National University's One-Course-Per-Month Arrangement

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Arch23, Sep 5, 2012.

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  1. Arch23

    Arch23 New Member

    Hello! A co-worker of mine is checking out National's online master's in organizational management. Does anyone have experience with this program and NU's one-course-per-month arrangement? My co-worker typically does 50-hour work weeks and has two young kids to take care of (ages 3 and 6), so she wonders how doable, in practice, each course is given that there are only four weeks to cover each course. She's curious if she will have to read something like 8 to 10 chapters, do a hundred discussion thread postings, take an exam, or write a major paper on a weekly basis. Thanks in advance for any inputs!
     
  2. Arch23

    Arch23 New Member

    She's also trying to compare the workload with Northcentral University's master's in organizational leadership. She understands that NCU has 8-week courses, but wants to know if the usual requirements also apply (i.e., mandatory discussion thread postings and answering discussion questions at the end of chapters, writing weekly papers, taking exams, etc.) to each course. Thanks!
     
  3. mbaonline

    mbaonline New Member

    My 2 cents...

    I don't have experience with NU or NCU but I did my masters with a 50-hour work week, 2-hours per day commute, two kids (ages 6-14 during the time period) and a husband in and out of the hospital with a life-threatening disease. My courses were 8 weeks, and I spent 25-30 hours a week studying, and had a paper (or other assignment) a week. I didn’t sleep much and felt like I studied every spare minute. I watched no TV/movies, did no reading for pleasure and had limited social outings, except between classes or when I took a break.

    I also teach grad classes of 6 weeks' duration and I have to say I think a 6-week period is harder than 8, so extrapolating a 4-week class would be harder.
     
  4. DxD=D^2

    DxD=D^2 Member

    I couldn't agree more... I'm in an 8 week course. I work 40 hours a week (well at least I try, because I take days off work to finish up school work). Let me give you my schedule so you can fully understand.

    I have two 8 week classes at Liberty University. I work 40 hours a week. On Tuesdays, I am committed to facilitate a bible study after work (so count that day as no study at all). I also enrolled in a community college course to take care of a GE that I didn't have when transferring. Overall I'm taking five classes; three classes at a time (15 units). You may be asking the math doesn't work out correctly... Yes it does. My community college class last for the whole 16 weeks, while half of my four classes are taken in the first 8 weeks, the other two classes are taken in the last 8 weeks. Anyways... I feel like quitting at times cause I'm overworking myself. I don't have kids but I feel like school is the biggest kid I have adopted.

    This is what I would suggest, I would try looking into an 8 week schedule for your co-worker. If your co-worker take one class at a time each 8 weeks, it should be do-able.

    Here are some online degree that might seem to be a better fit, if your co-worker wants to extend the time a bit:


    Fielding: MA Organizational Management and Development, Learning Organization Management Online, Organizational Leadership Online

    Gonzaga: Master's In Leadership | Organizational Leadership Master

    Bellevue: Leadership and Coaching Degree - Master of Science | Bellevue University

    Colorado State: Online Masters in Organizational Leadership - MS Degree Programs
     
  5. TonyM

    TonyM Member

    I took a couple of grad courses from NU and liked the format. It's a lot of work, but they are know how to make it work. The big difference is that nothing is far off. Honestly, in my opinion, traditional courses often waste a lot of time. In the 4 week plan it's all business and no time is wasted. The plus for working adults is that you're only worrying about 1 course at a time.
     
  6. GoodYellowDogs

    GoodYellowDogs New Member

    I loved the National Univ classes. Hard work for four weeks and done!
     
  7. Arch23

    Arch23 New Member

    Thanks for your feedback, everyone! :)
     
  8. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I earned a master's degree at National University and I can say without reservation that it is a great school. I also took several classes in a doctoral program at NCU...and I can say without reservation that you should avoid that school. Nothing wrong with the program really, but the student support is terrible at NCU.

    The 4 week classes at National University were quite enjoyable. They got right to the point, delivered the material and finished without wasting time. Yes, it is a lot of work but I found the 4 week classes stimulating and valuable.
     
  9. Arch23

    Arch23 New Member

    Thanks! I think she'll like the 'get right down to bsuiness' approach at NU. She's also checking out the 8-week programs suggested. Hopefully, she'll find a good fit! :)
     
  10. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    Whatever you do, don't take the NU workload lightly at the master's level. Those folks don't waste time, and have fairly stiff grade penalties for being late on assignments.

    Folks with significant commitments outside work hours (e.g. young children) should really consider the time requirements of four week classes before considering a master's with NU.

    It can also be difficult to master a given subject, and get to know a given instructor's expectations with only four weeks of coursework. You can spend three weeks just trying to understand your instructor's mindset enough to know what to do to earn good grades, and by that time you're furiously preparing for the final exam.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2012
  11. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Yes, this is absolutely true. You would probably find that you must do significant amounts of school work at least 5 nights per week. I didn't work more than 5 nights per week on my master's at NU, but I also read a great deal at lunch and other free spots during the day. I really liked the 4 week format though I suppose it may not be a good fit for everyone. You can really fly through a master's degree that way.

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2012
  12. ProfTim

    ProfTim Member

    I have taught in the 4 week format at another college. It is absolutely brutal for the students. The old saying "its like drinking from a firehose" certainly holds true. I left that institution and have vowed that I would never work in that format again. Several of my fellow instructors have the opinion that the students don't have the time for the material to be retained.
     
  13. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    My wife is National University graduate.
    She earned Masters degree in psychology.

    I used to drive her to and pick her up from the classes at the time when we lived in CA before moving to NY.

    She loved the format of one class a month. It was a lot of hard work because in two weeks from the start of the class you have a mid term.

    Upon her graduation with internship hours she was qualified to take CA State MFT license exams.

    She instead continued at another university and earn a Ph.D in Psychology.
    She god a really good job a lead case manger with government facility in NY.

    She felt that the program was a decelerated and very different from what she was used to when she graduated from a traditional state university.

    At the time it was a good option for a working adult.
    As she was FT teacher in Elementary school with bunch of Russian kids in her classes.

    Imagine you complete 12 classes 36 units in 12 months.
     

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