Cajun:

Cool........I'll bite.  Hit us with some "reality" then.  What do you think?

Okay, since you really want me to say it:).

Hypothetically, two job candidates are equal (skills, knowledge and experience and every thing else included) one has DETC Master and the other one has Harvard Master. I can grantee you the DETC candidate loose. That’s why the ivy league school still exist today and many try so hard to get into Harvard, Yale, Prinston, etc.

 

I see your point kcdpas, but I think you may be comparing apples to oranges. Of course, a Harvard MBA is going to beat an Aspen U MBA. A Harvard MBA will also win over most other RA MBA's. If that wasn't the case, nobody would pay for a Harvard MBA. =) I don't think an Aspen U MBA would automatically lose to a University of Phoenix MBA (which I believe is RA). The issue here is whether a job applicant will be denied a position because of accreditation type. We could spend all month talking about which schools are better than others, but that doesn't necessarily relate to accreditation type.

Nobody's going to argue with you there to be sure.  But let's look at it like this...

Harvard MBAs will likely have a job waiting on them when they graduate.  I'll bet dollars to donuts that the alumni association has a lot of pull with certain fortune 100 companies and in the government.

Secondly, when interviewing candidates I have never once had "all things being equal".  People are so different from one another that I can all but promise you that the school you earned your degree from will not be the only deciding factor.

Third Aspen MBA grads are likely to already be in the workplace either making a career change, moving up the corporate chain or just trying to land a better paying job.  I seriously doubt they will be looking for the same jobs that their Havard or Ivy League counterparts will be seeking.  Just my .02

Hello,

I too am new to this forum.  I began researching the credibility of AU and also that of DETC accreditation long before I finally decided to pursue the AU MBA.  I should finish the MBA this summer.  I also thought my assignments were not being read but just stamped, "A ".  This was especially the case with QA520.  I confronted the instructor and asked that he please comment on my mistakes or incorrect answers.  He responded within 30 minutes by saying he would, but only when I started making mistakes or giving incorrect answers.  However, he did begin to address some of the QM-XL, QM-Win work with some helpful comments.  But to confirm my suspicions that he was  A stamping, I hired a statistics professor friend of mine to check my work.  I had, in fact, completed the course without a mistake.  My only complaint was that the course should have been longer allowing for more of the material to exercised.

I'll share  my unusual background with you all. I hope to open some eyes about accreditation constraints and restrictions addressed in this forum by exampling determinism can be more powerful than restrictions.  I quit high school in grade 11.  I was so bored!  I felt horrible and was able to test into an advanced HS program offered by a local comm/coll.  When my HS class graduated, I already had one year of college under my belt. Unfortunately, that was it for the next 30+ years.  At 53 I decided to go back to school.  I wanted an MBA but I had no bachelors.  I didn't think there was a problem...I was smart and successful and alway got my way!  It took some time/work, but...I was 1 of only 2 to ever be admitted to a Colorado State graduate program without a bach.   I  wanted to teach at a local comm. coll. but was told I needed a bach. and the AU DETC MBA would not be recognized.  I start this fall as an adjunct (dependent upon MBA completion).  I spent 25 years as a successful mechanical engineer with 5 US patents with only 1 year of comm. coll. philosophy classes.  I have succeeded with a learning disability as well as being bipolar.  Restrictions are a pain in the ass that may slow your progress or road blocks that will change you course!  Only ones determination decides which.

I left CO and had to leave the CSU MBA.  I tried the CSU online and did not like it. It was several months ago when I resumed my MBA through AU.  I was shocked.  This is much more rigorous work than that of CSU but one will only get back what is invested. The material is great, read and learn it. I encourage all to read the reviews on the text books.  They are generally the #1text in the discipline.  This was not the case at CSU.  Most were authored by the professors with little practical experience.  If it's knowledge you seek, AU offers it.  The rest is up to you!

I welcome your response and offer my help and advise.

Regards
 

  
 

Ok. I am confused. 

I am looking to switch jobs and want to use MBA degree as a differentiator to get better compensation and role. Will Aspen MBA work for me or will employers question the Aspen MBA? I just want to make sure that I get what I am looking for and your help is very much appreciated.

Regards!

At the current Aspen tuition rate it is my belief that you would "likely" get a better return on investment from a similarly priced regionally accredited school.  For example, Chadron State College which is less expensive than Aspen is a RA school.

Does that help?

Yeah, that's actually, what I want to hear. I needed some encouragement because I think I might take AU's MSIT program instead Cal State U. Even though CSU have AACSB accreditation, and it would be good when you looking for a job.

Also, I spoke with AU's admin consulor today, she mentioned AU is working on RA for their nursing program right now. After that, they will pursue RA for the other programs. Due to the lengthy RA accreditation process. it is probably 2-3 years out. If RA is important to you, wait a little longer and you will get it. But the tuition will go up for sure.

Thought to share with you guys.

Cajun,

Do you have more info on Chadron State College? If the price is right, I could use Chadron State MSIT program for my company's tuition reinbursment program, if RA is required.

Thanks in advance.

I'm sorry but when you mentioned AACSB or ACBSP I thought you were looking for an MBA not an MSIT.  Are you using this degree to break into management or to sharpen your engineering skills?  I ask because I recently read an article and wrote a blog about how IT people with MBAs are becoming the in demand group of people right now.  An MBA would be better suited towards management, an MSIT may accomplish the same goal but will focus upon your IT skills, not necessarily managing people, projects, budgets, etc.

kcdpas:

Yeah, that's actually, what I want to hear. I needed some encouragement because I think I might take AU's MSIT program instead Cal State U. Even though CSU have AACSB accreditation, and it would be good when you looking for a job.

Which California State University?  Although I suppose it doesn't matter -- I'd recommend any of them, especially one with AACSB, over Aspen especially with the latter's price hike.  And Cajun's dead right, if it's management you want, you want an MBA, not an MSIT.

-=Steve=- 

SteveFoerster:

kcdpas:

Yeah, that's actually, what I want to hear. I needed some encouragement because I think I might take AU's MSIT program instead Cal State U. Even though CSU have AACSB accreditation, and it would be good when you looking for a job.

Which California State University?  Although I suppose it doesn't matter -- I'd recommend any of them, especially one with AACSB, over Aspen especially with the latter's price hike.  And Cajun's dead right, if it's management you want, you want an MBA, not an MSIT.

-=Steve=- 

All UC's and most of Cal state U such as Chico and Fullerton, their schools of business offers MSIT and they are AACSB accredited. I only interested in technology management and not human aspect of management. It is a pain you know where:). Had been a ERP tech consultant and systems engineer for many years and dealing with complex technology issues I had many sleepless nights and weekends of hard works, but I still prefer manage servers over people. Server may give me fit, but it also does what it is told to do. But people often deviate and mess thing up:).

The CSU requires 3 sessions on campus and testing on campus or pre arranged proctored test at testing centers. This cause me problems. With on-call rotations, server patches and electronic software updates on the system and DBA and SAN support, dramas every week, almost. I could not commit to the requirement. Work always come first. I am afraid the 100% online course might the only option I have without effecting my job at work.

MBA did crossed my mind and I hesitate to go that route. The reason are in the reply to Steve's question. The programs from CSU are offered through their business school. I was a littel surprised as well. AACSB unsually for MBA oro DBA not other master programs.

 

kcdpas:

I only interested in technology management and not human aspect of management.

Oh, I see.  No, then an MBA is definitely not for you.  And as such, I'm not sure I'd be concerned about AACSB, even for those schools who put their IT programs in with the business school.

What's your goal for this program?  What do you hope to do with an MSIT that you can't do without it?

-=Steve=-

SteveFoerster:

What's your goal for this program?  What do you hope to do with an MSIT that you can't do without it?

-=Steve=-

Actually, what I want out of a master is not that much. Thru study and earn a MSIT will help me to systematically putting my past experiences and knowledge together. IT industries are advancing daily. If I am not keep the pase moving forward, one day I will be left behind.

I always work hard and learning new technology constantly. I started working as a programmer when I got my associate science degree and program in RPG and CL on IBM Midrange system, also learned C and VB6, then move on to network administration support West area, deal with servers and NAS clusters. Few years after that, I turn down an IT supervisor job at the same company and went on tech consulting on ERP.

Also, I think with a reputable MSIT will same me a lot of time to go over my experienced and try to sell myself when looking for a new jobJ. An Aspen's MSIT could do that for me? This is the question.

 

kcdpas:

Actually, what I want out of a master is not that much. Thru study and earn a MSIT will help me to systematically putting my past experiences and knowledge together. IT industries are advancing daily. If I am not keep the pase moving forward, one day I will be left behind.

Do you have many technical certifications?  I ask because if what you're looking for is a way to show what you already know while putting all the pieces of your knowledge together, I wonder whether one of the IT Masters programs from Australia's Charles Sturt University might be right for you.  Half of your coursework consists of a technical cert, like MSCE CCNP, or whatever, there are a good number from which to choose.  The rest of the degree is integrative coursework.

http://itmasters.com.au 

I used to be an IT consultant, and if I hadn't moved from that into educational technology and higher education administration, I'd have been very tempted by this program.

-=Steve=-