University of the Cumberlands EdD: Yeah, I enrolled

Discussion in 'Education, Teaching and related degrees' started by SteveFoerster, Jan 29, 2014.

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  1. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I've been a little nervous about sharing this, because I know I've enrolled in quite a few doctoral programs in the past only to decide they weren't right for me, or, more recently, that I just wasn't at the right time of life to get through such a program.

    However, I've always kept my eyes open for an ideal doctoral program in educational leadership or educational technology, one that had very low tuition rates, very liberal transfer credit allowances, and that seemed to have its act together organizationally.

    I decided that school is the University of the Cumberlands, and I've enrolled in their doctoral program in Educational Leadership. I applied somewhat on a lark -- actually, they sucked me in by responding to my filling out a web form that I meant only as an inquiry by thanking me for having filled out an application and saying all I needed to do was submit the materials to accompany it, e.g., recommendation, transcripts, test score, and essay. Since they did such a great job making it sound like I was already in progress, I found myself going ahead and submitting everything else. Very smooth, UC.

    Now, that alone wouldn't have been enough to get me to enroll, but they did a number of other things right. Their admissions person was helpful and informative but never pushy. She offered to let me submit additional references in lieu of a test score, but since they accepted the Miller Analogies Test, which takes like an hour, I just went and took the test. They went out of their way to accept all my previous doctoral work rather than look for ways to reject it like some schools, and as a result I got the maximum of 18 semester-hours of transfer. Since the whole program is 60 semester-hours, that means I walked in being 30% done.

    Then there's the money. At $375 each, my 42 remaining semester-hours will cost a total of $15,750. And those courses can be taken one at a time, six terms per year, which is the sort of scheduling I prefer.

    I'm a few weeks into the first course now, and the instructor has presented the material in an engaging manner, and she's flexible about when assignments are submitted. There's a weekly synchronous component, but so far it's been about an hour each week, and it's actually been useful and fun to participate. It's decent material, but the workload is entirely manageable and the expectations are reasonable. I also appreciate they talk about the dissertation from the from course, and that their completion rate is very high -- unlike some schools, they actually want people to finish.

    It's also nice to do this sort of thing on the buddy system, and since it's in his signature I think it's okay to "out" my fellow Virginian Matt Brent as having signed up for the same program, although we're in different classes this term.

    Anyway, that's what's up. Questions? Ask away.
     
    onlymybest likes this.
  2. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    Steve, that sounds really really nice. I'm so happy for you! Also, I'm glad you said something, I'd been observing the FB conversations between you and Matt about the program. :)
     
  3. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    This is wonderful. Congratulations and good luck!
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Now that I've said something, I'll feel like a schmuck if I don't finish this time around. But hopefully that will be motivating. :smile:
     
  5. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    I knew you sounded too obsessed with this school. I'm assuming they only accept certain types of transfer credits, right? Something related to education, school counseling, or the general education courses like English and History.
     
  6. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    Congratulations! I knew that you really wanted to do this, and I am glad that you found the right fit!
     
  7. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Or business, or psychology. Maybe others, I'm not sure. Interestingly, it's an 18 semester-hour specialization where these credits go, so people wanting to have enough doctoral level credits to teach a particular discipline can get them in this program even though it's an EdD. In fact it's almost designed like the way the original DA was intended -- one studies both in one's discipline while also taking enough education courses to be dangerous. :smile:
     
  8. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    I'm guessing the transfer credits would be limited to these.
    Ed.D Online - Doctorate in Education - University of the Cumberlands

    I also saw something about school counseling.
     
  9. wmcdonald

    wmcdonald Member

    Good luck to you, Steve. I enjoyed working with you at ATSU, and you need to do this. We need guys like you teaching! Best of luck to you, and let me know if I can ever be of assistance!
     
  10. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Many thanks, Dr. McDonald, I appreciate your kind words! I enjoyed my time at ATSU as well, and while I may not have finished there, I still recommend it fairly often for others who are looking for a program focused on health education.
     
  11. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    Good luck to you Steve. I am sure you will do well and make us proud. :)
     
  12. mattbrent

    mattbrent Well-Known Member

    STALKER!

    Seriously, though... I'm glad Steve clued me in on this program. Not only did it allow me to transfer classes in, they're little me do a graduate course in Virginia History, which is something I had been looking for. I just have to refamiliarize myself with APA again. I hated it with my MSEd and the PolySci work I did. I loved Chicago Style...

    I'm actually enjoying the weekly sessions. We use Blackboard Collaborate, which is what we use were I teach. It's nice being able to interact with students and the instructor in a live atmosphere. Let's be realistic... a discussion board can only go so far. I've just got my fingers crossed that I can handle all this. With my two kids and the new responsibilities the college keeps throwing at me, I'm going to hang on for the ride and hope to finish in about 3 years.

    -Matt
     
  13. Tom729

    Tom729 New Member

    I may just apply to UC. I have done some research on this school over the last few days. I am doing a one credit oreintation course through ACE'a Ed.D in leadership which is of courec RA and is only $303.00 per credit (since I qualified for the grant). However the program is not designated specifically for those wishing to pursue a career in higher administration, and I would be required to embark on an admin certificate progam starting from the very beginning once I finish the program.

    I requested info by filling out their online form to have sombody call me. The big question I want to know is if I can be certified as an admin through NY by enrolling in the program?

    Also MAtt, can I use additional references in substitution of the MAT? I havent taken it but I had more letters of reference for the ACE then I actually needed.
     
  14. Tom729

    Tom729 New Member

    I took it upon myself to contact an admissions rep in the office just a little while ago. The program does not entail any kind of certification to actually go into an administrative position.
     
  15. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    No, sorry, it's not a K-12 Supervision program. But my area of interest is higher ed, not K-12.
     
  16. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    That's great to hear, Steve. Good luck with the program (to both you and Matt!). Keep us updated on your progress.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 31, 2014
  17. FJD

    FJD Member

    Good luck. I'm sure you'll get across the finish line this time. A friend of mine lives in Williamsburg, KY, and has nothing but good things to say about UC. I probably would have enrolled there myself, if their Psychology PhD was completely by distance (or nearly so). I look forward to hearing more as you progress.
     
  18. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Many thanks. The photos look beautiful, and I'd actually like to drop by campus and talk to people there when I get the chance, but it's eight hours each way by car and it's far enough from a major metropolitan area that flying wouldn't make sense. And since there's no requirement otherwise, I may not end up going there other than for final defense and for graduation.
     
  19. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    Steve and Matt, I wish you success. You are excellent Degreeinfo's role models. U.C now has two great ambassadors.
     
  20. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    WOW!!!! I wish you the best in your studies. Make sure you pre-purchase plenty of midnight oil to get you through!

    Side note: that tuition per credit hour sounds incredible at the doctoral level. I'm surprised that I have no recollection of seeing it mentioned on this site before.

    Matt!!!!! I was just thinking that we haven't been hearing from you much lately. I guess we now know your big excuse as to why.
     

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