Program Review - Missouri State University

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

I just finished a graduate program at Missouri State and thought I would post a quick review. The program I did was in National Security thought the MSU department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS). DSS is geographically separate from MSU and I located in Fairfax VA. My understanding is MSU simply took over the program from another college some years back.
The program offers a graduate certificate, and a MSc with either a general focus or a focus in Weapons of Mass Destruction. The college has a deal with the military, so that officers specializing in CBRNE can take classes here at a discount as part of a requirement for promotion to 0-3/0-4.
There is also a general focus professional Doctorate. All courses can be done in person in VA or online. The General focus at any level can be completed asynchronously online, but the WMD courses require logging in at set times.
Many of the staff are current or former generals and admirals with a relationship to either STRATCOM/Norad, or government SES supergrades with a relationship to the military and State Department. Some of my professors included a current Air Force General, a retired Navy submarine commander, a DIA intelligence officer and a former UN employee that worked as a supervisor of the teams that inspected the Russian ICBMs as part of SALT. 
Overall the program was affordable and interesting if you like policy or defense matters. The people serving as professors impressed the hell out of me, given their resumes.

[Duneranger]

I just finished a graduate program at Missouri State and thought I would post a quick review. The program I did was in National Security thought the MSU department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS). DSS is geographically separate from MSU and I located in Fairfax VA. My understanding is MSU simply took over the program from another college some years back.
The program offers a graduate certificate, and a MSc with either a general focus or a focus in Weapons of Mass Destruction. The college has a deal with the military, so that officers specializing in CBRNE can take classes here at a discount as part of a requirement for promotion to 0-3/0-4.
There is also a general focus professional Doctorate. All courses can be done in person in VA or online. The General focus at any level can be completed asynchronously online, but the WMD courses require logging in at set times.
Many of the staff are current or former generals and admirals with a relationship to either STRATCOM/Norad, or government SES supergrades with a relationship to the military and State Department. Some of my professors included a current Air Force General, a retired Navy submarine commander, a DIA intelligence officer and a former UN employee that worked as a supervisor of the teams that inspected the Russian ICBMs as part of SALT. 
Overall the program was affordable and interesting if you like policy or defense matters. The people serving as professors impressed the hell out of me, given their resumes.

I knew a couple of chem Os who did this. Seems like an interesting degree tbh. It makes sense it attracts mil types since Fort Leonard Wood is where the CBRNE school for the Army is.

People here will complain about the cost though, its 20k and when people have their tuition increase by 200 bucks a term or a degree is over 5k, people act like the world is ending.

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

I just finished a graduate program at Missouri State and thought I would post a quick review. The program I did was in National Security thought the MSU department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS). DSS is geographically separate from MSU and I located in Fairfax VA. My understanding is MSU simply took over the program from another college some years back.
The program offers a graduate certificate, and a MSc with either a general focus or a focus in Weapons of Mass Destruction. The college has a deal with the military, so that officers specializing in CBRNE can take classes here at a discount as part of a requirement for promotion to 0-3/0-4.
There is also a general focus professional Doctorate. All courses can be done in person in VA or online. The General focus at any level can be completed asynchronously online, but the WMD courses require logging in at set times.
Many of the staff are current or former generals and admirals with a relationship to either STRATCOM/Norad, or government SES supergrades with a relationship to the military and State Department. Some of my professors included a current Air Force General, a retired Navy submarine commander, a DIA intelligence officer and a former UN employee that worked as a supervisor of the teams that inspected the Russian ICBMs as part of SALT. 
Overall the program was affordable and interesting if you like policy or defense matters. The people serving as professors impressed the hell out of me, given their resumes.

I knew a couple of chem Os who did this. Seems like an interesting degree tbh. It makes sense it attracts mil types since Fort Leonard Wood is where the CBRNE school for the Army is.

People here will complain about the cost though, its 20k and when people have their tuition increase by 200 bucks a term or a degree is over 5k, people act like the world is ending.

Honestly, I agree the degree is pricey. But in this case you get what you pay for. And tbh this program is lots cheaper than a similar program like Georgetown, Hopkins, or Tufts.

[Duneranger]

I just finished a graduate program at Missouri State and thought I would post a quick review. The program I did was in National Security thought the MSU department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS). DSS is geographically separate from MSU and I located in Fairfax VA. My understanding is MSU simply took over the program from another college some years back.
The program offers a graduate certificate, and a MSc with either a general focus or a focus in Weapons of Mass Destruction. The college has a deal with the military, so that officers specializing in CBRNE can take classes here at a discount as part of a requirement for promotion to 0-3/0-4.
There is also a general focus professional Doctorate. All courses can be done in person in VA or online. The General focus at any level can be completed asynchronously online, but the WMD courses require logging in at set times.
Many of the staff are current or former generals and admirals with a relationship to either STRATCOM/Norad, or government SES supergrades with a relationship to the military and State Department. Some of my professors included a current Air Force General, a retired Navy submarine commander, a DIA intelligence officer and a former UN employee that worked as a supervisor of the teams that inspected the Russian ICBMs as part of SALT. 
Overall the program was affordable and interesting if you like policy or defense matters. The people serving as professors impressed the hell out of me, given their resumes.

I knew a couple of chem Os who did this. Seems like an interesting degree tbh. It makes sense it attracts mil types since Fort Leonard Wood is where the CBRNE school for the Army is.

People here will complain about the cost though, its 20k and when people have their tuition increase by 200 bucks a term or a degree is over 5k, people act like the world is ending.

Honestly, I agree the degree is pricey. But in this case you get what you pay for. And tbh this program is lots cheaper than a similar program like Georgetown, Hopkins, or Tufts.

20k isnt pricey. My doctorate was 160k but my first job offer was in the low 300s plus bonus. You need to spend money to make money.

[spohara]

The "spend money to make money" concept here is just unrealistic for the vast majority of people. There are so many variables, what you were making pre-post doctorate, field, resume, etc. The vast majority of people won't get a PhD and double their income. The vast majority will never sniff the kind of salary you've managed. I make less than half of your first post-PhD offer and I am still in the top 10%. And for my situation, it is unlikely that a PhD would add very much to my salary. Grad school has a notoriously low ROI (degree depending of course) whenever they publish stats.

[Duneranger]

The "spend money to make money" concept here is just unrealistic for the vast majority of people.  There are so many variables, what you were making pre-post doctorate, field, resume, etc.  The vast majority of people won't get a PhD and double their income.  The vast majority will never sniff the kind of salary you've managed.  I make less than half of your first post-PhD offer and I am still in the top 10%.  And for my situation, it is unlikely that a PhD would add very much to my salary.  Grad school has a notoriously low ROI (degree depending of course) whenever they publish stats.

Fair, but 20k is extremely reasonable in the grad school world. I think this sub is insanely out of touch with the rest of academia. The posts complaining about UMPI increasing term tuition by 200 bucks were mind-boggling. Literally, you get a BA in 3 months for less than 1 month's rent in most cities, and people will still complain.

Some grad schools are absolutely worth the cash, but I would say most people can't get into them. I would say most value is in master's degrees and not doctorates for most fields.

This program sounds solid and I know people who attended personally.. 20k is objectively cheap for a grad degree outside the bubble of this forum.

[wow]

Hello, strawman argument. I see no one in this thread complaining about the price. Only complaints I see are about fictional people fictionally complaining. Fascinating.

[newdegree]

I'd have to agree that price is not an issue if the program fits a person. Before my online studies, I attended plenty of brick-and-mortar colleges and universities. If the cost is within your budget, go for it. People enjoy cheap degrees, but I wouldn't say we would cry that it cost too much. 20k is nothing for a degree, now if you can find a degree that's cheaper or more value for the same education, go for it. Most of the time, you pay for the name and ranking rather than the information. If the degree is to fill a check mark or is a simple job requirement, find the best alternative solution that works for you. I never really cared about the school because I never needed to obtain any license or credentials.

[Duneranger]

Hello, strawman argument. I see no one in this thread complaining about the price. Only complaints I see are about fictional people fictionally complaining. Fascinating.

You obviously haven’t been here long or don’t look at many threads. It’s even worse on discord.

[NotJoeBiden]

Most people live paycheck to paycheck in the US, so a $200 increase can be really impactful.

Most people will also never see a $300k+ salary let alone have $160k to drop on a degree.

Please dont use your personal anecdote to belittle others.