American Military University

Greetings to the mighty forum:

AMU seems to offer two recently added programs not listed in Bear's 15th.

There are two nonresident MA's, one in history and the other in humanities.

The tuition looks like about 750$ per course, and the other MA's are 11-12 courses for completion. The paths toward completing the requirements for the "history" and "humanities" degrees are not posted yet, but I imagine they are similar.

The university appears to have a quite generous transfer credit policy:
"The Master of Arts (MA) program is 36 hours. APUS will accept up to 15 hours of transfer credit toward the degree path. Graduate students may take 2-3 courses per semester; however, graduate study is more complex and time-consuming than undergraduate study. Most APUS students take only one 3-credit graduate-level course per semester. At that rate, with no transfer credit, it would take a little less than 4 years to graduate. Most students are awarded some type of transfer credit from previous academic or military education and/or training. A student who was awarded 15 hours of transfer credit and could take more than one course per semester could complete the degree in 2-3 semesters."

Since these degrees are only DETC accredited (one of the specific accreditors), are they advisable for gaining a junior college teaching credential? If an institution holds such accreditation, but not regional accreditation, is it just as credible for granting degrees for purposes other than salary increases, etc.?

Chris

 

No. Without qualification. Public educational institutions tend to be the most prickly about qualifications. I would be amazed if there was a community college out there that accepted a DETC MA as the qualifying degree for a job (but I don't mind being amazed). I state it specifically thus because some CC jobs, usually things like auto mechanics, don't require the MA.


Tom Nixon

 

AMAZED YET?

I have no intent of sounding like an apologist for DETC accreditation or AMU/APUS. However, I would like to note that there is at least one AMU grad on the faculty of a community college:

Navarro, Joseph .................................................................................................................History
B.S., University of Alaska; M.A., American Military University

http://www.sandhills.cc.nc.us/catalog2002-04/06_personnel.pdf

I remember reading that another person with an AMU M.A. is or was on the faculty of the U.S. Naval Academy, but I was unable to find this info using the various search engines.

Also, note:

National Park Service Historian:

Manning, Michael J.
MA, American Military University, 2000. 18th/19th century US military and naval, US Lighthouse Service
Ranger
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
11288 Horseshoe Bend Road
Daviston, AL 36256

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/historians.htm

I'll keep on checking my email and the APUS website hoping to see something like:

NEWSFLASH: American Military University granted candidate status by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

I'm confident this will happen. I just don't know when it will happen.


Charles Fout
BA, American Military University
AS, City University
Studying for MBA, Liberty University and BA (Languages and Literature/with specialisation in Early World Civilisations), University of South Africa.

 

I would not, as a rule, pursue a master's degree from a DETC-accredited school explicitly for the purpose of teaching at an RA school, even a community college. I'm sure there are other examples other than listed, but I would take a degree blessed by the club I was trying to join.

AMU a candidate for RA? I wouldn't be surprised to see it.

 

I agree with Rich and Tom.

Shortcuts would be a fine way to get in if earning a DETC accredited degree wasn't also a huge investment in time. But its always a step backwards when you get a degree that is not so "blessed."

Charles~please let us know if AMU ever gets RA. That would be great news.

Chris