Graduated from UIUC MSM, moving on to MBA

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

Is it possible to do the program with completely asynchronous classes yet, or are some classes still requiring Zoom or Team sessions at set dates and times ?

I know Gies was offering SOME asynchronous classes, but last I knew, it was not possible to complete the degree without some Live sessions.

That is my line in the sand with grad programs, given my career and work schedule.

[Kjnova]

Is it possible to do the program with completely asynchronous classes yet, or are some classes still requiring Zoom or Team sessions at set dates and times ?

I know Gies was offering SOME asynchronous classes, but last I knew, it was not possible to complete the degree without some Live sessions.

That is my line in the sand with grad programs, given my career and work schedule.

Most classes have group assignments that require coordination with a group. Of course, you can to some extent choose whether or when to meet. In most cases, my groups coordinate on Teams and have meetings on weekends around the time assignments are due. There are typically two team assignments per eight-week session.

Other than that, I think everything can be done asynchronously within each week. But it's important to note that most assignments become available on Wednesday and are due on Tuesday the following week. That is, it's asynchronous within the week (you can do the work any day or time) but it is due within a week. Each week is separate, you can't complete Week 3 work in Week 4, and you can't start Week 4 work in Week 3.

Attending live sessions is optional. You can attend them if you want to participate or ask questions. Otherwise, you can watch recordings of the live sessions or you might be able to skip it entirely.

[VictorK]

The MBA is 72 credits partly because each class is 4 credits instead of 3. If each class was 3 credits, it would be 54 credits. That is still more than some options, but, this is a thorough program with 7 required quant classes.

The MBA classes and MSM classes are from a shared pool of classes. Though, the degree requirements cause some classes to often be taken by MSM students and rarely by MBA students or vice versa. An MSM student can take nearly any MBA class, but perhaps only as an elective. The 9 MSM classes I took fill 9 out of 18 required classes for the MBA.

The MBA does have several non-credit capstone classes required, which are not required and I don't think are available for MSM.

Diplomas just say Master of Science in Management or Master of Business Administration.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKTPqNQ9Qt4

55 seconds in

Thanks you so much for sharing your experience. iMSM does not have capstones, while iMBA has four, one per each Core. Have you done any capstones yet after a gap from the core classes?
I'm planning to spend 3-4 years on iMSM/iMBA. Would it be easier/more coherent to take capstone right after the iMBA core classes? Or a year or two gap between the core  and capstones is not a big deal? Thanks in advance!

[Kjnova]

Good question, and I can give my perspective, but with the caveat that I started in the MSM a year ago and plan to have the MBA done less than a year from now, so my timeline is more compressed. That said, in the only specialization capstone I've done (actually am completing by tomorrow), it seems OK to have a gap, but this could vary.

The four capstones are:
1 - The "introduction to iMBA" capstone that explains how the program operates.
2 - The "completion" capstone for the overall program.
3-4 - These are specialized capstones for subject material. In my case, Global Challenges in Business (the one I am doing now), and Strategic Leadership and Management.

Of course, there is no prior material you need to remember for the introduction capstone, and the final capstone can't be close in time to every class, so the other two are the ones where this question is most relevant.

I imagine if someone did a quant-heavy capstone, they may prefer to do that closer in time to the classes, so they have a better chance to remember how to perform some of the calculations.

For Global Challenges, it has not been a problem to either remember old material, or do fresh research.

Capstones are pass/fail and no credit hours/not calculated as part of your GPA. You need an 80% to pass.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

Name blacked out because the Internet is forever, but, this is the digital diploma I received today, for anyone wondering what words are or are not on it, etc. I should get the paper diploma in a week or two.

Currently enrolled and looking to start this January. It doesn't look very clean with the schools name looking like it was done with Word Art. Hopefully in the paper one looks way better.

[Kjnova]

Depending on your screen brightness, resolution, etc, the paper one looks the same. The font is one of those legacies of a land grant. university. I doubt they have changed that part of the diploma for generations.

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

Nothing says we are smarter than using the same font for over a century... or wearing the same clothing they wore in the middle ages...

Now you are an alumni and it is up to YOU to kvetch and look down with scorn, upon those who would dare complain of such things

Remember the value of your alumni association though. Worth almost as much as the degree by itself. Be as active as you can.

[Kjnova]

Nothing says we are smarter than using the same font for over a century... or wearing the same clothing they wore in the middle ages...

Now you are an alumni and it is up to YOU to kvetch and look down with scorn, upon those who would dare complain of such things

It doesn't bother me. Looks like I'd expect a diploma to look like from a school like this. That said, I'm not passionate about diploma design in general. They could use Comic San Serif and I'd get used to it 

[VictorK]

Good question, and I can give my perspective, but with the caveat that I started in the MSM a year ago and plan to have the MBA done less than a year from now, so my timeline is more compressed. That said, in the only specialization capstone I've done (actually am completing by tomorrow), it seems OK to have a gap, but this could vary.

The four capstones are:
1 - The "introduction to iMBA" capstone that explains how the program operates.
2 - The "completion" capstone for the overall program.
3-4 - These are specialized capstones for subject material. In my case, Global Challenges in Business (the one I am doing now), and Strategic Leadership and Management.

Of course, there is no prior material you need to remember for the introduction capstone, and the final capstone can't be close in time to every class, so the other two are the ones where this question is most relevant.

I imagine if someone did a quant-heavy capstone, they may prefer to do that closer in time to the classes, so they have a better chance to remember how to perform some of the calculations.

For Global Challenges, it has not been a problem to either remember old material, or do fresh research.

Capstones are pass/fail and no credit hours/not calculated as part of your GPA. You need an 80% to pass.

Thanks again for the feedback! Would you suggest applying to the iMSM first then and then stacking into iMBA or just applying straight to the iMBA? I'm stuck and having hard time selecting between the two routes. If iMSM wasn't stackable, then I'd apply to the iMBA without any other thoughts. But since iMSM gets you a certain degree half-way, why not take it?
Keep in mind, I already have three UofI degrees - two Bachelors and one Masters (AgEcon).

[Kjnova]

Thanks again for the feedback! Would you suggest applying to the iMSM first then and then stacking into iMBA or just applying straight to the iMBA? I'm stuck and having hard time selecting between the two routes. If iMSM wasn't stackable, then I'd apply to the iMBA without any other thoughts. But since iMSM gets you a certain degree half-way, why not take it?
Keep in mind, I already have three UofI degrees - two Bachelors and one Masters (AgEcon).

I am of two minds about it. It is a personal decision.

MSM first:
Pro: Get a degree sooner; a bit easier courseload to help ease into it; if something changes (life event, finances, etc) you are more likely to still end up with a master's.
Con: The quant classes will be back-loaded. You will have 2 out of 9 quant classes for MSM and then 5 out of 9 quant classes for MBA. Also, you need to apply to enter the MBA program; though this is mostly a formality if you do well in MSM, it does raise the possibility of being rejected.

Direct to MBA pros and cons are just the opposite.

I guess I am glad I did MSM first, because I can choose master's degree in the highest education toggle already, but the 5/9 quant classes do weigh on my mind