Ed.D.: Nova Southeastern University vs. Liberty University

Nova Southeastern University

Pros: 2-3 year program, close to home, flexible options, no comprehensive exam, applied dissertation, no defense, can choose multiple concentrations
Cons: Bad academic reputation, VERY VERY expensive


Liberty University

Pros: Affordable, online, 8 week terms, B&M presence
Cons: Residency & defense travel required, Academic Reputation? (Not Sure. How is the reputation?), Ultra-conservative, unknown (here in South Florida)

Based on your own perception, which is the best choice for someone on a Higher Education Leadership track?

 

Bad academic reputation? Really? Based on what?

 

Where did you hear they have a bad academic reputation?

 

I had the same problems as you. My only con with NSU was the cost. As for Liberty, educational leadership is not really a strong concentration for me. Tough choice. Keep us posted. I think it comes down to what you want to pursue in life in terms of work and all.

 

Oh I forgot to add that NSU has an applied dissertation which sounds a lot better than a formal dissertation defense at Liberty.

 

My impression is that Liberty has a reputation as something of a religious-right finishing school. People who are closely in-tune with that often seem to think that Liberty is top-notch and even prestigious. But here in Godless California there might be some worry that graduates will bring an unwelcome politico-religious social-change agenda. They could be stereotyped.

I agree with you about Nova's not-so-stellar (but still serviceable) reputation. And it's awfully pricy. (That's a combination that we often encounter in distance learning.)

There are more distance learning Ed.D.s out there, aren't there? (Others know more about that than me.) Maybe you should look beyond these two and see if you can locate another one with plenty of pros and fewer cons.

 

To add, given the state of the economy I'm not sure you would want to go that much in debt for NSU. Are there any other Ed.D's out there? I know NCU has as well as Walden and Capella.

 

Well, I work in academia which is why I believe NSU to have a bad reputation. I know that NSU grads do not receive a lot of respect when applying for jobs in post-secondary schools. I've seen their applications either go to the bottom of the pile or completely in the garbage for positions within academia.

If you include the disounts that I am eligible to receive, NSU is about the same price as Capella, Walden, etc. Thus, those options aren't any more tempting.

I think the only other distance learning option out there that I am really considering is Liberty. Trust me, I've surveyed them all.

 

My niece is finishing their PharmD program. Are you refering to all of their programs or just the DL portion?

 

Honestly, within academia, just having a degree from Nova is disadvantageous.

However, I doubt a PharmD student will be pursuing work in academia and if she does, I doubt the comptetion will be stiff.

I have heard outside of academia that Nova's medical programs were good but their law and business programs were bad. I haven't heard anything about their distance learning programs but I surmise that it was their distance learning approach that fueled the reputation that they have in academia.

Sidenote, how long is your doctorate program with NCU?

 

would you cite some sources. Where did you hear that the law and business programs were bad? My non empirical method of using Google with the following:

"dba, harvard university" site:.edu

"dba, nova southeastern university" site:.edu


shows almost as many hits for the Nova folks as the Harvard folks. While not an indication of the quality or caliber of the schools represented it at least shows that Nova grads are represented in academia. More importantly I cannot think of any instance where having an accredited doctorate would be disadvantageous as opposed to not having the doctorate. Can you?

 

The reason I am even considering Nova is because it is better than having no doctorate at all but all things remaining equal, if I am applying for a position requiring a doctorate within academia (in South Florida at least), then I am at a disadvantage if my degree is from Nova as opposed to many other inistitions. As far as distance learning schools go, Nova is probably at the top but it cannot compete with most traditional B&M schools.

My sources are actually Nova employees with whom I have a professional relationship and are very candid with me when I ask questions about the competitiveness of their programs.

 

There is not a time frame with the program. I have been working on it for 4 years and probably have another 1-2 years to go.

 

I'll be watching this thread...

As I am narrowing down on my MEd, I am also looking at Liberty's EdD program. In the great world of academe, how important is the concentration of the EdD program?

 

I've been wondering that myself

I'm also curious if anyone has completed this program.

 

Ian - ERAU is also doing its new M.S. in Space Education as a joint program with NSU.

 

I don't see how you can reject NSU on this basis and yet consider Liberty as an alternative. Which name has more baggage: Nova or Falwell?

 

Nova's "reputation" in academia is primarily due to the doctorate being non-traditional (limited residency). Liberty's program is non-traditional as well so you will get similar snickers behind your back from the traditional academics with a doctorate from either.

 

And That is the Plain Truth Jack, The Plain Truth

Hi All:

Just wanted to respond to Macattack's most recent post to say that I concur. For a LONG time I searched and searched for a DL program that would have the traditional B & M rushing toward me with acceptance once I completed it singing a chorus of: " Ian, we're so pleased YOU have decided to accept a TT position with us, welcome aboard!"

This isn't going to happen in 9 out of 10 applications. I will say that this route (NSE, NCU, Liberty, Walden, Capella, U of P) DOES work out for some individuals (which makes me very, very happy as I love the DL process) but, for the most part, once DL and any of these schools come into the conversation traditional academics...snicker.

And, I believe they snicker as a self-defense mechanism to deal with what they don't understand (or value) and to also strive to preserve a system of doctoral studies which is antiquated. Given the realities of the "new" economy we will soon find ourselves immersed in for the next decade, universities will be forced to re-tool how they award the Ph.D/Ed.D and the revise the unnecessarily arduous (and, well, silly) process they put candidates through in the name of restricting admittance to the "club".

Anyway that is my rant for this morning! Thanks again for your comment Macattack, it was genuine and appreciated.

Ian
(Ed.S Student, Northwestern State University...on course #4!)