Once you return home from your study abroad, you may wonder, “How can my experiences abroad help me in the future?”

There are numerous answers to this question, but one answer some people may not think about is that getting a master’s degree can be one way to use some of the skills and further some of the knowledge you learned while abroad. This article will tell you about six online graduate programs that are leading the way in online education and why your experience as a study abroad alum can help make you the best applicant to the program.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Several high profile colleges and universities offer students the chance to earn an MBA entirely online. Several schools are already becoming innovators in online MBA education. Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business offers an executive MBA program that requires its students to attend residencies in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America. If you enjoy the idea of studying business in connection to your experiences abroad, you may consider getting your MBA and then working in international business. Tons of opportunities can be found in both the public and private sectors for those wanting to work in international business, especially if you speak a language besides English.

Information Technology

Some schools offering this degree allow its online students to view taped lectures from on-campus classes. Carnegie Mellon’s Information Technology program also requires its students to participate in class discussions via chat rooms and web conferences.

Computing & Education

Columbia University’s Teacher’s College gives students the chance to earn an online master’s degree in Computing & Education. Once you choose between concentrations in Teaching & Learning with Technology and Technology Leadership, you will take 32 credits worth of courses relating to the intersection between K-12 education and emerging concepts in computer technology. Teachers are needed desperately in ESL classes and, especially if you studied in Latin America, your experiences with non-native English speakers can be invaluable. In addition, your language skills can help you be an effective teacher for the students.

Engineering

Colleges and universities offer opportunities to earn different types of engineering degrees online. Whether you want to get a MS Civil Engineering degree or one in the mechanical, aerospace or environmental fields, you should be able to easily find a program that will best suit your needs. If you are scientifically minded, getting a master’s degree in engineering can be a viable option. How can your experiences abroad help you in engineering? It does depend what you studied while abroad, but one of the most beneficial things you probably learned while abroad is how to work with people who have a different background than you. While this skill won’t help you directly with engineering, it will still help you in the workplace.

Occupational Therapy

Boston University’s Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Studies gives health professionals in the United States a unique opportunity to earn professional credentials online. This degree will help you to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills learned during your semester abroad. These skills will serve you well in your occupational therapy profession.

Master of Public Health

John Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health lets students obtain a master’s in public health on a schedule that is palatable to them. Before students can take online classes, they must travel to campus for orientation and a two-week introduction to the program. Getting a Master of Public Health can help you use the knowledge you learned about other cultures. Sometimes, a public health professional works with local, state or federal governments. However, and here is where your experiences can help you, there are often opportunities with the World Health Organization and other organizations that help the overall health and wellness of other countries.