Post Masters Options

I'm still some distance from completing a masters degree at the University of Florida. I'm still stuggling with where I go after completion, but I still believe I have one more degree in me and no more. The programs I have considered are (in no particular order)

1) The Professional Degree (P.D.) degree in Computer Science from Columbia University.

I think this is most directly comparable to an Ed.S. degree or CAGS. Requires 24 hours of coursework + 6 hours for an independent project.

2) A PhD in Computer Science or Computer Information Systems at Nova Southeastern University.

This is a research oriented doctorate degree requiring a dissertation.

3) A DCS (Doctor of Computer Science) from Colorado Technical University.

This is an applied doctorate requiring six publishable quality papers of a much more applied nature than Nova. No dissertation is required.

My future plan is to continue to work in industry; however, when I am ready to retire, I would like to have the academic cred to be able to teach as an adjunct professor in Computer Science. I have worked in IT all my career (since 1982) and I have recently been promoted to manager of software development. By the time I would be ready to retire from industry I would think I would have an ideal background to teach courses in software engineering. Do any of the above degrees strike you as being substantially better (or worse) from my plans?

 

If you want an advanced degree that will make an impression in the Academic sector, then there is no substitute for a theoretical, research-oriented PhD. The PhD is the academic cred. The PD and DCS degrees are professionally oriented, and simply will not have the same value in Academia.

But do you really need any of these additional degrees to teach CS as an adjunct professor? I suspect that an experienced professional with an MS degree would be considered qualified for adjunct teaching in CS at many schools. After all, introductory CS classes are commonly led by grad students, who often have neither professional experience nor an MS.

 

I think the reputation of Nova in Florida is a decent point. Of course I don't know whether this would be true in the future.

I'm with you about changing my mind daily about what I want to do after a masters. Some days, I just want to get an MBA while others I'm positive that I want to pursue a PhD. Another option that I didn't list previously is that since I live in Clearwater, a move across the bay could open up the possibility of doing a traditional PhD at the University of South Florida. Of course, I've been spoiled by completing my BS and currently completing my MS by distance learning. I don't know if I could ever do classes in person again.

 

Yep, I believe that. On the other hand, I believe my career might be better served by a DCS versus the PhD.

You are right, I don't need a doctorate to teach undergrad courses; however, it would be nice to open up the potential for teaching graduate courses as well. I wonder how often adjuncts are hired to teach graduate courses?

 

I would earn a professional degree from columbia university.

 

You might also consider the DPS (Doctor of Professional Studies) in Computer Science from Pace University www.pace.edu .

 

Re: Re: Post Masters Options

I've looked at that program a lot; however, flying to New York once a month! Colorado Tech only requires three, 4-day residencies a year and Nova only requires two, 3-day residencies per year. I would like spending a lot of time in Colorado! I just don't know whether this degree has much legs.

 

It would be nice to have an Ivy League degree on my resume, but, do you think this degree would serve me well in finding adjunct positions?

 

Your experience and a masters degree from the university of florida is impressive enough. Colorado Technical University may be the best fit for you. You will earn a doctorate and stand out among other applicants for adjunct positions. If you were seeking a tenured full-time research position, i'd say go for the Ph.D from Nova.

It depends on what your ambitions are. Any of these choices will give you an edge. I admire your experience and ambitious pursuits. Whatever you decide, an adjunct position will be there for your taking.

 

Columbia has an obvious name recognition advantage....

However, it seems a doctoral degree would be better equiped for a teaching post in a higher education institution.

For a doctoral degree, the first thing I would look at is the faculty profile.

1) Is there any faculty has similar research interests as I do?
2) Are the faculty members delivering good research papers?

For CTU, I can't even find if they have any department of computer science... not to mention any faculty staff, nor any answers to the questions above.

For Nova, I have two observations:

1) Most of their faculty are devoted in computer science education or distance education as their research interests
2) Most of them graduated from Nova.

Hope these question help you make the decision.

Good Luck

 

What about the Doctorate of Science in Information Systems at Dakota State University here in South Dakota?

http://www.departments.dsu.edu/gradoffice/Programs/D.Sc/

This school has a good reputation. I know many students who completed their bachelor's and master's work in computers there. The doctorate is a fairly recent addition.

 

Re: Re: Re: Post Masters Options

I enjoyed reading this marketing copy from the web page: "The Executive Doctoral Program in Business at Pace University is a degree for enlightened executives who demand more than a traditional Ph.D. in business. "

Since when is doing less considered to be demanding more?

Dave

 

wow. DSU is a great find. Interesting specializations and at a good price.

 

This is really an incredible find. Thank you for posting this. I'll be in contact with their department to find out more about this interesting program. Unfortunately, it could be that this program really assumes that the student is comming from an MIS/IS background as opposed to Computer Science. While there is some overlap, MIS/IS takes a much higher level look at software technology than does CS. I'm afraid that I would have to take several prereqs in MIS/IS if I were to enroll in the program. I'll post back to this thread if I find out anything interesting.

 

If I'm not mistaken, it looks like the PD is the coursework portion of a doctorate, but one does not write a dissertation. Now, if a person did get a PD, could they then transfer elsewhere for the PhD with advanced standing, needing only to do the dissertation? Just a thought.

 

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Originally posted by CLSeibel
What about the Doctorate of Science in Information Systems at Dakota State University here in South Dakota?

http://www.departments.dsu.edu/grad.../Programs/D.Sc/

This school has a good reputation. I know many students who completed their bachelor's and master's work in computers there. The doctorate is a fairly recent addition.
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Interesting program! However, the below statement from their website might pose a problem.

"For example, in some courses, students may be required to come to campus just one weekend a month."