Graduated from UIUC MSM, moving on to MBA

[Kjnova]

Updating for the record: my MBA has been processed and conferred, so I am 100% done, other than receiving the paper diploma in the mail. I started Fall 2 2024, first MSM, then "transferred" into MBA.

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Are all classes 8-week long? How does evaluation/grading work? Mostly proctored/Honorlock exams or presentations? tbh I hate peer grading it's a farce for online degrees

All classes are eight weeks long. There are five eight-week sessions per calendar year: Spring 1, Spring 2, Summer, Fall 1, Fall 2. There are some gaps between them, especially between summer and Fall 1.
Grading can be divided between the Coursera component, and the live session component. A lot of online discussion tends to focus on Coursera because that is more accessible before committing to the program, but the large majority of the experience will be via the live session/high engagement segment.

Each high-engagement class has two associated Coursera classes.
For Coursera, grades are mainly in the form of quizzes, and peer-graded assignments. You also must grade some other students' assignments to complete the Coursera classes. Coursera is pass/fail and is not calculated in any letter grade ever, except that failure to pass a Coursera class will result in failing the overall class.

For high-engagement classes, assignment types are varied, and are graded by course assistants and/or TAs, or potentially by the faculty. Assignments can be in the form of papers, powerpoints, video presentations, quizzes, calculations in a spreadsheet, or whatever fits the course content.

Group assignments are usually a significant part of the high-engagement course grade. It is not a uniform percentage, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't 30% of a class and it might sometimes approach 50%. I will honestly say that the group assignments are the scariest part of the program for me, because you never know what kind of group you'll be in. However, I never lost a letter grade because of my group, and i've reluctantly concluded that they way UIUC does group work is probably the best overall compromise for how the program is structured (flexible, non-lockstep non-cohort).

I don't think anything is proctored. Nothing that I recall.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

Updating for the record: my MBA has been processed and conferred, so I am 100% done, other than receiving the paper diploma in the mail. I started Fall 2 2024, first MSM, then "transferred" into MBA.

---

Are all classes 8-week long? How does evaluation/grading work? Mostly proctored/Honorlock exams or presentations? tbh I hate peer grading it's a farce for online degrees

All classes are eight weeks long. There are five eight-week sessions per calendar year: Spring 1, Spring 2, Summer, Fall 1, Fall 2. There are some gaps between them, especially between summer and Fall 1.
Grading can be divided between the Coursera component, and the live session component. A lot of online discussion tends to focus on Coursera because that is more accessible before committing to the program, but the large majority of the experience will be via the live session/high engagement segment.

Each high-engagement class has two associated Coursera classes.
For Coursera, grades are mainly in the form of quizzes, and peer-graded assignments. You also must grade some other students' assignments to complete the Coursera classes. Coursera is pass/fail and is not calculated in any letter grade ever, except that failure to pass a Coursera class will result in failing the overall class.

For high-engagement classes, assignment types are varied, and are graded by course assistants and/or TAs, or potentially by the faculty. Assignments can be in the form of papers, powerpoints, video presentations, quizzes, calculations in a spreadsheet, or whatever fits the course content.

Group assignments are usually a significant part of the high-engagement course grade. It is not a uniform percentage, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't 30% of a class and it might sometimes approach 50%. I will honestly say that the group assignments are the scariest part of the program for me, because you never know what kind of group you'll be in. However, I never lost a letter grade because of my group, and i've reluctantly concluded that they way UIUC does group work is probably the best overall compromise for how the program is structured (flexible, non-lockstep non-cohort).

I don't think anything is proctored. Nothing that I recall.

No proctoring

[Kjnova]

Received my digital diploma today. Name blacked out because the Internet is forever. The paper diploma is in the mail.

[LevelUP]

Received my digital diploma today. Name blacked out because the Internet is forever. The paper diploma is in the mail.

Seems like a good program. Congratulations on making it through!

[Mint Berry Crunch]

Just received one of their graduate certificates just now in strategic leadership and management.

[alwayscurious]

Received my digital diploma today. Name blacked out because the Internet is forever. The paper diploma is in the mail.

Congratulations!