Industry Snapshot
This program is designed to help prepare you to lead, manage, develop, evaluate, and implement distance learning programs in a wide range of academic and training contexts.
6.9M
Students
In fall 2018, there were more than 6.9 million students enrolled in distance education courses at degree-granting postsecondary institutions.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics | "Fast Facts: Distance Learning" | 2019
Experience Recommended for Success
Strong writing skills are encouraged in this program.
FAQs
The Master of Distance Education focuses on managing distance education and training in a variety of contexts; the program is intended to apply to education at all levels as well as business, government, and nonprofit organizations that may use distance learning for training and staff development; students learn about distance education history, theory, technology, organizational structures, marketing, management, and business skills.
Although the MDE is not intended as a teacher preparation program, it provides theory, best practices, and background that are relevant for teaching and administration.
This program does not lead to teacher certification in Maryland.
The MEd focuses on integrating technology to advance K–12 student teaching, learning, and leadership; the emphasis is on instructional applications in K–12 schools, management, leadership of pre-K–12 technology initiatives, and technical expertise in the use of instructional technology.
An online master’s degree in distance education and e-learning is an online graduate degree that can help prepare you to meet the needs of diverse learners in a wide range of educational environments. UMGC’s online master’s degree in distance education and e-learning is a 36-credit program that provides the theory, best practices, and background relevant for implementing distance learning technology, managing online faculty, and managing business aspects of distance education programs. Please note this program is not a teacher preparation program and does not lead to teacher certification in Maryland.
UMGC's online master’s degree in distance education and e-learning is a 36-credit program. You can expect to finish the program in two years or less, depending on how many credits you complete each term and the number of credits you may be able to transfer.
UMGC is committed to keeping our tuition and fees as affordable as possible. The online master’s degree in distance education and e-learning follows the standard graduate program tuition rates, which appear at the top of this webpage. We also offer scholarships for eligible students, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make your education more affordable.
You don't need to have majored in a specific area to be successful in the online master’s degree in distance education and e-learning program at UMGC.
You don't need any certifications to start the online master’s degree in distance education and e-learning program at UMGC. Successfully completing the MDE program is not intended as a teacher preparation program. Instead, it provides the theory, best practices, and background that are relevant for teaching and administration.