expertise of the JSU Center for Disaster and Community Resilience (CDCR). You can complete the program in just one year of full-time studies or two years or more of part-time studies.
Faculty members and others involved in the CDCR have years of collective experience in the field. They provide 21 credits of core classes and a wide selection of electives from which you can choose (you must take nine elective credits to graduate). Some of the elective classes you can take include the following:
Disasters and the Media
Advanced Radiological Incidents Operations
Vulnerability and Capacity-Building
Healthcare Leadership for All Hazards Incidents
Legal Aspects of Emergency Management
A page of Emergency Management-specific resources provides a plethora of supports and services to help online MS students like you succeed. The program’s professors have deep professional experience in this field, including those who have:
Served in the military
Active government security clearances
Provided training manuals to recognizable national security organizations
Actively worked alongside some of the most widespread natural disaster relief non-profits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
With faculty experience like this, you can be assured you will gain the skills you need to be successful in this field.
Established in 1855 as the Lancaster County Normal School, Millersville University was the first state normal school (teacher training school) in the state of Pennsylvania. Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, the school grew and changed names four times, becoming Millersville University in 1983. The campus sits on 250 acres, and nearly 8,000 students are currently enrolled. Part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Millersville offers dozens of academic degree programs and certificates within seven colleges (College of Science and Technology; College of Education and Human Services; College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the Lombardo College of Business; College of Graduate Studies and Adult Learning; the University College; and the Honors College). Millersville University has a mission to provide “diverse, dynamic, meaningful experiences to inspire learners to grow both intellectually and personally to enable them to contribute positively to local and global communities.” The school is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details
The interdisciplinary Center for Disaster Research and Education (CDRE) at Millersville University presents an entirely online masters in emergency management (MSEM) degree program.
With just 30 credit hours needed to graduate, this program can be completed in two years. Coursework is relevant and timely, covering topics like “Social Dimensions of Disaster,” “Technical and Professional Writing for Emergency Management,” and “Natural Hazards Primer.”
In addition to core courses, you will choose at least six hours of electives, which gives you the ability to customize your degree. You can choose from courses such as “Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Homeland Security,” “Humanitarian Responses to International Disasters,” and “Comparative Emergency Management Systems.” A final Field Experience Practicum completes the degree.
Upon graduation, you’re qualified (depending on your previous field experience) to sit for the Certified Emergency Manager/Association of Emergency Managers (CEM/AEM) exam. To prepare you for your post-graduate pursuits, the MSEM instructors offer their experience in the field, from which you will gain both knowledge and skills critical to your success.
The Sisters of Saint Anne established Anna Maria College in 1946 to provide educational opportunities to young women who otherwise could not afford a higher education. Originally located in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the Sisters had a standing educational charter (for elementary and secondary schools only) that they had to petition to amend in order to open the college. Due to their success, the four-year institution of higher education was opened. The school moved to its current 190-acre campus location in Paxton, Massachusetts, in 1952. Coeducational since 1973, Anna Maria enrolls more than 1,500 students currently in dozens of academic degree programs. As a Catholic liberal arts college, Anna Maria strives to prepare “students to become individuals who will transform their world as ethical leaders and community-oriented professionals.” Regional accreditation for Anna Maria College comes from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
You can choose the emergency management masters degree track if you desire to be a “successful crisis administration professional.” The Fire and Emergency Services degree is crafted for professionals who want an “executive role in fire and rescue services.” And for individuals who aspire to “protect and oversee the nation’s people, systems and environment,” the Homeland Security specialization is ideal.
This online masters program requires 36 credit hours, and each specialization provides field-specific concentration coursework in addition to the core MPA classes (such as “Strategic Management of Human Capital,” “Organizational Theories and the Public Sector,” and “Ethics in Public Service”). The renowned faculty brings their “decades of knowledge and real-world experience” to the virtual classroom, and past students speak highly of their educational experience in the program.
Adelphi University began in 1863 as the private preparatory school Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn, New York. The need for an institution of higher education for the area was realized when the head of the Academy petitioned the state for a charter to establish a coeducational college. The charter was granted to Adelphi College in 1896, and the school opened to 57 students and sixteen professors. Adelphi transitioned to a women’s college in 1912 and moved to its current location in Garden City, New York, in 1929. Becoming coeducational again in 1946, the school gained university status in 1963, and a year later, the name became Adelphi University. The university includes eight colleges and schools and offers academic degree programs to approximately 7,500 enrollees. Online programs join the main campus and satellite campuses in Manhattan, Hauppauge Center, and Hudson Valley. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.This interdisciplinary program draws on the resources of the College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, and Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. Coursework includes “Emergency Management Law,” “Health Management in Times of Disaster,” and “Leadership & Innovation in Complex Systems.” A final Emergency Management Capstone Course and Presentation is also required. You will showcase the knowledge you have gained through a hands-on “evidence-based project that identifies a problem, reviews the relevant literature, and details an action plan for addressing the identified problem.”
Program Details
The Adelphi online Master of Science in Emergency Management (MS in EM) degree program offers an up-to-the-minute curriculum completely online. The 33-credit hour program, which can be completed full- or part-time is rooted in the initial coursework that was developed after 9/11. Since it was one of the first such programs in the nation, it was developed under the guidance of a first responder disaster epidemiologist.
This is an interdisciplinary program drawing on the resources of the College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, and Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. Coursework for this online masters includes “Emergency Management Law,” “Health Management in Times of Disaster,” and “Leadership & Innovation in Complex Systems.” You will explore many other topics, which might include the following:
Project Management
Risk Management
Strategic Planning
Community Solutions to Disasters
Hazard Risk
A final Emergency Management Capstone Course and Presentation is also required. You will showcase the knowledge you have gained through a hands-on “evidence-based project that identifies a problem, reviews the relevant literature and details an action plan for addressing the identified problem.”
As you progress through the program, you can additionally earn a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management. This six-course, 15-credit certificate can be completed in about one year as part of your master’s degree studies. The certificate focuses on topics like disaster response and recovery, business continuity planning, and emergency management law, among other crucial topics for the emergency management sector.
The shared concern between the New York City Police Department and civic leaders led to the creation of a Police Science Program in 1954. Housed at that time within the Baruch School of Business and Public Administration of City College, the program grew to the point that it was re-established as the independent College of Police Science (COPS) of the City University of New York (CUNY) in 1965. Quickly renamed John Jay College of Criminal Justice in honor of the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and to reflect a larger selection of academic programs, John Jay is a senior college of CUNY and currently offers nearly 100 academic degree programs to more than 15,000 enrolled students. Mostly known for its programs in criminal justice and forensic psychology and science, John Jay lays the foundation for future student success with a liberal arts curriculum. The school is a regionally accredited institution by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details
The Department of Security, Fire, and Emergency Management (SFEM) at John Jay College is staffed with a faculty replete with decades of experience. Understandably, the online MS in Emergency Management degree program offered through John Jay Online reaps the benefit of providing “emerging technologies, legal and organizational frameworks, and necessary knowledge” to online MS students.
Coursework for the 36-credit hour online masters program includes a core of classes such as “Managing Response to Large-Scale Incidents” and “Organization Theory and Management.” Elective choices for this disaster management degree are broad and topical, with a selection including “Terrorism and Apocalyptic Violence,” “Public Sector Inspection and Oversight,” and “Risk, Threat, and Critical Infrastructure.” You might study the psychological aspects of emergencies, public health preparedness, and building and fire codes, too.
The SFEM department also houses the Christian Regenhard Center for Emergency Response Studies and the Center for Private Security and Safety. The former is an applied research center for emergency response students, and the latter focuses on training private security and safety personnel.
Multiple graduate certificate options are provided online, several of which are focused on emergency planning and preparedness, disaster preparedness, and hazard mitigation, such as the Emergency Management Studies certificate.
UNLV started in 1951 as a provider of extension courses from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Classes were held at a Las Vegas high school. Initially called the Southern Regional Division of the University of Nevada, the school would open for classes on its own campus in Paradise, Nevada (but still as an extension of UNR) in 1957. Finally gaining full independence in 1968, the university officially became the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1969. Currently, hundreds of academic degree programs (including majors, minors, and certificates) are provided to just under 30,000 students through its 18 schools, colleges, and departments. With a mission to be “committed to rigorous educational programs and promoting well-being and achievement through education, research, scholarship, and creative activity,” UNLV is a public institution with an intensive research focus (as designated by the Carnegie Foundation). The university has regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Program Details
The 36-credit hour MS in Emergency and Crisis Management degree program at UNLV is offered online through the Graduate College. It is housed within the Department of Criminal Justice in the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs.
Courses such as “Science of Catastrophes,” “Evolution of Terrorism,” and “Exercise Design and Response Plan” are topical and timely and are taught by faculty who have practiced real-world applications in the field as well as having produced cutting-edge research and publications.
As part of this masters in emergency management online, you will complete a final culminating “Research in the Implementation of Concepts in Crisis and Emergency Management” course under the guidance of the faculty. This experience completes the degree by allowing you to demonstrate what you have learned through producing a “functional full-scale exercise formulation and execution and organizational response plan creation.”
An online graduate certificate in Emergency Crisis Management Cybersecurity is also available through an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the College of Criminal Justice. This certificate prepares students like you to respond to digital threats. It requires 12 credits to complete, including a summer cohort experience.
Established in 1920 as an extension program of Northeastern University, the New Haven YMCA Junior College opened its doors in a shared space with Yale University. A state charter allowed the school to become the independent, degree-granting institution named New Haven College in 1926, and by 1948 the institution received regional accreditation. The school moved to its current location in a former orphanage in West Haven, Connecticut, in 1960 and, in 1970, was officially renamed the University of New Haven. Providing a “multicultural campus community,” the University of New Haven is a private, nonsectarian university with additional satellite locations in Orange, Connecticut and Prato, Italy. The university currently enrolls more than 7,500 students in dozens of academic degree programs within five colleges. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges provides regional accreditation to the University of New Haven.
Program Details
The Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven provides an entirely online, interdisciplinary emergency management MS degree program. The 36-credit hour degree is one of the two premier programs in New England, and most students can finish in just two years.
The curriculum of this emergency and crisis management degree is rooted in theory as well as hands-on application, with relevant core class topics like “Catastrophe Readiness and Response” and “Holistic Disaster Recovery: Creating a More Sustainable Future.” Like core courses, electives are in 6-7.5-week terms and offer a wide range of areas in which you can focus your energies. This includes courses like “Food Plain Management,” “Donation Management,” and “Political and Policy Basis of Emergency Management.”
The online MS faculty members have years of both real-world and teaching experience, and students’ testimonials praise not just the coursework but also the care and guidance provided by the professors and staff of the program.
Virginia Commonwealth University was initially established as the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College in 1838. Located in Richmond, Virginia, the school quickly received its own charter to become the independent Medical College of Virginia in 1844. It was 1968 when the school became officially Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) after the Medical College and the Richmond Professional Institute merged. Nearly 28,500 students are currently enrolled in more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the eleven schools and three colleges of this public research institution. Covering nearly 175 acres in the downtown area of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University also has several branch and satellite campus locations. VCU is classified as having the highest level of research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details
VCU offers an MA in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness degree program through the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. As a student in this emergency services degree program, you’re provided with a focus on public policy and the “larger organizational, social, political, ethical, and economic aspects of disaster studies.”
The 36-credit hour, interdisciplinary program from Virginia Commonwealth University presents coursework in relevant topics such as “Institutional Challenges of Security Preparedness,” “Law Enforcement Policy and Judicial Precedent,” and “Government, Industry and Community Strategic Planning.” Other courses cover topics in risk assessment, cyber security, and public health, to name a few. You can complete this degree in about 1.5 years if you study full time. Part time students might need 2-3 years to finish the degree requirements.
The faculty has expertise in policy change, publications, and real-world applications. The Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy lends resources to both students and professors, as well as “leadership development and training, economic and policy impact analysis, survey insights and program evaluation to. . . state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the general public.”
The University of Florida (UF) has roots in multiple schools. The earliest institution was the East Florida Seminary, established in 1853 in Ocala, Florida. This school was moved to Gainesville, Florida, in 1866 to take over the campus of the former Gainesville Academy. When the Florida Legislature passed the Buckman Act in 1905, the state’s public higher education institutions were consolidated, and the State University System of Florida was formulated. The consolidation led to the creation of the University of the State of Florida, located on a new campus in Gainesville. The first classes welcomed just over 100 students in 1906, and in 1909, the university’s name was shortened to “University of Florida.” UF is a public university with land-, sea-, and space-grant designation. More than 55,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 300 academic degree programs in sixteen schools and colleges. Regional accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details
The Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Sciences and Emergency Services/Disaster Management (MSFES/ESDM) degree program at UF is housed in the Rinker School of Construction Management within the College of Design, Construction, & Planning. It is an exclusively online program with 33 credit hours required to earn the MS degree.
This program allows you to construct an individualized coursework plan with advisor guidance. Classes are presented asynchronously for flexibility. The comprehensive curriculum includes topics such as “Hazard Mitigation & Preparedness,” “Impacts of Natural & Man-made Disasters on Buildings,” and “Communications in Emergency Management.” Other topics of study might include public administration, emergency response, and disaster planning.
A Graduate Certificate Program in Emergency Services/Disaster Management is also available online and shares some of the same coursework as the MS degree program. The award-winning faculty are both experienced and accessible and share their research experience with the MSFES/ESDM students.
Begun in 1916 as a bible study group for individuals who wanted to work in the ministry, Crown College is a private, coeducational college affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination—one of only four in the United States. Originally located in St. Paul, Minnesota, the bible study group was so successful that it became the St. Paul Bible Institute. Moving in 1969 to a 173-acre campus near St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, the name was changed to Crown College in 1992. With a mission “to provide a biblically-based education for Christian leadership in the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Church-at-large, and the world,” Crown College serves nearly 1,500 students through the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Online Studies & Graduate School. Providing over 40 academic degree programs and a Christ-centered approach, Crown College is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details
Crown College’s School of Online Studies and Graduate School online MA in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Disaster and Emergency Management (DEM) program is a unique, faith-based approach to emergency management. Joining several other degree options that offer the DEM emphasis (MA in Global Leadership, MA in Ministry Leadership, MA in Christian Studies, or the Master of Divinity), the 36-credit hour MA in Organizational Leadership degree “incorporates the elements of faith that so often go hand-in-hand with this critically important work, so students are prepared to effectively minister to victims of disasters.”
The asynchronous coursework for this applied emergency management degree can be completed in two years. You can engage in both general Organizational Leadership requirements (“Ethical Leadership” and “Foundations of Organization Theory”) and DEM emphasis requirements (“Disaster Management Leadership and Planning” and “Organizational Communication”). Some of the topics you might study include the following:
Hazard Risk
Emergency Response and Recovery
How to Conduct a Vulnerability Assessment
Financial Decision Making
Emergency Management Cost Analyses
If you desire the DEM emphasis without a full master’s degree, the Graduate Certificate in Disaster and Emergency Management is an option. This 100-percent online certificate requires you to complete 12 credits. Each course is delivered in an eight-week format, so you can move quickly through the material without sacrificing a good depth of inquiry.
Established in 1855 as a school to educate teachers for Arizona (still a territory at that time), Arizona State University (ASU) had its beginnings as the Territorial Normal School. In 1856, 33 students were enrolled in the first year of the school located in Tempe, Arizona, and now over 142,000 students are currently enrolled in this comprehensive public metropolitan research university on campus and online. The mission of “advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves” is maintained in the ideals of Arizona State. The university offers hundreds of academic degree programs within seventeen schools and colleges. Main campus remains in Tempe, but there are four additional campuses and multiple extension centers as well. The school has the highest level of research activity through the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Arizona State is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details
Located in the Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions’ Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security (CEMHS) and offered through ASU Online, the Arizona State University online Master of Arts in Emergency Management & Homeland Security (MA in EMHS) degree is a 33-credit hour program that can be completed in just a year. This is a unique feature not found in all masters degree in emergency management programs.
Arizona State offers four optional emergency sciences concentration areas that allow for degree customization. Watts College of Public Service students like you can choose from Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Community Resilience, or Biosecurity and Threat Management. All concentrations share the same eighteen-credit hours of core courses, with classes such as “Hazards Governance,” “Applied Data Analysis in Criminal Justice,” and “Integrated Emergency Management.”
A final culminating experience is also required across concentrations for this emergency preparedness degree program from Arizona State. If you don’t choose to pursue a concentration, you can select from elective classes such as “Interoperability for Emergency Managers,” “Critical Incident Stress Management,” and “Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction.”
When Thomas Green Clemson passed away, he made a provision in his will to found a university for the foothills of South Carolina. The governor signed a bill the following year to allow the school to become Clemson Agricultural College, the precursor to Clemson University. A military school for white males, the institution held the first classes in 1893 with a student enrollment of nearly 450. The mid-20th century saw many changes for the school—coeducational in 1955, desegregation in 1963, and officially renamed Clemson University in 1964. The university is Located in Clemson, South Carolina, and currently enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students. There are over 200 academic degree programs in ten colleges and the Graduate School at this public research institution of higher education. Clemson is a land- and sea-grant university with the highest level of research activity. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides regional accreditation.
Program Details
Offered online through the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS) since 2009, the Clemson MPA degree program provides an Emergency Management specialization that is the only program like it in the state. The curriculum requirements depend on your choice of a final comprehensive exam (39 credit hours) or a capstone research project (42 credit hours).
The Emergency Management specialization requires fifteen credits, with classes such as “Homeland Security and Emergency Management Law” and “Resilience in Disaster Recovery.” With courses entirely online and presented in a synchronous format, you gain the benefit of an interactive learning environment where you engage in discussion with the professor and your classmates in real time.
The faculty have years of public affairs experience, and some have specialty experience in defense and security preparedness. Clemson continuously updates and improves the MPA program, as evidenced by periodic internal assessments and input from graduates. The combination of experienced faculty and consistent program reflection means this program is well-equipped to prepare students like you for hitting the ground running upon graduation.
The University of Denver (DU) embodies a vision of being a “great private university dedicated to the public good,” which aligns with the intent of the school’s founders. In 1864 Colorado, the landscape was very much dominated by a wild west attitude. Denver was newly established as a city and predominately a mining camp, and Colorado had just entered the Union six years earlier. The former Colorado Territory Governor John Evans and members of the Methodist church established the Colorado Seminary as an attempt to tame the city. The school changed its name to the University of Denver in 1880 and moved to an old farm just outside of the downtown area, where the 125-acre campus is still located today. Ten schools and colleges provide over 300 academic degree programs to more than 14,000 currently enrolled students. DU is a private research university with regional accreditation granted by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details
The University of Denver University College provides an online Master of Security Management degree with a concentration in Emergency Planning and Response. The program requires five core courses, four Emergency Planning and Response courses, and the final three courses are chosen by you from a selection of electives.
You can finish the program in as little as eighteen months but have up to five years as needed. The foundational core courses include topics like “Security Concepts Overview” and “Business Function of Security,” as well as a required Capstone (you can choose from a Project or a Seminar). The concentration courses include classes such as “Hazardous and Radiological Material Preparedness” and “Mitigation for Emergency Managers,” and electives can be chosen from across the Security Management program (popular class choices include “Human Factors in Security” and “Risk Management”).
An online graduate certificate in Emergency Planning and Response is also available with either a four-course or six-course option available. The same active faculty members present the coursework for the certificate program as the master’s degree.
A rich history of multiple higher education institutions led to the creation of Boston University. In 1839, Boston United Methodist Church delegates founded the university’s first manifestation, the Newbury Bible Institute. Although located in Newbury, Vermont, it would receive a new charter to become the Boston Theological Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1867. Merging with a new Boston University in 1871, by the end of the century, all the various locations of the school were consolidated on a fifteen-acre campus on the Charles River. Boston University (BU) is now a private and coeducational institution comprised of 22 schools, colleges, and divisions offering academic programs to more than 36,000 enrolled students. BU is a very high doctoral research activity school (as determined by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education). It is a nonsectarian higher education institution and regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details
The Division of Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) at Boston University School of Medicine offers an MS in Health Care Emergency Management degree program that can be completed online through the BU virtual classroom. The 36-credit hour program can be completed full-time in a year or two years on a part-time basis.
Relevant coursework includes classes like “Biology, Chemistry & Physics of Natural and Man-made Hazards,” “Methods and Practices of Incident Command,” and “Principles, Methods, and Practices of Modeling and Simulation.” You will also participate in a two-part Research Practicum and Thesis course and a Directed Studies internship opportunity.
Faculty members of GMS have years of experience, and both faculty and students showcase their success through presentations and publications. As a GMS master’s degree student, you are provided with mentorship, advising, and other support services and professional development resources to help you succeed academically and be “prepared for successful careers . . . after BU.”
Catering to members of the military as well as other working adults, National University was established by retired Navy lieutenant commander David Chigos in California in 1971. Noting the unique needs of military service men and women returning to education following their service, Chigos began offering night and weekend classes to 27 students in 1972. These classes focused on relevant, career-focused topics and were so successfully received that National began adding more campuses across the state and in Nevada. Now with 28 campus locations and administrative headquarters in La Jolla, California, National is comprised of six schools and colleges and offers over 130 academic degree programs to 25,000 currently enrolled students. One of the largest private universities in the state of California, National is “dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse student population.” The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has provided regional accreditation since 1977.
Program Details
The School of Professional Studies at National University offers an online, interdisciplinary MS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management (MSHSEM). The program is housed within the Department of Professional Studies. It brings “together the fields of homeland security, terrorism, and emergency management as they relate to man-made and natural disasters.”
The twelve-course, 54-quarter unit program offers a relevant and varied curriculum. Classes include a focus on topics such as “Domestic Terrorism,” “Immigration Issues in Security,” and “Leading Complex Environments.” The program provides the full support offered by NU to all online students and desires “to create a strong community within the online classroom.”
Other topics of study might include the following:
Homeland Security
Project Management
Public Health
Natural Disasters
Risk Management
NU also offers a transition program for undergraduate HSEM students. This program allows you to move into the master’s program from your undergraduate program if admission requirements are met. In either case, you will be taught by faculty with years of experience in the field.
Grand Canyon University (GCU or Grand Canyon) started as Grand Canyon College in 1949. Begun as a not-for-profit institution located in a former armory in Prescott, Arizona, the school relocated to a campus in Phoenix in 1951. Founded by the Southern Baptist Convention of Arizona specifically to provide a faith-based college for the state, Grand Canyon is now well-known for being both a Christian university and having a solid range of online programs. GCU became a for-profit school in 2004 when purchased by Significant Education, LLC, but in 2018, the university began transitioning back to not-for-profit status. This coeducational research university has nine colleges and offers over 200 academic degree programs to approximately 25,000 residential students and more than 78,000 additional online students. Preparing “learners to become global citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators, and responsible leaders” is the school’s mission. Regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details
The GCU Master’s in Emergency Management and Homeland Security is provided online through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)-accredited Colangelo College of Business. The 38-credit hour program is mainly geared towards leadership, particularly the development of practical and ethical leadership skills.
This degree provides you with a focus on gaining the qualities necessary to be a successful leader—such as emerging leadership theories and application strategies. The degree requires core coursework in classes like “Power, Politics and Influence,” “Emergency Planning and Management,” and “Understanding Terrorism’s Threat.” You can transfer up to twelve credits into the program.
You might have the opportunity to explore other topics in detail in this online program, including the following:
Man Made Disasters
Loss Prevention
Disaster Planning
Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Disaster Response and Recovery
Classes are presented in eight-week terms, and you can work at your own pace. Resources and services begin when a prospective student contacts admission representatives and continues through the program to ensure success in this master’s degree program.
By advocating that the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area needed an institution of higher education, the Chamber of Commerce of Bellevue helped establish Bellevue University in 1965 (Bellevue College until it gained university status in 1994). The following year the school opened in Bellevue, Nebraska, stating that the working adults and non-traditional aged students to which it catered would grow to “thrive in a connected, competitive world.” The University offers accelerated programs to nearly 9,000 currently enrolled students, utilizing both on-campus and online learning approaches. An alumni network of over 50,000 graduates has made its way through academic programs offered through Bellevue’s four colleges: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business, College of Science and Technology, and College of Engineering, Technology, and Management. Bellevue is one of the largest private universities in Nebraska, with several centers around the state. The University has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details
Bellevue University’s Master of Science in Security Management (MSSM) is offered online in an accelerated cohort format. The 36-credit hour program provides coursework you progress through together in sequence. Classes include “Critical Infrastructure: Analysis and Strategies,” “Terrorism and Homeland Defense Fundamentals,” and “Emergency Preparedness and Management.” Other topics might include working with nonprofit organizations, public health, and crisis management.
As an NSA and Department of Homeland Security National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity-designated university, Bellevue houses a Center for Cybersecurity Education (CCE) that informs and provides interdisciplinary resources to the MSSM program. This gives students like you access to cutting-edge research and experiences in the real world.
In addition to coursework taught by “faculty with industry experience,” you participate in an applied project mimicking a real crisis situation to gain the “skills and knowledge necessary to address emerging threats, terrorism, homeland defense, information security, and infrastructure protection.”
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) began as the Los Angeles-Orange County State College in 1949. Thirteen faculty members and 169 students enrolled that first fall semester of the senior college in Long Beach, California, but by the end of the spring semester, enrollment had increased to over 600 and the name of the school was changed to Long Beach State College (LBSC). Several more name changes occurred before the school became CSULB in 1972 and joined the California State University System in 1968 (and currently is the third largest campus in terms of enrollment within the 23-school system). Over 38,000 students are currently enrolled in CSULB, which makes it one of the largest institutions of higher education in the state. The school is a public space-grant university sitting on a 323-acre campus. Regional accreditation for CSULB comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details
Offered entirely online, the Master of Science in Emergency Services Administration (EMER) degree program at CSULB is collaboratively provided by both the Department of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management and the College of Health and Human Services.
The interdisciplinary program requires 32-credit hours. You will focus on the administrative side of disaster management in order to gain the “leadership and critical thinking skills needed to build stronger organizations and disaster-resilient communities.” Classes include “Information Literacy and Practical Writing Applications for Emergency Management,” “Continuity of Operations, Recovery, and Emergency Management,” and “Technology, Cybersecurity, and Inter-Agency Communications.”
Monthly Information Sessions are provided for prospective students to learn more about the program, how to apply, and what is required. Once admitted, you will gain the benefits of learning from faculty who are professionals in the emergency management field, including in the areas of local government, federal government, and public safety. Other areas of expertise include
The University of South Florida (USF) has distinction as the first independent state university to be wholly devised and constructed in the 20th century. A vote by the Florida House of Representatives in 1955 determined it would be created for Hillsborough County. Located on an airfield no longer being used just outside of Tampa, the main campus now encompasses almost 2,000 acres. Two additional campus locations form the USF System: USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Student enrollment reaches over 50,000 across the USF System, making it one of Florida’s five largest universities. Nearly 200 academic degree programs are provided through the fourteen colleges. In addition to being a member of the USF System, USF Tampa is also part of the State University System of Florida. USF is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details
The USF College of Public Health presents an online Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program with a concentration in Disaster Management, Humanitarian Relief & Homeland Security. This degree is ideal for you if you want to gain a public health perspective and understand the disaster lifecycle. In particular, this program’s academic focus is on the recovery process.
The 42-credit hour program is entirely online, with MPH courses covering topics like “History and Systems of Public Health” and “Population Assessment.” The concentration core and emphasis electives include classes such as “Foundations of Humanitarian Assistance,” “Public Health Emergencies in Large Populations,” and “From Emergency to Development and Prevention.”
Classes are taught by esteemed faculty with a wide range of experience, such as working internationally with disaster relief organizations, serving the United States military, authoring publications and books, and speaking and training on many levels. The faculty also have experience working with nonprofit organizations, responding to man made disasters, and crisis management, to name a few.
Established in 1909 by the Arkansas General Assembly, Arkansas Tech University started as the Second District Agricultural School. The school opened in 1910 in Russellville, Arkansas, to offer high school-level education, but would grow to incorporate junior college offerings. This expansion led to the school’s name becoming Arkansas Polytechnic College in 1925. Six years later, the high school component was eliminated. The name Arkansas Tech came in 1976. The school kept the campus in Russellville and added a satellite campus in Ozark, Arkansas, in 2004. Six colleges (College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, College of Arts and Humanities, College of Business, College of Natural and Health Sciences, College of Education, and College of eTech) provide academic programs to nearly 10,000 students on the main campus alone. Arkansas Tech has a vision to be a place “where students succeed, innovation thrives, and communities flourish.” The Higher Learning Commission grants regional accreditation.
Program Details
With its online MS in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS), Arkansas Tech gives you the “opportunity to study the emerging technology as well as the social, political, legal, and economic aspects of EMHS from the perspective of a practitioner as well as a scholar.”
You are guided through advisement by the Program Director, who helps you navigate the 36-credit hour program. You can choose between a Practicum Research option or a Thesis Research option.
Housed in the Department of Emergency Management, the program’s curriculum provides an exploration of relevant topics such as “Emerging Technology in EMHS,” “Ethical, Legal, and Political Considerations in Emergency Management and Homeland Security,” and “Foundations of Leadership.” You can choose from a wide variety of electives such as “Community Management of Hazardous Materials,” “Introduction to Terrorism,” and “Information Security for Public Managers.”
You can transfer in up to nine credit hours of previous coursework to give you more flexibility.
In 1932, a married couple founded a business school that would grow to become a university. Entrepreneur Harry A.B. Shapiro and Gertrude Crockett Shapiro established the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science as a for-profit school in Manchester, New Hampshire. Important changes soon occurred: in 1963 the school received a degree-granting charter and transitioned into a non-profit institution in 1968. The school moved in 1970 to 300 acres near the Merrimack River, close to both Manchester and Hooksett, New Hampshire, which is where the campus remains today. Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) became the current name in 2001 after going through multiple changes. Currently over 170,000 students are enrolled, just 3,000 of which study on-campus. There are are seven academic colleges which provide the degree programs. A private, nonsectarian, coeducational university, Southern New Hampshire University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details
Southern New Hampshire University offers an entirely online Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree program with a concentration in Emergency Management. In addition to providing a solid basis in crisis and disaster management theory and application principles, the 36-credit hour program focuses on “the FEMA tenets of planning, preparedness, response, and recovery.”
The curriculum for this Southern New Hampshire University program starts with management topics such as “Human Behavior in Organizations” and “Resource Planning and Decision Making.” The twelve-hour Emergency Management concentration follows with courses developed “in relation to the guidelines of the Department of Homeland Security to include the Federal Incident Management System (FIMS),” such as:
Emergency Planning and Preparedness
Applied Emergency Management
Disaster Response and Recovery
This Southern New Hampshire University master’s degree is ideal for you if you desire to be an emergency manager who is ready “to face today’s extreme business challenges” by leading “crisis response in a variety of settings, from public agencies to private firms, on a local or global scale.” Upon graduation, you might qualify for jobs in the Department of Homeland Security, public administration, or local government.
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Engineers have superpowers. Not in the “bitten by radioactive spider” kind of way. But in the way that they make incredible things possible. Modern life functions because engineers make it happen. That’s something few fields can boast. Systems engineers are an important subset of an already important group of people. The University of Florida puts it best. “Systems Engineers make organized work and human effort more effective and efficient for industry, education, and science.”
What is Systems Engineering?
Systems engineering touches just about everything we use today. This means people who have “the technical knowledge to design cutting-edge systems and the skills to maintain them in an increasingly complex, globally interconnected business and policy environment,” as Stevens Institute of Technology says, are very much in demand. They need to have a variety of skills. They also need a deep understanding of technical processes. They need to understand all aspects of them. That includes the economic, environmental, managerial, technical, and political.
Enter the master’s degree in systems engineering. About 1,800 of them were conferred in 2017-2018. This accounts for 25% of the 7,247 engineering master’s degrees awarded that same year.
How to Choose Engineering Management Systems Degrees
Prospective students have plenty of engineering management systems programs to choose from. Look for schools with an established school of engineering. Whether you’re studying full time or part time. International students or domestic. In state or out of state. Look for a MS in systems engineering offered by top colleges that have other engineering programs in related fields. Examples include:
industrial engineering
electrical engineering
operations research
civil engineering
applied probability methods
information technology
information systems
electrical engineering
A master of science degree, whether via on-campus or online learning, will provide students with interdisciplinary skills and an in depth theoretical foundation.
Top schools in this category include:
George Mason University
North Carolina State University
California State University
Texas A&M University College Station
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Case Western Reserve University
Purdue University – West Lafayette
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
What Can I Do With an Engineering Master’s?
Applications of the degree exist across fields and job titles. UVA notes its graduates become professors at universities. These include:
Researchers at institutes and labs
Analysts at corporations, consulting firms, and government agencies
We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue. You may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following five aspects:
25% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school
25% Graduation Rate: Number of students who start at the university and also finish there
20% Earnings Potential: Average mid-career salary of school alumni
20% Selectivity: The number of students who apply versus the number who get accepted
10% Online Graduate Offerings: The number of programs offered online in each department
At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals.
Master of Science/Master of Engineering in Industrial & Systems Engineering
It has a reputation as a national punch line for the many shenanigans of the “Florida Man.” Yet the state of Florida has three schools among the top five largest universities in the U.S. by enrollment. The University of Florida takes the five spot. There are more than 52,000 students, according to Worldatlas. Considering the university’s size, it’s perhaps not surprising the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers four versions of its master’s in industrial and systems engineering. It comes in two varieties. There is a Master of Science (with or without thesis) and Master of Engineering (with or without thesis). The latter requires an undergraduate degree in engineering.
From there, students have four options. There is a traditional 30-hour degree earned on campus in Gainesville, FL. There is a 31-hour program taken online. There’s a 31-hour MS program for students from the Eglin Air Force Base community.
Phew. The Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering describes the degree as “focusing on data analysis and modeling methods.” Students “develop world-class capabilities in process, system, and human performance measurement, optimization modeling, and methods design and implementation.” Along the way, they’ll be exposed to various application areas for ISE, such as:
Human systems
Health systems
Production systems,
Transportation systems
The university wants to accommodate every type of learner.
On-campus students must take three foundation courses, no matter their degree choice.
Non-thesis students also take one of nine so-called “project courses” toward the end of their studies, such as:
Digital Simulation Techniques
Systems Design
Model Health Systems Engineering
Principles of Manufacturing Systems Engineering
From there they take 15 credits of electives of their choice, along with one project course. Among the high-level courses included in the IGE curriculum are:
Manufacturing Management
Web-Based Decision Support Systems for Industrial and Systems Engineers
Models for Supply Chain Management
Fund Math Programming
Stochastic Modeling and Analysis
Throughout it all, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Full time and part time students for thesis and non thesis college of engineering programs need to submit:
Application fee
Personal statement summarizing career goals
Transcript of undergraduate coursework
TOEFL (for international students)
When it comes to tuition, Florida comes cheap. $11,313, less than half the list average of $26,363.
Master of Science/Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering
The University of Virginia is ranked No. 28 in National Universities and No. 41 for Best Engineering Schools by U.S. News and World Report. UVA is well known as one of the great American public universities. That has a lot to do with its history. It’s the brainchild of a Founding Father. Thomas Jefferson founded the school in 1819 and considered it one of his life’s great achievements. His headstone calls him the “Father of the University of Virginia.” Yet it doesn’t mention that he was also, you know, the president of the United States. UVA held a special place in his heart. As it does for many of the people who attend it!
The university notes that the research it conducts attracts potential graduate students. Its faculty are working on an artificial pancreas. There’s even software security for autonomous vehicles. Students earning their MS in systems engineering may get the opportunity to work on some of that research.
UVA’s Department of Engineering Systems and Environment offers two types of engineering master’s. There’s an MS and an ME. The MS degree is research-based and requires a thesis. It isn’t available online. The ME has a supervised research project. It can be completed online or via UVA’s weekend-learning program. Their curriculum tracks also differ. As UVA describes, ME students begin with the fundamentals of systems analysis, design, and integration. Then they apply it to a project. MS students also start with fundamentals. These are of systems, decision, and information sciences. Then they apply that knowledge to a more focused research project. This is often one already in progress at the department. It culminates with a thesis.
The ME program lasts 12 months. It requires 30 credit hours to graduate. There are nine hours of core courses, such as:
Introduction to Systems Analysis and Design
Stochastic Modeling
Optimization Models and Methods
There are also 21 hours of electives. UVA describes MS students as those “wishing not only to acquire fundamental knowledge, but also contribute to the advancement of knowledge through independent, original research.” It has five components:
Core courses
Electives
Colloquium
Research
Participation (“in the intellectual life of the University,” declares the website).
That translates to 32 credit hours: nine hours of core courses and 15 of electives. There are two hours of Systems Engineering Colloquium and six or more hours for their thesis. To graduate, MS students must author or co-author at least one manuscript of a technical paper. That is in addition to their thesis.
The application process for the college of engineering at this state university requires:
Application fee
Transcripts
Essay detailing how this science degree will help meet career goals
TOEFL scores (for international students)
UVA’s tuition is also reasonable. It is $17,845, well below the average.
The systems engineering website for Johns Hopkins University showcases how this is one of the top systems engineering graduate programs. Human-computer interaction is listed as one of the topics covered in the program.
This engineering systems program is a “systems-centric program.” It is one of the top engineering degrees offered by one of the top colleges in state as well as the country. Students learn “technical skills in the field of systems engineering and systems of systems.”
The systems engineering masters program offers focus areas in:
Software systems
Systems engineering
Cybersecurity
Modeling and simulation.
It is offered through the Whiting School of Engineering. There is no difference between the curriculum of the two available systems engineering degrees tracks. Both are built on seven or eight core courses and two to three electives.
The required courses all have some version of “system” in their name:
Introduction to Systems Engineering
Management of Systems Projects
Software Systems Engineering
System Conceptual Design
System Design and Integration
System Test and Evaluation.
Johns Hopkins University is nothing if not consistent. Electives depend on which emphasis students choose from the six available options. All of the core courses are available online, and most of the electives are as well.
Among the electives are:
Management of Complex Systems
Critical Infrastructure
Engineering and Measuring Influence
Statistical Methods and Data Analysis
Communications in Technical Organizations
Software Project Management
Software Safety.
Full time tuition is about average for the top 10 programs in our list. Most students in the college of engineering will pay $27,868. Don’t forget about the application fee, either.
Stevens Institute of Technology is in Hoboken, NJ. The school of engineering should be a pilgrimage destination for engineers everywhere. It has programs in:
industrial engineering
construction engineering
energy systems
The school of engineering prepares working professionals who can solve complex problems at enterprise levels. These applied science in engineering degrees are some of the best in the world compared to other top colleges.
The website for its systems engineering program claims that the industrial and systems engineering school of engineering is “the largest provider of systems engineering education to the U.S. federal government and to industries worldwide.” The systems engineering master’s online and on campus curriculum is described as “the right blend of engineering, technology, and management training.” SIT says systems engineering majors have the ability to address systems integration and life cycle issues.
SIT offers a 30-credit Master’s. There are five available systems engineering degree concentrations:
Large-scale cyber-physical systems
Embedded cyber-physical systems
Space systems
Software systems
There is also an unspecified systems engineering degree track.
The 10-course systems engineering master’s breaks down into:
six required courses
three electives
a project or thesis
Half of the six core courses come from the chosen concentration. Regardless of concentration, all courses are grouped into the following areas:
Modeling, simulation, and analysis (such as Systems Modeling & Simulation or Decision and Risk Analysis)
Management (Project Management of Complex Systems)
Concept (Fundamentals of Systems Engineering or Conception of CPS: Deciding What to Build and Why)
Architecture and design
Implementation
Sustainment.
The university suggests students use their electives to earn one of the numerous engineering systems graduate certificates it offers. These include:
Logistics and supply chain analysis
Urban resilience
Integrated ship systems engineering
There are nearly a dozen other systems engineering master’s certificates, too.
The Stevens Institute of Technology is a private school that lies just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. This is a roundabout way of saying it’s expensive. How expensive? This college of engineering is the most expensive of the programs among the 10 best engineering master’s programs. Full time students will pay full time tuition of $39,862. Don’t forget that there’s an application fee, either.
MIT. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ever heard of it? The university for engineering, technology, and the best and brightest in those fields? No. 1 for graduate Best Engineering Schools? Its industrial/manufacturing/systems engineering programs tie for No. 6, according to U.S. News. Purdue University, Stanford, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Virginia Tech are also on the list. But when it comes to engineering, MIT has the name recognition and status that’s the envy of most elite universities.
These systems engineering degrees are geared toward working people. Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers three degree options:
On campus (finish the program in 16 months)
Local commuter (21-24 months, one to two courses per semester on campus)
Online master(21-24 months for the systems engineering master’s online. However all students must spend at least one semester on campus working on engineering projects with other systems engineering majors).
All students are required to spend one high-credit (at least 37 units) 13-week semester as a resident on campus during a spring or fall semester. Again, this allows them to work on engineering projects with other online master students.
The good news? MIT has affordable full time tuition at $18,971. This is a full time tuition rate that is well below the average of other schools in our systems engineering rankings.
George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C.. It is a factory of leaders in politics, media, government, and entertainment. George Washington University is an important place that graduates Important People. Students earning their Master of Science in systems engineering from the university get to experience that.
Of all the college of engineering options in our systems engineering graduate programs ranking, these graduate degrees are some of the best if you’re looking for an online master’s. You will still get significant professional experience. The school of engineering is designed for “working adults with busy lives.” These systems engineering masters programs can be completed online via weeknight courses
The curriculum is based on systems thinking. It includes practical business instruction so students have a wide base of technical knowledge. Students graduate with the ability to conduct their own operations research and design cutting edge systems.
The primary topics covered include:
Quality assessment
System and architecture analysis
Space systems
Risk management
Engineering large-scale systems
problem-solving with systems engineering tools
Managing technical teams
The course load for these systems engineering graduate programs is simple. You’ll take 12 classes for a total of 36 credit hours. Among them:
The Management of Technical Organizations
Decision Making With Uncertainty
Knowledge Management
Systems Engineering I and II
Applied Enterprise Systems Engineering.
The curriculum helps students prepare for the Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) exam. This is offered by the International Council on Systems Engineering. It further helps employers and others understand that graduates know what they’re doing.
The university does accept money, and a lot of it. GW lies on the pricey side. It’s not the most expensive program in our top 10 master of science in systems engineering. However, full time tuition is still $39,600.
Master of Science in Systems Architecting and Engineering
The University of Southern California has long been one of the nation’s top universities. U.S. News and World Report ranks it No. 22 in National Universities. It stands to reason it offers an excellent engineering program. Its Viterbi School of Engineering is ranked No. 10 among Best Engineering Schools for graduate study, according to U.S. News. Here, you’ll find all kinds of mechanical engineering, civil engineering, software engineering, and systems engineering majors.
Unfortunately, it is one of the more expensive schools. Full time tuition for graduate degrees in the college of engineering is $36,161. Again, don’t forget the application fee.
The interdisciplinary program offers a dozen specializations:
Aerospace and mechanical systems
Artificial intelligence/neural networks
Automation and control systems
Communication and signal processing systems
Computer science and information systems
Construction
Integrated media systems
Manufacturing systems
Network-centric systems
Software process architecture
Required courses include:
Engineering Economy
Economic Consideration for Systems Engineering
Systems Engineering Theory and Practice
Model-Based Systems Architecting and Engineering
Students have eight choices for a technical management elective, such as:
Decision Analysis
Modern Enterprise Systems
Strategies in High-Tech Businesses.
Software Management and Economics
Lean Operations
Case Studies in Systems Engineering and Management.
Master of Science in Engineering in Systems Engineering
The University of Pennsylvania dates back to 1740. It came to life under the aegis of Benjamin Franklin.
The Electrical and Systems Engineering Department is part of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. It awards the MSE in systems engineering degree.
The plan of study is simple. There are 10 course units. They break down into at least one course each from:
Data science and computer science
Systems modeling
System design and optimization.
Each section offers a variety of courses.
Penn says it takes full-time students one to two years to finish the degree. That depends on the course load. The program accepts applications once a year in February. For these applications, full time and part time students to the college of engineering will need materials like:
GRE scores
Personal statement
Application fee
TOEFL scores (for international students)
Expect to pay $26,266 for full time tuition. This matches the average full time tuition cost of the other 10 best master’s in systems engineering.
Cornell University is a private endowed Ivy League research university. It is also a federal land-grant school and partner of the State University of New York. Public but elite, Ivy League yet SUNY adjacent.
The university’s Master of Engineering is offered both on campus in Ithaca, NY, and online. It is interdisciplinary by design. You will complete 30 credit hours in the school of engineering.
Required courses include:
Model Based Systems Engineering
Systems Analysis Behavior and Optimization
Project Management
Deterministic and Stochastic Modeling in Biological Systems
Stochastic Hydrology
Considering Cornell is an Ivy League school, it doesn’t have Ivy League prices in regards to full time tuition. Full time tuition for the college of engineering is $28,890. This is just a little more than average for our top 10.
Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering & Design
One of the nation’s best-known public universities located in one of the best college towns anywhere. That’s at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. This state university has always enjoyed a certain renown. U.S. News and World Report ranks it No. 25 in National Universities. For graduate education, it earns No. 4 for Best Engineering Schools. This state university is No. 2 for best industrial/manufacturing/systems engineering programs. The Integrative Systems & Design department of the College of Engineering has serious standards.
The curriculum at Michigan emphasizes human-centered engineering, lean systems engineering, and risk management.
That comes to life in a 30-credit systems engineering program divided into core courses, electives, and a capstone. Core courses include:
Introduction to Systems Engineering
Development and Verification of System Design Requirements
System Architecting
Concept Development
Embodiment Design
Design for Six Sigma
Advanced Design for Manufacturability
The university offers other electives in:
Automotive engineering
Manufacturing
Energy systems engineering
Aerospace systems.
Best Systems Engineering Masters FAQ
How do I apply for a masters degree in systems engineering?
Engineering doesn’t have a reputation as an easy field of study. It follows that things grow more challenging as schooling gets more advanced. Many of the programs in our top 10 require some amount of undergraduate work in engineering. A few require an undergraduate degree in engineering or a related field. Some may prefer certain coursework in areas like:
calculus, algebra
programming
basic engineering
Johns Hopkins University (No. 3 on our list) requires an undergraduate degree in a science or engineering field. You must have at least a 3.0 GPA. It also requires at least a year of full-time work experience.
Beyond the bachelor’s, applications will need to have:
Letters of recommendation
A personal statement
Résumé
Application fee
Proof of English proficiency for international students – usually TOEFL scores
Graduate standardized tests like the GRE and GMAT aren’t required across the board. Many universities treat them as supplemental if they pay attention to them at all. But good GRE/GMAT scores can help tip an acceptance in your favor.
Some schools accept applications only once or twice a year. Others offer starting points with every term. They accept applications at multiple points throughout the year.
What are the top systems engineering graduate programs?
In addition to the top systems engineering programs we told you about earlier in this post, you’ll find some best masters degree in systems engineering at top colleges like:
Colorado State University- Fort Collins
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
New York University
Purdue University West Lafayette
George Mason University
Columbia University
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Case Western Reserve University
Texas A&M University College Station
How much can I make after pursuing the best systems engineering PhD programs and systems engineering masters program?
The National Center for Education Statistics shows a median salary of people with a master’s degree of$70,330. 28% of master’s graduates earn more than $100,000 a year.
Glassdoor estimates a median salary of $77,768.PayScale says $79,835. Employment siteIndeed says $102,191. Its competitorZipRecruiter says $91,790.
Where to find the best salary data?
The best place to check for median salary data is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor. But the BLS doesn’t have discrete data for systems engineers. It doesn’t track them as a group. That’s unlike electrical and electronics engineers, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, and the like.
The BLS describes industrial engineers as devising “efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.” It lists$91,630 as a median salary. The top 10% earning $132,340 and the low earners bringing in $56,470.
Another group that shows up in the BLS as related to systems engineers areelectrical and electronics engineers. You could certainly work in that environment. Yet it’s not necessarily applicable to all systems engineering jobs. Still, the BLS estimates they make a median salary of$101,600.
If median salary data feels a little scattershot, that’s the nature of systems engineering. This informs other types of engineering. It doesn’t necessarily draw a lot of attention to itself.
How can I afford one of the top systems engineering schools?
Short answer – financial aid. Theaverage cost of a master’s degree’s full time tuition is $25,000. This tracks with the $26,363 average full time tuition for our top 10 systems engineering programs. For 99% of the world, that’s a lot of money to spend every year on full time tuition.
Financial aid is the lifeline that makes higher education attainable. According to the NCES,70.4% of master’s students receive some kind of financial aid. The average amount is $17,400. Graduate students get their money via loans (57.1%), grants (32.5%), and other means (10.4%). The NCES doesn’t specify what “other” means.
There are a few places to begin your search for financial aid. First, if you’re employed, it’s a good idea to check if your company offers educational stipends or other assistance with schooling. If you already work in industrial and systems engineering, this can help pay the cost of full time tuition. Are you a veteran or active-duty military? ThePost-9/11 GI Bill can help cover educational costs, and universities will often have programs geared toward paying full time tuition for graduate students.
Anyone seeking financial aid needs to check out the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aidwebsite. It offers a ton of information and does an excellent job explaining the differenttypes of financial aid. It’s a wealth of information that will help anyone have a good understanding of the whole world of financial aid in a short amount of time. The most important part of the Federal Student Aid website is theFree Application for Federal Student Aid. This will specify the types of student aid you qualify for.
Scholarships and grants are the most desirable types of financial aid. You don’t have to pay them back. Scholarships are awarded based on merit and grants on need. A good place to look for them is the U.S. Department of Labor’sscholarship finder. This has information about 8,000 scholarships, fellowships, grants, and more. The majority of those listings are geared toward undergraduates seeking a bachelor’s degree. That’s because there are far more of them than graduate students. The listings still boast nearly 3,000 opportunities for people heading to grad school. There are plenty of ways to cover full time tuition for online students, too.
Finally, look to universities themselves. Many will include financial aid analysis with your application. Chances are the schools offer their own scholarships and grants to qualifying students.
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
From creating software applications for online shopping websites to video games and everything in between, the work of a software engineer has become some of the most in-demand.
The unique skills possessed by software engineers are required in just about every industry, so it only makes sense that the demand for skilled professionals is at an all-time high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be about 189,200 new openings for these professionals each year, on average, before 2030.
That’s a growth of about 22%— a rate that’s nearly three times the national average! The demand for new applications for tablets and smartphones alike has contributed to this rapid increase in jobs, as has the need for industries like healthcare and insurance to be able to administer policies and care digitally.
The pandemic that impacted us in 2020 and beyond only underscored the importance of being able to do things digitally and from your device, so it only makes sense that there’s a massive demand for skilled software developers who have the skills necessary to program and test these new programs.
To become a software engineer or software developer, you will need to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in software engineering or a related field, like computer and information technology. However, a master’s degree will help you gain top-notch skills in communication, problem-solving, analysis, and of course, more technical areas like coding that you need to rise to a leadership position.
That’s not to say that the road to completing your degree is always a smooth one, though. In fact, the courses involved in a software engineering degree, though enjoyable, can be somewhat challenging.
There’s also the expense to be considered. Many would-be students find themselves hesitant about the high cost of earning a graduate degree. That’s a valid fear—U.S. News & World Report states that total tuition for some two-year graduate programs can cost more than $100,000.
However, that doesn’t have to be the case—especially not when you consider that there are plenty of affordable online masters in software engineering out there. Earning a software engineering degree is more attainable than ever if you have the drive and motivation to study hard.
An online degree makes learning more convenient than ever. You can study from the comfort of your own home without having to relocate to a new city to attend class on campus. That way, you can continue to care for your family members or attend to other life commitments, like a full-time job.
So what are you waiting for? There are programs to create and apps to test. Consider one of these top most affordable online master’s in software engineering today!
We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following five aspects:
25% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school
25% Graduation Rate: Number of students who start at the university and actually finish there
20% Earnings Potential: Average mid-career salary of school alumni
20% Selectivity: The number of students who apply versus the number who actually get accepted
10% Online Graduate Offerings: The number of programs offered online in each department
At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals.
A public university founded in 1907, East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC. It offers more than 175 different programs of study, many of which are found online. The school is ranked as one of the Top Public Schools and National Universities by U.S. News & World Report.
This publication has also ranked East Carolina University as one of the Top Performers on Social Mobility. This means that it has enrolled and graduated larger proportions of disadvantaged students. One of the ways that the school makes education more accessible for everyone is through its online programs.
This best online master’s degree in software engineering is just one example of such a program. Offered both on-campus as well as digitally, this program combines traditional areas of computers and the more rapidly evolving field of software engineering. You’ll graduate with the skills you need to develop, design, maintain, and test reliable software systems.
A program that is rooted in both theory and practice, it covers a broad range of topics, including software systems architecture object-oriented design, programming languages (including Java), and software project management techniques and tools.
You can pursue specializations both as a new software engineer or for one who has been working in the field for quite some time. Class sizes are extremely small, with all students required to complete a final project or thesis before graduation.
You’ll take core classes like:
Software Engineering Foundations
Foundations of Software Testing
Software Project Management
You may also be able to complete a degree-specific internship as part of your studies here!
It first debuted in 2008 and provides students with the hands-on skills they need in the modern job market. It is recognized as one of the best degrees in terms of its quality and value alike.
Tuition rates are low for this program, starting at just around $7,536 per year for residents of the state of North Carolina. In addition to affordable tuition rates, this program also offers financial aid to those who qualify.
A large research institution with a reputation for academic and industry excellence, Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, TX. In addition to dozens of undergraduate majors, graduate students will have plenty of top master’s degree options to choose from, too, including those administered by the award-winning Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration and the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering.
Texas Tech is ranked the Top Public Schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report—and for good reason. In addition to quality academics, the school has a small student-to-faculty ratio of just 19:1.
Another high-value master’s software engineering can be found at Texas Tech University. This program will provide you with a solid foundation in the design, creation, and maintenance of complicated software systems. You’ll learn how to use traditional engineering process methods along with newer and more advanced software engineering concepts and practices in software design and quality assurance.
The program is offered by Whitacre College of Engineering, a globally recognized college composed of a community of scholars. The school is ranked among the best in the nation, with intimate classes and award-winning faculty. You’ll be able to participate in hands-on internships and study abroad experiences like the International Experience Initiative to give you the experience you need to be successful in your career.
You’ll have access to a variety of international research facilities, including the Center of Excellence in HIgh-Reliability Organizations and Processes and the National Institute for Engineering Ethics. In fact, this school is one of only 81 public institutions listed in the top tier by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
The master’s in software engineering is one of several different programs offered by this department, with other programs including:
Master of Science In Systems and Engineering Management
Master of Science in Computer Science
There are numerous graduate certificates you can choose from, too.
While the academics are certainly impressive on their own, you can’t beat the affordability of this program, either. At Texas Tech University, nearly half of all students receive some form of need-based financial aid. There is also merit-based aid available to students who qualify. Many graduate students are supported by fellowships and assistantships, which pay at least $29,000 per year!
West Virginia University has an idyllic location in Morgantown, WV, resting along the shores of the Monongahela River. However, you don’t have to step foot on campus (ever!) if you don’t have the time or desire to do so. This school is home to a myriad of online degrees. It offers nearly 200 different bachelor’s and graduate programs spread out among 15 colleges, and many of these are available partially or wholly online.
This university is just one of many in the large WVU System. With an enrollment of more than 29,000 students, the school has a record $195 million in research funding, with researchers working hard to develop new theories and solutions in software engineering and related fields. In fact, the school is ranked in the top 3% of more than 19,000 universities around the world in recent Center for World University Rankings.
This top online master’s degree in software engineering is offered by the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. It will provide you with the skills you need to better understand the development design and management processes of various software systems and applications. From how to identify and analyze client needs to gaining the skills you need to implement software-based solutions, this program is one of the fastest-growing in the nation.
You will take a set of core courses including:
Software Project Management
Software Verification and Validation
Software Analysis and Design
Software Evolution
Object-Oriented Design
After completing the core classes, you’ll be able to move on to advanced electives like Software Engineering of Mobile Applications and Data Analytics with Applications in Software Engineering.
Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to participate in things like research and independent study/experiential learning projects, too!
At just $682 per credit hour, this program is one of the most affordable in software engineering that you will find. It consists of 33 total credit hours and 11 courses. Generous financial aid is available. In fact, the school is one of the best in terms of financial aid for out-of-state students, awarding many out-of-state scholarships each year.
In addition to extensive financial aid and low tuition rates, you’ll also have access to resources that will help you land a job. The Career Services Center will walk you through every aspect of the job search, including resume preparation to interview training. The school also hosts multiple virtual and in-person career fairs that bring hundreds of employers directly to you. Some of the most impressive? Apple, NASA, and the U.S. Department of State, just to name a few.
Despite only being founded in 1957, this relatively young state university in Fullerton, CA is one of the best and most prestigious in the state. Located just 30 miles from Los Angeles, the school’s location in the heart of Orange County makes it a premier spot for everything “tech.”
You’ll find another best value master’s software engineering at California State University-Fullerton. This degree is designed for professionals who are already working in the field of computer science who want to further their skills and pursue graduate-level training in software engineering.
You’ll learn all the industry-standard skills you need including:
software process
software requirements
software process assessment and improvement
software architectural design
software engineering ethics
Core classes include:
Software Verification and Validation
Systems and Software Standards and Requirements
Software Maintenance
You will have the opportunity to network extensively with other like-minded software engineering professionals. This degree is a high-value option for learners who want the same quality of education they would get on-campus without having to physically step foot on campus.
You don’t just have to take our word for it, either. This school is top-ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Intelligent.com, and more.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning the affordability of this program, too. Like all of the schools on this list, California State University has affordable tuition that starts at a total program cost of just $14,076 for California state residents.
Online students not only can apply for the same types of financial aid as on-campus students, but are also able to access all the same facilities including:
A public university founded in 1963, Kennesaw State University is ranked one of the best National Universities by U.S. News & World Report. Despite being a major public university the school has a small student-to-faculty ratio of just 21:1. You’ll get to know your fellow students and expert instructors closely—even when you’re studying online.
The online Master of Science in Software Engineering offers a comprehensive education in the discipline. It is one of the many programs administered by Kennesaw State’s Digital Learning Innovations Team, with other options including a graduate certificate in Software Engineering Foundations and much more.
The degree consists of seven required core courses, three to four electives, and a final capstone experience.
For this capstone experience, students have the option of choosing either a thesis or a project. Courses you take may include:
Requirements Engineering
Software Architecture
Software Testing and Verification
Software Project Planning and Management
This affordable degree has plenty of financial aid opportunities you can apply for including federal work-study, graduate research assistantships, and much more. Internships and cooperative learning experiences are a core element of this degree too, with many students choosing to work with an industry partner during their time in school.
Plus, the KSU Career Service is actively involved in helping students find jobs both during their time in school as well as after. It’s a great resource for any student who wants to be able to land a rewarding job after graduation (or perhaps even before)!
#6. North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Online Master’s Degrees in Software Engineering
North Dakota State University is a public school that was founded in 1890. Located in the city of Fargo, the school offers more than 100 different academic majors to choose from along with more than 300 campus clubs and organizations.
While the university is perhaps best known for its programs in things like agriculture, business, and education, you’ll also find one of the nation’s best software engineering master’s online here, too. The software engineering program is just one of many transformations online degrees you can pursue as a distance learner at North Dakota State.
This top master’s degree in software engineering is just one of the many programs offered by the Department of Computer Science at North Dakota State. Here, you’ll learn all the tools, techniques, and methodologies you need to know to manage the entire software life cycle.
It has a curriculum that is meant to appeal to full-time and part-time students alike. There are two graduate degrees in software engineering here—a Master of Software Engineering and a Master of Science in Software Engineering. The latter is ideal for students who are interested in research. There’s also a graduate certificate if you’re only seeking foundational knowledge in software engineering.
Whichever you choose, you’re sure to be successful in software engineering after completing this program. You’ll take core courses such as:
Software Testing and Debugging
Introduction to Database Systems
Software Complexity Metrics
Knowledge-Based Systems
In all, you’ll complete around 33 credit hours of study.
This affordable degree features low tuition rates that start at around $8,951 per semester. Generous amounts of financial aid are available for students who qualify, too.
Online Master of Computer Science degree in Software Engineering
A public university founded in 1963, the University of West Florida is a suburban university located about 10 miles from downtown Pensacola. If gorgeous scenery is what you’re after, you’ll find it at this school, which has its own wilderness preserve and beachfront property in Pensacola.
However, you don’t have to study on-campus in order to benefit from this university’s quality academics. It has a variety of programs that are available entirely online to make earning a degree easier and more convenient for distance learners.
Ranked as a Best Value School, a Best College for Veterans, and a top Regional University in the South by U.S. News & World Report, the University of West Florida should be at the top of your list as you search for the ideal master of computer science in software engineering.
This program has small class sizes and allows you to interact and receive individualized attention with research faculty just as you would on campus. You’ll have the flexibility you need to study at your own pace and be able to take courses in topics like:
algorithmic programming
parallel programming
machine learning
data processing
It’s the perfect degree for the learner seeking a greater understanding of the field as well as for computer science professionals. It includes a total of 30 credit hours of study including 15 credit hours of core computer science topics. You can choose to customize your degree in software engineering or data analytics with nine credit hours of elective courses in either area.
An affordable program, it charges fees on a per-semester basis (meaning you can save money by taking more courses at once). It requires six semesters to complete, depending on transfer credits. As part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, the university makes it easy for active duty and veteran military members to afford their education, too.
Online Master of Science in Information Technology with a Specialization in Software Engineering
The University of Maryland-College Park is a public institution that was founded in 1856. It is located right in the middle of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. with an urban campus that’s easy to access by most. The school even has its own subway stop on the D.C.-area Metro system!
However, if you have no interest in ever taking classes on campus, that’s okay, too. There are still options! The university offers many programs entirely online, including the Master of Science in Information Technology with a specialization in software engineering.
This program will teach you how to develop and maintain reliable software systems. There is both a master’s degree and a graduate certificate in engineering for you to choose from. Your courses will focus primarily on three technical areas—systems engineering, computer engineering, and cybersecurity.
You’ll take around 30 credit hours (or 10 courses) of study, choosing electives in areas like cybersecurity and systems engineering to customize your degree. You will also complete a set of core courses that include:
Software Engineering
Software Design and Implementation
Software Testing and Maintenance
System and Software Requirements
This program has low tuition rates that start at around $768 per credit hour. You can apply for financial aid, too, including grants, scholarships, and assistantships.
With five campuses in and around Chicago, DePaul University is another top school to consider if you value convenience over anything else. This school is home to all kinds of services and facilities that cater to nontraditional students, including the School for New Learning, a facility that is designed specifically for adult learners.
That’s just one of the reasons why we have included DePaul University on our list of the best master’s in software engineering. Here, you’ll gain skills that are widely applicable in many kinds of industries.
It features multiple optional concentrations so that you can further customize your degree. Choices include:
Entrepreneurship and Technology Leadership
Real-Time Game Systems
Software Architecture
Software Development
You’ll learn all the technical aspects of software engineering including:
software construction
quality assurance
software project management
The degree can be completed either online or on-campus, but you’ll find that either way, you’ll likely have wonderful career outcomes.
In fact, the School of Computing reports that 95% of its master’s graduates were employed, continuing their education, or not seeking employment within six months of graduation. The average salary of these graduates was around $80,000!
Nova Southeastern University is a private university that was founded in 1964. It’s ranked as one of the country’s top National Universities by U.S. News & Report and is known for its programs in healthcare, education, and of course, computer and information sciences.
You’ll find another one of the best online master’s in software engineering at Nova Southeastern University. This school will prepare you to become a leader in computer science, either as a programmer, analyst, developer, or something else.
You can choose from six different concentrations in real-world computing, artificial intelligence data science software engineering, or computer systems. There’s even a concentration in information assurance and cybersecurity that’s recognized by the U.S. National Security Agency and its affiliated federal agencies!
This accelerated program is one of the best options to consider if you want to advance your future in as little time as possible. Courses last eight weeks each and can be completed in just one year of study.
30 total credits, or 10 courses, are required. There are three start dates per year, with courses offered online as well as on-campus at the Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus. Tuition starts at just $905 per credit hour with significantly discounted rates available through the employer tuition program. It’s a bargain for its overall value, to say the very least!
FAQ
What is the cheapest online software engineering degree?
The schools listed in our ranking, including East Carolina University, Texas Tech University, and West Virginia University, represent the least expensive software engineering degrees. However, that list is by no means exclusive.
Other schools with affordable online software engineering degrees include:
University of the Potomac
University of Maine at Augusta
Southern New Hampshire University
Keep in mind that the posted tuition of a university might not be what you actually end up paying, either. There are all sorts of financial aid options available to students in software engineering programs, including grants, scholarships, and student loans. Many students participate in fellowships that make the cost of attendance more affordable–or sometimes make it so that a degree in software engineering costs nothing at all!
Not only that but it may make sense for you to check in with your employer to see what sorts of tuition reimbursement programs they offer. These programs make earning a degree low cost or sometimes even free since employers like to see that you have the skills necessary to be successful in your job.
What is the top online master’s software engineering—no GRE required?
The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, has long been considered the standard requirement for graduate schools around the country. However, more and more universities are turning to a no-GRE or GRE-optional policy for admissions, choosing instead to rely on other areas of your application to evaluate your readiness for graduate work.
Some of the best universities that do not require the GRE for admission include:
Arizona State University
Johns Hopkins University
Iowa State University
North Carolina University
Pennsylvania State University
George Mason University
Is a master’s degree in software engineering worth it?
Graduate student loans account for 40% of all federal student loans issued, a scary thought when you acknowledge that there are no caps on how much graduate borrowers can take out.
However, there are all kinds of ways to make earning your master’s degree more affordable. Starting with the list of affordable programs is one such way, but it’s also a good idea to consider how you’ll pay back your student loans after you graduate.
Fortunately, a master’s degree in software engineering has an excellent return on investment. With a master’s degree, according to U.S. Census Bureau data you can expect to earn around $15,000 more per year (or higher) with a master’s degree than you would with just a bachelor’s. That’s true of graduates in all fields, but especially in-demand tech fields such as software engineering.
Plus, the demand for software engineers is extremely high. You won’t have trouble finding a job in any industry (or in any city) with this kind of degree.
So is a master’s degree in software engineering worth it, both in terms of the time and money you must invest to earn your degree? Only you can be the judge of that—but most people would say, “absolutely!”
How many years is a master’s degree in software engineering?
Most master’s degrees in software engineering take around two years to complete when you study full-time. If you decide to take classes on a part-time basis to accommodate other commitments, it will take you around three years to finish when you are taking two classes per semester.
You may also be able to pursue an accelerated software engineering degree. In many cases, earning an accelerated degree will allow you to graduate in a year or sometimes even less!
Once you’re enrolled in a program, you will take classes that teach you how to design each piece of an application or system as well as how to create a variety of models, diagrams, and other demonstrations to show programmers the appropriate software code for an application. You’ll also learn strategies that will help you identify project risks, document various aspects of applications or systems, and recommend software upgrades to companies and individuals.
You may be able to specialize your studies in things like:
applications software development
systems software development
Of course, an internship or cooperative learning experience is often at the core of these degrees, too, allowing you to gain hands-on experience in the industry before you graduate.
What is a software engineering salary?
With a software engineering degree, it’s most likely that you will go on to a career as a software developer, tester, or quality assurance analyst. In this kind of job, you will design computer programs and applications or test programs for problems and defects.
As you might expect, these jobs are not only in exceptionally high demand but they pay remarkably well too. The average salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2020, is around $110,150 per year, or a whopping $52.95 per hour.
Although that’s simply an average, the lowest 10% of earners still managed to bring in around $65,210 while the highest 10% of earners received more than $170,100. Not too shabby!
The wages do vary slightly across industries, with workers in the software publishing niche and manufacturing bringing in significantly more money than those working in insurance, computer system design, and related services. Nevertheless, you can expect to earn quite a high salary when you decide to work as a software engineer!
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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The field of special education is as vast as a child’s personality.
There are countless different areas in which licensed teachers can make a difference. Helping children and young people at all different levels of abilities isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes caring, committed, and competent educators.
Are you a teacher who already works in the field of special education? Or perhaps you are someone who wants to help children and young people with special needs thrive?
If so, a Master of Special Education degree can help achieve that dream.
What will you learn in a master’s of special education?
Each graduate school is different. However, the curricula will go above and beyond what you covered in a bachelor’s degree.
Chances are, in your bachelor’s degree, you studied topics like classroom management and academic and social behavior of students. In a master’s degree, you’ll cover those in more depth.
You may take more specific classes that go beyond your undergraduate studies. A general curriculum might include classes that cover:
Working with students with moderate disabilities or severe disabilities
Academic and social behavior of students with severe disabilities
Research-based intensive interventions
Special education classroom management
Curricular design for students with unique learning needs
How to teach students in a specific age group
Communication strategies for nonverbal students
Creating inclusive settings
Behavioral management
Educational technology
Professional communication
Teaching strategies for students with an emotional disturbance
Assessment strategies for those with diverse learning needs
Evaluating multiple data sources to make sound educational decisions
Literacy skills in teaching diverse learners
Teaching English language learners
A student teaching experience is a core component of these programs. A student teaching experience will prepare special education graduates with the hands-on training needed to have confidence in the classroom.
You could take anywhere between 30 and 60 total credits, depending on the school. Many universities even offer a graduate certificate option so you can teach without successful completion of a full master’s.
And what do you need to apply? Admission requirements vary. However, as part of these admission requirements, most programs – including graduate certificate programs – require a bachelor’s degree in a related field. You will also need to submit official transcripts. You’ll need official transcripts from any undergraduate programs you attended. Most online programs look for a 3.0 GPA.
There are other application materials you will need besides these official transcripts. You will also need the following items:
Letters of recommendation (often two to three letters of recommendation are needed)
Successful completion of undergraduate coursework in education or related programs
Personal statement evidencing self determination in higher education and educational settings
K-12 work experience if relevant
GRE scores
Application fee
We admit – it can be tough to find the time and resources to earn a master’s degree. Even if you choose not to study on a full time basis, it take time to learn the essential skills and complete the clinical experiences necessary to graduate from a special education program. And if you’re seeking initial teacher licensure, it can take even longer.
That’s why the online Master of Special Education is in the top ten of the most popular online master’s degrees. Online special education programs often cater to students who are teaching. They provide asynchronous classes. That means there is no set class time and students can logon at their convenience. They also offer dedicated online student support services. Often, there are even mentors and advisors to guide when needed.
We all know time is precious. The amount of information and possible programs out there can be a bit overwhelming.
To make it easier, we’ve combed through many online special education programs. Our goal was to find the best of the best.
A word of caution – as is true with the best undergraduate special education programs, vigilance is key. Please make note of your state’s certification requirements. This is to make sure they fit in with any program you may want to pursue.
Many of the programs on our list participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). This is an agreement that enables national standards to dictate comparable coursework and education outcomes between states.
But it’s always a good idea to double check your program and your state’s requirements to become a licensed teacher.
So is a degree in special education worth it? Definitely! A degree ins pecial education offers you the skills you need to gain insight into working with students with special learning needs. But you need to ask more than one specific question to find the right graduate school and special education master for your needs.
When researching the best master’s degree in special education for your needs, ask the following questions:
Is tuition affordable? Is it billed at a per credit rate, and is state and federal financial aid available? Are there any scholarship opportunities?
Will I be able to work hands on with students with diverse needs?
Do I need to have completed an undergraduate program in a specific area?
Are individual students given their own faculty advisors?
Is this program flexible enough for current teachers?
Is the school recognized by organizations like U.S. News & World Report?
Will I be able to participate in faculty research or get hands-on teaching practice with a special education instructor in a real classroom?
What sorts of techniques will I learn to teach students?
Can I complete my student teaching for the online master’s degree while working at my current job?
What opportunities are there for hands-on learning? Will I learn research based intensive interventions and other strategies?
Will I be fully prepared to pursue licensure?
What services are available to support students online?
What are the admission requirements and core curriculum? What does the application process look like?
Will the core curriculum in these online programs prepare me for any other career paths?
What is the next start date for the program?
Also consider the accreditation of the online programs you are considering. Top accreditors of master’s degree in special education programs include:
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)
Look for a regionally accredited institution whenever possible. That’s especially important for special education professionals seeking licensure.
With that housekeeping out of the way, let’s get started!
Read on for our top special education masters programs rankings!
The aspiring special education teacher will find a lot to love in the special education program at Grand Canyon University. This best online master’s in special education degree program has an affordable per credit tuition cost.
This professional studies program is offered by GCU’s College of Education. The online MEd in Special Education leads to initial teacher licensure for Arizona residents. GCU Counselors can guide and advise special educators from other states on how to obtain their teaching license.
The program includes 47 total credits that will train you to work with exceptional learners. Students can transfer up to twelve credits. The program includes concepts from a variety of academic disciplines. It is flexible and accessible at any time.
Coursework includes particular attention to the following subjects:
U.S. and Arizona Constitutions for Teacher Candidates
Methods of Teaching Math to Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities
Learning Environments for Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities
There are countless grant and scholarship offerings. Aspiring special educators can be assured that their education will be affordable.
If you want to become a special education teacher, you should consider a master’s degree in special education from the University of North Dakota. The learning environment here is ideal for diverse learners. It’s the perfect program for the special educator seeking a teaching license.
Students can choose between a MEd and an MS degree in Special Education at the UND College of Education & Human Development. The program also offers no less than nine specialization options:
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Early Childhood Special Education
Intellectual Disabilities
This is a strong program created for certified teachers or non-certified individuals. It helps them serve children and young adults with mild to moderate disabilities. You’ll take classes covering topics like:
Teaching children with moderate disabilities
Assessment strategies for measuring student achievement
Educating children in an inclusive classroom setting
Instructional design
Multiple methods for classroom management
You’ll need a minimum of 32 total credits to graduate. It takes as little as eighteen months. All classes are 100% online. They are offered in an asynchronous format with weekly assignments and projects. Students can choose to start the program at three different times through the year.
You’ll find another one of the best master’s degree in special education at Emporia State University. A key component of this program is its focus on working with diverse learners in all kinds of learning environments, from K-12.
Emporia State’s online MS with a High Incidence Concentration has a specialized curricula that allows graduates to obtain a teaching license.
It is offered at The Teachers College’s Department of Elementary Education. The degree has 36 total credits. You can take up to seven years to complete your program. The degree allows students to work at their own pace. You’ll gain insight into the educational approaches necessary to work effectively with special education students.
Coursework focuses on theory and application. You’ll take some of the following courses to give you the skills you need for teaching students of all kinds:
Characteristics of Students with High Incidence Disabilities
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Medical Issues & Trends
Family/Other School Professionals Working w/Exceptionality
Three application deadlines occur before each of the three start dates a year. Students must be accepted both as a gradate student eligible for study at Emporia State and also into the Special Education Program. Applicants can take as many as nine total credits of electives in the program before acceptance.
Frostburg State University has a graduate school with one of the best special education degrees.
This online master’s allows students to choose a specialization in grades 1-8 or graders 6-12. This is a comprehensive program that examines “every element of the special education environment.”
A key component of this program is its flexibility. For students who are public school certified or eligible to be, the program ranges from 39 to 42 total credits.
Students take classes in order. These include:
the Professional Education Core (example class: Developmental Theory and Experiential Growth)
the Special Education Core (example class: Characteristics of Exceptional Children)
Electives and a Capstone project culminate the degree. Similar programs provide special education professionals with opportunities to broaden their degrees outside of that specific subject area.
You’ll find another one of the best special education master’s at KSU’s School of Education. The online Master of Arts in Special Education with Certification in Learning and Behavior Disorders P-12 (MASPE) program offers superior educator preparation.
If you’re a special educator seeking a unique learning environment, you’ll love the specialized curricula of this program. You’ll cover topcis like:
Academic and social behavior of students with severe disabilities
Academic and social behavior of students with moderate disabilities
Ideal learning environments for students
Instructional planning for students with mild to severe disabilities
Classroom management
Self-determination strategies for students with moderate disabilities
All students must participate in a student teaching practicum in a school. This is a key component of professional studies in this graduate school. It will give you the hands-on experience you need for working with students with mild to moderate disabilities. You’ll learn about classroom management and intensive interventions. It’s a great way to gain the skills necessary for teacher licensure.
The curriculum is made up of 36-45 total credits dependent upon a student’s prior educational background. Some students may be required to take a prerequisite twelve total credits. These provide educator preparation in topics such as:
Legal and Parental Issues in Special Education
Teaching Mathematics to Children and Youth with Learning and Behavior Disorders.
Old Dominion University has a leading special education master’s program. The Department of Communication Disorders & Special Education at the Darden College of Education offers an MS in Education that is an excellent option for students residing in Virginia or Washington State. These are the only locations in which the program is available, according to current information.
The program focuses on:
scholarly research
instructional planning
advanced instructional strategies and learning environments
the foundations of special education leadership
This 30 credit hour special education program offers classes like:
Fundamentals of Human Growth and Development: Birth through Adolescence
Characteristics and Medical Aspects of Disabling Conditions
The coursework is the same as the on-campus master’s degrees. ODU offers dedicated resources for the online learning experience. Support is available for both prospective students and current online students. There are multiple academic resources and technical supports. This best online master’s in special education degree program has an affordable per credit tuition cost.
The College of Education’s Department of Special Education houses Mizzou Online’s MEd in Special Education. This program provides a pathway to initial teacher licensure. It has an Emphasis in Early Childhood Special Education and Autism.
This 30 credit special education program is 100% online. It takes just two years to complete. Three start dates a year are offered. All required courses are semester based. Coursework is constructed to help graduates “design, deliver and evaluate services to children from birth to age 5.”
Classes teacher candidates will take in this online master’s in special education include:
Research With Exceptional Children
Young Children With Autism
Advanced Behavior Management
There is significant support offered before students are even enrolled. You can take a brief quiz to assess your aptitude towards online learning. This quiz leads to an assortment of Student Success Resources.
The MA in Education: Special Education program is available 100% online through UNK’s eCampus.
This special education program has 36 total credits to graduate. After completing your professional studies, K-6 or 7-12 special education teacher licensure is the end result. All applicants must already have initial teaching licensure to be admitted. There are twelve required courses for professional studies. Then there are twenty-four credits in the emphasis area. You’ll learn how to deliver instruction in complex situations and to diverse groups of students.
Classes include topics like:
Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Intervention Planning
Inclusion and Differentiation Strategies for the 21st Century Classroom
Critical Issues in Education
UNK gives a short tutorial on “netiquette” prior to beginning any online master’s degrees. This is to make sure students are prepared in an online class. Tuition is charged per credit hour for the special education degree and financial aid is available.
At Stephen F. Austin State University, aspiring special education teachers have multiple special education master’s degrees to choose from.
Three options are available 100% online for students in SFASU’s MEd in Special Education program. This is through the Perkins College of Education’s Department of Human Services. Students can choose from:
initial teacher special education certification seeking
non-teacher special education certification seeking
Educational Diagnostician certification seeking
The initial certification and non-certification programs have 27 total credits of core course and total credits of elective. The Educational Diagnostician program has 36 total credits.
Courses include:
The Educational Diagnostician
Trends in Education
Physical/Health Impairments
All programs provide students with thorough preparation in:
You’ll love everything that the master’s degree in special education at Drexel University has to offer.
Drexel’s MS in Special Education at the School of Education is delivered in an asynchronous format. This research based program is meant to accommodate working teachers.
There are six certificate options. These are in:
Applied Behavior Analysis
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Collaborative Special Education Law and Process
Special Education Leadership
Technologies for Special Education
Multisensory Reading Instruction
This is a 45 credit hour program that can be completed in just 21 months. There are:
27 credits of core classes
12 credits of concentration courses
Six credits of “action research”
All aspiring special education graduates must construct a professional portfolio. They must present this during the program exit interview.
Each student receives a dedicated academic advisor for the duration of the program for guidance and support. The online program provides the same faculty members teaching the same quality coursework as the on-campus program. You’ll have access to the same practical application field experiences as well.
The MSEd in Special Education at Purdue University is one of the best special education master’s around. It is top ranked by U.S. News & World Report along iwth the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
The Purdue University is a comprehensive and thorough online program. It has 31 to 41 total credits depending on which track is chosen. These education degrees take as few as twenty months.
Six tracks are possible in this program in learning disabilities at Purdue University. Students can opt to just pursue the master’s degree. Or they can follow either advanced or initial licensure tracks with a focus in:
mild intervention for mild learning disabilities
mild and intense intervention
intense intervention-only
For students who live outside of Indiana, Purdue University practices license reciprocity with 42 other states. Purdue University advisors can assist students with their student teaching practicum in any of those states. The curriculum is in line with edTPA (which used to be called the Teacher Performance Assessment).
Students at Purdue University must complete four professional portfolios. There are three with faculty advisement and one on their own.
You’ll love the online master’s in special education at Texas A&M.
Students can opt for either a Master of Science or a Master of Education in Special Education online.
There are 36 total credits to graduate. This two-year program begins every June and offers classes in a sequential format.
Here, online study “does not mean independent study.” This program has a faculty made up of practitioners who are also researchers. They have all been through specific certification training on how to provide the most effective online instruction possible.
Classes include:
Adolescent Literacy for Students with Diverse Instructional Needs
Ethical and Professional Conduct in Special Education
A Certificate in ABA is available as an additional option. This adds eighteen credits hours to the program.
Special education teachers, listen up! The online master’s in special education at Michigan State University is one of the best.
Applications are accepted once a year in the spring for the online MA in Special Education. The program begins each year in June. All aspiring special education teachers are assigned a full-time, tenure-track faculty member.
This person serves as an academic advisor to help them navigate their time at MSU. The program includes 30 total credits.
Two endorsement areas are offered. Each adds an additional six credits:
All clinical requirements can be achieved through a student’s own classroom with faculty approval. Teachers can apply the skills they are learning to the classroom right away.
Courses include:
Literacy Instruction for Students with Mild Disabilities
Collaboration and Consultation in Special Education
The Master of Science in Education (MSE) for Special Education Instructional Specialist K-12 online degree program at Arkansas State University is 36 total credits.
This online master’s in special education is perfect for working teacher candidates. It takes less than a year and a half. It is also a good option for those seeking successful completion of a master’s degree for teacher licensure. This school is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. It is also top ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
Coursework includes:
Positive Behavior Interventions and Support
Collaboration for Special Education Service Delivery
Characteristics of Individuals with Disabilities
Students learn applicable skills and real-world methodology. ASU offers such student services as:
an online library
Arkansas State Disability Services (which provides help and support for students of “Arkansas State online courses, A-State Online Program, Distance Education, and A-State courses at sister-campuses”
Based on current information on the school’s website, online tuition is affordable. It is charged at a per credit rate. Financial aid is available as is a helpful tuition calculator.
Special education teachers seeking a teaching license will love the online master’s in special education at Fort Hays State University. This research based program offers plenty of field experiences and diverse learning options for all kinds of career paths.
The Virtual College at Fort Hays State University provides a “personal academic advisor” to each online student in the Master of Science in Special Education online degree program. In addition to the training needed for actual teaching, there are also lots of resources and student services. This program guarantees a “user-friendly” experience.
The 36-credit hour program can be completed in about a year and a half to two years and is all online. Students can complete coursework and any field experiences or student teaching experiences in the places in which they live and work.
Students can choose between focus areas in Gifted or High-Incidence Special Education.
Comprehensive exams are given in both the fall and spring semesters. The curriculum is “designed to promote reflection and critical thinking.”
Students take away from the program “authentic learning experiences with real-life application.” Tuition is billed at a per credit rate with ample financial aid opportunities abound.
Indiana Wesleyan University offers one of the best online master’s in special education for teacher candidates who wish to pursue teacher licensure.
The online masters programs for special education with a major in Special Education are delivered through the School for Educational Leadership. These programs are designed for working educators from all states. This 33 credit hour program leads to initial licensure in special education for students with mild to moderate disabilities. Students from states other than Indiana will need to assess their state’s requirements to make sure the program will meet them.
The cohort-modeled program takes just over two years to complete. There are three annual start-dates. These give students the opportunity to start the online degree program when the time is ideal for their needs.
Core coursework for this master’s degree special education option includes:
The Culturally Competent Teacher Leader
Leading Instructional Improvement
Classroom Responses to Individual Differences in Language and Culture
You’ll find another top online master’s in special education at Minot State University. The MS in Special Education degree program at MSU is 100% online and is delivered by one of the best online colleges for special education.
The degree is made up of 25-27 total credits of core classes. There is a capstone thesis project. You also have a choice of program emphasis areas. The program has a goal of creating educators who are “agents of positive change.”
The Special Education program emphasis areas include:
Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Specific Learning Disabilities
Early Childhood Special Education
Special Education Strategist (this area covers autism, emotional and behavioral disabilities, and intellectual disabilities)
Students choose from three start dates a year. They work with faculty advisors to tailor an individual plan of study to their academic experience.
MSU Online offers an Online Tutorial. This gives prospective students a glimpse of what being an online student would be like at MSU.
The online master’s in special education at Texas Tech University has seven emphasis area options. The MEd in Special Education helps students achieve many different career goals.
These master’s degrees have multiple options, including:
Autism
ABA
Deaf Education
Educational Diagnostician
Generic Special Education
Orientation and Mobility
Transition
Online masters visual impairments
All of these have 36 total credits. Some of the certification options include some on-campus classes or weekend workshops.
Students take six credits of foundational requirements. Course topics include:
Cultural Foundations of Education
Educational Psychology
You must also take six credits of Basic Special Education Core classes. The remainder of the program is then dedicated to the emphasis area. Students can opt between a Master’s thesis or a comprehensive written exam to culminate the program.
Another of the best online master’s in special education can be found at West Virginia University.
The online master’s in special education is perfect for teacher candidates. WVU Online offers degree programs for both licensed teachers and those who need to seek licensure. These top special education masters programs are online in both live, synchronous format and an asynchronous format via the WVU eCampus web.
There are five specializations:
Applied Behavioral Analyst
Early Childhood Education
Gifted Education
Multi-categorical Special Education
Severe/Multiple Disabilities
Students complete their field education teaching experiences in their own communities. That’s with with guidance and supervision from the esteemed UWV faculty in the Department of Special Education.
Students have the opportunity to participate in various Professional Development events and resources. These are meant to enhance their educational experience.
The Master of Arts in Special Education (MASE) degree program at Saint Mary’s is one of the best online master’s in special education. It is ideal for certified teachers looking to enhance their abilities to work with students with special needs. It’s also great for others who need initial licensure.
Students have three dates in which they can start this 36 credit hour program. It can be completed in two years. Those seeking licensure will need to take additional prerequisite coursework. They must also participate in field experiences at one of Saint Mary’s physical campuses.
The program has a goal of guiding students to “understand the unique needs of learners with a wide range of disabilities.”
Saint Mary’s offers core classes in topics such as:
Literacy Development & Interventions
Behavior Theories
The Individual Education Process
In addition to also offering specific special education resources, each online Saint Mary’s student receives an iPad to access their classes on their time for ultimate ease and accommodation.
Teacher candidates will appreciate the flexibility of the special education programs at the University of Arkansas.
The MEd in Special Education is meant for practicing teachers. It’s ideal for those who want to advance in the specialized field of special education.
Students seeking initial licensure can still attend. They will need to take additional coursework beyond the regular program requirements.
This is a 36 credit hour program that can be completed in about two years. There are certificate options available in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Applied Behavior Analysis.
Students take nine total credits of core courses. These include:
Life-Span Human Development
Historical Foundations of Modern Education
You can make up the remaining credits with three hours of cognate study. There are 24 of specific classes related to topics like:
moderate disabilities
learning disabilities
instructional planning
All classes in these master’s degrees are online. You’ll need to complete a practicum. However, this can be completed in the student’s hometown. That’s often within a public school or agency that aligns with the program focus.
The special education programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are some of the best for aspiring teacher candidates.
Two degree programs and three specialization possibilities await students online. The school offers both a MA a MEd.
Students can choose between thesis and non-thesis options. There are three specializations:
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education
Early Childhood Special Education
Visual Impairments
These exist 100% online. However, the Visual Impairments specialization does include on-site summer coursework. For students seeking additional educator preparation or endorsements, the MEd program is ideal. It has 36 total credits.
For students who want to go on to research rather than teach, the MA program is the right fit.
Regardless of which of these best special education masters programs are chosen, all students work with an advisor. This is to chart out their coursework and academic goals.
There’s a lot for teacher candidates to love about the special education programs at Ball State University.
Ball State’s MA is an online program with five focus areas.
It requires at least 30 total credits to graduate. Students take nine hours of core coursework. You must take at least fifteen hours of coursework in a focus area. There is also a supplemental research course.
Focus areas include:
Applied Behavior Analysis
Autism
Director of Special Education/Exceptional Needs
Response to Interventions
Severe Interventions
You can focus on just one area. Or you can combine them to tailor the degree to your specific needs. Classes are offered per credit both in a synchronous and asynchronous format
The special education programs at Graceland University are some of the best for the licensed special education teacher.
The 30-credit hour MEd at Graceland’s Gleazer School of Education (GSOE) is ideal for already licensed teachers. It’s perfect for those who want to transition to working with children with disabilities. It’s also ideal for students who want to enhance their skills working with special needs children in their schools.
The degree is all online and takes about two years to complete. Students enter the program together. There are several start dates a year from which to choose. This is all in a cohort.
You will take courses in a sequence. Core classes include:
Introduction to Choice Theory: Teaching Students Responsible Behavior
Remedial Math Methods
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Accelerated study is available. Financial aid is also offered per credit.
Saint Joseph’s online MS in Education degree with Special Education certification is designed for Level 1 certified teachers in early childhood education through secondary school. It is also one of the best special education masters programs for Reading Specialists. Students with other backgrounds can still participate in the MS without seeking certification).
In addition to the certification tracks, there are two other tracks available:
Autism Spectrum Disorders endorsement
Wilson Reading System® certification
The programs range from 36 total credits for the Master’s-only track to up to 39 hours. This depends on which additional track is chosen.
All programs require 24 total credits of core courses. These include:
Diagnostic Assessment and Progress Monitoring
Families, Schools, and Communities: Communication and Collaboration
Online students benefit from the experienced and caring faculty at their disposal. They also receive 24/7 tech support through SJU’s “Personal Support Center”. They even get their own “Student Services Coordinator” to help guide them to the resources they need.
If you want to begin a career as a special education teacher, consider the special education programs at Indiana University Bloomington.
A distinguishing feature of the only-online MSEd is the “Mentor Teacher”. This is a person that oversees and offers guidance throughout the student’s ongoing field experiences. For students who are already teaching, a mentor can be picked at the school in which they teach. This support from a seasoned teacher provides a ready-made resource of practical and applicable skills.
36 total credits make up the program. Students have their choice of one of several track options. These include:
Autism
Behavior Specialists
Early Childhood
Instructional Strategies
Intense Interventions
Twenty total credit hours are devoted to core courses in topics like:
Families, School and Society
Collaboration and Service Delivery
Twelve hours make up the emphasis area courses. A final thesis or capstone project completes the program requirements.
The special education programs at Western Carolina University are ideal for aspiring teacher candidates.
The College of Education and Allied Professions at WCU offers two online programs. For students without a bachelor’s degree or licensure in a relevant field, WCU has a Masters of Teaching (MAT) degree program.
For students who hold the undergraduate SPED degree and licensure, there’s the Masters of Education (MAEd) program.
The MAEd program requires 30-33 total credits. There are:
twelve hours of core classes
18-21 hours of concentration coursework
a final professional portfolio
The MAT program is 42 total credits. It requires:
eighteen hours of core coursework
twenty-four credits for the concentration
a professional portfolio
WCU offers a “Catamount Online Readiness Experience (CORE).” This is to test the waters of distance learning. Students have a resource page called “How to Distance” that provides tutorials and materials on all they need to know to succeed.
The special education programs at Florida State University are perfect for teacher candidates seeking teacher licensure.
The FSU College of Education’s online Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) degree program has a major in SPED Studies. It starts each fall with all core classes offered in an asynchronous format.
The flexibility allows students to maintain their jobs as educators. It lets them use their current teaching assignments as the field education classroom practicum.
This is a 33 credit hour program. There are 21 credits of required core coursework. These classes include:
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Positive Behavior Support
Teaching and Technology.
The remaining twelve hours are from three different focus areas:
Early Childhood Special Education
Autism Spectrum Disorder
High Incidence Disabilities
This program is not for students seeking initial certification. Online students are supported by all of the on-campus resources. They also have multiple specific resources available just for distance learning support.
Last but not least on our list of the best special education programs for teacher candidates is Western Governors University.
The unique MS at WGU lands in our #1 spot. This program takes about two years to complete. It has a student-focused approach and competency-based learning model style.
With the competency-based model, students assess their current skills and experience with the help of an Enrollment Counselor and a Faculty Mentor. They develop an individualized Degree Plan. This focuses on the subject areas that they need to master.
Courses are organized into “competency units” as opposed to credit hours. Each of the courses provides the student with a “study guide and recommended learning resources.” There are thirty-one competency units of required coursework in topics like:
Psychoeducational Assessment Practices and IEP Development/Implementation
Instructional Models and Design, Supervision and Culturally Responsive Teaching
All students participate in “Program communities.” These are made up of fellow students and mentors to broaden their knowledge in their field of study. You’ll also participate in “Learning communities”. These are groups of other students going through similar assessments become a virtual support system.
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You may have been told never to talk politics or religion in polite company, but we here at Master’s Programs Guide have never shied away from the tough conversations. Not only should you talk religion, but also, we believe (pun intended), you should pursue an advanced degree in it!
Whether your goals are faith and ministry based, spiritual, or more comparative and cultural, a Religious Studies graduate degree can be an interesting and fulfilling pursuit. Just as there are many different faith traditions, there are many options within a religious studies degree. If ministry or direct service are your desire, you could seek a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or an MA in Theology or Master of Theological Studies (MTS). Practice-based and usually requiring Field Education (Field Ed) and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in addition to coursework, these degrees can lead to work as a pastor, chaplain, youth minister, or faith-based counselor. Master of Arts in Comparative Religions or Religious Studies would be broader degrees that could serve to advance you academically or globally with possible professional careers in non-profit management, advocacy and activism, or education.
Particularly appealing, there are a wealth of reputable institutions offering their Religious Studies and similar degree online (and we’ve made note of the institutions and programs that are accredited through the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, which is the gold standard of theological accreditation), so there’s no need to uproot yourself and your family to earn your degree. And to help you on your journey, we’ve compiled our list of top-notch schools by utilizing our Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology Criteria. So read on!
Program Details: Providing a path both for the Biblically and/or theologically-educated student and the student with no previous academic experience in Bible studies, theology, or Church history, the Columbia International University MA in Theological Studies is achievable for either seasoned or nascent theologians. Housed in the Columbia Biblical Seminary (CBS) and provided entirely online through CIU Online, the 48-credit hour MA in Theological Studies degree offers an interdisciplinary curriculum with courses such as “Foundations of Spiritual Formation,” “Systematic Theology in Global Christianity,” and “Understanding Cultures and Worldviews.” Five concentration options allow students to focus on their chosen emphasis area—students choose from Bible Studies, Greek, Hebrew, Church History, or Theology. The online courses offered by CIU Online have won awards for their innovation, and students benefit not just from the artfully crafted virtual classes, but also from the CBS faculty members “who are practitioners of the subjects they teach and who can provide expert academic advising.”
When a local Sunday school teacher posed the dream to her prayer circle of a school to offer Bible classes for the resident mill workers in Columbia, South Carolina in 1918, that dream would grow to become Columbia International University. Opening in 1922 and officially established as Columbia Bible School in 1923, the institution changed to Columbia Bible College in 1929. Columbia International University since 1994, CIU is a Christian university currently enrolling over 1,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs and is regionally accredited Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The interdisciplinary, two-year online MTS degree program at Iliff is crafted to provide students in pursuit of their doctoral degree with a solid theological and academic foundation, but the degree is also ideal for those who simply “would like to increase their personal understanding.” The flexible 72-credit hour program offers original and interesting class topics such as “Ethics of Neoliberalism and Globalization,” “Comparative Mysticism,” “Theological Anthropology,” and “Methods and Theories for Interpreting Biblical Texts,” and all students finish the MTS program with professional article-length thesis. All coursework is taught by the esteemed Iliff faculty, a group of professors who are diverse in religious backgrounds, country of origin, gender and race. The faculty’s wide-range of experiences and “extraordinary commitment to teaching and scholarship” shows through their dedication to nurturing and caring relationships with their students and the way they challenge “each student in ways textbooks and lectures cannot.” Individuals who are interested in an inclusive religious and rigorous academic experience, and who realize those two elements need not be exclusive, can read Iliff Stories for more information.
Established as part of Colorado Seminary (which would later become the University of Denver), Iliff School of Theology was founded in 1892. The Denver, Colorado seminary became incorporated as an independent theological institution in 1903 but has remained located next door to the University of Denver. One of thirteen United Methodist seminaries in the nation, Iliff has a current enrollment of over 300 students with many denominational backgrounds. A private graduate theological school, Iliff is accredited by American Association of Theological Schools and has regional accreditation from North Central Association of Colleges.
Program Details: The MA in Peace and Social Justice degree program at Claremont Lincoln University provides the trademarked Claremont Core® as well as a comprehensive Interfaith Action concentration. The 30-credit hour MA degree can be completed entirely online in just fifteen months, and in addition to the four core curriculum courses (Mindfulness, Dialogue, Collaboration, and Change), students participate in Interfaith classes such as “Power and Privilege in Self and Society,” “Interfaith Leadership in a Global Context,” and “Religion in the Public Sphere: Faith, Politics, & Rhetoric.” Boasting an incredibly diverse and accomplished faculty, with impressive credentials such as one faculty member serving as Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the European Union and NATO and another being the “highest-ranking Muslim Chaplain in the United States Army,” CLU promises that students will be equipped with “the social, religious and political perspectives, collaborative engagement, and self-reflection skills . . . to become an interfaith ambassador.” Going beyond the degree, graduates of the program detail the success they have found professionally, as well as the continued support through the “long-lasting relationships” with CLU.
Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) is an online graduate school located in Claremont, California. Begun in 2008 when the Board of Claremont School of Theology envisioned a school in which members of diverse faiths could come together to study religion and its impact, and classes began three years later at the newly established institution. Offering multiple online master’s degrees in three disciplines (Organizational Leadership, Peace & Social Justice, and Social Impact), CLU is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
Program Details: The fully online MDiv degree program at Chicago Theological Seminary offers students a convenient, accessible program to meet their needs. By taking all classes online and completing Field Education and CPE requirements in the student’s home location, students can gain a degree taught by CTS’ “world-class faculty.” Mirroring the 75-credit hour on-campus MDiv program, the online MDiv is just as rigorous, with required classes like “Religion in North America,” “Systematic Theology,” and “Living into Our Commitments and Effecting Social Change.” Students can choose between four concentrations to customize their experience, with cutting edge focus area options in Chaplaincy Studies, LGBTQ Studies, Interreligious Engagement, and the Study of Black Faith & Life. The program is designed to be completed in three years, and equips students with the skills to provide “transformative religious leadership in the church and society.” In addition to the guidance of dedicated advisors, myCTS is an online resource that provides information and services to the CTS community, including all online students.
Holding an impressive array of institutional “firsts,” Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1855. The first theological school to require field education as part of its curriculum, to award a seminary degree to a woman, and to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a DDiv degree, among other notable firsts, CTS has long been at the forefront of social justice and theological education. Affiliated with the United Church of Christ, CTS joins ten other seminaries as a member of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools as well as the North Central Association.
Program Details: Through the Fuller School of Intercultural Studies, students can earn a Master or Global Leadership (MAGL) degree entirely or mostly online. Offered in the cohort format, students who begin the program in the spring can obtain the MAGL online with no residency requirements; fall cohort students are required to participate in two week-long, on-campus residencies. The 72-unit Fuller MAGL degree offers classes such as “Missional Engagement with Contemporary Culture,” “Lifelong Development,” and “Character, Community, & Leadership” to broaden their perspective and equip them with sound theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The MAGL degree is highly customizable—up to half of the degree units are comprised of the student’s choice of electives. Promising that students will be “stretched through theological teaching that is both scholastically rigorous and biblically grounded,” Fuller provides a cultivated, safe online environment that is a learning community replete with “honest dialogue and mutual care,” and the cohorts are guided by Fuller Theological Seminary Mentors who have both academic and international real-world experience.
Founded by radio evangelist Charles R. Fuller (and named after his father), Fuller Theological Seminary welcomed students in the fall of 1947 in Pasadena, California. In just over five years the enrollment grew from 39 seminarians to 250, and now three academic schools and a Center for Advanced Theological Studies serve 3,500 students. Marrying evangelism and intellectualism in its early years and through today, Fuller offers an unapologetically Christian and scholarly viewpoint. With accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS), Fuller is also regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: Fuller’s online MA in Theology presents a convenient, flexible, entirely online theology degree program provided by “some of the world’s most influential scholar practitioners.” The “diverse learning community” is organized into cohorts and guided by the “world-class faculty.” The 80-unit MA in Theology degree (equivalent to 56-credit hours) requires coursework from three sections: “Integrative,” “Interpreting,” and “Theologizing.” Each student then chooses 28 units of electives to follow their own individualized academic interests or available cohorts constructed around fifteen possible focus areas, with dedicated emphasis choices like Biblical Justice, Islamic Studies, Global Arts and World Religions, or Youth, Family and Culture. The MAT degree at Fuller is developed to “nurture students’ spiritual, personal, and vocational formation,” as well as promoting “unmatched cultural, racial, and denominational diversity.” With digital library resources that number in the tens of thousands, students have access to the resources and research they need to pursue a doctoral degree if they so desire, and upon completion of the MAT degree will have built a strong “systematic theological framework while developing an understanding of the origin and growth of the Christian tradition.”
Enrolling 3,500 students from 90 different countries and over 100 denominations, Fuller Theological Seminary offers an evangelical and multidenominational approach to religious academia. Comprised of the Schools of Theology, Psychology, and Intercultural Studies, Fuller offers eighteen academic degree programs. Located in Pasadena, California and with additional campuses in California’s Orange County and the Bay area as well as Arizona, Texas, and Washington, Fuller has an alumni network of over 43,000. Fuller was established in 1947 and is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as ATS.
Program Details: Offered online by Saint Leo WorldWide, the Master of Arts in Theology degree program at Saint Leo University provides an ecumenical landscape from the perspective of the Catholic religious tradition. A degree program that caters to students at any point in their career, the 36-credit hour Saint Leo MAT is presented through coursework and different virtual methods by the diverse, expert Saint Leo Department of Philosophy, Theology, and Religion faculty. Core classes are joined by the student’s choice of electives, with relevant topics such as “History of Catholic-Jewish Relations,” “Management/Human Resources for Ministry,” and “Spiritual Direction,” and all Saint Leo WorldWide online MAT students receive guidance and support from a dedicated Graduate Student Advisor for Theology. A collection of graduate testimonies provide prospective students with a glimpse of life after an online degree, and Saint Leo’s promise of providing “excellence in teaching and scholarly rigor in a student-centered manner” is evident in the many opportunities both during the pursuit of the degree and after graduation.
Saint Leo University, founded in 1889 as St. Leo’s College, is the oldest Roman Catholic institution of higher education in Florida. Just seven students enrolled at first, but now more than 16,000 students are enrolled at this private, coeducational liberal arts university. Main campus is in St. Leo, Florida, and over 50 academic degree programs are provided through three colleges. Saint Leo is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: George Fox University’s Portland Seminary provides an online MA in Theological Studies for students who know they will go on for further doctoral work. The 56-credit hour hybrid online George Fox MATS degree program starts with the new student orientation on-campus: WaterFront is a three-day immersive event that introduces students to one another and to the faculty who will serve as their educational guides. The learned and experienced Portland Seminary faculty are impressive, and offer courses ranging from “Interpreting the New Testament: Use and Abuse of the Bible” to “World Religions and Christian Thought” to “Knowing Self, Knowing God.” Four concentration tracks are offered: Biblical Studies, Christian History and Theology, Creation Care, and Intercultural Studies. Students will come to campus for intensive experiences each semester called BridgeWeek—on-campus residencies serve to build the bond among students and enrich the academic experience for online students. These relationships translate into success: prospective students can read of the journeys of past Portland Seminary students after graduation.
George Fox University was started by pioneering evangelical Quakers in the Chehalem Valley of Oregon in 1885. Originally the Friends Pacific Academy, the school transitioned to Pacific College in 1891. Renamed George Fox College in 1949 (after the founder of the Quaker movement), the institution became a university in 1996 when it merged with Western Evangelical Seminary, and this private Christian university located in Newberg, Oregon currently enrolls over 4,000 students. George Fox is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and the Portland Seminary is accredited by the ATS.
Program Details: Through the Ann & Joe O. Neuhoff School of Ministry at the University of Dallas, students can earn an MTS degree entirely online. The 37-credit hour program includes classes such as “Church History” and “Theological Reflection,” and students can opt for a concentration in Biblical Theology (electives are predetermined if this option is followed). Electives are either chosen from the Neuhoff School of Ministry’s selection of courses, or, with permission from the Dean, students can seek out courses offered by the College of Business of the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts. The UD Neuhoff School of Ministry faculty have a long list of accomplishments and recognition in which they “have distinguished themselves through their ministerial practice and academic careers.” In addition to the support and guidance offered by the faculty, online graduate ministry students are assigned a personal faculty advisor to help them with “course and career development planning,” and past student testimonials attest that the faculty are both caring and engaged in each student’s personal and academic journey.
University of Dallas is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts institution located ten miles from downtown Dallas in Irving, Texas. Established in 1956 with an earlier charter, UD is comprised of four academic schools and colleges and currently enrolls over 3,000 coeducational students. With a dedication to “the pursuit of wisdom, of truth, and of virtue as the proper and primary ends of education,” University of Dallas has regional accreditation provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Online Master of Arts in Religious Studies (with optional Islamic Chaplaincy Program)
Program Details: The MA in Religious Studies degree program at Hartford Seminary is a fully online, open, ecumenical offering for students “of all backgrounds to deepen and broaden their faith understandings” in a way that allows them to be applied to their professional and daily lives. Once admitted to the 48-credit hour program, all students are assigned a Hartford Seminary faculty advisor to help them devise their personalized Program of Study. In addition to the seven core areas of coursework, which cover Scripture, Theology, Ethics, Religion and Society, History, Arts of Ministry, and Spirituality, Liturgy, Worship, students choose from one of five focused areas of study in Biblical Studies, Islamic Studies/Christian-Muslim Relations, Spirituality, Theology and Ethics, or Religious Studies. Additionally, students can opt for the 72-credit hour Islamic Chaplaincy Program at Hartford Seminary, which builds on the Religious Studies degree to further the focused study in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations and is “recognized as a Master of Divinity equivalent by the Association of Theological Schools.”
Begun by ministers of the Congregational denominations in 1833, the Theological Institute of Connecticut would move from its original location to Hartford, Connecticut in 1865 and become Hartford Theological Seminary in 1885. In a bold move for the time, the school voted to allow women to enroll in 1889—thus making Hartford the first seminary in the nation to do so. Offering a non-denominational and multifaith environment, Hartford Seminary (the name of the institution since 1981) is a member of the Boston Theological Institute and dually accredited by the ATS and the New England Associations of Schools & Colleges.
Program Details: The two-year, thesis track MA in Religious Studies degree program at Chicago Theological Seminary is a fully online scholarly program that prepares students for theological or ministerial service or further doctoral study. With a keen focus on “religious traditions, theology and ethics,” the 48-credit hour degree program requires courses such as “History of Christian Thought,” “Interpreting the Gospels,” and “Global Sensitivity in Ministry.” Students have up to five years to complete the degree, and a final Master’s Thesis culminates the program. The distinguished CTS faculty are diverse in their faith traditions as well as their experience, and provide thorough and relevant coursework to the MA students. Also ideal for those who “simply wish to study theology and religion without the aim of entering professional ministry,” the MA in Religious Studies degree enables students to choose ten electives in order to focus on their greatest theological interests. For prospective students who are searching for their particular path, a series of CTS Leaders For The Next Stories allows insight into the life work and journeys of current and past students.
A seminary of the United Church of Christ (but also offering specific coursework for students seeking ordination within the United Methodist or Metropolitan Community Churches), Chicago Theological Seminary is an inclusive, ecumenical Christian institution. Founded in 1855, CTS is the oldest institution of higher education in Chicago, Illinois and one of the eleven schools in the Association of Chicago Theological Schools. CTS students can participate in classes at any of the other seminaries, as well as at the University of Chicago and its Divinity School. A private institution, CTS holds both institutional and regional accreditation.
Program Details: The Messianic Jewish Theological Institute provides a 54-credit hour Master of Jewish Studies degree program for students of any background who desire “a broad exposure to Jewish Studies in a Messianic Jewish context.” Offered entirely online and very affordable, the MJS program can be completed in two years. The MJTI faculty bring impressive credentials and “decades of combined ministry and educational experience” to the virtual classroom with required core classes such as “Tanakh: The Beginnings of Judaism and the Jewish People,” “Toward a Messianic Jewish Communal Ethic,” and “Jewish-Christian Relations in Historical Context.” Students choose eighteen-credit hours of electives under the guidance of an advisor, and all electives fall within one of four categories: Scripture, Rabbinic Writings, Theology, and General electives. Two online MJTI Certificate Tracks allow for customization along with the MJS degree or individually—students can choose an Introduction to Messianic Jewish Studies Certificate or a Certificate in Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Both certificates tracks are comprised of three classes and can be completed in one year.
Established in 2002 by the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute (MJTI) is located in San Diego, California. Offering online and distance education, MJTI seeks to serve several purposes and visions. Founded as a Messianic Jewish School, MJTI offers a Prophetic Sign as a center of both Vision and Dialogue and as an International Learning Community. Open to students of any faith, MJTI is “not accredited at this time but . . . exploring that process.”
Program Details: Graceland University’s Community of Christ Seminary offers an online MA in Religion degree program that prepares students for either ministry within the Christian faith tradition or further doctoral work. The 30-credit hour program requires a one-week face-to-face component on-campus each semester, with the remainder of courses entirely online. An inclusive, ecumenical community, students participate together in classes such as “Community of Christ History and Scripture,” “Contemporary Culture and Theologies,” and “History of Christian Thought.” Faculty are practitioners, scholars, and theologians, and are passionate about “guiding students into informed, open-ended encounters with texts from prophets, theologians, and mystics.” Creating scholars out of students, Community of Christ Seminary allows space for students to produce and display their scholarly work. Called Graceland’s Restoration Studies, the goal of the scholarly work promotes “universal and interfaith dialogue for the sake of greater understanding, restoration and healing of the world.”
Graceland College was the original name of Graceland University, and it was established in 1895 by the Community of Christ church. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, the school was coeducational from the beginning, and eighteen men and women enrolled initially. An additional campus in Independence, Missouri was added in 1910, and other satellite campuses have sprung up in both states. This private liberal arts institution gained university status in 2000, and now nearly 2,500 students are enrolled in more than 50 academic degree programs. The Higher Learning Commission grants regional accreditation to Graceland University.
Program Details: Offering a compact yet rigorous online degree experience, Southwestern’s fully online MTS program requires just 36-credit hours. Providing a foundational education in theology, Bible studies and church history, students participate in a “summative evaluation” to finish the program. One unique element of the Southwestern online MTS program is the opportunity to complete it entirely in Spanish, and for students who desire an additional focus in their studies, the Southwestern MTS with a concentration in Cross-cultural Missions (MTS + Missions). Students of the MTS + Missions program add an additional nine-credit hours to the MTS degree and take classes covering “world religions and cross-cultural ethics.” The MTS degree is housed within the School of Theology and offered online through Southwestern Online, and prospective students can examine resources provided by the school to determine their abilities to thrive as an online student. All coursework is taught by the “world-class faculty” in the Southwestern School of Theology, and students can learn from their expertise.
Founded on the campus of Baylor University in 1908 as a department of theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary found its permanent campus site in Fort Worth, Texas in 1910. Southwestern has eight academic schools that offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees either on-campus or online, and to date Southwestern Seminary has graduated just under 45,000 students and currently serves over 3,000 enrolled students. In 1925 the Southern Baptist Convention took over leadership, and accreditation comes from both the Association of Theological Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Located in the College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and provided online through Athens State Online, Athens State’s online MA in Religious Studies program is “designed to promote learning, critical thinking, and research in an open and honest environment.” Students can guide the course of their education by choosing between a Thesis and a Non-Thesis track. The 36-credit hour degree program provides an academic study of major world religions in a nondenominational setting and is ideal for students who want to either pursue a doctoral degree (thesis track) or professional leadership in a faith-based organization or non-profit (non-thesis). For non-thesis students, the curriculum includes a Religion Project, twelve-credit hours towards a focus area, and three additional required courses (“Leading Change in Faith Communities and Other Non-Profits,” “Social Change and Transformational Leadership,” “Seminar in Leadership and Community Service”). Religious studies core courses cover topics like “Jesus, Muhammad, and Buddha” and “Interpreting the Text,” and the three focus areas allow for degree customization (students can choose from Biblical Studies, History of Religions, and Theology).
Athens State University has gone through many name changes, becoming a university in 1998. Begun as Athens Female Academy in 1822 and located in Athens, Alabama, Athens State became a public institution in 1974. Transitioning to coeducational status in 1931, Athens State houses three academic colleges and offers 33 advanced degrees. Over 3,500 students are currently enrolled in this senior college, and Athens State University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Students of theology who want to either pastor a church or further their education with a doctoral degree have an online MDiv option through the Northwestern University College of Graduate, Online & Adult Learning. The 76-credit hour MDiv provides a solid academic foundation of Biblical Studies, Hermeneutics, and Theological Studies coupled with Practical Ministry coursework and a Field Experience. Students can round out their MDiv degree with electives or one of six emphasis areas: Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Clinical Pastoral Education, Organizational Leadership, Human Services, or Educational Studies. Classes are comprehensive, and cover topics ranging from “Original Languages for Biblical Study” to “Ethics” to “Ministering Culturally and Globally.” The program is taught by professors who are “theologians and ministry practitioners themselves,” and many of whom have been called upon internationally as biblical experts. Online students can access a plethora of Northwestern Online Resources, such as Career Development Videos, and support continues when students graduate and become alums.
Established as the Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School in 1902, the University of Northwestern (UNW) first held classes at the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota. After growth and renovation, Northwestern moved to Roseville, Minnesota (located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul) in 1972. A private, Christian liberal arts university, Northwestern houses four colleges and four schools, and nearly 3,500 students are currently enrolled. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, UNW is a charter member of the Association of Christian Schools International.
Program Details: Providing a mostly online experience, Bethany Seminary’s Master of Arts degree can be ideal for students who are “feeling the call to prepare for ministry or further study but are unable to relocate.” The 54-credit hour MA degree program requires six of the eighteen classes to be on-campus, but through Bethany’s online Bethany’s online MA Connections track students can plan how they incorporate their on-campus time within their online program. The MA degree curriculum prepares students either for further doctoral work or employment with faith-based organizations, and offers five areas of concentration to customize the program: students choose from a specialization in Biblical Studies, Brethren Studies, Historical Studies, Peace Studies, or Theological Studies. Based on the student’s choice of concentration, a final thesis or portfolio culminates the degree. As a peace church tradition seminary, the course offerings are diverse in their offerings: students have choices ranging from “Quaker Process” to “Anger, Shame, and Guilt” and “History of Friends Peace Witness” to “Images of God.” Taking care of the “entire Bethany student body,” Bethany provides a Student Services portal to address the needs of all students.
Founded as a Church of the Brethren institution of higher education, Bethany Theological Seminary started in 1905 as Bethany Bible School. The first classes were attended by twelve students in the home of one of the founders on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Gaining accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools in 1940, the school moved first to Oak Brook, Illinois in 1957 and then Richmond, Indiana in 1992. The move to Indiana created a stronger partnership with the Earlham School of Religion, a Quaker school. In addition to being ATS accredited, Bethany has been regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1971.
Program Details: Offering a Jesuit education, with it’s whole-person focus, the Gonzaga MA in Theology and Leadership degree curriculum provides a well-rounded program with a “strong theology core” as well as a focus on Ignatian spirituality. Eleven courses are accessible entirely online (with core coursework and electives such as “Leadership and Diversity” and “Listen, Discern, Decide” available), and two summer on-campus immersions serve to enhance the Gonzaga experience. All coursework is provided by the renowned Gonzaga faculty members, and personal stories from current and past students reinforce the passion and dedication that the program exudes. The program is “ecumenical and inclusive” and not just for students professing a Catholic Christian faith—formatted as a cohort program, students work together in groups of 20 to 24 and provide support to one another. Gonzaga MA in Theology & Leadership Info Session Webinars are offered periodically to provide information and guidance for prospective students, and admitted students can expect continued guidance and assistance through specific online student services.
Joseph Cataldo, a Jesuit priest, established Gonzaga University (originally Gonzaga College) in Spokane, Washington in 1881. The institution was founded to train men to become priests and named for Jesuit saint Aloysius de Gonzaga. The first classes would begin in 1887 with eighteen students, and by 1912 university status was achieved. Gonzaga currently enrolls more than 7,500 coeducational students in seven schools and colleges, offering more than 100 academic degrees. One of the 28 Jesuit institutions of higher education in the US, Gonzaga is a private Catholic university regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Program Details: The Online MDiv at Iliff School of Theology is provided in a hybrid online format through JOURNEY at Iliff. Students are part of a cohort together—coursework is mostly online, with occasion on-campus Gathering Days to provide connection and in-person classes. The Iliff MDiv is a three-year program that can lead students to careers in ministry, non-profit leadership and advocacy, or academia. A diverse 52-credit hour curriculum offers six core areas (Comparative Religious Traditions, Sacred Texts, Social/Contextual Analysis, Historical Development/Exploration of Religious Traditions, Constructive Theology, and Theology and Religious Practices) from which to choose the majority of the coursework, and classes such as “Media, Religion, and Culture,” “Feminist Theology,” and “Ancient and Emerging Practices.” Students can enroll full or part-time, and the JOURNEY program has accreditation through the Association of Theological Schools. Prospective students can read through JOURNEY student success stories to hear the diversity or their journeys, as well as the common benefits they all found in the MDiv program at Iliff.
Founded in 1892 with a donation from Elizabeth Iliff Warren in honor of her late husband, the Iliff School of Theology was established as a theological school in association with the University of Denver. The School was located in Denver, Colorado just adjacent to the University, and even though Iliff gained institutional independence in 1903, it has remained at the original site. Guided by core values that align with the strong relationship Iliff shares with the United Methodist Church, Iliff is an inclusive and diverse institution dedicated to peace and equality. Iliff is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges.
Program Details: Located in the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education (GRE), the Fordham University online MA in Christian Spirituality degree program is available entirely online. A foundational degree that can lead to a career in ministry or teaching, the online MA in Christian Spirituality offers three degree concentrations to help customize the student’s experience. Students can choose to focus in Spiritual Direction, Research, or pursue a Generalist degree. For students who desire a life of ministry, the Spiritual Direction track offers coursework such as “Methods in Christian Spirituality” and “Discernment in Christian Tradition” to help prepare them to serve in a church or faith-based setting. The Research track requires classes focusing on Christology and Languages, as well as the completion of a final Master’s thesis. The Generalist track allows a broader approach and requires a final comprehensive exam (as does the Spiritual Direction track). Fordham GRE student resources, as well as the expert faculty members, provide support and services to help students thrive.
Established as St. John’s College in 1841, Fordham University is located in New York, New York. Considered a “daring and dangerous undertaking,” the school was founded by John Hughes, the future Archbishop of New York. Five years after it was founded, the school was sold to the Jesuits and is now known as “The Jesuit University of New York.” With nine academic schools and a student enrollment of more than 16,000 across five campuses and online, Fordham is a private Jesuit research university with regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: The two-year, 48-unit MA in Islamic Studies and Leadership program at Bayan Claremont provides a unique and comprehensive degree in a mostly-online format. Students participate in on-campus residencies each semester and engage in a rigorous program that will equip them “with a firm grounding in Islamic thought.” Classes cover topics such as “Abrahamic Faiths in Conversation,” “The Quran: Composition, Collection, and Teachings,” and “Muslim Spirituality Among the Religions of the World,” and all students finish the program with a final thesis or culminating project. The impressive Bayan Claremont faculty come from a variety of backgrounds and have extensive experience both studying and practicing Islam and impart to their students the knowledge and skills to become professional religious leaders, governmental consultants, and grassroots organizers. For students who are not sure if they desire a master’s degree, there are Bayan Certificates in either Islamic Education or Islamic Studies and Leadership. Both certificates are twelve-units, and depending upon the choices in courses, can be completed entirely online.
A graduate school at the Claremont School of Theology, Bayan Claremont opened in 2011 in Claremont, California. Offering “graduate masters and doctorate level degrees in various fields of Islamic religious sciences,” Bayan enjoys a healthy relationship with other theological schools nearby—particularly the Claremont School of Theology, the University of the West (a Buddhist school), and the Academy for Jewish Religion, California. Institutionally part of the Claremont School of Theology, Bayan is fully accredited by both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.
Program Details: For students who want to become chaplains within the context of their Islamic faith, Bayan Claremont offers a new online MDIv in Islamic Chaplaincy in partnership with Chicago Theological Seminary. Graduates of the program will be guided to cultivate “practical skills in spiritual care, cultural sensitivity, religious leadership, and chaplaincy” and can go on to work in a variety of chaplaincy settings. The 75-unit MDiv program can be completed in three years—students engage in classes mostly online, with one two-week residency required each semester. As with most MDiv program, Bayan students must complete Clinical Pastoral Education and a Field Education placement, and classes range from “Interreligious Dialogue & Leadership” to “History of Islam” and “Facilitating Life Cycle Rituals” and “Race, Culture and Identity Among Muslim Americans.” In addition to the partnership with Chicago Theological Seminary, students can also take classes from the Academy for Jewish Religion California, University of the West, and Claremont Graduate University. Since Bayan Claremont is the Islamic graduate school within the Claremont School of Theology, all students have access to the extensive Career Services offered.
Bayan Claremont is an Islamic graduate school offering three master’s level degrees as well as certificate programs. “Bayan” is an Arabic word that means “to elucidate,” and the institution of higher education strives to instill clarity of speech and eloquence in the students who attend. Jihad Turk established the school as a division of Claremont School of Theology in 2011, and he currently serves as Bayan’s president. Providing higher education to men and women who serve within and as part of the Muslim faith tradition, Bayan envisions a “world that understands Islamic values in a modern context.”
Program Details: Liberty University provides an entirely online MA in Global Studies degree program that equips students with the skills to “communicate effectively across cultures and cultivate healthy intercultural relationships” in order to successfully navigate a professional life in a multi-cultural or international setting. The 36-credit hour program can be completed in just a year and a half, and though it is fully online, students can participate in optional on-campus intensives. Located in Liberty’s Rawlings School of Divinity, the online MA in Global Studies degree offers students coursework in topics like “Intercultural Communication,” “History & Theory of Global Engagement,” and “World Religions Survey” to provide “a biblical and theological basis for worldwide involvement.” Possible job titles for someone who earns this degree from Liberty include Faith-Based International Development and Aid Worker, Church Based Global Mobilizer & Leader, and Cross-Cultural Worker, and past Liberty Online MA in Global Studies student testimonials give high praise to the “ specific training online in areas that my church lacked resources.”
Originally founded as Lynchburg Baptist College, Liberty University was started by religious-right magnate Jerry Falwell in the early 1970s. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty fulfilled Falwell’s desire to shape “the moral and ethical course of America” and is today the largest Christian University worldwide. A university since 1985, Liberty houses seventeen academic schools and colleges and offers a thriving online presence with over 110,000 online students enrolled. An additional 15,000 residential students are enrolled, and the school provides more than 600 academic programs. Regional accreditation is through Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The fully online Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) degree program offered by Northwestern is provided online by the College of Graduate, Online & Adult Learning and can be completed in less than two years. Ideal for students who want to go on to teach, the program is led by the “internationally recognized” Northwestern Department of Biblical & Theological Studies faculty members. The dual academic and professional 36-credit hour MATS degree offers both a biblical and theological education, and students participate in required courses such as “Spiritual Foundation for Leadership,” “Contemporary Issues in Theology,” and “Bible in Its World.” Small online classes (with a ratio of fourteen to one) allow students to be both educated and theologically nurtured by their professors and classmate peers. For students who want less than a graduate degree, the Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies is available, and for students who want to further their education beyond the MATS, Northwestern allows the 36-credit hour degree to count towards the Theological Studies portion of the 76-credit hour MDiv program.
Founded by pastor and evangelist William Bell Riley, UNW started out with only seven students when it opened in 1902. After a brief period of closure, the school reopened in 1972 on the current St. Paul, Minnesota campus (official address is Roseville, Minneapolis). With a mission “to provide Christ-centered higher education,” Northwestern is comprised of eight schools and colleges and serves almost 3,500 students currently with more than 70 academic areas of study. Northwestern is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals and has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Bethel’s MA in Theological Studies can be pursued in several formats, one of which is entirely online. Three start dates a year are presented for the online option, and the 51-credit hour program can be completed in just three years. Offering a “holistic approach,” the Theological Studies degree program focuses on the Bible “in its original context and what it implies for the 21st century.” Located in Bethel Seminary, the degree is taught by the Bethel Seminary Faculty, who serve as both “mentors and role models” for their students. The classes are both scholarly and practice-based, covering wide-range topics such as “Faith and Public Life,” “History of Christian Thought: The Early Church to Scholasticism,” “World Religions,” and “Eschatology and Hope.” Additionally, Bethel recognizes the unique needs of adult students and provides Bethel Student Success resources and services to help make the academic journey a successful one. With academic and support services, a dedicated Student Advisory Council, and other resources, Bethel helps make sure the student graduates with “the confidence of one who handles God’s Word with care and applies its truth to contemporary life with relevance.”
Founded as Baptist Union Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois in order to train clergy to minster to the Swedish Baptist immigrants who had come to the States to escape religious intolerance and persecution, Bethel University was begun by Pastor John Edgren in 1871. When the Baptist General Conference took over in 1914, the school was moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. Becoming Bethel University in 2004, the institution is comprised of four academic schools and colleges, including Bethel Seminary, and currently enrolls over 6,000 students. A private Christian university, Bethel is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and by ATS.
Program Details: For students who want to develop a better “intercultural understanding in an ever-changing, diverse world,” CIU Online offers an entirely online MA in Intercultural Studies. The 45-credit hour program is provided by a faculty who are multilingual, have multicultural experience, and have “lived internationally, doing the very work they’re teaching.” Possible careers with this degree are diverse—students can go into governmental work, military, mission or church service, academia, or non-profit work. Courses include topics in “Hermeneutics: Interpreting and Applying the Bible,” “Doing Theology in Context,” and “Systematic Theology.” Housed within the College of Intercultural Studies at CIU, the MA in Intercultural Studies degree program makes sure all students have the support they need both academically and spiritually. CIU promises an online learning environment in which students grow in knowledge as well as character due to “conversation and study, through reflection and hard work.” All CIU students, whether on-campus or online, also have access to a selection of student resources, such as an Academic Success Center, to help them as the earn their degree.
Started as an idea for a local Bible school in 1918, classes for Columbia International University (originally Columbia Bible School) began in rented space at the Colonia Hotel and at the YMCA in 1922. Officially founded in 1923 in Columbia, South Carolina, CIU quickly began offering graduate courses. Moving to the current location in 1960, CIU now serves over 1,000 men and women. An evangelical, nondenominational Christian institution of higher education, CIU is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: Along with fellow Peace Church tradition (Church of the Brethren) seminary Bethany, the Quaker seminary ESR provides an entirely online Master of Arts: Theopoetics and Writing (MATW) degree program. With a curriculum made up of ESR’s Ministry of Writing Program and Bethany’s Theopoetics and Theological Imagination Certificate, the 36-credit hour MATW program is crafted to equip students with the abilities to “write and think at the intersection of creativity, faith, and meaning.” Available online through Access, ESR’s online delivery method, students participate in classes such as “Hebrew Bible Theopoetics,” “Writing for God and God’s People,” “Preaching, Poetry, and Prophetic Imagination,” and “Peace of the City and Quest for Public Theology.” A final Integration Course and MA Summative Exercise culminates the degree program, and graduates will be able to artfully “bring spirituality into public conversation with the whole of life.” Once an alumni of the MATW program, students can engage in any of the offered ESR Events to enrich their ministry and/or professional life.
Earlham School of Religion is a Quaker seminary that began as a program of Earlham College in 1960. Located in Richmond, Indiana, ESR is the oldest graduate-level institution of higher education within the Quaker faith tradition. Approximately 100 students currently engage in study at ESR, and this private seminary has been accredited since 1969 by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and is regionally accredited (through Earlham College) by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Earlham School of Religion offers the scholarly, terminal MA in Religion degree online through ESR Access. The 48-credit hour degree program requires two-week residency intensives on-campus with the majority of coursework provided online. Offering four concentration options in Biblical Studies, Christian Theology, Quaker Studies, and Peace and Justice Studies, the MA in Religion program at ESR allows students to customize the degree to meet their academic and career goals. A final thesis culminates the degree, and students prepare by taking classes in languages, advanced theology, historical studies, and advanced biblical studies. Course topics vary and allow for student preferences, with options such as “Bible, Violence, and Non-Violence,” “Quaker History and Literature,” and “Spiritual Formation & Personal Practice.” Guided by the ESR faculty, who are accomplished writers, theologians, and practitioners, the ESR MA in Religion equips students as “skilled researchers and effective scholarly writers” in order to go on for careers as teachers or to further their studies through doctoral pursuits.
Admissions website
Quaker graduate school Earlham School of Religion is an ecumenical community offering on-campus and distance education programs in theology, ministry, and leadership. With a mission of being rooted in the “Christian Quaker tradition of contemplation,” ESR “unites spiritual formation, academic study, social engagement, and vital ministry.” Founded in 1960 and located in conjunction with Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, ESR is fully accredited by both the ATS and the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The Jesuit School of Theology (JST) at Santa Clara University provides an MTS degree program entirely online. The Jesuit School Online MTS degree requires a total of 48-credit hours culminating in a final master paper, and students engage in 39-credits of general theology and nine-credits of electives. Focusing on Biblical Studies, Historical and Systematic Theology, Spirituality and Pastoral Theology, and Ethics, Religion and Society, the degree program imparts to students a “broad theological foundation.” Students can pursue the degree on a full-time or part-time basis, potentially completing the program in two years. Jesuit School student services, as well as JST Student Testimonials, serve to help current and prospective students navigate their theological journey at SCU, and the distinguished, expert faculty provide guidance and mentorship as well. Jesuit School of Theology admission events are offered periodically, and for those who are interested in what life after the JST MST degree program looks like, a collection of Alumni in the News reports are showcased on the school’s website.
Owning the distinction of being California’s oldest currently-operating institution of higher education, Santa Clara University began as Santa Clara College in 1851. Located in Santa Clara, which historically was land that belonged to the native Ohlone people, the school quickly grew from a male preparatory school to a university in 1912. Another distinction, Santa Clara began admitting women in 1961, making it the first Catholic coeducational university in the state. Now over 9,000 students attend this private Jesuit institution, and Santa Clara University (renamed such in 1985) is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as ATS.
Program Details: The prestige of a scholarly master’s degree in religion from Harvard is possible online through the Harvard Extension School. The Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, field: Religion degree is a twelve-course, mostly online program in which students can choose a thesis or capstone track. At least three courses (twelve credits) must be taken on-campus to provide students with a “Harvard campus experience,” but students need not be deterred—they can engage in several on-campus options that meet their scheduling needs (such as three-week sessions in the winter or summer, courses that are online with a weekend intensive component, etc.). Students have up to five years to complete the degree and can choose to construct their course selections to add on a graduate certificate in Religions of the World, Religious Studies and Education, or Social Justice. Each certificate requires specific coursework, with topics ranging from “Bodies and Sexualities in the Medieval Middle East: Medical, Cultural, and Religious Views” to “Religion, Education, and Democracy” to “Readings in Black Radicalism.”
Ivy League Harvard University was established in 1636 by vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The oldest institution of higher education in the nation, Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and offers distance education through the Harvard Extension School. More than 36,000 students are enrolled on-campus and online, and this prestigious, private university has regional accreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
Program Details: Provided entirely online through Trevecca Online, the online MA in Religion degree program at Trevecca Nazarene University is an affordable, flexible program that can be completed in as few as eighteen months. A 33-credit hour program, students can choose from two concentrations: Biblical and Theological Studies or Pastoral Counseling. Shared core coursework includes classes such as “Biblical Methods & Contextualization” and “Christian Doctrine and the 21st Century Church,” and all students complete a Capstone Core Course as well. Each concentration provides four specialization classes that are unique to the focus area, with topics like “The Theology of John Wesley and His Theological Forbearers” and “Church, Society, and Christian Ethics” forming part of the coursework for the Biblical and Theological Studies concentration and “Pastoral Intervention in Crisis” and “Human Sexuality and Pastoral Counseling” making up the curriculum for the Pastoral Counseling concentration. Offered in the cohort model, the online MA in Religion at Trevecca is “committed to fostering an environment of Christian fellowship and community,” and students are supported by their peers, professors, and caring staff.
In 1901 the Literary and Bible Training School for Christian Workers was founded in Nashville, Tennessee. Begun as a school to train Christian workers, the scope broadened and the name was changed to Trevecca College. Over the next decade the school officially became a Church of the Nazarene institution. Moving in 1935 to its present location, the school made its final name change in 1995 to Trevecca Nazarene University. Now more than 3,000 students are enrolled in over 120 academic degree programs. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Students who desire a “solid theological foundation, grounded in solid Catholic doctrine” will find the online MA in Theology at Saint Joseph’s College an enriching program. Ideal for Catholic Christians as well as students from other faith traditions, the SJC Online Theology program presents the historic Catholic doctrine without a liberal or conservative bent for an educationally unbiased experience. Three specializations are offered: Pastoral Theology and Sacred Theology both require 36-credit hours, and the Advanced Diaconal Studies specialization requires 30-credit hours. All three specializations share some common core courses, such as “Catholic Moral Theology” and “Ecclesiology,” and all allow for students to choose two electives from a wide selection of subjects (some options include “Catholic Bioethics,” “Church Management and Leadership,” “Ministry with the Aging, Sick, and Dying,” and “Ministry in the Intercultural Church of America”). Online student resources at Saint Joseph’s College are plentiful, with dedicated academic advisors, online tutoring, IT services, and Student Support Specialists available to make the “challenges that adult learners face” manageable and easy to overcome.
Saint Joseph’s College (SJC or “Saint Joseph’s”) was founded by the Portland Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in 1912 in Portland, Maine. In 1915 the Maine Legislature established the school’s charter, and it operated as a women’s college. In 1956 the school moved to its current campus location in Standish, Maine, and in 1970 this private, Catholic institution became coeducational. Having offered distance learning programs since 1976, SJU is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: Through CCU’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies a completely online MA in Theological Studies degree program is offered in order to provide to students an exploration “through Biblical, systematic, historical, and dogmatic theological lenses.” The 39-credit hour CCU Theological Studies degree presents a curriculum that can be completed in two to four years, with classes such as “Major Approaches to Theology,” “Christian History,” and “Theological Aesthetics.” Provided with a Biblical and evangelical approach, the MA in Theological Studies degree can help graduates to “minister effectively in the church, parachurch organizations, workplace, or an academic setting.” The College of Adult and Graduate Studies also offers the online 39-credit hour CCU MA in Biblical Studies “for those who have diverse callings and are interested in an integrative biblical studies education grounded in the truth of the Scriptures.” As with the Theological Studies degree, students can transfer in up to nine-credit hour and complete the program in as little as seventeen months.
Colorado Christian University (CCU) was founded originally as Denver Bible Institute in 1914. The institution has moved locations and changed names as it has grown, settling into a permanent campus location in 1967 in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver. In 1989 the school officially became CCU and this interdenominational school houses two academic colleges and provides more than 100 academic degree programs to over 7,000 students. Regional accreditation is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Through Gateway Online, students can pursue Gateway Seminary’s 49-credit hour MTS degree program. A two-year program, the online MTS at Gateway is “designed to meet basic theological needs for effective service,” and students are given the opportunity to choose up to ten hours of electives to customize the degree for their particular interests and goals. The curriculum is comprised of courses in Leadership Discernment, Biblical Foundations, Theological Foundations, and Leadership Skill Formation, and in addition students are provided with academic, spiritual, financial, and emotional support. Claiming student success as “one the highest priorities at Gateway Seminary,” students can be assured that they will be provided with a whole array of resources and services to help support them in their journey. Gateway’s Theological Field Education (TFE) ministry practicum is offered to MTS students as an elective option rather than as a requirement, and through the course of the experience students will “develop the core competencies needed for ministry, growth in their understanding of self, and increased spiritual vitality.”
With a history rooted in the 1859 founding of the short-lived San Rafael Baptist Institute, Gateway Seminary began as the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 1944 in San Francisco, California. Moving to a larger campus in Mill Valley, California 1959, there are now five campus locations in the western part of the United States. Renamed Gateway Seminary and moving to a new main campus in Ontario, California in 2016, the institution has been affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention since 1950. Accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and ATS.
Program Details: Regent University offers a MA in Practical Theology degree entirely online through their ATS-accredited (Association of Theological Schools) School of Divinity. Five concentration options in Church & Ministry, Worship & Media, Interdisciplinary Studies, Marketplace Ministry, and Missiology allow for customization within the 48-credit hour program. Students can begin the eight-week terms at eight different start dates a year for convenience, and required core classes are common between all concentration options, including topics such as “Leadership in Church & Ministry,” “Christian Theology,” and “Foundations for Biblical Mission.” Twelve credit hours are devoted to the chosen concentration, and vary based on the focus area. Regent’s MA in Practical Theology – Worship & Media degree offers specialization classes like “Technology & Media in Ministry,” “Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs,” and “Models of Worship,” whereas the MA in Practical Theology – Marketplace Ministry degree provides an exploration of topics like “Managing Not-for-Profit & Faith-Based Organizations, “Organizational Communication, Conflict Resolution & Negotiation,” and “Innovation & Technological Success.”
Evangelist Pat Robertson founded the Christian Broadcasting Network University in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1977, and this institution would be renamed Regent University in 1990. Over 50 students were in attendance when classes began in 1978, and now nearly 9,000 students are enrolled in this private Christian university. Offering over 125 academic degree programs through eight schools, Regent’s regional accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Regent’s MTS degree program is available completely online and accredited by The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools. A 48-credit hour program, the Regent MTS degree provides five focus areas from which students can choose to concentrate: Biblical Languages, Biblical Studies, Christian Theology, Church History, and Cosmogony. The diverse concentration offerings give students the chance to pursue their particular professional goals with twelve hours devoted to the specialization. The Regent online MTS in Cosmogony degree, for instance, is designed to give students the skills to speak with authority on both matters of science and matters of theology and offers elective choices like “Origins of the Cosmos” and “Science Leadership & Communication,” as well as required courses like “Philosophy of Science” and “Foundations of Scientific Inquiry.” Provided by the Regent University School of Divinity “distinguished faculty and talented staff,” the online MTS degree program assures the success of the online student because of the care and guidance of the professors who are scholar-practitioners and who are geared to preparing students to lead a “multi-ethnic, multicultural and multigenerational ministry.”
Conservative spokesperson Pat Robertson’s Regent University, originally called Christian Broadcasting Network University, was founded in order to produce “capable men and women for the challenge of representing Christ in their professions.” The Virginia Beach campus was not fully constructed the first year, so classes were held nearby in rented classrooms. The name became Regent in 1990 to acknowledge the university status and to reflect that the students serve as regents in this world to their professed Christ. Comprised of eight schools. regional accreditation is granted through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The 36-credit hour Master of Biblical and Theological Studies (MBTS) degree program offered at Dallas Theological Seminary provides students an entirely online degree with a great deal of customization options. Required courses such as “Theological Method and Bibliology” and “The Story of Scripture: Genesis to Revelation” and a Summative Research Project are enhanced by the student’s choice of thirteen hours of electives. Options include classes such as “Ministry to Children at Risk”, “A Christian View of Art, God and Evil,” and “Theology & World Religions,” which touch on the school’s view of the inerrancy of the Christian Bible. The online MBTS degree at DTS is ideal for students who want to “enhance their biblical and theological foundation for lay ministry in professional contexts,” and the program allows up to twelve credit hours of coursework to be transferred in. In addition to offering the program entirely in Chinese as well, DTS also makes available free online classes to enrich the theological lives of pastors, lay leaders, and interested students.
Founded in 1924, Dallas Theological Seminary began with thirteen students. Originally named the Evangelical Theological College, the Dallas, Texas seminary currently enrolls nearly 2,500 students at various on-campus locations and online. Known for being a leader in promoting a modern Dispensational interpretation of the Christian Bible, DTS has more than 15,000 alumni the world over. A nondenominational, evangelical institution, DTS is regionally accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and also accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.
Program Details: Through the ACU College of Biblical Studies, an entirely online MA in Theology is housed within the Graduate School of Theology. The 36-credit hour program is ideal for students “who wish to deepen their theological foundation and gain greater competence” in the arena of the Christian religion. The program requires a final thesis and can be completed in just two years, and students participate in classes such as “Philosophy of Religion,” “Biblical Exegesis,” and “History of Christianity: Early to Medieval.” Along with an advisor, students choose a focus based on their interests and the electives offered by the Graduate School of Theology (or, with program director approval, any class offered by ACU Online). Through the University, many Centers and services are provided not just to students, but to churches and other institutions, and online students reap the benefits of these as well. As a resource for prospective students, ACU Online Open House Webinars provide a connection to the online MA in Theology program advisors, professors and current students.
Abilene Christian University is a private Christian institution of higher education located in Abilene, Texas. Twenty-five students enrolled when the school was established in 1906 as the Childers Classical Institute, and now ACU currently enrolls over 5,000 students in more than 100 academic degree programs offered in ten schools and colleges. With Churches of Christ affiliation, ACU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and is accredited both by ATS and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Campbellsville University’s online Master of Theology degree program gives students three concentration options to customize the degree. The 30-credit hour program allows students to choose from an emphasis in Biblical Studies, Pastoral Leadership, or Theological Studies, and rather than a core set of classes that are shared by all the concentrations, students participate in their chosen focus area courses and choose two from each of the other concentrations. The courses are therefore specific to the concentration, and range from “Pastoral Letters, Pastoral Leadership,” “Innovations in the Contemporary Church,” and “Ethics of the Christian Faith.” Students can finish the degree within two years, and students who choose the Theological Studies focus area will come away with a firm foundation of a “combination of church history and contemporary theological discussion.” Recognizing that not all students who pursue the Campbellsville online Master of Theology want to necessarily become ministers, a resource collection of other potential careers is made available through the Program Resources page.
Campbellsville University is a private Christian institution in Campbellsville, Kentucky that was founded as Russell Creek Academy in 1906. Originally a school for boys, Campbellsville gained university status in 1996 and now has additional campus locations. The school currently educates over 4,300 coeducational students, and even though official ties with the Kentucky Baptist Convention were severed in 2014, Campbellsville still upholds the Baptist ideals. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College.
Program Details: Liberty University’s fully online Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) degree program is housed within the Rawlings School of Divinity and presented for students who want to strengthen their knowledge to use in their local church or begin on a religious studies career course. Students take courses such as “Introduction to Apologetics,” “Intercultural Communication,” and “Survey of the History of Christianity,” and this 36-credit hour program can be completed online in less than two years. For students who decide to pursue further education, the online MATS program can be used as a foundational degree that can provide access to the Liberty Online MA in Religion degree or the MDiv degree. All online students at Liberty are provided with services and resources, but for online students who want to feel more of a community connection with their student peers and professors, the Instructional Media Team at Liberty has created “helpful instructional media tools and opportunities for scholastic interactions.” These webinars are held throughout the year and offer “interactive web-based seminars” to enrich each student’s Liberty experience.
Founded by Jerry Falwell and his congregation in 1971, Liberty University has grown to be one of the leaders in online education. With over 600 academic degree programs and more than 100,000 students enrolled through Liberty Online, the institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia has a reach that spans the globe. University status was granted to the mountainous school in 1985—that was also the year distance education was first offered. Now over 125,000 students are enrolled in the 600-plus academic degree programs, and regional accreditation has been provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Michael Templeton Managing Editor
Kacey Reynolds Schedler Contributing Editor
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Civil engineering traces back to the creation of Ancient Egypt’s infrastructure.
If you think about it, a major civilization would need to have engineers to function.
And that is what civil engineers do.
The Master of Civil Engineering online degree is one of the most popular online degree programs. We’ve gone through many programs to find the best that meet our standards.
Enter – the masters in civil engineering online.
In these master’s degrees, you’ll take civil engineering courses that prepare you to conduct research (and give you relevant work experience) in topics like:
Advanced mechanics
Computer science
Construction technology
Engineering theory
The built environment
Coastal structures
Engineering design
In many cases, these online programs have recorded lectures that are delivered online so aspiring civil engineers can pursue higher education at their own pace.
As a bonus, we present to you a list of some of the best online master of civil engineering programs, plus some of the best environmental programs. And even construction programs!
Three for the price of one! Ready to master civil engineering online?
Read on to discover the program that will lead to your exciting career in civil engineering. Get moving on creating the next big civilization!
You’ll find the best civil engineering master’s degree at NC State. There are two online master’s programs through Engineering Online. This online master civil engineering is one of the best.
There is the NCSU online Master of Civil Engineering (MCE) degree program. There’s also an online civil engineering/environmental program, too.
Both have 30 credits. No thesis is needed at North Carolina State University, the state’s flagship university. The GRE is waived for all applicants who have an undergraduate degree. That’s right – you don’t need to submit GRE scores at this top public university like you might with other schools with equally high research activity according to the Carnegie Foundation! International applicants may need to submit TOEFL scores, however.
These online master’s programs prepare students for leadership roles without having to require students to pay an arm and a leg. Tuition is charged per credit and it is an affordable program.
The NSCU online MCE and the NCSU online MENE degree programs each offer seven specialization areas. Examples include:
Construction Engineering and Transportation Materials & Systems
Air Pollution Engineering and Modeling & Systems Analysis
Aspiring civil engineers have up to six years to complete either online masters civil engineering.
You’ll find another one of the best civil engineering master’s degree programs at Johns Hopkins University. The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering has an online graduate program. It is also home to the online Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals graduate program.
Both programs at Johns Hopkins Engineering school have 30-credits. They allow students up to five years to complete the degrees on a part-time basis. The GRE is not needed for these Johns Hopkins engineering programs. The online Master of Civil Engineering program also offers an optional focus area in Structural Engineering.
There are many elective choices and focus areas from which the aspiring civil engineering can choose at Johns Hopkins Engineering, such as:
“Marine Geotechnical Engineering”
“Retaining Structures and Slope Stability”
“Preservation Engineering in the Urban Context”
As you can imagine, this degree in engineering requires students to work hard. However, it is an affordable program that offers the best of higher education for civil engineers, according to U.S. News & World Report. It’s a top ranked degree that is ideal for working professionals.
You’ll find another top civil engineering degree program, particularly for students interested in focus areas like engineering theory, in the heart of Manhattan.
Columbia University’s Columbia Video Network (CVN) provides the high-quality graduate programs expected from Columbia. But it is in a convenient, online format. Students at Columbia University will gain the advanced skills they need to solve major engineering problems. Aspiring civil engineers will take classes in everything from water resource engineering to preservation engineering, geometric design to engineering theory.
Two online MS programs are in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. In this civil engineering master’s degree, students can choose between the Columbia online MS in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics degree. There is also the Columbia online MS in Construction Engineering & Management degree.
Both programs have 30 credits. They allow up to five years for completion. Both provide a great deal of customization opportunities. The MS in Civil Engineering program has many concentration options. There are engineering electives like:
“Energy Dynamics of Green Buildings”
“Technology & Strategic Issues in Manufacturing Enterprises”
The Department of Civil Engineering at Illinois has two 100% online graduate degree programs. Both are some of the best civil engineering master’s degree options out there, especially for the working civil engineer. There is an online Master’s in Civil Engineering degree. There’s also a concentration for aspiring environmental and civil engineering students.
Both degrees are 36-credits and coursework programs. There is no thesis.
The online master’s in Civil Engineering degree offers additional concentration areas in:
The MS programs have an undergraduate degree in an engineering field. Students focus on a specific core of coursework. In this civil engineering master’s degree, they can choose from a wide selection of electives. Examples include:
The Missouri S&T Global Learning’s Distance & Continuing Education Department has two 30-credit hour degrees. There is the Missouri S&T MS in Civil Engineering, which is one of the top civil engineering programs in the country. There are options to take civil engineering courses with other majors as well, perfect for the civil engineer with broad interests.
Both degrees also provide focus areas. The online Master’s in Civil Engineering degree is a coursework program. There is no thesis. It has concentration areas like:
Geotechnical Engineering
Water Resources Engineering
Construction Engineering
The online Master’s in Environmental Science Engineering degree focuses on Engineering Analysis and Design.
Most students complete the degrees in about three years. They are allowed up to six.
UW-Madison has an outstanding civil engineering masters online.
Students work together as a cohort during the live online sessions. These are in an interactive and participatory experience. It sets the University of Wisconsin Madison’s ME program apart.
There are core courses in the civil engineering masters degrees at University of Wisconsin Madison such as:
“Hydraulic Design of Urban Stormwater Systems”
“Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering”
“Sustainable Microgrids”
The 30-credit hour ME program takes three years on a part-time basis. No GRE is needed for admission. You will complete a project paper in the specialization areas of your choice and can access recorded lectures to take all the online classes required for these civil engineering programs.
The online civil engineering program offers online classes that will prepare civil engineering students for work in government agencies and many other roles.
The Texas Tech Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering offers a great MS in Civil Engineering.
This online program is ideal for working professionals. It does not require students to visit campus, as some other civil engineering programs do. It is top ranked by U.S. News & World Report and has low in state tuition.
It is a 30-credit hour program. The online MSCE degree at Texas Tech will offer students three different ways of formatting their degree. There is the thesis option and the report option. There is also the coursework option.
The civil engineering degree program at this space grant institution is located in the Department of Civil Engineering in the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ College. The GRE is not necessary for undergraduate engineering majors. Students can take up to six years to complete the program.
The Ohio online MSCE curriculum has three core courses:
Construction Planning and Scheduling
Applied Civil Engineering Statistics
Engineering Writing
Students customize their degrees with one of several concentration area options:
The engineering college at Kansas State University has online engineering programs through the K-State Global Campus. The 30-credit hour MS in Civil Engineering degree program is coursework-only. Students can take up to six years to finish the degree.
Online MCE students focus on two emphasis areas: Environmental Engineering and Structural Engineering. This is a 30-credit hour program that takes two to three years. The online MCE does not have a thesis.
Coursework covers engineering subsets like:
Earthquake Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Biological Principles of Environmental Engineering
UCLA Engineering Master of Science in Engineering Online has an online Master of Science in Engineering degree. It has a Certificate of Sustainable Water Engineering. This degree focuses on clean water sustainability.
The curriculum has core courses like:
Environmental Biotechnology
Chemical Fate and Transport
Engineering Economic Analysis of Water and Environmental Planning
There are two programs at Villanova. There is a Master of Science in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering (MSWREE) degree. There’s also a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) degree.
Students must complete 30-credit hours. Courses include:
The University of Arkansas College of Engineering has a comprehensive Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree . Most students complete the 30-credit hour, multi-disciplinary online MSE in one and a half to two years.
Both the Environmental and the Civil Engineering degrees has the GRE as a requirement. You can study at your own pace in these online programs, taking the same classes as civil engineering graduates studying in on campus programs. You’ll study everything from engineering and construction to air pollution control, the built environment and engineering design. You’ll gain skills that will enable you to pursue any kind of job opportunities, from those at government agencies to consulting firms and everything in between.
They provide a relevant curriculum. The location of the school near the Atlantic Ocean allows for many environmental and coastal engineering research possibilities.
Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering Online (BCoE) has an online master’s program in civil engineering. Students can choose between a thesis (30-credit hours) and a non-thesis (33-credit hours) option. Seven specializations are available, including master’s degrees in:
Students can choose between the UND online master’s in civil engineering degree. This offers a 30-credit hour thesis or 32-credit hour non-thesis option. There is also the 30-credit hour online MEng in Civil Engineering at the University of North Dakota Grand Forks.
The UND Online Master’s in Environmental Engineering offers students the same choice. This is between a practice-based MEng degree and a research-focused MS degree. Both options are 30-credit hours.
Students can pursue two 100% online Civil Engineering graduate degrees here. The 32-credit hour MS in Civil Engineering and the 30-credit hour ME in Civil Engineering both provide a focus in Water Resources.
The online MS in Environmental Engineering (MS_ENVE) is a 30-credit hour program. It is in a cohort format. While most students enroll in full time study so that they can gain the advanced skills they need to go out and work for top public and private organizations as quickly as possible, part-time study is also an option for civil engineering graduates who want to work while they study at the same time.
The curriculum includes relevant and topical online classes such as:
Hydraulics and Hydrology for Environmental Engineers
Environmental Engineering Practices and Project Management
There are many civil engineering options available at the University of Texas at Arlington. There’s A Master of Engineering (M.Engr.) in Civil Engineering, a Master of Science (MS) in Civil Engineering, and an MCM. These are all in the Department of Civil Engineering in the UTA College of Engineering.
You can customize each degree. There are research areas in both of the Civil Engineering degrees. These include:
The Clarkson CEM program does ask for the GRE for admission. It has 30-credit hours for completion. There is a combination of civil and environmental core and elective coursework. That is along with business management coursework that aspiring civil engineers will take at this private institution to give you a strong background to work in just about any discipline, including leadership roles.
Courses include:
Advanced Construction Engineering
Sustainable Infrastructure and Building
Special Topics in Construction and Engineering Management
WPI’s Online Graduate Programs has an online MS in Environmental Engineering. The 33-credit hour program does not need the GRE. It offers a variety of coursework. This is one of the best online options for civil engineering professionals to choose from if they are interested in a coursework only program.
The LSU Online Master of Science is offered 100% online. Students participate in the “Professional” path of the 36-credit hour program. It is a non-thesis, coursework-only version of the on-campus program.
There are three core courses. These are followed by nine elective courses chosen by the student. Choices include:
Students can pursue either discipline as a Master of Science or a Master of Engineering Students can customize their chosen degree in many ways.
Some online classes offered for Civil Engineering include:
Probabilistic and Stochastic Methods in Civil Engineering
Wind Engineering
Special Problems in Environmental Engineering
Wetland Hydrology
After completing this civil engineering master’s, engineering students enrolled will be prepared for just about any and all job opportunities they can find. It is one of the best civil engineering master’s degrees for civil engineers who want to work for the government!
You’ll find another one of the best civil engineering masters degrees at Lawrence Tech. This program offers a cutting-education to civil engineering students enrolled in the online program.
The College of Engineering at Lawrence Technological University has two online engineering master’s degrees through Lawrence Tech Online. There is LTU’s online Master of Science in Civil Engineering. It offers a “specialized Structural Engineering focus”. It has a thesis or coursework-only option. This is one of the best online masters degree in civil engineering options.
There is also the LTU online graduate degree in Construction and Engineering Management. Both provide an appealing 30-credit hour curriculum. It takes two years or less.
There are small class sizes and experienced professors. The online delivery technology is cutting edge. The LTU online MS in Civil Engineering program curriculum is 30 hours for the thesis option. It is 33 for the coursework-only format.
The Structural Engineering focus translates to relevant classes such as:
A 100% online MS is available at FIU. The degree has 33-credit hours. These take a year on a full-time basis.
There are a wide range of electives in this online civil engineering masters. These offer many opportunities to customize the degree. There are Online MSCM choices such as:
The MSCEM degree has 33-credit hours of both core courses. There are also plenty of electives to choose from. For this online master degree in civil engineering, these include:
The UofL Online Learning MS in Civil Engineering is for professionals who have an undergraduate degree in civil engineering. It is in the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering.
The 30-credit hour online masters in civil engineering program takes just three “intensive enrollment” semesters.
The Michigan Tech online MS in Civil Engineering (MSCE) is a 30-credit hour program. It takes just five semesters.
It is part of Michigan Tech’s Online Engineering Degree Programs. It has a Structural Engineering focus. The engineering core coursework covers relevant topics in classes such as:
NJIT’s Newark College of Engineering has an online MS in Civil Engineering (MSCE). It is in the John A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The 30-credit hour online MSCE program takes less than two years. It allows up to seven for part-time students.
NJIT provides three specialization tracks. These are for students to customize their MSCE degree:
Engineering Transportation
Construction
Structural Design and Construction.
The online MSCE curriculum at NJIT provides core coursework such as:
Introduction to Urban Transportation Planning
Hydrology
There is also “bridge” coursework available for students who do not have an undergraduate degree in civil engineering. It’s also for those without a strong engineering or mathematics background.
Norwich University Online College of Graduate and Continuing Studies is the online platform for the Master of Civil Engineering (MCE). It is housed in the David Crawford School of Engineering.
Four concentrations are available in:
Construction
Environmental/Water Resources Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
Structural Engineering
All online MCE students participate in two core courses:
Engineering Mathematics
Project Management Techniques, Tools and Practices
There is also the Capstone Design Project at the end of the program on campus. Students often complete the degree in less than two years.
The Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering in the University of New Mexico School of Engineering has an online UNM Master of Construction Management (MCM).
The 30-credit hour program takes as little as twelve months on a full-time basis.
The core and elective courses comprise fifteen credit hours. They cover topics like:
The 30-credit hour program is in the UW-Stout School of Management in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management (CSTEMM).
The program has a resourceful and experienced faculty. They teach courses such as:
Environmental Concerns in Construction
Architectural Preservation
Succession Planning in Construction
There is a final research component. Students can choose between a thesis or an additional course in a research area for this degree in engineering. An example is “Field Problem in Construction Management.”
University of Colorado Boulder’s Graduate School offers students a program with an emphasis in Water Engineering and Management (WEM). It is all online. The MSCVE has 30-credit hours to graduate. The curriculum includes topics like:
Water Profession: Leadership and Communication
Water Utility Management: Current Issues and Future Challenges
The Tagliatela College of Engineering at the University of New Haven provides an online Master of Science in Environmental and Civil Engineering program. The 30-credit hour program takes as little as eighteen months to two years. There is no GRE or GMAT for admission.
The College of Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers an online, no-GRE Master of Science. The 30-credit hour program prepares students to seek certification from the American Institute of Constructors.
Classes include topics such as:
Advanced Mechanical Electrical Construction
Construction Cost Analysis and Bidding
Construction Law and Ethics
Earth Construction
As is the case with other online MS programs, this degree does have a non thesis option that serves as a great option for both part and full time working professionals alike.
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Ready to find your ideal master's program?
www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
There’s no doubt that project management is a vital skill set in today’s job market.
The rise of digital transformation across industries has opened up new doors. It’s expanded opportunities for professionals in project management.
Are you curious about the best degrees? We’ll take a closer look at them in this post.
Methodology: Points are awarded with equal weight. This was determined by the following criteria. There’s a range of point possibilities from zero to one within each category.
Program Accreditation (25%): Accreditation from the PMI-GAC or comparable body
Accessibility (25%): Extent degree can be completed online
Reputation and Recognition (25%): Placement in well-known and reputable rankings such as U.S. News & World Report
Clear Career-Advancing Focus (25%): Specific Career Services and resources and clearly stated on website that the program
PMP® and PMI® and PMBOK® are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
The MPM degree at Stevens is a 30-credit hour degree. It is a Master’s in Enterprise Project Management degree program. It’s all online through Steven’s School of Business.
This is a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) school. The Steven’s master degree program curriculum provides 35 professional development units (PDUs). This is towards Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. This can also go toward maintenance of the certification.
The core curriculum covers topics such as:
Leader Development
Project Analytics
You will learn how to manage projects and become an effective project manager in any setting.
There are three concentration areas to customize the degree. Students can choose the general track. It focuses on strategy, finances, and leadership. They can also choose more specialized technical-focused concentrations. These are in either Software Engineering or Construction Management.
This program offers convenience and excellence through live, interactive classes and collaborative group projects.
There is plenty of assistance for online students in the nationally-recognized Stevens Career Center. Online students receive dedicated and specific online support through the Continuing and Professional Student Care Center as well. Accredited by PMI-GAC
The MPM program at Northeastern University is hands-on and focused on practical applications.
Core courses include:
Project Scope Management
Risk Management
Leading Remote Project Teams
Negotiation, Mediation, and Facilitation
Students have eight concentration areas from which to choose. Full-time students can complete the program in just one year. Part time students take around two. Students can take full advantage of the College of Professional Studies Career Resources. It offers students assistance with everything from career-planning to technical help such as resumé-building. Accredited by PMI-GAC
One of the best online masters degrees in project management you’ll find is in the FIT Virtual Site. Florida Tech’s online master’s can be completed online (or on-site at several different locations).
There are two dedicated concentrations in Information Systems and Operations Research.
Students can select electives to create their own concentration customization. The degree has 33-credit hours. The curriculum is “relevant to today’s workplace.” Classes include:
Organizational Behavior
Cost and Economics Analysis
Project Tools and Techniques
There’s also a final, hands-on Capstone project. The Florida Tech Project Management curriculum satisfies the educational requirements for PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
There are prerequisite courses that may be waived depending upon a student’s undergraduate degree. Applicants should consult with an advisor. Accredited by PMI-GAC
If you’re looking for a project management master degree online with some serious accolades, look at WCU.
This project management program has the distinction of being the very first PMI-GAC accredited project management program. The Master of Project Management (MPM) degree program is through WCU’s School of Economics, Management and Project Management. It covers all the bases!
All courses are pre-approved to allow students to sit for the PMP Credential certification. For students who already have their certification, it lets them receive the professional development units (PDUs) to maintain their credentials.
All faculty members have both a doctoral degree and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. The program is housed in the AACSB accredited College of Business. It has a “global focus.”
Classes in the 36-credit hour program are all online. They begin in either January or August, and take two years. Students should be mid-career level with two years of relevant work experience. The Center for Career and Professional Development is available to all online students and graduates as a resource. Accredited by PMI-GAC
The next project management masters degree online on our list can be found in Boston.
The AACSB accredited Boston University’s Metropolitan College provides a Master of Science in Project Management degree program.
The program exists as a hybrid program, or on-campus. It has 40 hours. Most students take between eighteen to 24 months to graduate. Those who have achieved their PMI credentials can gain up to 45 PDUs.
This program is a huge boon for the online student. BU employs specific Instructional Designers to guide instructors as they craft their online coursework. This leads to an exceptional distance education curriculum and student experience.
BU collaborates with the resource Smarthinking™. It offers both current online students and alum the assistance of 24/7 online tutoring support. Accredited by PMI-GAC
The MS in Management Science (MS MAS) degree with a Project Management concentration is another one of the best online masters programs in project management. It is just one of three possibilities through the Project Management Program. This is at the AACSB accredited UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management.
Students can participate in the 20-credit hour project management core to pursue a certificate. They may also further their education with 19 more hours through the MS MAS degree program. They may continue even further to gain an MBA degree with project management emphasis by taking 14 more credits.
All students start as a cohort. They experience the core and obtain their certificate in twelve months.
Then, students engage in an International Study Trip.
Classes include:
Project Execution Planning
Information Technology for Management
These courses allow UT Dallas to issue PDUs to certified individuals to maintain their credentials. Accredited by PMI-GAC
CityU’s ACBSP-accredited School of Management has an online degree in Project Management that is one of the best online masters in project management around.
Classes cover topics like:
Measuring Project Performance for Success
Mastering Portfolios and Programs
Leading Domestic and Global Teams
The courses in this 45-credit hour program count as continuing education credits to maintain project management certification.
They also gain the assistance of the Online Career Management Community. Accredited by PMI-GAC
As one would expect from a university that only offers online programs, the CSU-Global Campus has a superb online master of project management.
The 36-credit hour program is in line with the PMBOK®. The curriculum helps students prepare to sit for the certification exam.
Students study relevant topics such as:
Project Metrics, Monitoring, and Control
Contracts, Procurement, and Risk Management
They may choose from a vast array of specialization options. There are fifteen specializations, including:
Applied Business Management
Finance
Information Technology
CSU-Global provides start dates at the beginning of each month. Students can start at the best time for their schedules. As an added bonus, every class is offered every term for ultimate choice and convenience. Accredited by PMI-GAC
Next up on our list of master project management online degrees is Granite State College. This is a 30-credit hour degree. It’s available all online in a “practice-oriented program.”
Students engage in classes such as:
Risk Management
Leading Teams
Project Planning and Scheduling
Granite State focuses on providing in-depth and applicable education to working adults. All Career Services resources are made available to online students. Not just current students, but also alum and individuals who are even considering attending a Granite State program! Accredited by PMI-GAC
Another top online master of project management is the MS in Project Management degree in the College of Business at ERAU.
This 30-credit hour program is offered online through Embry-Riddle Worldwide. It provides students with professors who are all PMP certified.
The curriculum is crafted by certified Project Management Professionals.
The final Capstone Project consists of an e-Portfolio.
ERAU also assists students in their career search. This is through the free online service “EagelHire.” This resource allows students and alum to send resumes to potential employers through the database system. Accredited by PMI-GAC
Pennsylvania State University provides one of the top project manager masters degree online. It’s along with the Penn State Erie Black School of Business. This is an interdisciplinary online master’s degree. It’s guided by the PMBOK® principles as well as the APM. This is the European equivalent.
This program is accredited by AACSB. The 30-credit hour program “uses problem-based learning.”
Penn State is a Registered Education Provider (R.E.P). Students can work toward their certification in a program that takes two years to complete.
The next program on our list of the top project management online masters programs is through Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies. This is an exceptional Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Project Management. It’s available 100% online.
This 30-credit hour program has hands-on project management experience. The online program is identical to the on-campus format. It offers the same resources and rigorous coursework. This is in topics such as:
Communication & Collaboration for Managers
Project Initiation & Development
Students benefit from the asynchronous online format. It gives students the ability to watch lectures on their own time.
The next best online project management degree on our list is a STEM-centered (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degree. Missouri State’s Master of Science in Project Management is online through the Department of Technology and Construction Management.
This interdisciplinary degree curriculum is built upon the standards and guidelines of the PMBOK®. It has 33 hours. Students take classes such as:
Project Control Systems
Cost Analysis for Project Management
Management of Innovation and Technology
Readings in Technology Management
Statistical Quality Control and Design of Experiments
Students can choose between a thesis or a seminar project to complete the degree. They’re provided with many resources to help them succeed. These resources extend for the Project Management student to learn how to pursue and achieve PMI PMP certification. Accredited by PMI-GAC
The Master of Project Management (MPM) degree at Bellevue is another top online master in project management. Classes are taught by PMP-certified instructors. They are also industry practitioners.
Professors offer rigorous coursework to train and prepare students for a career advancement. They can offer guidance and career advisement. Students can complete the program online.
The 36-credit hour curriculum is aligned with the principles in the PMBOK®. It includes classes like:
Organizational Structures and Practices
Cost Control in Projects
Schedule Management
Graduates of the MPM program will gain an “extensive network and a life changing experience.” That makes them quite attractive to hiring professionals. Accredited by PMI-GAC
This next project management masters online is the Master of Science in Management degree at Colorado Tech. It has a concentration in Project Management. This provides students with “tangible skills in project design, scheduling, team-building and creative problem-solving.” It is a 48-credit hour program.
This program is an Educational Provider Program (PMI R.E.P.). The CTU program offers courses like:
Strategic Management in Dynamic Environments
Database Analysis, Design and Implementation
Schedule and Cost Control Techniques
For a more business-oriented degree, there’s also the CTU ACBSP accredited online MBA. This has a concentration in Project Management. It’s also 48 credits. Courses include:
Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making
Applied Managerial Finance
Strategic Human Capital Management
There are multiple start dates a year. This allows students to begin the program when they need to. The long list of career development resources assures prospective students that CTU is involved in making sure students succeed in their online programs. Accredited by PMI-GAC
There are countless benefits of pursuing a 100% online Project Management degree from UW-Platteville. The 30 to 36-credit hour curriculum is aligned with the PMBOK®. Each course allots 45 PDUs.
Students start with foundational courses (if needed) and then take required core courses. An academic advisor is assigned to each student. They can help students choose the best electives to customize their degree. UW-Platteville offers an array of electives. These include:
Consumer Behavior
Taguchi Method of Designing Experiments
International Supply Chain Management
Business Ethics
And for students who have already earned their PMP credentials? UW-Platteville even allows that experience to count towards their degree. Full-time students finish the degree within a year or two. Part-time students are allowed up to seven years. Accredited by PMI-GAC
The next online master’s degree is through the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics. It is an AACSB accredited Online MBA Emphasis in Project Management. It’s “developed by local project management experts.”
The PMBOK® aligned courses include subjects like:
Quality Issues in Operations
Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity
Global Project Management
All coursework in work towards initial achievement or maintenance of PMI credentials. As an MBA degree, students receive a quality online education. This is through UW-Whitewater’s MBA Assurance of Learning. This assurance covers important learning objectives in the curriculum and the professional business traits to which they lead. These include ethical behavior, innovation and critical thinking.
The AACSB accredited GW School of Business Online MS in Project Management (OMSPM) is one of the most established degree programs of its kind. It’s been around since 1996. The 36-credit hour curriculum “goes beyond the PMBOK®.” It can be completed in eighteen months to two years when taken full time.
Students begin with an on-campus orientation. They then progress through the online coursework in a sequence. They complete the program with a week-long residency.
Saint Leo University has an MBA degree with a concentration in Project Management. It’s accredited by both the ACBSP and IACBE.
The concentration is only available online. The coursework is aligned with PMBOK® standards. This helps students successfully sit for the professional certification exam.
The 36 credits cover relevant topics like:
Monitoring, Controlling and Closing Projects
Human Resource in Management
Managerial Economics
Applied Project Management Case Capstone Course
You’ll complete project management control projects as well. These complex projects will prepare you for leadership positions and to sit for exams for professional certifications.
Saint Leo’s promises online student support through every step of the academic journey. This includes Student Advisors to Career Services.
The next program is aligned with the PMBOK® standards. Saint Mary’s online master’s degree prepares students to become PMPs.
It has 36 credits. Some classes are waived for students who possess professional certification. It takes 24 months to complete. The curriculum is rich with both managerial and project management classes such as:
Planning and Estimating
Product Integration and Quality
Managerial Ethics and Issues
There is a final Capstone project.
All incoming students receive a fully-equipped iPad. Accredited by PMI-GAC
What is MPM Degree?
An MPM is a professional master’s degree program. It’s focused on providing students with valuable project management skills for various industries.
MPM coursework develops the necessary expertise to manage all aspects of a project. This includes planning, execution, monitoring, and controlling through to successful closure.
The curriculum includes real-world scenarios. This enables learners to apply theoretical concepts in practical situations.
MPM programs may offer students the option to specialize in specific areas. These might include:
IT
Construction
Finance
Healthcare project management.
A project management program focuses on topics like change management and resource allocation in project planning. You’ll learn how to make informed decisions. You’ll gain a deep understanding of all required materials and skills for the field.
Project management courses may cover:
Stakeholder Management
Project Leadership
Risk Analysis and Risk Mitigation
Financial Statement Analysis
Financial Management and Financial Reporting
Human Resources Management
Project Communications
Information Systems
Managing Project Cost Without Sacrificing Project Quality
Enterprise Resource Planning
Information Systems
Quality Assurance
Strategic Planning
Conflict Resolution
Agile Methodologies in Inventory Management
Contract Management of Large Scale Projects
Managing Team Dynamics
Agile Project Management
Operations Management
Supply Chain Management
Technical Requirements of Project Management
Social Responsibility in Project Management
Contemporary Issues and Global Standards of Project Management
You’ll gain the technical skills needed for leadership roles and professional licensure. A project management master’s online can prepare you for continuing education opportunities.
Completing an MPM degree can lead to various benefits. These might include a higher salary and career growth opportunities. MPM graduates are well-versed in project management concepts. They have in-demand project management tools and techniques.
MPM curriculums promote leadership skills and team-building skills. This allows graduates to build dynamic project teams that drive project success.
Admission Requirements for Project Management Programs
Before you can begin studying, you’ll need to meet the admission requirements.
Most project management programs ask applicants to have a high school diploma. You’ll also need a bachelor’s degree unless you’re completing a 4+1 program. This kind of degree lets you complete a four year degree and master’s program at the same time.
A personal statement is necessary for admission to project management programs. Take time to craft a well-written statement that is both honest and compelling.
Many project management programs look for applicants who have experience leading projects. This can be found through work experience.
Some project management programs require two letters of recommendation. These letters should come from professional or academic sources. These should be individuals who can speak to your ability to study at the graduate level.
Most schools also ask for official transcripts, a resume, and English proficiency exams. Check with your desired institution for any other materials required for admission. You may need to meet a minimum undergraduate GPA from your bachelor’s degree.
Some project management programs may ask you to submit GRE scores (Graduate Record Examination). GMAT scores are often taken as a substitute.
When looking at project management education programs, pay attention to accreditation. Look for a nonprofit institution. Ideally, this should be a regionally accredited institution. It should have accreditation from organizations like:
The Project Management Institute (PMI)
Global Accreditation Center
New England Commission of Higher Education
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
What Can You Do With a Project Management Master’s?
A project management degree can open up new career opportunities. For example, program managers and project managers.
You can expect higher salaries. The best data is found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median salary for a project manager is around $95,370 per year!
Look at the project management program overview for the school you want to attend. This will not only tell you what kind of classes the program focuses on. It will also give you an idea of the project management cost for the program and
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So, you’ve decided to pursue a Master’s degree in English online. Congratulations!
You’re embarking on an exciting journey of higher education and self-improvement. An online graduate degree in English can open up new career opportunities and make you more marketable in the world of academia.
But with so many online programs out there, how do you choose the right online master’s degrees in English for your needs?
Read on to find out what you need to know about pursuing an online graduate degree in English.
The courses you take as part of your online masters degree English will vary. However, most allow graduate students to specialize in areas of interest.
Some common English courses you might take within your online MA in English include:
Public relations
Literature around the world
Nineteenth century British literature
Short stories
Technical writing
English and American literature
Literary history and literary theory
Children’s literature
Composition theory
American literature
Communication skills
Teaching writing to ESL students
Literature writing
American Renaissance literature
English majors may even be able to take an online course or two (or three!) in other fields as well. In some cases, you may be able to take electives that focus 100% on one author, like Toni Morrison or Margaret Atwood. An online MA English degree offers lots of flexibility.
When searching for online English masters programs, it’s important to do your research ahead of time. You need to ensure the program is accredited by a reputable source. One such source is Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is responsible for accrediting over 800 institutions.
Make sure that an online program you are considering is accredited by this agency or another notable organization. When it comes to online, there are often cheaper options out there. But it’s worth spending more if the school provides better support services, instructors with expertise in the field as well as flexible course options that fit your lifestyle.
Admissions Requirements
Applying to a masters program can be a daunting process. This is why it’s important to know what the admissions requirements are. GRE scores may play into admissions decisions. Some programs require an application fee (the application fee varies depending on the school). Each masters degree in English online will have different requirements.
Applying for a post-graduate program requires many steps. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the institution and their process before you begin your application. Pay close attention to admission requirements and application deadlines while working on your application. It takes time to request undergraduate transcripts and reports of GRE scores. International students may need to submit TOEFL scores in addition to GRE scores.
Some schools waive GRE scores. However, in almost all cases, your official transcripts should show a high undergraduate GPA. This is often an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Submit undergraduate transcripts from all schools you have attended. These transcripts will show that you are prepared for rigorous online study in English, even if your bachelor’s degree is in a related field.
Other admission requirements for online English masters programs include:
Three letters of recommendation (it’s not always three letters, but this is standard for most master’s programs)
Personal statement (the personal statement should be well written and show that you are adept in creative and technical communication)
If you plan to apply for financial aid, be sure to fill out the FAFSA. This is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It will qualify you not only for aid at your institution of higher learning but also federal and state aid as well.
What Can I Do With an Online English Master Degree?
English masters programs online offer many options. Individuals can pursue career possibilities in various writing fields. For those aiming to become professional writers and create their own content can opt for career opportunities in broadcasting and media outlets.
Many creative writers have the ability to utilize their degree for career prospects as well. They can turn their works into published novels, stories, and other forms of entertainment media. Freelance writing offers career potentials as well. There is the ability to research and write content that is highly demanded by news organizations, media companies, and digital publishing firms. Technical writers communicate information through writing and may be a career to consider.
Of course, you can also work in any of the following fields as well:
Multicultural literature studies
Rhetoric and composition
Research methods
Literary traditions
Digital media studies
Global literature
Writing and teaching writing
Technical writing and technical communication
English is a broad field that opens up the door to a wide range of professional interests. You can pursue any career path you’d like, including those in other fields such as:
Human sciences
Natural sciences
Social and behavioral sciences
Criminal justice
Social work
Business administration
An English curriculum will give you the skills necessary for clear communication and analytical skills. An English degree will of course produce better writers, too. That’s something that all potential employers in many industries like to see! Many programs even allow for specialization with other online programs, too.
Some degrees offer specializations. There are teaching online masters programs in English as well as online Masters English literature degrees. If you have a passion for one specific type of English master programs, be sure to choose a school that offers that specific field.
The online MA at Gardner-Webb University is available through the University’s Department of English & Literature. The English masters degree online focuses on communication, critical thinking, and analysis. The online MA in English builds and strengthens these skills while fostering a spirit of collaboration.
The degree follows the cohort model. Students progress through the entire program as a group. The MA in English degree can be completed in as little as six semesters. It requires a total of 30 units. These are divided into four core courses and seven courses in the concentration. Students may choose from three concentration options within the online master’s English degree. These include:
The University of Nebraska’s eCampus offers an MA in English with an emphasis in writing. It has 36 units. This is a focused professional program. The degree consists of seminars, special topic courses, independent reading and workshops.
It features required courses in both literature and literary criticism. UNK designed the MA in English online for individuals interested in obtaining an advanced degree in writing. It is also ideal for students and teachers who are seeking both personal and professional development. The online MA in English’s Writing Emphasis may be completed 100% online.
Harvard University has an online Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in English. Three of the 12 courses must be taken in face-to-face class settings. But the bulk of the online ALM degree is available through off-campus learning options. This online master degree in English is one of the best.
It is offered through the Harvard Extension School. The ALM online is designed to:
cultivate writing, communication and research skills
encourage critical thinking and strong reading skills
deepen students’ understanding of all types of literature through the interpretation and analyzation of texts
The program concludes with either a thesis or a capstone project.
4. Texas A&M University Commerce
MA/MS in English
Texas A&M University-Commerce offers English masters degree online. It leads to either to a Master of Arts or Master of Science. Students can opt to take courses online, as dual-modality (combination of online and in-person classes), or in a traditional face-to-face classroom.
The MA/MS features asynchronous courses. Students can complete each course and assignments on their own schedule. The master of English degree is available with two options. There is either a 30-semester thesis program option or a 36 semester hour program. The latter concludes with an independent research project.
Ohio University has an MA for Teachers. It is offered through the College’s Department of English. The online MA in English for teachers is ideal for secondary teachers and those interested in teaching college-level courses. This is in the new College Credit Plus program offered by the state of Ohio.
This MA is a 32-credit hour program. The MA in English online consists of eight seven-week-long courses.
Texas Tech University has another one of the best online masters degrees English options through its Department of English. The master’s degree is an affordable and flexible option. It is ideal for motivated students. The MA in English online can be completed in as little as three years. Just take one course per semester for six semesters plus two courses each summer for three summers.
The online MA in English includes 12 courses (totaling 36 hours). These cover topics of:
Wayland Baptist University is a private liberal arts university in Plainview, Texas. It is a faith-based institution of higher learning. Wayland Baptist boasts quality academics taught in small class sizes that are informed by a Christian worldview.
The University has over 40 undergraduate majors and specializations. There are more than a dozen graduate programs (including both masters and doctorate) and many pre-professional programs. The MA in English here is one of the best. It allows students to take a wide variety of electives and specializations.
The University of Texas at Tyler offers a research-focused online MA in English degree. The MA is available in multiple formats. These include 100% online and as a blended program. The latter online masters programs English degree combines online learning with face-to-face classes.
The MA in English program is designed to:
foster critical thinking
provide opportunities for advanced research
cultivate analytical writing skills
improve students’ textual interpretation
The online program can include a thesis or additional courses to complete the degree.
Eastern New Mexico University provides the online MA in English. It is taught by experienced professors.
The online master’s in English program is available 100% online. The MA in English features a small department size. Students can learn in intimate class settings and enjoy the benefits of one-on-one faculty advising.
Heritage University is a private institution. The online MA in English is an affordable and flexible option for non-traditional students seeking an advanced degree.
It is designed for teachers and aspiring educators who teach at the secondary or college level. However, the program is also applicable for individuals who are interested in pursuing their doctorate in English.
Students within the online MA in English have their choice of several job opportunities including:
teacher
communications manager
journalist
editor
researcher
public relations
The MA in English at Heritage is available online or in person at the University’s Toppenish site.
East Carolina University is in Greenville, North Carolina. It is a top-ranking, public, comprehensive, research university.
East Carolina University provides an online MA in English available entirely through internet-based learning. ECU was one of the first in the country to offer 100% online diplomas. Each online program features 24/7 access to course materials. It is taught by the same professors who teach on-campus. It is held to the same rigorous standards and requirements as the on-campus counterpart.
The online MA in English has both a thesis and non-thesis option. The non-thesis option includes a comprehensive assessment project (CAP) worth six semester hour credits. The whole MA in English requires a minimum of 33 semester hours. These are divided into core courses (worth three semester hours, or s.h.), electives (worth 9 s.h.), concentrations (worth 15 s.h.), and the thesis or CAP.
Tarleton State University is a member of the Texas A&M University System. Tarleton’s main campus is located in Stephenville, Texas. This is about an hour southwest of Fort Worth. Tarleton State University’s online MA in English program is offered both on-campus and online.
The MA degree is available with both thesis and non-thesis track options. The thesis track option for the online MA in English is intended for individuals who plan to continue onto doctoral work. The non-thesis track option was designed to meet the educational needs of secondary-level educators.
The MA in English requires a total of 36 units and can be completed in as little as 18 months of focused study. Tarleton State University’s Global Campus hosts the online version of the MA in English degree. To be charged as a Distance Learner, students must qualify for distance learner status.
Bowling Green State University is one of Ohio’s premier public institutions. Bowling Green State University’s online MA in English is available through the University’s English Department.
It is offered with three track options. The program is available 100% online with opportunities for local students to supplement online classes with face-to-face learning if they so choose.
It is a self-paced online M.A. Students take on one to two courses per semester (though up to three courses are doable for dedicated students). The M.A. in English is an asynchronous program. It allows students to access coursework 24/7. They can complete assignments on their schedule. Specializations are available in:
English Teaching (ideal for middle-, high school, and two-year college English teachers)
Writing and Rhetoric (designed for students pursuing professional/technical writing careers)
Individualized track (a generalized, student-organized program option)
National University is the largest private nonprofit university in San Diego, California. National University is proud to be a Yellow Ribbon School. It can offer military tuition discounts and provide dedicated military support.
National University has an online Master of Arts in English program through its College of Letters and Sciences. It is delivered online in interactive classes. The program is taught by faculty who are established creators and scholars within their field. Small class sizes mean that students receive individual attention from their professors. Students can focus on a single subject at a time for a month and finish their degree faster.
The online MA in English is designed to help students develop advanced skills in critical research, reading, and writing. Students have their choice of a variety of elective course offerings including:
Emporia State University has the MA in English with an online option. The online Master of Arts in English program meets the unique needs of students whose location or schedule doesn’t allow them to participate in typical on-campus courses and programs.
The Ma in English features small class sizes, strong mentoring relationships, and careful advising.
Possible careers for graduates of the online MA in English program include:
Minnesota State University, Mankato offers an online MA through its Department of English. The program is ideal for working adults whose schedules or location do not allow them to attend class in person.
The MA online features coursework that covers theory and teaching college-level literature. It provides students with a solid understanding of British, American, and World Literature.
Mercy College opened in 1950. The coeducational college is designated a Hispanic Serving Institution and federally recognized as a “Bright Spot in Hispanic Education.”
Mercy College has an online Master of Arts in English Literature. It is designed to provide a solid foundation for students interested in pursuing:
literary careers
college-level teaching
journalism
doctoral work
The MA in English Literature online covers advanced methodologies and theory of literary criticism. This is in British, American, world literature.
Mercy College’s Master of Arts in English offers the same full accreditation as its on-campus counterpart. It requires 30 credits to complete.
The online MA at Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a 30 credit-hour program. It consists of 24 hours of coursework plus 6 hours for the Degree Completion option.
The MA in English is available with multiple concentration options. This includes the 100% online TESOL concentration. This concentration equips students with the necessary training and knowledge to instruct English at home and abroad to individuals whose native language is not English.
The MA in English TESOL concentration is geared towards students who do not intend to pursue their state teacher certification and instead prefer to teach English in other organizations besides the U.S. public school system. This includes, but is not limited to:
Ohio Dominican University has the Online Master of Arts in English (online M.A. in English). It is available in a 100% online format. The master’s degree can be completed in as little as 18 to 24 months.
The English degree takes into account the unique needs of educators. It schedules courses in a way which better accommodates junior and senior high school academic calendars. 7th through 12th-grade teachers are also able to earn qualifications.
These lead English courses for college credit/Dual Enrollment. It is a flexible program with start dates in the Fall, Spring, and Summer.
The University of Texas at Permian Basin offers a Master of Arts in English degree through the UT Online Consortium.
It is available through the University’s English Department. The online MA in English is designed to provide the knowledge and development of skills for students pursuing a path to a Ph.D. It is also for those interested in a career teaching in four-year and community colleges. The MA in English is valuable for both high school educators and students in or pursuing careers in the fields of editing, publishing, and research.
The University of New Orleans offers an online Master of Arts in English. It is available through the University’s English Department. The online MA in English is designed to provide students with advanced expertise in rhetoric/ writing and literature.
The MA program is divided into 15 hours of five core courses in:
writing
rhetoric
American literature
British literature
graduate studies in English
Students are then required to concentrate in either Rhetoric and Writing or Literary Studies. They must take four additional elective courses.
Arizona State University has the Online Master of Arts in English through ASU Online. ASU’s online MA in English degree is designed to cultivate advanced communication, critical thinking, and writing skills.
The MA in English features courses from across the English discipline, including:
Arcadia University has an online Master of Fine Arts with a low-residency requirement. The online MFA is the only one of its kind in the Philadelphia Area. The program features personalized attention from faculty, online workshops, and study abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Partial funding is available for students up to $3,000 per year. Workshops are held weekly online conducted by faculty members. This provides students the opportunity to connect with both peers and professors.
Morehead State University has an online Master of Arts in English. It is a comprehensive program.
The online MA in English degree provides students with an overview of advanced literary study. This is combined with courses in writing and linguistics. The MA in English requires 30 units for graduation. These can be completed 100% online through Internet-based courses.
The University of West Florida has an online Master of Art in English.
The MA in English online has specializations in creative writing or literature. A flexible option, the program features synchronous course delivery. Students must attend live lectures via UWF’s online video conferencing system.
Students have the benefit of live interaction with their peers and professors while enjoying the flexibility of online course delivery.
The online MA program may be completed either online or on-campus. The 30-hour degree features advanced coursework. The online MA in English is ideal for:
school teachers
students interested in pursuing their doctoral degree
postsecondary instructors
individuals who love literature and enjoy studying
The program can be completed in as little as two years. The MA in English is offered with multiple concentrations in:
Writing Studies
Education
English with Modern Languages as a Cognate Discipline
Literature
Each concentration requires 15 hours of core courses and 15 hours of electives.
The University of Central Florida is a top-ranking research institution. It is one of Florida’s largest universities. UCF offers over 220 programs through more than a dozen colleges and schools.
The University of Central Florida offers the online Master of Arts in English through the College of Arts and Humanities. It is hosted by UCF Online. The MA is offered with a concentration in Technical Communication.
The University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) is a state-funded, public, comprehensive institution in Monroe, Louisiana.
The University of Louisiana at Monroe offers the online Master of Arts in English through ULM Online and the College of Arts, Education, & Sciences. It is a 33 credit-hour program.
The online MA in English covers literary topics ranging from contemporary works to medieval writings. It features flexible course requirements. The MA in English has specializations in either Creative Writing or Literary Studies.
Southern New Hampshire University has an online Master of Arts in English. The online Masters of English helps to prepare students for a myriad of careers. These include:
teaching at secondary levels and community college
continuation towards a doctoral degree in literature
editing and publishing
public relations
continuation towards a professional degree in business or law
It is designed to provide students with an enriched knowledge of both American and English literature. The online MA in English from Southern New Hampshire University cultivates valuable communication and critical analysis skills in students.
Louisiana Tech University has a degree in English through the College of Liberal Arts and the English Department. The online MA in English prepares students for numerous career paths. These include:
publishing
editing
teaching
technical writing
journalism
It also serves as a launch pad for continued doctoral work in either English or Comparative Literature. That is as well as professional degrees in law, business, and more. The MA in English offers both non-thesis and thesis track options.
Northern Arizona University has an online master’s degree in English with a concentration in Literature. The online master’s degree in English provides an in-depth understanding of the issues, concepts, periods, and authors essential to the advanced study of English and literature.
It is a flexible program. The MA in English allows students to customize their studies to match their interests. Thirty-six units are required to graduate. A thesis or research project may be needed for the students’ chosen emphasis.
Slippery Rock University has a master’s degree in English. It is a 30 credit hour program lasting 15 months. The online MA in English’s curriculum covers contemporary literate practices and features extensive research and practical applications.
Specialization in the study of writing is available in any profession or discipline. The MA includes nine required courses including a capstone experience worth six credits.
The MA in English prepares students for work in many fields including:
Liberty University has a degree in Professional Writing program. This is through its online learning department. It is a 36 credit-hour program that takes a year and a half to complete. Up to 50% of the Degree Total can be transferred to Liberty.
The online MA degree features 8-week long courses taught 100% online. It is a practical skill-building program. The MA online instills critical writing skills applicable to all industries. Students receive real-world, practical instruction in writing research and publishing process from #1 New York Times bestselling author and Christian novelist Karen Kingsbury.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha offers a low-residency master’s degree in writing. This is through the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media. It is available online. The MFA in Writing consists of four 16-week at-home semesters paired with five 10-day conference-style residencies totaling 60 credit hours.
Faculty Mentors play a significant role in assisting students throughout the program. During the at-home portion of the online MFA in Writing, students should expect to dedicate a minimum of 25 hours per week to their studies. The MFA in Writing online is available with four genre options in:
The University of Texas at El Paso has an online Master of Fine Arts. It is available through the UTEP Connect Extended University. The program is provided 100% online. It is the only online MFA in the world offered with a bilingual option (English and Spanish).
The MFA online is Ideal for working students who are pursuing a career in teaching at the university level. It is also for serious writers and those interested in going into publishing.
Lindenwood University has an online Master of Fine Arts in Writing. It concentrates on the study and craft of writing. The program features literature classes, craft classes, and writing workshops.
It is an accelerated program. Courses are offered quarterly and are available 100% online on-campus, or in a hybrid (combination of the two) format. It is a terminal degree. The MFA in Writing online is ideal for students who are interested in pursuing careers in:
The University of Arkansas at Monticello offers a non-residency, online program in English. It is ideal for self-disciplined individuals. The program can be tailored to meet the interests, schedule, and goals of each student.
The online MFA consists of 48 semester hours. It allows up to nine semester hours of transfer graduate credit to be applied to the program. Students set their own pace and schedule. You can take as many as 12 hours per academic term or as little as three hours. The MFA online is available with three genre concentrations including:
Converse College offers the Master of Fine Arts with low-residency requirements. It is a two-year program. 48 credits are required to graduate. Students have the option of focusing on a number of creative writing styles including:
Environmental Writing
Young Adult Fiction
Poetry
Creative Nonfiction
Fiction
Students are required to participate in four nine-day residencies held at Converse College offered twice a year. Students learn from visiting writers who bring valuable insight, giving public readings and leading discussions. Past visiting writers have included:
Wilkes University offers the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing. It culminates in a Master of Arts/Master of Fine Arts. The MA/MFA program is provided with two low-residency options:
online courses with two eight-day residencies in January and June or
online courses with four weekend sessions per semester.
Several areas of focus are available including the areas of:
documentary film
publishing
creative nonfiction
playwriting
screenwriting
poetry
fiction
The MA/MFA online requires a final project of each student. This is read and evaluated by an outside reader who is an editor, agent, publisher or producer.
Chatham University has a broad-based online Master of Writing. The program has flexible schedule options that allow students to complete the program at their own pace. The online MPW curriculum exposes students to a range of executive, organizational, and technical writing challenges. This is to provide an accurate representation of the realities of the current and changing business world. Concentrations are in Web Content Development and Technical Writing.
Union Institute & University has an online program in Literature and Writing. It is a 36-credit hour program. Start dates are provided in January, May, and August. The program can be completed in as little as 16 months.
Major core courses in the master’s degree online include:
Disciplinary Foundations I and II
Elements of Scholarship
Research Methods.
Potential careers for graduates of the online master’s in Literature and Writing include:
Antioch University has a low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. The program consists of a five-month online project period. This is rounded out by a series of on-campus residencies which feature readings, seminars, and workshops.
The residencies provide a nurturing literary community that helps students balance the solitary discipline that writing requires. The low-residency model also mirror the lives that professional writers live.
Students focus on a single genre such as:
young adult fiction
creative nonfiction
poetry
fiction
You are free to study and write more than one style and even challenge the concept of genres.
New England College offers an accelerated 12-month degree in writing. It is a 36-credit hour program. The online MA can be completed in as little as twelve months. The program focuses on traditional and new writing-based media. It offers individualized student-centered instruction.
Western New England University has a degree in English for Teachers.
The MA in English for Teachers online is a practical English degree that addresses the unique needs of educators.
The curriculum concentrates on:
grammar
literature
reading
rhetoric
This is in a framework that is tied to pedagogy. The online MA in English for Teachers consists of 10 graduate courses. These equal 30 credit hours including a three-credit capstone seminar.
East Stroudsburg University has a 100% online Master of Arts in Professional and Digital Media Writing (PDMW).
The MA PDMW online requires 30 credit hours to graduate. Full-time students who take on a study load of nine hours per semester can graduate in as little as four semesters. One of the advantages of the program is that students have the option of choosing between a major project or a thesis.
The online MA program provides a customized educational experience with paths to:
Webster University has an online Master of Arts (MA in TESL) through the School of Education. The online MA in TESL is delivered online, at the St. Louis home campus, and select campuses located across the US and world in two tracks.
The ESL/EFL education emphasis equips aspiring educators to teach around the world. Prior teaching experience is not required for this emphasis. The K-12 English language learner (ELL) education emphasis expands the existing knowledge and skills of active educators who already hold their teaching license.
The University of Southern California has an online option in Teaching through USC Online. The online MA in Teaching provides comprehensive TESOL training with innovative instruction.
The MA in Teaching online coursework divided into four main categories that provide:
theoretical foundations
practical teaching strategies and experiences
theoretical language and literacy for primary and second language learners
The University of Memphis has an online English degree with a concentration in ESL. The MA in English is ranked as one of the best. The ESL concentration is available with online options to equip educators to teach English as a second/foreign language.
The online MA in English in ESL builds skills in:
assessing language ability
analyzing language
planning language instruction
Students can put their learning to use through practical hands-on experiences domestically and abroad. Past graduate students have taught English in the Czech Republic, Korea, China, and Japan. They have presented papers at professional conferences including:
Hamline University has an online MA through the School of Education. The online MA in TESOL enhances student’s skills in English to promote economic and social equity and access.
The program prepares educators to work either locally or internationally. Online students may focus on teaching adults or teaching K-12.
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Being a teacher requires a long list of skills and traits. Most of us just don’t have these.
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To be a good teacher, you need to be compassionate, driven, and intelligent. You need to care deeply about your students. You need to care about the subjects you’re teaching.
You also need to have a desire to make a difference in the lives of your students.
If you have these skills and traits, then congratulations! You have everything you need to be successful in your chosen career path.
However, most cities and states don’t see it that way. They also want to see that you have the credentials and educational chops to back up your innate skills and tendencies. That’s where a degree in education comes in handy.
Are you working as a teacher with just a bachelor’s degree? Then a master’s degree is the next step in most places. Most states require all public school teachers to hold a master’s degree or higher in education (or in the subjects they are teaching).
There are some professionals who don’t teach in the classroom. Instead, they work in related fields, such as education policy or curriculum design. In that case, a master’s degree provides the extra training for a promotion or pay raise.
There are lots of benefits to earning a master’s degree in an education program. It can be tough to find the time to complete your required courses. That’s why many teachers will turn to online master’s programs.
An online master’s degree offers the same benefits as on-campus students. However, that’s with maximum flexibility and convenience. You can take classes when it makes the most sense to you when you are enrolled online.
Have a few minutes between classes?
Need to work on assignments during your lunch break or after school?
Earning your degree online makes it easier for you to squeeze your coursework into your busy day. There are lots of options for teacher certification to consider, including a master’s in education degree (or a Master of Arts in Education), a teacher certification program, and a K-12 degree in education.
There’s a misconception that an online degree doesn’t confer the same sort of credibility and quality of education as one earned in the traditional sense on campus.
However, this is false. It’s important to look for a school that has regional accreditation. That way, you can make sure you’re getting a diploma from a credible university. Look for a degree program accredited by organizations like the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the Higher Learning Commission, or the National Education Administration. This is particularly important if you plan on pursuing teaching certification or teacher licensure in most states.
But the reality is that online schools are just as reputable as their on-campus counterparts. Students enrolled online can receive an excellent education in this online program. This prepares aspiring teachers for a successful career.
In addition to looking for a school that is accredited as you prepare to be enrolled online, try to find one that offers a specialization in the specific area of education in which you’re interested.
For example, if you want to teach at the elementary level, make sure your online program will provide you with the credentials you need to apply for licensure as an elementary educator.
Do your research for an online master’s in education program!
We’ve taken care of the rest of the research so you don’t have to. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive list of the 20 best online master’s in education programs.
We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue. You may not know where to start when considering an online master’s in education.
The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology. It is based on the following five aspects:
25% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school
25% Graduation Rate: Number of students who start at the university and actually finish there
20% Earnings Potential: Average mid-career salary of school alumni
20% Selectivity: The number of aspiring teachers who apply versus the number who actually get accepted
10% Online Graduate Offerings: The number of programs offered online in each department
At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one. We want to help you reach your goals. Let us help with your school search!
Here are the best masters in education online programs!
Texas A&M University is a public land-grant research university located in College Station, TX.
The school opened in 1876. It is the flagship university of the Texas A&M University System. Here, you’ll find plenty of education programs to choose from. In fact, this is one of the best places to earn an online masters teaching degree.
There are quite a few different online education masters programs to consider here. It is one of the best is the master’s degree in special education. This best online master’s in education is listed as the eighth-best in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
It is best for individuals who already have a background in disability, education, behavior, or related fields. You don’t have to have a teaching license to apply. Clinical or teaching experience with initials with disabilities is preferred. You will also need a bachelor’s degree in a related area.
Online learners complete 36 hours per credit time in this two-year, online master’s in education. There are several start dates per year. No GRE is required – again, neither is a teaching license. You will graduate with either a Master of Education or Master of Science. This depends on the specific courses you decide to pursue in your online master’s in education.
Courses in these online master degree programs in education will cover a long list of topics to prepare online learners for a variety of career options.
In these master of arts in education programs, online learners may take classes in such areas like:
Consultation in Special Education
Multicultural and Bilingual Special Education
Adolescent Literacy for Students with Diverse Instructional Needs
Instructional Design
Online learners complete a K-12 field experience in the town of their own choosing for the master of education programs online.
An affordable program, this online master’s in education has low tuition rates. To cut costs even further, there are fellowships, graduate assistantships, and additional forms of financial assistance.
There are plenty of reasons to put Texas A&M at the top of your list. It’s ranked one of the best universities in the world by the U.S. News & World Report and The Times Higher Education Supplement.
It’s also top-ranked by Forbes and The Washington Monthly. It is second-best in the country, according to The Wall Street Journal. That’s when it comes to helping students land jobs in key careers and professions. Aspiring K-12 teachers will want to consider Texas A&M for sure for a education master degree on line!
Liberty University is a private Evangelical university in Lynchburg, VA. It is best known for its massive online appeal. The school has more than 95,000 students. Most (around 80,000) are enrolled online. In fact, Liberty enrolls more students online than any other university in the United States.
The 36-credit hour Master of Arts in Teaching at Liberty University has 100% online courses. They last eight weeks each. Most education students can complete their studies in just a year and half. They can then focus their studies on the most important methodologies and best practices of theory in teaching for the masters degree on line education.
You’ll pair advanced learning theory with an evidence-based, practical approach. All Master of Arts in Teaching degrees here are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. They’re delivered from a Christian worldview.
You can choose between a 36-, 45-, or 51-hour track. There are programs available in:
Elementary Education
Middle Grades
Secondary Education (high school students)
Special Education
There are dual endorsement and additional concentration areas (such as CTE Transition and Special Needs) available. These elementary and secondary education programs are some of the best at preparing students for diverse career paths.
Students in this online masters program in education learn through classes in this master’s degree in education such as:
Special Education and Disability Law
Educational Philosophy and Theories of Learning
Language and Literacy for Diverse Learners
Most licensure track requirements in this online master’s in education are online. Even If you have limited teaching experience, you’ll be able to start your studies and get the experience you need in order to obtain licensure.
Best yet, these degree programs are affordable. Tuition rates haven’t gone up in six consecutive years. This tuition freeze reflects Liberty’s commitment to providing quality, low-cost education to students all over the country. Not only that, but online students enjoy a vibrant student life!
You can continue working and get a college degree part time all while enjoying the best that an education master’s program has to offer.
NC State is a public land grant research university in Raleigh, NC. It is one of the best schools to consider for education degree programs if you’re looking for an online program that offers a more hands-on approach.
This land-grant research university is known for its contributions to academic and scientific research. It forms one of the corners of the famed Research Triangle with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The master’s in education programs at NC State have several tracks for students to consider. That includes a popular STEM Education concentration.
At these best online colleges for masters in education, you’ll be able to choose from additional areas of concentration like:
Science Education
Mathematics Education
Engineering and Technology Education
You can choose to take elective courses during both the spring and fall semester. These are in unique areas to add more versatility to your degree, for example:
biological science
horticulture
forestry
medicine
Choose the STEM master’s in education programs, and you’ll take required courses in your online master’s in education like:
Special Problems in Mathematics Teaching
Foundations of Science Education
Topical Problems
You’ll take around 45 hours of study in the online master’s degree (with an affordable per credit tuition rate) in total for these accredited online masters programs in education. That’s with no field experience or practicum required. There are multiple start dates per year to make online learning even more flexible and convenient.
Most full time students can complete their master’s degrees in one to two years of study. 18 months is the average for full time learners.
There are numerous scholarship opportunities for these masters in education programs online as well. The online master’s degree is not intended for educators who are not pursuing 6-12 teacher certification. It is a degree completion program, not a licensure pathway.
However, it is an excellent option for licensed teachers to consider to help them round out their degrees.
Another public research university to consider is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As the first public institution of higher education in the state, it first opened in 1795.
It has been educating students in droves ever since. The school offers more than 70 online master’s program options within 13 separate professional schools. It is also home to a great online Master’s Degree in Education.
The degree has a focus on Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support. This allows you to earn your credentials while studying part-time. You’ll gain the skills and knowledge from this early childhood education program you need. You’ll become a leader of other professionals who are dedicated to helping young children and their families.
This is a two-year online master’s degree for early childhood education. It consists of 33 to 36 hours of study. You can complete it by itself. You can also add an optional autism concentration for no additional cost per credit.
It focuses on family-centered inclusive practices for young children who are most at risk due to:
poverty
cultural or linguistic differences
developmental delays
This masters degree online in education is designed for working professionals. It is offered 100% online. That’s with the exception of a once-weekly off-campus meeting in Chapel Hill during the fall and spring semesters. The rest of the curriculum is delivered via some of the most up-to-date technology. It is designed according to the soundest evidence-based practices.
You may take classes to prepare you for all kinds of career opportunities in education, including administrative positions. In your courses, you’ll gain significant professional experience to make a huge difference in students lives.
Examples of classes you’ll take in these academic programs include:
Education leadership
Social science
Strategies for teaching students with autism spectrum disorders
Behavioral management
Working with provisional datasets to make sound instructional decisions
Working with special education teachers and other education proefssionals
Counselor education
Teaching methods and instructional strategies
This program prepares students to work in collaborative teams with professionals from a variety of agencies and disciplines. That’s along with parents from diverse backgrounds. You’ll be able to meet any kind of specific career goals you might have to make a greater impact (and enjoy a higher earning potential) in a student’s life.
Another benefit of these best online masters degrees in education? They are affordable. There are options for both licensed and non-licensed teachers to complete their studies at UNC. That makes this online master’s degree one of the most versatile and cost-effective around.
A public university, California State University, Bakersfield is in Bakersfield, CA. It first opened its doors as Kern State College. It joined the state university system in 1968. The school offers more than 50 different programs of study on its main campus in Bakersfield. It also has a satellite campus in Lancaster, CA, and of course, online.
You’ll find another one of the best online master’s here at California State University, Bakersfield. The master’s degree in curriculum and instruction will allow you to understand how to mold a curriculum to best suit student needs. You’ll also build your teacher leadership skills. You will learn more about the core concepts of educational technology integration and educational equity.
You can even earn a CTC-approved Reading and Literacy Added Authorization while you complete your master’s! If literacy education is important to you this may be the best online master’s degreefor you.
All courses are offered in a convenient online format. You’ll learn from expert faculty—each of whom holds a doctorate degree. You’ll have the full support of the same staff members you’d see on campus.
Financial aid is available for the online masters in education degree. The average student takes just one year to complete the 30 required hours for this program. All classes in these 1 year online master’s in education programs are available 100% online. Tuition for this online master’s degree is affordable. There are multiple start dates per year.
Choose to study at the University of Central Florida and you’ll have plenty of locations to choose from. The school’s main campus is in Orlando, FL. You can also choose to study at one of 10 other regional campuses in the state.
Pursuing 100% online master’s programs is another option for you to pursue. UCF offers a variety of online master’s programs. One of the most popular is the online Master’s Degree in Education in Elementary Education. It is an education program for those seeking teacher certification as elementary-level teachers.
You can choose from several endorsement and specialization options. That includes those in:
Reading
ESOL
Gifted Education
Exceptional Education
You will complete around 30 hours of study for this online master’s.
The Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Central Florida is one of the most affordable in the nation. An education degree could be in your reach!
The University of the Cumberlands is a private university in Williamsburg, KY. It opened as Cumberland College. First, it enrolled just a small population of students who were interested in Christian-focused education. Today, the school offers a wide variety of majors both on-campus and online. That includes a handful of online master’s programs in education and education administration. It’s home to some of the best online schools for masters in education.
The Master of Arts in Education at the University of the Cumberlands has four distinct concentrations:
literacy specialist
school principal/school administrators
teacher leader
school counseling
These masters education online programs do not lead to initial teaching licensure. However, it can provide additional teacher certification and advanced opportunities in other areas.
You will take classes in these online masters in teaching programs such as:
Reading in the Content Areas
Writing Instruction in the Content Areas
Personality and Psychological Assessment
Human Resource Leadership
There are additional options to specialize in special education and teacher leadership too.
Tuition rates at the University of the Cumberlands are among some of the lowest in the nation.
When studying full-time in these online masters programs in education, you’ll pay just under $10,000 per year in tuition for this education degree. That’s regardless of your residency status. You’ll need to submit recommendation letters and test scores in most cases. Graduation requirements vary depending on the specific pathway of higher education chosen.
Johns Hopkins University is a private research institution in Baltimore, MD. It opened in 1876. It was named after its first benefactor, philanthropist and entrepreneur Johns Hopkins.
The school is ranked among some of the world’s most prestigious universities. It is considered the first research university ever in the United States. It’s also home to some of the best online masters in education programs.
This university offers a variety of education degrees. One of the best is the Master of Science in Education. It has a focus on educational studies. It’s perfect for students who are interested in becoming full-time teachers. It’s also great for those who are interested in education careers outside of teaching.
You’ll take 39 credits of study in these masters programs for teachers. All of your courses will emphasize a cohort-based learning model. New cohorts can begin their studies at one of four points throughout the year. Your courses will focus on the best methods for educating at-risk and underprivileged students. All cohorts in these online masters programs for teachers will graduate in about two years.
This isn’t a licensure-track program in all states. However, it does offer significant financial aid for students who qualify. All online students pay the same tuition rate per credit hour. That’s regardless of residency.
Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Education
A public research university, San Diego State University is in San Diego, CA. It has a popular online campus as well. It is here that you will find some of the best online education programs.
The College of Education at San Diego State offers severalgreat online master’s degree options in education.There are Master of Arts or a Master of Science degrees in a variety of concentrations.
Some popular majors for education students include:
Rehabilitation Counseling
Postsecondary Educational Leadership with a specialization in Student Affairs (great for working at a community college or other postsecondary education setting)
Child Development
Critical Literacy and Social Justice
Special Education (high school and elementary alike)
These masters in teaching online programs provide students with the same caliber of education that they’d receive from the face-to-face programs at San Diego State. They have added flexibility so you can complete your studies when it is most convenient for you. There is even an option to receive additional program credit. That’s if you earned your credential in the last six years.
The curricula of all of these online masters teaching degree options are focused on social justice and equity in education. If you want to be a responsive, innovative K-12 master teacher, this is the degree for you.
You’ll be able to graduate in just one year. You’ll take right around 24 units of credits. Coursework varied depending on the specific degree that you select, but in general, you’ll take courses in:
instructional technology and virtual learning
diversity
curriculum and instruction
early language learning
applied behavior analysis
research methods
student success and resources for students living on site
research-based pedagogy
You’ll also conduct a significant amount of research and complete a final capstone project as well. Again, you can specialize in the area that interests you most in your teaching career, such as:
Master’s in Education Programs in Special Education
A private Baptist college, Mississippi College is in Clinton, MS. This school is the second-oldest Baptist college in the country. It is the oldest school in the state of Mississippi.
Despite its historic past, this school has a variety of modern and updated remote master’s program options for prospective students to choose from.
There are countless online master’s programs for learners here to consider. One of them is the master’s in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Instruction.
However, the most unique is the online teaching master’s degree in Special Education. This degree at Mississippi College is designed for licensure teachers who wish to add the Mild/Moderate Special Education (K-12) to their existing educator licenses.
You’ll take a close look at the psychosocial and cognitive needs of children with mild to moderate learning disabilities in P-12 classrooms. All coursework for education students is available online. Students can complete their studies at their own pace.
You’ll take 30 credits of study. Core courses include:
Research Methods and Procedures
Current Education and Psychological Testing Procedures
Characteristics of Students with Mild/Moderate Learning Problems
A unique feature of Mississippi College’s masters programs for teachers is its pay-by-course tuition cost options. You can choose to pay just one course at a time rather than by semester or year. This can help you save money and chip away at your courses as you have the time and money to do so.
Most students will be able to complete their studies in just 10 months with an affordable per credit tuition rate. It’s one of the fastest around. There is rolling admissions and numerous start dates per year. Mississippi College’s online teaching master’s degree offers students some of the best opportunities for completing their degrees on their own terms.
Let’s face it—as a student and teacher, you live a busy life. You don’t necessarily have the time to schlep to campus to take classes five nights a week. Therefore, a remote or hybrid master’s might be especially appealing to you. But is it just as respected as a degree you might earn on campus?
Absolutely. Online degrees aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but as long as your degree is accredited, you’ll be able to access the same learning material as you would if you were studying on campus. In addition to the graduate program options listed in this post, other popular school rankings are Western Governors University, Concordia University, University of South Carolina, and others.
The only potential downfall to learning online versus on-campus is the lack of personal interaction and hands-on learning experiences, but online instructors are finding a way around even that.
You can now complete all of your student teaching, practicum, and internship requirements right in your own town. Graduate education programs can help even experienced teachers have a successful career.
Can I get my master’s in teaching online?
You can earn a master of education online, studying from the comfort of your own home. The average online teaching degree will require 30 to 42 credit hours of study, meaning that you can graduate in two years or less if you study full-time.
That said, if you’d prefer to take things at a slower pace, you can always take longer to complete your education degrees online, too (most schools allow up to six years). The exact curriculum that you will pursue will vary depending on your chosen field of education as well as what kind of career goals you have.
For example, if you want to pursue an educational leadership degree, you’ll probably find yourself taking classes in things like cultural proficiency, organizational theory, school law and ethics, and public relations.
An aspiring special education teacher, on the other hand, might take classes like Behavioral Disorders in Children, the Law and Special Education, and Psychology.
Regardless of your chosen path, you’ll be required to complete a variety of hands-on learning experiences, such as internships, practicums, and K-12 student teaching placements. This will give you the skills you need to manage a K-12 classroom and plan lessons effectively.
How do you apply for a master in education programs online?
Application requirements for education programs online vary widely, due in part to nuances between individual schools. However, requirements also vary depending on the state in which you plan on attending school, since each will have different standards as far as teaching licensing goes.
You’ll usually need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to apply. This can often be in any field as long as it is related to the area you’d like to teach. You will need to furnish official transcripts, typically with a GPA that is no lower than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Plan on taking the GRE, or Graduate Records Imminent, prior to completing your applications as well. These aren’t application requirements enforced by all schools, but it’s good to have your scores ready to go in case you need them. You’ll also need to supply letters of recommendation, scholarly writing samples, an essay, and a resume.
Again, the application requirements do vary between schools. It pays to touch base with your school’s education department or admissions office before completing your applications to make sure you have everything you need to be eligible.
What kind of jobs can I get with an online master’s in education?
Earn a master’s in education and you’ll open the door to a wide variety of career prospects.
Working as a teacher is the most obvious career path. A master’s degree in teaching will provide you with the skills you need for K-12 classroom management, curriculum development, educational technology and basic pedagogy.
That’s not your only option, of course. With these accredited online masters degree programs in education, you could also work in an administrative role, perhaps working as an administrator, curriculum designer, or policymaker.
Is it worth it to get a masters in education?
Earning a master’s degree in education will provide you with the skills and credentials you need to earn a reliable salary for the remainder of your career. Although teaching isn’t regarded as one of the best paying professions, teachers are always in high demand and you’ll gain a deep level of respect from those within the school and the broader community.
A teacher with a master’s degree will enjoy a significant pay raise over one with just a bachelor’s, too. On average, earning a master’s degree can help you earn a pay bump of up to 14%, depending on where you live. Plus, since some states (such as New York) mandate that all teachers be educated at the graduate level, earning a master’s in education is worth it if only because it means you’ll be able to keep your job! Online graduate education programs are well worth it.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, high school teachers and beyond tend to earn a slightly higher salary than those who teach at the elementary level. Secondary and postsecondary teachers (K-12 high school and college students) tend to earn salaries in excess of $79,640 per year, on average, while those who teach elementary education earn around $68,050. Regardless of the grade level, if you choose to specialize in an in-demand area, like special education or STEM, you could earn a higher salary, too.
Again, however, you won’t have to worry about finding or keeping a job. These positions are in consistently high demand, with new positions expected to grow at a rate of around 12% by 2030.
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www.mastersprogramsguide.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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We live in a world of technology. But what happens when things are not running smoothly, or when technology becomes outdated? We look to our Information Technology (IT) professionals of course! The Masters of Information Technology degree is one of the most popular online master’s degree programs thanks to this need for cutting-edge technology and the dependence upon it. Another reason making it so sought after is the financial benefits of having a master’s degree in the field–earning potential goes up when one has tangible proof of more training and more experience, particularly if your degree is from a well-known school. And, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is growing at a much faster than average rate, so there are many jobs out there just waiting to be filled. If you are intrigued, read on to discover some of the amazing schools that offer online master’s in IT programs.
Methodology: We combed publicly available sources such as the U.S. News and World Report, several accrediting bodies, and the websites of schools that offer online Master of Information Technology or Master of Information Technology Management degrees. In doing so, we noted several recurrent program attributes that enabled us to form a methodology to narrow down the pool of schools to the top 35. Using the methodology and the common program attributes, a point system was assigned to each attribute to then rank the programs. If two or more schools received the same point value we then ranked the school with the lowest out-of-state tuition more highly. The attributes by which the schools were ranked are as follows:
Degree customization 25%– number of specializations available
Program flexibility 25%– the extent to which the degree can be completed entirely online
Faculty achievement and student success 25%– easily accessed information on faculty expertise and recognition and student stories of success and/or achievements
School reputation and commendation 25%– being ranked or recognized by independent, reputable sources such as U.S. News and World Report
Virginia Tech (officially named Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University since 1970) was originally the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. Established as a land-grant university in 1872 in Blacksburg, Virginia, the school went through several name changes through the years. The main campus covers 2,600 acres, and a teaching farm nearby sits on almost 2,000 more acres. Additional academic centers are located throughout the state, and 280 academic degree programs are offered to over 34,000 students currently enrolled. The third largest university in the state of Virginia, there are ten schools and colleges at this public research institution of higher education. In addition to being a land-grant university, Virginia Tech is also a space- and a sea-grant institution, and one of only six senior military colleges in the United States. Regional accreditation comes from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: The highly-regarded, entirely online Master of Information Technology degree at Virginia Tech (VT-MIT) is an interdisciplinary program enriched by a “learner-centered approach.” Designed and offered jointly by the AACSB-accredited Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering, the 33-credit hour program provides eleven focus areas in which students can choose to specialize. Options range from Analytics and Business Intelligence to Cybersecurity Management to Health Information Technology to Software Engineering, and more. The same core curriculum serves for all students regardless of specialization, and classes include relevant topics such as “Web-Based Applications & Electronic Commerce,” “Fundamentals of Computer Systems,” and “Strategic Leadership in Technology-Based Organizations.” The road to student success and achievement recognition is well-trodden, with many examples of students’ experiences detailed, as well as great detail made of the extensive faculty research and industry contributions. VT-MIT students can complete the degree at an accelerated pace within eighteen months, but most graduate in two and a half years.
Regis University was christened Las Vegas College when it was first established in 1877. It was located in Las Vegas, New Mexico at that time, but moved to the state of Colorado in 1884 and then to the current campus location in Denver in 1887. The name was naturally changed when the location changed and would become first Regis College in 1921 and then Regis University in 1991. Named for John Francis Regis, a Jesuit saint, the school has a strong tradition as a Roman Catholic university with a distinct Jesuit identity. This private Roman Catholic university currently enrolls more than 11,000 coeducational students both on-campus in Denver and through online programs. There are five academic divisions (Regis College, the Rueckert Hartman College for Health Professions, the College of Contemporary Liberal Studies, the College of Computer and Information Sciences, and the College of Business and Economics) that comprise the institution, and regional accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Regis’ College of Computer & Information Science faculty members provide an online Master of Science in Information Technology Management degree (ITM program) that is ideal for those “who aspire to lead technical teams and expand the value teams bring to their organization.” The 36-credit hour program begins with three core requirement courses (“Information Technology Concepts,” “Enterprise Architecture,” and “IT Research Methods”), followed by four major courses focusing on emerging technologies, ethics, and project management. Students then have their choice of electives and one of ten emphasis areas to customize the degree (Agile Technologies, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Database Administration, Database Design, Enterprise Resource Planning, Healthcare Informatics, Information Assurance Policy Management, Software Engineering, and Systems Engineering). Current student stories provide context and information for prospective students, and an Information Technologies Advisory Board made up of “industry leaders who support Regis University and the College of Computer & Information Science” help to keep the program relevant and rigorous.
Florida State University (FSU) holds distinction as being one of the oldest and one of the largest institutions of higher education in the state of Florida. Dating back to 1851, FSU’s roots began as the all-male West Florida Seminary, which went on to merge with the Tallahassee Female Academy in 1858, thus becoming coeducational. After the Civil War it was divided into three distinct schools based on color and gender. The female institution was named Florida State College for Women, but after many decades the school transitioned into the FSU of today, open to all students regardless of race or sex. The public research university is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and the very high research level (as categorized by the Carnegie Foundation) is joined by space- and sea-grant designation. Part of the State University of Florida System, FSU houses nineteen schools and colleges and enrolls almost 42,000 students currently. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools regionally accredits FSU.
Program Details: Distance@FSU allows up to seven years for online students to complete the 32-credit hour Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program. Provided through the School of Information (iSchool) in the College of Communication & Information, the sought-after program imparts both a “solid foundation” and “expertise” through the rigorous curriculum. Core courses provide the foundation in topics like “Assessing Information Needs” and “Management of Information Organizations,” and electives are varied and offer many opportunities to customize the degree with a selection of classes including “Writing for the Information Professions,” “Information, Technology, and Older Adults,” and “Computers as Persuasive Technology.” The achievements of faculty members, graduates, and current students highlight possibilities for future students, and newly admitted students receive support and resources from the beginning to help them become successful in both their academic and professional journeys. Starting with an online orientation and academic advising, many services are provided to online students.
In 1864, members of the Methodist church desired to calm the wild west attitude that was dominant in the newly established city of Denver, Colorado. They established the Colorado Seminary, which was initially located in the city that had been formed just six years earlier and was mostly a mining camp. The institution of higher education moved after just two decades to a farm just outside the city proper, and though the school is still officially recognized on the institution’s W-9 form as “Colorado Seminary,” the name by which the school is known was changed in 1880 to University of Denver (DU). Over 300 academic degree programs are provided through the ten schools and colleges of DU, and 12,000 students are enrolled both on-campus and online. A research university with a vision to be a “great private university dedicated to the public good,” DU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: University College at the University of Denver provides an entirely online MS in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) degree program that can be completed in just eighteen months. The 48-credit hour program has nine dedicated concentration options for students to customize the degree—with choices such as Database Design and Administration, Information Security Systems, Project Management, and Telecommunications Technology among the choices, students can find the path they need to pursue their career goals. All concentrations share the same four core courses: “ICT Business Foundations,” “ICT Technical Foundations,” “Enterprise Architecture,” and either a Capstone Project or a Capstone Seminar, and offer concentration-specific courses and a selection of electives. Online students share their stories to give insight into the program and online learning through University College, and the faculty have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share throughout the program.
In 1890, members of the wealthy Armour family were inspired by the “Million Dollar Sermon” delivered by their pastor Dr. Frank Wakely Gunsaulus in the Congregational Church located in South Side Chicago. This led them to form the Armour Foundation, and three years later the industrial arts-focused Armour Institute welcomed students for the first time. In 1895 another school opened on the west side under similar circumstances. Funded by the estate of Allen C. Lewis, the Lewis Institute provided liberal and industrial arts education to coeducational students. By 1939 the schools were in discussion about merging, and this led to the formation of the Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech or IIT) in 1940. A private, doctoral research university with a main campus in Chicago, Illinois, IIT has several campus locations and now enrolls over 7,000 students in eight schools and colleges, and the Higher Learning Commission has provided full regional accreditation since 1941.
Program Details: The Master of Information Technology and Management (ITM) offered through the School of Applied Technology at Illinois Tech provides students with a general track of study, as well as eight different specialization options. The 30-credit hour program allows students to focus in specializations such as Computer and Information Security, IT Management and Entrepreneurship, and Systems Analysis, just to name a few. The curriculum provides an integrated approach with courses offered that cover “IT disciplines of management, development, technology and theory, operations, and security” with many classes offered online. ITM student projects allow students hands-on experience to display the skills they have learned, as well as preparing them to excel in the job market and the field. The focus on student support and success is evidenced through stories of the experiences of current students, and a dedicated IIT Career Management Center helps not just current students but also alumni with resources and services.
During the 1950s, in a time known as the “space race,” when the increase in technology and research in space travel was at its height, a school was established in 1958 in Florida to help provide a location to centralize education in the field. Named Brevard Engineering College, the school would grow to become renamed the Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) in 1966. Founded in Melbourne, Florida classes focused on science and technology. A private coeducational institution, Florida Tech is part of the United States’ space program with a high level of research activity to “prepare students for entering the global workforce.” Almost 6,500 students are currently enrolled on-campus and online in the five academic colleges: College of Aeronautics, College of Engineering and Computing, Nathan Bisk College of Business, College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, and College of Science. Florida Tech is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The entirely online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program at Florida Tech is a 33-credit hour program that positions students to be leaders of “complex projects from a 21st century information technology perspective.” Required core courses cover topics like “Project Management for Information Technology,” “Organizational Behavior,” and “Advanced Management of Information Systems,” and electives provide customization with a selection of classes that include “Security in the Enterprise,” “Project Tools and Techniques,” and “Strategic Management of Technology & Innovation.” Two specializations are also offered, the MSIT in Cybersecurity program and the MSIT in Database Administration program, and both require 33 credit hours. With the assurance that Florida Tech Online is dedicated to student “success from Day One,” online FAU students have plenty of resources, services and supports from enrollment and beyond graduation. A majority of the faculty members have received the highest level of education in their field, and student success is highlighted.
Established as the State Normal and Industrial School in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1891, the school has been the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) since 1964. Dr. Charles Duncan McIver, a local educator, advocated for an institution to educate women in the late 19th century, and ten donated acres served as the campus location of the school that opened to almost 200 students in 1892. Changing names multiple times, the school began becoming coeducational in 1962 and was fully so by 1964. In 1971 the institution of higher education joined the unified University of North Carolina System (although the university, as does the other fifteen schools within the System, maintains its own Board of Trustees and Chancellor). The largest public university in the Triad region of the state, UNCG currently enrolls almost 20,000 students in eight schools and colleges and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The AACSB-accredited Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNCG offers a Master of Science in Information Technology and Management (MSITM) degree program that can be pursued entirely online through UNCG Online. Crafted with a focus on “today’s technology-driven business environment,” the 30-36 credit hour program is ideal for IT professionals who want to move into management or for current IT managers who want to deepen their knowledge. In addition to relevant required coursework such as “Organizing Data for Analytics,” “App Design and Programming,” “Designing Secure Computer and IOT Networks for Business,” and “Project Management for Dynamic Environments,” students can participate in an optional concentration in Business Analytics. The faculty are recognized leaders and bring “real-world consulting experience to every course,” and the Information Systems and Supply Chain Management Advisory Board advises and provides current trend information to strengthen the program, which is housed within the Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management.
In 1956 the Ford Motor Company provided the state of Michigan six million dollars and 200 acres in the city of Dearborn for the express purpose of establishing an institution of higher education. The Dearborn campus is one of two regional campus locations for the flagship University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Ford Motor Company was both philanthropic and strategic in funding the school—having a university in the urban sprawl of Detroit would guarantee a supply of well-educated engineers for Ford’s motor car industry. Called University of Michigan–Dearborn (UM–Dearborn), classes began in 1959 for the 34 enrolled students. Three degree programs were provided initially– Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Business Administration were the only choices. Now four colleges provide over 100 academic degree programs to the nearly 10,000 currently enrolled students. A public university, UM-Dearborn is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: UM-Dearborn offers an MS in Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) degree program that can be completed entirely online through the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Housed in the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering department of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the 30-credit hour program is ideal for “engineers, computer scientists, business people, and other professionals who have responsibility for using, designing, improving, installing, managing, and evaluating integrated enterprise wide information systems.” Five determined concentration options are offered (Information Management Applications, Supply Chain and Information Systems Design, Information Security and Quality, Web Information Management, and Information Systems Engineering), and students can develop a concentration of their own focus area in conjunction with their IS&T Program Advisor. Three core courses are common between all of the concentrations (Database Management Systems, Enterprise Information Systems, and Object Oriented Systems Design). In addition to dedicated advisors, students have the benefit of learning from faculty members with real-world experience and recognition.
George Washington University (GW) began as Columbian College in 1821. The seed had been planted for an institution of higher education in the Capital when Washington delivered his first State of the Union address in 1790. In 1819, Baptist ministers took up the cause and petitioned Congress successfully for the school. The ministers purchased property in the District of Columbia and the first group of students—all three of them—began class in 1822. Now more than 25,000 students are currently enrolled in GW (the school became George Washington University in 1904). Fourteen schools and colleges comprise this private research university, offering over 70 academic degree programs. GW “values a dynamic, student-focused community stimulated by cultural and intellectual diversity and built upon a foundation of integrity, creativity, and openness to the exploration of new ideas,” and regional accreditation is granted by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: Promoting a program that teaches “technology for today and management skills for tomorrow,” the Online Master of Science in Information Systems Technology (OMSIST) degree is offered through the AACSB-accredited GW School of Business (GWSB). An optional on-campus orientation kicks-off the 33-credit hour program, and students can complete the degree in just eighteen months if pursued full-time. The final on-campus residency Integrated Information Systems Capstone course completes the degree, and students have the opportunity to customize the coursework with a selection of electives that are either technical-based (such as “Telecommunication and Enterprise Networks” and “Data Warehousing”) or more managerial (like “Technology Entrepreneurship” and “Information Resource Management”). Student support begins prior to enrollment through info sessions that are offered periodically to answer questions for prospective students, and new students are assigned an advisor that remains with them throughout the duration of the program. A collection of articles on the achievements and recognition of faculty and alum provides insight into the world after graduation.
Opened in 1964 as Kennesaw Junior College in Cobb County, Georgia, Kennesaw State University (KSU) had an initial enrollment of just over 1,000 students. Several academic expansions and name changes occurred prior to the school becoming KSU in 1996, and now campus covers almost 600 combined acres in two primary locations: Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia. Thirteen colleges provide over 150 academic degree programs to more than 35,000 students on the two campuses. There are over 200 student organizations and groups, and as a public, research university KSU “values open, honest, and thoughtful intellectual inquiry, innovative and creative problem solving, professionalism, expertise, collaboration, integrity and ethical behavior, engaged citizenship, global understanding, sustainability, mutual respect, and appreciation of human and cultural diversity.” A member of the University System of Georgia, KSU is the third largest institution of higher education in Georgia with regional accreditation provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree at Kennesaw State is a 30-42 credit hour program housed within the College of Computing and Software Engineering’s Department of Information Technology. The credit hour variation depends upon whether the student’s undergraduate background allows them to waive twelve credit hours of foundational course requirements. All students participate in the required core classes, which cover subjects like “IT Service Delivery” and “InfoSecurity Concepts and Administration,” and there is a choice between a Thesis or an IT Capstone to culminate the degree. Electives are offered as concentration certificates, with four focus areas available in Data Management & Analytics, IT Security, Health IT, and Enterprise Management. Three start dates a year and an online orientation set the stage for flexibility and convenience, and online student support and experienced faculty (who are recognized for their achievements in online instruction) are more of the benefits of a KSU online MSIT.
In 2007, Colorado State University-Global Campus (CSU-Global) was established by the CSU Board of Governors to be an online university catering to adult and non-traditional learners. It opened the following year to 200 enrolled students and was legally recognized as an independent institution of higher education in 2009. Part of the Colorado State University System, CSU-Global is connected by governance with both Colorado State University-Fort Collins (the flagship university in the system) and Colorado State University-Pueblo. Administrative headquarters are located in the Denver suburb of Greenwood Village. Nearly 20,000 students are enrolled currently in the two academic schools: School of Management and Innovation and School of Professional Studies. CSU-Global has a mission of being “committed to advancing student success in a global society . . . and enhancing the quality of life for citizens in the state of Colorado and beyond.” Regional accreditation has been provided by the Higher Learning Commission since 2011.
Program Details: As the first fully-accredited, entirely online state university, CSU-Global Campus provides their signature online education with the 100% online Master of Information Technology Management degree program. As with all the master’s programs, students can add to the 24-credit hour MIT degree one or more twelve-credit hour specializations, with choices ranging from Business Intelligence to Healthcare Administration to Human Resource Performance to Strategic Innovation and Change Management. The MIT curriculum is comprised of eight courses, covering topics like “Managing Virtualized Cloud Systems,” “Ethical Considerations in Managing Information Technology,” and “Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery;” a final “Capstone—Information Technology Management” culminates the degree. Students of CSU-Global Campus have praised the “challenging” coursework and the online delivery that “builds skills such as critical thinking, communication, and relating” what is being learned to the real world. All CSU-Global Campus faculty have experience in their chosen industry and are additionally trained specifically as online educators.
Andrew Carnegie established the Carnegie Technical Schools in 1900 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in order to provide institutions offering vocational training to the young men and women of the city. He declared “My heart is in the work,” and many of the students were the children of his mill workers. Becoming the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1912, the school combined with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research to form Carnegie Mellon University in 1967. Main campus is a few miles from downtown Pittsburgh on 140 acres, and over 140 academic degree programs are available through the seven schools and colleges. Nearly 14,000 students are currently enrolled, and Carnegie Mellon offers a multitude of degree-granting locations all over the world. A private non-profit research university with a vision to “have a transformative impact on society through continual innovation in education, research, creativity, and entrepreneurship,” regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: Heinz College in Carnegie Mellon University presents a highly regarded, completely online part-time Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program. Designed for IT professionals who want to “add business acumen, management, and targeted problem-solving skills to their portfolios” or professionals in other fields who “wish to pivot toward technology-intensive roles,” the program requires 48 credit hours. Core coursework is determined by the choice of four focus area cores: Information Technology Management, Information Security & Assurance, Business Intelligence & Data Analytics, and Software Design & Management. The elective selection is vast and varied, with choices ranging from “Cryptography” to “Decision Making Under Uncertainty” to “Statistics for IT Managers.” On average, 50 students enter the program each year, and graduates detail the benefits of the online program, both in terms of practical application of the curriculum and the impact it had on their careers. Students additionally benefit from an expert team of faculty members who enhance the learning environment with their own professional accomplishments.
Two schools opened within a year of one another in Lowell, Massachusetts that would grow to become the one of the largest public institutions of higher education in the state. Lowell Normal School for women opened in 1894, and the Lowell Textile School for men in 1895—these two schools would merge to become the University of Lowell in 1975. In 1991, the institution of higher education joined the University of Massachusetts System and officially became the University in Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell). More than 200 academic degree programs are offered to the over 18,000 students currently enrolled in the six schools and colleges: the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Education, the Kennedy College of Sciences, the Francis College of Engineering, the Manning School of Business, and the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. UMass Lowell is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: Through the Division of Online and Continuing Education, UMass Lowell’s Department of Computer Science presents a fully online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program. The online-only 30-credit hour program allows a great deal of customization through choices in several areas of the curriculum. Two courses each are chosen from the within the areas of Systems Infrastructure, Network Infrastructure, and Software Management. Students get their choice of four program electives, and the choices include classes such as “Agile and Iterative Project Management,” “Information Security, Privacy and Regulatory Compliance,” and “Intrusion Detection Systems.” Dedicated academic advisors in the discipline are available to provide support and guidance to MSIT students, and they can be accessed in a number of ways that are convenient to online students. Faculty are specially trained to provide online instruction, and many have won awards for their achievements.
Originally established as a school to educate teachers for the territory of Arizona, Arizona State University began as the Territorial Normal School in 1855. The following year there was an enrollment of 33 students on the 20-acre campus located in Tempe, Arizona. Having grown into a comprehensive university with five campuses and a collection of extension centers around the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, ASU serves more than 80,000 students currently enrolled. The main campus is still in Tempe, and this public metropolitan research institution houses sixteen schools and colleges offering 350 academic degree programs. ASU has the highest research activity (as designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education) and the charter mission of “advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves” still guides the school. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation to ASU.
Program Details: Offering the MS in Information Technology degree online, the ASU Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering provides pathways for engineering students desiring to “increase their knowledge of today’s cyber system infrastructure” through IT productivity. Mirroring the on-campus program, the online degree program offers ten courses totaling 30 credit hours with classes on a fifteen-week long schedule. Requiring twelve credits of core classes such as “Information Analysis, Modeling, Representation & Communication” and “Software Development for Information Technology,” the program provides customization through two focus areas in which students can concentrate their elective choices: Computer Architecture and Information Security or Information Systems Management and Systems Development. Over 21,000 students are enrolled in programs within the Fulton Schools, and both student success and satisfaction and student achievement are hallmarks of ASU and the Schools. Specific online student support includes extras like success coaches and the ASU Library Resources for Online Students to help online students succeed, and the renowned Fulton Schools faculty hold many distinctions.
During the economic chaos of the Great Depression, Russell Lawrence established a progressive (students were admitted without regard to race, color or nationality) college of engineering in Highland Park, Michigan. Opening in 1932 with a student enrollment of a few hundred, classes were held in a space rented from Henry Ford next to his manufacturing facility. Originally the Lawrence Institute of Technology, renamed Lawrence Technological University (Lawrence Tech) in 1989, the school moved to its current location in 1955 and now sits on over 100 acres. Four colleges (College of Architecture and Design, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Information Technology, and College of Engineering) offer more than 100 academic degree programs to the over 4,500 students currently enrolled. With a mission to “develop innovative and agile leaders through a student-centric learning environment and applied research embracing theory and practice,” Lawrence Tech is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: LTU’s AACSB-accredited College of Business and Information Technology offers an online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program that provides students coursework that imparts “technical knowledge with problem-solving skills.” A 30-credit hour program that can be completed in two years, the core curriculum is comprised of classes such as “Enterprise IT Infrastructure,” “Systems Analysis and Design,” and “Information Technology Integration.” Two optional concentrations in Cybersecurity and Project Management are offered to customize the degree, and the Project Management concentration prepares students with the educational components needed to gain the Project Management Professional (PMP®) credentials from the Project Management Institute. The “interactive” and “intimate” learning platform used for the online delivery provides rigorous curricular content and engagement with both fellow students and faculty members. Online students receive support through services like academic advising and resources such as the LTU Library (with 75,000 e-books and nearly 100,000 full text e-journals).
The founders of the global Fortune 500 company Texas Instruments considered forming an institution of higher education to maintain the technologically-minded and talented individuals in Texas instead of losing them to other universities in other states. They established the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest in 1961, and this Center would grow into the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) when the school’s assets were transferred to the state. Located in Richardson, Texas—just eighteen miles north of Dallas—the school declares a mission of being “committed to graduating well-rounded citizens whose education has prepared them for rewarding lives and productive careers in a constantly changing world.” Having the highest research activity designation by the Carnegie Foundation, UT Dallas is a coeducational public institution and enrolls more than 26,000 students in almost 140 academic degree programs in its eight schools. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The Master of Science in Information Technology and Management (MS in ITM) degree program at the UT Dallas AACSB-accredited Naveen Jindal School of Management is a 36-credit hour program that can be completed entirely online in eighteen months to two years full-time. The 36-credit hour curriculum requires eighteen credits of core coursework, and students have a choice between five focus area tracks (Enterprise Systems, Business Intelligence and Analytics, Cyber Security Management, IT Consulting and Services Management, Healthcare Systems). Current students share their testimonials as a resource to prospective students, and the many faculty achievements and examples of real-world research assures a meaningful and cutting-edge degree. Additionally, the Information Systems Industry Advisory Board (IAB) serves as a bridge to providing “a mutually beneficial intellectual exchange of ideas between university scholars and their industry counterparts.” And for those considering the program, course demos and other eLearning resources are offered through Education Technology Services.
The Florida Legislature voted to establish a public university for the southeastern region of the state in 1961. Begun as a senior-level and graduate college, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) started offering classes on a former army base in Boca Raton, Florida in 1964. Almost 900 students enrolled initially—all juniors, seniors and master’s students. In 1984 the school transitioned into a full four-year degree-granting institution, and freshman and sophomores were allowed to enroll. The main campus is still located in Boca Raton, but there are five satellite campuses across Florida to serve the more than 30,000 currently enrolled students. Part of the State University System of Florida, this public university is designated as having a high level of research activity by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. Almost 200 academic degree programs are provided through the ten colleges of FAU, and regional accreditation is granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: FAU offers an online Master of Science in Information Technology and Management (MSITM) degree program as a collaboration between two Departments in two different Colleges: the Department of Information Technology and Operations Management (the AACSB-accredited College of Business) and the Department of Computer Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (College of Engineering and Computer Science). This interdisciplinary, 33-credit hour degree program “prepares students for a management career in the area of information technology in business.” Four different concentration areas allow for degree customization; students have their choice of Information Technology Management, Business Analytics, Advanced Information Technology, or Computer Science Data Analytics. Students have three start dates from which to choose, and courses are available entirely online. Faculty in both the College of Business and the College of Engineering and Computer Science are highly regarded experts and have a long list of achievements that can help enhance the online MSITM student’s experience.
The Colorado Electronic Training Center, Colorado Technical University’s precursor, opened in 1965 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Established by two retired members of the military initially as an institution to provide education and assistance to others in the military who were returning to civilian life, the school was a for-profit institution and first offered classes in an old roller-skating rink. Colorado Technical University (CTU) has outgrown the roller-skating rink—becoming a full university in 1995—and now provides mostly online programming to the 30,000 students currently enrolled. A Virtual Campus, utilizing the Intellipath™ learning format developed solely for CTU, houses six academic colleges and has served an alumni network of over 70,000 individuals. With a mission “to provide industry-relevant higher education to a diverse student population through innovative technology and experienced faculty, enabling the pursuit of personal and professional goals,” CTU has full regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The 48-credit hour Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program through Colorado Technical University provides the “technical and strategic leadership skills to design and manage IT systems and programs” through relevant coursework. Classes are held in eight-week terms, and core topics in the curriculum include “Strategic Management in Dynamic Environments” and “Enterprise Systems Architecture.” A general track and three concentrations in Network Management, Project Management, or Security Management allow for degree customization, and electives provide further choice with selections like “Digital Forensics,” “IT Governance and Risk Management,” and “Virtual Systems.” Students who do not have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to technology, computer science, systems, or engineering are expected to complete two additional foundational courses. For student support, CTU’s “distinguished faculty focus on “fostering student success and highly interactive student development,” and career resources are offered further through the CTU Career Services department.
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) was started by an entrepreneurial husband and wife duo in 1932. Established by Harry A.B. Shapiro and Gertrude Crockett Shapiro as the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science, a for-profit school to train students in business skills, the institution was located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Receiving a charter to become degree-granting in 1963, the school transitioned into a not-for-profit institution in 1968. In 1970 the location was moved to the current campus site on 300 acres on the banks of the Merrimack River, in an area between Manchester and Hooksett, New Hampshire. Several names changes occurred before the school became SNHU in 2001, and now more than 80,000 students are currently enrolled—5,000 on-campus and 75,000 online. There are several satellite campuses and six academic colleges housed within the university, and this private, nonsectarian, coeducational institution of higher education is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: Recognized by the national Professional Science Master’s office as a Professional Science Master’s degree program, the SNHU MS in Information Technology degree is an “innovative degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training in science or mathematics while developing workplace skills valued by employers.” The 36-credit hour program provides a curriculum rich with core classes like “Object Oriented Application Development,” “Telecommunications and Networking,” and “Innovations in Information Technology.” Seven concentrations are available in addition to a general track; students can choose to focus on Data Analytics, Database Design, Healthcare Informatics, IT Management, Information Security, Software Application Development, or Web Design to customize their degree (as evidenced by the praise of recent graduates). All students complete the degree with a Capstone in Information Technology, and the SNHU online experience promises a great deal of support and guidance to assure that online students reach their goals both academically and professionally.
The University of Cincinnati (UC) can trace its history to two schools that had been established in the early 1800s—Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio. Called Cincinnati College when the two schools incorporated into one in 1870, the school had been in development since 1858, when local wealthy merchant Charles McMicken passed away and left money in his will to fund an institution of higher education. The school has grown to become a comprehensive public research university with nearly 45,000 students currently enrolled in the 350 academic degree programs offered by fourteen schools and colleges. Multiple campuses are spread across nearly 500 acres in the Heights neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. UC desires to “provide an inclusive environment where innovation and freedom of intellectual inquiry flourish” and is one of the largest universities in the United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, UC is granted regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: UC Online presents an entirely online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program that can be completed in just one year on a full-time basis or two years part-time. Designed for professionals with a background in computing, (individuals who want to enter the field have the opportunity to join the program once they have successfully completed a selection of IT bridge courses) the 30-credit hour program focuses on relevant coursework, with offerings such as “Human Computer Interaction,” “Enterprise Security and Forensics,” and “Technologies for Social Networking.” Based on the choice of elective classes, a student can “focus on cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, game development or mobile and social development.” Housed in the School of Information Technology within UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, the MSIT program is headed up by award-winning faculty and provides plenty of IT-specific support services.
The city of Adelphi, Maryland received an institution of higher education when a satellite of the College of Education from the University of Maryland was established there in 1947. It was known as the College of Special and Continuation Studies (CSCS), and it offered academic programming to non-traditional students, most of whom were working adults. The CSCS was one of several extensions of the University of Maryland, and in 1970 it would gain independence as its own institution as the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). Offering some on-campus programs at the Adelphi location, UMUC is member of the University System of Maryland and specializes in online programs. Also specializing in serving active-duty military students, UMUC has 140 locations across four continents. Around 80,000 students are currently enrolled as undergraduate and graduate students, and regional accreditation is provided to UMUC by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: UMUC’s online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) offers eight specializations through the online learning platform for which they are known. The specialization options range from Homeland Security Management to Project Management to Systems Engineering, and the 36-credit hour program allows up to six transfer credits. The curriculum is comprehensive and timely, crafted with “input from today’s top employers” and leading, in some cases, to prepare for various professional exams leading to certifications. Required course vary for each specialization, but some common classes include “Computer Systems Architecture,” “Information Systems Analysis, Modeling, and Design,” and “Information Technology Project Management.” Faculty for the IT programs have “real-world experience” from a wide range of professional commitments and appointments and bring “career-relevant” coursework to their students. A vibrant alumni community—the UMUC Alumni Association—provides many opportunities for networking and further academic and career-related services and resources.
In 1891, James Huff Stout established the Stout Manual Training School in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Establishing other educational institutions over the next decade, Stout formed The Stout Institute in 1908 to consolidate administration of the various schools. Upon his death in 1911, the State of Wisconsin took over, and under the leadership of the Board of Regents of the State Colleges in 1955, the school was renamed State Stout College. When the Wisconsin State Universities and the University of Wisconsin merged to form the University of Wisconsin System in 1971, the College was renamed University of Wisconsin–Stout (UW-Stout) and recognized as two of the “special mission” universities in the System offering programs uniquely “related to professional careers in industry, technology, home economics, applied art, and the helping professions.” Three colleges and five schools provide more than 65 academic degree programs to over 9,500 currently enrolled students, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: The Master of Science in Information and Communication Technologies (MSICT) at UW-Stout is an entirely online 30-credit hour program offering four emphasis areas (some emphasis areas require more credits). Students can choose from a general track, Computer Networking CISCO, Computer Networking Microsoft, Digital Marketing Technology, or Enterprise Technology. All areas share the same core curriculum, with coursework such as “Information and Communication Technologies in Organizations,” “Technology Futures,” and “Technology Adoption and Implications,” and all students complete the degree with a “a portfolio of course-related exhibits to align with the program objectives and the student’s selection of emphasis courses.” The program can be finished in just two years, and students can be assured they are learning cutting-edge technology trends at “Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University.” Additionally, the MSICT Advisory Board is comprised of both private sector industry leaders and online educating experts to keep the program in touch with both important IT developments and distance education advances.
The for-profit online university Kaplan University was acquired by the Purdue University System in the spring of 2018. Renaming the institution Purdue University Global, the school is now a not-for-profit institution maintaining many of the same programs and faculty of Kaplan. Two campus sites in Indiana offer both traditional and competency-based programs. Purdue Global educates 30,000 students currently within the seven schools and colleges (School of Business and Information Technology, Concord Law School, School of General Education, School of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Open College, and College of Social and Behavioral Sciences) guided by the mission to deliver to students “personalized online education tailored to the unique needs of adults who have work or life experience beyond the classroom, enabling them to develop essential academic and professional skills with the support and flexibility they need to achieve their career goals.” Purdue University Global is fully regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Program Details: Purdue Global has taken the online Master of Science in Information Technology degree previously offered by Kaplan University and made it their own. A comprehensive program, the online MSIT requires a minimum of 60 quarter credit hours with classes such as “Certified Ethical Hacking,” “Windows Enterprise Administration,” “Systems Analysis and Design,” and “Computer Forensics.” Three concentrations are offered in Business Intelligence and Analytics, Information Security and Assurance, and Project Management. Housed within the School of Business and Information Technology, the extensive IT faculty have many combined years of experience in the field and research credentials, which translates into great benefit for the online student. The dedicated student services are numerous for distance learners, including a career services center that extends services beyond graduation, the Purdue Global Library, free tutoring services and more. Additionally, specific IT resources are provided to MSIT students to help enhance their experience.
Religious Right evangelist and Baptist minister Jerry Falwell wanted to steer “the moral and ethical course of America” in the 1970s. With the help and support of the congregation of the church he founded and pastored, the Thomas Road Baptist Church, he established the Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971 for that purpose. Renamed Liberty University (LU), this institution of higher education is located in Lynchburg, Virginia. In 1985, the school began offering distance education programs in order to extend its reach—this has been a successful endeavor, for over 110,000 students are currently enrolled in online programs through LU Online. In addition, 15,000 students are enrolled on campus, making this the largest Christian university in the world. Over 600 academic degree programs are offered through the seventeen schools and colleges, and regional accreditation has been granted since 1980 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: For students who desire to “understand the effective and efficient convergence of information technology and business processes and how to design relevant associated IT systems using innovative methods that are consistent with business objectives” from a Christian worldview, the Liberty University Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program is ideal. Housed in Liberty’s School of Business, the entirely online MSIT requires 36 credit hours to graduate. Students begin with core courses such as “IT Infrastructure,” “Overview of Computer Security,” and “Statistical Analysis & Data Mining” and then choose a concentration in either Software Design and Management or Network Design and Security. Online students are welcomed into the Liberty University community with many services and resources to help support them. From a video library with inspirational videos to a blog where students and faculty can share their stories and perspective, the Office of Online Student Life helps online students succeed at Liberty.
Conceived of by businessmen in 1964 as an institution to serve graduate students in the physical and social sciences, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) began as the Nova University of Advanced Technology in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The first year, seventeen students enrolled. This number has grown to a current student enrollment of more than 20,000. In 1994, the school merged with the Southeastern University of the Health Sciences to become NSU, and now over 150 academic degree programs are offered to undergraduate and graduate students through the sixteen schools and colleges. The current main campus on the site of a former Navy landing field in Davie, Florida is joined by additional campus locations in Florida and Puerto Rico, and this private research university is designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as having high research activity. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Nova Southeastern University’s College of Engineering and Computing offers an online, 30-credit hour MS in Information Technology degree program that can be completed in just a year on a full-time basis (part-time students generally complete the degree in sixteen months to two years). Designed for individuals with bachelor’s degrees within the disciplines of math, engineering, business, or science, the degree can be pursued by all students if foundational coursework in Programming, Data Structures, and Algorithms is successfully completed. The curriculum offers core courses in topics like “Fundamentals of Security Technologies” and “Telecommunications and Computer Networking,” and students can opt for a general track of elective choices or one of three concentrations (Application Development, Data Analytics, and Information Assurance and Cybersecurity Management). As a glimpse into their possible future, prospective and current students can look to the news page to see the success of both alum and current faculty.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) enjoys the distinction of being the second institution of higher education that was established as a land-grant university able to benefit from the Morrill Act of 1890 (an expansion of the original Morrill Act of 1862). Founded by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1891, it was the first university for people of color in the state. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, NC A&T is the largest historically black university and one of the oldest public universities in the nation. More than 12,000 students are currently seeking degrees in this coeducational research institution’s 200-plus academic degree programs, which are housed within the two colleges and seven schools of the university. NC A&T joined the University of North Carolina System in 1971 along with fifteen other state schools, and regional accreditation has been granted since 1959 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Through the North Carolina A&T State University College of Science and Technology, students can pursue an online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program from faculty “with high level expertise gained through their research activity, affiliations with industry and professional experience.” With a 30-credit hour thesis option and a 36-credit hour coursework option, students have several ways to customize their degree and their academic experience. Required foundation courses include “Project Management for Information Technology Professional” and “Statistical Methods for Information Technology,” as well as a graduate-level research and writing course. Through elective choices, specializations are provided in Computer Networking and Communications, Computer Security, Database Management, Digital Media Technologies, and Web Technologies. Online student resources are plentiful, and all online programs provide a coordinator as a liaison for students, helping them choose courses, “identifying student services and resources, and staying on the right path to graduation.”
An institution of higher education for Florida’s Hillsborough County was voted into existence by a Florida House Bill in 1955. Located on the former Henderson Air Field on the outskirts of Tampa, Florida, the University of South Florida (USF) is the first independent state university solely conceived of, designed, and constructed in the 20th century. Main campus in Tampa now covers nearly 2,000 acres, and two other campus locations are combined with USF Tampa to form the USF System (USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee). Across the system, more than 50,000 students are enrolled in over 100 academic degree programs in the fourteen academic colleges. Also a member of the State University System of Florida, USF is one of the five largest schools in the state. This metropolitan research institution has regional accreditation provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the USF College of Engineering provides a hybrid (online and face-to-face) Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree program that offers students “broad and integrative understanding of both technology and operational and strategic business and organizational applications.” The 30-credit hour program requires three core courses (“Selected Topics: Penetration Testing for IT,” “Advanced Database Administration,” and “Advances in Object Oriented Programming for Information Technology”). Working with the Graduate Program Director, MSIT students choose their remaining credits and craft their customized degree from electives covering a wide range of topics. The department faculty have extensive research experience and collective achievements, and the quality of the program shines through the students’ academic work. The MSIT is a non-thesis degree, and students gain the advantage of engaging in interdisciplinary classes through taken through the Department of Information Systems/Decision Sciences in the College of Business.
Tulane University started as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834. Located in the port city of New Orleans, the school was established by physicians in order to try to stem the tide of diseases plaguing the city. In 1847, the Medical College merged with the University of Louisiana and became a public institution of higher learning. Wealthy businessman Paul Tulane offered the school over a million dollars to expand the school further, and it was renamed in his honor. Now ten schools and colleges provide academic degree programs to more than 13,500 currently enrolled students on the 110-acre main campus, at satellite campuses, and online. Tulane’s mission is to “create, communicate and conserve knowledge in order to enrich the capacity of individuals, organizations and communities to think, to learn and to act and lead with integrity and wisdom,” and regional accreditation is granted by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Program Details: Tulane’s Online Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in IT Management combines business and technology to offer a comprehensive, competitive degree program. Offered through the School of Professional Advancement, the 30-credit hour MPS in IT Management program provides relevant required coursework covering “Legal Issues in Information Technology,” “Business of Information Technology,” and “Managing the Information Technology Department.” Elective courses provide choices such as “Software Development Methods,” “Healthcare Informatics,” and “Cyber Threats in Homeland Security,” and if students so choose they can structure their elective class selections to specialize in three specific areas: Healthcare and Business Analytics, Cyber Security, or Software Management. Some of the “most knowledgeable academics and professionals in IT today” serve as faculty members in Tulane’s School of Professional Advancement, and additionally they “serve as passionate mentors, offering personalized academic and career guidance to their online students.” A dedicated IT Management blog offers cutting edge research and resources to online MPS students.
Founded in 1963 by a vote of the Florida Legislature, the University of West Florida (UWF or “West Florida”) is a member of the State University System of Florida. The school was located in Pensacola, and classes began for the first time in 1967 for junior and senior students. By 1983, freshmen and sophomores were allowed to enroll as the school transitioned into a full four-year school. Campus encompasses a nature preserve and is 1,600 acres, making it the third largest campus and the second largest flagship of the State University System of Florida with almost 13,000 students currently enrolled. A space-grant designated institution, West Florida is a public research university housing five academic colleges and offering many online programs. With a vision to be a “spirited community of learners, launching the next generation of big thinkers who will change the world,” UWF is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Although offered completely online, the UWF Master of Science (MS) in Information Technology degree program allows all students the “opportunity to work with faculty mentors on research projects that provide core skills and real-world, problem-solving experiences that will help them succeed in their future career paths.” Through the Department of Computer Science in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering (HMCSE), the 30-credit hour program provides two different specializations options in Database Management (focusing on “designing, implementing, maintaining, and managing databases”) and Cybersecurity (which is recognized by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education). Both specializations share a common MSIT core of twelve-credit hours, focusing on class topics like “Management and Organizational Behavior” and “Database Systems.” All coursework is taught by experienced faculty who hold an impressive array of professional achievements.
In the 1800s, the state of California experienced a gold rush—in response to this boon, the YMCA offered classes in San Francisco on such topics as assaying gold and learning English. From these classes, the YMCA Night School was established in 1881, which would in turn lead to a degree-granting school twenty years later. Becoming independent from the YMCA in 1923, the institution became Golden Gate College—and in 1972 Golden Gate University. This private institution of higher education houses four schools (School of Law, Edward S. Ageno School of Business, School of Accounting, and the Bruce F. Braden School of Taxation) and has additional extensions in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, and Seattle. Over 5,000 students are currently enrolled in this school that desires to prepare “individuals to lead and serve by providing high-quality, practice-based educational programs . . . in an innovative and challenging learning environment.” The Western Association of Schools and Colleges provides regional accreditation.
Program Details: The MS in IT Management at Golden Gate University is offered entirely online through the Ageno School of Business, and students can choose to pursue the degree full or part-time. Due to the rigorous nature of the 36-credit hour program, students are expected to have at least 30 credits of information technology coursework from their undergraduate education or three years of work within an IT department. One foundation course, “Data Analysis for Managers,” may be waived if a similar course was already taken, but all students must take the 24-unit core coursework comprised of classes like “Database Theory & Data Management Tools” and “Budgeting & Finance for IT Managers.” Three courses are either chosen from the electives or students can participate in a Business Analytics Concentration. Webinars provide information for prospective students, and being a pioneer of online education, Golden Gate University provides many services and resources for online students.
A school founded by the American Jewish community, Brandeis University was established in 1948 and designed to be a secular coeducational institution of higher education. Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, Brandeis was named for the first Jewish U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis. Attracting “talented faculty and students of all backgrounds and beliefs,” the school progressively created space for all peoples instead of being sectarian and exclusive as most schools at that time did. Almost 6,000 students are currently enrolled in this private liberal arts university, and the university is comprised of five academic schools: Brandeis University College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Rabb School of Summer and Continuing Studies, and Brandeis International Business School. A member of the Boston Consortium, Brandeis has full regional accreditation provided by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Program Details: The Brandeis University Graduate Professional Studies (GPS) division provides an entirely online MS in Technology Management for IT professionals who desire to lead “change management and the planning, development and implementation of technology solutions.” The 30-credit hour program provides a solid basis of both technology and business core courses with requirements like “Communication for Effective Leadership” and “Perspectives of Information Technology.” Electives offer coursework choices such as “Information Security and Compliance,” “Legal and Ethical Practices in IT,” and “Managing Technology Professionals.” Students sing high praises for the academics of the online programs, and dedicated and specific support is offered for online students from the beginning to the end of their educational journey. Nearly 300 students have successfully completed the program since its inception in 2004, and the current 30+ students enrolled gain the knowledge and expertise from faculty members who have authored books, served as a guest speaker at NASA events, and helped to develop online programs.
In 1789 the future Catholic Archbishop of Baltimore, Bishop John Carroll, purchased 60 acres as the beginning of Georgetown University. Named Georgetown College at that time, the school is the oldest Jesuit Catholic university in the nation. Located in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC, the initial enrollment of students in 1792 was only 40, but has now grown to more than 18,500 students currently enrolled. A private metropolitan research institution with five campus locations—Main Campus, Medical Center, Law Center, School of Continuing Studies and the School of Foreign Service in Qatar—there are nine academic schools that offer degree programs on-campus and online. Being classified as having very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation, the school has a Jesuit-influenced “commitment to spiritual inquiry, civic engagement, and religious and cultural pluralism.” The regional accreditation for Georgetown comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies provides an online Master of Professional Studies in Technology Management ideal for professionals who want to become proven leaders in technology management. By “coupling business management acumen with proficiency in emerging business technologies,” this 30-credit hour program empowers students with coursework covering topics like “Ethics in Technology Management,” “Business Intelligence & Data Analysis,” and “Managing Diverse Organizations in a Flat World.” The online MPS in Technology Management faculty all have a wealth of experience both in and out of the classroom, and as they are “adept at balancing and integrating the demands of technology and business,” their students reap the benefits of their expertise. Former students praise the professionalism of the faculty, the alumni network, and the flexibility and comprehensiveness of the program. Most students complete the degree in about two years, but can finish sooner at an accelerated pace or take more time if needed.
Montclair State University started as the New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair in 1908 to train teachers. Just 45 students were in the first graduating class of this school located in the communities of Montclair, Little Falls, and Clifton, but it would grow and change names several times before becoming Montclair State University (Montclair State) in 1994. Now the campus covers over 250 acres, and more than 21,000 students are currently enrolled in the seven schools and colleges housed within the university. Over 50 majors are available for undergraduates and more than 130 academic graduate programs are offered at this public research university. In 2016, Montclair State was recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a Research Doctoral University and by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, and regional accreditation is provided by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: The Master of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Applied Information Technology at Montclair State is a Professional degree offered entirely online through the Graduate School. A 33-credit hour program, the curriculum is presented in sequence to build upon each course. Required core courses include “Human-Computer Interactions,” “Web Development,” and “Database Systems,” and required Applied Information Technology courses focus on “Cyberlaw,” “Information Technology Project Management,” and “Software Process Management.” A final culminating experience, “Industry Internship in Information Technology Management” completes the degree. This degree program is ideal for professional who have a strong background in computer science or related fields; for those who desire to enter the field, Montclair State offers a Computer Science/IT Bootcamp to help provide the foundation they need and acclimate them to the requirements of the program. The CSIT Bootcamp is provided entirely online just prior to the beginning of the MS in IT program.
Established as the Pittsburgh School of Accountancy, Robert Morris University was founded by Andrew Blass in 1921. Located in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania initially, the school moved to a campus location on 230 acres in Moon Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, in 1962. The school was able to become a residential campus due to the move and was able to start providing associate degrees at that time. Renamed Robert Morris College in 1969, the final name of Robert Morris University (RMU) was achieved along with university status in 2002. Five academic schools are housed within the university (School of Business, School of Communications and Information Systems, School of Education and Social Sciences, School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, and School of Nursing and Health Sciences), which offer 100 degree programs to the more than 5,000 currently enrolled students. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education grants regional accreditation to RMU.
Program Details: The RMU MS in Information Technology Project Management degree program is offered fully online through the School of Communications and Information Systems (SCIS) Department of Computer and Information Systems. A 30-credit hour program, students learn “how to apply knowledge, utilize project management software, and provide leadership in a fast-paced, demanding IT environment” through classes such as “Leadership Skills for IT Project Management,” “Quality Issues for IT Project Management,” and “Strategic Planning for IT Project Management.” Past students share their stories of success in the program and after graduation, and current students are given individualized attention from the SCIS faculty members who are “a team of dedicated teacher-scholars, award-winning artists, practitioners, and academics.” Online students at RMU also receive all of the same resources and services as on-campus students—from 24/7 tech support to counselors and advisors offering support in career guidance, wellness, and financial aid, online students have the support they need.
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Were you the kid who always took toys apart in order to see how they worked? Consider yourself enterprising and good with machines? Do you excel at fixing issues with existing processes and creating news ways of making things work more efficiently? If you answered affirmatively to these questions, chances are you would be a good mechanical engineer. Wondering how you could get that advanced degree while still working and taking care of all of your current commitments? Online! This article will help you find your online mechanical engineering program, because we have culled through the available information on current master’s programs to bring you details on the best online Master of Mechanical Engineering degrees. We discovered that this online degree is not only one of the 50 most popular online master’s degrees, but also a great financial investment (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mechanical Engineers make more per hour than others in similar professions). Additionally, most online programs boast the same rigorous curriculum and experienced faculty as the on-campus programs, just offered entirely online, making the convenience hard to beat.
A field for professionals who like to make things work, mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineering really begin to thrive during the Industrial Revolution when new manufacturing practices were being developed on a larger scale than ever before. Now, mechanical engineers utilize principles of engineering, mathematics, science, and physics to scrutinize, plan, construct, and improve upon machinery and mechanical systems and structures. A very exciting field, mechanical engineering professionals can specialize in a multitude of research areas. Additionally, there is a great deal of diversity in potential employment, for there are many other fields in which mechanical engineering can intersect, such as aerospace or nuclear engineering, biomechanics, or nanotechnology.
We have examined many programs offered online, and by focusing on the history behind the degree, we have assurance that all of the programs listed in our ranking are reputable and from schools that have been perfecting both the content and the delivery for decades (and some for more than a century!). Many good programs are offered online, and you’ll see that we offer you a list of the best of the best. To find one that fits your needs, read on to discover the best online mechanical engineering graduate programs currently available!
Program history– the extent to which the subject matter or degree has been offered historically, determined by the founding of the school or college of engineering, the mechanical engineering department, the point in the university’s history that the ME program was established, or the year specific engineering classes were first offered
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Purdue Online College of Engineering offers both a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program and an interdisciplinary Master of Science in Engineering (MSE/MS) with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering completely online. Both degrees are 30-credit hours and allow students to craft a Plan of Study with their advisor in order to customize the degree—and there are twelve research areas from which to choose for a great deal of flexibility and customization. The MSME and the MSE/MS degrees are housed within the School of Mechanical Engineering, which was founded in 1882 and the first of the engineering schools at Purdue. In addition to the experienced faculty, Mechanical Engineering students benefit from a dedicated Office for Industrial Experience. This Office provides a “connection to industry” for students, with career resources through a Center for Career Opportunities, project design help, and other services. Two Mechanical Engineering graduate certificates are also offered online: Noise Control or Applied Heat Transfer.
Purdue University is known as “Indiana’s Land-Grant University,” meaning that the school was founded in part with assistance from the federal Morrill Act of 1862. Another component that aided the establishment of this public research university was the support of John Purdue and Tippecanoe County residents—they provided additional funds and land to serve as the campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. John Purdue was the major benefactor of the school and stipulated that it be named in his honor, thus the ground was broken for Purdue University in 1871. Three years later the first classes were held with 39 students in attendance. Now over 40,000 students are enrolled in more than 250 academic degree programs that are offered through Purdue’s ten colleges and online. The original campus in West Lafayette is the flagship of the Purdue University System, and this institution of higher education also has designation as a sea- and space-grant university. Regional accreditation is provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is provided entirely online through the online delivery method DEN@Viterbi. Requiring a minimum of 27-credit hours and offering a thesis or non-thesis option, as well as several concentration tracks (Thermal and Fluid Sciences, Engineering Design, and Mechanics and Materials), the MSME program dates back to the earliest days of engineering classes first held at USC in 1905. Award-winning faculty head up the MSME program’s coursework, and provide additional mechanical engineering degrees online as well—such as the MS in Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics). Distance education has been provided by USC Viterbi for nearly half a century, and the attention to online students’ needs are reflected in the comprehensive “student services and IT services in wide ranging areas of advisement, homework and exams, technical support, and more.”
A local judge in Southern California in the late 1800s advocated for an institution of higher education, which would become the University of Southern California (USC). Judge Robert Maclay Widney also recruited the financial support of three businessmen who supplied acreage in Los Angeles for the school. USC was officially established in 1880, and the doors opened to 53 students and ten instructors. Now this private research university enjoys an enrollment of over 45,000 students—it is the oldest university in the state of California. The seventeen colleges of USC provide more than 200 academic degree programs, and the school has designation as both a sea-grant and a space-grant institution. A member of the elite Association of American Universities, USC’s motto—“let whoever earns the palm bear it”—speaks to the triumphant nature of the school and its students. USC has regional accreditation provided by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Stanford’s comprehensive, part-time Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree is provided online program through the Stanford Center for Professional Development. The 45-unit degree is housed within Stanford’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, the roots of which were present when the first three mechanical engineering professors came on board when Stanford was founded in 1891. The faculty today is comprised of respected and knowledgeable professionals, and students choose from a specific research group or “depth” to construct their customized course of study. There are fourteen pre-approved depth areas from which students can choose, ranging from Automatic Controls to Fluid Mechanics to Dynamics to Robotics and Kinematics, just to name a few. The degree can be completed in about three years and some on-campus requirements must be met. A dedicated Mechanical Engineering Student Services Office provides support, and many complimentary webinars, course previews, and archived lectures are provided to prospective students.
Leland Stanford Junior University—more commonly known as Stanford University—was established as a tribute to a child lost to typhoid fever in 1884. Wealthy California senator Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, lost their only child just before his sixteenth birthday. They determined to build something positive and beneficial out of their grief, and so developed the school with their fortune and livestock farm of over 8,000 acres, in what is now Stanford, California. The school opened in 1891 with more than 550 students. Due to the growth of technological entrepreneurialism in the area that was fostered and advanced by Stanford faculty and graduates, Silicon Valley was developed and the school has become one of the top universities in the nation. A private research university, Stanford now serves more than 16,000 students with over 65 undergraduate majors and nearly 100 graduate programs in the seven academic schools and colleges, and regional accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
#4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Through the College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Engineering Online provides both a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.ME) degree and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree completely online. Housed with the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering (now known as MechSE but first referenced at the school in 1870), both degrees have coursework taught by esteemed faculty members “who are all active in research and publish in high-impact journals.” The two degrees match their on-campus counterparts in terms of rigorous coursework and student expectations. The M.Eng.ME is a non-thesis, coursework-based degree requiring 32-credit hours and can be completed in just two semesters on a full-time basis. The 32-credit hour MSME program offers both a thesis and a non-thesis option, and students generally complete the degree in eighteen months to two years. Regardless of the program chosen, all online MechSE students have access to dedicated engineering student resources.
One of the first schools to be established in response to the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862, the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (University of Illinois or UIUC) was founded in 1867 as the Illinois Industrial University. Located in the twin Illinois cities of Champaign and Urbana, the institution welcomed 77 students to the first classes in 1868. A tension between the first president, John Milton (who wanted a liberal arts institution) and other school leaders, (who desired an industrial arts and agricultural approach), led to Milton resigning in 1880. His influence remains, however, as the school has strong liberal arts leanings in addition to being a research university. The flagship campus in the University of Illinois System, UIUC has over 45,000 students enrolled in more than 250 academic degree programs in the sixteen schools and colleges. A public land-, sea-, and space-grant school, the Higher Learning Commission grants full regional accreditation.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) online degree program at Penn State is delivered entirely online through Penn State World Campus. The 32-credit hour program promotes a “collaborative” academic experience in which students “build strong ties with other students and gain perspectives from other disciplines and industries” for a comprehensive, advantageous degree. Students work with advisors to craft the degree to fit their needs and professional goals, and can choose from a wide selection of classes such as “Engineering Optimization,” “Principles of Turbomachinery,” and “Finite Elements in Engineering.” Student testimonials and praise dot the program website, and the program and faculty credentials speak for themselves. Mechanical engineering was one of the earliest offerings of Penn State (the first classes being offered in 1868), and Penn State has pioneered online education through the World Campus since 1998, so students have assurance that the discipline and the delivery of their education is teeming with quality.
Known most commonly as Penn State, the school officially named “The Pennsylvania State University” was originally established as the Farmer’s High School of Pennsylvania in 1855. With a location in Centre County, Pennsylvania, the school was instrumental in the development of the Morrill Act of 1862. Evan Pugh, Penn State’s first president, advocated for the Morrill Act, also known as the Land-Grant Act, which enabled state schools to be developed with funds from the selling of federal lands. When the Act passed in 1862, Penn State became a land-grant university, and still remains the only one in the state of Pennsylvania (as well as also being a space-, sun-, and sea-grant school). The main campus in University Park is the flagship of the 24 campuses across the state and enrolls nearly 50,000 students. Penn State (as named since 1953) is a public research university with regional accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Program Details: Virginia Engineering Online (VEO) provides the Master of Engineering (ME) in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering degree program from the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). It’s the same degree earned as in the on-campus program, and students enrolled in the online format offered through this first engineering school in the South (established as the School of Civil Engineering in 1836) are connected to a long history of “engineering excellence.” Additionally, UVA is part of the Online Graduate Engineering Consortium, allowing online students to take up to half of their 30-credit hours from five other excellent universities. The award-winning MAE faculty honors “a tradition of excellence and a pioneering spirit of entrepreneurship in both education and research” through the coursework offered in two tracks: Mechanics and Thermofluids. Students construct a plan of study with guidance from dedicated Virginia Engineering Online Student Academic Advisors and Graduate Coordinators.
Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as “a public university designed to advance human knowledge, educate leaders and cultivate an informed citizenry,” the University of Virginia (UVA) held its first classes in 1825. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the school very intentionally did not affiliate with any religious denomination at its inception and has remained nonsectarian. UVA is comprised of eleven academic schools and the College at Wise in Southwest Virginia, and is the first southern university elected to membership in the elite Association of American Universities. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having very high research activity, UVA is a public research institution with nearly 25,000 students enrolled in over 120 academic degree programs. The scenic and iconic campus covers almost 1,700 acres and is designated as a World Heritage site. Recognized for its secret societies and history, UVA is the flagship university of the state and has regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The University of South Carolina (which was reestablished in 1880 as the South Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts and offered engineering classes since the beginning) offers both a Master of Science (MS) and a Master of Engineering (ME) in Mechanical Engineering degree entirely online (the ME degree provides a non-thesis option, and students in the MS program culminate the degree with a thesis). Both degree programs require 30-credit hours and are available in the College of Engineering and Computing Mechanical Engineering Department. Seven specialization areas are provided specifically in mechanical engineering, such as Thermo-fluids, Mechanics of Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation, and Nanotechnology. Typical coursework includes classes such as “Intro to Finite Elements Analysis in Mechanical Engineering” and “Advanced Mechanics of Materials,” and the curriculum is presented online by the research-focused and dedicated faculty. The department employees “forerunners” in the field, evidenced by the department doubling in the last decade to become the largest in the college.
The University of South Carolina began as South Carolina College in 1801 in Columbia, South Carolina. Classes for the nine students began in 1805, and there were just two professors on staff. The institution was very successful until the financial devastation suffered by the state after the Civil War forced it to close briefly. Reopening in 1873 as the University of South Carolina (USC), the school was quite progressive, admitting women and students of color. Closing and reopening again as a segregated college, the school grew to become the USC of today and is now the flagship of the University of South Carolina System. A public coeducational sea-grant university with high research activity, USC serves more than 34,000 students at the main campus, with sixteen academic schools and colleges offering degree programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission provides the regional accreditation for USC.
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Texas A&M J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering degree program can be completed entirely online, and students are allowed up to seven years to finish the 30-credit hour program. Housed within the College of Engineering (the largest college at Texas A&M and one which has been in existence since the school opened in 1876), the degree has core courses that are offered as options and not required, covering topics such as “Theory of Elasticity,” “Advanced Product Design,” and “Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics.” All students will compile a final portfolio (prepared during the duration of study) to showcase what has been learned and how well the student has incorporated the learning outcomes. Faculty members head up many research opportunities for students and have a wide range of publications and awards to prove their experience, and students benefit from the field-specific student resources offered by Engineering Online.
Founded under the name Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, Texas A&M University (Texas A&M) was established in 1871 and benefited from the Morrill Act of 1862. Classes began in 1876, and the campus was located in Brazos County on more than 2,400 acres of donated land. Gaining its current name in 1963, Texas A&M’s main campus in College Station, Texas has doubled in size and is supplemented by another campus in Galveston. Along with the land-grant designation, Texas A&M is also a sea- and space-grant university, and this public research institution of higher education enrolls more than 66,000 students currently, making it the largest campus by student enrollment in the Texas A&M University System as well as nationally. There are nineteen schools and colleges within Texas A&M, which provide nearly 400 academic degree programs. Regional accreditation is granted through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The fully online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree through UT Austin’s Texas Engineering Executive Education is housed within the Cockrell School of Engineering, which can trace its roots to the day the cornerstone was laid for the university in 1882. The “industry-relevant and immediately applicable” 30-credit hour curriculum does not require a thesis and is rich with courses such as “Statistical Methods for Process Control and Manufacturing,” “Materials Science and Engineering,” and “Applied Thermodynamics.” Students progress through the program as a cohort, which provides them with built-in community support. The faculty members are readily available, and their collection of publications and patents is impressive. The unique and thoughtful online learning model is ideal for working professionals who have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (or related degree) and at least one year of relevant work experience. Student support is provided, with resources such as the Cockrell School’s Engineering Career Assistance Center to help students be successful.
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is the flagship school of the University of Texas System, and its establishment was put into motion by the state legislature in 1876. The first brick was laid in Austin, Texas in 1882, and just a year later in 1883 221 students were welcomed to class in the year of the school’s founding. A public research university, more than 51,000 currently enrolled students participate in nearly 400 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs offered in the eighteen colleges and schools that comprise UT Austin. With the desire to “transform lives for the benefit of society,” UT Austin has a mission to “achieve excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research and public service.” Considered a Public Ivy school, UT Austin is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program at UF is housed within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (which was one of the four colleges of UF when it moved to the Gainesville campus in 1909). Provided entirely online through the UF Electronic Delivery of Graduate Engineering (EDGE) distance learning delivery method, the 30-credit hour program offers a thesis and a non-thesis option. Students follow one of three plans of study (“Dynamics, Systems, and Control,” “Solid Mechanics, Design, and Manufacturing,” or “Thermal Science and Fluid Dynamics”), and an External Advisory Board supports the expert faculty and provides guidance and “continuous improvement” to the programs and MAE Department. In addition, the MAE Department presents six online graduate certificates via EDGE for professionals who don’t desire a full master’s degree. All certificates are made up of three courses, which are available to students asynchronously.
With a history that can be traced to several schools in areas of Florida, the University of Florida (UF) has grown to become a doctoral university with the highest research activity (as designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education). Located in Gainesville, Florida, UF had a clear start when the Florida Legislature passed an Act that consolidated the state’s public institutions of higher education and the State University System of Florida was instituted. This was in 1905, and the University of the State of Florida opened the doors to over 100 students for the first classes in 1906. Becoming simply “university of Florida” in 1909, UF now enrolls almost 55,000 students and is a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution. Over 300 programs are offered in sixteen academic schools and colleges, and UF is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: The Johns Hopkins University part-time online Master of Mechanical Engineering degree program is called Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals. Through the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Whiting School of Engineering, the 30-credit hour program provides four focus areas to customize the degree: Manufacturing, Robotics and Controls, Solids/Mechanics of Materials, or Thermofluids. The required core course “Mathematical Methods for Engineers” is taken the first semester, and classes based on the students’ focus then follow. Mechanical Engineering was one of the first concentrations offered by Johns Hopkins in the 1900s, and online programming has been offered by Johns Hopkins Engineering since 2001—students can therefore be assured of both the reputation and the quality of the online program. Additionally, the faculty’s expertise and the available student services guarantee a highly-rewarding and supportive environment. Online Information Sessions are held periodically to introduce prospective students to faculty and current students and learn about the program.
Johns Hopkins University, located in Baltimore, Maryland, was named for the man who helped finance the establishment of the institution of higher education (as well as The Johns Hopkins Hospital). The Quaker, known for his philanthropy and for being an abolitionist, was a bachelor without any heirs when he passed away in 1873. The legendary amount he left in his will for the school and medical center was an outrageously large amount ($7 million) by late-19th century standards, and thus Johns Hopkins will be forever remembered for his philanthropy. The doors opened to students in 1876, and the university is one of the founding members of the American Association of Universities. The ten academic schools provide programs to over 24,000 currently enrolled students, and Johns Hopkins is a private university with a Carnegie Classification of doctoral university with the highest research activity. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.
Online Master of Science in Engineering – Mechanical
Program Details: The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science (HSSEAS) Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) – Mechanical degree at UCLA is provided as a Master of Science Online (MSOL) program. The MSE degree is located in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and open to students who do not have an undergraduate degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering (but who must take two additional classes: “Aerodynamics” and “Advanced Strength of Materials”), several focus areas are provided for customization (such as the multidisciplinary Mechanical Engineering in Medicine). A coursework-based, 27-credit hour program, the impressive “research experience of . . . faculty is reflected in the classroom experience, enabling . . . ME students and graduates to go out and address the world’s grand challenges.” Students are required to complete the program in three years, but the comprehensive resources and services provided help students achieve that goal successfully.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) was begun as the University of California’s “Southern Branch” in 1919 and originally offered two-year undergraduate programs. The programs were so successful that the school quickly outgrew its initial name and location, becoming the University of California at Los Angeles in 1927 and moving to a new campus in the Westwood district of Los Angeles in 1929. Over 5,000 students attended classes the first year in the new location, and the school would officially replace the “at” in the name with a comma in 1953. A public research university (with the highest research activity as recognized by the Carnegie Foundation) within the University of California System, UCLA offers over 300 academic degree programs to the nearly 45,000 enrolled students through seventeen schools and colleges. A land-grant university and member of the Association of American Universities, UCLA is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The UD College of Engineering offers an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program in the Department of Engineering. The 30-credit hour program, which is the same as the on-campus program, can trace its roots back to 1891 when the first mechanical engineering degree was provided at UD. The broad mechanical engineering discipline can be customized through the five areas of research focus offered by the Department (Biomechanical Engineering, Clean Energy and Environment, Composites and Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology, and Robotics and Control). The curriculum is provided online by the award-winning faculty, who are “recognized as global leaders in research and education,” and includes classes such as “Intermediate Solid Mechanics,” “Linear Systems,” and “Orthopedic Biomechanics.” Resources at every level are provided to online students to help them succeed, and for professionals who do not desire a full master’s program, an online Graduate Certificate in Composites Manufacturing & Engineering is available.
Established in 1743 as the Free School in New London, Pennsylvania, the University of Delaware (UD) would grow to become classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a very high research institution of higher education. The school was founded by Presbyterian minister Reverend Dr. Francis Alison, and it would go through name and location changes before settling in Newark, Delaware as the Academy of Newark in 1769 (Delaware was part of Pennsylvania until 1776). Several more name changes would occur before the institution merged with the Women’s College of Delaware in 1921, and finally UD was born. More than 300 academic degree programs are provided through seven colleges that comprise the university, and UD enrolls over 23,000 students currently. As its mission, UD “exists to cultivate learning, develop knowledge and foster the free exchange of ideas,” and is a land-, sea-, and space-grant university with regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Missouri S&T, recently celebrating the centennial (established in 1916 as the Department of Mechanical Engineering), provides an online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree with both a thesis and a non-thesis option. Both options require 30-credit hours, and all coursework is delivered online synchronously through streaming video (although archived for students to review). Classes offered include varied topics such as “Advanced Fractured Mechanics,” “Viscous Fluid Flow,” and “Compliant Mechanism Design.” The faculty provide expertise in many research areas, and online students have support through Missouri S&T’s Global Learning – Distance Education Student Support Services. For students who do not wish to pursue a full degree (or who would like to start with a certificate before pursuing the MS), five online graduate certificates are offered through the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering: Composite Materials and Structures, Control Systems, Energy Conversion & Transport, Engineering Mechanics, and Manufacturing Automation.
Claiming distinction as “as one of the first technological institutions west of the Mississippi,” Missouri University of Science and Technology (“Missouri S&T”) was established in 1870 as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. A Morrill Act of 1862 land-grant university located in Rollo, Missouri, Missouri S&T welcomed 28 students to class for the first time in 1871. Now, nearly 9,000 students are currently enrolled in just under 100 academic degree programs, and Missouri S&T offers all students the unique opportunity to conduct research in one of four “Signature Research Areas” (Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure, Enabling Materials for Extreme Environments, or Smart Living) regardless of their major or academic program choice. A member of the University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T is also a space-grant institution of higher education, and regional accreditation for this coeducational public university is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering degree program at Iowa State University is provided online through Engineering-LAS Online Learning (the online delivery hub for College of Engineering and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences programs). The coursework-only MEng degree is located in one of the “University’s crown jewels,” the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), which has been an important part of Iowa State since the school first classes were offered in 1869 (in fact, the first degree ever awarded was in mechanical engineering). The curriculum is constructed of 30-credit hours and the core coursework is clustered into four discipline areas for students to choose an emphasis (Design and Optimization, Dynamic Systems and Controls, Materials Processing and Mechanics, and Thermo-Fluid Sciences). The extensive ME faculty is impressive and has experience in many research areas and collectively many publications between them. Students are provided with resources and services through online and engineering-specific student support.
Iowa State University (officially named “Iowa State University of Science and Technology” in 1959, but known most commonly as Iowa State) was established in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. The first graduating class of 26 coeducational students would be welcomed to class for the first time in 1869, and since the Morrill Act of 1862 was passed while campus was being constructed, Iowa State became a land-grant university. Located in Ames, Iowa, campus originally covered 650 acres but has now grown to more than 1,800 acres, and the current student enrollment has increased to more than 35,000 students. This public university is also a space-grant institution, and nearly 300 academic degree programs are offered through the ten schools and colleges that make up Iowa State. The largest university in the state and Carnegie Foundation classified as having the highest research activity, Iowa State is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Auburn Engineering Online and Continuing Education, provided through the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering offers a non-thesis MS in Mechanical Engineering degree program. The 30-credit hour program, in the historic Department of Mechanical Engineering (established in 1885), gives “students opportunities to obtain the skills necessary to define, formulate and solve novel problems” in a convenient, online format. Designed for students with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (or a bachelor’s in a similar, relevant field), the MS degree allows for a great deal of customization—students choose all of the coursework to construct the degree. The “ever-increasing list of faculty patents and inventions” should serve as confirmation that the program is strong and will be rigorous, but the student services provided should provide reassurance that online ME students will receive the support they need. For students who do not desire to pursue a full degree, the ME Department also provides a Tribology Engineering graduate certificate online.
Chartered in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts school, Auburn University was originally affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The school became a public institution when it became a land-grant school in 1872 and was renamed Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (it would change names again in 1899 and then became Auburn University in 1960). The first school in the South to participate in the benefits of the Morrill Act of 1862, Auburn is additionally designated as a sea- and space-grant university. One of the two flagships of the state of Alabama, Auburn is located in Auburn, Alabama and is comprised of twelve academic schools and colleges. Just under 30,000 students are currently enrolled in over 140 programs, and the Carnegie Classification states the coeducational school is at a “higher research activity” level. Regional accreditation for Auburn comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (AME) at the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering (established when UA was founded in 1885) provides an entirely online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree program. The 32-credit program offers four core focus areas (dynamics and control systems, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics and dynamics, and thermal sciences) from which students can choose an emphasis, and students can opt between a Master’s Thesis, a Master’s Report, or a Coursework-only plan of study. Additionally, students “learn from and work alongside professors internationally renowned for their research” just as their on-campus counterparts, with coursework in subjects such as mechanics of deformable solids, thermodynamics and radiation, and engineering mathematics. Student support is comprehensive—online students receive a personal Student Academic Success Specialist and have access to an enrollment team, tutoring, alumni career mentorships, and other resources to help them succeed.
Prior to Arizona becoming a state in 1912, the Arizona Territory Legislative Assembly voted in 1885 to institute a state university as a response to the federal Morrill Act of 1862. Tucson was chosen as the campus location, and construction on the University of Arizona (UA or “Arizona”) began in 1887. The oldest institution of higher education in the state, UA offered the first classes to the initial enrollment of 32 students in 1891. Now the school boasts an enrollment of over 44,000 students and more than 350 academic degree programs. Twenty schools and colleges provide the programs to students either on-campus in Tucson (on a 380-acre main campus) on one of three other campus locations, or online, and Arizona has designation as very high research university from the Carnegie Foundation. A public land-grant university, the University of Arizona is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Georgia Tech’s Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program is provided entirely online through Georgia Tech Professional Education. Located within the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering (the oldest at Georgia Tech, with classes being offered for the first time in 1888), the degree is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering or similar discipline. Requiring a minimum of 30-credit hours, the degree offers twelve research areas, such as Mechanics of Materials, Automation, Robotics & Control, and Manufacturing. Students choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option and participate in classes like “Computer-Aided Design,” “Vibration-Mechanical System,” and “Combustion.” In addition to the online learning support and the array of student support services, the renowned faculty at the School of Mechanical Engineering is a collection of full-time, tenure-track professors (nearly 100) who have many years of research experience and publications to attest to their knowledge and skill in the field.
Established to provide an opportunity to promote technological education in an area that was mostly agricultural, the predecessor to Georgia Tech was founded in 1885 in Atlanta, Georgia. Known as the Georgia School of Technology, the institution opened its doors in 1888 to 84 male students. Mechanical Engineering was the only degree offered at first, but throughout the years more programs were added and in 1948 the name of the school was changed to highlight the broader academic focus: Georgia Institute of Technology (known largely as Georgia Tech). A member of the University of Georgia System, Georgia Tech has additional satellite campuses domestically and overseas. This public research university has a current student enrollment of nearly 30,000 and is comprised of six academic colleges. With “very high research activity” as classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Georgia Tech is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) at NC State is provided entirely online through Engineering Online. The 30-credit hour MSME program is rooted in a rich history since NC State was started as an Agriculture and Mechanic Arts school and engineering distance programs have been offered since 1978. Housed within the College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), six research areas are provided for students to pursue their particular area of interest (such as “Nanoscale Science and Engineering,” “Thermal Sciences and Energy Systems,” and “Structural Mechanics, Materials and Manufacturing”). Extensive, field-specific student resources are available through the NC State Online and Distance Education engineering department, and many tips and guides are provided to help MSME students succeed. The faculty members are not only highly experienced and reputable, but also exceedingly adept at online instruction. In addition, Engineering Online provides news and information for current and prospective students.
North Carolina State University (NC State or NCSU) was founded as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1887. The land-grant institution welcomed 72 students in 1889 with one building and six professors that first year. NCSU sent representatives to remote areas of the state to train farmers in best agriculture practices, which helped the school grow. Officially renamed in the 1960s, North Carolina State University at Raleigh (“at Raleigh” is not often used, even in official settings) is the flagship member of the University of North Carolina System and the largest institution of higher education in the state. Offering over 250 academic degree programs through twelve colleges to more than 35,000 currently enrolled students, NCSU is also a sea- and space-grant school and has earned the Carnegie Foundation classification of highest research activity. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Details: Offering the first mechanical engineering degree in the history of the United States (available since the school was founded in 1870), Stevens provides a Master of Engineering – Mechanical degree program that can be accessed online. There are only two required core courses in the 30-credit hour program (“Modeling and Simulation” and “Engineering Analysis I”); the remaining classes can be customized based on the student’s choice in concentration (Product Design; Manufacturing; Thermal, Fluids, Energy; Pharmaceutical Manufacturing; Medical Devices; Robotics & Control; Micro/Nano Systems) and elective choices. The degree is located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (the oldest and largest department at Stevens) in the Schaefer School of Engineering & Science, and students can opt to make it a thesis or a non-thesis degree. The faculty are experienced, currently holding patents, serving on task forces, and participating in cutting-edge research. Online students benefit from resources such as the Continuing and Professional Student Care Center to help them “flourish.”
In 1868 in Hoboken, New Jersey, the Stevens family had proven themselves to be adept at engineering, innovation, and philanthropy. The natural outgrowth of these qualities and talents led to the creation of the Stevens Institute of Technology (Edwin A. Stevens had passed away and bequeathed money specifically to establish the school). With a distinct focus on mechanical engineering, Stevens opened as a private institution of higher education in 1870 and has grown to consist of four schools and colleges: Schaefer School of Engineering & Science, School of Systems & Enterprises, School of Business, and College of Arts & Letters. More than 100 academic degree programs are offered to nearly 7,000 students currently, and the Carnegie Foundation recognizes Stevens as having a higher research activity level. The main campus is still located in Hoboken, but is joined by an additional location in Washington, D.C. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Housed within the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and offered entirely online though the Columbia Video Network (CVN), the MS in Mechanical Engineering degree at Columbia is a reputable, well-established (the department came into being in 1897) program. Requiring a minimum of 30-credit hours, the degree can be shaped by the student along with their advisor from among classes such as “Thermofluid Systems Design,” “Manufacturing Enterprise,” and “Intro to Control Theory.” Created for students with a bachelor’s of engineering background, the coursework is provided by faculty engineers with impressive credentials replete with publications and patents. Students services and resources through both the School of Engineering and the CVN are available to students, and for individuals who do not wish to pursue a full MS in Mechanical Engineering degree, two fully online twelve-credit hour certificate options are provided: Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering—Sustainable Energy.
Established as King’s College by a royal charter from King George II of England in 1754, Columbia University is the oldest university in the state of New York and the fifth oldest nationally. The school was affiliated with the Anglican church and set up residence in New York, New York; eight students were the first in attendance. After the American Revolution, the school reopened in 1784 as Columbia College and gained university status in 1896 (the official name is Columbia University in the City of New York). In 1897 Columbia moved to its permanent campus in Morningside Heights, and it has grown to become one of the most selective and competitive schools in the country. Twenty academic colleges provide the programs for nearly 30,000 currently enrolled student, and this private Ivy league school has the Carnegie Foundation’s highest research activity classification. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education regionally accredits Columbia.
Program Details: U of A Online offers a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree through the College of Engineering for students who desire a comprehensive, multi-discipline program (engineering has always been an important field at the University of Arkansas—the first mechanical engineering degree was awarded in 1891). Providing the foundational basics in core requirements of mathematics, computer applications, technical communications, and management, the 30-credit MSE degree integrates other traditional engineering discipline coursework along with mechanical engineering for a well-rounded program (students can choose mechanical engineering as their emphasis and focus nine credit hours towards it). The impressive faculty cover a wide range of research areas, and mechanical engineering emphasis classes include “Fundamentals of Aerodynamics,” “Thermal Systems Analysis and Design,” and “Advanced Fracture Mechanics and Structural Integrity.” Students typically complete the degree in under two years and are provided with specific engineering resources to help the find success.
The University of Arkansas (“U of A”) was founded in 1871 in Fayetteville, Arkansas in order to benefit from the federal Morrill Act of 1862. Originally named The Arkansas Industrial University, this land-grant university established a campus on a former farm site and opened its doors in 1872 to eight students. Though the first classes were held in an old barn, the school grew its curricular focus and became the University of Arkansas in 1899 due to a student-led petition. Over 27,000 students are currently enrolled, and eleven schools and colleges provide more than 200 academic degree programs. In addition to being a land-grant institution, U of A is also a space-grant university, as well as the flagship in the University of Arkansas System. A public doctoral research university with the highest research activity designation from the Carnegie Foundation, U of A is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Identical to the on-campus program, the online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree from The University of Alabama is a non-thesis, 30-credit hour program offered through the renowned Bama By Distance. Housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the historic College of Engineering (founded in 1909), the MSME degree program provides a wide array of focus areas, ranging from Additive Manufacturing to Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer to Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics to Mechatronics. The faculty have impressive research experience and provide the environment that allows students to be “vital to the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s research efforts.” Specific courses include “Classical Thermodynamics,” “Nonlinear Control Systems,” and “Intermediate Gas Dynamics,” just to name a few, and the distance program requires a comprehensive exam in lieu of a thesis. Online students have the same student services and resources provided to residential students, as well as their own dedicated Student Services Team.
Prior to becoming a state, the Alabama Territory lobbied the United States Congress in 1818 to provide township designation for the area so a university could be established. Two years later in 1820, The University of the State of Alabama was founded—and it would be located in Tuscaloosa. The first classes were held in 1831, and 52 enrolled students graced the school in its first year. After the devastation of the Civil War, the university had to regroup and reorganize. Reopening as The University of Alabama (Alabama, “Bama,” or UA) in 1872, this institution of higher education is the oldest public university in the state and the flagship of the University of Alabama System. Over 38,000 students are currently enrolled within the thirteen academic colleges, and UA is both a sea- and space-grant school. Granted by the Carnegie Foundation with higher research activity designation, Alabama is provided with regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Whitacre College of Engineering Distance Learning Program at Texas Tech offers a fully online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program. Provided through the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), the roots of which were established when Texas Tech was founded in 1925, the MSME degree requires 36-credit hours, and students can choose between a coursework only option or a Master’s Report. Students also can customize the degree through their choice in advanced mathematics classes, electives, and Concentration and Breadth requirements, in the areas of Dynamics and Controls, Thermal Sciences and Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics and Materials, and Design. Support is provided from the beginning with a Distance Student Orientation, and continues with advising services and career resources. The credentials of the ME faculty are impressive, and online students receive the same academic benefits and attention as their on-campus counterparts.
Texas Tech University was established by the Texas Legislature as the Texas Technological College in Lubbock, Texas in 1923. Two years later classes began, and there were over 900 coeducational undergraduate students enrolled that first year (graduate classes were added two years later in 1927). The name changed to Texas Tech University (Texas Tech or TTU) in 1969, and Texas Tech is the flagship in the Texas Tech University System. The sixth-largest institution of higher education in the state, the campus covers almost 2,000 acres and over 36,000 students are currently enrolled. More than 300 academic degree programs are offered in the twelve schools and colleges that comprise Texas Tech, and the Carnegie Foundation has classified this public research university as having the highest research activity (one of only 115 schools to receive that designation). Regional accreditation for Texas Tech is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Engineering with a Mechanical Engineering Specialization
Program Details: The CSU Master of Engineering (ME) degree with a Mechanical Engineering Specialization is offered completely online asynchronously through the Canvas online learning platform. Housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the 30-credit hour program is comprised of fifteen core courses focusing on topics such as “Metals and Alloys,” “Advanced Composite Materials,” and “Manufacturing Engineering.” Students choose from a wide range of electives to customize the degree, and all classes are taught by the same on-campus professors—faculty members who are inventors and innovators at the “forefront of mechanical engineering technology.” The program is located in the renowned and highly-selective Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering (which offered the first engineering program in the state), and students experience a coursework-based, “practitioner-oriented mechanical engineering degree” program. Student resources and services are comprehensive, ranging from academic advising to conflict resolution services to IT support.
Six years before Colorado became a state, the Morrill Act of 1862 incentivized the Territory to establish the Colorado Agricultural College in 1870. The land-grant school that would become Colorado State University (CSU) was located in the future city of Fort Collins, Colorado, and classes began for the first time in 1879. The flagship institution of the Colorado State University System, CSU currently enrolls more than 30,000 students and offers over 150 academic degree programs through eight academic colleges. A culture of environmental sustainability permeates the campus and the ideology of CSU—the school received the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™) Platinum rating in 2015, the first such ranking a school has ever been awarded. A public coeducational institution of higher education, CSU is also granted with the Carnegie Foundation classification of having the highest research activity. Regional accreditation for CSU comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The practice-based, completely online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree from Case Western Reserve offers “a rich and engaging curriculum in a convenient digital environment.” The 30-credit hour program is open to students who have may not have an undergraduate engineering degree but who meet the admissions requirements, and it can be completed through the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in just a year and a half. The department is located in the Case School of Engineering, which boasts a history traced back to the 1880 establishment of one of CWRU’s predecessor schools, the degree program presents a curriculum “designed by the best for the best,” with online classes such as “Advanced Engineering Analysis,” Fatigue of Materials,” “Vibration Problems in Engineering,” and “Applied Engineering Statistics.” The faculty boast impressive achievements, and online students benefit from their expertise through small class sizes and a hands-on research approach. An online engineering blog provides information for both current and prospective students as well.
Hudson, Ohio was the initial location of the school that would grow to become Case Western Reserve University. Founded as Western Reserve College in 1826, the institution moved in 1882 to Cleveland, Ohio. Finances provided by Amasa Stone (railroad mogul) encouraged the move, but five years before this, philanthropic Leonard Case Jr. made plans to endow a polytechnic school, also in Cleveland. Shortly after Case’s death in 1880, the Case School of Applied Science was established. Stone had made a caveat in his financial gift to Western Reserve—the school and Case would share adjoining properties. This was the beginning of a mutual relationship that would culminate in the formation of Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in 1967. Nearly 12,000 students are currently enrolled in the academic programs of nine schools and colleges, and the Carnegie Foundation classification for this private doctorate-granting university is the highest research activity level. CWRU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Mechanical Engineering: Polymer Science
Program Details: Through the Department of Engineering Professional Development (EPD), students can participate in UW-Madison’s renowned Master of Mechanical Engineering: Polymer Science degree program. A 30-credit hour program with the backing of a strong mechanical engineering history (having first been offered at the school in 1875), most students are working professionals and can complete the degree entirely online in just two to four years. Two required courses (“Transport Phenomena in Polymer Processing” and “Engineering Design with Polymers”) are followed by the student’s choice of several required class topics and electives (such as “Fundamentals of Injection Molding” and “Experimental Mechanics”). Students and alumni benefit from the dedicated EPD Community & Support, which offers resources specific to engineering, advising, technical support, and other services. The faculty are experts in the field of polymer science, and the curriculum is constructed by an institution that is “internationally recognized for its research and teaching in polymer engineering and science.”
The idea for a university was present before the territory became a state, and when Wisconsin became the 30th state in 1848, the University of Wisconsin was established. Classes began the next year in Madison, Wisconsin, and seventeen students were in attendance—the main campus now covers nearly 1,000 acres. Known as University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) since 1971, UW-Madison is the oldest in the state, the flagship in the University of Wisconsin System, and the official state university of Wisconsin. Nearly 44,000 students are currently enrolled in this land- and sea-grant institution of higher education, and over 400 academic degree programs are offered through the 20 schools and college. A Public Ivy university, UW-Madison is a doctoral research institution with the highest research activity as classified by the Carnegie Foundation. One of the founding members of the Association of American Universities, UW-Madison is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Space Systems Engineering
Program Details: One of the first of its kind, the UNM Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program with a concentration in Space Systems Engineering “was developed with input from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate.” The 34-credit hour, coursework only MSME program is offered entirely online through UNM’s Mechanical Engineering Department in the School of Engineering, which “opened in 1906 with a faculty of two and a single classroom” and has grown to be a leader in engineering innovation. The courses are taught by the “nationally recognized faculty” who meet the Quality Matters (QM) standards of online education excellence, and cover topics such as “Orbital Mechanics,” “Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering,” and “Introduction to Space Situational Awareness.” Student services are extensive, including Enrollment Coaching and Online Student Support, and student testimonials are provided to speak to the positive experiences and high-quality academics imparted through UNM Online.
Founded in 1889, before New Mexico was officially a state, the University of New Mexico (UNM) was voted into existence by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico. The school would be a state university once New Mexico joined the union, and classes began on the Albuquerque, New Mexico campus within a few years. Buildings were constructed utilizing a Pueblo Revival style of architecture, and campus now covers 600 acres. Proudly designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, UNM enrolls nearly 35,000 students across the main campus, branch campuses, and education extension centers. A public research university with the highest research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation, UNM is the flagship institution of the state, and twelve schools and colleges provide over 200 academic degree programs. With a mission to share “resources and strategies that encourage students to reach ambitious academic goals and exceed their own expectations,” UNM is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering online degree at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science is an accelerated program that can be completed in just eighteen months. Six start dates are offered for this 30-credit hour, non-thesis program, and the curriculum is constructed of courses such as “Effectiveness in Technical Organizations,” “Intelligent Systems Theory,” and “Design for Manufacturability and Assembly,” and all students complete the degree with the Master of Engineering Capstone Project. Based in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME), the degree offers an “industry-focused and practice-oriented approach” and has a long history at UC—the original College of Engineering was established when the school was founded in 1870. The mechanical engineering faculty are well-regarded and knowledgeable (one professor literally wrote the book on engineering education), and graduates of the MEng program testify that the program helped them achieve career opportunities through the skills they gained.
In the early 1800s, two schools were established in Ohio that would lead to the creation of the University of Cincinnati (UC). Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio merged in 1870 to form Cincinnati College (although there had been a plan in the works since 1858 when a wealthy resident of Cincinnati, Charles McMicken, bequeathed funds to the city in his will for the establishment of an institution of higher education). Expanding and achieving full university status, UC is a public research institution with multiple campuses throughout Cincinnati, Ohio and almost 45,000 enrolled students. Fourteen schools and colleges offer 350 academic degree programs, and the Carnegie Foundation bestows a classification of highest research activity on UC. One of the largest universities in the nation, UC is a member of the University System of Ohio and a space-grant institution. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation to UC.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Through Michigan Tech Online Learning, the Department of Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) provides an online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree program. A 30-credit hour program, the degree provides three options to customize; students choose from a research-based Thesis option, an Independent Study Project Report option, or a Coursework-only option. Multiple courses are delivered online, and additional classes are added with ample student interest (potential classes include “Nanoscale Science and Technology,” “Nonlinear System Analysis & Control,” and “Advanced Engineering Mathematics with Applications”). The extensive ME-EM faculty have a wealth of research and published works between them, and the decades of Michigan Tech mechanical engineering program experience (first offered in the 1920s) is evidenced by the current projects being conducted in the department. Online student resources are provided to mechanical engineering students from the moment they are admitted past graduation, and includes services such as a Multiliteracies Center for current students and Financial Tools and Resources for alumni.
Started as the Michigan Mining School in Houghton, Michigan in 1885, Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) was established by the state in order to provide best practices training to mining engineers who oversaw the local copper mines. The first classes were led by four faculty members, and the first student enrollment included 23 students. The school would find a permanent location (the original classroom is now a restaurant and club), and the main campus now encompasses 925 acres. Programs have expanded, and now over 130 academic degree programs are offered through five schools and colleges, and student enrollment has surpassed 7,000. The Carnegie Foundation has declared Michigan Tech promotes higher research activity through its College of Engineering, College of Sciences and Arts, School of Business and Economics, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and School of Technology, and regional accreditation is granted from the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Villanova University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (held in high regard ever since it was established in 1908) offers a “modern, relevant and comprehensive” 30-credit hour Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program online through the College of Engineering E-Learning program. The “highly distinguished and dedicated faculty who are nationally recognized leaders in their disciplines” provide coursework in the established areas of thermal sciences, mechanics and materials, and dynamics and controls, as well as in newer fields such as bioengineering and nanotechnology. Additionally, the College of Engineering presents five mechanical engineering graduate certificates via E-Learning for students who do not desire a full master’s degree. The certificates all require four or five courses for completion, and options include: Mechanics and Material, Machinery Dynamics, Modeling and Simulation (with tracks in Dynamics & Systems and Mechanics & Manufacturing), Thermofluid Systems, and Electro-Mechanical Systems.
Named for Saint Thomas of Villanova, Villanova University started out as Augustinian College of Villanova and is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The school was established by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842, making it the oldest Catholic university in the state of Pennsylvania. An all-male school in the beginning (though nuns were allowed to start taking classes in 1918), Villanova became completely coeducational in 1968 and now enrolls nearly 11,000 students, both residentially on the 250-plus acre campus and online. Six schools and colleges provide over 100 academic degree programs, and this private research university, though firmly rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition, “welcomes and respects members of all faiths who seek to nurture a concern for the common good and who share an enthusiasm for the challenge of responsible and productive citizenship in order to build a just and peaceful world.” Regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Details: Offered through the Office of Distance Learning, Lehigh University’s online Master of Mechanical Engineering degree program is housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The 30-credit hour program is a non-thesis degree (students who want to pursue the MS in Mechanical Engineering degree must get departmental approval and write a thesis) and benefits from a history that began with the first class requirements when Lehigh was founded in 1866 (the School of Mechanical Engineering was established in 1876). Students can pursue the Master’s degree as a gateway to a PhD program, taking five required core courses (such as “Advanced Fluid Mechanics” and “Heat and Mass Transfer”) or opt not to take the required core courses but construct the degree with their chosen coursework. Award-winning faculty provide the entirely online curriculum, and students’ research projects contributed to a blog serve as testaments to the program.
Lehigh University was founded in 1865 in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Asa Packer, the man who established the Lehigh Valley Railroad, provided the funding and land to create an institution of higher education that would foster the “intellectual and moral improvement” of the young men in the area. Located on South Mountain in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the institution’s first classes were a year later, and 39 students were in attendance when the doors first opened. By the 1970s women were allowed full admittance, and now more than 7,000 students are currently enrolled. The university’s four academic colleges (the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics, and the College of Education) provide nearly 200 academic degree programs, and this private research university is recognized as having higher research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education regionally accredits Lehigh.
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering (MANE) in the RPI School of Engineering (one of the first schools of engineering, established in 1824) provides a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering degree program in a blended online format. The “Education for Working Professionals” program requires 30-credit hours and provides four topical research areas (Mechanics and Materials, Thermal and Fluids Engineering, Design and Manufacturing, and Dynamics and Control). The curriculum provides coursework such as “Advanced Engineering Mathematics,” “Introduction to Finite Elements,” and “Analysis of Manufacturing Processes.” Classes are presented by Rensselaer’s “outstanding and highly-ranked engineering faculty,” and all students complete the degree with a Professional Project. Student resources that are tailored to the graduate mechanical engineering student are made available from the beginning of the educational journey, and even before admittance online information sessions and webinars are provided for prospective students to learn more about the program and the blended online delivery.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) was founded in 1824 in Troy, New York as the Rensselaer School by Stephen Van Rensselaer, and the school attracted students from other states due to its academic rigor and affordable price ($40 per semester). Incorporated by the state of New York in 1826 and renamed the Rensselaer Institute in 1834, the school awarded the very first civil engineering degree in the United States the following year. In 1861 the institute was renamed a final time, and RPI now enrolls over 7,500 students in five schools: the School of Architecture, the School of Engineering, the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, the Lally School of Management & Technology, and the School of Science. More than 145 degree programs are provided by this historic private research institution with higher research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation. Also a space-grant school, Rensselaer is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Mechanical Engineering has a long history at MSU—the institution having begun as an A&M college in 1878 and the College of Engineering being established in 1902. The Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department, the largest academic department at the Bagley College of Engineering at MSU, provides an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree with both a thesis and a non-thesis option. Requiring 31-credit hours for both options, the degree allows students to construct a program of study with advisor guidance. Coursework options are diverse, providing class options such as “Mechanical Metallurgy,” “Energy Systems Design,” “Introduction to Vibrations and Controls,” and “Finite Elements in Mechanical Engineering.” The award-winning faculty provides the same rigorous studies both on-campus and online, and easily accessible resources, services, current student stories and program information assures that the online academic experience is rewarding for online ME graduate students.
Founded as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi in 1878, Mississippi State University (MSU) welcomed the first students to class in 1880. Main campus was located in and near Starkville, Mississippi, and main campus is still in this area of Oktibbeha County that remains unincorporated. It is a public land-, space-, and sea-grant institution with higher research activity (as Classified by the Carnegie Foundation), and is the flagship university of the state. Since 1958 the official name has been Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, but it is mostly known as simply “Mississippi State University.” Over 21,000 students are enrolled in the main campus alone (there are additional campus locations in Meridian, Biloxi and Vicksburg), making it the largest university in the state per enrollment, and over 175 academic degree programs are provided through twelve colleges and schools. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides regional accreditation.
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Utilizing a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) focus, ODU provides “an integrated, information-driven” approach in the fully online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering degree program with an emphasis in Design and Manufacturing. The 30-credit hour program is housed within the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering in the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology (the College was established in 1962, but as part of the history of ODU, engineering classes were offered since 1931 as a collaboration between Virginia Tech and William & Mary). Coursework for this non-thesis program includes the student’s choice of twelve hours of core requirements, with class options such as “Engineering Mathematics,” “Fluid Dynamics and Aerodynamics,” and “Advanced Mechanics of Solids.” The experienced faculty enhance the curriculum with their expertise and research area interests, and students are provided with “a dedicated advisor from the Batten College of Engineering & Technology” as well as online student resources.
Old Dominion University (ODU), founded in Norfolk, Virginia as an extension known as the Norfolk Division of The College of William and Mary in 1930, has been a full, independent institution since 1962 (university status was achieved in 1969). This public doctoral research university is recognized as having higher research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Six colleges (College of Arts and Letters, Strome College of Business, Darden College of Education, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Health Sciences, and College of Sciences) provide over 200 academic degree programs to 25,000 currently enrolled students. Old Dominion is also a space- and sea-grant institution and is very active in offering online degree programs. The vision of Old Dominion is to utilize the school’s “exceptional strengths and leadership . . . to provide practical solutions to complex, real world problems,” and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program offered through UCF Online is housed within the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering in the innovative College of Engineering and Computer Science (approved as one of the four original academic colleges by the State University System of Florida’s Board of Regents in 1966, two years before UCF opened in 1968). The 30-credit hour degree program provides three tracks from which students can choose: Mechanical Engineering (MSME) – Mechanical Systems, Mechanical Engineering (MSME) – Thermofluids, and an accelerated Bachelor of Science to Master of Science program for undergraduates. All tracks provide a thesis or non-thesis option, and can be completed entirely online, and the experience is enriched by partnerships with major technology -focused organizations, “including NASA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Siemens and Walt Disney World.” The faculty are innovators in their own right, and online students are fully supported.
In 1962, President Kennedy gave a moving speech on space travel (“We choose to go to the Moon”). This speech was part of the impetus in the creation of the University of Central Florida (UCF), which was founded in 1963 in Orlando, Florida. The name of the school was Florida Technological University until it became UCF in 1978, and originally the academics focused primarily on space and technology. The school was intentionally diverse, admitting coeducational students and students of color from the inception, and almost 2,000 students enrolled the first year. Now, over 66,000 students make UCF the largest school in Florida and the second largest in the nation. More than 200 academic degree programs are provided through the thirteen colleges on the 1,400-plus acre campus, and there are several regional campus locations and many online programs available. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges grants UCF with regional accreditation, and the Carnegie Foundation classifies it as having highest research activity.
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Provided online through Engineering Outreach, the Master of Engineering (M. Engr.) in Mechanical Engineering degree program at U of I is a 30-credit hour program within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The ME department is located in the century-and-a-quarter old College of Engineering, and the coursework fulfills the original vision of this prestigious land-grant school—a focus on the mechanical arts. The online class offerings are plentiful (with choices such as “Engineering Acoustics,” “Computational Fluid Dynamics,” and “Finite Element Applications in Engineering,” just to name a few), and the faculty members have a long history of experience and cover many research areas. Student success is important at U of I—the College of Engineering Student Services office provides many resources and support services to engineering students, and a page dedicated to all manner of engineering news relevant to the school is available for all to access.
The University of Idaho (UI or U of I) was founded in 1889, one year before Idaho joined the union as the 43rd state. A public university and the flagship of the state, UI was located in Moscow, Idaho, and classes began in 1892 for 40 coeducational students. Also the oldest institution of higher education in the state of Idaho, UI is designated as a land- and space-grant university with a higher research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation. Main campus in Moscow is almost 1,600 acres, and branch campuses are located across the state. UI is organized into ten schools, and nearly 200 academic degree programs are currently offered to the more than 11,000 enrolled students. The mission of UI is to “enhance the scientific, economic, social, legal and cultural assets of our state and to develop solutions for complex problems facing our society,” and regional accreditation comes from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Online Master of Science in Engineering with a specialization in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The UCR online MS in Engineering with a specialization in Mechanical Engineering is offered entirely online through the Bourns College of Engineering. This convenient, flexible program is located within the relatively young but highly regarded Department of Mechanical Engineering and can be completed in as few as thirteen months. The faculty members and professors are “thought leaders and industry experts” who care about their students and offer the same rigorous coursework online as they do on-campus. The 36-credit hour curriculum includes sixteen credits of an engineering core and sixteen credits towards the mechanical engineering specialization, with classes such as “Technology Innovation and Strategy for Engineers,” “Plasma-aided Manufacturing and Materials Processing,” and “Design and Analysis of Engineering Experiments,” and four one-credit Capstone courses. The current students and graduates of the program give it high praises, and prospective students can be assured that available student support specialists “are dedicated to helping students successfully navigate their educational journey.”
The University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside or UCR) was founded in 1954 but traces its roots to the University of California Citrus Experiment Station (CES), which was established in 1907. The Station moved to a larger location, and by the 1940s a push for a college in the area led to UC Riverside. Opening with 127 students, UCR quickly grew, and this public research university (one of the ten campuses in the University of California system), currently enrolls over 23,000 students. The nearly 1,200-acre campus houses three colleges and four schools, which offer over 180 academic degree programs. A land-grant school, diversity is proudly embraced at UC Riverside—the mission is to “transform the lives of the diverse people of California, the nation, and the world.” The Carnegie Foundation designates the school with a highest research activity classification, and regional accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Through the Kansas State University Global Campus and the College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (officially established in 1922, but classes in “mechanic arts” were offered as early as the foundation of K-State), students can pursue an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree. Requiring 30-credit hours, the degree program curriculum is made up of classes such as “Indoor Environmental Engineering,” “Thermodynamics of Modern Power Cycles,” and “Finite Element Applications in Mechanical Engineering.” All coursework is available online; the only on-campus requirement is the final oral exam at the end of the program. Ideal for individuals who have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (or closely related field), the curriculum is taught by faculty members who have won teaching awards and published many books, chapters, papers, and articles collectively. Online students are fully supported with services and resources—K-State Global Campus has been providing distance education since 1966.
Though officially established in 1863 as the Kansas State Agricultural College, Kansas State University (Kansas State or K-State) began when the Bluemont Central College was founded in 1858; that school was converted into the land-grant state university. Kansas had entered the union in 1861, and the school located in Manhattan, Kansas benefited from the Morrill Act of 1862. Only the second institution of higher education in the nation that admitted coeducational students without any stipulation, Kansas State had 26 male and 26 female students enrolled in the first year. Renamed Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science in 1959, the school is known as Kansas State University in most settings. One of the 115 universities with the Carnegie Foundation classification of highest research activity, Kansas State is organized into nine colleges and has two branch campuses in Salina and Olathe. Nearly 25,000 students are now enrolled at K-State, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
Online Master of Science in Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The College of Engineering and Computer Science Distance Learning Network at UM-Dearborn provides an online Master of Science in Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MSE-ME) degree program that “combines engineering practice with analysis.” A 30-credit hour program that can be completed entirely online, the MSE-ME presents two emphasis areas in which students can choose to focus: Mechanical Science or Thermal/Fluid Science. Located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (and one of the first degree programs offered by the school when it was established in 1959), the degree program is continuously improved upon with up-to-the-minute input from the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board, which is made up of “industry professionals who provide input . . . and a perspective on future challenges requiring collaboration.” Coursework such as “Mechanical Behavior of Materials” and “Statistical Thermodynamics” are provided by the impressive faculty, and students can opt to complete the degree with a thesis and independent study.
Dearborn, a city in Michigan, benefited from being in the larger metropolitan of Detroit when the Ford Motor Company donated six million dollars and 200 acres to the city to finance a public university. An act that was both altruistic and practical, Ford Motor Company was providing funding to create a highly-educated and capable pool of engineers from which they could recruit. The school was founded in 1956, and the University of Michigan–Dearborn (UM–Dearborn) is one of two regional campuses for the flagship University of Michigan, which is located in Ann Arbor. UM-Dearborn opened its doors for the first classes in 1959, and 34 students were enrolled. Only offering degrees in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Business Administration at that time, the school has grown to provide over 100 academic degree programs through four colleges. Over 10,000 students are now enrolled, and the Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Mechanical Engineering Department at SMU’s Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering provides a 30-credit hour MS in Mechanical Engineering degree online through the Lyle Distance Education Program. The program is at the forefront of distance education (the Lyle School of Engineering having provided “50 years of proven . . . engineering education-at-a-distance” since first offering it in 1967), and students can opt for a thesis or non-thesis track and from three concentration areas (Design and Dynamic Systems and Controls, Mechanics and Manufacturing, or Thermal and Fluid Sciences). The “exceptionally qualified faculty members are continuously engaged in cutting-edge research projects” and pass their knowledge and the benefits of their experience on to the students. Engineering services are provided to students, and a specific Distance Education Help Desk is a resource for distance students. As an additional benefit to students, the Lyle School Executive Board furnishes guidance to the school and a liaison to industry.
Chartered in 1911 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Southern Methodist University (SMU) welcomed students for the first time in 1915 in the first building constructed on the campus located in Dallas, Texas: Davis Hall. Three campuses now make up the university and cover nearly 625-acres collectively: the main campus in Highland Park/University Park (Dallas), a campus in Taos, New Mexico, and another Texas campus in Plano. Seven academic school comprise SMU and serve almost 12,000 students with more than 260 academic degree programs. Even though the school has a strong tie to the United Methodist church, it is a private research university that is “nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry” and has a higher research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation. The university’s regional accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Only the third private college established in the U.S. dedicated to science and technology, WPI’s online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree has roots in the first classes offered at the school when it opened in 1868 (making WPI one of the first schools in the nation to offer mechanical engineering coursework). The 30-credit hour program is available entirely online through the ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering department, and students can choose from five specialization areas to customize the degree. The research-intensive faculty provides coursework such as “Applied Numerical Methods In Engineering” and “Fundamentals In Surface Metrology,” and online student support is provided through interactions with Student Support Team members. Also offered entirely online by WPI, the Mechanical Engineering for Technical Leaders (METL) graduate certificate is an eighteen-credit program that provides students with “a combination of the technical skills that create innovation solutions, and the managerial skills that bring these solutions to bear.”
The rich history of the engineering and technology that Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has produced first began when the school was established in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1865 (classes would begin three years later). The Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science, as it was known then, had two key financial founders: John Boynton and Ichabod Washburn. Both men had different ideas about the school, but their vision helped create a private research institution that now houses fourteen academic departments offering over 50 degree programs to the nearly 5,000 currently enrolled students. WPI has the vision “to create, to discover, and to convey knowledge at the frontiers of academic inquiry for the betterment of society” and is classified as having higher research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. Over 225 student organizations are offered by WPI, and regional accreditation is provided by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) in the UH Cullen College of Engineering offers an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program through Online & Special Programs (OSP). The same 30-credit hour degree program as on-campus, but conveniently offered online and with no time limit to complete the degree, the same innovative faculty members provide the coursework, with classes such as “Functional Engineering Materials and Applications,” “Intelligent Structural Systems,” and “Control System Analysis and Design” presented online. The list of specific engineering online student resources includes services, technological assistance with the online delivery system, a FAQ page, and a sample course for prospective students to view. A young university when viewed through historical lenses, UH’s College of Engineering, though established in 1941, has quickly jumped to national recognition and has nearly 20,000 alumni to speak to the quality of the school.
The University of Houston began simply as evening classes offered at the local high school in 1927. Known as the Houston Junior College at that time, the institution quickly grew to become University of Houston (UH) in 1934. That first year, almost 700 students were enrolled, and by 1939 the school had moved from the high school and found its permanent location. Becoming a state university in 1963, UH became a member of the University of Houston System in 1977. Organized into fourteen schools and colleges, this public research institution offers over 250 academic degree programs to over 45,000 currently enrolled students. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has awarded UH the classification of highest research activity, and UH is also the flagship institution of the UH System and the third largest university in the state of Texas. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides regional accreditation.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The UW Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program can be pursued entirely online on a full- or part-time basis. Designed for current mechanical engineer professionals with a strong undergraduate background in mechanical engineering or similar field, the 42-credit hour program can be pursued by others (such as physics majors) if they complete the undergraduate work required of MSME students. Located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) in the College of Engineering (which was established in 1901), the UW MSME is one of the largest in the nation and offers six concentration options (such as Dynamics & Vibrations or Mechanics, Materials & Manufacturing). In addition to the mechanical engineering resources and student services provided, the ME faculty members have many honors and a wealth of experience and expertise in the field. Prospective students can read the stories of current ME students and alums to visualize the experience of the program.
One of the goals of establishing the University of Washington was to help the city of Seattle prosper and grow. When it was founded in 1861, Washington was still a territory, and the institution was named the Territorial University of Washington. By 1889 (the year Washington entered the union) the school and the city began to thrive, and the school outgrew its original location and moved to the current main campus in 1895. Sixteen schools and colleges comprise the University of Washington (UW), and the institution of higher education is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having highest research activity. A public university, UW is also a land-, space-, and sea-grant institution and the flagship of the six public universities in the state. A member of the Association of American Universities, UW enrolls almost 47,000 students currently. UW is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: New Mexico Tech’s Department of Mechanical Engineering presents a MS in Mechanical Engineering degree that students can access entirely online through the Center for Graduate Studies via distance education. The program requires 30 credit hours to graduate and provides four specialization areas: Specialization in Explosives Engineering, Specialization in Fluid and Thermal Sciences, Specialization in Mechatronics Systems Engineering, and Specialization in Solid Mechanics. Students participate in twelve-credit hours of their specialization core and complete the degree with electives and either a Thesis or Independent Study course. Although Mechanical Engineering is the newest academic department at NMT, it is the largest in terms of enrollment and enjoys a strong reputation. The faculty are actively involved in cutting-edge research, and since classes are offered in real-time through the Adobe Connect platform, online students are immersed in the class discussion as if they were present in the classroom.
Established as the New Mexico School of Mines in 1889 by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (known most commonly as New Mexico Tech) is a public university in the Rio Grande valley. Growing out of a desire to boast the economy of one of the mining town Socorro, the first classes began in 1893 for the two instructors and seven students. As the school grew and added more programs (the original classes were in chemistry and metallurgy), the name was change to reflect that growth in 1951. Now New Mexico Tech educates over 2,000 students and offers nearly 50 academic degree programs. Known for engineering, science, and technology, New Mexico Tech houses over a dozen research divisions, such as the Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, the Magdalena Ridge Observatory, and the Energetic Materials Research & Testing Center. New Mexico Tech is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: Through Distance Learning at Clarkson University, students can pursue both a ME degree and MS degree in Mechanical Engineering. Both degrees are 30-credit hours—the ME is a professional degree requiring a final project, and the MS is research-based with a thesis requirement. Located within the Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering (the largest department at CU) in the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and provided online through the Graduate School, the programs both have a selection of courses from which students can choose in order to customize their degree (some of the courses offered online include “Particle Transport,” “Advanced Modeling & Simulation of Dynamic Systems,” and “Additive Manufacturing”). Technology has been an important component of CU since its founding in 1896, and students are well supported with resources that continue even beyond graduation—such as a Career Center available to online students and alumni.
Clarkson University was established as the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial School of Technology in 1896. Located in Potsdam, New York, the school was founded by the family of local businessman Thomas Clarkson, who had died heroically saving the life of one of the workers in his sandstone quarry. Seventeen coeducational students were enrolled the first year, and now over 4,300 students are enrolled in more than 95 academic degree programs in one of four schools (The Clarkson School, the Graduate School, the School of Arts & Sciences, the David D. Reh School of Business, and the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering) or three institutes (the Institute for a Sustainable Environment, the Institute for STEM Education, and the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries). A private research university with moderate research activity (as determined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching), Clarkson is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: With a history that predates the university’s founding, the KSU Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (created as The Technical Institute in 1948 and as established as an academic college of KSU in 2015) provides an entirely online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program ideal for working professionals. The 30-credit hour program is offered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering and requires eight core courses such as “Advanced Dynamics and Vibrations” and “Applied Engineering Design.” Two electives are chosen by the student from diverse classes such as “Project Management Processes,” “Introduction to Systems Engineering,” and “Total Quality,” and students have the option to complete a Master’s Project for credit. The curriculum is provided for online programs by “the same exceptional faculty that teach on-campus courses,” and these KSU professors have been recognized nationally for excellence in their online training. A comprehensive collection of Student Support Resources are also available to all online MSME students.
Kennesaw State University (KSU) was established as Kennesaw Junior College in 1964, and over 1,000 students were in attendance in its first year. Located in Cobb County, Georgia, KSU has two campus locations: Kennesaw and Marietta. Together the campuses are nearly 600 acres, and now more than 35,000 students are enrolled. The public research university is organized into thirteen colleges, and more than 150 academic degree programs are provided. Part of the University System of Georgia, KSU is the third largest institution of higher education in the state. Merging with the Southern Polytechnic State University in 2015, KSU is classified as having moderate research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. A vision of imparting an experience that will empower “the university community to have the vision, ability, and courage to transform the future,” KSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Program Details: Virginia Commonwealth University provides an entirely online MS in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering degree program through Online@VCU. A 30-credit hour program with a mission “to provide graduate students with learning opportunities for acquiring a broad foundation of engineering knowledge including business and manufacturing aspects,” the degree is housed within the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in the College of Engineering. Both a thesis and a non-thesis option are available, and the same nine credits of core courses are required for each (“Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis,” “Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics,” and “Topics in Nuclear Engineering”). The remaining credits are comprised of electives, chosen with adviser guidance, from a variety of subject areas, and in the case of the thesis option, six credits of Directed Research in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. The faculty have an impressive collection of media appearances and publications along with their research, and online students have access to resources and services.
Founded as the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), a medical department of the Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has grown to become a comprehensive public research university. Established in 1838 in Richmond, Virginia the school obtained its own charter in 1844 to become the independent MCV. In 1968, the Medical College of Virginia merged with the Richmond Professional Institute, and now more than 31,000 students are currently enrolled. The VCU main campus encompasses almost 175 acres in downtown Richmond, and there are branch and satellite locations throughout the state and overseas. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education designates VCU with the highest research activity level, and over 200 academic degree programs are provided through the fourteen schools and colleges of this institution of higher education. Regional accreditation for VCU is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Science in Technology Management with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering Technology
Program Details: The College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Indiana State University provides an online Master of Science in Technology Management (MSTM) degree with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering Technology. A 33-credit hour program that can be completed in two years (but allows students up to seven years) and “provides a strong graduate education by integrating teaching with applied research in an engaging, challenging and supportive learning environment to prepare leaders.” The Technology Management Core includes fifteen-credits of coursework such as “Systems in Manufacturing” and “Economic Analysis for Engineering and Technology,” and the Mechanical Engineering Technology concentration offers nine credits towards “Engineering Design and Management,” “Application of Simulation Modeling and Analysis,” and “Computer Aided Graphics Software.” Electives and either a Major Project or Master’s Thesis culminate the program. This unique degree is offered through the College of Technology and located in the Department of Applied Engineering and Technology Management.
Established as the Indiana State Normal School by the Indiana General Assembly in 1865, Indiana State University was originally a school to train teachers for the area. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, the institution of higher education opened its doors in 1870 for the first classes, and 23 students were enrolled. Going through several expansions and name changes, the school became Indiana State University in 1965. Organized into seven colleges, Indiana State is a doctoral research university with a moderate research activity level designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Providing almost 200 academic degree programs to the more than 13,500 currently enrolled students, Indiana State has a mission to “integrate teaching, research, and creative activity in an engaging, challenging, and supportive learning environment to prepare productive citizens for Indiana and the world.” Regional accreditation has been provided by the Higher Learning Commission since 1915.
Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Program Details: The BU Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering degree program is offered online through the Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering (which was founded in 1950). A 32-credit hour professional degree ideal for recent graduates, professionals who are at a mid-point in their career, and industry workers who want to expand their engineering and management knowledge. Classes are varied and cover topics like “Probability and Statistics for Mechanical Engineers,” “Atmospheric Flight Mechanics and Control,” and “Dynamics and Control of Mechanical Systems,” and all students culminate the degree by fulfilling a Practicum Requirement (in which students should be prepared to devote more than 50 hours to successfully complete). Seven research areas provide opportunities for students, and the award-winning faculty are available to offer their expertise and guidance. The College of Engineering houses a Graduate Programs Office to provide an orientation for new students, as well as other resources.
Boston University can claim a rich history of predecessors. The earliest school that contributed to the creation of Boston University was the Newbury Bible Institute, which was founded in 1839. The school was established in Newbury, Vermont by delegates of the United Methodist Church from Boston, and would be given a new charter in 1867 to move to Massachusetts and become the Boston Theological Institute. A newly-established Boston University merged with the institution in 1871 to become closer to the Boston University of today, and by the end of the 19th century all locations of the school came together on the campus on the banks of the Charles River. Now organized into seventeen schools and colleges, Boston University (BU) enrolls over 33,000 students currently, and this private nonsectarian research university is classified with the highest research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges regionally accredits BU.
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TROY Online
The online Master of Business Administration (MBA) is the 
