Seeking Advice: Returning to College Part-Time

[HFK]

Hi Folks,

I'd like to go back to College to work towards a Bachelor's Degree in History or Literature. I recently tried some mathematics courses at OSU-OKC with an eye towards advancing to some Engineering courses (which might, one day, be good for my career) but I found that I just don't have an interest in math, at least not at this point. I've been out of the game for a long time: learning to be disciplined and study properly, particularly a subject that doesn't really interest me, has been difficult. Perhaps if I began learning about things that genuinely interest me, and I develop good study habits, I can turn towards math/science/software. For now I find that History and Literature hold the most attraction for me.

I'm a middle-aged adult, with no obligations/encumbrances, a good income, free evenings and weekends, and my traveling days are, for the most part, over, at least for the foreseeable future, so my lifestyle is well-suited to my goal. I'd rather do on-line work, if I can. I'm close to OSU-OKC, OCCC, and I live about 15 minutes from Norman, and I'd like to choose from one of those three institutions (I do enough driving as it is: back and forth to work is 40 miles a day). I really don't have any college credits to speak of (although I spent a couple of years in training while in the military, and I understand that much of that can be concerted, which is something I need to explore).

I wouldn't even mind something like the University of Phoenix, although I'm told that it's not cost effective to take general courses at UoP. Cursory explorations of Online Universities suggests that their programs are created for career development, science, business, etc, rather than the arts.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

[Easy180]

Wife has gone back to school part time and goes to OSU-OKC...Does the majority of her classes online since it's difficult to get away for the 5 o'clock classes

I don't think you could go wrong with OSU or OCCC...Sure they both offer similar amounts of online courses

[BaconCheeseburgerDeluxe]

OSU-OKC is a great school you have a choice of online classes, evening classes or day classes.

Most of the professors are people who have recently retired or are currently working in your field of choice. If you can make the effort to show up to class and complete your assingments, the professors will go the distance to help you. Most offer email, home phone and office phone for help.

90% of the classes are two 75 minutes classes on Mon and Wed or Tue and thurs. Or you can take it one day or night a week for 2.5 hours. Your average class size is 15-50. The only time classes you will see more than 30 is the general knowlege classes.

They also offer online and fast track. The fast tracks are usually three weekends(Fri, Sat, Sun) in a row from 8-5. If you take online classes, you need to be self motivated because of the dealines for assignments.

If you have to take government. Take it with Dr. Tim Faltyn. He teaches an awesome class, it is very interactive and very discussion oriented. He allows everyone to speak their opinion as long they are respectful. Just make sure you turn off your cell phone. He will answer your phone and turn it in to comic relief for the rest of the class.

[BailJumper]

OSU-OKC is good and so is Rose State. Though Rose will only get you halfway there, but you can finish up at UCO, OSU or whatever. The benefit of Rose is cost and convenience.

[okiemom]

Our youngest son is taking his second online class at OCCC. So far, he's happy with the school itself and the online format.
OCCC offers a decent selection of online 8 week, 16 week, and interession classes.
He's commented on the wide age range of the students in class.
If you do decide to take an online class, don't underestimate the amount of work involved. Online classes can be quite challenging. They also fill up quickly.

[kevinpate]

There is, or was many years back, a College of Liberal Studies at OU. It was designed for non-traditional students, with the bulk of the course work to be completed away from Norman, although some travel in for seminars was incorporated into the process.

[East Coast Okie]

Good luck!!

[Midtowner]

If you're wanting to pursue a degree in a field where basically your only post-graduation career opportunities will be in teaching, fine. The way I read things though, you want to pursue a B.A. in history or literature in order to develop study skills?

That seems like an extremely expensive and time consuming way to do that. In my opinion, you need to think about the destination and not the path. What is it you want your education to do for you? Decide on that, then plan accordingly. If you are still unsure, go see a career counselor. They do exist!

As far as online courses versus classroom, if you're looking for an online degree to get you very far in the workplace, be ready to encounter a lot of anti-online-degree prejudice. I can't speak to the advantages or disadvantages of either, but the classroom experience seems like something of great value.

Also, the literature/history courses at Community Colleges will not be of nearly the same quality and difficulty as their counterparts at comprehensive universities. Consider that in your decision. If you doubt me, consider why thousands of OU students enroll every semester for a couple classes, usually math or accounting, at OCCC.

[oudirtypop]

I agree to an extent with Midtowner. I am a current OU student and an OCCC student. I chose to take some of my classes at OCCC because it is considerably easier. Although, as he said, if you want the education, you would be much better off to take the classes at OU. I am taking classes that i dont particularly need to know the tougher aspect of the class. I will say though, the quality of the teachers is by far superior at OCCC than at OU. Yes, OU professors are somewhat more qualified, but i would say that about 90% of OCCC professors really care about what you are doing and where you are headed. I would consider taking some of your basics classes at OCCC to get back in the swing of things then head south to OU.

PS- OCCC offers tons of classes online and are working towards offering every class online pretty soon.

Hope that Helps.

[Midtowner]

For my undergraduate degree, I actually attended UCO. I did one class at OSU-OKC (accounting). I think UCO is sort of the best of both worlds. You generally have a highly qualified PhD teaching you, but your class is generally in the 20-30 range. It was a good experience.

I'd recommend UCO for any undergrad work, however, except for a few programs (forensics, maybe something else?), they're not too good for post-grad work.

If you do intend on going into engineering or doing any sort of 4 year program, make sure you go to a school where everything transfers.

[Dustbowl]

Don't go to University of Phoenix in any shape or form if you expect to seriously use your degree to obtain employment. Its a sham and employers know it.

[Midtowner]

Originally Posted by Dustbowl

Don't go to University of Phoenix in any shape or form if you expect to seriously use your degree to obtain employment. Its a sham and employers know it.

The same generally holds true for any online degree.

[ewoodard]

I agree with midtowner, it depends on what you plan to do with your degree. If you just want to take classes in the arts, many schools offer night classes for people like yourself. If you want a degree then I suggest a juco for the general education classes required then on to a four year school for your major.

[OKCCrime]

Originally Posted by Midtowner

The same generally holds true for any online degree.

It's true for any degree. Real world experience is what counts.

[Midtowner]

Originally Posted by OKCCrime

It's true for any degree. Real world experience is what counts.

I know quite a few people whose entry level jobs depended on their education credentials who would tell you otherwise. A diploma opens a lot of doors which wouldn't even be accessible to someone with just "real world experience," not to mention the fact that many businesses, trades and professions have education requirements as conditions-precedent to practicing in those areas. Real world experience is important, but education is necessary.

[Edmond_Outsider]

The quality of liberal arts courses depend largely on the interaction between students and instructor in person. I don't think you can that get online.

In this area, you have lots of options for decent classroom experience, OU, OSU, Rose, OCU, and OCCC have decent courses. You will most likely need OU or OCU for upper level course work.

As for the value of liberal arts degrees, I've always been of the opinion that one should study what they are interested in and not be so obsessed with how it will get you a job.

This isn't such good advice if you want to be a Dr. or an engineer which do require more specific degrees. However, I'd guess if your interest lies in History and Literature, an engineering career isn't what you're looking for.

I have a buddy with an MA in English who went to Med school and I asked why he went that direction instead of more traditional science background. He said, "I want to be a doctor who can read."

Midtowner holds a rather narrow view of liberal arts' value. While it is true that you won't find lots of corporate recruiters seeking these specific degrees, the vocational opportunities are far from limited to teaching or burger making.

I, for example, hold and BA in English and and MA in history and have never had to do either. I work as a computing sys admin for a major corporation. While that is not directly related to my job, the skills I learned in my education--research, the ability to write inteligible English, are invaluable.

As one of my instructors told me when I was wondering what I might do with a degree in English, he said, "all knowledge is useful.'

What one does with any degree has more to do with the individuals tenacity and creativity than what the words on the diploma says.

I know Engineers who install cable TV systems and MBAs who work at Arby's.

Midtowner is correct that a diploma opens doors. It demonstrates certain qualities that sets a person apart from one who does not have a degree.

[OKCCrime]

Originally Posted by Midtowner

I know quite a few people whose entry level jobs depended on their education credentials who would tell you otherwise. A diploma opens a lot of doors which wouldn't even be accessible to someone with just "real world experience," not to mention the fact that many businesses, trades and professions have education requirements as conditions-precedent to practicing in those areas. Real world experience is important, but education is necessary.

None of this is under debate.

Its a sham and employers know it.

The same generally holds true for any online degree.

It's true for any degree.

My only point, maybe I should have expounded earlier, was that for the vast majority of cases, what you learned at the university often has little direct relevance to the actual work that you will do in a job - its all a sham. With some exceptions, a university provides a general education. Employers know this. Obtaining a degree is just the bar over which you must jump to demonstrate that you are reasonably well educated and capable of being trained into fulfilling some specific need of the employer.

You are right, some professions, for example medicine, require a special degree to practice. There is a reason you have to go for additional schooling in these professions - to learn the skills that you will actually use on the job. For all such cases, hands-on experience is integral to the education.

[Midtowner]

While the particular skills learned in the classroom may not be relevant to a job, the ability to learn things rapidly is. In college, and then again in grad school, we have to develop the skill of learning a vast amount of information in a short amount of time. We take 30 or so classes per degree, so we have some repetition there. In undergrad, they see to it that we have a variety of classes, so we'll at least have the ability to quickly pick up any subject once we graduate.

-- that is a skill applicable to any white collar job out there. I agree, studying the theory of management, whether being an "X" type manager or "Y" or "Z" type manager is the best idea is dumb. The fact that I could learn about that and a bevy of other concepts to puke up on a final isn't dumb at all.

[OKCCrime]

Originally Posted by Midtowner

so we'll at least have the ability to quickly pick up any subject once we graduate.

If by pick up you mean, learn over the course of 2 months, regurgitate and then rapidly forget, yes. It is sad to say that most undergraduate and many graduate courses test wrote memorization ability and not application of knowledge. The later is critical for any job, the former is only useful at times.