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FAQ
Is the GRE required for admission?
- Answer: We do not require the GRE (or any other type of test).
My
overall GPA from college is not very good. Do I need to go back and earn a
new Bachelor's degree before applying to graduate school?
- Answer: We encourage you to look closely at the grades you earned
during the last 60 hours of coursework for your Bachelor's degree. The
average of those grades will be examined by the staff who review your
transcript. Our requirement is 3.0 GPA and there are no exceptions. In
addition, you will submit a scholarly writing sample of approximately 700-1000
words.
If I
sign up for OM, can I take ONLY online courses?
- Answer: As a student working toward the M.S. in Family Studies,
you are eligible to take classes in any format offered by the Department
of Family Sciences. We have offered flexible scheduling such as weekend
classes and evening classes since 1980. We have helped working
professionals throughout the Southwest meet their own schedules while
studying toward both Master's and doctoral degrees. Since the mid-1990s,
we have included videoconference, e-mail, and Internet components in
many classes, reducing travel to campus.
Can I
apply for OM and later change to campus classes?
- Answer: Your application will be to the M.S. in Family Studies
program, which allows you to plan your study with all online classes, or
all campus classes, or a mix of both. Your diploma will not indicate
whether you took online or campus classes and neither will your
transcript.
We do
encourage distance students identify themselves as "OM" students if they
intend to take primarily online classes so that we can provide timely
information and support about those classes. However, the designation of
OM does not limit you in any way.
(All
students are welcome to attend Seminar Day every semester and all
students can take advantage of technology workshops that support the
online courses.)
I will
be in OM classes exclusively. Can I still apply for scholarships?
- Answer: Absolutely. You will be eligible for all scholarships and
financial aid available to graduate students at TWU.
I will
be in OM classes exclusively. Will I pay extra fees or save on fees?
- Answer: Both. The courses in the OM rotation carry Distance
Education fees that contribute to the technology resources of the
University. Regular campus fees are adjusted downward because distance
students are not on campus to take advantage of certain services. If a
student enrolls in both types of classes in the same semester, however,
charges may reflect more fees. The Graduate School website provides
information on fees and tuition: http://www.twu.edu/o-grad.
I need
100% online courses. Are all the OM classes online every semester?
- Answer: At least two classes in the OM degree plan are online
every semester. By completing 6 hours of course work each semester, you
can complete the M.S. in 6 semesters, or 2 years.
If you
are enrolled in only online classes , you are eligible for certain
reductions in student fees. More information about course fees is
available from the Graduate School.
Online
courses are what I need but I'm afraid I'll regret not having face-to-face
contact.
- Answer: For some students, face-to-face (F2F) contact is a
priority. Therefore, the OM program has been designed to include
optional seminars 3 times a year. Students are invited to come to the
TWU campus for these Seminar Days for professors' introductory seminars
on upcoming online courses. They can also schedule meetings with
advisors and attend workshops with other students in graduate programs.
How does
OM offer a non-thesis degree in so few hours of course work?
- Answer: Like all Master's degrees at TWU, the M.S. in Family
Studies requires a thesis or other writing project. Most of our M.S.
students elect the non-thesis option that includes the creation of a
portfolio from writing assignments in the M.S. classes. Your advisor
will help you plan a portfolio that reflects not only your course of
study at TWU but also your professional goals.
Why
would someone elect the thesis option at 39 hours of course work?
- Answer: Some students plan the M.S. degree as a first step to
earning a doctorate. (TWU offers doctoral degrees in Family Studies,
Child Development, and Family Therapy.) Since doctoral study includes
conducting research and writing a dissertation, thesis work at the
Master's level can provide important experience that helps later at the
Ph.D. level.
Can I
take courses elsewhere and apply them to the M.S. in Family Studies?
- Answer: Just as many graduate programs around the country limit
the number of transfer credits, our M.S. can include only 6 hours of
work completed at another school. A faculty advisor can help you
determine what courses might transfer in.
I
already have a Master's degree and I would prefer to pursue a Ph.D. Do you
offer online study at the doctoral level?
- Answer: Because of our interdisciplinary approach in the
Department of Family Sciences, it is possible to design a doctoral
degree plan that incorporates the online courses of the OM program.
Thus, some hours of your doctoral program can be earned in 100% online
courses. Even courses that are completely face-to-face on campus are
"commuter friendly" because of our long-standing commitment to offering
flexible scheduling.
What is
the meaning of CFLE-approved?
- Answer: This refers to the credential of Certified Family Life
Educator administered by the National Council on Family Relations. Our
M.S. is an approved academic program, which means that our graduates are
eligible for Provisional status as a CFLE. For more information, go to
http://www.ncfr.com/.
What can
you tell me about travel to the TWU campus? Will my visits for Seminar Day
be expensive?
- Answer: We are located on the Denton, Texas, campus of TWU.
Denton is a "small city" just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Denton is the point at which Interstate-35W (from Fort Worth) and
Interstate-35E (from Dallas) merge. The city is an active college town
with more than 35,000 students from the combined enrollments of TWU and
the University of North Texas. TWU is definitely the smaller of the two
campuses!
Air
travel to DFW International Airport puts you within 32 miles of TWU and
freeway driving of 35 to 45 minutes.
Air
travel to Love Field in Dallas puts you within 40 miles of the campus
and city plus freeway driving of approximately one hour.
The
best bargain in lodging at TWU is a reserved room in "Guest Housing" in
a TWU dorm. Rest assured, these are not typical dorm rooms. Comfortable
furnishings, carpet, and cable TV will make the $28/night charge seem
too good to be true. There is a catch, of course: these rooms must be
booked in advance and they are very popular.
Hotel
lodgings in Denton range from budget motels on the freeway to hotel
suites overlooking golf courses. OM faculty and staff will happily
provide tips on the best rooms in town as well as our favorite Mexican
restaurants. | 