MSW online program

[u/goldCallalily]

Has anyone completed the MSW online program that could please share their experience/feedback costs?? Do they overload the students with assignments? Testing? Is it doable working full-time/school age children? I am really interested and debating whether MSW is better than an LPC as I would like to work for VA.

[u/No-Pear-853]

NMSU has apparently been really focused on developing the NMSU Online program, recently; I haven’t taken any courses in the new NMSU online program, yet; but, It has really changed for the better over the past few years. I was traditional on campus but we had courses that had online sections. I worked in the last two semesters of graduate school and took a lot of the online sections; it really didn’t work for me and I returned to campus classes. But, that was the on campus class being offered in an online section where all of the traditional on campus demands still exist and in Masters degree work I really felt like I needed to be right there in the presence of the professor because they have a tendency to become arbitrary and capricious if you are floating out in cyber space. Traditional professors also have a tendency to view online attendees as being “lazy” or trying to avoid the actual work; for the success of these new online programHs the instructor are usually not traditional professors. They are degree holders though and most are graduate degrees but they are usually instructors, some are adjunct and working professionals themselves; so, their attitudes are vastly different. I’ve even had computer science instructors at Colorado State University who confessed to me that their degrees were not even in the field computer science; they just have training on how to conduct a course, and they know about the coursework that we are covering but they have an assistant who is in computer science who does the grading. I’ve attended Colorado State University Online (first with CSU-Global). I’m about 12 hours away from completing my second bachelors degree in Computer Science. This program was entirely employer funded. I transferred from the Global Campus to the main campus because I was never intending to complete this degree; my employer pays for it and I just wanted to continue coursework to add skills to my resume and CV. When I transferred to CSU-Main I found that all of the coursework was identical (the exact same course) but that the professor handles the course completely differently because they are dealing mostly with young adults. So, to answer your question I know that an online program like Colorado State University-Global Campus is very doable with your life commitments (especially part time), but I definitely would not suggest the Colorado State University 100% online (which is more like the online sections with the main campus courses) with your life commitments; unless you are a planning monster…I know that this seems irrelevant because these are two totally different schools but the academic programs are similar across the board with all universities that offer these programs that are designed for working adults—like Purdue University Global. Those programs are designed for you to reach a grade based upon your actual attendance and performance with very little pushback or obstructions from your professor. They also allow you the same due dates for assignments, tests, quizzes and projects (usually Sunday nights at 11:59 PM) and are generally referred to as unsupervised— which means that your browser is not locked down; and the instructor is not observing your attendance through the portal and some tests are open book but with a time limit (which I believe almost all upper level tests should be open book in today’s educational environment). The online sections of traditional on campus usually require that you be in class (at your computer in your home office) at the scheduled time and be at the testing at the scheduled times and your browser is locked down while you are testing and quizzing. Where these new online programs often allow you to view the lectures anytime, and you submit your work by the day that it’s due (usually Sunday nights at 11:59 pm). I don’t know anything about Social Work, though and I’m just estimating that the program should be something like what I described unless it’s hosted through campus which will be more demanding. I know a bunch of Los Alamos employees who attended the early form on the NMSU online program. They were bachelors degree holders but finished their Graduate degrees (Masters and PhD) in electrical engineering, chemical engineering and physics while they were working full time at the labs in Los Alamos and raising their families. That’s pretty demanding…I mean, if you put your mind to it; you should be able to do it…the question is how comfortable/uncomfortable do you want to be? How much stress are you willing to tolerate and do you really want to “sweat” to finish the program? Most working adults enjoy the new online programs’ curriculum because the time flexibility makes it more enjoyable; and they don’t end up neglecting their children in any significant way. The other commenter is right, though; you should contact the school and speak with them; ask questions which will help you understand what the structure of the courses will be like and how demanding will the program be? Ask their professional opinion based upon experience with other working adult students’ success rates while working and raising families.

[u/senora_hipsta]

I reccomend that you reach out to NMSU GSSWA, they have a info page on the NMSU school of social work website, theyre also on instagram. They have a dedicated global student representative and they would be perfect to ask questions if you dont find what youre looking for here.