Pennsylvania State University World Campus

Please note: I have been fortunate in my course selection--I give a total rating of about '9'--maybe even a total '10'--for the courses in which I have taken--but I have spoken A LOT and communicated A LOT with course mates, who have taken other courses which, from my understanding, deserve a crappy rating. They suffered. And I will write more about it at the end of this review. I am a senior and returning student to Penn State Harrisburg and have taken two World Campus courses to transfer in. My advisor is the coolest and most understanding professor ever...he hooked me up with an INTENSIVE independent study pgm--with special permission only and not online (I have also taken, with his recommendation and support, another lower-level, 300-level course from a different prof)--and by intensive I mean--if you're not in the classroom, you WORK for your grade--a LOT of papers...a LOT of research...anyway, I took 2 online courses this semester--an intensive 400-level international communications course and a 200-level literary journalism course (the last 200-level I was eligible to take). The 400-level was difficult. But, as a returning senior (and now mother of a tot), I managed an 'A'...but it was HARD. and GREAT. I did pull some all-nighters. The material provided was invaluable. I am not kidding when I say it educated me to a point where I have changed ideologically. A 10++ for that course--she was unorganized a few times, but much of it was the result of the 'angel' platform/blackboard administrators. She was apologetic and made up for any inconsistencies in a very fair way. Her material provided makes up for any and everything else. My 200-level course is a course I took because I was booted out of a communication research course. THANK GOD. But more about that course in a minute. My literary journalism course, albeit a 200-level course, was something I treated as a 400-level course. I want to write well; I'm a senior, and I'll be damned if there isn't a person out there that can't benefit from a decent book list. I put my soul into the work (as of now I have 2 weeks left), and, accordingly, I've gotten an 'A'--so far--something you care about when you've riddled the globe with your antics and haven't completed your degree--but the expectations are that of Penn State. Think before you write, and if you are half-assed in your work and writing in general, so will be your grade. Dr. Berner is reliable; on time, waaaay organized (I've taken note of his black board organization) and provides awesome authors who will enlighten just about anybody out there. Very much recommend. A 10++ recommendation. Now, I've been one to call students in North Korea and California. Yes, I am accustomed to brick-and-mortar and I need me some reliable feedback and productive discourse. I have heard SO many complaints from students taking other courses. Courses that I, THANK GOODNESS did not take...one professor was a complete ass and decided she wanted to fail half (or more) of the class...this was for some random philosophy course. I've taken a similar course in class (at an unknown university called 'Kutztown University') and all was well. I can't tell you what high horse she was on or what she was smoking...but I know that many Penn State students (main campus or satellite campuses) who take courses online, generally, bust their butts to make it work (this is according to my humble experience only). They're accustomed to higher expectations and work accordingly. This is twice fold for any student who dares enter an intensive summer online course. Like myself. So, while this course, according to feedback, had a terrorizing professor, maybe other professors will be as awesome as the ones I had. As a footnote for this course, i should add that several students told me that they feel like a guinea pig--in that Penn State wants to maintain their 'exceptional' online programs and runs test drives (apparently) with totally mean and uncommunicative professors. But I have been especially fortunate. I loved my courses and sacrificed much in the way of a personal life, to make it happen. The other course, that I did not take (THANK GOD) was a communication research course (fyi, I suck at math--as does much of America according to the 5th and 6th grade-level GRE math preps I am now studying for). This course, as I've heard, was also terrifying for students. As a senior who wants a diploma and who wants to enter an MA pgm (with a decent GPA), I couldn't have been happier with my being booted. Such instances tell me that there is a god, a god who wants my education to not be as shoddy and terrible as my HS education was. Nobody i spoke with was happy with this course. Then again, I spoke with only several potentially failing students. I wish I had a name to give you as I am certain that there are awesome professors that teach this course (but not this one). I actually still have the books and will keep them. Totally not money wasted according to me. I'd like to one day, so some real research. And so I have some great books:) And the material provided was excellent, and in my humble opinion, necessary for any communications-related endeavors. To conclude my humble rating, there two professors that I was fortunate to NOT have--and my luck, hard work, and corresponding results reflects as much. Had I had these rude and unrealistic professors, I may have created a website to protest them. Seriously. But with Penn State brick-and mortar, I've always been fortunate. The brand lives up to its name. With Penn State World Campus, I now believe that there is a god of education, lol. I've been very fortunate. My two courses that I've taken through Penn State have proved to be more than I may have learned in the classroom. But this, as I am no longer 21 and itching to go to the local uni bar and bring the entire campus with me, seems to be what you make of it. I am torn, in that I've had such fortunate experiences with awesome professors at Penn State World Campus but that my cohorts gave me a line of utter frustration. It is to this end, the consumers end, that I'll recommend also checking out Massachusetts University online. The reviews are great and they lead me to believe that, perhaps, some institution out there, has surpassed that brand name you seek (and are probably looking at this review because of). Because of their program options and great prices, I've already recommended them to my sister. Who thinks I'm better at research than I actually am...but I don't trust google (and I'm assuming that's what you've used to get here) and to that end, my research is limited. Else wise, I may have gone through about 5 pages of online search results to consider mentioning them to you. Just sayin':D That is all