PhD from UNISA? Not!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by peterjak, Oct 12, 2001.

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  1. peterjak

    peterjak New Member

    Hi there,
    I contacted the University of South Africa regarding a PhD in Education and it appears that the only degree that you can do in Education is a DEd (or EdD as some other universities call it). Checking their website carefully, the university has a whole bunch of degrees called D Lit and Phil (Doctor in Literature and Philosophy). My curiosity was aroused, to say the least, since I have not come across this type of doctorate. So I emailed the powers that be at UNISA and asked them what was the difference between a D Lit & Phil and a PhD? The answer was somewhat surprising: they stated that in order to get a PhD you have to do a Master of Science (MSc) at their university. I will certainly not go back and do an MSc in order to qualify for a PhD! What's going on there?
    Finally, just a brief note about their DEd: the entrance requirements (an 8-10 page proposal, full table of contents, and a statement why I should be accepted for doctoral studies) sure sound to me like a PhD proposal.
    Cheers!
    Peter Jak
    from steamy Hong Kong
     
  2. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    The more I hear about what UNISA is telling prospective non-South African students these days, the less inclined I am to recommend UNISA to anyone. They don't sound like very nice people, do they?

    All of the UNISA doctorates--Ed.D. ("DEd"), Th.D. ("DTh"), DLitt et Phil, and Ph.D.--are research doctorates, which is to say that they follow the Ph.D. format. The Ed.D. is offered in education; the Th.D., in theology; the DLitt et Phil, in the humanities and liberal arts (theology is a DLitt et Phil rather than DTh if handled through the arts faculty); and the Ph.D., in the sciences.

    I can think of one good reason why they would want you to earn an M.Sc. before going for a Ph.D.: If you don't have a master's in the field of your Ph.D. (or a closely related field). They're picky about that sort of thing. I have no idea why they told you the M.Sc. had to be from UNISA.


    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)
     
  3. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

     

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