National University - Online MFA

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by tiffer, Aug 3, 2010.

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  1. tiffer

    tiffer New Member

    Does anyone here have any direct experience with this program? I am specifically looking for feedback on the creative writing program, but any feedback would be helpful.

    Thanks! :)
     
  2. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I'm afraid that I don't have experience with that particular program, but one look at my signature line will tell you that I have some experience with National University. NU is a very good school with very good courses, curriculum and professors. I thoroughly enjoyed earning my MS and my teaching credential there and would gladly go back if they offered a doctorate.

    The only drawback to NU is their poor selection of a name. Being called National University makes it sound like they are only nationally accredited. However, NU is fully regionally accredited which is the gold standard for accreditation.
     
  3. cdhale

    cdhale Member

    A little off topic, but is there a reason you would go for NU's MFA and not something like UTEP's online MFA?

    Just curious.
     
  4. tiffer

    tiffer New Member

    Thank you, it is helpful to know that they do have good professors, etc. in their programs, that bodes well for other programs they offer. :)

    I am looking at both. :)

    Also if anyone has info on the UTEP program that would be great too!
     
  5. mrtito02

    mrtito02 New Member

    I too completed my masters with National University. Although I don't have any direct experience with the program you are interested in, I can only speak with the best regards for the university. The faculty are great and so is the support staff.
     
  6. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    A couple of years ago I started a thread on MFA-Creative Writing programs. Most are low rez programs and there's enough of them sprinkled around the country so that you're bound to be close to one or two of them. If I remember correctly, National and UTEP are the only two RA universities that allow you to do the entire degree through DL. Peralandra (?spelling?) is a DETC school that has a 100% DL program. I think there are a couple of non-US programs as well but often people have hopes of using the MFA for teaching purposes and there's some concern about whether a non-US degree will get that job done. In any case, here's the thread:

    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/distance-learning-discussions/28319-creative-writing-dl-low-res.html
     
  7. SoldierInGA

    SoldierInGA New Member

    My issue is that people thought it was in Washington DC for some reason.
    "Why did you earn a degree from DC if you were living in San Diego? Was it an online degree?"
    "No, it's a B&M school located in SD!"
    "Really? why are they called National then?"

    Me thinking "Well, because they can't control how morons like you think"
     
  8. cravenco

    cravenco New Member

    My friend just completed his BA in English, MA in English, and MA of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, all from NU. He said the time has been great, and he would not take in back for anything.
     
  9. cravenco

    cravenco New Member

  10. Farina

    Farina New Member

    I started their MFA program but have since dropped out for a variety of reasons. Firstly, I don't like the 8 week course structure. For me, I think it's too short and as a working professional I found it hard to work and have to check in almost daily to do work. I like the longer semesters for writing courses, as I find that I need more flex time with course work. Keep in mind though that the workshop courses are longer than 8 weeks. Secondly, I am also a student at Western New Mexico and appreciate the depth of courses to choose from writing program versus National. I thought the course selection at National was too restrictive. However, I did get a recent email stating that the MFA program was creating more classes to expand couse offerrings. The email asked for students to send in their recommendations for new courses. So I suppose in this area they are trying to make progress.

    In addition, while not prohibitive, I prefered the cost of the classes at WNMU, versus National which is around $500. National is about $1,500. However for a master's degree, National's price is in line with many other programs.

    The platform they use is e-college, which I find rather hard to manage, although I've had to use it in the past to teach classes. I prefer Blackboard to all of them.

    I think the faculty is knowledgeable which is a good point. For the classes that I took they seemed to be devoted to the fields that they were teaching.

    I did some google searches and found graduates of the MFA program working in community colleges across the US, so that's nice to know that you can get a job with the degree.

    I suppose that in the end, Nationals' program just wasn't a good fit for me. Although I really would have liked the MFA for employment purposes, I have found after talking to deans and hiring managers, that I can do what I want with the MA degree I am pursuing now.
     
  11. cravenco

    cravenco New Member

    So WNMU is 16 weeks?
     
  12. cravenco

    cravenco New Member

  13. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    Fall & Spring are 16 weeks. Summer is either 8 weeks or 4 weeks.

    -Matt
     
  14. Would it be at all feasible to teach online in two different subjects if you selected two focuses from the MA at WNMU? Or do you really need to have at least an MA in the field?

    I say this for new instructors with little experience, not seasoned instructors looking to diversify.
     
  15. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    That's just about what I did. I earned the 18 hours in Political Science first, and I started teaching PLS 211-212 through Rappahannock Community College at my high school. I've completed 18 hours in History and will be starting HIS 121-122 at the high school this year. I'm two classes away from finishing WNMU, and hopefully will finish in the Spring if my wife can find a job.

    Although teaching at the high school is NOT online, I did pick up a Saturday HIS 121 class at RCC which is 1/2 in class and 1/2 online through blackboard.

    -Matt
     
  16. cravenco

    cravenco New Member

    Good deal, Matt!
     
  17. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    The downside is that, at least in the Virginia Community College System, to get promoted to Assistant Professor I need 27 hours in the subject area. I guess that's not really that big of a deal as I'll have 21 in both History & Political Science when I finish WNMU thanks to a few courses I took at APU.

    -Matt
     
  18. cravenco

    cravenco New Member

    So when did you start teaching?
     
  19. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    Last fall I started doing PLS 211-212 and I also started teaching online education courses with UoP.

    -Matt
     
  20. cravenco

    cravenco New Member

    Oh, UoP was your stepping stone for the other teaching position. I was under the assumption that you went straight into teaching while attending your Grad degree.
     

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