PurSuit of Simultaneous DL degrees

Pursuing one distance learning degree can be a handful. Especially for the average person with full time work responsibilities and family commitments.

However, I am rather curious to know if anyone on here was gutsy enough to pursue simultaneous RA or DETC undergraduate or graduate degree programs through Distance Learning. I'd love to hear your experiences on doing such thing. If it ever can be done.

 

Just to begin...

There are a couple of other threads that discussed this, at least to a degree (no pun intended... ok, maybe a little).

But for myself, I will begin two MA degrees this spring. One is a MA in Christian Ministry via Abilene Christian University, a B&M school, that is starting to do more and more DL. Most of the courses will be internet courses, though I might through in a couple of short one week courses on campus, when I can get there. This degree will probably take me about 5-6 years to complete.
The second is a MA in English via UNIZUL. So far, I am only in the beginning stages, such as working on a concrete subject for research, etc. This one should take about 2 years.

So I am just beginning, but will be pursuing this for awhile. I plan to eventually tackle a doctorate (probably in English), but will wait until I get there to decide.

clint

 

Presently I am engaged in two DL programs, but I am a semi retired school teacher with quite a bit of experience in my field through several B/M schools.

I began the ThD with Unizul in May of this year. I discovered that there would be time gaps between submitting thesis(dissertation) chapters (I expect to do seven chapters) and getting them approved -this is a thesis only degree. So I decided to enroll this September, with the approval of officials from both schools, also in the ACCS DMin in Biblical/Theological Studies which is coursework ( seven classes, I transferred two from a ThM, plus Applied Research Product) as opposed to thesis only. My working plan is to do one UZ thesis chapter then one class then another UZ chapter and so on. So far I have one UZ chapter approved, one ACCS class done, the second UZ chapter at the typist's, and am starting the second ACCS class. So far, so good!

This seems to be working for me for several reasons. As said I am employed only part time. The general area is of much interest to me. I do this for self satisfaction not financial gain. As I was allowed to choose my ACCS courses, I opted for those which are compatible with and complementary to the thesis. The break from the thesis chapters allows time for reflection on the following chapter. The coursework is much less demanding and is just different enough from the thesis in content and challenge to provide a break. I expect to be done with both in three years. Would I advise this two at once approach?

I think the circumstances must be carefully measured and found to be very favorable. DL can be a lonely business. If your subject is your passion that helps. If you have family support that does too. If you possess not much determination and discipline don't even consider it. Having the time , obviously, is a must. As one works through this experience the little demons gather tempting with the question "why do it?" At those times you'd better have a good answer.

I wear my answer (a statement in Greek from Scripture found below transliterated) in a large tattoo on the inside of my right wrist. At 62 I don't care what others think about it. But when the demons come and say "Poor Bill, just why are you struggling with this work? and you really don't have to", I show them my tattoo lest I forget that I really do have to do this. Does one need a tattoo? Naaa, just prone to quit weaklings like me!



Good "luck",

 

A couple of years ago I met a fellow student who was pursuing two master degrees simultaneously at two local universities (not DL) – both degrees required 33 units with one degree accepting transfer of 12 units and the other degree accepting transfer of 9 units. He had figured out that he could earn two masters by taking 45 units. His company paid for all tuition and books plus a bonus of 100 shares of company shock (currently around $33 a share).
Incidently both these two masters are available by DL.

 

This is indeed the work of demons, i.e., trying to convince those struggling with legitimate degree programs--or those anticipating doing so--to go the degree mill route, do no work and obtain a degree.

 

Simultaneous Degrees

Some schools have policies against simultaneous enrollment in two degree programs. I came across this when applying to a PGCert program at the University of Wales to "supplement" my current Lancaster MA. The Wales policy requires that I complete my current MA program before starting their certificate program. In hindsight, I should have just omitted the Lancaster MA but I had no idea these kinds of rules exist. Something to consider...

John Ryan

 

Rules is rules, I guess, but I don't see why one institution has the right to monopolize the learning/enrolment of its students. That it might be prudent to finish one thing before starting another is certainly reasonable, though not necessarily true; Bill Grover's strategy of complementary alternation of work at ACCS and UNIZUL sounds pretty smart to me. No institution ought to be conceded a role in loco parentis by mature learners. As Robert Burns, that great theorist of higher education, put it : "the man of independent mind, he looks and laughs at a' that".

Or, to paraphrase the old song about parties and crying, "it's my money and time, and I'll drive myself crazy if I want to, crazy if I want to..."

 

Bill, I like the "Semi Retired" title. I hope to teach one day, and I know that you can never be retired, once a giver of information, always one.

If one could give enough time to two programs, it could be done. I seem to be a sponge right now for information, unfortunately, I can not find one program that fits my needs, to find two would be miraculous.

Best of luck!!

 

Thanks Kristie,