Workload at AMU/APU for grad History courses...

Can anyone tell me the average workload (reading assignments, papers, and exams) for grad History courses at AMU/APU? I remember a thread from some time ago but I cannot find it. Thanks for any feedback.

 

Funny you should ask, I'm taking a class with them right now. I'm taking an 8 week course (not many left, most are 16 week) and this is the breakdown of requirements:

1. Assigned readings varying from 20 to 150 pages a week. We have one text for this class and use several external sources such as articles, etc. Other classes do have many more texts and I'd assume the weekly reading assignments might be greater.

2. Six 300 word postings plus citations answering a thought provoking question regarding the readings (one per week except for the weeks when the essays are due)

3. We also must respond to our classmates posts and it is expected that our responses will have depth

4. One 5-7 page essay

5. One 9-11 page essay

Hope this helps. This is my first class at AMU. I'll be taking 3 more in the fall. (I can go full-time.) The general rule of thumb is one 3 credit class requires 10 - 12 hours of outside work. I found that in the classes I've taken previously at another school, I need less than 10 hours but some people might need more.

 

Hello, Ron Dotson! Got your PM. Sent the replies. But, for the benefit of the entire board, I'll pass the info here too. You can expect about 1,000 pages of reading and 30 pages of writing for each grad course. You might be thinking of these old threads http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19421 and http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19467.

 

I just found this in the student handbook. Hopefully this helps!

Graduate Courses Requirements
During an average week, a graduate student should expect to spend 10 - 15 hours completing coursework for a 16-week course, and 18 - 22 hours completing coursework (including reading) for an 8-week course.

While each course is unique, general requirements include all or some of the following: at least 1200 - 1500 pages of required reading (75 - 100 pages per week, not to include reading for research), book reviews, substantive participation in the online classroom discussions, critical essays or other written projects, a research paper, and a final examination. Each course represents a significant workload which, when combined with personal and professional schedules, requires diligent application of time management skills.

 

Thanks....

Thanks for the great information! I really appreciate the feedback!

Ron

 

How many courses at once?

I'm considering registering at AMU for a MA in Military History. They will probably accept 6 transfer units, leaving me with 30-unit requirement. I want to go through the program as quickly as I can due to GI Bill eligibility limitations, and wonder if it's possible to double or triple up on the 16-week courses. For example, if I took three 16-week courses at the same time, I could have 27 units completed with a year (48 weeks). Does this sound reasonable or am I really reaching here? I will be fully retired in about 2 months so time isn't really an issue for me.

Comments?

 

You could always stagger the courses by a month or two so you don't have your major papers all due at the same time. When I was taking 8 week undergrad courses at AMU I would start them four weeks apart. I would still be taking two at a time but they were offset by four weeks so my research papers were not due at the same time.

 

I have three 16-week classes this semester. The workload is doable but I don't work. It takes about 30 hours a week for me. If you work full time, I wouldn't consider 3 classes. Even not working, I'm only going to take 2 classes in the spring.