Best Choice if College Teaching is the Objective

Thank you for your comments on Regent. Dr. Bear, I appreciate the other recommendations. I know there is no simple answer, but of those regionally accredited distance learning institutions mentioned (Walden, Capella, Nova Southeastern etc.), do any of them to anyone's knowledge tend to be looked unfavorably upon by colleges and universites with regards to applicants for teaching positions? Is it even prudent to consider a DL program if part time university teaching is one of my objectives?

One more thing: There is a university some have mentioned that is a candidate for regional accreditation. Any measure of certainty about the outcome of accreditation for that school? Or is there quite a bit of risk that one could end up with a degree from a school that is ultimately rejected by the accreditors?

Thanks for your patience and your help.

 

One sure fire way to gauge this is to check out the college catalog for the school(s) of interest... carefully note the adjunct faculty degrees... note what graduates of what schools are present as well as those who are conspicuously absent... Schools with recent name changes (Capella) might be listed by their former names (Graduate School of America)...

With regard to the question of DL doctorates... the resident doctorate will always be the most respected... in the event of not being able to quit work and go back to school, a DL doctorate is most likely better than not doing one at all...

BruceP in Colorado Springs

 

The schools you mentioned conduct their short-residency doctoral programs for working professionals. Because teaching at the university level is very much about the relationships you build in your doctoral program, you will be at a distinct disadvantage. The people you interact with at DL schools will be mid-career; those that aren't already teaching somewhere aren't taking the doctorate to begin a teaching career. (I'm sure there are exceptions to this generalization.)

The last DL school to become a candidate for regional accreditation and then not become accredited was International Graduate School, which closed in 1987. Previous to that you'd have to go back to Prometheus College, which closed around 1981. Being a candidate is no guarantee, but most DL schools that get that far go the rest of the way. (I hypothesize it's because they're put through a tougher test to become candidates, but I don't have any evidence to support this.)

Rich Douglas

 

Two more cents...

For adjunct teaching oftentimes a Master's degree is the standard (exceptions are doctoral study of course, and other programs that are governed by professional accreditations... for example NASPAA standards frown upon non-doctorates teaching MPA classes...)

Bottom line... depending on your adjunct teaching goals, your Master's may get you in the door, and the Doctorate is icing on the cake to edge out the competition...

Additionally, many schools such as U of Phoenix are also concerned about your full-time employment being material to your field of teaching interest...

BruceP in Colorado Springs

 

What do you want a degree in? If I remember it was the education field. As you no doubt are aware the tenure track professorship market is very competitive. I would guess that the closest you can come to traditional schools would help. Check out Jonnies web site as I believe there are Ed.D.'s at University of Nebraska. ORU is also traditional although the name has baggage. As the good Dr. mentioned South Africa & Australia also offer possibilities. It would be interesting to find out what the perception of Foreign doctorates done by US residents vs RA nontraditional schools like Walden & Argosy is among academics. Would Charles Sturt University be better received that Capella for instance?

North

 

Exactly! This is the easiest way to determine the acceptability of DL doctorates.

BruceP