my DL decision

Hello all,

I'm about to institute a great change in my life, and thought I'd share. As some of you know, I am currently in a PhD program at Capella. I chose to go the DL route mainly because my husband and I live and work overseas, so it seemed most expedient to do this, as getting my PhD has literally been a lifelong dream (truly -- my dad was a prof, so I grew up in academia).

However, through many conversations with faculty in my field and others, as well as several discussions on this board, I have come to the reluctant conclusion that earning my PhD by distance will not offer enough utility for my ultimate goal: gaining a tenure-track position at a land-grant university (or equivalent). I have been teaching at the university level for years now, but at the Lecturer/Instructor level, non-tenure track, and I'm personally not satisfied with this. Also, since I am teaching overseas, I do not have the opportunity to network with people and departments in the US that could get to know my work and teaching, and thus have more confidence in hiring me in a tenure-track position (like others have been able to do). Applying for an asst. prof. position, sight unseen with a degree from Capella, I've been told, will, in most cases, simply earn my application a quick trip to the trash can, no matter how many publications/presentations I have (which I do already have), simply because of current perceptions amongst hiring committees.

Therefore, I have applied, and been accepted, to a "traditional" PhD program for fall, and will be returning to the U.S. in August to begin my studies there. This was an incredibly hard decision, as my husband will need to stay here in the Middle East to support us whilst I'm in school. That means we'll get to see each other once, maybe twice a year. However, the short-term pain of this, in our eyes, is outweighed by the future advantages gained by me earning my PhD in one of the top programs in the field (in terms of credibility, respect, faculty, and graduate placement), as my career is the driver in our marriage.

I have enjoyed my Capella experience thus far, but feel that a Capella degree will not serve in my circumstances. Do I agree with this? In many ways, no. However, it seems that if I'm to play a part in getting perceptions in academia regarding DL doctorates changed, I'm going to have to do so from within the system.

I do hope, at some point, to finish my MBA or an MS using what I've earned in an MBA program so far, and my intent is to do so through DL. As my field is Instructional Systems, and my focus is online/distance learning, I'd like to gain a broad experience as a DL learner from which to draw upon in the future.

Just thought I'd share my experience and decision with y'all.

Regards,
Adrienne

 

Only you know what is best for you.

Best of luck in your educational pursuit!

 

Thanks, Bruce. It was a hard decision to make, but we think it's the right one.

 

I think it's a wise (albeit painful) decision. Certainly in my own field (chemical engineering), one needs a PhD from a department in the top 20 to even be considered for a tenure track position. My own original goal was to pursue such a career -- but I was cured of this bug during my 6+ years of grad school!

Good luck to you!

 

Indiana State University

I realize your focus is in instructional systems. However, you should check out the programs at Indiana State University (ISU) because they have a distance PhD’s program. The ISU program might satisfy your needs because it is a traditional brick and mortar school. This is the best of both worlds.

See:

http://www.indstate.edu/distance/menu/prospective.html

 

Adrienne:

Your thinking parralled my own very closely. And for those reasons I limited my search to established B&M programs which also had a DL option. since I am an engineer also (like oxpecker), I found that my choices were even more limited.

But I did find a program that suited, B&M land Grant Univeristy with engineering PhD program that could be pursued either on campus or by DL (Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering (Industrial engineering)).

You might check to see if your program will allow you to take some of the early course work by DL, and only go to campus for the final research methods and early research phase. And then, if you can strucutre your dissertation around instructions in the Middle East acadamia, do a major part of your field research back with your spouse.

Also, contrary to some, that having course work with a short on campus period (long weekend), gives you the interaction and peer contact.

 

Good luck, Aarsbrooks.

Glad to hear that you were admitted at a top doctoral program in your field. Looks like it will require more sacrifice in the short run but a wise choice.

I'm curious about your transferred credits. Are they making you re-do another Masters in your field or will you start taking doctoral courses directly?

This was a problem with a B/M university that I applied for in the past, in particular your alma matter FSU. I was told that I could transfer only 15 credit hours (my masters took 65 credit hours), and I was required to do a whole new masters in the same field as my previous one.

-S

 

In Florida, it depends on the school. My husband had a BS in Math, passed the GRE with a near prefect score (98 percentile) and went directly into the neural physiology program. Right now some of the life sciences will take students with a BS or BA degree.

 

Re: Indiana State University

I had a look at their programs, but none really fit that well with my interests. The closest is the Management of Technology degree, but it still doesn't really offer what I want.

Thanks for the tip, though!

 

Hi Mike,
The program at FSU (where I've been accepted), at the doc level, is all in residence. Of course, I'm already entertaining possible thoughts of possibly doing my dissertation back over here in the ME, or at least spending a few months writing it up, even if I conduct the actual research in the US, but of course won't really know about that for awhile.

Capella has short residencies, and from the comments made by my classmates there, they found them to be very beneficial in terms of interaction. However, I was referring more toward sustained, intimate contact, if you will. I held an R.A. position at the U of Texas, and had weekly meetings with my prof, along with numerous phones calls, emails, etc., as we worked together on our projects. When you're not in the same physical locale, it's much harder, I think, to build and sustain such a close working relationship, particuarly when conducting research, and ideas are flying around at top speed. Also, not being in residence would deny me the possibility of teaching undergrad courses (as a TA), and both these areas are looked for by hiring committees in academia.

Good luck with your program in engineering! Do you plan to move into academia once you're finished?

Regards,
Adrienne

 

I agree with Deb, it depends on the school, and the department as well. I am returning to FSU for this PhD program, so in fact am being classified as "continuing" instead of just "admitted", so I don't know if that makes a difference. Although I don't have official word yet, my understanding is that my master's will transfer in and cover almost all, if not all, of the elective hours required in the program (and a couple of basic research methods courses that I've already taken). So, yes, I will be starting out with doc level classes.

Regards,
Adrienne

 

I hope to, after 30 years in industry I am getting tired of the real world.

Have fun in Tallahassee, I like Gainsville better. But then any place in California is better than any place in Florida (lived in Florida for 15 years).

 

I really prefer Tampa to Tallahassee, to be honest, but if I could, I'd move back to Monterey, CA in a heartbeat! It's the most gorgeous place on earth. I lived there for three years in the late 80's.

Course, it didn't hurt at all that I could easily afford to live there, since I was in the Army at the time, and didn't have to worry about rent and living costs!

 

Tehn way not UC Santa Cruz (go Slugs!) Phd in eductation: http://education.ucsc.edu/phd-o.html ?

 

Adrienne: "Applying for an asst. prof. position, sight unseen with a degree from Capella, I've been told, will, in most cases, simply earn my application a quick trip to the trash can, no matter how many publications/presentations I have (which I do already have), simply because of current perceptions amongst hiring committees."

John: I continue to marvel at how little we really know about these matters: how the world really works with regard to the variable of the degree--school, method of earning it, degree title, grades, etc. What we know seems almost entirely anecdotal data. Rich Douglas and I have chipped away a bit at the mountain of unknowing with our surveys of registrars and HR people, but so much more should (and can) be known.

 

Alas,....

Fort Ord is no more. You would have to live on your own money these days. From what I hear, it is worse now than it was then.

 

The most intelligent, honest, and objective statement ever made on this forum in its history!

 

Hoo-ah Designs and more

Hello Adrienne,

Interesting post - I commend your decision to pursue a traditional PhD from a B&M school - as it apparently fits your career interests better.

I also noted your cross stitch passion on your website: Hoo-ah Designs ! Great Army photo! I, too, am in the US Army. Originally from 1986-1990 at Planet Ord with A Co. 2/9 Infantry (I liked California so much I snagged one of its ladies for my wife...to whom I am still happily married...) and returned due to a failed ministry in 1999. I started in infantry (yes...wanted to be Rambo...) and now I'm in healthcare...but...I want to return to vocational ministry. What an interesting tapestry our lives become...

I had to type a personal response when I saw "Hoo-ah Designs" complete with a dog named Ranger.

Best of luck in your career goals!

Steven King

 

I wish that this statement could be posted positively on every DL forum there is, for it succintly states the truth of the issue in the clearest terms possible.

 

Well, Mike, I guess the better question would be why FSU over others, really. My reasonings for FSU as my top choice:

Professional Reasons
Established and active department in the field of instructional design
Top-named faculty
Excellent graduate placement
faculty research interests closely parallel/coincide with mine

Personal Reasons
Very reasonable cost of living in Fla
I know FSU (been there before); good friends in the area
My family and in-laws live nearby (Pensacola), and are getting on in age and health problems.

My main issue was if I was going to live half a world away from my husband and dogs for 3+ years, then I would only do so if I could get into a top-rated program. I also applied/looked at a few others around the country that lead the field, but considering the cost of living issues and family concerns, I'm pleased as punch that FSU accepted me, as it's the best all around that I could hope for.