Are you considering adding a master’s degree to your credentials? Advancing your education offers many benefits: the specialized skills and expertise you develop could qualify you for more senior positions, accelerating your career. Higher pay and greater job security typically accompany these enhanced opportunities.
Choosing a master’s program involves evaluating and weighing multiple factors. This article lists top considerations when researching advanced degree programs.
Tailor Your Education to Fit Your Lifestyle
Study Online, On-Campus, or in a Hybrid Format
Researching Master’s Degree Programs: What to Consider
Your most important assessment in choosing a master’s degree program involves evaluating whether the program aligns with your life and career goals. Assess your objectives in the context of the following factors.
Field of Study
Graduate degrees do not align one-to-one with careers; most degree programs can lead to multiple career paths, and many job opportunities await candidates of diverse academic backgrounds. For example, someone interested in a career in business intelligence could choose to earn a Master of Science in Applied Analytics (MSAA)—like the one offered by Woods College of Advancing Studies at Boston College (BC)—but might also explore a Master of Business Administration or master’s programs in business analytics, statistics, or data science.
When evaluating potential degree programs, consider all options, weighing the program curriculum and available specializations against your career goals.
Focus: Academic or Practical?
Master’s degree programs vary significantly. Some programs emphasize a strong academic focus, ideal for those interested in research, education, or earning a Ph.D. Others focus more on professional skills and their practical application in the workplace.
If you want to learn practical skills, consider a master’s degree with the word “applied” in the title, like the Master of Science in Applied Economics (MSAE) or Master of Science in Applied Analytics (MSAA) from Woods College. Woods Applied Economics students master industry-aligned competencies in real-world scenarios while building a portfolio of work and skills. Students in the Applied Analytics program complete an Applied Analytics project in which they gain end-to-end experience in building an analytical solution to a business or a policy problem.
Woods dual degree candidate Alexander Bacat loves the applied aspect of both programs; as he puts it, “Being able to utilize the coursework on a real-time basis has been really interesting. I’ve made a few career changes, and they’ve all been based on new things that I’m learning in the program and things that I only became aware of through the MSAE and MSAA programs.”
Cost and Return on Investment
Unless you are independently wealthy, you doubtless need to consider the cost of the degree program and the potential return on investment it will provide. As mentioned, earning a master’s degree could significantly boost your earning potential. Keep that in mind when evaluating degree costs.
Also, remember that you won’t necessarily need to fund the total cost of your degree yourself. Scholarships, grants, and loans can substantially reduce a degree program’s sticker price. If you work, your employer may offer a tuition assistance benefit to offset or cover the cost of your degree.
Mode of Study: On-Campus, Online, or Hybrid
You should consider the delivery format as you assess degree programs. Some require students to attend classes on campus, while others operate fully online or offer a hybrid format.
Your ideal learning modality will depend on your circumstances and preferences. Many working professionals prefer online study for convenience and flexibility. Other students might choose an in-person format as they find it easier to connect with others in a physical (as opposed to virtual) environment.
Woods College caters to various learning modalities. Its MSAA and MSAE programs offer in-person, online, and hybrid formats, allowing students to take online and in-person classes. Online student Nick Wofford explains that the part-time online format “is very helpful to working professionals. Balancing work-life expectations has been very manageable; the program takes into account that most students work full-time jobs. That’s been a real positive.”
Convenience and Lifestyle Fit
When researching advanced degree programs, consider how well your targeted program will fit in with your current lifestyle. If the program takes place on campus, you must determine whether the university has a convenient location or whether you can add long commutes to and from campus to your schedule. If you plan to study online, you can eliminate this factor from consideration.
Explore each program’s time commitment and assess your other commitments (like work and family) to determine whether you can make it work. While all master’s programs demand effort, they do not all require the same time commitment. Some programs allow you to choose how many courses you want to take each semester so you can study at a pace that works for you. Each program offers a unique blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning. Do your research to determine which program will best fit your schedule.
Program Reputation and Alumni Network
In part, university programs earn their reputations based on the quality of graduates produced. Consequently, a program’s reputation closely aligns with the school’s alumni network. Prestigious programs typically feature a strong alumni network that can help graduates on their path to professional success by opening doors to new opportunities. Should you graduate from Woods College, you will join the extensive Boston College alumni network of over 200,000 professionals.
Pursuing Your Master’s Degree at Woods College of Advancing Studies
A master’s degree can deliver significant benefits, which explains why more than 800,000 students in the U.S. complete one every year. You don’t have to put your career and life on hold to earn a master’s at Woods College, where programs are designed to accommodate your busy schedule. The school’s programs cater to working professionals, offering part-time on-campus, online, and hybrid options to enable you to earn your master’s degree in a way that works for you.
Woods College attracts a diverse range of students; international students comprise 16 percent of the student body. Students regularly engage in discussions on emerging issues and use their analytical and critical thinking skills to enact social change aligned to the school’s values of equity, justice, and inclusion.
Earn Your Applied Master’s Degree at Boston College
If you want to earn an advanced degree to boost your career, consider a master’s degree in an applied field, like the Woods College M.S. in Applied Analytics or M.S. in Applied Economics, which focuses on building career-ready skills and knowledge. Woods College MSAA and MSAE students can study online, on-campus, or a combination of both, enabling you to tailor your learning experience to your lifestyle. Furthermore, Woods College also offers a dual degree option–an excellent choice for students interested in deepening their expertise in economics and analytics.
Ready to take the next step toward earning your applied master’s degree? Contact an enrollment advisor to learn more about Woods College’s programs, or start your application today.