Written by Mike Ross
I was traveling extensively for work when I started looking for a Master’s program that would fit into my busy schedule. While an online program would have been the most convenient, I did not want to sacrifice the personal interaction that takes place within the classroom. The Master of Social Science (M.S.Sc.) was able to provide the best of both worlds by offering short-term, on-campus residencies with the convenience of turning in written assignments from home, or in my case from the road, during the rest of the year.
The residency kicks off with a seemingly daunting first paper due at the end of the two-week residency, however it takes place during the summer when the Syracuse University campus is relatively quiet and allows the students and professors to quickly bond in the classrooms, dorms, and over lunch and dinner. It was a great feeling leaving after two weeks with the first grade under my belt! The professors are very accessible and the residency allows for great collaboration on assignments for the coming year.
While there are parameters for papers, students are encouraged to pursue their own topics, which gives us the ability to customize the program to our careers or continuing education plans. I generally stuck with the assignments, but was able to easily research aspects of the topics that most interested me.
One of the hidden gems of the program is the weekend spent at the Minnowbrook Lodge in the Adirondacks during the residency. It is the perfect way to enjoy a little more of New York, unwind from an intensive week, and gear up for the final week of the residency. The professors present ideas about the theme of the residency and are available to help students work through their residency papers. All of this happens while waking up to the sounds of loons calling over the lake, enjoying great food, and maybe taking a dip or kayak trip in the lake.
Mike Ross is a native of West Virginia and has been married for 17 years with four wonderful kids. He worked for his undergraduate alma mater in West Virginia for over a decade recruiting students domestically and internationally. Last year, he accepted a position with the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse as the program manager of their Binghamton New York facility. On a personal note Mike enjoys cycling, backpacking, and kayaking as well as homebrewing and binge-watching TV series on Netflix.