Starting on my master's degree!

[NAP]

Okay, thank you for the info. I'll try to look for scholarships.

[Jonathan Whatley]

One more for the master's in history list: M.A. in History, Missouri State University.

Missouri State also offers a 15 sh Graduate Certificate in History for Teachers. For the latter they state that "A student must have a Missouri teaching certificate in social studies and a minimum GPA of 3.00." I wouldn't be surprised if the Missouri requirement specifically predated their offering the certificate online, and that was now waivable.

[IrishJohn]

Thanks, Jonathan. The program at MSU looks interesting. If you hear of any more that are cheap in tuition like this, especially state schools, please post them! I'm going to make up my mind later this year in time to submit another student loan app.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Adams State University
M.A. in American History, Catalog Page.
It looks like this is the same program Adams State also describes as an M.A. in Humanities with emphasis in American History.
Tuition and fees: 290 x 30 sh = 8700.
9 online classes plus thesis. 18 sh in coursework offered per year. Students travel to Alamosa, CO to defend their thesis.
Admission requirements: Two letters of recommendation, letter of intent, transcripts of college work. No GRE. The catalog page mentions a 3.0 cumulative GPA in undergraduate history courses being required, but the other page linked above doesn't mention a GPA requirement.
6 sh of graduate transfer credit may be accepted. Some of Adams State's own courses applicable to the degree aren't specific to U.S. history.

[IrishJohn]

I'm still looking at options, but I'm starting to lean towards the degree program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. I'd still complete the 2 courses I'm enrolled in at APU and will transfer them over later so wouldn't start at the new school until January at the earliest. Here's my thinking on this:

1. Both schools have regional accreditation, but ULM is a public state uni while APU is a private for-profit school. Perhaps it's old-fashioned of me, but I do have a preference for state schools over for-profit ones at least when it comes to completing a degree online.

2. The degree at ULM doesn't require a thesis while that from APU does. This means only 30 credits required through ULM while APU is 36. That's less time to finish. The cost, however, is roughly $2,000 more at ULM than APU. Of course, the fact that I'm taking 2 courses at APU and transferring them over brings the cost difference down a little.

3. The degree through APU is more concentrated on ancient history or American history (I chose the former), while ULM can be mixed.

[IrishJohn]

Just an update: I finished my first grad course through APU. I took HIST500 Historical Research Methods. I'm happy to say that I earned an "A"! I must say that I'm a bit surprised to since I didn't think my final paper (worth 25% of grade) was anywhere close to being my best work but apparently it was enough! I'm enjoying the format an slow pace of this program so far, it really fits my needs. I haven't decided yet for sure whether to transfer after the next course or not, but will make that decision next year sometime. For now, I start a course next week through APU on Ancient Rome which should be very fascinating!

[TMW2010]

Good to hear that you're having a better time at APUS than I did.. I didn't last two courses. I didn't care for the LMS Sakai at all , ran into issues with the instructors (Grad-level Statistics with facilitation or support from the 'teacher' was nasty) and then their FA office totally screwed the pooch on me for a semester and caused issues. They have a lot of potential and a fantastic offering of Masters and Grad Certs. I may try them again for a grad cert in a few years; thankfully, it seems like my experience with APUS is in the minority.
-T