did I have my expectations set too high?

So I am almost finished with week one of my first semester with Troy university for my MSHRM and I have to say I am slightly confused. I am taking 2 courses a semester which is supposedly a high level for the distance learning section and is considered full time blah blah blah. Having done my BA with AMU I suspected I would possibly be under-prepared for a state school graduate degree but dove right in anyway and took two of the harder classes in the degree path for my first semester (go big of go home right). After experiencing week 1 and thouroughly examining the course syllabus for each class I have to say that I honestly feel the workload and requirements set forth at AMU during my BA where I took 3 classes a sememster was far more difficult and time consuming than my MS at Troy appears to be.

At AMU I had to write 3-5 research oriented papers a semester equalling between 4 and 10 pages (and my capstone paper being 28) along with multiple weekly discussion posts and multiple quizes/exams. Troy's workload does not even compare. So I am confused and feel like I must have set my expectations too high lol.

Has anyone else experienced something similar to this? Is it just the way a Masters is with being more "real world" application information than book information being covered? Thanks for your time.

 

Usually it is that way, you learn from a Master degree to apply for real world professional. Remember it is only 30 - 44 credits for the entire degree; so, you have to treat it as one MAJOR.

 

I just assumed it would be the hardest thing I had ever undertaken but instead I swear my BA was more difficult. Oh well lessons learned

 

I have heard that the average workload at AMU is quite high. So much variance exists, even within the same university, so it's difficult to really peg what is and what is not a reasonable workload.

I've taken classes at the graduate level that were easy, and I've taken classes at the graduate level that made me want to pull my hair out.

 

My BS degree was very intense and when I enrolled into Ashford's MBA things kicked up to yet a higher level. Afterwards I enrolled in Bellevue thinking it would be the same but honestly the pace dropped WAY down which to me is a good thing...I've got kids now and pulling "all nighters" just doesn't work for me anymore.

 

I don't think there are hard and fast rules but in my own experience, most undergraduate courses I have taken were more difficult than graduate courses. I think this may depend on the type of learner you are. Undergraduate courses (for me) consisted of a lot of reading, studying, taking tests. I typically did not have tests in graduate level courses, but instead would read and then respond to the reading with a written paper and/or discussions with class members and the instructor. Or I would have to apply the learning by doing a presentation or project of some sort. I do not think one way of learning is superior to the other and they are both effective.

I personally, do not think that that "more work" always equals "more learning." In fact as a course designer, I get very annoyed with other instructors who pile on work after more work when it ends up just being redundant and therefore "busy work" although it is often well disguised so that few see it as busy work.

 

I should say that the Ashford program was accelerated into condensed 6 week semesters with a "quantitative hump" of 6 months right in the middle of the program. It was the proverbial drinking from a fire hydrant effect. Bellevue semesters are 12 weeks in length and not as intense with the deadlines. Also at Ashford I did have a handful of tests and quizzes but by and large everything else was research, research and more research.

 

Most people's list of the Top 10 US Universities would look remarkably alike. At the top would be some assortment of Ivy League schools. Throw in MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago and then we could have a fun discussion of the last 2 or 3 slots. Then there's some sort of drop off just as there is at various stages as you move through the top 100. Where the lines get draw varies from person to person and from year to year with an ever-shifting set of criteria. The fact that you've had (so far) a different experience related to your undergrad degree doesn't especially surprise me, especially since you seem to be a particularly bright person. If someone took an undergrad degree in Math at Yale and then went to UConn for their Masters, I wouldn't be surprised is they coasted through a number of courses. You may hit a few speed bumps on your path but overall I think you should chaulk it all up to good native intelligence and solid preparation. Best of luck as you progress through your program.

 

I have an aunt that did her both her bachelors and masters in special education. She explained to me that her bachelors was more difficult than her masters. I cannot say anything about the whole process of a graduate program, however, I view the process to be more manageable than a bachelor's program. I have been attempting to finish my bachelor's for quite some time now, and now I'm one year away. If you were to look back at my original community college transcript, it list that I was on the legacy program LOL! It's been over 10 year according to my transcripts (when I first started college). I'll be happy to finish my bachelors and then to work on my masters.

I compare 120 units is always a lot of units from a masters around 30-60 units. It's a lot less classes to take and I like that concept

 

I assume you work as an Admin in the Navy? If so, the program that you're taking is easier for you because most of Management you have observed daily. As for me in the same boat, my undergraduate GPA was much lower than my Master.

 

Admin Light maybe haha

I am a Religious Program Specialist. The first 5 years of my current 7 year career were spent as a 2401 RP with the Marine Corps which was much more hands on operational training and experience. For the past 2 years I have been on shore duty as a Chapel Facility Manager which is very Admin heavy. So yes and no haha.

 

Thanks Kizmet