<p>In thinking about what I want to do for the next 20+ years of my working life, I have decided I should get a masters degree. I have two Bachelors of Science degree: one from long ago in Business: HR Management. And more recently in Clinical Laboratory Science. I currently work in a clinical laboratory, but I'd like to move into a more upper-level position within healthcare and will probably need an advanced degree to be competitive.</p>
<p>I've been researching the myriad of options out there and have come down to three choices. They are all part-time and can by done while working. I've made up a spreadsheet comparing them and their pros and cons, but I wanted to get some opinions from other people in the workforce to see if there's a strong leaning one way or the other.</p>
<p>In no particular order, my choices are:</p>
<p>Masters of Public Health: Health Management and Policy. This program is offered at Portland State University, 61 credit hours, all classes meet on-campus, classes can be taken at my own pace, GRE required. I would begin in Fall 2011.</p>
<p>Masters of Science in Healthcare Management. This program is offered at Oregon Health & Science University, 52 credit hours, classes are 80% online and 20% in-person, can be taken at my own pace, GMAT required unless I graduate with a 3.25 GPA from a certificate program (which comprises half the coursework of the M.S.). If I went that route, I could start the certificate program Fall 2010 and the rest of the M.S. program Fall 2011. Or just start the M.S. program Fall 2011.</p>
<p>MBA in Healthcare Management. This is a joint program with Portland State University and Oregon Health & Science University. 72 credit hours, classes are 80% online and 20% in-person. Several of the classes are the same as the M.S. above. It's a cohort format that lasts 3 years, where all classes are taken together with the same group of people for the 3 years. GMAT required. I would begin Fall 2011.</p>
<p>Option 2 requires fewer credits, 80% on-line and you can start in the fall. If all options are equally acceptable to you …option 2 seems the easiest and quickest plan to a masters degree.</p>
<p>Oregonianmom: are the online courses asynchronous (meaning they post a lesson once a week and you complete at your own pace) or synchronous (meaning that you log in on a particular day & time and have a live class with interaction between instructor & students)?</p>
<p>I completed my MLIS through an online program after starting in a traditional classroom; it was a synchronous program and I found no real difference in instruction & feedback compared to the traditional classroom. I’ve taken some CEU classes that were asynchronous and it was more difficult for me in terms of time management and interaction.</p>
<p>I would lean towards option 2 also because a) you could potentially avoid testing, b) less credits and c) you can start earlier.</p>
<p>Have you researched which degree is more “valuable” in your chosen field?
Also, can you take any of these classes even without officially getting accepted into a program, so you can at least start earlier, even if the one you ultimately choose begins Fall 2011?</p>
<p>Good for you!!! I have more questions than answers, though.
In which program would you learn the most? In which program would you learn the most relevant content for your desired position? How do you learn the best? Do you still have kids at home?
This decision will take some self-examination. I know that I do not learn online as well as I do in person, and I do not enjoy learning as much this way, but that is me (and a lot of other people!) I know that a lot of my learning takes place from interacting with other students, also, but that is me! I would suggest that you think carefully about this, maybe sit in on a class or two in each program, and go for informational interviews before making your decision.</p>
I do not know the answer to that, but I can easily find out.</p>
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It looks to me like all of them would be valuable. I wonder if the MBA might be MOST valuable.</p>
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I could definitely start on the Certificate program this fall, and it would apply to the MS program and also applies to the MBA program as well. The problem with getting the certificate and then starting the MBA program is that the MBA is a cohort format. Other students in my group would be taking classes I already took, so it might be awkward, and I don’t think it would shorten the overall length (3 years with the cohort, beginning Fall 2011). But I could at least test the waters! As for the MPH program, I don’t know if I could take a class to check it out… I will call them Tuesday and find out.</p>
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I think I would learn the most in the MBA program because there are more courses, but some of those very business-y courses sound a little dull to me. All would be relevant to my desired position. I am very organized and can do well in online classes, but I also like some in-person instruction. I also think it’s important to have “live” people to interact with. Those hybrid programs meet face-to-face two weekends per term in addition to the online work. I think they’d be the most flexible, and I wouldn’t have to drive downtown a few evenings every week. My daughter will be a senior this year. Our son is already in college. Nest is almost empty…</p>
<p>While I was first going to agree that the MBA is more versatile, it may not be necessary, depending on what it is you want to do in the future. If you want to do hospital administration, tehMBA may not be necessary. What doyou want to do? Ideas yet?</p>
<p>The MPH program is the least expensive. The MS program is about 5000 more. And the MBA is about 10,000 more than the MS.</p>
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Ideally, I’d like to manage a clinic, department or a program. I don’t wish to be an executive director or CEO of an entire hospital or health organization. I’m not really the executive type.</p>
<p>OregonianMom: if you want to interact with “live” people, and the online classes are synchronous, you really shouldn’t notice a tremendous difference from the traditional classroom. I was/am closer with my online cohort of students (we met locally, have roomed together at conferences & have thrown baby showers for the younger ones) than I was with the students I sat with in the same room in the traditional classroom (basically because we were all running out the door after class to go to work or pick up kids.)</p>