Tom Head Selects Ph.D. Program

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Tom Head, Oct 9, 2001.

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  1. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    Well, I've phoned a good number of schools around the globe over the past several weeks, and have finally selected a school. Within the next two weeks, I'll be formally applying to a Ph.D. program. Details to follow in the coming weeks (you can e-mail me at [email protected] if you really want to know [​IMG]), but what I can say here is that I did decide on an Australian school, and the field will not be philosophy.

    Thanks to everyone for their most gracious help on the Australian research questions!


    Cheers,

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

    co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
    co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)
     
  2. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    Well done Tom, good choice of locale.

    Now, here's the challenge. Who will finish their thesis first - you or me?

    Cheers,

    George

    (who is seriously contemplating enrolling in a PhD this year, but has no bloody idea where the time will come from)
     
  3. Eli

    Eli New Member

    Good luck Tom.

    May I ask why an Australian school? Nothing against Australian education, just curious.


    Eli
     
  4. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Good deal -- congrats!! Looks like you and I will be starting about the same time as I am finalizing admissions process now.

    *wondering if we have chosen the same Australian Uni*
     
  5. Neil Hynd

    Neil Hynd New Member

    Hi Eli,

    Not so much "nothing against Australian education" but what are the shortcomings of American DE doctoral offerings that made Tom "go foreign" ?

    I think many would like to know .....

    Regards,

    Neil Hynd

     
  6. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    A contributing factor is probably the same thing that made me consider a "foreign" doctorate at one time....the price. I haven't seen a US RA doctoral program that can be done for less than $25,000, while most South African, British, or Aussie programs costs less than half that.


    Bruce
     
  7. Dan Snelson

    Dan Snelson New Member

    TEN reasons Tom chose Australia

    10. Tom went with the less expensive choice
    9. Tom chose a major that is a better fit than US schools were willing to go with (the ones that would agree to the subject cost too much)
    8. Tom chose a foreign school JUST BECAUSE IT IS DIFFERENT!
    7. Tom was looking for an excuse to travel.
    6. Tom chose a research/publication based program not a taught program
    5. Survivor 3 Australian outback got Tom excited to visit the land down under
    4. Did I mention cost?
    3.Tom looks forward to explaining how he never set foot on ANY school campus
    2. Tom plans on doing his second PhD from So Africa and finish the hat trick with a US PhD

    And the number one reason Tom chose a school in Australia….Tom does not march to the beat of a different drummer, it is a whole different orchestra! [​IMG]


    Good luck Tom,

    Dan
     
  8. Guest

    Guest Guest

    This is certainly one of the major reasons I chose a non-US Ph.D. program. With three RA degrees I would have preferred a US program, however, the tuition cost (since I am paying for all costs myself) was beyond my budget. At the same time, I wanted a substantive program which would enjoy recognition as a credible degree. When two different sources in the administration of AACRAO stated that a Potchefstroom degree would be recognized as the equivalent of a US RA degree, I then pursued the program and was admitted. The current tuition for the Potch Ph.D. is around $6000.

    Russell
     
  9. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    We learned, while doing marketing for the Heriot-Watt MBA program, that the difference between a 99% distance program and 100% is, for some people, insurmountable. Inmates, severely handicapped, and so forth. I'm not answering for Tom, just pointing out that some of the non-US schools, especially in Australia and South Africa, offer what no US school will guarantee (except Touro, and that in business only): the fully non-resident doctorate. (It isn't for lack of wanting to; Phoenix has been trying to get an on-line doctorate approved for years, for instance, but the accrediting agencies have not been enthusiastic.)

    John Bear, who once gave a talk at a computer show
    entitled, "99% Compatibility is like closing your
    door 99% of the way when the maniac is coming
    up your path with an axe."
     
  10. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    Thanks!

    Eek! [​IMG]

    My goal at this point is to finish up as quickly as I can--preferably within a 4 year window. But I've heard that folks have been humbled by Aussie dissertation requirements before!

    I can relate, but the beautiful thing for me is that I'll be able to take my dissertation, polish it up a little, and submit it to a publisher. (Ah, the beauty of picking a dissertation topic in religion and consciousness studies...)

    Thanks for the help and kind words, and good luck on your own Ph.D.!


    Cheers,

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

    co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
    co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)
     
  11. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    I can't top Dan Snelson's list. Thank you, sir. [​IMG]

    Process of elimination. I'd really rather do a research doctorate than a taught + research doctorate, so that pretty much eliminates the U.S. options. From there it was pretty much a school-by-school consideration until the only four options that appealed to me were Australian, Australian, Australian, and British, and since the Australians outnumbered the British 3:1, they won out. I might enroll with UNISA for their Th.D. in Christian spirituality at some point if they can streamline the application process(or might even go with Potch for a Th.D.), but for my Ph.D., Australia just had the best and most workable programs in my field(s) of interest.


    Cheers,

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

    co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
    co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)
     
  12. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    This was definitely a consideration--and really, I've never been able to believe that there's a strong case to be made for mandatory seminars (I can see some networking advantages to them, but there are other ways to network).


    Cheers,

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

    co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
    co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)
     
  13. Peter French

    Peter French member

    Garnya mate

    Peter
     
  14. Bill Highsmith

    Bill Highsmith New Member

    Good luck and Prime Mover speed!

    I had a discussion on this BB with Steve about residencies and TUI. As you know, Steve is a strong supporter of residencies. I didn't disagree with him about their value but said in so many words that I'd try to get by without them.

    Students in certain fields would be severely disadvantaged not to have a FTF relationship with a mentor and his/her equipment. While it is possible to study astronomy at a distance (so to speak), there is no substitute for hands-on experience with a whopping-big radio telescope.

    That said, I've just begun what I think will be a 100% DL South African doctoral program/programme and will complete it at least 24 hours before you complete yours.

    Again, good luck. I'll close with a philosophical and theological question: is it possible to study God at a distance? (Use all meanings of distance.)
     
  15. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Isn't theology and religion more the study of the *teachings* of God, rather than the study of God himself??

    BTW Bill, good luck with the SA program!


    Bruce
     
  16. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Congratulations! Tell us more (School/field of study).

    North

     
  17. Timmy Ade

    Timmy Ade New Member

    Good Luck Tom,but you should have chosen MIGS/CEU.A lot closer than down under, plus why don't we keep the business in the AMERICAS. [​IMG])

    Timmy still woundering......??
     
  18. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I too have posted on the issue of residencies. There is no doubt that certain disciplines need a residential component (e.g., health related fields, medicine, etc.), however, I have difficulty believing that the 30 day residency required by Union, in and of itself, would make the program either good or bad. There is indeed merit in the residencies, but if the same type of outcome could be produced via e-mail, conference calls, fax, Internet, etc., I think that one could receive just as substantive a program as one who attended the 30 day residency. If a person can do a residency, then by all means do so. There are situations where this is near impossible, and for those scenarios the DL doctorate works well.

    BTW Bill, which SA school did you choose?

    Russell
     
  19. Caballero Lacaye

    Caballero Lacaye New Member


    Hello, Bill!

    First of all, my wholeheartedly congratulations to Brother Tom for finally finding his desired PhD. Once Tom publishes his dissertation, I would be very interested in buying it (if he decides to sell it).

    Well, Bill, I have hardly received any word of support for my proposed alternative to required residencies, and that is, "optional residencies", meaning that the student can study on campus if s/he decides to study residentally and for the time that s/he considers convenient. This stragedy works, for instance, with Heriot-Watt University, Ohio University, and Indiana University. Again, I am not discussing here whether residencies are important or not but whether it is important the the student has the opportunity to decide for himself/herself to take them or not. Personally speaking, I don't see anything wrong with this.

    Cordially yours,


    Karlos Alberto "Mr. Caballero" Lacaye
    [email protected]
     
  20. Bill Highsmith

    Bill Highsmith New Member

    Thanks. My Really Big Webster's says, "theology: the field of study and analysis that treats of (sic) God and God's attributes and relations to the universe; study of divine things or religious truth; divinity." Probably not the most inspired definition ever written.

    It is still in the "flexible" phase but is shaping up as an interdisciplinary project that at some universities would be an educational technology program; but, at OUR alma mater, North, the program jointly involves the faculties of theology and computer science. I'll be glad to send more specific information if you email me: [email protected]. (Remove the SPAMLESS.)

    Sounds painful.

    Hello Karlos. There is very little to criticize about the idea from the students' perspective because it gives the student more flexibility. I'm for it. I think that the most difficult bit would be to convince the universities to go along. Many of them haven't warmed up to the idea of DL in any form, yet.
     

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