Enrolling in a Part-Time in a Graduate Program

Many people who are interested in going to graduate school already hold full-time jobs in their fields, have families to raise, or have other important life obligations to fulfill. Therefore, taking on a full graduate-level course load may not be a viable option. For this reason, the majority of graduate schools out there offer part-time enrollment options when it comes to both Master’s and Doctorate programs. While the specific course load to be considered part-time versus full-time can vary from school to school, most programs consider three credit hours, or one class per semester, to be part-time enrollment. On the other hand, anywhere from six to nine credit hours or more can be considered to be full time.

If you are interested in attending graduate school on a part-time basis, there are some considerations that you should keep in mind before you determine whether or not this is the right choice for you. After all, part-time enrollment certainly has its advantages as well as its disadvantages.

Of course, it can be an ideal situation for those who do not want to have to quit their day jobs while working on a degree, or for those who want to be able to spend time with their families during the day. Since most part-time programs offer night and weekend classes, students can essentially work gradually towards their degrees in their free time.

It is also important to realize that even taking just one graduate-level class can be a huge burden and will take up a lot more time than the few hours that are spent in the classroom each week. Most classes at this level require students to write extensive research papers, take exams, work on group projects, and much more. Therefore, even part-time students often find that they need to work hard to reach a balance between school and their other obligations. For example, if you already hold a full-time job and want to enroll in classes, you may want to consider speaking with your boss to ensure that he or she is supportive and will work with you while you get your degree. You may also want to consider checking out some other tips regarding working while in school.

Going to school part-time may also mean having less free time or having to sacrifice time with family and friends while the degree is being completed. Here is a list of more considerations to keep in mind when exploring the option of a part-time graduate program.

Is Graduate School Right For You?

Most schools do offer part-time enrollment in graduate programs. However, as you can see, there are some considerations that you should keep in mind to ultimately make the decision that is right for you.