Golden Gate or Webster

A new question:

Has anyone recently taken a graduate level course from either of these two schools online? I am interested in opinions on the quality of either or both of these programs.

I'm also trying to decide what the better program would be in terms of perception. I am looking at the MS HRM at GGU vs. The MA HRM at Webster. The MS degree is more preferable than the MA in my opinion, but I'm wondering if the school itself would make up for that.

As always, any advice is always GREATLY appreciated.

 

Webster University Info

joanie,

I'm working on an M.A. in Human Resources Development from Webster University and am currently enrolled in my third online course in the HRD program. So far I have nothing but good things to say about the school or the program itself. The initial process was very easy to complete and consisted of an online application and I also had to send in my undergrad and graduate school transcripts. There are no GRE or GMAT exams required for admission to any of the graduate degree programs in Webster's School of Business and Technology, which the M.A. in Human Resources Management degree program falls under. As long as you have an RA bachelor's degree or foreign-equivalent and a GPA over 2.0 you will be admitted to the school. If your GPA is low, they do offer conditional admission and you will be fully admitted if you average a 3.0 or "B" grade in your first 12 semester hours.

One nice thing about Webster's M.A. in HRM degree program is that it now has additional programmatic accreditation through ACBSP. Webster's School of Business and Technology received this specialized accreditation earlier this year, and next to AACSB accreditation this is the next best option for business-related degree programs to have. Webster is also ranked 24th overall in the Best Universities-Master's (Midwest) category by U.S. News and World Report if that is any concern to you. Webster University has numerous campus locations along the East coast and in the SE of the U.S., so it is quite possible that people you work with or companies you apply to have heard of the school even though their main campus is located in St. Louis, MO.

Webster has 5 9-week terms per year and every HRM core course is offered online in every single term. Your other 3 elective courses would need to come from another SBT major or can be transferred in from your previous school. Each course requires weekly discussion posts and all of my online courses except for my current one have required learning team projects; sometimes these can be a pain if your team is not working together well but so far my group assignments haven't been too bad. I have had to complete several individual assignments which are oriented towards practical HRD issues and problems in business and have not had any type of proctored or online exams as of yet. It seems that Webster stresses individual and group projects more than tests in the HRD program but I can't speak for the HRM courses. I do know that I have had several HRM majors in my Introduction to HRD, Group Development and Change, and Career Management courses so those are some possible electives you may be interested in to complete your degree if you ultimately decide to go with Webster.

Good luck with whatever decision you end up making, but from my experience and point of view you would be making a wise decision if you decided on Webster University.

abnrgr275

 

What?

Feedback - both are good in the HR field.

My thoughts are Golden Gate gets a B+, Webster gets a B, >>>> BTW Webster DM program gets a A-

What HR folks need is a general business education to add value to the business, thus I'd vote for a MBA


VP HR OIL CO IN HOU TX

 

Abnrgr275 - I appreciate your detailed response about your experiences at Webster. So far, the application process has been very simple, and the staff have been quick to respond and answer my questions. It looks like a decent program, but it doesn't have SHRM certification (which at this point is probably not worth so much). The GGU program has SHRM certification but not AACSB or ACBSP accreditation. Decisions, decisions. Truthfully, I'm leaning toward Webster right now.

Tomball - At my place of employ, which is (at the lower end of) a medium-sized company, we have enough business strategists. In moving from mom-and-pop to midsize, they forgot about the HR department. While we had a bunch of HR functions assigned here and there to my colleagues, there are even more functions that were left to float in the ether and are just audits and compliance issues waiting to happen. I've been told (which I take at face value) that upon completion of my master's, I will be helping to develop and manage the department. An MBA wouldn't provide me with the specialized education I need to do what needs to be done. I also have no higher aims to move past working in HR; I enjoy the field immensely.

I see the value of a general business education and will likely pursue a graduate certificate at some point in the next few years, but I really don't want to threaten my chances of a graduate degree with math and finance classes. They are my downfall.

Thanks for the advice; I love this board for information, and I feel guilty for having created practically a double thread.

 

Golden Gate University is generally a very good school, but the chief complaint I hear about the business programs is that the tuition is very expensive compared to other DL programs.

Word on the street about Webster is that they have been offering some ridiculously low tuition and fees to military MBA students to get transfer students from other schools. That said, ask your Webster contacts again and again for better tuition rates, especially if you served. Who knows? You might get a break.

 

Dave has a good point!


Another good one on my fan list:


The University of Findlay is an institution of higher education that is steeped in tradition and committed to providing the best education possible to its students. Our history and traditions, coupled with our desire for innovation, make The University of Findlay an excellent place to earn your degree.


Master of Arts in Education
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
Master of Arts in TESOL/Bilingual Education
Master of Athletic Training
Master of Business Administration
Master of Occupational Therapy
Master of Science in Environmental, Safety and Health Management
Master of Physician Assistant (Charter Class 2010)
Master of Physician Assistant Studies (enrollment closed)

Doctor of Pharmacy
Doctor of Physical Therapy

 

FYI: Not clear on on-line programs - you'll need to go to schedule and find (internet classes)

I guess they want to down play DL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Athletic Training
Course No. Course Title Hours Sec Faculty Mtg Date Mtg Time Days Bldg Room Max Reg Materials
ATTR550 Sports Nutrition 3.00 N1 Bouillon 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 5 P View
Bilingual Multicultural
Course No. Course Title Hours Sec Faculty Mtg Date Mtg Time Days Bldg Room Max Reg Materials
BLMC592 Integrating Tech and Lang Skills into the ESL Classroom 1.00 N1 Harper, R 3/13/2009 - 4/3/2009 05:00 - 08:30 PM -M----- DAVS 185 20 6 View
Education
Course No. Course Title Hours Sec Faculty Mtg Date Mtg Time Days Bldg Room Max Reg Materials
EDCI528 Assessment & Eval for Middle Childhood/AYA/Multi-Age 3.00 N1 Raker, E 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 30 16 View
Foreign Language Grant Class
3.00 N2 Raker, E 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA -MTWHF- MAIN CHRG 1 1 View
EDCI553 Gen Methods for AYA/Multi-Age 3.00 N1 Raker, E 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 30 18 View
Foreign Language Grant Class
EDFI538 Content Area Reading:Reading to Learn for EC, IS, and MC 3.00 N1 Cain, M 3/16/2009 - 5/29/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 30 16 View
3.00 N2 Cain, M 3/16/2009 - 5/29/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 30 15 View
Foreign Language Grant Class
EDFI539 Content Area Reading:Reading to Learn for AYA and Multi-Age 3.00 N1 Cain, M 3/16/2009 - 5/29/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 31 29 View
Best Grant Class
EDFI543 Research in Reading 3.00 N1 Cain, M 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 18 View
EDFI560 Tech Integration: Instructional Strategies and Classroom Mgmt 3.00 N1 Trusty, A. 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 22 View
EDFI570 Tech Production: Multimedia 3.00 N1 Trusty, A. 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN TBA 20 8 View
EDFI575 Tech Issues in Educ Tech: Tech Installation and Maintenance 3.00 N1 Trusty, A. 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 9 View
EDFI585 Practicum in Educ. Technology 3.00 N1 Trusty, A. 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 7 View
EDIS530 Learning Styles & Needs: Exceptional Children 3.00 N1 Cameron, M 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 15 P View
EDSP605 Oceanus:Thematic Teaching 3.00 N1 Rife, G 1/5/2009 - 3/13/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 35 37 P View
$50.00 Fee
Best Grant Class
EDSP606 Ecosystems and Society for Educ 3.00 N1 McIntosh 1/2/2009 - 3/13/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 30 29 P View
$50.00 Fee
Best Grant Class
EDSP610 Modern Concepts in Life Science 3.00 N1 Rife, G 3/16/2009 - 5/29/2009 06:30 - 09:15 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 35 32 P View
$50.00 Fee
EDUC500 Being an Educational Leader 3.00 N1 Cindric 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 21 View
EDUC502 Collaboration: Education and Community 3.00 N1 Abell, N 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 20 View
EDUC505 Research-Educational Leader 3.00 N1 Wahrman, J 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 05:00 - 08:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 21 View
EDUC514 Children's Literature Across the Curriculum 3.00 N1 Cain, M 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 8 P View
EDUC541 Educational Leader/Change Agent 3.00 N1 Cindric 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 20 View
3.00 N2 Cindric 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 17 View
EDUC552 Educational Leader-Facilitator and Culminating Project 3.00 N1 Cindric 1/5/2009 - 4/30/2009 TBA ------- MAIN INET 20 23 P View
Envir,Safety, Occ Health
Course No. Course Title Hours Sec Faculty Mtg Date Mtg Time Days Bldg Room Max Reg Materials
ENVM502 Technical Review Course 1.00 N1 Warton, P. 1/5/2009 - 3/13/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM ------- MAIN TBA 20 13 View
ENVM503 Biol & Chem Review 2.00 N1 Homsher, M 1/4/2009 - 3/15/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM N------ MAIN INET 20 8 View
ENVM515 Accounting & Financial Analysis for Technical Managers 3.00 N1 Wilkinson 1/6/2009 - 3/10/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 15 View
ENVM540 Production/Operations & Auditing 3.00 N1 Murphy, T. 3/26/2009 - 5/28/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM ----H-- MAIN INET 20 20 View
ENVM550 OSHA Law and Regulations 3.00 N1 Jaffe 1/6/2009 - 3/10/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 10 View
ENVM581 Solid Waste Management 3.00 N1 Murphy, T. 3/23/2009 - 5/25/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 20 7 View
ENVM583 ESH Quality Systems and Auditing 3.00 N1 Buza, M. 3/25/2009 - 5/27/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 20 8 View
ENVM585 Water & Wastewater Treatment 3.00 N1 Doyle, W. 1/8/2009 - 3/12/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM ----H-- MAIN INET 20 19 View
ENVM598 Research Methods 1.00 N1 Murphy, T. 1/4/2009 - 3/15/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM N------ MAIN INET 20 10 View
1.00 N2 Murphy, T. 3/29/2009 - 5/31/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM N------ MAIN INET 20 17 View
ENVM605 Indust Hygiene Principles & Calc 3.00 N1 O'Reilly 1/5/2009 - 3/9/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 20 6 View
ENVM625 Project Management and Planning 3.00 N1 Doyle, W. 3/24/2009 - 5/26/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 20 View
ENVM655 Pollution Prev & Ind Ecology 3.00 N1 Gillespie 3/25/2009 - 5/27/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 20 18 View
ENVM660 Vulnerability & Threat Assessmnt 3.00 N1 Doyle, W. 1/7/2009 - 3/11/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 20 5 View
ENVM665 Risk Management for Managers 4.00 N1 Homsher, M 1/8/2009 - 3/12/2009 07:00 - 09:00 PM ----H-- MAIN INET 20 17 View
Master of Business Admin
Course No. Course Title Hours Sec Faculty Mtg Date Mtg Time Days Bldg Room Max Reg Materials
MBA 581 Survey of Acctng and Finance 4.00 N1 Horner, W. 1/7/2009 - 3/11/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 23 15 P View
4.00 N2 Abels, P. 3/25/2009 - 5/27/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 20 7 P View
MBA 584 Survey of Economics 2.00 N1 Baker, J. 1/6/2009 - 3/10/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 13 P View
2.00 N2 Baker, J. 3/16/2009 - 5/18/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 20 8 P View
MBA 585 Survey of Marketing 2.00 N1 Ghose, N. 1/5/2009 - 3/9/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 20 19 P View
2.00 N2 Ghose, N. 3/24/2009 - 5/26/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 15 P View
MBA 586 Survey of Management 2.00 N1 Hogan, J. 1/7/2009 - 3/11/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 23 13 P View
2.00 N2 Hogan, J. 3/26/2009 - 5/28/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM ----H-- MAIN INET 20 18 P View
MBA 610 Leadership and Org. Behavior 3.00 N1 Ward, C. 1/7/2009 - 3/11/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 23 24 View
3.00 N2 Ngwenya-Sc 1/6/2009 - 3/10/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 22 View
3.00 N3 Martelli 3/24/2009 - 5/26/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 19 View
3.00 N5 Wolper, J. 3/16/2009 - 5/18/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 20 22 View
3.00 N6 Cummings,L 3/24/2009 - 5/26/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 12 View
MBA 620 Management of Human Resources 3.00 N1 Martelli 1/5/2009 - 3/9/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 20 21 View
3.00 N2 Martelli 1/5/2009 - 3/9/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 20 19 View
3.00 N3 Ngwenya-Sc 3/25/2009 - 5/27/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 20 21 View
3.00 N4 Key, D. 3/26/2009 - 5/29/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM ----H-- MAIN INET 20 19 View
MBA 624 Org & Human Resource Development 3.00 N1 Yates, D. 1/5/2009 - 3/9/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 23 14 View
3.00 N2 Carrigan 3/26/2009 - 5/29/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM ----H-- MAIN INET 20 12 View
MBA 630 Marketing Management & Planning 4.00 N1 Gupta, S. 1/7/2009 - 3/11/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 23 24 View
4.00 N2 Ghose, N. 1/7/2009 - 3/11/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 20 20 View
4.00 N3 Mathern,D. 1/6/2009 - 3/10/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 18 View
4.00 N4 Ghose, N. 3/26/2009 - 5/28/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 20 18 View
4.00 N5 Knudson, G 3/26/2009 - 5/28/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM ----H-- MAIN INET 20 13 View
4.00 N6 Knudson, G 3/24/2009 - 5/26/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 19 View
MBA 634 Seminar in Mkting and Promotion 3.00 N1 Ghose, N. 3/24/2009 - 5/26/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 19 View
MBA 640 Research for Decision-Making 3.00 N1 DePuy, R. 1/6/2009 - 3/10/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 23 23 View
3.00 N2 Arburn, G. 1/7/2009 - 3/11/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 20 22 View
3.00 N3 Ngwenya-Sc 3/24/2009 - 5/26/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 20 View
3.00 N4 Arburn, G. 3/16/2009 - 5/18/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 20 18 View
MBA 650 Operations Mgmt & Systems Analys 3.00 N1 Skrabec, Q 1/7/2009 - 3/11/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM ---W--- MAIN INET 20 20 View
3.00 N2 Skrabec, Q 1/6/2009 - 3/10/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM --T---- MAIN INET 20 21 View
3.00 N3 Skrabec, Q 3/16/2009 - 5/18/2009 06:00 - 08:00 PM -M----- MAIN INET 20 23 View
3.00 N4 Forsyth, J 3/26/2009 - 5/28/2009 08:00 - 10:00 PM ----H-- MAIN INET 20 19 View

 

I would shop around. There are tons of HR programs. Have you researched any in your geographical area so your degree has name recognition attached?

One of our friends took the HR BS at Concordia St Paul and absolutely loved it. Tuition is only about $375 per credit.

http://www.csp.edu/academics/Graduate/HRM/index.html

Also, Ft Hays in Kansas has an MLS concentration. I think that's only about $220 a credit for 31 credits. You can do a search for that one if interested.

 

As far as local programs, nothing I really loved as far as curriculum and requirements. I am in NYC, so there are tons of options, but I presume most degrees will get lost in the crowd anyway. We're kind of used to having transplants with not-so-recognizable degrees here, so I'm not sure geographical recognition is as important in my particular circumstance. I looked at Ft. Hays, but after the disaster of having a BA in Humanities, I don't want anything with the words "liberal" or "liberal arts" in it.

Thanks for the heads up on Concordia; I didn't come across that program anywhere in my countless searches. I'm taking a serious look into it.

 

Tomball - At my place of employ, which is (at the lower end of) a medium-sized company, we have enough business strategists. In moving from mom-and-pop to midsize, they forgot about the HR department. While we had a bunch of HR functions assigned here and there to my colleagues, there are even more functions that were left to float in the ether and are just audits and compliance issues waiting to happen. I've been told (which I take at face value) that upon completion of my master's, I will be helping to develop and manage the department. An MBA wouldn't provide me with the specialized education I need to do what needs to be done. I also have no higher aims to move past working in HR; I enjoy the field immensely


My 2 cents, get your SHRM cert. at http://www.hrci.org/ (maybe the PHP) and still focus in on a MBA

In my 30 years, I’d say a HR business partner with an MBA will get the results; most other degree HR programs are too soft.

My rule:
MBA with HR experience (A+)
SHRM with no degree (F) (PROBLEMS)
BS in HR (With or without SHRM cert) (C)
BS degree with a Master in HR (B--) Problem – limited on tactical, strategic, & ROI


Few companies that use this approach:
Microsoft, HP, IT, Chevron, Shell,….

So do you want to be a B- or a A+?


Cheers.....

 

Tomball, one more question for you (you seem very knowledgeable):
For someone who just doesn't want to do the MBA at this point and who goes with the specialist master's degree, would a graduate certificate in business administration (like the UMass online one) be a worthwhile investment?

 

http://online.wsj.com/video/advanced-management-programs-for-future-ceos/269347A2-5B71-48A6-A919-5A49AE5FC3D3.html

I'd say no, unless your employer is paying the tab. If they are look at an ADVANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - do a Google search

I attended this one back in 1993 at a cost of $3,000.00 (Employer paid the $$) @ USC


CHECK OUT http://online.wsj.com/video/advanced-management-programs-for-future-ceos/269347A2-5B71-48A6-A919-5A49AE5FC3D3.html

 

Interesting. Tomball, assuming that an applicant with a DBA has less but relevant experience than a more seasoned MBA grad applying for the same position. All else being equal ( attitude, specialization, presentation ), who would you consider? Is a DBA well received in your industry?

 

My 2 cents, NO to the DBA

I see more Ed.D with Org. Leadership, or Org. Change or D.Psy, DSS. Things are changing but not in the DBA direction more towards a CLO
See http://www.clomedia.com/

Cheers

*From link Article:Top Executives Must Rebuild Trust to Lead Companies Out of Recession, Survey Finds


The skills that C-suite executives need most in order to lead their organizations out of the recession are:
Meet with customers and prospects to build trust and win business (77%)
Communicate more effectively with their teams about priorities (75%)
Inspire people to brainstorm new ideas (74%)
Act as chief motivating officers by communicating with passion (72%)
Engage people to take on a more active role in high-priority projects (70%)
Motivate employees and boost morale after layoffs/reorganizations (52%)
Develop a higher profile as thought leaders in the media (27%)

The skills that current executives most need to develop are:
Build trust among employees and customers (76%)
Align the organization toward a common purpose or vision (70%)
Articulate a strategic direction for the organization (68%)
Speak in a powerful way to motivate and inspire people to act (60%)
Develop and present fresh, bold ideas that establish their thought leadership (47%)
Persuade people inside and outside their sphere of influence (43%)
Motivate and engage employees through productive one-on-one conversations (34%)

The qualities that leaders need right now to move their organizations forward are:
Visionary (64%)
Trustworthy (60%)
Focused (59%)
Inspiring (50%)
Decisive (49%)
Confident (43%)
Motivating (35%)
Purposeful (33%)
Passionate (31%)
Influential (24%)
Empathetic (17%)
Tenacious (15%)
Bold (10%)

 

Raristud, check your signature... California Coast University offers the MS Psychology.