Question about this School's programs

I recently discovered this particular program through my membership newletter at AMS (American Meteorlogical Society) regarding graduate stuides and courses offered via correpsondance.

USDA Graduate School:
Graduate School, USDA
Correspondence Program
AG Box 9911, Room 1112
Washington, DC 20250-9911
http://grad.usda.gov

The particular program which intrests me (more or less the courses offered - due to their inexpensive costs) is the following:
Meteorology Certificate Program
http://grad.usda.gov/cgi-bin/sb/page.cgi/?page=100834

My question is...has anyone ever heard of this school or any of their programs? I am intrested in taking a few courses (graduate) and then transferring them later down the line.

Are they accredited? Do you think other colleges/universities take these courses as transfers? Wondering about their reputation and such?

Any help, comments and suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks
Jay

 

Nobycane


Dont forget Mississippi State University. They have a great program in Meteorology that one can take long distance. It is the Broadcast Meteorology Program( for broadcasters, but lay people as well) and the Operational Meteorology Program. They are AMS certified as well.

 

A couple of years ago I ran into Dr. Jerry Ice, then and perhaps still, the director. He told me that he contracts with professors from institutions to teach congressmen subjects they're interested in. I certainly wouldn't worry about the academic rigor. I think they have a slogan like "America's graduate school?"
A lot of his business, I gathered, was developing custom training packages for senior executives. Ternahan.

 

the answer is here: http://grad.usda.gov/cgi-bin/sb/nav.cgi/aip=f7eb80w3M6Z,00XSNfMTQBmrkTA5xgzhQuJ3.?nav=100416

and here: http://grad.usda.gov/cgi-bin/sb/nav.cgi/aip=f7eb80w3M6Z,00XSNfMTQBmrkTA5xgzhQuJ3.?nav=100419

So it is an unaccrdited program with some of the courses ACE evaluated.

 

the two actual degree programs through this are both granted by other schools. MIM by University of maryland University College and the MSM by TESC.

http://grad.usda.gov/cgi-bin/sb/page.cgi/aip=f7eb80w3M6Z,00XSNfMTQBmrkTA5xgzhQuJ3.?page=101466

http://grad.usda.gov/cgi-bin/sb/page.cgi/aip=f7eb80w3M6Z,00XSNfMTQBmrkTA5xgzhQuJ3.?page=100623

In either case you can use some of the USDA GS courses for the program.

 

So it is an unaccrdited program with some of the courses ACE evaluated.......

So this is something I may want to steer away from due to the unaccredited program?

If I don't worry about the program.....and just want some of the courses....will I run into a problem with transferring those courses to a RA grad school?

 

Please keep in mind the fact that most grad programs will only accept a small handful of transfer credits regardless of their source.
Jack

 

Yea....I have recently came to realize that, I believe the "average" amount of credits is anywhere from 9 cr - 15 crs.

I am just intrested in taking a few of the courses in this program.

My only concern is that "if" I do take some of theses courses (maybe 3 or 4), I wonder if there is going to be a problem with those courses?
Considering that the actual "program" is unaccredited.

 

nobycane,
I don't know of any graduate (Master's level entry) that will accept over 6 semester hours of transfer credit.

Secondly, the USDA credits have about a 99:1 odd of being accepted at any RA school. So, caveat emptor!

 

Hey, where I live being USDA-certified matters more than RA. Moo.

(Actually, the courses look interesting. If transfer is no object, you could do worse, and explaining the credential could be a real conversation-starter.)

 

No jokes about sheep, uncle, I promise..........ooops!