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Master of Arts Program
Student Profiles
Lori Stanton
- What degree program are you in and when do you expect to graduate?
- I am enrolled in the MAP and plan on graduating Fall 2007.
- Who is your employer while attending APU (if applicable)?
- The Salvation Army and Serendipity Adult Day Services.
- What are your career goals?
- To become an advocate for seniors and a consultant.
- Why APU and what is your MAP in?
- I like the flexibility of the MAP. My focus is Gerontology and Advocacy.
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- The flexibility and the ability to create my own program.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- APU strives to assist the students by any means possible. The director of the MAP is an open and friendly person who wants students
to succeed and therefore does everything to help you along your journey.
Matt Childs
- What degree program are you in and when do you expect to graduate?
- I am currently enrolled in the MAP program and I am studying a hybrid of history and creative non-fiction. I am planning on graduating in December of 2004.
- Who is your employer while attending APU (if applicable)?
- GCI
- What are your career goals?
- I am currently employed as a computer programmer (which I enjoy immensely) - however I would like to teach history someday at either the high school or college level.
- Why APU and what is your MAP in?
- I chose APU because it gives me the chance to work one on one with faculty who are genuinely interested in their students. It's rare to find a program that offers both flexibility and an environment very conducive to learning. My MAP is a hybrid degree mixing creative writing and history. This is definitely not a mix that I would have been able to work on in a more traditional environment. To me the best thing about it has been the ability to blend my work to create a much fuller and richer learning experience.
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- The people - both faculty and fellow students. Wow - what an opportunity to meet some extraordinarily bright and thoughtful folks. I always look forward to our colloquiums as I am interested to hear about other folk's projects and their research. Even though most of us are working on unrelated projects - there is a great sense of community among the students. We know how hard each of us works and that has created a bond among us.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- Take advantage of the relationship with your advisor and don't be afraid to change directions. This is a learning process and I think that includes growth and change - so you may find yourself headed in a completely different direction from the one you started in.
- How does the independent study relationship work with your advisor?
- It works great. Professor Rawson has mastered the ability to be both supportive of my work and challenging all at the same time. We get together as often as I need to and he is very receptive of my work and always has items or articles for me to take a look at. It's nice to know that your advisor is thinking about your work - even when you haven't seen them for weeks. It really makes a difference.
- Describe your research phase.
- Books and more books - just kidding. It was actually more than that. I spent a lot of time finding articles and people on the internet. I really wanted to have some contact outside of the United States to get some sense of how the international community views the United States and our shared history. I read a lot of great articles and books that otherwise would have been passed over. There is so much information out there. I also listened to a lot of "revolutionary" music (American pop music in the 1960's, Russian composers during the Cold War - that type of stuff). There really is no limit to how you do your research or what is accessible. I'm still reading and keeping in touch with folks in Europe and the Middle East as well as Canada.
Alexandra McClanahan
- What degree program are you in and when do you expect to graduate?
- I am in the MAP under Mei Mei. Tim Rawson is my advisor. My project is a book to update the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, focusing on the importance of Alaska Native Corporations to Alaska's economy and explaining how the act created a new form of capitalism. The act has been radically altered since it was passed, and my book is to make these changes accessible to the general public. I have completed 18 hours of the required 36 hours, and I started the program in the fall of 2001. This semester I am taking 6 hours. My goal is to complete the degree by the fall of 2004 or spring of 2005. I guess you can say I am one of the slower students, but I am a mother of a 12-year-old, and my work as CIRI historian, as well as my service on the Cook Inlet Historical Society board is demanding.
- Who is your employer while attending APU (if applicable)?
- I originally was employed by CIRI, but I am now technically an employee of Cook Inlet Tribal Council.
- What are your career goals?
- My career goals are to continue to develop as a writer, focusing on work that fosters greater understanding of the important role Alaska Native people play in Alaska's economy, cultural diversity and history. It is a privilege to do the work I do. Eventually, I see myself possibly teaching at either the high school or college level.
- Why APU and what is your MAP in?
- I selected APU because the MAP is specifically designed for working professionals. I tried working on a master's degree in the early 1990s, but the pressure of motherhood and my work made traditional classes an untenable alternative for me. I describe my project (above).
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- It is an honor to meet my fellow students and also work with the gifted and dedicated teaching staff at APU. I have learned so much from Mei Mei and Tim. Additionally, I am re-energized and inspired each time I listen to presentations by my fellow students.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- A self-directed program is much more challenging and demanding than I would have anticipated. That's good, but people probably should have some understanding of this before they get started. Also, there are many "blind alleys" and "wrong turns," but that's OK. I'm learning that they are actually part of the way forward.
- How Does the independent study relationship work with your advisor?
- I love the colloquium! As I mentioned, it is inspiring and interesting, as well as educational, to hear what other students are doing. I actually had tears in my eyes listening to a presentation on one woman's study of Title IX. As the mother of a 12-year-old athlete, it was quite moving to learn about the history of this valuable law.
Joanne O'Halloran
- What degree program are you in and when do you expect to graduate?
- I am currently in the Master of Arts Program (Liberal Studies) and hope to graduate this coming December.
- Employer
- Marc Phillips, director of the Moseley Sports Center.
- What are your career goals?
- I am currently completing my master's thesis on Title IX and Women in Sports. I hope to design a law similar to Title IX, which will be applicable to the Irish education system. I intend to pursue the implementation of such a law in order to improve sporting opportunities for young girls and women in Ireland. I hope to continue with my education and would eventually like to teach at university level.
- Why APU?
- APU offered an opportunity to study and complete a master's degree in an area that I chose and one, which was very important to me. I completed my bachelor's degree in Ireland during which I wrote a thesis on the media's portrayal of women in sport. For my masters degree I wanted to continue my research in this area, specifically in the area of opportunities for women in sport. It would have been impossible to do this in Ireland, as the lack of opportunity for women in sport would have provided little grounds for research. Having lived in Alaska on and off for four years I had no doubts about attending college here. However, after carrying out a little research I found that APU was the only college that provided a program that catered to my education goals. The initial meeting with the course director was very informative and positive after which I decided that APU offered the perfect setting and environment to complete my master's degree.
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- One word…. Support. There has been nothing more valuable than the support, which I received from this college. Coming from Ireland I was used to a small school and small classes where you were much more than just a number. It was very comforting to find out that APU was very similar. From day one, my professors, advisors, classmates and other APU staff have made an attempt to know who I am and to ask about my work and my progress with the program. Although the US college system is quite different from what I was used to I have never felt lost or have never had a question left unanswered. The MAP program allows a great deal of flexibility, which enables me to fit my college work around everything else. I set my own schedule.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- There are two aspects of the MAP program that cannot go unmentioned. Having been out of college for two years I was dreading the thoughts of changing my life around in order to return to college. The design of the MAP program called for very little changes. It is perfect for people who need to keep their current schedules in place. There are only two colloquiums per semester, both of which are on a Saturday and outside of these you decide your own schedule. The second aspect is specificity. You choose your topic and course of study and with the help of you advisor decide the best way to complete your thesis. With the MAP program, you are in the driving seat; you have the opportunity to focus on your educational goals.
- How does the independent study relationship work with your advisor?
- My relationship with my advisor has been invaluable and inspirational. She has guided me in directions that I would have never considered. Her background in women's studies and knowledge of the education system combined with her past experiences has been invaluable to my thesis. Although it is up to each student and advisor to set their own schedule I found that regular meetings were very helpful in keeping me on track. We decided on a schedule at the start of each semester that worked for both of us. The schedule was not set in stone but meant that there was regular contact. My study here at APU has been made easier and more enjoyable with the help of a great advisor who, over the last year has become a great friend.
Liz Hilpert
- What are you career goals?
- I hope to teach and counsel individuals in the ways of vocal technique and health (B.S. emphasis in nutrition.)
- Why APU?
- Because it's APU! I enjoyed my break from the role of 'student' but after years of observing the outstanding work of faculty and contribution from staff, I decided I couldn't pass an opportunity to revisit the study of music.
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- Not just the rich environment of ideas but the freedom for exploration and growth both as individuals and as a MAP community.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- I recommend you have a firm idea of what you want to achieve, since the experience is a fruition of intense research and active learning.
Dave Block
- What are you career goals?
- Continue in the education profession and extend my abilities into the realm of Theatre and the Arts.
- Why APU?
- APU offers the only program in the state that is local and offers a degree in the area I wanted. It is flexible and built to suit MY needs.
- What have you enjoyed most about the program?
- The flexibility of the program offers students a chance to adapt their program as they go to the discoveries they are experiencing through the process.
- What is the most important thing to share with prospective students?
- The rigor of this degree program is not diminished by the fact that the student forms the program of study.
- Comment on your experiences during the practicum phase.
- I've never had an educational experience where I was free to explore as I wished. Usually, programs of study are static. In MAP, you set waypoints as you go, and should "way lead on to way" you are free to take the path less traveled if merited. I was able to incorporate not only classroom style learning, but also non-traditional means of instruction like workshops, travel, and experimenting with what I had learned so far in real world scenarios.
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