Business PhD, DBA, Organizational Science

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by jlasquirrel, Jul 29, 2009.

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  1. jlasquirrel

    jlasquirrel New Member

    Hi I'm back into the forum after a few year's absence. Lot's of great information here for folks interested in DL. My wife just completed ner Masters in Instructional Technology from East Carolina via DL. Great program, she is now applying for jobs.

    I have a question about earning a doctorate in the Organizational Science genre of business. I have an MBA from UNC - Charlotte and have been searching for such a degree. Lot's out there, but it seems there's everything except what I'm looking for. My alma mater UNCC has a PhD in Organizational Science, it's only a half hour drive, but it's a full time program, no DL. I'm a 28-year veteran in consulting engineering; I can't just quit my job for 3 years when I'm trying to get my own kids thru college. The DL programs I'm seeing are outrageously expensive. My wife's MA degree cost a "whopping" $5,600 over two years, and it's from a very good B&M school here in NC. My MBA I got the traditional classroom way for about the same, although it was back in 1997.

    It seems the price jump from Bachelors to Masters is pocket change compared to the jump from Masters to Doctorate. I'm seeing $350 to $650 per credit hour from some of the DL Doctorate programs that are talked about in this forum. At East Carolina we paid less than $130/hr for my wife's Masters, and she just finished a few weeks ago. Is this a simply a supply vs. demand thing or what? It does not pass the common sense test.

    I see a lot of good programs, but again, either not what I want, or what I want but way too much $$$. I have seen Valdosta State (right $), but it's DPA not DBA. MUUC, Mountain State, Florida State - fine programs, but if I spent less than $6k for an MBA, why would I want to spend 8 times that for a Doctorate? Anyone know of DL Doctorate programs out there in Organizational Science or similar business field that can be had for $200/hr or less? Also, any news on the AACSB front regarding DL Doctorate programs? They seem to be lagging in offering the accredited Doctorate. Tons of MBA's, but little or not Doctorates.

    Thanks in advance for your input. ;)
     
  2. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    Your wife was paying $130 a credit hour for graduate credit? Wow, that's cheap. I think that's a record.

    You are right though, the DL PhD programs are pricey. For most people, it is a really bad ROI. I doubt you will find any DL PhD program in the US for under $200 a credit.
     
  3. bazonkers

    bazonkers New Member

    That IS a freaking record. Wow. As for your $5,600 MBA, that is pretty cheap too. Prices have gone up a lot in the last few years. People working on a doctorate are kind of a captive audience. You either need it for a job (teaching, consulting, etc.) or you don't need it at all. If you need it, they are going to make you pay.
     
  4. scaredrain

    scaredrain Member

    I live close to ECU, its state supported and really cheap if you are a resident. Western Carolina, in the mountains of NC is even cheaper:

    www.wcu.edu
     
  5. scaredrain

    scaredrain Member

    If you do not mind a PhD in Education, NC State offers a hybrid learning program that's in Charlotte:

    http://distance.ncsu.edu/programs/doctor-of-education-in-adult-and-community-college-education
     
  6. jaer57

    jaer57 New Member

  7. jlasquirrel

    jlasquirrel New Member

    PhD/DBA Costs

    Good points, thanks for the input. I guess to a large degree it is a supply versus demand thing. Based on the research I have done and the amazing amount of information available in this forum, the best way to go money-wise is one of your own state universities that offers DL. It seems the choices really narrow down once you start heading toward a Doctorate, and the prices skyrocket. I may contact the department head of the PhD program I mentioned at UNC - Charlotte. It may be full time, but he may have some suggestions for me if I can't enroll as a part-time student. At least it's worth a phone call.

    To put things in perspective, I have heard about Florida's DBA program that is being started at a total cost of approximately $60K. My son starts his third year in mechanical engineering at UNC - Charlotte in a few weeks. I'll be sending my tuition payment in, and for full-time it's $2500 per semester, including all tuition and fees for 16 hours. Quite a contrast huh?
     
  8. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    The School is profiting from the fact that there is a shortage of business professors in some areas like accounting. However, once those areas fill up then the DBA wouldn't be worth as much. Capella and other schools are offering Accounting PhDs online now but I think it would not take long before this shortage is over.
     

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