PUG has removed some master's degree programs from ExcelTrack

[PositiveBelgae]

It's a shame, since I chose Purdue Global for the Excel track for the Information Technology Master degree. I'm currently in their Excel track Bachelor, now I don't really know where to go for my Masters. I really wanted to finish both in a year, but that would be impossible now at Purdue Global.

Any advice for an international student? WGU is not possible for me sadly.

[walruspanda]

It's a shame, since I chose Purdue Global for the Excel track for the Information Technology Master degree. I'm currently in their Excel track Bachelor, now I don't really know where to go for my Masters. I really wanted to finish both in a year, but that would be impossible now at Purdue Global.

I'd reach out to your advisor and see if they can still enroll you. Since they don't seem to be hard-closing the program (e.g. people still in it seem to be able to finish it), they might allow you to enter even though they don't seem to be accepting new-to-PUG students. Don't guarantee it'll work, but worth a shot at least.

[bjcheung77]

Are we for sure they removed the programs and not 'revamping' them? There may be updates in place and they temporarily have it on revision mode to make changes... I would get in contact with PUG and find out when you're done with the BS or near completion of the BS from PUG. Don't assume, get the info and clarification that there is or isn't a program for Masters with the Exceltrack format.

[walruspanda]

Are we for sure they removed the programs and not 'revamping' them?

Unlike with the shift from 6-week E track to 10-week C track for all PUG graduate programs -- where PUG has made an official announcement -- they've said nothing either way about MSIT/MS Cyber ExcelTrack. We know that the information for the programs is no longer on the website, and we know that programs are no longer available for selection on the PUG application...but, like you say, there are other possible explanations for this as well. I tend to think that PUG dropping the programs in ExcelTrack is the most likely scenario -- especially given how few students were in most of my MSIT ExcelTrack classes -- but I don't have any explicit knowledge of this other than what isn't online that used to be.

[PositiveBelgae]

I asked if I'm able to enroll for the Master's excel track since I'm going to graduate before the summer. But I received official response from my student advisor and she shared following:

"The Masters in Information Technology has discontinued the Excel track and they are currently teaching the program out. They are not accepting any applications at this time for the excel track."

So it doesn't seem they're revamping it, but officially cancelling it for now...

[walruspanda]

I received official response from my student advisor and she shared following:

"The Masters in Information Technology has discontinued the Excel track and they are currently teaching the program out. They are not accepting any applications at this time for the excel track."

Man, that's unfortunate. Not surprising, but unfortunate.

[PositiveBelgae]

Yeah sad to hear, it came out of nowhere as well really. So I will have to change up my Master plan seems like, any ideas where I can accelerate and is competency based?
I liked the Excel track since I can work on modules whenever I want, having completed 40 modules the first month so it went great.
Sad news

[walruspanda]

Yeah sad to hear, it came out of nowhere as well really. So I will have to change up my Master plan seems like, any ideas where I can accelerate and is competency based?

When I was researching BSIT/MSIT back around April of last year, PUG and WGU were the only two I was able to find with an MSIT (or similar) that was competency-based. The usual competency-based schools (Capella, Walden, etc.) had plenty of other Masters degrees, but for some reason not MSIT.

Looking again now, I do see that University of Phoenix has a competency-based MSIT program. I'm a little skeptical of Phoenix due to their history...but some are of PUG as well, so I do want to mention it.

[walruspanda]

Actually, one more: South College (for-profit, but RA) has a Masters in IT Management that's competency-based.

[PositiveBelgae]

Thanks Walruspanda for the suggestions, I will check them out! I honestly just need this Master to check some marks for Management jobs in Europe.
I don't really think it makes a difference for these companies where I got it, as long as I got it.

Will try some more research myself, so if anyone else has suggestions I'd love to hear them!