I made the decision to switch specializations in my master’s program mid-way through my degree. This change took me from the traditional on-campus experience to the IDEA online experience. The switch seemed intimidating to me but it ended up being an incredible experience that I would not have gotten if I'd taken all classes at one university. Getting to dive into courses offered at schools all over the country was beneficial as it opened pathways for communication and sharing of knowledge with students and faculty I would not normally have interacted with.
As a non-traditional college student in my early 50s, living and working in the Pacific Island of Guam, choosing the right program for graduate studies was very important to me. The process of selecting the right program was intentional – it had to offer a diverse student population, professors with real-life experiences, a safe space to share cultural perspectives, and a curriculum that offered classes that were aligned with students’ educational and professional goals. The IDEA program met and exceeded all my expectations. Concepts from every course have been applied in my profession to the extent that it has aided in the expansion of our services and the population we serve. As I reflect on these successes, I attribute much of it to the genuine care of the IDEA professors who were as passionate about the success of each student as they were in the subjects they taught. IDEA was definitely the right program for me!
IDEA has so many benefits for its students. The ability to continue my education while working full-time and growing my family has been a huge benefit for me. Earning the Student Excellence Award will greatly benefit my family as we begin our lives with our new daughter because we can use it to pay for the rest of my tuition and will not have to budget in finishing my degree.
"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. The incredible faculty have been flexible about the environmental challenges I face with unstable electricity, network, and time differences."
Having an integrated financial strategy for families has become increasingly important for families to stabilize their finances, especially during the pandemic. Acquiring professional knowledge on how to well manage family wealth has motivated me to pursue a master’s degree program in family financial planning and become a professional financial planner. The IDEA program offers me a great path to this academic field and to gain the skills to help people protect financial resources.
I have worked in the nonprofit arena for many years. The idea of returning to school for my master’s degree was daunting, especially given my typical work schedule of long and varied hours. 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 one evening, gone to work the next morning, and applied what I learned the night before in my job.
As a career switcher, returning student with over the 10-year gap, and non-native English-speaking learner, I was worried that I couldn't complete the Initial Teacher Certification program within a couple of years. The professors are extremely knowledgeable and experienced in each subject and support students to succeed compassionately in any possible way. The master's courses are well-designed and rewarding as I can see my learning progress instantly. Thanks to IDEA, I am starting my new career being a high school FCS teacher this fall!
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 alumni advisor, one of my responsibilities was speaking with parents from various backgrounds to prepare them for their scholar's graduation and matriculation. Using what I learned in Resilience in Families and Family Resource Management I was able to highlight families' assets and internal resources to help them help their scholar succeed, in addition to providing them with new information and external resources. All of my courses have contributed in some way to how I now approach my work and interact with those close to me. I am a better employee, sister, daughter, friend, and mentor because of the online Family and Community Services program!
It is incredibly refreshing to see major universities working together in order to offer such high-quality degree programs and experiences for their students all while keeping tuition rates affordable. I had a roughly 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.
As a full-time high school Ag teacher, FFA Advisor, and two-sport coach, I excelled in the flexibility and structure of the IDEA program. This program has allowed me to balance my school workload with my profession and responsibilities at the school. I have also benefited from the ability to apply what I am learning to my classroom and have shared my teaching experiences with classmates to create an integrated, immersive learning experience for others and myself.
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. The program has given me the opportunity 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 IDEA program has granted me opportunities through online learning that would never be possible in a traditional setting. As a military family, we are required to move frequently and sometimes unexpectedly. There were times when I lived in three different states in a matter of one year. The IDEA program allows me to receive an outstanding education regardless of my home state. I have access to classes and universities throughout the United States to provide a comprehensive array of knowledge in my field. The IDEA program has proven to be an excellent fit for myself and for my family.
"IDEA benefits students and the learning process by providing diverse and engaged instruction. The format allows for students of different backgrounds and knowledge bases the ability to interact and share experiences that are unique locally and regionally. I have enjoyed learning with my classmates from different professions and hearing their perspectives, this has definitely enhanced my learning experience."
"The flexibility of learning online provides me with the opportunity to learn while still working and expanding my professional skills. Not only will this degree help me to make a lasting impact on families, but it will also allow me to set an example for my two children. I want to show them the importance of hard work, resilience, and education."
When I began researching graduate programs, I was interested in a program that would strengthen my foundational knowledge of child and adolescent development and help me better advocate for the needs of children and youth. The youth development program has complemented the child life profession so well. Every course I have taken through the IDEA has positively impacted my current practice as a child life specialist. I found myself using course topics and readings to educate my colleagues and peers and applying the knowledge I gained in interactions with patients and families.
Studying through IDEA has allowed me to network with faculty across the nation to gain the best distance education possible. By offering an array of courses, students are connected with a variety of qualified faculty that strive to provide the best online learning environment and create relationships with their students. By taking courses through IDEA, I have had the opportunity to share my research ideas and receive feedback from numerous academics to better my work. I am being taught by professors who truly care and strive for success with all of their students.
I am forever grateful for my experience with IDEA. The flexibility of the program allowed me to obtain my master’s degree while continuing to work full-time and raise two kids. I also appreciated the unique opportunity to learn from professors from different universities. Instead of only hearing a perspective from one university in one state, I was able to gain perspectives from faculty and students from several different institutions. I think that is crucial in achieving a well-rounded education.
I was looking for the education I needed to take the next step in my career to a program director or executive director. I spent a lot of time searching for a university and degree that matched my education in community organizing and advocacy and aligned with my interest in families and community services and support. Finding IDEA and reading about the courses and career tracks of those who earned the MA in Family & Community Services, I knew right away that this was the degree and program for me. It has lived up to all I had hoped!
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. Now that I am a full-time Family and Consumer Science teacher at a local high school, I am still able to balance my school workload with my new professional career. They work hand in hand by combining lesson plans and learning theories. I love being able to apply my school work into my own classroom; it has developed into an amazing learning experience.
"The IDEA family and community services program is an amazingly affordable and diverse program. You can choose professors from many different schools to learn from and it is fun getting a taste of each school's unique culture."
In addition to professional development and advancement, this program challenges and promotes my personal growth as I gain skills and understanding applicable to my own life and relationships. I look forward to using the lessons from each class in every segment of my life.
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.
The IDEA youth development program has offered me the opportunity to further my education while strengthening the program I work in. Working with older youth in foster care and homeless teens presents challenges in engagement and assisting them in success. I have learned useful and powerful strategies in working with older youth and highly recommend it for people pursuing work with these populations. The flexibility of online learning has allowed me to balance a full-time job, a family, and school. The diversity of my fellow students has expanded my understanding of youth services and how we intersect.
I have loved every minute of this program! The teachers are wonderful, the coursework is challenging and engaging, and I have been able to do it while also working full time and taking care of my three children. During the day, I run a home daycare and I am able to use the techniques and ideas that I have learned in my classes to enhance the learning experience in my home. This degree program has given me the opportunity to learn and grow as an individual, as a mom, and as a teacher.
The IDEA program was a perfect fit for my schedule as it allowed me to work, travel, and learn on the go. The nature of the program fosters a flexible learning environment, and as a student, you have access to all the tools you need with any online portal. With multiple universities contributing to the course roster, there are numerous offerings that provide students with plenty of options to build their skillset.
I work full time and often over 40 hours a week, but IDEA compliments my lifestyle by offering flexibility. I can work on assignments at my own pace at any time of the day. My professors have all been understanding of my schedule and are always prompt to respond when I have a question or concern. I cannot wait to utilize the knowledge I am gathering and help youth.
"For decades I’ve visited the Nebraska Sandhills in pursuit of waterfowl and upland game. Wanting to learn more about the land and its inhabitants, I completed the graduate certificate in grassland management offered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through IDEA. Upon completion of this program, I’ve gained a far greater appreciation and understanding for this area and its people, and was inspired to continue my education by earning a master’s degree online in wildlife and fisheries biology."
IDEA has allowed me to take classes from a variety of universities around the country to tailor a program to my needs. I am a non-traditional student who had begun a program in youth development through IDEA, then made a career change and needed to switch programs to family & consumer sciences education. In addition to completing the master's in FCS education, I am also working on the undergraduate courses needed for the Nebraska Teaching Endorsement in FCS. My advisor was able to find all of the courses I needed through IDEA schools to tailor the program to fit my needs and timeline!
When pursuing my bachelor’s degree, I realized that I wanted to further my education and apply to a graduate program. I found the community development program in IDEA when exploring programs that aligned with my goals. I immediately was drawn in and loved that I
would have the opportunity to learn from multiple universities. I am now one year into the program and I cannot fully express the impact it has had on myself and my family. I have been able to balance motherhood, life, and my education. The professors have been incredible and made a profound impact on my life. I have also been able to connect with students from around the world and with multiple universities. IDEA programs are truly unique and allow you to learn from one another and hear a variety of perspectives which has been incredible.
The IDEA program has been extremely beneficial to my continuing education by allowing me to complete my degree at my own pace and on my own time. I was able to balance my full-time career while studying as a part-time student with professors who were understanding of my career goals and current commitments. Overall, this experience has been rewarding and has helped me gain further credibility in my field!
One of the biggest challenges that adult learners face is time management skills. In our careers, we give 100% of ourselves, as we do with our family. When an adult learner has a full-time career and decides to go back to school, it seems hard to devote so much of yourself to many different things. My biggest piece of advice is to be organized, plan your time wisely, and communicate with your professors. In the IDEA program, many of the professors are willing to work with you, meet with you, and are flexible in that they understand many of us are working full-time jobs.
It may be intimidating to get back into schoolwork after taking some time off, but my best advice is to not be discouraged and to go for it! I was so nervous to go back to school after being out of college for over 10 years. I found that I was not the only one going back for more education after taking time off. At the same time, I felt way more confident in myself returning back to school than I did the first time I was in college. This time I really knew what I wanted to focus on and accomplish. Find what you’re passionate about and don’t be afraid to jump right in!
Before pursuing continuing education, I was working in property management and looking to advance my career. My decision to enroll in the IDEA program at Kansas State University was influenced by my positive experience during my undergraduate studies at KSU.
As a team member at Frontier Development Group, a real estate development company specializing in affordable housing in historic districts, I can see the direct impact of the skills and knowledge I gained. The IDEA program surpassed my expectations, providing real-world applications and support from dedicated professors. It was definitely the right choice for me!
IDEA has given me the opportunity to pursue an education in financial planning while working and starting a family. The flexibility of doing coursework in the evenings and early mornings has allowed me to be fully present in each area of my life. Another major benefit of the online classroom is bringing together professors and students from all over the country and world to share their knowledge and experience in a way that a traditional classroom would be unable to do.
The university partnerships in IDEA provide a unique opportunity to interact with students and professors who would not be present in a more traditional graduate program. In my career in Cooperative Extension, I am an employee of Oklahoma State University. The IDEA program has given me valuable insight into the way that other land-grant universities function and form connections that cross state lines. Potential students who are looking for a well-rounded education with a wide range of experiences and connections would benefit from an IDEA program.
Work-life balance is important to me. When I was considering earning a graduate degree, I needed a flexible program that aligned with my professional goals while also allowing quality time with my family. The IDEA program was a perfect fit.
