How Long Are Classes at UMass Global?

Many online colleges and universities offer shorter course terms instead of traditional 16-week semesters. This can allow students to earn their degrees faster.

Keep reading to learn more about the online programs offered by UMass Global and how long classes are at UMass Global.

What Is UMass Global?

UMass Global is a private online university based in Irvine, CA. It's an affiliate of the public University of Massachusetts system.

The university was first founded in 1958 as Champman College, a branch of the Champman University system that offered programs on military bases.

In 2009 it was renamed to Brandman University. When it became affiliated with the University of Massachusetts system in 2021 it rebranded once again, this time to UMass Global.

UMass Global is dedicated to providing online programs to busy adults with dependants, jobs, and other obligations.

The university is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). It also holds programmatic accreditation for its education, nursing, and social work programs.

What Programs Does UMass Global Offer?

UMass Global offers over 65 online programs. Students can earn associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and certificates. Professional advancement programs are also available.

Students earn their degrees through the university's five schools:

• School of Arts and Sciences
• School of Business and Professional Studies
• School of Education
• School of Nursing and Health Professions
• School of Extended Education

Degrees in business administration and organizational leadership are extremely popular for bachelor's and master's students.

Other popular fields of study for bachelor's students include psychology and social work, while for master's students, it's education, marriage and family counseling, and social work.

How Long Are Classes at UMass Global?

The length of classes at UMass Global depends on whether you're taking a traditional online program, a self-paced program, or a professional development program.

We've broken these timeframes down below.

Length of Classes for Traditional Online Programs

The majority of programs at UMass Global are offered in a traditional online format. Classes are a set length, the professor sets the pace, and students have due dates but typically don't have set log-in times.

For traditional online programs at UMass Global, classes are eight weeks long and there are six terms per year. This format makes it easy to pause your education for a term if needed.

For example, retail workers may opt to take the term around the holidays off. Students who are pregnant may want to take the term around their due date off.

Students can then return to their studies when they're ready. This allows them to miss half a semester instead of a full 16 weeks.

Length of Classes for MyPath Programs

In addition to traditional online programs, UMass Global also offers a self-paced MyPath format for some programs in the School of Business and Professional Studies and the School of Extended Studies.

MyPath programs are competency-based. You move through coursework at your own speed, and once you've passed one course, you move on to the next one.

After taking an initial assessment, you'll be given a customized curriculum. You can start as soon as you're ready and speed through areas you find easy and take your time on areas you find more complicated.

As a result, there is no specific length of time for classes in MyPath programs. However, you are charged for your program every six months.

Students pay a flat fee twice a year, regardless of their credit load. This means there's a benefit to completing each course quickly, so long as you truly learn the material.

Length of Classes for Professional Development Programs

Professional development programs offered by UMass Global include certificate programs, authorizations and credentials for educators, individual courses, and bootcamps.

For the most part, certificate, authorization, and credential programs follow the same eight-week course schedule that traditional degree programs follow.

Individual courses usually take less than 20 hours total to finish, and students are given several months to complete the program.

For example:

• The Agile Improvement Simulation course takes 10 hours to complete and students have 90 days to complete the course.
• The Basic Tools For Continuous Improvement in Literacy course takes 15 hours to complete and students have six months to complete the course.
• The Brain Based Teaching Strategies course takes 30 hours to complete and students have six months to complete the course.
• The Conflict Resolution for Behavioral Health Professionals takes six hours to complete and students have six months to complete the course.
• The Let's Talk About Race course takes 30 hours to complete and students have six months to complete the course.

UMass Global offers bootcamps for information technology programs. These programs are classified as MyPath programs, but are technically mentor-led.

Students pay one flat fee for the entire bootcamp, which usually takes either six or nine months to complete.

Tuition for Online Programs at UMass Global

The tuition for online programs at UMass Global depends on the type of program you're taking and if you or your spouse is an active military member.

Undergraduate degrees and certificates are $500 per credit. Since most classes are three credits, that's $1,500 per class.

Active military members and their spouses pay half of this, $250 per credit or $750 per class.

MyPath programs are charged $3,200 every six months, which includes digital textbooks and materials.

Master's programs and certificates charge $709 per credit or about $2,127 per course. Military members and spouses pay $400 per credit, or $1,200 per course. MyPath programs are $3,700 per term.

Doctoral programs range between $1,051-$1,224 per credit, or $3,153-$3,672 per class. There is no military discount and doctoral programs are not available in the MyPath format.

Singular courses and bootcamps are priced individually. Courses range from free up to $1,500, while bootcamps range from $8,500-$13,500.

Take Online Classes Through UMass Global

Typical courses through UMass Global take eight weeks, but some programs are self-paced and other individual programs vary.

With the guide above, you can determine if courses at UMass Global are right for you!