Hello everyone ~ Is there a place where I can get a Masters in Education by just paying for one course at a time? It seems that all the programs I can find so far (without signing up to receive sales contacts from every university out there) require me to sign up for their entire program up front (and I don't have that kind of money). I am able to pay, but only if I go a few classes at a time. My situation is somewhat unique in that we were forced to leave our place of residence a year ago and almost nothing was available to rent in the entire county and only a few houses were available to purchase. We ended up buying a great house, but we don't have any money left over each month after paying bills, so I can't commit to a program. We do get chunks of money a few times a year, however (summer checks that come without medical taken out, tax refunds, summer school checks, etc.) and I could certainly use that to pay for a few classes at a time until I finish and receive a Masters degree. Thank you!
Most universities will allow you to take about 12 credits in grad school before committing to a program, and even then, as long as you are paying for and completing one course at a time, I fail to see the problem. I can certainly understand needing to commit at some point, to get guidance for any research that will be needed, but I still don't believe that any university can "make" you take more than a course at a time, especially if you are working full time. Maybe I'm wrong, but I finished one masters and have almost finished another one course at a time.
The program I completed at Wright State University had me taking a class every seven weeks (not counting breaks). If I had missed a class with my cohort, I would have simply had to wait for it to be offered in the next round. I only paid for the classes I was taking in the semester I was taking them. Oh, and those classes were 100% online.
Hmmm...that hasn't been my experience in the research I'm doing. There are some places that allow you to take a class here and there (i.e.: continuing ed and such), but a class that counts toward a Master's Degree? Haven't found any yet (and I have done some extensive online research - when I search for a Master's Degree program, one class at a time, I only get each university/college's master's degree page and it shows their program where I can sign up for the whole program, or give them all my contact info to talk with someone). For the last 10 years, I have done my teacher continuing ed through University of Phoenix online, and I've paid for each class(es) that I've taken at the time that I desired to take it/them, but even they don't do that for a Master's Degree. Just curious, do you have the names of places (I need online because I'm a mother of four that teaches full-time) that you know of that allow one to get a Master's Degree at their own pace (class-wise AND payment/financial-wise)?
Well, you are on the west coast, and I am on the east coast, so maybe that makes a difference. When I started on my graduate ESL courses, I was able to take 12 credits as an non matriculating student at The College of New Jersey. At that point, I had to declare, but I still took one course at a time, or one three hour course per semester. No pressure to take multiple courses per semester or become a full time student (9 credits in grad school). When working towards my Teacher of Students with Disabilities certificate, which is over half way towards the SPED masters degree, I have been able to take it one course a semester, and that was offered at several NJ universities. Online, Rowan University put you into a cohort online, each "term" lasting about 8 weeks. As Catnfiddle noted, if you get out of sequence, you have to wait for the course to be offered in your cohort again. I know that several teachers I work with take online courses, one at a time, through Rutgers University, earning their TOSD, and them continuing on for their masters. If you look in state at universities that cater to adults who work full time, you are much more likely to find universities where you may start as continuing education (which is precisely what you are doing) and then they morph into a master's as the courses start to accumulate. Personally, I don't see why it matters if you are taking one or three courses a semester, as long as you are taking the required courses. Many courses are not critical as to sequence, but even if the sequence is important, there is no overwhelming need to take multiple courses per semester, IMHO. Those of us who work full time have to squeeze our education into our lives as we can, and it isn't reasonable for universities to expect or demand that you stop working to work on a graduate degree full time. I wish you the best of luck. I would approach your desire to obtain a masters as something that is feasible working online and in your available time. I would be looking for universities known to cater to individuals who are working full time, fitting in courses as feasible. Remember, just because you can finish a program in two years doesn't mean the it is mandatory to finish the program in two years. Many education heavy programs fit that criteria. What they want to sell you versus what is actually available may be two different animals. Advocate for yourself. Best of luck! http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/education-and-teaching/index.cfm http://www.albany.edu/education/online_degrees.php https://education.fsu.edu/degrees-and-programs/curriculum-and-instruction/online-masters https://thebestschools.org/rankings/best-online-master-elementary-education-degree-programs/ http://www.bestcollegereviews.org/top/online-masters-in-education/ http://academicpartnerships.uta.edu...degree&theme=NB&360theme=Career&360template=7 http://www.williamwoods.edu/academics/online/graduate/index.html http://www.indstate.edu/online/programs/graduate http://online.illinois.edu/online-programs/graduate-programs http://www.umassonline.net/degrees/online-degree-master-education-reading-language https://onlinedegrees.kent.edu/programs-courses/ https://www.ohio.edu/education/academic-programs/online-programs/ http://ualr.edu/gradschool/home/pros/programs/ https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/graduate-online-degrees.aspx http://education.tamu.edu/degrees-and-programs/online-programs http://graduate.auburn.edu/prospective-students/online-graduate-programs/ https://csuglobal.edu/graduate/masters-degrees http://www.greatvaluecolleges.net/affordable/cheap-online-masters-degrees-2015/ https://onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/programs/master-of-education-degrees/ http://cehs.unl.edu/tlte/masters-degree-teaching-certification/ http://www.semo.edu/online/online-degrees/graduate-degrees.html https://www.pce.uw.edu/online https://educationonline.ku.edu/ https://rossieronline.usc.edu/academics/master-of-arts-in-teaching-program/ https://online.gwu.edu/education-human-development http://cech.uc.edu/education/programs/curriculum-instruction/licensure-in-secondary-education.html http://www.usf.edu/education/academics/online-programs.aspx https://www.usm.edu/elementary-special-technology-education/master-education http://www.uh.edu/online/programs/online-programs/graduate/ https://online.odu.edu/programs http://www.bestvalueschools.com/cheap/online/masters-reading-literacy-education-degree-programs/ https://education.boisestate.edu/graduate-programs/ https://distance.uiowa.edu/ http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-degrees/graduate/ http://lsuonline.lsu.edu/programs http://www.continue.miami.edu/Online/default.aspx https://www.calsouthern.edu/online-degree-programs/online-graduate-degree-programs
Please, before you do, make sure this school or ANY school you check out will be accepted by your home state.
I did my MA in two years taking one and sometimes two classes at a time while I was teaching. I did it through the same university where I had gotten my BA. I typically did one class each semester during the school year and two in the summer. I paid for each class individually. Several of my friends are still taking classes, and they are paying for each class as they take it. I've never heard of anyone having to pay for all of it upfront.
Have you looked into Western Governor's? It isn't pay by class but it is far cheaper than any other option I've found. You pay based on how long it takes you to finish. I finished in under a year and so only had to pay for 2 sessions. It is literally half as much as any other program I've seen.
I bet the larger universities would be your best bet as they have more elbow room to have a variation in the amount of students taking classes. Even when you find one that permits only one course at a time, please make sure to check the graduation requirements. They're usually found in the registrar's documents or graduate academic catalog. A lot of universities have time limits on graduate degrees. They're usually generous, but they could be a factor in your speed.
Thanks, I'll look into it. Yeah, the financial aid still isn't enough when you're looking at a $6,000-$20,000 program (I can only afford a few hundred dollars at a time). Thanks again!
Yeah, I sent Wright University an email and asked that exact question. Thanks so much for the input and prompt reply!
@vickilyn Thank you so much for the thorough response and the exhaustive list - what a gold mine!! I will definitely do some more research. Because of the encouragement from this forum community, I have reached out to a few universities, as well as contacted my academic advisor at University of Phoenix (where I have been completing my continuing ed for the last 10 years). Again, thanks so much for the encouragement and for your time (I know how precious it is!). Have a great weekend!
Eastern Kentucky University I also know people who have completed degrees at University of Kentucky, Morehead State University, and University of the Cumberlands. Mine is not an education masters, but plenty of people I work with got theirs through that university.
Yes, it's nice that they offer it to people who can afford a small payment, but I don't even have a car. I know it's probably hard to fathom, but we really can't afford it. Even $100 a month extra would put us under. I cannot take on a loan at all. But thank you for the encouragement…
Did you do that while you were working? How much time were you putting in to graduate that quickly? I've heard mixed things about WGU, but overall people seem happy with the school. I have looked at their programs several times.
I started it in the Summer and did a bunch of the work then but you really need to be working while doing it (or at least have access to a classroom) in order to do your action projects. They acted rather surprised I finished as quickly as I did. I could have easily done it in a single 6 month term if I pushed myself. I figured that just wasn't possible so I didn't try. How much time? Honestly, very little. Most of the work was stuff I'd already done either in my credential program or just as a teacher that I updated. The research portion, which was the initial classes, took the most time but that is pretty typical.
I got my Master's through Ball State University (in Indiana, but the program was 100% online). They let me take as many or as little classes as I wanted as long as it was offered (enough people signed up for the class). I took 2-3 classes per semester and finished in 4 semesters One of my friends is currently doing the same program. She took one class in the Spring, took the Summer off, and is about to take another class in the Fall. She plans on doing one class at a time now as well. You only pay for the class you're about to take.
Apriljanet, I suggest that you visit any teacher's colleges or strong education departments of universities that are in the vicinity to where you live. Something ChildWhisperer said about paying for the class you are about to take made me wonder if you have access to tuition reimbursement where you work? I know that some places will pay up to $10000/degree in TR from private schools, while many of the public schools will pay for the entire degree as long as the classes will make you a better teacher. In NJ, some public schools get a discount from some universities. When part of a TR program, many colleges will defer your tuition, making it due usually about 30 days after the course is completed. That allows those places that offer TR to get the money to you/the college so that the funds are never coming out of your checking account. I know little about your situation, but if something like that worked, you would be able to move up the pay scale faster, which might help with those house payments. The course that I am currently taking is on deferred tuition, since I will be reimbursed at the end of the summer.
I don’t know if you will ever respond to this since this post is so old but since you literally only took one course for your masters degree at a time over the course of more than two years did you ever experience the issues of forgetting material that you learned in your courses since it probably took you several years to get through your masters program? I wanted to know this because I am working on a masters degree and I am only taking one course at a time. I am worried that I might forget material by the time I student teach
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