Fort Hays State University : Master of Liberal Studies Reviews
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on May 8, 2012
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Affordable and relevant, though a bit inconsistent
Completed the MLS in 2009; the coursework was relevant, and as it's a lot of guided study is what you make of it. The degree has paid for itself several times over in 3 years; helped win a promotion at work, and have since landed a new Exec-level job, though having to explain what MLS from the "presitigious FHSU" (wink wink) was to an interview panel of VPs was interesting.
If you're looking for a Masters Degree from an accredited, bricks-and-mortar school (vs. an online mill or for-profit mill), if you're paying for it on your own, or if don't have the GPA for a highly selective school, FHSU may be a good fit. If you need spoon-fed courses and prefer the cachet of a bigger school, look elsewhere.
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Anonymous
(Graduate) on September 1, 2011
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Master's in Information Assurance
I completed my Master’s degree in Information Assurance at Fort Hays State in the Fall of 2010. I looked at a number of different programs, but as a full-time employee chose Fort Hays because it was affordable, allowed for a flexible
schedule, and most importantly to me, is certified by the NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance. While attending, I was able to earn my CISSP—a goal I had long sought but could not have attained without the education I received from my Information Assurance coursework. There were two Linux classes I wish I wouldn't have taken because they weren't challenging enough, but all the other coursework was plenty demanding. By the end I was so tired of writing papers and reading textbooks I swore I was done with school for good. Anyone who says it's a diploma mill must have had very different professors in a different program because that certainly isn't the case with Information Assurance. The Liberal Arts requirements themselves are quite demanding, and me thinks the people who complain about there insignificance are the same people that complain about the insignificance of History, English, and any other Liberal
Arts discipline. For what it's worth, most of my classes started with 10-15 students, but slowly dwindled as the semester wore on. There were only three Information Assurance students in my graduating class. Make no mistake, you will have to earn your degree!
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Anonymous
(In Progress) on May 5, 2009
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Not a Diploma Mill but getting there
Fort Hays State University has strengths and weaknesses. The strengths are that the courses are more inexpensive than most university courses. Online courses can be a great way for someone to get their degree who works fulltime and has a family. Like a lot of things, you get out of it what you put into it. If you just want to get a master's degree for advancement and are a very independent learner, FHSU may suit your needs. If you're looking for quality, to learn something, and be in a supportive academic environment -- I'd give FHSU a pass.
FHSU is a "real" university and accredited and it has gone into online education in a big way. It has increased it's online degree programs and it's online courses. Course sizes are often large, especially for a master's degree program--with 25 to 35 students. Do not expect quality feedback from your professors or your phone calls or emails returned.
For Fall 2009 courses, it is typical of FHSU. Course schedules are not fully posted and it is May and pre-registration has been going on for some time. Fall 2009 core courses are still being approved. I am not talking about FHSU approving extra sections after the first ones were full -- they did not list initial core courses! If you wish to register for classes that you need you will find that they are not listed. You cannot ask your adviser (who has a truckload of students to advise) because they do not know any more than you do. The courses may or may not be added. Since FHSU is also closing it's campus doors during summer 2009, it seems that FHSU is more concerned with cutting costs rather than helping out students or even making it easy for students to sign up for the courses they need.
Courses may be taught by someone who is an adjunct/visiting instructor (without a Ph.D.) who is not actually at FHSU because FHSU farms out it's courses.
Although FHSU gives little support, it's computer system Blackboard may be down for days at a time, and you may not be able to get answers from anyone (FHSU unlike most "real" universities is closing this summer though it's online courses will still be available) -- the student is still expected to turn in assignments on time, dot every "i" and cross every "t" --this can be very frustrating.
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