11-Month Masters Degree & Career Workshops

Less Than 1 Year For an M.A.

If you are about to graduate this Spring and don’t know what your plans are, you should check out the 11-month Master of Arts in Management focused on Social and Sustainable Business. This 11-month advanced business degree is designed for non-business majors who want to gain a very marketable tool to help elevate their career. Since I work closely with this program (setting up interviews for students, connecting them to business professionals, and providing intensive coaching throughout the year) I have great things to say about it. In fact, my students are interviewing at pretigious firms around town and gaining outstanding opportunities. Spots are still open so apply before it is too late.

Here are a few key points of what students will gain:

•          Earn an 11-month intensive program earning you a Master of Arts in Management with a focus in Social and Sustainable issues
•          Learn how to design and operate a business that is created to solve social issues
•          Gain real-world, hands-on experience by through an internship placement, regular coaching from business leaders, and an innovative, integrated curriculum
•          Increase job opportunities through in-depth, dedicated career counseling and job search coaching for the entire year
•          Build relationships with business professionals through numerous networking opportunities
•          Develop professional skills in an office space near campus with state of the art technology in the classroom
•          Travel to China and India for a study abroad trip
•          Develop long-term friendships with a tight-knit group of like-minded students

To learn more, check out the website HERE or email me at dhallak@spu.edu for more information or to speak with a current student.

Discover your Passion!

Our friends at the CenterPoint Institute have a series of workshops you can check out to help you discover your passion and renew your life:
http://centerpointseattle.org/Catalog/Workshops/PassionSearch

Should I go to graduate school?

Should I go to graduate school?
Nearly every senior in college asks this question. When the economy dips, graduate admissions usually shoot up. Some folks have planned to pursue graduate education from the start and others take advantage of their fall back plan to increase their skillset. Having had a tremendous experience in earning my M.A. and with plans to pursue my Ph.D., I am a bit biased toward higher education. That said, graduate school is not for everybody.

Pros of graduate school
All higher education touts that students will develop critical thinking, communication skills, and greater self-awareness. While this is largely true, it happens at a much higher level in graduate school than in undergratuate programs. Advanced programs will push high levels of critical analysis and force students to develop a broader view of issues from a systemic perspective. The personal development gained from graduate school is one of the top benefits. Personally, I discovered while the toolkit that I gained was valuable, it was the ability to quickly assess situations, plan projects, and think systemically that was priceless. Along those lines, obtaining an advanced degree often is a ticket to advancement opportunities as you develop in your career. Recent graduates with an advanced degree often compete for entry-level jobs (unless they have extensive experience prior), yet, they are poised to advance faster through the levels of an organization once inside.

Another perk to obtaining a graduate degree is that advanced degree holders typically earn higher wages and experience a lower unemployment rate than the rest of the population.
Overall, taking the next step in your education is a good thing for your career. I have never regretted a minute of my graduate education and I have seen incredible dividends from having obtained it.

Cons of graduate school
Lest you think that graduate school is all roses and iced tea, there are a number of cons to consider when pondering further education. Graduate school is hard work. That may seem obvious, but no quality program will bestow a degree on you without putting you through some rigorous hoops. On the first class of my graduate education, our program head told us that we would lose some friends because of our workload. The hard work that goes into your degree will limit discretionary time with family, friends, and in leisure activities. To be successful, you have to be totally committed to your degree and ensure that you devote enough time to it in conjunction with the rest of life.

Graduate school is also expensive. Unfortunately, most graduate programs have limited, if any, supplemental funding and government aid in the form of Pell grants does not exist. To pay for school, most folks have to become creative to fund their studies.

Tips for choosing your school
1)      Timing: With my master’s degree, I jumped in right after my undergraduate experience and burned through. For some people, this is the best route because you maintain steam and stay fresh with your study habits. For others, returning after a bit of work leads to a richer experience where you integrate more of your education with your professional life.My program also had a three year track that I switched to after two years to go at a slower pace while working full-time and planning a wedding. This was tremendously helpful and enabled me to “soak” up the content more effectively. Another advantage to going through school early is that you have fewer obligations such as a career, car payments, mortgage, and children.

2)      Know what you want: If you don’t know what you want to do with your degree when you are finished, then you need to make sure that the program you are joining will put substantial efforts into helping you. Having any master’s degree is truly valuable, however, if you have a goal in mind that the degree helps you to attain, it is twice as worthwhile. Some programs are very hands-on in terms of career advising and will go to great lengths to help you navigate your career. If you are not crystal clear about your future, then this is the type of program you should pursue. Once I knew what I was going to do with my degree, I strategically used all of my assignments to build a portfolio or position myself for a job on the other side.

3)      Costs: When assessing the cost of graduate school, inquire about research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or consulting opportunities. Often these sorts of extras are built in to mitigate the costs of your education while providing reciprocal value to yourself and the faculty. In addition to gaining valuable experience, you will work closely with a faculty member who can serve as a reference or networking conduit down the road.

4)      Experiential learning: Check to see if your program utilizes a variety of learning modes, especially experiential learning. Does the program have an internship component, a consulting practicum, a study abroad experience, or do the courses have significant “deliverables” that you will produce. The more that your organization links theory to practical, applied settings, the more your learning will increase.

5)      Who is in the program?: Make sure you speak to the faculty in depth, sit in on their classes, and question current students about their experience. No program is perfect, but your goal is find the best fit for you. Ask about the highlights and challenges, inquire about where alumni are working, and see how involved they are in the program. Are the faculty present and engaged or are they removed and hard to pin down? What sorts of experiences do they have and what are they researching?

6)      What is the structure? Each program has a different design with a variety of students in mind. Some programs have a “cohort” model where the same students take courses together till they have all completed the degree. These programs are often close-knit. Other programs are more flexible and students can join anytime during the year. Some programs are created for working professionals and other classes are taught during the day. Today, there are a wide range of limited residency programs and hybrid programs that require minimal time on campus (often in condensed periods) in addition completely online programs. Carefully evaluate the structure of each program and consider which format will help you learn the best and flow with your lifestyle.

Graduate school is a truly valuable experience with a great update, however, it is a significant investment of time, energy, and resources. Make sure you choose the program that will help you be most successful.