Are you happy with your online/distance learning MA/MS/MPhil?

To take (or steal) a page from SurfDoc's book, I thought I would start a thread that might apply to more people. Most of the questions are the same. Feel free to write a book to respond to the questions! Perhaps, this could be a nice catalogue (or advertisement) for graduate programs that our members have completed (or are completing).

1. What degree did you pursue/complete? In what field of study?

2. What university did you study at?

3. How long did the program take to complete? How many credits was it?

4. Are you glad that you did the program?

5. Would you do it differently if you could go back in time to start over?

6. Has the degree helped you in any way?

7. Has it opened any doors?

8. Are you proud of it?

9. Has anyone criticized you for doing the degree (online/by distance learning)?

10. Any other advice or insights?

 

1. What degree did you pursue/complete? In what field of study?
>>MBA

2. What university did you study at?
>> University of Massachusetts - Amherst

3. How long did the program take to complete? How many credits was it?
>> about 2 years, 37 credits

4. Are you glad that you did the program?
>> I think it was a necessary stop on my path. I've no regrets.

5. Would you do it differently if you could go back in time to start over?
>> No. I think that I might have approached my undergrad differently though. Harvard Extension would have been better than WGU.

6. Has the degree helped you in any way?
>> Yes, it's given me a good foundation for future doctoral work and I've been able to apply for teaching gigs.

7. Has it opened any doors?
>> Yes, I'm currently teaching.

8. Are you proud of it?
>> I'm proud of myself. The diploma is just a piece of paper.

9. Has anyone criticized you for doing the degree (online/by distance learning)?
>> Anyone critical of my learning choices is no longer a part of my life. There are enough walls to climb without dragging one up the cliff with you. Direct answer is sure, but that's the trade off for whatever convenience you get from the program.

10. Any other advice or insights?
>> If you're going to go for the doctorate, whatever you do, don't take excessive time off between programs. Once you get your life back it's very hard to give it up to continue on.

 

What degree did you pursue/complete? In what field of study? What University? How long?
I have a MS in Ed Tech that I earned online from National University and I could not be happier with it. I completed the degree in 14 months of hard work. I loved the program and I highly recommend National University, which is a regionally accredited school even though the name might suggest otherwise.

Has the degree helped you in any way?
The degree is what opened the door for my current job teaching computer science (and other subjects) at a private school.

Has anyone criticized you for doing the degree? No one has ever criticized me or my degree, in fact, my boss will not let me move to other subjects because he said it's too hard to find someone with my qualifications to cover my classes.

Any other advice or insights? The advice I would give is to not listen to those on this board who criticize degrees earned online. I have never ran into someone outside of online boards who cares if someone's degree was earned online. At least in my field, the people that matter care about regional accreditation, they care about your qualifications and they care about your experience, but not how you earned your degree.

 

1. What degree did you pursue/complete? In what field of study?

Master of Professional Writing

2. What university did you study at?

Chatham University

3. How long did the program take to complete? How many credits was it?

It took me 16 months, and it was 30 credits.

4. Are you glad that you did the program?

Absolutely!

5. Would you do it differently if you could go back in time to start over?

Nope, this was my first time doing an online degree. My undergrad was earned the traditional way, butt-in-seat. After experiencing online, I'm now a convert.

6. Has the degree helped you in any way?

Yes, it made me a better writer and that was the reason for doing it in the first place. Moreover, I now teach a corporate writing course for my current employer. In addition, I was able to teach a business writing course at my local community college last semester.

7. Has it opened any doors?

Yes, my current employer has given me more responsibility. I'm now responsible for all training in my unit, and I'm also writing more technical reports. In addition, I was able to get a temporary teaching gig, which was a nice experience indeed. :smile:

Also, due to my graduate degree I was able gain acceptance into Northwestern University's Master of Public Administration program. I was told by one of the admissions rep that my masters in professional writing made me a better candidate than those with bachelor degrees only.

8. Are you proud of it?

Absolutely!

9. Has anyone criticized you for doing the degree (online/by distance learning)?

Nope, the community college brought it up once. (I reside in Hawaii and Chatham is in Pittsburgh) :scared1:. Everything was fine after I explained that I'm in the military and that it is nearly impossible for me to make it to a normal classroom setting. The person conducting the interview was impressed, and we moved along. Ultimately I was hired. rivateeye:

10. Any other advice or insights?

Research schools and programs that interest you...Research is your best friend. Make sure you don't break the bank doing your program. Chatham is not cheap by any means, Western New Mexico University is a far cheaper alternative. However, for me Chatham had the program that I wanted. Also, the Army paid for it, my total out-of-pocket expense was less than $1,500.00 if memory serves me right. :thinking:

Once you commit to a program march on, don't let others distract you from your ultimate goal. You will have your skeptics, those that think that online education is less inferior than B&M. Don't pay attention to them, and keep your head above water.

 

It wasn't purely online, but rather a "blended" program of online coursework and intensive weekend residencies, but here it goes;

1. What degree did you pursue/complete? In what field of study?

Master of Arts in Forensic & Counseling Psychology.

2. What university did you study at?

Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

3. How long did the program take to complete? How many credits was it?

Three academic years on a part-time schedule, 60 credits.

4. Are you glad that you did the program?

Definitely! It opened my eyes to a whole other field of study besides CJ, and I found it both fascinating and challenging.

5. Would you do it differently if you could go back in time to start over?

The only thing I didn't like was that the first year consisted of all classroom-based courses, because the online classroom software wasn't ready yet. I didn't find this out until I got my class schedule and realized I had to be on-campus three days a week. I made it work, though.

6. Has the degree helped you in any way?

I just received it in June, so it's a bit early to assess that, but it did save me from having to take foundation courses for my current doctoral program.

7. Has it opened any doors?

Yes, I'm now eligible to take the exam for Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts (although I'm way too busy to study for it right now). Additionally, I also qualify for Master's level clinicians jobs that don't require licensure (you need something like 2,000 hours of supervised clinical work before becoming eligible to be licensed).

8. Are you proud of it?

Absolutely! It was rough trying to balance full-time employment, part-time school, internships, and a family life, but I did it, and I was also the first part-time graduate of the program.

9. Has anyone criticized you for doing the degree (online/by distance learning)?

Not at all.

10. Any other advice or insights?

I'll repeat what Dr. John Bear has said; make sure that the degree program you choose will meet your current AND future needs. Even if I decide to bail on the doctoral program (not likely), I still have a degree that's extremely useful for adjunct teaching opportunities and post-retirement employment. There is one course that some states require for licensure that Massachusetts doesn't (Career Counseling), but if I decided to move after retirement, I could always take that course at MSPP for half-price (because I'm a graduate), which will then make me eligible for licensure in all 50 states.

 

1. What degree did you pursue/complete? In what field of study?

Master of Science in Telecommunications & Managements

2. What university did you study at?

Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas (National Ranking: 62)

3. How long did the program take to complete? How many credits was it?

It took me 3 years to complete due to Military obligations. The whole program required 30 credits, but I completed 33 credits.

4. Are you glad that you did the program?

Yes

5. Would you do it differently if you could go back in time to start over?

Yes, because the classes required lot of examination; however, I preferred more writing to master my writing skill. Besides, I am not good at taking exams.

6. Has the degree helped you in any way?

I do not know, but I have never gotten any promotion or pay raise bases on my graduate degrees.

7. Has it opened any doors?

Absolutely, I don't have to worry about minimum education requirement on new job search.

8. Are you proud of it?

Yes

9. Has anyone criticized you for doing the degree (online/by distance learning)?

No, not all!

10. Any other advice or insights?

Southern Methodist University offers distance learning programs; however, the classes are taught on campus. Therefore, students must follow the same requirement for those on campus. All video lectures are archived at the end of each class.

 

1. What degree did you pursue/complete? In what field of study? MBA.

2. What university did you study at? American Military University (Transferred in 6 credits from Webster University received on campus).

3. How long did the program take to complete? How many credits was it? 3.5 years part-time, 36 credits total.

4. Are you glad that you did the program? Yes.

5. Would you do it differently if you could go back in time to start over? I would get the same degree, online through distance, from a traditional B&M school.

6. Has the degree helped you in any way? Yes, along with my experience, clearance, certifications and such it netted me a 30K raise in 2011.

7. Has it opened any doors? See above, although it was not the only factor I believe it helped.

8. Are you proud of it? Sort of. Would be more proud to have graduated from a B&M traditional university program though.

9. Has anyone criticized you for doing the degree (online/by distance learning)? Just in online forums where it gets mentioned. Most don't ask, don't care and I don't usually offer it up.

10. Any other advice or insights? Keep your head down and plow ahead. Have some family support (I'm married with three boys and they all helped me), choose a program from a B&M college near you (or where you plan on working) and stay away from online only schools.

 

1. What degree did you pursue/complete? In what field of study?
Master of Science in Leadership

2. What university did you study at?
South University online

3. How long did the program take to complete? How many credits was it?
18 months; 48 quarter units

4. Are you glad that you did the program?
Yes, very much so.

5. Would you do it differently if you could go back in time to start over?
No.

6. Has the degree helped you in any way?
In so many ways. It changed my thinking and added a variety of new skills and knowledge to help me be a better person/leader.

7. Has it opened any doors?
I developed several ongoing professional relationships; some faculty, some my peers. I would not have met these great people and had a network to share ideas and solicit advice when needed. My degree has added an element of "credibility" to my leadership skills and as a result opened doors to speaking at a few conferences in my profession. I also adjunct for an online university and teach some core courses in a leadership development program.

8. Are you proud of it?
Yes, very much.

9. Has anyone criticized you for doing the degree (online/by distance learning)?
Not yet.

10. Any other advice or insights?[/QUOTE]
Try not to "do" a degree purely for career advancement or a piece of paper. Allow it to challenge your thinking and develop you as a person, all the "other stuff" will come along in due time.