What is an ONLINE Class that UMPI doesn't offer that you wish they did?

[bjcheung77]

I think UMPI should focus on providing concentrations that are also offered and not offered at competing competency based degree providers such as PUG, Walden/WGU, etc. For instance, create another Masters level MBA with specific concentrations that they currently have at the undergrad level. I guess they'll have to do it "course by course" at this time to create those concentrations, but since they already have so many minors available, they can try converting most of those courses to online and yourpace.

[ss20ts]

UMPI has previously said they won't have an MBA because there's already an online MBA in the U of M system. The schools don't want to cannibalize from other campuses. There's only 30,000 students in the entire U of M system. I think with YourPace they need to think outside of Maine, but they don't seem to be going that route. I think they need to advertise YourPace on social media like WGU, PUG, SNHU and others.

[JannikT]

In general, I would like to see them offering more IT and CS courses. And in the long run, an IT degree. But that is another discussion for another ongoing thread.

[Vle045]

In general, I would like to see them offering more IT and CS courses. And in the long run, an IT degree. But that is another discussion for another ongoing thread.

I can agree with this.  

[ss20ts]

In general, I would like to see them offering more IT and CS courses. And in the long run, an IT degree. But that is another discussion for another ongoing thread.

I think those will be coming in time. It won't be like next week or super soon. They only added an on campus CS program last year. There's currently only 1 professor. They're actually in the process of hiring another CS professor right now.

[sksandorff90]

I think UMPI should focus on providing concentrations that are also offered and not offered at competing competency based degree providers such as PUG, Walden/WGU, etc.  For instance, create another Masters level MBA with specific concentrations that they currently have at the undergrad level.  I guess they'll have to do it "course by course" at this time to create those concentrations, but since they already have so many minors available, they can try converting most of those courses to online and yourpace.

I agree with this. Most of their competitors offer the same degrees and concentrations. It would be nice to have an English degree with a different concentration, or more variety regarding degrees that aren't business-related.

[dfrecore]

I think UMPI should focus on providing concentrations that are also offered and not offered at competing competency based degree providers such as PUG, Walden/WGU, etc.  For instance, create another Masters level MBA with specific concentrations that they currently have at the undergrad level.  I guess they'll have to do it "course by course" at this time to create those concentrations, but since they already have so many minors available, they can try converting most of those courses to online and yourpace.

I agree with this. Most of their competitors offer the same degrees and concentrations. It would be nice to have an English degree with a different concentration, or more variety regarding degrees that aren't business-related.

Agreed.  I'm referring lots of people to UMPI these days, but I wish that English degree was more...English-y...and less Journalism/Comm related.

[JannikT]

Statistics and Calculus.  Widely required for graduate business admissions.  Would go hand-in-hand with a YourPace CS degree...wink....wink.

More classes in economics and finance.  Upper-level economics classes are really hard to find online and tend to be pretty expensive.  Could be a way for UMPI to further differentiate itself from the crowd.  These courses tend to math-centered, so, see my above comment.

Yes, I fully agree. Especially statistics classes are hard to find. UMPI has one combined micro/macro economics course. I think this is a bad strategy on their part. In the History/political science Yourpace programme, it is not even possible to do the PS concentration with statistics 1 & 2, instead of foreign language 1 & 2. This is an option if you attend the regular university. 

I have a bachelor and master degree in economics, so I fully understand where you are coming from. When you go past first year economics/finance, the subject becomes a lot more math heavy. Several universities I know of offer a combined bachelor degree in economics and mathematics. You could consider doing a master in economics/finance.

[ss20ts]

Yes, I fully agree. Especially statistics classes are hard to find. UMPI has one combined micro/macro economics course. I think this is a bad strategy on their part. In the History/political science Yourpace programme, it is not even possible to do the PS concentration with statistics 1 & 2, instead of foreign language 1 & 2. This is an option if you attend the regular university. 

I have a bachelor and master degree in economics, so I fully understand where you are coming from. When you go past first year economics/finance, the subject becomes a lot more math heavy. Several universities I know of offer a combined bachelor degree in economics and mathematics. You could consider doing a master in economics/finance.

The economics course is a single course on campus. That's why the YourPace degrees require both macro & micro. I wonder if they haven't expanded the math options in YourPace is due to the difficulty of math. I know there were a number of issues with the science course. We also need to keep in mind that YourPace is only a few years old. I think this is the 5th year of YourPace. It has grown during this time to include new bachelor's degrees and UMPI's first ever master's degree. More degrees are in the works so more classes are coming. When I started in August 2020 French 1 was the only foreign language class available in YourPace. Spanish 1 came later. I asked about it every few weeks because I was told that it was coming. I signed up for it as soon as it became available.

[rachel83az]

UMPI could do what other schools do and outsource at least some of its maths classes to ALEKS or similar. ALEKS has Stats: https://www.aleks.com/about_aleks/course_products

I don't like it as much, but Gradarius has Calculus: https://www.gradarius.com/