AN ONLINE HIGHER
EDUCATION ALLIANCE

The IDEA program has allowed me the flexibility to continue my education while also being a full-time extension agent and mother to twin boys. It has allowed me to interact with students and teaching professionals from various universities that I may have never met. This program has allowed me to focus not only on my education but also on my profession and family and for that, I will be forever grateful.

The online Family and Community Services Program is teaching me to observe, evaluate, and assist families using a strengths-based approach. In my previous role as an advisor, I spoke with parents from various backgrounds to prepare them for their scholar's graduation and matriculation. Using what I learned in my courses, I highlighted families' assets and resources!

I am forever grateful for my experience with IDEA. The flexibility allowed me to earn my master’s degree while working full-time and raising two kids. I also appreciated the unique opportunity to learn from professors from different universities. Instead of only hearing a perspective from one university, I was able to gain perspectives from faculty and students from several different institutions.

As a non-traditional student in my 50s, living in Guam, choosing the right program was crucial. I sought a program with a diverse student population, professors with real experiences, a safe space for cultural perspectives, and a curriculum aligned with educational and professional goals. The concepts learned have expanded our services and population we serve, thanks to the passionate professors!

I was approaching my third year volunteering in West Africa when I decided to find a degree program that would allow me to continue my work supporting children overseas. IDEA has been perfect! Learning online has allowed me to focus on the children I foster and my family while providing information that supports my work in child development and helping me care for children better.

Coming from a culinary background, I was unsure of how to make a career for myself until I discovered the FCS master’s program through IDEA. As a Family and Consumer Science teacher, I am still able to balance my school workload with my new career. They work hand in hand by combining lesson plans and learning theories. I love applying my school work into my own classroom; it has developed into an amazing learning experience.

I have worked in nonprofits for years. The idea of returning to school for my master’s was daunting, however, knowing that I could earn my master’s degree in Community Development through IDEA and that it would fit around my work and personal needs put me at ease. Multiple times throughout my coursework I have learned a theory, process, or skill, and applied what I learned the next day.

I sought the education needed to advance my career to a program or executive director. I spent a lot of time finding a university and degree that matched my background and aligned with my interest in families and community services. Finding IDEA and reading about the courses and career tracks of MA in Family & Community Services graduates, I knew this was the program for me. It has lived up to all my hopes!

It is refreshing to see major universities working together to offer such high-quality degree programs and experiences for their students while keeping tuition rates affordable. I had a 10-year gap between finishing my bachelor’s degree and starting my master’s program. I have found all of the faculty at the different universities extremely welcoming and encouraging, which has made my return to school so much smoother.

The IDEA program has given me opportunities through online learning that wouldn't be possible in a traditional setting. As a military family, we move frequently and unexpectedly. I have access to classes and universities in the U.S. to provide a range of knowledge, allowing me to receive an outstanding education. The IDEA program has proven to be an excellent fit for myself and my family.

I have loved every minute of this program! The teachers are wonderful, the coursework is engaging, and I have been able to do it while working full time and caring for my children. During the day, I run a daycare and I use the techniques I've learned to enhance the learning experience. This degree program has given me the opportunity to learn and grow as an individual, mom, and teacher.

My peers, who live all over the country and in various places around the globe, have challenged me to develop a broader and more diverse understanding of ‘community' and how common problems affect each unique community.  I’m not just learning how to address similar issues in similar locations but am learning to be creative and adapt development methods to create solutions based on each community’s unique culture and needs.