I remember the stress I felt trying to decide where I would obtain my advanced degree. I asked myself many questions internally during the process. Will I have time? How will I balance work/life/school during this season? Will I be able to keep up with my coursework? How will I find a school close enough to my house that offers a good program?
All of these are valid questions to consider when deciding where to attend. Thomas University and the staff were able to effectively answer these questions and make my decision easy. Below are several reasons why I selected Thomas University for my advanced studies.
Convenient Online Format
When I decided to get my master’s degree, I had a new baby at home, a full-time teaching job and responsibilities at home to take care of. It was a difficult decision for my family to prioritize a degree above other important aspects of our lives. I knew that I would have to make sacrifices in my and my family’s schedule to accommodate my obtaining this degree.
When I found out Thomas University offered an entirely online degree, I jumped at the opportunity. I did not have to worry about leaving work early to get to class. I did not have to consider how many nights I would spend outside of my home. I did not have to determine how much time I would lose on the road driving to class and home again. The program being completely online was a game changer. I could eat supper with my kids and wife and still attend those nights we did have class.
Class was held one night every other week. This allowed me to use my time the way I saw fit to complete school work and maintain a healthy personal life. This did not detract from my education. In fact, I felt I gained more knowledge and personalized assistance from my professors than I did in my face-to-face college experience. The teachers held dedicated office hours that allowed me to receive personalized instruction when necessary. The work students were asked to complete was relevant and provided engaging assignments. I feel like the level of education I experienced far exceeded my expectations and challenged me in ways that prior educational opportunities had not.
Dedicated Faculty
I cannot speak highly enough about the dedicated staff at Thomas University. The staff at Thomas University works diligently to provide support to students. All emails were answered in a timely manner and assistance was provided in all circumstances. Professors gave their phone numbers so we could call or text. We Zoomed before it was cool with our professors to ensure we understood key concepts. Professors were willing to meet with students individually or in groups to assist with questions.
The most impressive and lasting impact of the professors was how they showed students they cared. The professors allowed time to get to know students on a personal level. Professors built relationships with their students, which has a high impact on student achievement. My professors helped me feel like I could be successful and celebrated with me and other students when we were. Conversely, students grew to care for the professors. When I attended graduation, I was thrilled to finally meet the people who I had worked with for so long. It was a very fulfilling experience.
Personalized Enrollment Experience
Having applied to multiple schools, I remember feeling frustrated about how little instruction was given to students trying to properly apply to the school. Thomas University removed all the difficulty of applying by sending me a personal list of requirements to meet and documentation to provide. I never wondered what documentation I needed to turn in because I knew up front what was required. Any questions I had were answered in a timely manner. This will not be a worry should you turn to Thomas University for your advanced degree.
Purposeful Curriculum
The curriculum of the curriculum and instruction program was practical and applicable in my classroom. Even while I was going through the program, I was learning strategies and techniques that I was able to implement immediately. I implemented strategies involving technology and flipped my classroom, which was invaluable during the pandemic. I also learned how to help students communicate their emotions effectively through social-emotional learning strategies. The research aspect of the program was designed to lead teachers to stretch themselves and research a topic of interest. The curriculum is most certainly designed to give teachers applicable strategies that can be used in the classroom and to develop curriculum at the school level.
Should you decide to attend Thomas University, you will find a school dedicated to giving teachers the tools they need to be better educators. The staff is excellent and helpful, the online platform is convenient and challenging, and the curriculum will stretch you as an educator. You will not be disappointed attending Thomas University.
Ready to start the next chapter of your educational journey and pursue your graduate degree? Explore our available programs and enroll today!