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The Technology You Need for an Online Degree

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Signing up to study for a degree such as a masters in criminal justice online can be a very exciting process, and you’re probably more than ready to get started and take your education to the next level. But, studying online is in many ways different from the type of studying that you’re probably used to if you attended a conventional high school and on-campus classes when you went to college as an undergraduate. Having the right tech is essential to completing an online degree as you will need to use technology daily to complete and submit your work. We’ve put together a complete list of the technology that you need to make studying for an online degree an enjoyable experience.

Laptop

First and foremost, in order to complete an online degree, you will need a good laptop. Chances are that you already have a laptop as they are in many ways essential to our daily lives today, however, if you have a laptop that’s getting on a bit and running slowly, upgrading before you begin your degree program is probably going to be the wisest move. This is because completing an online degree, such as an online criminal justice masters degree from Boston University, will require you to use a laptop to access your program materials, get in touch with support staff and tutors, and submit your assignments or tests.

E-Reading Device or Tablet

When studying for an online degree, especially if you’ve chosen to take a masters or other advanced program, you can expect to have to do a lot of reading. Not only will you need to read course notes and online lecture slides, you’ll also be expected to further your knowledge by studying textbooks, journals, and other reading materials which are relevant to your program. However, physical books can be expensive and can also take up a lot of space in your home and anyone who’s ever carried a bag full of textbooks around with them will know it’s not comfortable. But, an e-reading device such as a Kindle, or even a tablet with an e-reading app installed, can make it easy for you to download and keep all of your course reading materials in one easily accessible place, making it a very worthwhile investment. Not only that, but digital copies of books are often cheaper, meaning that it could save you money in the long run.

Web Cams and Headsets

Although most modern laptops will have a webcam and audio devices built in, investing in a good web cam and headset is important for you as an online student. If your laptop webcam isn’t the best quality or the sound is a little unreliable, you may struggle with parts of your course if it’s not easy and convenient to get hold of a tutor to speak to. Having a good quality webcam and a headset with a microphone will ensure that any conversations that you have with virtual support staff run smoothly and allow you to get the most from them.

Which tech could you not do an online degree without? Let us know in the comments.