Frequently Asked Questions

What areas of concentration are included in the Individualized Liberal and Professional Studies Program?

Students in this program earn a master of arts degree in a variety of concentrations in the social sciences, arts, writing, humanities, management, and a variety of interdisciplinary fields. If you are unsure about how to articulate what you wish to study, contact a member of the Enrollment Services team (937) 769-1818.

What does individualized really mean? Can I study anything I want, when I want, and how I want?

Individualized means that the faculty advisor and your degree committee members will work with you to design a degree that is both credible and meets your individual educational goals. It takes into consideration your learning style, prior experience, and academic goals.

Your curriculum design must be grounded in theory and meet the academic and professional standards for your field of study. Although there is a tremendous amount of flexibility within the ILPS program, there is also a corresponding structure and process for completing the degree.

When implementing the curriculum plan, you will have latitude in terms of when courses begin and end. However, there are satisfactory academic progress benchmarks which must be met every step of the way. Learning activities and assessment encompass a wide variety of options. These options are covered in the curriculum design course with your faculty advisor.

I read that I will be able to study with experts in the field that I select. How does this work? How do I find these experts? And how do I get them to work with me?

A major advantage of the ILPS program design is that the student has an opportunity to recruit two degree committee members, and other instructors for the independent study courses. This allows the student to collaborate with faculty with whom they share academic interests.

The following factors should be considered in selecting committee members and instructors.

• Academic Credentials. Academic credentials (usually a terminal degree) and competence in the students field are required.

• Geographic Proximity. Geographic proximity facilitates communication throughout the program. Geographic proximity is not an absolute requirement. Many students have found the ILPS program to be a means of overcoming the obstacle of geographic isolation in the pursuit of graduate education.

Possible sources for degree committee members and instructors
Students find their degree committee members by networking in the student's local area (universities, professional organizations) and field of study. If the student starts with one potential resource individual, that individual can usually refer the student to other potential sources of committee members and instructors in the area and across the country. Individuals with whom the student has a significant relationship, such as family members, close friends, psychotherapists, or supervisors, are not eligible to serve as degree committee members or instructors. Given Antioch’s emphasis on theory and practice, we encourage students to study with academics and practitioners.

Specific sources for degree committee members include the following:

Academics in the field. Students already active in their chosen field of study will know academics with appropriate credentials who can serve as committee members and instructors.

Professional directories. Students are advised to consult professional directories available through associations to find the names of potential members and instructors.

Local educational institutions. Catalogs and websites of academic institutions in the student’s community can also provide leads.

The faculty advisor. The faculty advisor can serve as a valuable resource for recruiting a degree committee. For instance, the faculty advisor may know current students and alumni who are working with academics and professionals in the student’s community. The faculty advisor will also be familiar with recruitment strategies that have proven effective for a particular discipline. In some cases, McGregor faculty in other programs may be suitable choices for degree committee membership.

I have never taken an online or a distance learning type course before. I am wondering if this degree is accredited and will it be viewed as a credible degree when I graduate?

At Antioch University we have been highly selective about the types of programs we offer at a distance and have ensured that the same academic principles are applied to this program as are applied to our on-campus classroom offerings.

Antioch University is accredited by:

Higher Learning Commission
of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
30 North LaSalle Street
Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602-2504
(800) 621-7440
(312) 263-0456
Fax: (312) 263-7462
www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org

I work full time and am wondering how this program will work for me. (I also have two small children). Is this really doable?

This program was designed specifically for adult learners 25 years ago. Part of what goes into developing a quality graduate program is a good understanding of the needs of adult learners. We feel that we have such an understanding. At Antioch McGregor, we recognize that you have multiple responsibilities to your work, your family, and your community. We’ve developed this program with working adults’ lifestyles in mind.

• With two short residencies, online courses, and independent study courses, you will be able to maximize your learning time. The online courses are “asynchronous” – meaning that you are not required to be online at the same time as your classmates and professors. The independent study courses are designed by you and your committee taking into account your learning style, learning goals, and start and end dates. This affords you the flexibility to work when you are at your best: early mornings before heading off to work, evenings after the kids are in bed, or weekends when you can carve out some time to study.
• You, your faculty advisor and degree committee will design the coursework to relate to what you experience at work or hope to do in your field. So, you’ll be applying what you learn in your courses to your practice, and, hopefully, making your practice more effective and rewarding.
• If you will be attending professional conferences as part of your work responsibilities, you may be able to apply what you learn at the conferences to your coursework.
• Most ILPS students are employed full-time and also have multiple demands on their time. To address these challenges, we have built 3 levels of support in this program:
  
  1. You will initially be part of a cohort going through the first two required classes with your faculty advisor.
  
  
  2. You will be working with your Antioch faculty advisor, a core faculty member in the ILPS department, throughout your degree implementation process.
  
  
  3. You will find support from the Program Administrator and the Assistant to the Director in the ILPS program office. Both will assist you with administrative details and processing of your completed coursework.

Our goal is to help students graduate--we all share in everyone’s success.

To answer you directly, "Yes! It is definitely doable."

My budget is tight. How can I pay for this program, and how much does it cost?

Ask your Human Resources Department about tuition reimbursement and other employee educational benefits. Many employers have programs that reimburse employees for at least a portion of their tuition costs.

There is also the option of tuition assistance in the form of federal subsidized and unsubsidized student loans. Current rates are the lowest in history at 2.77% (effective until 6/30/05) while in school. Please take a moment to visit the Financial Aid Information area of our website. There is a lot of information in there to help you with financing your education.

Please see the following link for tuition and fees.

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