View Full Version : American Military University... thoughts
Intel_Airman
11-21-2006, 21:35
Have any of you guys' taken classes through AMU? If so, what were you opinions on the classes and instruction? I just received word from Hawaii Pacific University that I will not be able to complete the rest of my Diplomacy and Military Studies degree online; and I cannot take substitute courses through another school and transfer them.
So, I registered with AMU and have rolled most of my credits into their Intelligence Studies program with a concentration in Low Intensity Conflict/Special Operations. I thought the school was kind of hokey at first, but after reading some of the professors' bios I was quite impressed. A few of them have 20+ years in SF and Ranger Battalions. I expected the courses to be taught by those "Military Analysts" (who have never served) that you see on the History Channel or Military Channel. The required reading looks excellent as well; books listed such as "Not a Good Day to Die" and "Masters of Chaos".
The only downfall I see so far is the price of tuition. 750 per course seems a little high for undergraduate courses, but then again they are specialized courses and it is an online school. At that rate, after 6 classes my TA will be done for the year. However, this being my last year in the Air Force I figure I'll just start using my GI Bill for the extra. Get my damn degree finally before I go green!
AngelsSix
11-21-2006, 22:13
The courses are really expensive but all books are included; they are shipped to you at no charge. It was worth it to me, I took three classes out in Iraq. The instructors were great except for the mandatory first class, it was ugly, alot of papers, I thought I would lose my mind!! Other than that they are very eager to work around your schedule and I had no trouble getting assignments completed.
Intel_Airman
11-21-2006, 22:26
I'm in the middle of applying for an RQ295 Waiver (required Academic Planning Course). You have to write a 5 paragraph essay with a synopsis of your past online experiences, future academic plan, and how you plan on applying your degree. Along with the essay you have to submit a current resume to them. I'm finishing the resume in the morning, so by Friday I'll know if I have to take it or not. The kicker is, if you get the waiver you have to select an additional 3 credit class to make up for it; either way they get paid. I'd just rather take something that I would enjoy and learn more from.
soldierdoc_2005
11-22-2006, 11:34
The only downfall I see so far is the price of tuition. 750 per course seems a little high for undergraduate courses, but then again they are specialized courses and it is an online school. At that rate, after 6 classes my TA will be done for the year. However, this being my last year in the Air Force I figure I'll just start using my GI Bill for the extra. Get my damn degree finally before I go green!
They finally got their Regional Accreditation, so your Academics are better received should you go to another school. That's a good thing!
As for cost, once you tap your TA, just TOP UP. You'll need to send a VA 22-1990 in to activate your GI Bill while on active duty. I would do that soon, as the VA is about 3-5 months backlogged.
You can also apply for a PELL Grant to supplement your TA. I think max payout on a PELL is $4050 and you don't have to pay it back...it's a grant. I have gotten one each of the last 3 years.
I too am a distance learner and I will advise you to always be proactive and NEVER procrastinate. You don't have anyone nipping at your heels to do your homework.
~soldierdoc
Intel_Airman
11-22-2006, 17:59
Yeah, accreditation was one of the reasons I was skeptical a while back about AMU. I'm glad to see they have finally become Regional. I wasn't aware of the backlog for GI Bill paperwork. I'll get that in ASAP, because it's only going to take me 16 weeks to use my all my TA. Thanks for the heads up on everything. I realize what I'm getting into with online classes. I've taken quite a few before.
skeeter8654
11-22-2006, 20:25
Definitely do the waiver. RQ295 is absolute crapola. I wish I had submitted the waiver instead of taking it. Other than that one gripe, I like taking classes there quite a bit, thus far.
Radar Rider
11-23-2006, 11:36
I have been with AMU for several years, now, and have 114 credits. Two more classes to go for a degree in Intelligence Studies. I have been able to take classes wherever I am in the world, and they are quite flexible. My Army TA covers all the expenses, so it's well worth it. I'm an enthusiastic advocate of AMU.
Intel_Airman
11-23-2006, 11:53
I have been with AMU for several years, now, and have 114 credits. Two more classes to go for a degree in Intelligence Studies. I have been able to take classes wherever I am in the world, and they are quite flexible. My Army TA covers all the expenses, so it's well worth it. I'm an enthusiastic advocate of AMU.
The only other gripe I had about the program is I have to take classes like "Introduction to Intelligence". All of my course credit from Goodfellow AFB counts for electives, so 5 years of work in the intelligence community equates to me taking beginning courses. It's all good though, I've got a plan again and I'm going to get it done. Did you take a concentration in the Intel Studies program?
Radar Rider
11-23-2006, 13:17
My concentration is Asian Studies. As a Korean Linguist, it works out well for me.
Intel_Airman
11-27-2006, 18:21
:lifter My RQ295 waiver was approved! I'm registrered in Low Intensity Conflict, Global Terrorim, and The History of U.S. Intelligence. Should be a fun semester.
Masochist
11-28-2010, 09:44
Instead of starting a new thread, I thought I would continue this one.
For those of you that have earned degree(s) from AMU, how have employers reacted to it? Being as it is a for-profit school, has having a degree from there been a positive or negative when applying for jobs?
There are lots of for-profits schools and they are not all bad. The "old school" brick and mortar universities want you to think that they are diploma mills because they now compete. That is generally a thing of the past. American Public University System (which consists of two universities, AMU and APU) has been regionally accredited for about 5 years now. I got my Bachelor's from them in '08 and am on my final two courses for my MA. It is by no means a diploma mill. If you can read, write, think and interpret things on your own, then it is good. If you need face time with a Professor, probably not for you. I can tell you that, as far as government jobs are concerned, it is accepted just fine (they use the DOE list as a guide)
With technology what it is, online universities are only going to grow while brick and mortar ones shrink. Good reason to demagogue them.
Masochist
11-28-2010, 17:54
There are lots of for-profits schools and they are not all bad. The "old school" brick and mortar universities want you to think that they are diploma mills because they now compete. That is generally a thing of the past. American Public University System (which consists of two universities, AMU and APU) has been regionally accredited for about 5 years now. I got my Bachelor's from them in '08 and am on my final two courses for my MA. It is by no means a diploma mill. If you can read, write, think and interpret things on your own, then it is good. If you need face time with a Professor, probably not for you. I can tell you that, as far as government jobs are concerned, it is accepted just fine (they use the DOE list as a guide)
With technology what it is, online universities are only going to grow while brick and mortar ones shrink. Good reason to demagogue them.
sinjefe,
Thanks for the input. I didn't mean to imply it was a diploma mill; rather I was looking for more of an opinion on employers and for-profit schools. With the expansion of the GI Bill and the explosion of online schools, the government is looking to tighten the purse strings on where education money goes and what students get for their money. They've done a good job going after the diploma mills, and are now starting to go after online schools with no/questionable accreditations. Many of the for-profit schools go after the military due to the "guaranteed tuition check" but offer nothing in return.
Most brick and mortar schools aren't for profit, while some online schools (U of Phoenix, Kaplan, AMU/APUS, etc.) are. To use the U of Phoenix as an example, a friend has a master's from there and was told by double-digit employers in the teaching field that she should have just burned her tuition money, as that's what her degree is worth.
I've heard many positive things about AMU/APUS (and some negative), but wondered if they were being viewed by employers as worthless simply based upon their for-profit status, regardless of accreditation.
I didn't think you were infering it is. Obviously, there is a difference (at least in the mind of your employer) between an online, for profit school and, say, a harvard grad. What is important is regional accreditation. If an employer won't accept your diploma from a regionally accredtited school, you probably don't want to work for them.
Masochist
11-29-2010, 13:10
If an employer won't accept your diploma from a regionally accredtited school, you probably don't want to work for them.
Good point. I've heard from a friend and a co-worker that their degrees from AMU have been received positively by the federal government/military, although those outside that realm tend to look at it a little differently. This may also be due to some of their highly specific degrees that don't translate well into the outside world vs. generalized degrees from traditional universities.