The University of Saint Joseph master’s program is convenient and practical. I needed a program that could mesh with my own challenging schedule. My wife and I had full-time jobs and three children in three different schools, and they each participated in extracurricular activities. I was concerned that a two-year commitment could be difficult to manage. I needed a fixed schedule with few variables to fit our lifestyle.
The program at Saint Joseph had a dedicated location, weekday and time for each class. This allowed our family to plan our schedules for the next two years. As dates and plans developed, neither my wife nor my children had to ask when I was available. They coordinated coverage and transportation in advance. A lot of stress and uncertainty was eliminated based on the dedicated schedule.
I was concerned that once I signed up for classes, future classes may have a different schedule and would interfere with my goal to finish within two years. The cohort model proved invaluable. I was offered two locations within 30 minutes of my school. The process of enrolling in classes was efficient. As each class ended, the cohort enrolled in the next courses with the same time and location. This eliminated the process of selecting, enrolling or fitting a new schedule. The courses had healthy winter and summer breaks.
Once a week, our sessions started at 4:45 p.m. This allowed enough time to complete my daily duties as a teacher. I attended brief meetings after school without having to rush to my evening class.
On the first night of each course, each professor handed out a comprehensive syllabus with detailed information about the course and the work progression over each week. The details in the syllabus allowed me to plan and complete work at my convenience. Many of the textbooks had electronic copies, which allowed me to access information from different locations without the need to haul around paper versions. Each class used blackboard software, and I was able to monitor, plan, communicate, submit and collaborate with my peers. It was a perfect balance of in-class experience and online convenience.
The cohort model and structure of the classes made the process clear and simple. I felt that the Saint Joseph master’s program became a part of my plan. It was an excellent experience from the time I considered enrolling through to when I walked at graduation in front of my children.