Master's Degree, Distance Learning, Cost

Q: I'm trying to find out what the best place is to obtain a Master's degree in adult education via distance learning. What will it cost?

A: The University of Wyoming (http://www.uwyo.edu) offers a regionally accredited M.

A: in Adult Education via distance learning. There are, of course, other options. Expect the cost to run anywhere from $4,500 to $15,000+, depending on the university. Off the top of my head, I'd expect $7,500 to be about the average cost. Financial aid options are often available. Using portfolio assessment and testing is valid in undergrad work. While I did not use portfolio assessment, I did use testing. Several of my friends used portfolio assessment. The requirements were quite strict, and from the work they did, it wasn't a cake walk. However, I disagree with the concept of using something similar on the graduate level. Undergrad gives students tools and some idea of how to use them and where. Graduate school teaches how to really use the tools and to discern when they shouldn't be used. Another way to put it is in undergraduate school you're taught to use a hammer and all problems look like nails. In grad school, one learns the differences betweens nails, brads, screws (phillips & flat heads), dovetails, joint & tenons, railroad spikes, and screw drivers. Also, I think grad school introduces some additional tools. Following the same analogy, the undergrad school may teach the claw hammer, grad school teaches the ball pean hammer, the rubber mallet, the many intricacies of the sledge hammer, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, and the ever popular jack hammer and its uses in construction, destruction, and percussion in symphony orchestras. I am almost finished with my Masters. While I have learned many skills through experience and my undergrad, I learned- very quickly- that grad school was not easy. While there were some courses/problems in undergrad school with incomplete data, this was a common occurence in grad school (more like life). Rather than correct the answers, i found it necessary to correct which assumptions I used. Rather than try to

"fluff" up a paper to reach some required minimum number of pages, I had to write conservatively to make certain I did not exceed a maximum. In short, I picked up additional skills in addition to the course work. I did meet someone in my program that insists she hasn't learned a thing in her Masters program. However, I see her struggling in a number of areas, so I do not know whether how true this is. If you feel that grad school will be super easy for you because of your background, then I suggest you enroll in a school and go through it. There are a number of programs that are completely distance, so you needn't disrupt your lifestyle by much.