Well unless I've overlooked an option, I believe that I'm pretty close to making a decision on a Master's program, and it seems that my best 2 options are: Amberton University: www.amberton.edu Fort Hays State U.: www.fhsu.edu After lots of research I determined that I just didn't want an MBA or a degree in my current profession of IT. What I do want is a degree that I can pick and chose the courses that interest me the most. The programs from these 2 schools are the only ones that I found to offer that feature along with a low tuition cost (Amberton = $200 x 36 hours; FHSU = $174 x 31hours! ). Amberton has 2 programs that fit my wants: Master of Arts in Professional Development and Master of Science in Human Relations and Business. The primary difference is that with the MAPD you pick and choose across a few different disciplines, whatever you choose to take. The MSHRB states that you take 9hrs in Business, 6 Hours in Communications, 9hrs in Human Development/Resources, or Pysc, and the other 6hrs are elective. I personally think that the latter of the 2 has a better name for the degree as well. I've been told that there are not really test for Amberton courses, just more writing intensive work, and that's fine for me. The semesters from what I understand are 7-10 weeks, which is more to my liking. I can also transfer 12 hours into this program which is great if I find courses they don’t offer. I can a course that is of interest to me and transfer it into my degree plan The FHSU program is for a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies and is only 31 hours long. You can either pick from a long list of pre-determined concentrations that are 18hrs long or you can design your own. There is a culminating experience at the end as well. The one thing that I absolutely despise about this program is that they run on a traditional semester schedule of 16 weeks, with an 8 week summer semester. This would prolong my program if I only took 1 class per session, which is what my plan is. Unless I can predetermine that they regularly offer 8 week sessions for the classes that I want to take, I don't think that I could go with this program.
How Long Ron how long do you expect it to take for you to finish your MLS at FHSU? How do you like the program as a whole?
Either school is a good one. FHSU has financial aid if you are planning on using that...Amberton does not. FHSU allows for an 18 hour concentration, which I love. I don't know if all their courses are Blackboard or some kind of VHS/DVD paper and pen/online hybrid. I'm a little confused as to how they do things.
berniejr, Actually I have only recently been accepted and will start classes in the summer semester. I enjoyed FHSU as an undergrad but I will have to let you know about the masters program as I have not yet begun to "suffer". LOL. I'm actually looking forward to working on the program.
Thanks for the info Ron. How many classes are you planning to take at per semester? With work and 3 kids, I really don't think that I can handle more than 1 class per semester. At that rate even with a few 8 week courses thrown in during the summer semesters, It would take me over 2 years to complete. I really would like to finish in about 18 months if I can.
I actually just spoke with Dr. Warren in the Virtual College for FHSU and he informed me that the only concentration in the Masers of Liberal Studies program that has 8week courses is Human Resources Mgmt.
Hi Bernie- I am just completing my MBA at Amberton (only 2 more classes to go) and just wanted to let you know that if you opt to go the Amberton route, that it is a great program. I have referred several friends and colleagues to the program and they all are very pleased with their programs, too. One is doing the degree in Professional Development and another is doing the HRB one, plus, two more doing MBAs. We all love the program. If you have any questions about the program, just ask. Mary
Mylars: how long has it taken you so far and how many classes are you taking per term? Is the work pretty much all writing or are there also test involved as well? I have all but made up my mind to do Amberton unless I can find a program for equal or lesser money, with the same or greater flexibilty, that I can finish in 2 years or less.
Hi Bernie, It is going to end up taking me 3 years (including taking the 4 undergrad prereq courses bumping the total up to 48 credits), BUT...I needed to take off 4 terms (2 springs and 2 summers) and to take a couple other terms of only one class, instead of two, due to some personal situations. Had I remained continuously enrolled and on track, I could have easily completed all of the degree requirements in 2 years, like several of my friends have been able to do. There are 4 terms per year. Fall, spring and summer are 10 weeks long; winter term is 7 weeks long. They do this to give you a nice break over the holidays. Fall term is done before Thanksgiving and winter does not start until the second week of January. I typically take 2 courses in each of the fall and spring terms and one course each in summer and winter. Every graduate student in the university is required to take an Ethics course and a Research Writing course before graduation. Each of these courses are pretty labor intensive and I cannot imagine taking either of them during the short winter term. I opted to take both of them in a term when I was taking no other courses and I believe it was a very wise move. The syllabi are available on the Amberton website for you to preview. If you go to www.amberton.edu/syllabi.htm you will start to get a feel for the workload. The vast majority of my coursework has been writing and projects (no group work, though, thank goodness!), but there are a few instructors who give tests in addition to papers. Syllabi are posted online 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the new term. This can really help you to plan ahead and reduce your stress by at least a little bit. Once you start to get a feel for whose teaching style is most compatible with your learning style, you can know who to avoid. I think that all of the main 4-5business profs have taught just about every one of the business and management courses at least once since I have been enrolled. I learned quickly what the expectations of each of them were and, thus, have been able to choose my coursework accordingly, for the most part. Granted, now that I am getting down to the wire, I am kind of stuck with whoever happens to be teaching the course I need, but it has been nice to have options. If you do opt to go with Amberton, I think you will be pleased. I have not yet heard of anyone who has been disappointed in their program. Hope that helps... Mary
Marylars, thanks for all of your help. Last night I think I read every single one of your post re: Amberton and all of your informaiton has been extrememly helpful and insightful. The more I've looked at Amberton programs, the more I find more to my liking. Initally I was looking at the MA in PD and then once I realized the which courses I had chosen, I realized that it was pretty much the MS in HRB. I then looked even further and now it seems that I may end up doing the MS in Management, as it's pretty similar as well. In either case it seems that the only way that I will not do Amberton at this point is if I decide to do my MBA instead, and so far that doesn't seem likely unless my current employer tells me that doing so would be to my benefit. IN the past they have stated that they didn't see any value in me as an IT professional doing a MBA specifically. Again thanks for all of your input, and I will keep you posted once I make my final decision.
