Pennsylvania State University World Campus Reviews
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Certificate Programs:
Turfgrass Management
Basic Supervisory Leadership
Online IST (Information Sciences and Technology)
(1)
Adult Development and Aging Services
Business Management
(1)
Children, Youth,&Family Services
Communications Studies
(1)
Family Literacy
Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management Professional Development
Human Resources
(1)
Information Sciences and Technology
(1)
Labor Studies and Industrial Relations
Marketing Management
Retail Management I
Retail Management II
Turfgrass Management
Advanced Turfgrass Management
Writing Social Commentary
Addiction Studies
Community and Economic Development
Distance Education
Educational Technology Integration
Supply Chain and Information Systems
Geographic Information Systems
Advanced Business Management
Hospitality Management
School Food Service SNA Level 3 Module
School Food Service Management
Small Business Management
Children's Literature
Project Management
Associate Programs:
Business Administration
(1)
Dietetic Food Systems Management
Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management
General Education
Human Development and Family Studies
Letters, Arts, and Sciences
(1)
Bachelor Programs:
Science in Organizational Leadership
Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences (Law and Society)
(1)
Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences (Organizational Leadership)
Nursing RN to BS
Masters Programs:
Adult Education
M.Ed. in Adult Education
(1)
Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Children's Literature)
Master of Business Administration iMBA
(2)
Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Teacher Leadership)
Project Management (M.P.M.)
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
9
10
Sdrouble
(In Progress) on July 31, 2010
(email verified)
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Have taken two courses
Please note: I have been fortunate in my course selection--I give a total rating of about '9'--maybe even a total '10'--for the courses in which I have taken--but I have spoken A LOT and communicated A LOT with course mates, who have taken other courses which, from my understanding, deserve a crappy rating. They suffered. And I will write more about it at the end of this review.
I am a senior and returning student to Penn State Harrisburg and have taken two World Campus courses to transfer in. My advisor is the coolest and most understanding professor ever...he hooked me up with an INTENSIVE independent study pgm--with special permission only and not online (I have also taken, with his recommendation and support, another lower-level, 300-level course from a different prof)--and by intensive I mean--if you're not in the classroom, you WORK for your grade--a LOT of papers...a LOT of research...anyway, I took 2 online courses this semester--an intensive 400-level international communications course and a 200-level literary journalism course (the last 200-level I was eligible to take). The 400-level was difficult. But, as a returning senior (and now mother of a tot), I managed an 'A'...but it was HARD. and GREAT. I did pull some all-nighters. The material provided was invaluable. I am not kidding when I say it educated me to a point where I have changed ideologically. A 10++ for that course--she was unorganized a few times, but much of it was the result of the 'angel' platform/blackboard administrators. She was apologetic and made up for any inconsistencies in a very fair way. Her material provided makes up for any and everything else.
My 200-level course is a course I took because I was booted out of a communication research course. THANK GOD. But more about that course in a minute. My literary journalism course, albeit a 200-level course, was something I treated as a 400-level course. I want to write well; I'm a senior, and I'll be damned if there isn't a person out there that can't benefit from a decent book list. I put my soul into the work (as of now I have 2 weeks left), and, accordingly, I've gotten an 'A'--so far--something you care about when you've riddled the globe with your antics and haven't completed your degree--but the expectations are that of Penn State. Think before you write, and if you are half-assed in your work and writing in general, so will be your grade. Dr. Berner is reliable; on time, waaaay organized (I've taken note of his black board organization) and provides awesome authors who will enlighten just about anybody out there. Very much recommend. A 10++ recommendation.
Now, I've been one to call students in North Korea and California. Yes, I am accustomed to brick-and-mortar and I need me some reliable feedback and productive discourse. I have heard SO many complaints from students taking other courses. Courses that I, THANK GOODNESS did not take...one professor was a complete ass and decided she wanted to fail half (or more) of the class...this was for some random philosophy course. I've taken a similar course in class (at an unknown university called 'Kutztown University') and all was well. I can't tell you what high horse she was on or what she was smoking...but I know that many Penn State students (main campus or satellite campuses) who take courses online, generally, bust their butts to make it work (this is according to my humble experience only). They're accustomed to higher expectations and work accordingly. This is twice fold for any student who dares enter an intensive summer online course. Like myself. So, while this course, according to feedback, had a terrorizing professor, maybe other professors will be as awesome as the ones I had. As a footnote for this course, i should add that several students told me that they feel like a guinea pig--in that Penn State wants to maintain their 'exceptional' online programs and runs test drives (apparently) with totally mean and uncommunicative professors. But I have been especially fortunate. I loved my courses and sacrificed much in the way of a personal life, to make it happen.
The other course, that I did not take (THANK GOD) was a communication research course (fyi, I suck at math--as does much of America according to the 5th and 6th grade-level GRE math preps I am now studying for). This course, as I've heard, was also terrifying for students. As a senior who wants a diploma and who wants to enter an MA pgm (with a decent GPA), I couldn't have been happier with my being booted. Such instances tell me that there is a god, a god who wants my education to not be as shoddy and terrible as my HS education was. Nobody i spoke with was happy with this course. Then again, I spoke with only several potentially failing students. I wish I had a name to give you as I am certain that there are awesome professors that teach this course (but not this one). I actually still have the books and will keep them. Totally not money wasted according to me. I'd like to one day, so some real research. And so I have some great books:) And the material provided was excellent, and in my humble opinion, necessary for any communications-related endeavors.
To conclude my humble rating, there two professors that I was fortunate to NOT have--and my luck, hard work, and corresponding results reflects as much.
Had I had these rude and unrealistic professors, I may have created a website to protest them. Seriously. But with Penn State brick-and mortar, I've always been fortunate. The brand lives up to its name. With Penn State World Campus, I now believe that there is a god of education, lol. I've been very fortunate. My two courses that I've taken through Penn State have proved to be more than I may have learned in the classroom. But this, as I am no longer 21 and itching to go to the local uni bar and bring the entire campus with me, seems to be what you make of it.
I am torn, in that I've had such fortunate experiences with awesome professors at Penn State World Campus but that my cohorts gave me a line of utter frustration. It is to this end, the consumers end, that I'll recommend also checking out Massachusetts University online. The reviews are great and they lead me to believe that, perhaps, some institution out there, has surpassed that brand name you seek (and are probably looking at this review because of). Because of their program options and great prices, I've already recommended them to my sister. Who thinks I'm better at research than I actually am...but I don't trust google (and I'm assuming that's what you've used to get here) and to that end, my research is limited. Else wise, I may have gone through about 5 pages of online search results to consider mentioning them to you.
Just sayin':D That is all
10
10
Tutbailey
(Graduate) on January 31, 2008
(email verified)
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An Adult Ed Degree Made for Adults
Penn State's M.Ed. in Adult Education was challenging, team-oriented, pragmatic, and exactly what an online degree program should be.
The nice part about this program is that it provides the fundamentals of the field of adult education (principles, research, the roots of adult education, etc.), and the projects that you complete can be chosen to meet your individual area of interest. You must learn to write academically and at a scholarly level. In my case, I work in distance education marketing, and devoted all of my projects to enhance my knowledge.
When I completed my degree in 2005, my final paper was dedicated to the topic. After contacting several scholars, my research was picked up by one of the leading publishers in the field of education, and led to the co-authorship in the International Handbook of Distance Education that comes out this April (2008).
My skills were developed in this program, and I was able to pursue my interests while still gaining a global perspective of the field of adult education.
I also was impressed with the ability of the program to cater to my needs as an adult student. Two of my children were born while I was pursuing my degree, and I was able to stop and start my coursework following the semester schedule. The student services staff is always accomodating (Jane Ireland is a sweetheart), and I rarely had a problem with the technology, course work, or instructors.
Penn State is a leader in higher education, and got it right with their distance education program.
9
10
Daniel.opstal
(In Progress) on May 1, 2006
(email verified)
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PSU MBA Review
The Penn State iMBA program is a very demanding hybrid-online program involving two graduate residencies. Having spent 9 months in the program, I can say that the foundation courses I have taken have impressed me, especially in the subjects of business statistics and management theory.
The first residency takes place in two weeks, as our cohort heads to Greenville, South Carolina to function as impromptu consultants for the Michelin Group. This should prove very enlightening, and will help us as we complete a demanding financial analysis of this company.
My team consists of an accountant, two engineers and a Naval Academy graduate. All of my teammates are doing well in their chosen professions and easily match my drive and ambition in their quest for higher levels of management success. They are great, and we have formed a strong work bond (which was tested this week with two 6-10 page papers).
Overall, I am loving my PSU experience. While it is costly, every time I mention my MBA program it has gotten a good reaction, both from good friends and complete strangers. PSU's iMBA has taken the best of its graduate business programs (including professors from the world-renowned Smeal program) and fused it into something truly dynamic and worthwhile for students whose work/life balance mandates that they cannot attend brick and mortar classes.
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