After a year wasting my time waiting for TUI to gets act together (http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14845), I'm moving on. The next best bet looks to be NCU (www.ncu.edu). I hope to teach at small colleges, so the regional accreditation is important to me. Other things that are important to me is minimal hassle, a good quality program, and a respectable degree (Not expecting Harvard, just not a degree mill). I'd like to hear anyone's opinion or experience with the school.
Sorry about your bad luck at TUI. I looked into that one before enrolling at NCU, and TUI just looked like too little value for the money. It was almost three times as expensive at the time and not even par in quality, in my estimation. I'm ABD in the BusAdmin PhD program at NCU now, and I've got nothing but good things to say. No whacky operating systems to learn, no mandatory "cohort meetings" or time-wasting stuff like that. All very direct and to the point. Discussion and chat is available if you need it, but not required if you don't. I found everything very streamlined and oriented toward taking care of business. All my profs have been good. In fact, I got references from a couple of them when I was applying for a teaching position. Although I probably was hired on the strength of a JD/MBA, certainly the NCU degree in progress did not hurt me. My advice is quit kicking the tires, write a check and start motoring!
How long? Todd, How long would you estimate that it will take to complete your PhD at NCU, providing you entered with an MBA? Like you, I've heard nothing but excellent things about NCU. Thanks
A brief search on Peterson’s http://www.petersons.com/distancelearning/code/search.asp yielded the following schools (plus Tuoro), of them I would probably select Nova as it doe have a B&M presence. Capella University Northcentral University Nova Southeastern University University of Phoenix Walden University Second choice would probably be Union as it has been around a while also.
Hmm... Both TUI and NCU are within a couple of grand of each other, TCU $26K Total, NCU $26K + books (51*475/credit+$1400 dissertation fee) I haven't been "kicking the tires" so much as I changed jobs and found an employer that would foot the bill for the degree (or in this case, 80% of it). In the meantime, I've added 3 professional certifications, and am only 7 letters away from having 26 letters after my name. At a certain point, the absurd goals are the most entertaining.
Todd Stiles I about fell out of my chair laughing when I saw this post, especially the last sentence about "writing the check and getting out motoring" or words to that effect. For the non boomers in the readership, "Todd Stiles" was actor Martin Milner's name in the mid-60s TV Show "Route 66" about two guys traveling around the U.S. in a corvette having adventures. You still occasionally hear Nelson Riddle's theme song for the series. Ternahan.
Experience with NCU gnomic, I am a new PhD student at NCU (Business) and, so far, I am impressed almost beyond words at the clarity of their education plan for students (called Learners by NCU). Admittedly, my experience with them is limited but, as an insider, I can now see that my choice was 100% what I hoped to find in a doctoral program. I didn't find it in any B&M schools I checked out (almost all college and universities in NYC) and, until NCU, I didn't find it in any DL programs. I was almost ready to settle for less than what I wanted when I discovered NCU (through a DL forum, by the way). I have worked in medical research for 17 years and have a relatively vast knowledge of what is required to do research in that arena but there are gaps in my knowledge base that can only be corrected by careful and complete guidance through the dissertation process. NCU does that in spades and they start preparing the "Learner" with the very first course. I couldn't be happier with my choice and, even better, they have a three-payment per course payment plan that makes the cost easier to handle. Good luck to you. Do check it out to see if it meets your needs. Deborah L. Tormey, RN, BSN, MPH, CCRC NCU student
Thanks! Todd & Deb, Good feedback! Thanks. Any other NCU alumni has something to add? A while back, NCU seemed to have got a lot of negative comments - although a lot of it seems based less on personal experience than some of the people involved in the school. (Based on links to posts that are no longer around here) I'll be putting together the admission info next month! (I'm moving this week and need to unpack!).
NCU/ Excellent Choice Hi gnomic, I am a current MBA student (learner) at NCU. I was also concerned when I first enrolled. My fears were put to rest almost immediately. I am very impressed with the methodology of coursework. The mentors are very helpful and care about your success. The courses that I have had, so far, have required an extensive amout of work. The learners web page is first rate and you have a learners affairs advisor to assist you as needed. I really believe that NCU is heading in the right direction and they are RA. Best wishes in your studies.
Re: How long? Took me about a year to do my eight total "leveling" and "specialization" classes. Depending on your time and motivation, you probably could knock out a class a month. My average was about six weeks a class. As for the "thesis" phase, I would guess another year. It's allocated fewer units than what I just completed, but since I've never done this sort of thing before it's likely to be slower going. I just started, so my estimate here obviously is just a guess. Again, it depends on your available time and your motivation. BTW, I had checked out MBA programs for a family member and Amberton was an excellent choice. You would be keeping on a positive route by heading for NCU when you finish.
Re: Todd Stiles You're giving away your age, Ternahan. MM is alive and well. His daughter is not so well. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/07/11/news/top_stories/16_53_007_11_04.txt MM trivia: He and "Fugitive" David Janssen were Army buddies with a guy named Clinton, who they encouraged to try acting. http://ganeshyamalabittu.tripod.com/heroes/id35.html
I have recently enrolled in NCU and have found them to be very helpful and responsive; so far so good. I plan to start classes in September and I am happy to hear so much positive feedback.
NCU requires your time and attention Ultimale, You were wondering about how much time it would take to complete PhD given maximum credits from your master's transferred in. I believe it was Todd who indicated that it depended on how much time you were willing to spend. I agree completely with that statement. The curriculum at NCU is designed so you will actually learn the material so it also depends to a certain extent on what you already know. But even familiarity with the material does not guarantee rapid movement because there is alot of plain old work to do. The more time you are able to devote, the faster you will move. Before the dissertation stages begin there are 9 courses required (given that you only need 51 credits). If you really apply yourself, a course can be completed in 1 month. If you are working on dissertation research and organization at the same time (while holding down a full time job) it will require the maximum allowable for a course - 16 weeks. So, figure anywhere from 2 to 5 years. Deborah L. Tormey, RN, BSN, MPH, CCRC PhD student NCU
Since NCU is a relatively new and not very well known school, there are not a significant number of NCU grads serving currently as faculty in higher ed. I hope that you will help "swell the ranks". Tony Pina Faculty, Cal State U. San Bernardino
I like NCU's program a lot. I find them to be much better than Capella's, as I did 2 quarters there. I looked at TUI as well, but was turned off when they couldn't quite explain to me how their regional accreditation umbrella worked with Touro College (They used the example of Keller Graduate School under Devry University, which didn't exactly help much!). I'm in my last two classes now and will be beginning the research portion of my degree next year before going on to the Dissertation after that. What encouraged me to go to NCU was that A. They’re RA, B. They were cheaper than other DL programs, C. No residencies, D. They are semester houred, not quarter hoursed courses, and E. The school will be big in the years to come. They bought 45 Acres of land in Prescott AZ to build a new campus and will be expanding their headquarters soon. I think that it was a wise investment so to speak, before the "stock" took off. Hope that helps.
Deb & Todd, Thanks so much for your input. NCU sounds like a terrific University. Best of luck to both of you, and I look forward to joining you one day as a PhD. Thanks again...
I am enrolled in the PhD (Pyschology) program at NCU. I have attended traditional B&M schools (SUNY/Syracuse/Cornell). I have really enjoyed my experiences thus far. I have also found that the professors (mentors) have been wonderfully responsive and have been well-versed in my field (as well as comparable in quality as my other schools). Tony, I hope there are many NCU grads who enter academia. I currently teach at a local community college (and a visiting professor at a regional university). I hope to add to the "swells" of NCU grads doing so! I wish all the best and keep us all informed on your progress! peACE, ACE
