What is your experience about taking online courses for Master's or Bachelor's Degree while Deployed?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 15:33:25 -0500

I got orders to go back Deployed and I am planning to start a Master's Degree online while deployed.  I want to know experiences, feedback and how flexible were the professors. I am open for suggestions about Online Universities.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Dec 5 at 2013 3:41 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 15:41:08 -0500

Depends on the college, but my professors were very understanding and if asked for, I could receive an extension without costing points.

I used to take two 8-weeks courses at the same time, but cut back to one each 8-weeks so that I could retain some of the information I was receving.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Dec 5 at 2013 3:44 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 15:44:10 -0500

Best of luck with your master's program!

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 5 at 2013 3:48 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 15:48:19 -0500

I completed a few on-line classes towards my Bachelor's while I was deployed last time.  My professors were very understanding when something came up and I needed a few extra days.  Honestly, the only difficulty that I had at the time was reliable internet connection.  I was taking classes through American Military University.  Good luck with your Master's program!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 5:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:48:21 -0500

Wow, If you are deployed and got time to study for Masters or Bachelors then who is doing your duty ? lol when I was deployed (3times) I didn't have time to scratch my behind plus internet is slower than pond water. But good luck.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 9:40 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:40:13 -0500

It would drastically depend on the school you would be going to. I was taking classes with AMU. I had a great experience. I was able to file for extensions for my classes with ease. They are focused on military and have great classes. If you were to take online classes from a traditional school that offers online programs you may have trouble. They are set with timelines that are not flexible. My platoon would have busy weeks and slow weeks. If needed I could take a week off from classes but in a traditional schools online program that may hurt you in the end and affect your attendance.

Response by LTC Jason Bartlett made Dec 5 at 2013 11:45 PM

LTC Jason Bartlett — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 23:45:57 -0500

As long as you have a reliable connection (which I am sure you will) you will be good to go. I have no experience with AMU but I was a proctor for a few Soldiers (Infantry Unit) and it is very doable during a deployment. Good luck and stay safe.

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 6 at 2013 1:27 AM

SFC James Baber — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 01:27:17 -0500

SPC Santiago,

I completed my AA from AMU during my final deployment, and started my BA while between prepping for retirement, and deploying as a contractor, all with AMU. I am getting ready to roll into my MA in January and will again be deployed as a contractor. AMU is very flexible and military friendly whether active, reserve/NG or retired/veteran, and all their instructors/professor are very user friendly, many are ex-military, so they understand and sympathize with you, it will be fine, and you will have time.

Good luck and stay focused.

Response by CPT Daniel Walk, M.B.A. made Dec 6 at 2013 8:02 AM

CPT Daniel Walk, M.B.A. — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 08:02:10 -0500

SPC Lasey,

I am doing this now. I have had no problems meeting all my deadlines. I did change my course strategy. Between each class I take a couple weeks to read and outline the text as well as prepare my classroom discussions. My school only allows one Masters' class at a time.

During the sessions, I am able to pay more attention to the need to do all the research and prepare the assignments. It also ensures I have some time to hang out with my people.

I have had no issues working with my various instructors. They have been supportive. You will find a Masters' program easier to manage, even in the work is more intensive.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 1:08 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 13:08:37 -0500

It will depend on your Mission set and the class you are taking.

I had a light mission set on my deployment, and had time to teach the ASVAB improvement class (FAST) and take a Masters Level Information Systems class.

It will also come down to your instructor, and how flexible they are with you.

Good Luck!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2014 3:02 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 03:02:49 -0400

I am currently on my third deployment and second time taking online classes during it. Your mission will dictate taking classes, but I know for me AMU has been willing to help work with me and even grant extensions if needed. My goal is to finally finish my Bachelor's degree while here in AFG. I highly encourage you to go and try to do it!

Response by CMC Robert Young made Mar 10 at 2014 3:45 AM

CMC Robert Young — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 03:45:28 -0400

I got nothing but love from the professors at AMU while completing my first masters. They were extremely supportive particularly during high OP Tempo weeks. I would encourage you to do it. Manage your time and communicate with your instructors and you should do very well. Good luck.

Response by SSG Lisa Rendina made Mar 10 at 2014 7:06 PM

SSG Lisa Rendina — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 19:06:07 -0400

I worked on my Masters through Webster University while deployed. By-and-large the Professors were great and very understanding, but I suspect with most schools this will be the case. Take a look at what your workload is going to be for both the mission and the class (you can request the syllabus beforehand by contacting the Professor). Be upfront with your Professors, they are much more willing to work with you if they have advanced notice and you have kept them in the loop. Sometimes this means working ahead and turning in your assignments before they are due and sometimes you can be granted an extension. While I was deployed the server crashed and I lost my entire mid-term paper (around 25 pages), I immediately contacted the Professor who was understanding and just wanted it before the end of the term. Save early and save often, and to multiple spots! I also had a Professor who told the class we should add up all the hours we spent on class work and subtract that from the number of hours in a week to see how much time we had for "other things".

Response by SFC Brian Whisenant made Mar 10 at 2014 7:35 PM

SFC Brian Whisenant — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 19:35:19 -0400

First off, I'm glad to hear that a young Specialist is working towards a Master's Degree, congratulations. I can tell you that from my experience that completing college courses will depend on two things, the school and how much time you will actually have to devote to studies. I completed my 1st Associate's from Central Texas College during a deployment and to be honest it was fairly easy to find time to do the work.

Now, I understand that the workload for an AA is far different than what you will have to do for a Master's, but it is still doable. I'm currently working towards an MBA in Project Management from Columbia Southern University and couldn't be happier with the school. The courses are all self-paced so you have 10 weeks to complete eight weeks worth of class work. The best thing is you don't have to wait the full ten weeks to finish the class. There were several courses I finished within four weeks while working toward this degree as well as the Bachelor's.

Good Luck!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2014 9:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 09:25:44 -0400

Taking a Masters class in Finance was difficult for me because of my position as an FMST NCOIC. Had to go off base many times and it was hard to keep up with the class and all the research papers. Dpending on your position, you can take classes easily or not.

Karl

Response by 1SG Eric Rice made Apr 2 at 2014 9:32 AM

1SG Eric Rice — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 09:32:34 -0400

Each professor will handle things differently. That being said, most universities that have service members in attendance are pretty good about being flexible on assignments as long as you are not taking advantage of your situation. Good luck in your selection!

Response by SGT James McCue made Apr 2 at 2014 9:47 AM

SGT James McCue — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 09:47:51 -0400

I deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006, and I found any sort of online course was difficult. I had very limited access to internet, and what I did have usually had some time limit.

Today it might be different. I heard rumors there are some areas with wi-fi. Me personally, I would not attempt an online course on deployments for the fact that you may not know what you will be doing.

I have taken online classes while in the field stateside, and usually the professors were flexible with me. I did have one that tried to fight me because I could not submit an assignment due to the lack of internet access, but I called a few favors and got it corrected.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2014 12:47 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:47:41 -0400

It depends on the deployment, in 2003 I would have said no but in 2009 when I was used more as a fobbit, only making it outside the wire once or twice per month, I was able to attend and maintain a 4.0 all while excelling at my primary duties. Admittedly it took a lot and I was only taking one course at a time. I wasn't able to spend the hours on Xbox that my roommates did but I knocked out three classes. Make sure to talk to your professor prior to classes and alert them of the issues with your connection and that there could be a blackout if there's an incident. Also give yourself a tighter schedule than the school do that your assignments are turned in well before due. Another great option is correspondence as you don't need a computer with internet.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 5:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 17:44:08 -0400

SPC Santiago,

I completed my BA degree through Troy University and took many classes while deployed. You just need to let your professor know what is going on and they should work with you! Good luck!

Response by MSG Martin C. made Jun 1 at 2014 6:21 PM

MSG Martin C. — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 18:21:04 -0400

Depending on the school should not be any harder than your Baccalurates. My spouse is currently doing hers with Liberty and it's 100% online and she has no issues she actually thinks the professors are more lineant on the Masters program. I am enrolled in a dual program with Excelsior and it's great, I work shift work 12hrs a day 3 days on 2 off 2 on 3 off. And I get all my work done without any issues so deployment should not affect you exempt books if they are mailed you may get th a little late at times however if you plan ahead an contact the instructors you may get the list ahead of time to order tem. I wish you luck

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 8:01 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 20:01:17 -0400

I'm working towards my Master's through Liberty University Online. All of the professors have been extremely understanding and willing to work with me in regards to deadlines and the like. Good luck!

Response by MSG Bobby Ewing made Jun 3 at 2014 1:38 AM

MSG Bobby Ewing — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 01:38:25 -0400

SPC Santiago,

I congratulate you on continuing to pursue your a higher level of civilian education, earlier on in your career. As you make rank and obtain positions of greater responsibility, it gets more and more challenging, to pursue your education.

As for my experience working on a degree while deployed, I found it much more easier for me, because I didn't have the family factor involved, as much as not deployed. When not deployed, I had to balance my off-duty time with family and working on my classes. Family always came first and there was no time limit for family. I would normally spend time working on my classes from 2300-0200, majority of the time, because my kids and wife were all sleep and I wouldn't have distractions. While deployed, I was limited on the time with family due to time difference, and we had a pretty set schedule for our mission, so that made managing college work much easier. I took at least two classes at a time, per term, pending on mission requirements.

As far as online schools, I received my BS in General Psychology from Columbia Southern University (All degrees are online) and I'm pursuing my masters in Human Services Counseling-Life Coaching with Liberty University. Both schools are extremely military friendly and you will definitely be challenged with the workload, but you will learn a lot. I did. Hopefully this helps and kudos once again on working on your civilian education so early in your career.

Response by SGT Shontae Patsaricas made Jun 12 at 2014 3:58 PM

SGT Shontae Patsaricas — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 15:58:54 -0400

Hello SPC Lasey. My name is Shontae Beach and I am a Sr. Admissions Representative at American Military University. When I was deployed, taking classes online was up and coming, so I never had the opportunity to do so. Here at AMU, we are 100% online and our classes are set up to where you can log in and complete your coursework when you have time in your own schedule. There are no set log in times or dates, but you will have weekly assignments that you will have to submit before their due dates. I usually tell students to keep your professors in the loop. If you know you are going to be away from your computer, just let them know so they can work with you on your assignments. We also have things like course extensions that may be possible, but this must be approved by your professor. Please check out our official site at http://www.amu.apus.edu and use the Academics tab to explore our programs. If you have any questions, please let me know!

American Military University | Online Degrees & Certificates | Accredited

Official site of AMU. Top provider of online education to U.S. military. Degree and certificate programs. 65,000+ active-duty students. Tuition rates below TA.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Jun 13 at 2014 12:47 PM

SSG Mike Angelo — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 12:47:33 -0400

I took my Masters in Management, MSM and I am the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Graduate at Colorado Technical University Online. They flew me to Chicago and I gave a short speech at the annual Christmas Party.

"This is the first time I get to see the people behind the scene. From the Administrative Representatives to Finance and Accounting, Human Resources and Career people; Executive President and Chancellor. My experience with online higher education, was like a Verizon commercial, where there are many people behind you in you journey. The support was great. Thank you"

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Sep 6 at 2014 12:55 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 12:55:29 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I was at a small remote COP and had limited internet and resources available. I still passed with a 90%+ but it was difficult and had to let the professor know that our internet services in AFGN were limited to none. On larger FOBs you should be fine. Do take classes as time and mission permits. Take Care!

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2015 1:43 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:43:26 -0500

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Response by SPC Nate Lamphier made Mar 17 at 2015 12:20 PM

SPC Nate Lamphier — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:20:53 -0400

I started my masters degree (adaptive special education) while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. I went through Fort Hays State University (deployed out of Fort Riley). FHSU was excellent in working with me. Whether that was the professors or the folks in the Registrars Office to the Admissions folks....all were excellent and only a phone call away. Often times they would eliminate steps for me because they understood the difficulty in getting information to them. The professors were excellent in terms of working with me. Sometimes "war" overtook my academics and things happened outside of my control and they rolled with the punches with me.

Just a few things when selecting a college. Don't pick one because it is easy to either get into or to complete. Don't plan on having the Military as a career because things can obviously happen. Pick a reputable college that is always a fall back plan if the Military doesn't work out. By this I mean, you are going to be competing with people for jobs that have Ohio State University or a North Florida degree....if you show up with your "University of Georgia State Institution of Human Reproduction Technology"....whether you are the best person for the job, you won't get past the application segment because no one outside of the military has heard of that school. Not saying that is right but it is just how it is.

Also do your own research on a school/program. Career Counselors don't have all the answers and are going to prefer you to go to a school that they are comfortable with. Don't settle for what they want!

If you have more questions feel free to contact me. Good luck and happy studies!

Response by PO2 Todd Voge made Apr 29 at 2016 10:24 AM

PO2 Todd Voge — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:24:35 -0400

I teach at Concordia University, St. Paul, MN as an adjunct. While I didn't get my degrees while I was in the military, I have taught a number of deployed individuals in my nearly 15 years as an Adjunct. I've found that at least at Concordia, the instructors are very good at working with people (not just military) who have extenuating circumstances. I've had a number of times where a student had to deploy and changed time zones and couldn't make our weekly online chats. We worked around that with other assignments. We've also worked around not being able to finish a module due to deployment by giving In-Progress grades to allow the student to get back to the class when able. I feel that there are many universities out there that would be willing to work with you. You just need to make sure you ask.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 10:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:36:02 -0400

I earned my Master's degree from University of Phoenix. I did all of the course work in my off duty hours. I probably dedicated no more than 6 to 8 hours a week to it. The best advice I can give is to let the instructor know you're in the military and tell them about any mission requirements that can delay you from completing assignments in advance. Most instructors will work with you and it won't affect your grades.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Apr 29 at 2016 10:51 AM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 10:51:56 -0400

I attempted to do this as far back as 2002 when I was deployed to Saudi. It started out well as I had a regular 12 hour office shift, affording me the time to work on my Masters. Unfortunately, I volunteered to forward deploy (unfortunately for my quest to finish the course... I wanted to get out of Saudi and get downrange), and was subsequently selected to go to Bagram. My days essentially changed from a 12 hour desk job to a constant 18 hour day moving all over the base to troubleshoot connectivity for the Air Force and liaison with the Army providers.

My professor and the school were very accommodating though and despite the fact I crossed over the drop/add period before I left for Afghanistan, they still allowed me to drop the course and refunded 100% of my tuition payment.

I say go for it as you never will know what other military requirements will come up and prevent you from continuing. My Masters took a little longer because of extended TDY and deployment taskings along the way. For my thesis I hoped to stay local long enough to finish it up but I was PCSed to another stated and didn't get to do some of the things I really wanted to do. Still, I got it done and I was much more satisfied with how much easier it was (for me) to get a masters vs my bachelors.

Response by LCpl Chad Parson made Apr 29 at 2016 11:01 AM

LCpl Chad Parson — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:01:10 -0400

I have not taken online courses personally, though my wife has through LSU and they were pretty flexible with start/end dates, when tasks and assignments were due, etc... In general though I wouldn't recommend taking online courses through any school that isn't focused on online education and doesn't have a solid track record of making it work. I teach in a university system that has been trying to implement online courses for a while now, and the student experience is very hit or miss. It sounds like AMU is the way to go since they are not only experienced with online education, but are focused on providing educational opportunities to active duty military. That sounds like a win-win to me.

Response by SGT Chaz Wellington made Apr 29 at 2016 11:07 AM

SGT Chaz Wellington — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:07:51 -0400

The only fall - back is not being able to fully participate at times. The professor will likely give you much leniency, but there are times where you way take away from the discussions and other items to be completed as class groups.

Response by Maj William W. 'Bill' Price made Apr 29 at 2016 11:08 AM

Maj William W. 'Bill' Price — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:08:07 -0400

I recently completed an online Masters with the University of Fairfax (UoF, http://www.ufairfax.edu/) in 2013. My key criterion was credit I could receive for either work experience or other completed education (e.g. certifications, etc). If you find the right program for you, fellowships are granted to help knock down overall tuition cost (as was the case for me). If you are looking for an IT or cyber-related program, take a peek at the UoF online Information Security Analysis program. Some of my classmates were working from Israel and Europe. They did not seem to have any issues. Good luck!

University of Fairfax

Use the Cybersecurity Education Path to advance your cybersecurity career by following in the footsteps of successful University of Fairfax students and alumni. You will see the senior positions that our alumni hold at major federal, corporate and academic employers, as well as the path they followed to advance their careers.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 11:11 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:11:18 -0400

When I was doing my master's at VT I was able to take my classes while in Afghanistan. I just let them know that there was a potential for technical difficulties because we had live classes. If that is the case for you and you don't mind being awake at 2:30 in the morning to attend a lecture, then it will be OK.

Response by SSG Ricky Findley made Apr 29 at 2016 11:23 AM

SSG Ricky Findley — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:23:57 -0400

I have had the opportunity to take a college class while deployed, and earn a Master's degree online. Understand, any class is time intensive and it was extremely challenging doing just an undergraduate course in theater. I often worked 12-hour shifts, then had to go to the computer lab to take tests or write papers, so the process is exhausting. I did get an A though. That being said, I pursued my Associates, Bachelors and Masters programs when I returned. All of them involved a ton of writing, so from a time management perspective, you may want to keep that in mind. In terms of the Masters program, I actually had to take a sabbatical from my civilian job after I got back to write the thesis, which was over 200 pages over 7 weeks. Only you will know what you are able to deal with in terms of deadlines and stress, so there is something to be said for pushing yourself too far. My viewpoint is that I had one chance to do it, that it was going to be a reflection of me for the rest of my life, so I had better get it right the first time. I had that philosophy for both the deployment and the college work. In terms of your other question, I would steer clear of any for-profit institution such as Colorado Tech or Keller Graduate School of Management. There are several reputable nonprofit institutions such as Southern New Hampshire, Liberty University or even Gonzaga that offer online Masters programs. If you have not chosen a university yet, you may want to thoroughly vet your choices to see what is right for you. I wish you the best of success and if you have any questions or would like further advice, please don't hesitate to contact me. Remember, the journey to accomplish what you want to do will be extremely difficult, but the payoff and feeling of walking across that stage at the end and getting your Masters hood is not like anything else you will experience. It is and will be worth your best effort. Good luck to you SGT, and thank you for your service!

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Apr 29 at 2016 12:12 PM

CPO Andy Carrillo, MS — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:12:54 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I completed a hybrid BS degree and a 3-yr brick-and-mortar MS program, with additional coursework completely online. I preferred online work given my personality and learning styles--small group drama averse and self-motivated researcher with excellent writing skills. What will be your field of study?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 12:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:22:45 -0400

I completed courses while deployed as an MP who worked 12 hour shifts. It was hard but I managed my time, invested in energy drinks and didn't complain. It can be done if that's what you want and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Just ensure your military duties don't slip because mission does come first.

Response by CSM William DeWolf made Apr 29 at 2016 12:39 PM

CSM William DeWolf — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:39:39 -0400

Don't let deployment sway you from your goals. Just be sure to select a good, accredited online program.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 2:20 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 14:20:27 -0400

Everyone here seems to love AMU. I'm currently deployed and I took a graduate course with Liberty University while I was here. The professors are very understanding and the school is very military friendly, offering all sorts of discounts and benefits to veterans and their spouses.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2016 2:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 14:44:20 -0400

Depending on the school. CSU allows plenty of time to turn in assignments. Acrive duty has no due dates weekly and even if you know you cant get the course completed by the end date you just call and they give you the time you need. Very military friendly. Love them.

Response by LTC Terrence Farrier, PhD made Apr 29 at 2016 7:32 PM

LTC Terrence Farrier, PhD — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 19:32:00 -0400

I have found that the University may be supportive, but what really matters is how flexible your professor is willing to be. I had to chase a satellite on a SAT phone on one of my deployments and I had 5-10 minutes tops to stay connected when the requirement was a once a week cohort discussion.

Response by SCPO Joshua I made Apr 29 at 2016 9:22 PM

SCPO Joshua I — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 21:22:59 -0400

Depends on what "deployed" means. If it's Qatar or somewhere that you're working a 9 to 5 and have good internet, you probably can. If you're like me on a ship working 20 hours a day with internet connectivity that isn't so good, I know I was never able to do any while underway.

I have completed a masters while technically "deployed", but right now I'm not on a ship I'm on shore duty and have time to do it.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 30 at 2016 3:41 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 03:41:46 -0400

One of what I'm fairly certain is among the most svc friendly online programs is http://www.excelsior.edu in Albany NY that split off and privatized from NY state govt. I got a 2nd Bach math from them based on GRE subject tests and a friend of mine got his Bach in math then got into one of the OCS programs based on it. Look also at http://www.uopeople.edu which I'd read is apparently nearly free other than admin and exam costs no tuition evidently being a nonprofit they just got accredited by DETC formerly NHSC though I don't know how the svcs or industry view them yet, they have Assoc and Bach in bus admin and comp sci and just added an MBA I don't know what other majors degrees they'll have or if they might go doctoral eventually though I think I'd heard they might well worth a look I thought, hope was useful many thanks .

Excelsior College, an online college with degree programs, courses and exams in Business, Technology, Nursing, Liberal Arts, Health Sciences and Public Service.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 30 at 2016 3:43 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 03:43:49 -0400

Jus wondered what field, and with what objective(s) if you might be able to elaborate at all, the more you explain, the more advice might be possible, just a thought many thanks.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Apr 30 at 2016 9:05 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 09:05:19 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member - Checking back to see if you were able to go ahead with online educational courses while deployed as yr original post mentioned. Yr insights might help others who are considering the same thing. I know a number of people who obtained Master Degrees online and have done well.

Response by SCPO Penny Douphinett made Apr 30 at 2016 10:16 PM

SCPO Penny Douphinett — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 22:16:04 -0400

I was in the middle of a semester taking a full load of courses when I was called to deploy. I was able to make arrangements with all my classes to finish them independently by semester's end through readings and e-mail with the professor's. Of course it didn't go smoothly and I needed an extension due to my responsibilities. I had no problems with 4 of the 5 classes. I still laugh when I think the one professor who failed me was for a class on women's studies!

I also took two 8-week long classes while deployed with no problems. My advice is just don't set yourself up for failure - be realistic about what you can accomplish and then have at it!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2016 11:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 23:22:54 -0400

I completed my Masters online while on specialized missions and things of that nature. Before any class would start, I'd let my teacher know that I'm in the military and explain everything and they were pretty flexible.

Response by MAJ Patrick Hairston CISSP, AWS Certified Cloud Architect made May 1 at 2016 12:12 AM

MAJ Patrick Hairston CISSP, AWS Certified Cloud Architect — Sun, 01 May 2016 00:12:37 -0400

I started my masters while in Afghanistan. Webster University is the best.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made May 1 at 2016 1:36 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 01 May 2016 01:36:04 -0400

The BIGGEST thing is to only go to an accredited program, eg. USC for social work, Arizona State, etc...

Stay away from the "colleges" that are for profit, not accredited, etc. You will end up just throwing money and effort away...

The other thing is it is very deployment dependent. Where you are, what you are doing, what your connectivity is, etc... You may not be able to meet all your requirements in a timely manner, and you need to make sure all of your work, Army classes (whatever kinds of programs the Army makes you take for qualifications, promotion, professional education etc) take precedence... No sense getting a lousy performance review because you put the college work as a priority...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2016 7:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 May 2016 19:49:29 -0400

I completed my Master's degree last year and it was completely online. It took me 15 months but I was taking two classes at a time and I wasn't deployed. I'm not sure how it would be unfortunately but my professors were understanding that I was active duty. I went through Walden University. Good luck

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2016 10:54 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 May 2016 10:54:40 -0400

I completed my Bachelor's when I was deployed to Afghanistan. The connection was the major issue, but my instructors understood. It depends on you job too. I spent a lot of "sleeping" hours doing work when I wasn't on patrol. You need to make sure the school is willing to work with you as sometimes you have blackout times due to an incident that is out of your control. I went through Kansas State University and they were great and understanding. I am currently going to Arizona State University for my master's and they have been understanding as well. I would recommend only taking a couple classes at a time depending on the class. You have a lot of "down" time on deployment, but it also depends on where you're deployed too. Just talk to you instructors and the school prior to finalizing any classes and get their take on it. Good luck, glad to see other NCO's stepping up and taking their time to better themselves and the corps!

Response by Lt Col Jim Vasconcellos made May 2 at 2016 6:50 PM

Lt Col Jim Vasconcellos — Mon, 02 May 2016 18:50:22 -0400

I got my MA OL from Brandman. Had a guy in one of my online classes who was deployed to Afghanistan. We did a group project together with two others (one in Seattle, other in Hawaii, I am in OC, CA). No problems. We just had to deal with the time zones. You can do it if you are not on a FOB. If you are in a HQ, you should be fine. Most schools will delay if you need it.

Response by SFC Bhrett Sikkema made May 4 at 2016 3:05 PM

SFC Bhrett Sikkema — Wed, 04 May 2016 15:05:28 -0400

I have completed a Bachelors and a Master on line and started the process while still on active duty. What you have asked is the perfect way to find out which schools have worked for others while deployed. Do not limit yourself to the AMUs and Phoenixes of the world. Many main stream universities are now running on line degree programs. I received a Masters of Professional Studies in Security and Safety Leadership from George Washington University completely online.

Response by SPC Troy Reynolds made May 5 at 2016 1:53 AM

SPC Troy Reynolds — Thu, 05 May 2016 01:53:24 -0400

Most of my master's was online, and I lived 3 miles from the university at the time. Even "brick and mortar" classes use majority online components these days and only meet in person roughly every 3rd or 4th class day.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2016 3:29 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 May 2016 15:29:03 -0400

I finished my master's online, while deployed, the professor 's where very helpful and worked with me on more than one occasion. I say go for it, just understand mission first and be prepared for spotty internet service, good luck

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2016 11:43 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 May 2016 11:43:47 -0400

I earned my Associates and Bachelors while on deployment, it is very do able. The issues you will run into are mostly technology based. I was extremely happy to have fast Internet for proxy tests. If you lose connection you might as well be cheating. Also another real possibility is a comms blackout...sad times trying to explain the situation 2 weeks after your class ended. Either way you look at it, it boils down to if you are willing to put in the time and energy after hours to accomplish your goals. Keep your head down while you are deployed.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2016 3:03 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 May 2016 15:03:33 -0400

It all depends on what you are doing on your deployment. I have heard some people who find it is easier to finish their classes because the job they have is light, but on the flip side I have seen people who are determined to go through classes and only got about 3 hours of sleep a night because they were taking hard classes and had a tough work schedule. Each situation is different and you will have to war game it for sure. But good luck to you on your deployment and your school.

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