Southwestern College (in Kansas) (RA) makes three grad programs available online

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by DesElms, Oct 13, 2005.

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  1. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    I've written a lot around here about Southwestern College of Winfield Kansas. It's owned and operated by the United Methodist Church (but not so's ya'd notice); and it's always been well-known (and respected) for its regionally-accredited online bachelors programs; and for its liberal and clearly-spelled-out CLEP and DANTES acceptance policies; and, finally, for the fact that it will accept nationally-accredited coursework and associates degrees in transfer into its regionally-accredited bachelors programs.

    Well... guess what! Southwestern has just added (like, just in the last few days, as of this writing) three regionally-accredited, fully-online, easy-to-get-into, affordable masters programs, to wit:
    1. A Master of Education (MEd); and,
    2. A Master of Science in Leadership (MSL); and,
    3. A Master of Business Administration (MBA).[/list=1]Looks like the price is $325/hour to $375/hour (depending on which degree one chooses), plus a $25/course technology fee (I hate those!). Virtually any undergraduate major is acceptable as requisite to the programs. No application fee. No graduate admissions tests.

      So the question of the day is: If Southwestern College will accept nationally-accredited associates degrees in transfer into its bachelors programs (which we know it does), will it accept nationally-accredited bachelors degrees as requisite to its masters programs?

      On the admissions information pages for the three degrees, Southwestern writes:
      • "Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)."
      And maybe that's the final answer, and that's all there is to it. But, all things considered, the whole thing begs the question: Why would Southwestern accept nationally-accredited associates degrees in transfer into its regionally-accredited bachelors programs, but not nationally-accredited bachelors degrees as requisite to its regionally-accredited masters programs?

      And, despite the stated masters admissions policy, given Southwestern's policy of (or at least observable behavior with regard to) accepting nationally-accredited associates in transfer into its regionally-accredited bachelors programs, is it reaonable to expect that a nationally-accredited bachelors degree holder -- with... oh... let's say a 3.75 GPA (or higher) -- could apply for, and receive, some kind of waiver... or provisional or probationary acceptance... or something like that?
     
  2. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

    It would seem to me that accepting NA Associate Degrees into their Bachelor degrees would make sense as to attract a greater number of students...

    Why won't they accept NA degree holders into the Masters programs ? Your guess is as good as anyones - and all guesses would be pure speculation. :)
     
  3. Rivers

    Rivers New Member

    Great post on Southwest's new offerings! Although there seems to be alot of speculation offered by the poster.
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Thanks!

    Thanks Gregg. I actually know someone who might be interested in the Leadership program. She has an RA Bachelor's, though, so we won't be able to test your theory. :)

    -=Steve=-
     
  5. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    Be sure she knows about this DL, RA MBA in Leadership, too. It would provide both the leadership piece, as well as the sought-after letters"MBA" after her name on her resume and business cards. And the school offering it, St. Joseph's College of Maine (owned and operated by the Sisters of Mercy) is well known for both its high quality and for its good treament of students (i.e., students are more than just a number; and don't feel like cattle).

    Of course none of us ever do any of that around here. :rolleyes:

    Which which of my "speculations" are you taking issue this time?
     
  6. friartuck

    friartuck New Member

  7. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    The one-time, earn-up-to-six-hours-in-only-two-weeks summer intensive residency of which friartuck writes is summarized here.
     
  8. scubasteveiu

    scubasteveiu New Member

    Great find Gregg. Thank you.

    It looks like they will take 6 of my UoP hours in transfer. Good stuff. I am still trying to find how many hours are required for graduation.


     
  9. Rivers

    Rivers New Member

    Ahh..but Friar the Fort Hays degree has a recognizable business admin. course structure.. why would you want an MBA like that?


    None just making an observation.
     
  10. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Are you sure Southwestern will accept NA associates degrees? I have checked out their web site, but I don't see any indication that this is the case.

    I wish they offered a Marketing degree, rather than just a straight Business degree. If they did, I would seriously consider transferring to them for my BS. They have a B&M degree-completion branch campus where I live.
     
  11. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    Didn't I read 36? I'm trying to avoid going and looking it up. I'm almost sure it's a 36-hour MBA.

    Okay... but please don't stifle yourself. I mean, look... I know we've tangled a little once or twice, but you know as much about MBA programs out there as most anyone I've seen. We might disagree on the St. Joseph's MBA in Leadership, but I have a lot of respect for your take on this subject, just generally. Do share it whenever you can. Many will benefit, I assure you.

    Absolutely, positively. I did a whole research thing on it several months back when a few Ashworth associates students came in here and wondered if they were shooting themselves in the foot and if any RA BA/BS program would accept their Ashworth associates. I picked-up the phone and called Southwestern and got past the front-line clerk types and finally got to someone with clout and she said, absolutely, that Southwest would take any of the Ashworth associates degrees in transfer into any of its online bachelors programs. I wrote a whole, big, multi-post thing about it. The SEARCH thing is so screwed-up here... [sigh]... lemmee see if I can find it..

    [time passes]

    Bingo! Here it is... from last March:Be sure to read the next post after that one, too, because I corrected an error in the post linked-to immediately above.

    Plus, even if I didn't have all that to refer you to, friendorfoe here just got his NA coursework transferred-in to a Southwestern bachelors program. He's written about it quite a bit around here lately. His postings about it are recent enough that believe the crippled SEARCH function would still find them okay. Or maybe he'll chime in here.
     
  12. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    According to friendorfoe Southwestern University will accept NA transfer courses and therefore should accept NA associate degrees as well.
     
  13. antraeindubh

    antraeindubh New Member

    I'm having nothing but good experiences w/ St. Joe's. Like I said before - if you want to be a CFO, go somewhere else - if you don't get financial training on-the-job and think you need it - maybe you want another program - if you are a newbie and need a big name school to hitch your star to (St. Joe's is actually well regarded, especially by Catholics) then spend four times as much money and get the fancy diploma that such noted business giants and geniuses as G.W. Bush, Ken Lay and all of the ENRON and Arthur Anderson folks' daddy's bought for them - although St. Joe's does cover it - and if you have no biz experience, you'll be lost from the start. However, if you are a leader and want to learn how to be a better one, this is a very good program. The guy in charge of it came over from Villanova and some of the instructors also work and develop courses for top, ranked B-schools. With the vast numbers of military and road-warrior business travelers earning degrees from schools like St. Joe's - there will be a substantial network in place for those of us who can't attend traditional MBAs. And as NOBODY has asked me where I earned my BA in the past couple of decades, I really doubt, for the majority of jobs, that it matters anyway what name is on the diploma as long as it's RA.
     
  14. Rivers

    Rivers New Member

    I've never been known to hold back an opinion.:D
     
  15. scubasteveiu

    scubasteveiu New Member

  16. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Sorry it took me so long to post on this thread. As pointed out I am a current Southwestern student and have posted on it. I will be keeping a brief online journal here by posting my experience at the beginning and end of each class. I've posted my beginning here already.

    Facts:

    1.) Southwest accepts NA degrees and credits to their undergrad program.

    2.) Southwest is an online college with a lot of helpful friendly folks you can call and they actually answer the phone (except the bookcave, but they call right back...honest.)

    3.) Southwest has Title IV tuition assistance.

    4.) Southwest is relatively inexpensive.

    5.) Southwest uses blackboard.

    And don't get me started on the St. Joes MBA....I fully plan on going there still because I still think their MBA in Leadership is ahead of it's time but I'm also not a business major...I'm a CJ major....so what do I know right?
     
  17. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    I'm happy to hear Southwestern accpet NA degrees and cousework in transfer. Like I said, it's too bad they don't offer a marketing degree, or a communications degree. A straight business degree just won't help me with my future career goals.
     
  18. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    Have you considered an undergraduate degree in straight business degree followed by a post-baccalaureate diploma in marketing or communications? There are options although sometimes it is easy to get tunnel vision.
     
  19. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    It's not tunnel vision. I'm just looking ahead to my eventual career goals. I have investigated the type of degree I will need to move into a different field, and it requires a bachelors in either communications, journalism, public releations or marketing. A business degree will not give me the educational edge I need to compete in the career field.

    Now, if somebody knows of an affordable DL BS in Corporate Communications, Integrated Marketing Communications or Journalism, I'm all ears...er, eyes.
     
  20. Rivers

    Rivers New Member

    I must say looking at the courses for this MBA program it looks very solid(more so than another school I will not mention). I actually like the fact it has a required ethics class, it seems so much of that gets lost in the business world, IMHO. I would not knock the program! I like the 8 week classes as well,makes it easier for the working adult. If I were to critize it at all it's only that it does not have IACBE,ACBSP or AACSB accrediation(not that it means much to most people anyway).
     

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