According to a 2014 survey by Aslanian Market Research and The Learning House Inc., two out of every nine online graduate students are specializing in education. Even though it is so prevalent, these students still face a lot of challenges. US News & World Report lists these four obstacles and talks about how some students have overcome them. We’d like to tell you how UGA’s online degree programs and their structure helps you overcome them. 

1. Balancing work and school responsibilities: 

It’s always hard for non-traditional students who are juggling careers and families to fit in a degree program. However, it is even harder for those specializing in education, since their careers aren’t just an 8 to 3 thing. They are educating and tutoring and coaching and this is a 24/7 ordeal. 

Many students attempt to overcome this by looking for online programs with elements of synchronous, or real-time, instruction, where students and faculty meet virtually on a regular basis. UGA online programs provide a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning to help students stay on task while also allowing the flexibility to engage when it’s most convenient for the student. All of our online education programs are cohort based, offering a community of classmates to progress with through the program.

2. Finding an online program that meets your state’s credential requirements:

Online students in out-of-state programs may find it difficult to have their academic achievements recognized in their state. A graduate degree could qualify a teacher for an endorsement, raise or promotion in one state, for example, but it might not in another. It’s very complex for a student to have to check if the degree program they want to enter meets the requirements of what it is they’re trying to accomplish in their state. 

Each of our online graduate education programs has a program coordinator to help prospective students determine if a program will help them meet their professional goals in the state they plan to teach. If you have questions about specific programs and their details, there is a number and email for each program to reach someone who can answer those questions for you. 

3. Choosing a school that is the right fit:

Since in the education field, work demands vary based on the school environment, state standards and student ability, many educators find online graduate programs too broadly focused.

“A lot of the online educational courses are about educational theory, which you definitely need, or they’re kind of blanket courses,” says Jennifer Boyer-Thurgood, director of Elementary Mathematics Teachers Academy at Utah State University. “But that doesn’t tell you how to teach computational fluency to your second graders.”

While UGA online programs are cohort based, the program advisor may modify the course sequence according to an individual student’s needs. Because UGA is a Research 1 university, the faculty teaching the program are doing research on cutting edge methodologies for the classroom. Students enrolled in UGA online programs learn from these professors, who can not only inform them on the results of their research, but also offer advice and mentorship outside of the classroom. 

4. Determining the quality of the online program:

Many students in online graduate education programs don’t have previous teaching experience. They are trying to shift into a teaching career after taking their online certification or master’s program. A lot of online degree programs these students enroll in lack the rigor needed to prepare teachers for challenging classroom environments. They claim to be able to jumpstart your teaching career, but they just don’t have that high of a quality level. 

UGA’s online programs carry the same level of quality as a traditional university education. The University of Georgia is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and our College of Education is accredited by the National Council on Teacher Education and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparedness. Also, each online course is reviewed and supported by instructional designers. 

Based on an article published on June 1, 2015 by US News & World Report.