West Texas A&M University offers 46 masters degree programs, eight of which are fully online. The online programs available are in the fields of Business, Nursing and Education, respectively.
Students at WTAMU may go through online programs to obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
Graduate programs in Education that are available online include a Master of Arts in Teaching; Master of Education (M.Ed.) Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Reading; M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Special Education; M.Ed. Educational Leadership; M.Ed. Educational Diagnostician; and M.Ed. Instructional Design and Technology.
The flexibility of an online program is attractive to those with families or those who wish to work full-time while obtaining a masters degree. In an online program, work and personal obligations that can make it difficult to attend classes on campus are no longer a worry.
“People can live anywhere and still earn a master’s degree from WT,” Karen McKaskle, Graduate School Admissions Coordinator, said. “Our target market is the whole world. Online programs are good for working individuals and those with families who don’t have time to come to campus or sit in a classroom.”
The online graduate programs offered are completely online with no in-class time required. The application process is the same for online programs as it is for on-campus programs.
“The application process was very similar to applying for undergraduate [admission],” Kellie Chandler, senior Communication major, said. “You go through applytexas.org and they send all your information to the university you desire to be accepted to.”
Chandler is taking graduate classes in Communication this semester.
Along with the general application for graduate school, each department has different requirements that students must fulfill before being considered for their program.
“For example, the Communication department requires copies of your transcripts, a writing sample and an essay that explains why you want to go to graduate school and what elements you could bring to the program,” Chandler said.
While many students go into graduate school immediately upon completion of undergraduate requirements, the work load still comes as a shock to some.
“It has taken me a while to adjust to the work load and the expectations,” Lacey Roberts, graduate student in Agriculture with a focus in Communication, said. “Students need to understand that it’s not just more school. It’s a more strenuous education to get you closer to a career goal.”
For more information or for a list of graduate programs, visit the Graduate School page on the WTAMU website.
