A very big thank you to this group. I have completed my Masters in IT from PUG

[walruspanda]

I say I "graduated from Purdue" or "graduated from the Purdue system" as conversational shorthand -- which I think is fair, since PUG is one of the six campuses that make up Purdue. My diploma says Purdue University Global, though, so that's what I put on my resume.

[walruspanda]

10 days into the PG ExcelTrack MSIT -- 13.5 modules completed (10 As, 2 turned in but not graded, others waiting for module to open). I started right when I had access to the classes, which was the Saturday before, so it's really 13.5 modules in two weeks, but regardless, feeling good about my progress. MSIT modules are on average somewhat harder than the 300/400 BSIT ones, but not unreasonably so. I'm liking my odds of finishing this in two 6-week terms -- almost half done with my module classes! -- but I'm not counting my chickens yet.

There's heavy rumors that PUG is switching all of ExcelTrack to 10-week terms in July, including the current 6-week masters degrees. Honestly, I can't really disagree, even though the shorter terms might be advantageous to me in my degree. 6-week terms are weird.

[walruspanda]

Notes from the midway point of my first MS IT ExcelTrack term at PUG:

• In three weeks, I've completed 22 modules (20 As, 2 yet to be graded). Started with 28 credits/waived credits coming in, so that's 50 of 60 credits completed. So only six modules to go, as well as the 4-credit Capstone.
  
• My capstone is now officially scheduled for the next term, so unless things somehow go really downhill the next nine weeks, I should be able to complete the MS in 12 weeks total.
  
• I would say that the difficulty of the concepts of the MS IT modules is harder than the BS IT 300/400-level modules, but in terms of the amount of work it's pretty similar: one or two 800-word papers and/or dozen-slide powerpoints per module. I was expecting the sheer number of hours to be more per module, but as long as you have a good handle on the subject matter, it's not really. (Nothing as easy as some of the 200-level BS modules, though.)
  
• Hardest class so far: I like SQL, so I've found IT526 (SQL Query Design) pretty fun...but it's a whole lot of SQL queries, and it's taken even me with some SQL experience a fair amount of time to complete everything. Objectively for the average student it's going to be pretty difficult. Unfortunately, for anyone in ExcelTrack, it's required -- the only other option (IN501) is only available in normal track.
  
• Thing I wish I knew going in: For the five classes allowed for IT electives, every 500-level class in IT and IN (except required classes) is allowed...as well as every 500-level GB class (MBA). I found that out in time to switch one of my electives to GB513 (Business Analytics), which was the quickest class in my degree (but only because I have a strong stats background). Tons of options in GB if you want a break from IT courses.
  
• As I mentioned a couple posts back, all PUG Masters degrees are switching to 10-week tracks starting in July. So unless you're entering the program in the very near future, 20 weeks is going to be the quickest you'll be able to finish the degree in.
  

[LevelUP]

Midway point of my first MS IT ExcelTrack term at PUG:

• In three weeks, I've completed 22 modules (20 As, 2 yet to be graded). Started with 28 credits/waived credits coming in, so that's 50 of 60 credits completed. So only six modules to go, as well as the 4-credit Capstone.
  
• My capstone is now officially scheduled for the next term, so unless things somehow go really downhill the next nine weeks, I should be able to complete the MS in 12 weeks total.
  
• I would say that the difficulty of the concepts of the MS IT modules is harder than the BS IT 300/400-level modules, but in terms of the amount of work it's pretty similar: one or two 800-word papers and/or dozen-slide powerpoints per module. I was expecting the sheer number of hours to be more per module, but as long as you have a good handle on the subject matter, it's not really. (Nothing as easy as some of the 200-level BS modules, though.)
  
• Hardest class so far: I like SQL, so I've found IT526 (SQL Query Design) pretty fun...but it's a whole lot of SQL queries, and it's taken even me with some SQL experience a fair amount of time to complete everything. Objectively for the average student it's going to be pretty difficult. Unfortunately, for anyone in ExcelTrack, it's required -- the only other option (IN501) is only available in normal track.
  
• Thing I wish I knew going in: For the five classes allowed for IT electives, every 500-level class in IT and IN (except required classes) is allowed...as well as every 500-level GB class (MBA). I found that out in time to switch one of my electives to GB513 (Business Analytics), which was the quickest class in my degree (but only because I have a strong stats background). Tons of options in GB if you want a break from IT courses.
  
• As I mentioned a couple posts back, all PUG Masters degrees are switching to 10-week tracks starting in July. So unless you're entering the program in the very near future, 20 weeks is going to be the quickest you'll be able to finish the degree in.
  

Wow, congrats, that's excellent, finishing the BSIT in two terms is doable then... 

bjcheung77, our DF oracle, was right in predicting you complete this in 2 terms.

[walruspanda]

bjcheung77, our DF oracle, was right in predicting you complete this in 2 terms.

Yeah, looking back at my reply to that post, I said at the time that I thought 3 terms was more likely -- underestimated myself! Helps that I got one more cert (CySA+) after that post that knocked down another four modules, but still, I definitely would not have expected to be in this good of shape three weeks in. (Three long, hard, fun-free weeks in, but still!)

[housecat]

I say I "graduated from Purdue" or "graduated from the Purdue system" as conversational shorthand -- which I think is fair, since PUG is one of the six campuses that make up Purdue. My diploma says Purdue University Global, though, so that's what I put on my resume.

Agree! Definitely fair, I would do the same, no covenant is broken with this.

One day I may be able to do the same 

---

It’s under the same umbrella system and gets all benefits as Purdue including Purdue alumni benefits. In fact , the convocation was attended in the Purdue campus.

Ahhhh thank you! I was going to ask. I wonder do they also give access to their special job boards/career services?

Thank you!

[walruspanda]

I wonder do they also give access to their special job boards/career services?

Career services is done through PUG's own career services department, so I regularly get PUG-specific emails like this:

"Hello Purdue Global Students and Alumni,

"The Center for Career Advancement has a new partnership with Metronet.   Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, Metronet is a customer-focused company providing cutting-edge fiber-optic telecommunication services, including high-speed Fiber Internet and full-featured Fiber Phone.

"The company is hiring for multiple roles, a few are featured below..."

That said, Purdue's networking site is available to all Purdue grads, including PUG grads. I just signed up for it now -- thanks for reminding me! -- so I can't say much about it yet.

[walruspanda]

Just turned in the last assignment I'm going to turn for my first PUG MSIT term (though there's still a week left). A few quick comments to add to my mid-term report:

• In five weeks, I completed 27 modules: 25 As, 2 ungraded as of now. 
  
• All I have left for my second (and final) term: the capstone (IT599) and one rollover module credit (IT590M4).
  
• After the terms switch over to 10 weeks, it wouldn't be exceptionally hard for a determined student with a strong IT background to finish the MSIT in two terms, even without the 28 credits I brought into the program from IT certs and PUG BSIT credit.
  
• My main complaint about the MSIT is the slowness of the grading. For those who don't know: PUG module assignments are supposed to be graded within 24 hours of submission, weekends not included. Other than in GB513 -- where Dr. Babb was extremely quick -- I think 90 percent of grading missed that metric. At least half took more than 2 days. Multiple assignments took over a week to grade.
  
• That slowness was counteracted by my terrific advisor Hayley, who both in my BSIT and my MSIT was super responsive in opening new classes for me, letting me get up to (for a time) four classes open at once. So I didn't really notice the grading delays much, since I almost always had a different assignment in a different class to work on. On Facebook I've read lots of people unhappy with their PUG advisors, but I have nothing but great things to say about Hayley. 
  

Anyway, like my BSIT, overall so far a very positive experience with a few minor hiccups. Onward to the capstone!

[housecat]

Everyone here is really pumping me up for my speedrun!
Considering speedrunning a Bachelor and a Master.

Question! Are the classes at a set time, like for example lecture is 7PM on Thursdays, or do they just open it up asynchronously and say here's the whole course, have it, just make sure you meet the deadlines?

Any thoughts anyone on BS Analytics versus BS IT? I asked today and the secret program for PUG graduates only is the Masters in Analytics. LOL I found that out by not seeing it in the menu but was in the regulations.

[walruspanda]

Question! Are the classes at a set time, like for example lecture is 7PM on Thursdays, or do they just open it up asynchronously and say here's the whole course, have it, just make sure you meet the deadlines?

If you're doing ExcelTrack -- which, if you're speedrunning PUG, you absolutely want to do -- the classes are all asynchronous except for the final one (either Capstone or Internship, your choice). In ExcelTrack, the courses have one module per credit (e.g. five credits = five modules). Each module in a course needs to be completed in order: IT501 module 1, then IT 501 module 2, etc. After the module is completed and given a grade of an A or a B, the next module in that course opens up. (However, you can have open multiple modules from DIFFERENT courses at the same time, say both IT501 module 3 and IT 511 module 2.) There essentially are no deadlines, except that once you open a module up, you need to complete it by the end of the term.

For the Capstones, there's one 1-hour synchronous session once a week. For me at least, no choice as to the day or time. This class runs pretty much how you'd expect a traditional online class to work, with assignments due every week.

Any thoughts anyone on BS Analytics versus BS IT? I asked today and the secret program for PUG graduates only is the Masters in Analytics. LOL I found that out by not seeing it in the menu but was in the regulations.

For the BS, the only thing I'd mention is there is somewhat more outside transfer certification credit available for the IT degree than the Analytics one. If you're not taking advantage of that, then either would be a great option.

For the MS, however: The MS in Analytics is only available in traditional track, not ExcelTrack, which is going to make it many times slower to complete than the MSIT on ExcelTrack. If you're interested in Analytics, I'd recommend doing the BS in Analytics first, followed by the MSIT.