UMASS Lowell MBA

I am in the foundations of business certificate program at UMASS Lowell's graduate school. I will have to complete six 2 hour survey courses to complete my certificate. These six courses are prerequisites to their MBA program. I am doing these courses online. I also plan to do the MBA course online as well. Does anyone have any experience with courses online at UMASS Lowell? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

While I'm a UML alum, I did my classes in-seat (albeit off-campus), but I work with some people who are taking online classes in the CJ Master's program, and they're all very satisfied.

 

Hi -

You'll find that all online courses delivered by UMass and state sponsored schools in Massachusetts (including some community colleges, though the tool is partitioned by school) use the same online delivery portal. As a result, even though I'm not at UML, but UMA I may be able to answer some of your questions.

What do you want to know?

ITJD

 

Here's my initial review of the UMass Lowell MBA program...I'm just about done my first 2 classes.

1. Weekly mandatory online chats. Can't stand this part. Is very inconvenient if traveling on business, etc. Also not sure how I'd handle if traveling overseas, which I do from time to time.

2. Scheduling bizarreness. I'm taking two classes, and for some reason the week # we're on from one class doesn't match up with the week # from the other one...it's confusing when trying to keep track of where you are and what is due each week.

3. Lack of grade feedback. One of my classes, I've had zero feedback so far on how my grades have been, despite being 3/4 done the class. Don't know if I have a C or an A at this point.

Aside from these, the program isn't bad. I like the delivery system (Blackboard) and the material is relevant and interesting. I'd prefer a little more variety in terms of available electives, but it's not bad.

I wouldn't tell someone to avoid the program, but I wouldn't go out of my way to point somebody in that direction, either...although the program isn't terribly expensive either.

 

I don't know if this will help you at all, but I've never been a fan of the UMLowell MBA program so I'll chime in. Note that I'm a great fan of UML overall, especially their engineering offerings.

There are no weekly mandatory online chats in the UMass Amherst Online MBA program and the program is run from the flagship business school in the system as opposed to Lowell. I'd expect the cost may be a little different and you wouldn't have access to the specializations that Lowell offers. I'd argue the faculty is probably better as well. I've had no adjunct faculty and I've routinely had department chairs leading discussions.

You may find that credits transfer, just do some due diligence to be sure of things and you may find a better option in the same system.

Trades-off
ITJD

 

Thanks. Appreciated.

ITJD.

 

I agree that it's hard when you get no feedback regarding your grades. In general, I am a big fan of the UMass online system. It's always been a bit curious to me that there are two UMass online MBA programs (Lowell and Amherst). Maybe there really are times when you just get what you pay for.

 

That's tough to choose. Does the extra $6 justify that much more name recognition? Hmm...the difference in cost is not as big between the two schools that I originally thought. I think I've change my mind, I think I would go for Amherst.

 

No sarcasm, I did leave out the "k" after the $6 by mistake. Before your post, I actually thought the difference was closer to $10k. I'm not getting an MBA but if I had to choose between the 2 for a $6k difference I'd probably pick Amherst but then again it may be different if I actually had to plop down my own cash today, I'm frugal too.

 

A very good move to go to UMASS Lowell.
Are there any online exams for each class? How are classes assessed?

 

Agreed. Noted that there's also a MBA program at UMass Boston with varying online capability.

The school is in need of some serious realignment but there's a lot of options for people who want an education.

 

My first 2 classes were assessed entirely on papers, both individual and group...as well as class participation.

My third class has 2 proctored exams, a mid-term and a final. That being said, it's one of the few lower pre-requisite classes I didn't have in my bachelor program...

 

Yeah, you're probably right about that but I'm guessing that there's a state department of higher education that makes decisions about how the state university system works and if those people don't want two online mba programs then there's not going to be two online mba programs and if there are two online mba programs then it's not a mistake that they're somewhat different. My idea is that while the schools may act independently of each other, there is still a controlling authority above them all that decides/allows these programs to be offered. The schools themselves are not the ultimate authority. The Umassonline website is just a billboard. But it's a billboard run by the Massachusetts dept of higher ed. It clearly reflects the online offerings within the state univesity system. But don't imagine that each school (let's say Amherst v. Lowell) actually has ultimate authority over the programs that are offered. They don't. I'd be willing to bet that this is no different in any state.

 

Just to update. I've got a little more of the program under my belt now. My 2 additional classes I just finished - each had online exams. One was timed but not proctored, and the other was a "take home" exam which was not proctored.

 

Thanks for the update. If I ever get to pursue an MBA, I think I would pick a B&M with an online program such as UMass Lowell.