Charles Sturt University

What is the latest regarding CSU? Anyone in the US pursuing their degrees?

 

A couple of months ago, I contacted the course director for CSU's Masters in Ministry program. I asked if it would be possible for me to pursue this program at a distance from my home in the upper-Midwest of the US, which, based upon the info on their website, did not seem unreasonable. The course director emailed me back to say, essentially, "hmmm...I'm not sure. I'll have to talk to the faculty board about this and get back to you." Several months later, I've heard nothing. I don't know what this means, or if this is in any way representative of what one might expect from CSU.

 

I'm trying to pin down a DL doctoral program and inquired to Sturt, USQ, and Southern Cross. A gentleman from Charles Sturt replied via email on May 10, 2001, but I have not yet received a snail mail info packet. It appears there's only one American in their doctoral program currently. Here's a clip from the email he sent:

"Your enquiry has been passed to me for reply. In regard to the suitability
of the program for American candidates, we do currently have one American
and a Canadian taking the program. We have so far been able to exempt them
from any campus attendance, but there is a requirement to present a research
seminar on campus prior to starting on the dissertation. In addition, some
face to face contact with the supervisor is highly desirable. An Australian
session is the same as a semester and for the DBA there are two sessions per
year. The four required subjects are, as you observe, blocks of direct
independent study. Each candidate has an academic supervisor throughout the
program whose job it is to advise on research and to ensure that the
candidate's progress is satisfactory. The course fee is about $A20,000 for
4 years part-time. Further details about the administrative procedures to
be followed and the precise fees that apply may be obtained from the
International Office."

I'm interested in the Aussie programs for a number of reasons. I'll keep you posted if obtain further information. Southern Cross was quite timely in an email response as well and last week I received their hard copy information packet via air mail.

 

A little additional information that probably should have gone in the above post. I was just going through my emails and came across another from Charles Sturt, this one from an administrative assistant in the International Office. It may be of interest to anyone considering Sturt. Here's the clip:

"In addition the following applies:

1. Students will normally by required to attend an induction program
organised by the Centre for Graduate Studies or an approved alternative.

2. Completion of Coursework is to be completed in one year (full-time) or
two years (part time).

3. Presentation of a research seminar towards the end of the first year
(full-time) or second year (part-time) - students will be required to
deliver a seminar. This will normally be within the host School, but for
students for whom this is impossible, seminars may be presented at the
workplace or other appropriate venue. The seminar will cover an outline of
the literature review, the research objectives and a description of the
research program. The Seminar will normally be for about one hour
(including time for questions)

4. The Research Proposal must be submitted and aproved by the Board of
Graduate Studies during the first year (full-time) or second year
(part-time).

The Faculty of Commerce does have some flexibility concerning timing and
location of the induction program and the research seminar, but it is no
longer possible to complete the DBA without some face-to-face contact with
your supervisors.

The tuition fee for the Doctor of Business Administration is:

4 x 16 credit point subjects @ A$2200 per subject = A$8800
Thesis: 64 credit points @ A$2200 per 16 credit points = A$8800

TOTAL COST: A$17,600"

 

Which would be somewhere in the neighborhood of US$10,000 -- not a bad deal at all.


Peace,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

Plus the trip(s) to Australia (which isn't clearly noted on the website's description of the extenal D.B.A.).

Rich Douglas

 

Hello CSU lurkers,

I am the American that you referred to in your communication with CSU. They changed the requirement in the last year but have made allowances for me. I'm just completing my first semester and about to turn in my third paper. The course was research methods and the self study part on Multivariate Stats was very difficult due many years between basic stats and this. Otherwise they have been very helpful and concerned to allow for needed flexibility with job and travel etc. I did have to submit a tentative research proposal prior to getting accepted also. Even with the "induction Seminar" requirement I still think it is very cost effective. PS. I'm located in So. Calif.

Hope this helps,

Humbug101

 

With the AUD$ currently worth USD$ 0.51 cents - I believe that Australia is becoming the ideal DL centre for US students.
Check out MONASH UNIVERSITY & DEAKIN UNIVERSITY that are Top-Class !!!

CFr

 

Australia isn't the "ideal DL centre for US students" yet, but it could be. Unfortunately, there are several problems that have to be addressed. Among them:

1. Publicity. I am interested in distance education and follow the subject. But literally, the only way that I would know that Australia even had distance education was by reading this newsgroup. Imagine what Australian distance education's profile is among the general American public. If Australia wants to generate some American interest, they have to publicize their offerings and educate Americans about the advantages of studying with Australian schools.

2. Travel. Australia will never be the "ideal DL centre" for Americans so long as Americans are asked to travel to Australia for an introductory speech for their program, and then travel there again to deliver a little one hour talk. That's a major 20,000 mile journey 1/3 of the way around the planet and back each time, and the prospect will make 99% of Americans considering Australian programs look elsewhere. To work with Americans, Australian distance education needs to be made user-friendly.

3. Interest. I understand that a number of Australian universities are very interested in attracting Asian students. They advertise heavily in places like Singapore and they open up satellite centers that allow local students to do residency periods locally. But some of the Australian programs are apparently a little flustered at the very idea of having an American student. It's as if they hadn't really considered it. So basically, Australian universities won't succeed in North America until they show some indication that they want to succeed here.

I think that Australia has a great distance education product. That gives them some competitive advantages at the present time, compared to many other countries. Australia could become a world leader in distance education if it wanted to be, and could have the rest of the world thinking "Australia" whenever they think of choosing a DL program. But this comparative advantage is only going to be fleeting. In a few years there will be options everywhere that are just as good as anything that Australia offers. The opportunity will have been squandered if it isn't seized right now.

 

Largely agreed, but let's bear in mind that many Australian programs don't require residencies. When I looked at Curtin University of Technology's research-based Ph.D. in Internet studies, the issue of residency requirements never came up; it was assumed that I would find a suitable local supervisor, but everything could be done from here.

The only field I've found where residencies always seem to be required is engineering. Programs in other fields--even special education and midwifery--can usually be completed without residency.

But Australian schools definitely don't seem to be marketing U.S. students. Hrm. I wonder why. I like to think of our country as being the world's largest cash cow, but DL behemoths like Sturt, New England, and USQ have been ignoring us for years. Curious.


Peace,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

Where did you find information on the Internet Studies program? I found the general doctoral regulations (which clearly state that candidates are expected to spend the equivalent of one full semester on campus during their programs).

Rich

 

I've continued my search for a Philosophy doctorate and most recently it has brought me back to Australia, specifically, the University of New England. I am told that I can earn a Graduate Diploma followed by an MA in Philosophy - both by coursework - and with 100% non-residential study. It is $750 Australian dollars per course which works out to be about $390 US dollars. Throw in some tuition reimbursement from my employer and it starts to look like a pretty good deal.
Jack

 

Any other information you have on the degree... there is nothing on doing the degree via DL on their web-site.

 

From someone specific (I can e-mail you the name if you're interested), but let's not say it too loud -- this may be a special case.


Peace,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

Last count there were about 16,000 Singapore students completing their degrees (bachelor, masters, doctorates)from Australian Universities (internal/external basis). At about AUD10k tuition per student per year that makes a market of AUD160 mil.

with about another 5,000-6,000 completing their degrees in Australia, throw in rental, housing, living expense of about AUS1k per month that makes another AUD70-80mil for the Aussie economy.

Throw in graduation, where whole families (grandma, grandpa included) fly into Perth or Sydney well...

Surprisingly until I came to this site I never felt Aussie programs to be totally DL oriented, (external yes but DL no...) Virtually all the programmes here are run out of learning centres with built in residencies and lectuers by local and Aussie lecturers.

Similarly with the major Aussie external markets in Malaysia and Hong Kong - pretty high contact hours via learning centres.

Moreover I have just completed the totally DL Charles Sturt MBA and well it could be a challenging experience when the tutors comments for assignments submitted arrived about a day or two before the due date for the next one and Singapore is only eight hours flight away. (OK Starting from June, the tutors would respond by e-mail).

Unless the Aussies move into a totally DL meaning online mode (some Unis are doing that Newcastle and USQ etc.) and shift their education material largely online. The distance part in DL could remain a problem.

Best Regards

Billy

Singapore

 

I totally agree, and I also don't understand why. It's my opinion that most US citizens view Australia as I do, a wonderful place that has some charming quirks about it (I did visit Oz in 1992 for 3 weeks, BTW).

As an example, I would venture to say that the typical US person would look much more favorably on an Australian degree than a South African degree, just taking into account the political stability of both countries.

In the psyche of the United States, Australia is the land of "shrimp on the barbie", and 2 gorgeous 5'10" female blondes to every 1 male (not totally untrue, I can attest to that).

South Africa is the land of racial unrest and carjackings that require flamethrower-like defense systems on your car.

Which country would you rather visit for your mandatory residency, should it come to that?

I really think that Australia is missing the boat big-time in regards to US DL students. If residency can be waived/negotiated, then Aussie schools would hit the jackpot with US students, especially graduate programs.

IMO, of course.

Bruce

 

I received the exact same information by e-mail last night. It sounds like the "residencies" can be done away from campus, but you'll have to have F2F meetings with your advisors at some point in the program. I suspect that, too, can be done away from Sturt. But all these "coulds" and "maybes" tell me the program just isn't designed for students in the Western Hemisphere.

Rich Douglas

 

Rich,

I disagree and think that maybe this shows some of the flexibility of the program and not the opposite. CSU DBA faculty and reps have gone out of their way to accomodate some scheduling and other issues both in enrolling and meeting their requirements. They will try to help and have been very good about answering inquiries and questions in a timely manner. As a follow National University grad and an adjunct for another So Cal university, I understand how these uni's work and the experience so far has been very positive and also very cost effective.

Regards
Humbug101

 

Lewchuck - I don't have much in the way of formal coursework in Philosophy and so they want me to get a Graduate Diploma in Humanities (I can take all the credits in Philosophy) before they'll let me into the MA (by coursework) program. This is consistent with all the other British-system programs I've contacted and I don't mind doing it. Assuming that I get through those two programs I'm them eligible for the PhD (by research) program. My hope is that we'll all be well acquainted by that time (I'd prefer to do it all at one school). Try this web page: http://www.une.edu.au/arts/degreeinfo.htm
If you're from outside of Australia they want you to go through the International Office for questions, applications, etc. Good luck,
Jack

 

I have order some info but the web-site is sparse. What courses do you take for the diploma and the MA???