Been researching the Georgia WebMBA and it has my attention: $18k for the entire program, accelerated, minimal prereq's, AACSB-accrediated. My only remaining question is through which school to enroll? Columbus State University Georgia College & State University Georgia Southern University Kennesaw State University University of West Georgia Valdosta State University I'm in DC and probably will remain in the mid-atlantic for the duration of my career. Are they all a wash?
Georgia Southern or Kennesaw State. The advantage to Kennesaw State is that they have a limited residency DBA (but it ain't cheap). Both are doctoral institutions. Georgia Southern has a more gentlemanly southern charm due to location.
heimer, I agree with Kevin that Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State. I think I saw somewhere that you earned a Master of Professional in PR/CC at Georgetown University. How would you rate the program? Do you think that program can help a sloppy writer to get ready for Ph.D program? I thought about the program, especially I get a full ride under Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program. Is Georgetown Unviersity SC School would be rating the same as the rest ong GU's schools? Thanks...
I can't speak much on the graduate level curriculum at Columbus State nor it's online format, but I am give you a general overview as a Columbus, Georgia native. In recent years the school has grown pretty fast. Just recently they started up there own football team (if that account for anything). I myself have not attended CSU but about 7 out of every 10 seniors that went to my high school attended CSU, so locally it has a name. It has almost become the flagship school of the city, and gets a ton of students from the local community. Of all the graduates I know they have nothing bad to say about the school. Nonetheless, in comparison to the school that you have listed I think it would fall somewhere in the middle at best. Not because it is a bad program or anything but only because schools like Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State, and Kennesaw State would probably be stronger for your resume since you live in DC. I hope that’s enough information, if not then keep the questions coming.
While I never attended a program through Georgetown's School of Continuing Studies, I am an acquaintance of Matt Winkler who runs the Sports Management program through the school of Continuing Studies. He is a sharp guy as are the instructors that teach in that program and the handful of students I have met. I think the school gets a similar wrap as the Harvard Extension School and University College at Washington University-St. Louis. Some students and alumni of the other programs, which all have substantially more difficult admission standards, look at the continuing studies programs as a "backdoor" into a high ranking university but the programs are viewed in high regard by academics "in the know". I don't believe GU, just like Harvard or Wash U, would attach their name to anything that they felt would tarnish their image. I'm sure that the programs are challenging and of high quality. On another topic, I would be interested to find a ranking of extension/professional studies/continuing education programs. It's a shame no major publications have done this (at least to my knowledge).
I will be done with my MPS in PR/CC this summer. Overall, it's a great program. Some of my experiences have been top-notch, where, in the moment, i was left saying to myself, "I'm getting my money's worth and then some." But it's also a new program (started in 2007), and with that comes some downfalls. One, some of the faculty members have been duds - clearly people with outstanding professional experience and zero talent in the teaching arena. Two, I believe the admissions standards have been loose, given that they are trying to grow the program. If you are admitted with a less than stellar record, you are enrolled provisionally and are required to earn at least a "b" in your first two classes. Having said that, PRWeek has honored the program as a finalist for PR education program of the year (NYU got top honors last year). Is it backdoor into Georgetown? Maybe, but you do work hard for your degree, and I believe the credential is impressive. Is it a good prep for a PhD? Probably not, as a vast majority of the writing mimics public relations writing, ad copy, and/or proposals.
