Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by mdg1775, Dec 14, 2012.

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  1. mdg1775

    mdg1775 New Member

    Hi all,

    I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

    I have been thinking about going to school for PhD study and came across Tennessee Temple who has TRACS Accreditation. Any advice?

    Mike
     
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Some more detail would be helpful. For starters, what program there interests you? What is your goal that you think enrolling in it might help you reach? What do you want to do in life that you cannot do now but believe you could do if you completed this program?
     
  3. mdg1775

    mdg1775 New Member

    Some questions lofty...

    Steve,

    long time.

    Ok, I am planning to take the PhD in leadership. I am a Federal Executive and I feel the degree will help me as a credential to support my career goals. I do not necessarily plan to teach. If I do it will probably be as a trainer in the Government and not in academia. Other than that, no particular goals but I do want a degree that will be respected.

    What can I do with the degree that I cannot do now? Don't know. I've accomplished everything I've tried other than earn a PhD. I've taken classes at NCU, Capella, and UoPHx and inevitably something in life has halted my path. Typically taking over a new organization that requires 24/7 baby monitoring. Now, I do not have that problem and TTU is a much more modest financial investment than the aforementioned.
     
  4. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    Although TRACS is a recognized USDoE/CHEA accreditor, I would encourage you to go with school that is RA. TRACS and DETC accredited degrees work great for many people, but RA remains the gold standard.
     
  5. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    If you don't know what the degree will do for you then I suggest that you stop and think it through again. If, at that point, you still want the degree (the challenge, personal gratification, etc.) then I suggest that you spend the smallest number of dollars possible. That typically means paying attention to the universities of South Africa. If, somehow, you are put off by this suggestion then I suggest that you go back and re-examine step #1, "why do you want the degree?" An SA "big book" PhD is brimming with credibility and something to be proud of (my teachers always told me not to end a sentence with a preposition). Otherwise I suppose that you could think of it as a hobby, spending money in order to relax and occupy your spare time. In that case you needn't worry about what any of us say. In any case, good luck.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 21, 2012
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    The OP's sig line indicates a Ph.D. candidacy. I suspect this isn't really so. It sounds like the OP has taken some classes, which is certainly not candidacy. If he/she was an actual doctoral candidate, this conversation would have a different slant, I suspect.

    A Ph.D. is more significant and complicated than a master's or bachelor's by many, many magnitudes. There are not straight-forward answers in terms of acceptability. But here's a couple of things to consider: TRACS is not comparable to the regional associations. One will find diminished recognition of one's degrees as a result. But such a degree WOULD be recognized by the federal government for employment purposes.

    But none of that is as significant as why you want to get the degree and what you want to do in it and after it.
     
  7. docmike

    docmike New Member

    I just graduated in May 2013 from the Ph.D. program at TTU. Let me address a couple of concerns. First the coursework and rigor at TTU is comparable to any RA school. I completed my Masters at Liberty. TTU has many Liberty Doc's on staff and the new president is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Seminary. They have hired several more Doc's from RA schools. The second thing is TTU is well on its way to regional accreditation. Enrollment is up and the school has been financially stable for the last three years. If you want to teach at Harvard then TTU is not for you. But if are looking for a respectable, accredited, rigorous program that is affordable TTU could possible fill the bill!
     
  8. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

  9. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Of course, this is not the case. There's Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Yale, Brown and a whole bunch of other schools that would easily be seen as superior. When you make these hyperbolic statements you discredit you main point. If you're trying to say it's an OK school then just say that. That's enough. But to try to say that it's the same as any other RA school is just silly and non-defensible.
    Be real.
     
  10. nongard1

    nongard1 Member

    I just finished a doctorate (today I actually completed my oral defense of my dissertation) at a TRACS accredited school. For my purposes it is perfect. It is nationally accredited, which means - it is accredited.
    As Kimzet suggests, you can argue one school is better than another, or even one accreditation is better than another, but the bottom line is - it is accredited.

    In my field, seminars, professional education training and writing, TRACS is just fine.

    As stated, the federal government will recognize it, and that is where you work.

    TRACS just completed the re-accreditation process with the 666 commission (6 reps from congress, 6 from senate, 6 from USDOE) and passed with flying colors.
     
  11. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    FYI - The Senate is part of Congress.
     
  12. nongard1

    nongard1 Member

    House.
    My brain is scrambled from what was a solid day of academic thinking....
    Which is why I came to this board at the end of the day....
    Infotainment....
     
  13. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Odd, that a Christian accreditor would have to be approved by a body called the 666 commission.
    The "number of the beast" and all that.... all in fun, of course. :jester:

    Johann
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 18, 2013
  14. nongard1

    nongard1 Member

    To clarify - it is the government that is 666 :) Makes perfect sense to me!
     
  15. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Now it does, to me! :smile:

    Johann
     
  16. docmike

    docmike New Member

    "First the coursework and rigor at TTU is comparable to any RA school." By this I mean the courses taught are comparable to those taught in RA schools. Obviously outside the Evangelical world TTU does not have the same name recognition. I can assure you the the program is rigorous and the requirements to complete the program are virtually the same as any RA school. Our students are from many different occupations. Some are corporate executives, college presidents, a medical doctor, and even a politician. All of the Docs who head up the program have RA degrees. If you don't believe me go their website Tennessee Temple University a Christian University and look at the course descriptions. The books and authors in each course are exactly the same as in a RA school. The leadership program is part of the graduate school not the Seminary. TTU trains teachers in math, science, English, and history. It also offers degrees in business and marketing.
     

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