Attention current PhD students of Union Institute

Hi, I would lke to learn more about the Union Institute PhD programs. From reading a few threads here, it would seem that the Union is having some troubles, although, I'm having trouble figuring out exactly what they are. If you are a student at the Union, i would like to hear about your expereinces. I read here that faculty does not respond well, etc. this is important to me.

Also, if you have found another school that offers a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies, (via DL) where you don't have to take course have that have NOTHING to do with your interests, please let me know. My interests are "wellness promotion or wellness/health education". My MS is from Mountain State University, Interdisciplinary Studies, and I loved my freedom to do MY degree and not try to fit into a cookie-cutter mold. I was looking at Touro, but they have a pre-prescribed program, and frankly, their undergraduate looks much more interesting than the PhD. I prefer to stay as non-residence as possible. I am actually not quite done with the MS, and would be looking to start next Fall. Any chance that Union could have their woes figured out by then? I have looked at Walden, Phoenix, and Capella... they aren't very exciting to me... and a bit costly.

I have more questions for current students, but I'll save them until you respond. And please... thos eof you with some weird ax to grind, please post elsewhere. I am in need of real information, not half-baked opinions. Thanks.

 

where did I lose you?

I see that over 30 people have read my question, but nobody has responded... so... where did I lose you? Was it that I asked you not to vent your weird notions? Or is that there is no answer? I can expand my question to include any foreign university, as long as it is RA. Any ideas? I have been online so long, my dog has checked on me.

 

I'm not the best one to answer your question about Union as I haven't really kept up to date on the details of the issue. In the end I believe they were asked by their accreditor to tighten up a bit on the requirements for their PhD programs. I could be wrong about that though. As for the question regarding Interdisciplinary Studies programs, The only one I know of that specifically uses that terminiology, PhD, Interdisciplinary Studies, is at Edith Cowan University in Australia. This may be well suited to you because it is a dissertation-only PhD program. It has been said, however, that it is sometimes rather difficult to pin them down as to the actual minimum residency required. I suppose, however, that if you could afford Union then you may well be able to afford a trip to Australia. BTW, there are PhD programs in "Health Science" at several Australian universities including Edith Cown U, U of Melbourne, Central Queensland U and Deakin U.
Good luck.
Jack

 

Thanks!

I was starting to feel a little left out. Thanks for responding. I did run across that Edith Cowan name... but I forget why i didn't look at it carefully. As for the cost of the Union, the only reason I can "Afford" it is through financial aid. Would you happen to know if a student can receive financial aid with Australian schools? Or for that matter, any foreign schools? I mean receive US aid, through government loans.

I looked at UNISA, briefly. Nothing jumped out at me as to say, YOU FOUND IT!!!... but I may have blinked. I would love to find a program that is self-designed, and where a student could go to other schools and have the credit transfer. I am not far UW Madison... but they don't have the right program for me, although they do have some very cool courses. I thought that, from what I read, the program at the Union was perfect. Just what I wanted. A little pricey, perhaps... but I am concerned about not getting through to people. I just hate falling through the cracks. That's one thing I LOVE about Mountain State university. At least at the graduate level, I can always get through to somebody and they are always very nice and return calls or emails... I just love them. Too bad they don't offer a PhD. I would still love to hear anyone's thoughts about these topics. I don't mind brief residencies, and in fact love to travel. But I do mind taking courses that have zero interest to me and will not prove usefuul for my goal.

Thanks again for responding... I was thinking I might need a shower

 

One reason why you've not received a reply from Union learners (not "students") is because none post here.

If you enter Union expecting a "do anything you want" degree program, you'll be sorely disappointed. There are very specific requirements, and there are more on the horizon. Limited concentration areas, elimination of specializations, increased residencies, required curricular content, and much more.

 

Thanks, Rich

I didn't realize that there was a difference between students and learners for the purpose of these forums. And where can I find a discussion place where these people hang out? And why don't they come here? And do you know of any PhD DL programs that are interdisciplinary or a little more self-designed than the usual? Are you familiar with Touro? I am interested in a degree relating to Health and Wellness, but couldn't care less about hospitals and how to run them. I was looking at UBC, even though they are not distance. But I am confused as to their tuition guidelines. Something is free, but I don't know what. (University British Columbia-Vancouver) But they do offer a PhD in a health-related field that looks very interesting. Plus... It's Vancouver!

 

The Union Institute & University

The Union problems with the Ohio Board of Regents and consequently the US Dept of Education and Northcentral all sprang from a complaint by some Union learners concerning the measure of rigor by the school of learners' progression through the PhD degree. According to all third parties the problem as defined by the agencies and Northcentral is fixed. The problem was tracking PhD learners semester to semester and accounting for their time in degree and any progress. Now a system is in place acceptable to the Regents, the feds, and Northcentral to report learners' degree progression or lack of progression through the degree. There is some politics in Ohio regarding the number of degree granting universities and the competition therein. The Union is one of the oldest non-traditional degree universities accredited by a traditional accrediting agency, i.e. Northcentral. In its last two accrediatation surveys, one in the early 90's and the next around 2000 all resulted in ten year accreditation by Northcentral. It grants accredited degrees at the undergraduate, masters, and PhD levels.

As to freedom in structuring your PhD degree, you will not find another accredited and well-established school which allows the learner to be in charge of the PhD degree committee process and defining the degree discipline. The is some campus residency requirement. I suggest you talk to Northcentral and the Board of Regents if you have further questions.