Posted on Feb 5, 2014
Looking for some Masters Degree program suggestions/advice.
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Have BA in History, no desire to be a teacher.
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 12
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Columbia Southern University is really great for Graduate programs, very friendly staff, and the professors are true professionals. I completed my MBA while serving as a 1SG so the work load wasn't too difficult. Also, TA covers course costs enough to complete six courses a year and books are free for Military, good luck.
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1SG (Join to see)
Battle you the prize for best info yet. While I did not want to focus on the dollars and cents, it is a factor. I will be checking them in a few, while I'm in-processing here I have more free time than I've had in years. You were smart to go ahead and knock it out while still on AD, I plan on getting as much as possible done in the year I have left, but will probably not be done. Thanks again for the great info.
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SFC (Join to see)
I currently attend Columbia Southern University. Like 1SG Rink said, they're very user-friendly and the work load isn't too much to bear. They've even worked with me in the past in getting extensions to course deadlines if I had something come up that was going to make it difficult to meet a suspense for them.
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1SG,
It really will be driven by what you decide you want/need your degree to be in. That said, UMUC has a wide variety of Master's degrees, as well as an established path for dual Masters of whatever/MBA.
If you JUST want the degree, and don't care what, as a History type, looking into Norwich's Masters in Mil History might be a lot of fun.
It really will be driven by what you decide you want/need your degree to be in. That said, UMUC has a wide variety of Master's degrees, as well as an established path for dual Masters of whatever/MBA.
If you JUST want the degree, and don't care what, as a History type, looking into Norwich's Masters in Mil History might be a lot of fun.
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1SG,
You can not go wrong with a Masters in Project Management or a Masters in Business Administration (Insert focus here). The MBA lists a number of different concentrations to tailor to what you may want to do in post Army life. Another good thing about most MBAs is that the original course line is exactly the same and you don't have to decide until after the 6 basic courses on where you should direct your concentration. Like a lot of those who have commented below, I too am a student of Columbia Southern University. I completed my Bachelors with them and have opted to stick with them for my Masters. Very easy to work with, option for extensions if work ends up interfering with completion date, and a dedicated staff to ensure your success.
Whatever you chose, good luck. I have noticed a drastically different course load across the handful of classes I have taken on the graduate level.
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Suspended Profile
1SG Jim W,
What kind of history did you study?
Would you be interested in working for US Department of State? Then check out their website and take the Foreign Service Exam. They have their own intel group known as INR - if general State Deparment Stuff doesn't bear interest for you maybe intel does?
Would you be interested in CIA either analyst at headquarters or traveling? Same story check out their website.
FBI, NSA, DIA, etc - you get my drift?
There are a lot of opportunities for using the skills acquired with BA plus military service: reading, writing, analysis etc that all of the intel orgs want and need.
Keep in mind people rather often find themselves employed outside their degree field. Indeed most people are employed outside their degree field.
My advice is to check out alternative employment opportunities rather than pursuing an advanced degree where you don't already have passion for these graduate degree programs yet.
Then again, SFC Baber has a point, the MBA / Masters Public Administration can be a help in getting management job. But, is is worth two years to earn?
Warmest Regards, Sandy
What kind of history did you study?
Would you be interested in working for US Department of State? Then check out their website and take the Foreign Service Exam. They have their own intel group known as INR - if general State Deparment Stuff doesn't bear interest for you maybe intel does?
Would you be interested in CIA either analyst at headquarters or traveling? Same story check out their website.
FBI, NSA, DIA, etc - you get my drift?
There are a lot of opportunities for using the skills acquired with BA plus military service: reading, writing, analysis etc that all of the intel orgs want and need.
Keep in mind people rather often find themselves employed outside their degree field. Indeed most people are employed outside their degree field.
My advice is to check out alternative employment opportunities rather than pursuing an advanced degree where you don't already have passion for these graduate degree programs yet.
Then again, SFC Baber has a point, the MBA / Masters Public Administration can be a help in getting management job. But, is is worth two years to earn?
Warmest Regards, Sandy
1SG (Join to see)
Good thoughts, I had not considered those options much as they are out of my norm. I also am limiting myself geographically by planning to stay in the Fort Knox area. Not as many of the lettered agencies in that area, but family ties to that area are very strong, hoping for the mythical GS 59 job that pays well and requires little. In all seriousness, my logistical background, management experience as a 1SG and work ethic should get my foot in the door, just thinking about an advanced degree to increase my chances.
Thanks for the thought provoking response,
Jim
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LTC (Join to see)
1SG - with a background in logistics…why not a MS in Logistics Management? I got mine from the Florida Institute of Technology and I'm sure they will give you credit for a lot of the schools you've been to already, which will result in having to take less courses.
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1SG (Join to see)
Sir,
Thought about something similar through Embry-Riddle, just trying to make the best possible choice and not narrow the focus too much.
Thanks,
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Brandman University. They have a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership that allows Senior NCOs, Warrant Officers, and commissioned officers to complete the degree with only 7 classes. It is offered completely online. I had started my MBA (at Southern New Hampshire University) but realized I would NEVER use it, so I looked in to Brandman. The terms are 8 weeks long so a motivated individual can finish pretty quickly. I started in September 2013 and will be graduating in May 2014. (I took 2 classes the first term, 3 the second, 1 this term, and I start my capstone project/class in early March.)
The only reason that I started the graduate school journey is because I started teaching in the allied health department at a community college. While it wasn't required, they strongly encouraged me to get a master's degree. Since I was hired to teach medical assisting based on my military career, they really weren't concerned with the discipline of my graduate degree. It just looks good to have one.
I would also strongly encourage anyone seeking a graduate degree to find a school that is regionally accredited. Some of the schools that have been mentioned in this thread may have great programs, but some civilian employers require this type of accreditation rather than national accreditation (Distance Education & Training Council or DETC).
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<p>1SG,</p><p><br></p><p>The 1st question I would ask is what are your intentions after you get the degree, further study or do you plan on using it within your current career or post military?</p><p><br></p><p>From what I have seen, if you are planning on GS work, you need at least a Master's to be competitive for any GS-9 or above position, a Bachelors don't cut it no more, that is why I am going forward with my MA currently.</p><p><br></p><p>Good luck.</p>
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1SG (Join to see)
Thanks, thinking post-Army. I have about a year, as soon as I drop the paperwork of course, so I want to get as much done through TA as possible. Absolutely don't want an MBA, or Education, but the Homeland Security type stuff may be a little too specific for anything outside of the DOD. That's why I'm seeking some suggestions.
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SFC James Baber
I am actually doing the Homeland Security for my MA, as the field is ever expanding currently and it is the type of degree that you can practically go anywhere within the Government sector with it because of the diversity within the arena for just about any agency.
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It all depends if you are looking for something job related or career after the Army. If you are looking for the catch all major that will aide you in both your current job and for the life after, shoot for an MBA. No matter what job you are doing or looking for, an MBA stands out. What you learn there is not just about business, it is about people management (leadership) in ways the military does not (at least in my day) teach you. All the things you do as a 1SG, including budgets, people, scheduling, and more are key factors in an MBA. For the future, a sub-specialty in Information Technology or Management Information Systems does not hurt. Good Luck. And don't worry about being the old guy at some Grad Schools, I had a 20 year gap between my BA and MS-Management of Technology (a high tech MBA) and the "kids" had no problem with me.
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Alcon,
Finally back on RP after a long hiatus. I appreciate all the input, so of course I did something completely different, as a former 1SG I reserve the right to be a hard-head. I just today received my grades for my final AD class, an A, that gives me a 3.5 GPA. Liberty University is who I chose, partially because of financial reasons; TA covered all tuition, and the post-retirement cost is the same. As a Southern Baptist I also lean very heavily toward their vision. I am taking Break from school now as I get close to retirement and want to devote my energies to job-hunting in the Knox area. Thanks again for all the great suggestions and if y'all know of a job at Knox....
Finally back on RP after a long hiatus. I appreciate all the input, so of course I did something completely different, as a former 1SG I reserve the right to be a hard-head. I just today received my grades for my final AD class, an A, that gives me a 3.5 GPA. Liberty University is who I chose, partially because of financial reasons; TA covered all tuition, and the post-retirement cost is the same. As a Southern Baptist I also lean very heavily toward their vision. I am taking Break from school now as I get close to retirement and want to devote my energies to job-hunting in the Knox area. Thanks again for all the great suggestions and if y'all know of a job at Knox....
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Make sure if you are going into the mental health field that the degree program is CACREP accredited if you want to work with military or veterans. I will be graduating from Adams State University next Spring and they have a great program, I love the professors, education and reputation.
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You have a few good options that folks have already mentioned. One degree that I have seen yield great post military benefits is that of homeland defense. I have worked with a couple of folks who retired and were able to get great jobs with NSA, FBI, CIA, etc. If you do chose an MBA, make sure you specialize. MBAs are becoming a dime a dozen because they were all the rage a few years back, and saturated the job market. If you do shoot for an MBA, look at getting a certification in project management. Just my two cents.
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