Anyone done graduate level courses online?

[Halfasianmomma]

I've finally enrolled in an online program I like, but I'll be taking a graduate level program, which frightens me a great deal. The courses are 3 credits but 30 weeks long, which is twice the length of an undergraduate course. It's been YEARS since I've been in school (like, um, 10 years), so I don't know what to expect from graduate level work.

Anyone have pointers for me.

I'm scared!

[jessemoon]

I'm currently taking online coursework through New Mexico State University for my PhD. I was really nervous about the online portion of the program (there is a face to face component as well). So far....so good. It is actually pretty flexible. I was afraid of procrastinating, but we are accountable to each other, so that hasn't been a problem. It doesn't feel like a regular face-to-face class, but it isn't bad.

[sparklett]

Grad courses online aren't that bad at all. This could just be my school, but I've found that grad courses have more writing and more group work. It's definitely different than when I went in-person, but it's fine. Still very worthwhile.

30 weeks is a l-o-n-g time to complete a course, so you'll have plenty of time to get adjusted. In grad school, 1 unit in a semester program usually equals 4 hours of work per week. Your program is nearly double a typical semester, so 1 unit might be equivalent to 2-3 hours of work per week, so you can expect to spend 6-9 hours a week on a class. Not too bad at all.

Congrats on going to grad school and good luck!

[FairyMe]

Originally Posted by sparklett

Grad courses online aren't that bad at all. This could just be my school, but I've found that grad courses have more writing and more group work.

I just finished my MBA in April. I took most of my classes on campus and only 1 online. It was actually not bad at all, until we got down to the group assignments. Doing group assignments online was such a challenge. One guy did nothing at all and one lady completely plagiarized her portion. The next team member and I had to scramble to put a decent paper together and let the instructor know what had happened (they both failed the course). For this reason alone I stayed away from online classes for the rest of the program. Grad school (IMO) incorporates more group work than undergrad. I love working independently and if you're like that you have to mentally prepare yourself going in, that you may have to pick up the slack of the other teams memebrs. I've found that 2 out of 4 times you will have a lazy team member or two.

Good luck

[Lisa1970]

My children have each taken some online high school courses, they love it. They can work ahead and all at that level, which they did.

My younger sister is taking some online graduate courses now. She seems to love it too. She keeps telling me I should go back and finish my masters. I would love to, but just cannot see doing it because I have 2 children going to college in 3 years and feel I need to save the money for them.

Good luck!

[jlpumkin]

I'll just be honest here and say that adjusting to online course work has been a bit difficult for me. As far as being Grad level everything thus far has focused on research and writing BUT not having the instant feedback (or sometimes any) from the instructor has been a major adjustment. I didn't realize how much I had depended upon that instant validation of whether I was on the right track or not. I've been working a couple of weeks at my first class and I am definitely adjusting but it wasn't something that I was prepared for. Of course your needs and experience will vary.