The reality
The short answer is yes — and it’s more common than you might think. Most online graduate programs today, including Iowa's Master of Arts in Strategic Communication, are built specifically for working adults. You won't be the exception in the room. You'll be the norm.
How much time does graduate school take, realistically?
This is usually the real question underneath "Can I do this?" — not whether it's possible, but whether it's sustainable. Here's an honest breakdown of the weekly time commitment.
1-2 courses per semester is the typical pace for working professionals, not a full course load.
8-12 hours per week of coursework, reading, and class time per course.
2-4 years to finish the degree, at a pace that fits around a 9-to-5 job.
Many students begin with one course to get a feel for graduate school while working full time. Live online classes begin at 5:30 p.m. CT, making it easier for working professionals to attend after the workday before completing the rest of their coursework on their own schedule. Once they settle into the rhythm, some discover the workload is more manageable than they expected and choose to take two courses in a semester. Others prefer to stay at one course throughout the program, and that's perfectly okay. The program is designed to support both approaches.
What a week actually looks like for a working graduate student
Here's what a typical week might look like for someone working a full-time job while taking one MASC course:
Monday evening
One live online class meeting. It's dedicated time on your calendar each week, without the added commute to campus.
Tuesday–Thursday
Readings, recorded lectures, or discussion posts completed whenever your schedule allows; during lunch, after the kids are asleep, or over your morning coffee.
Weekend
A few focused hours to wrap up assignments or prepare for the week ahead.
Going to grad school is not effortless. But it's designed to fit inside a life that's already full, not replace it.
You won't be doing this alone
One of the biggest fears about going back to school as a working adult is isolation. The idea that you'll be staring down at a textbook at 9 p.m. with no one to ask, "Is this normal?" The reality at Iowa is different. There are three layers of support built into the program specifically because the people who designed it know what working professionals are up against.
From your first semester through graduation, you'll have access to resources designed to help you succeed academically while balancing the rest of your life.
An advisor who builds the schedule with you: Academic advisors work with you to build a course plan that fits your goals, schedule, and responsibilities. If life changes along the way, your plan can change with it.
A cohort of people just like you: Your classmates include working professionals, parents, career changers, and students continuing directly from their undergraduate studies through Iowa's U2G pathway. Bringing together people with different professional and life experiences creates richer discussions, broader perspectives, and a peer network that continues long after graduation.
Faculty who have lived it: Courses are taught by current and former industry professionals, not professors removed from the working world. They understand exactly what you're balancing because many have done it themselves—including several who earned their MASC degree from the University of Iowa.
Let’s talk
There's rarely a perfect time to go back to school. That's why the University of Iowa's Master of Arts in Strategic Communication was designed to meet working professionals where they are, not where they wish they could be.
Choosing a graduate program is a big decision, and we're here to help. Our preferred way to answer your questions is through a one-on-one conversation with Joanna, our program director. She'll talk through your goals, answer your questions, and help you decide whether the MASC program is the right fit. No pressure—just a conversation.