Capella University

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by pmn, Jan 27, 2002.

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  1. pmn

    pmn New Member

    Is anyone involved with or has already earned a PhD from Capella University? I'm thinking of this for my doctorate in education. Any advice? Good experience? Bad experience? How does the price compare with other similar programs? Thanks.
    pmn
     
  2. Jim Marion

    Jim Marion member

    I am on my last few courses in the Capella PhD program. I expect to be writing comps in July. I find the program to be excellent. I enrolled in Capella a couple years ago, but dropped out in favor of Nova Southeastern. I cam back to Capella last year. I found that Capella has dramatically improved since the early days, and that in contrast, Nova seemed like a disorganized mess. I recommend it based on my experiences.

    QUOTE]Originally posted by pmn:
    Is anyone involved with or has already earned a PhD from Capella University? I'm thinking of this for my doctorate in education. Any advice? Good experience? Bad experience? How does the price compare with other similar programs? Thanks.
    pmn
    [/QUOTE]
     
  3. PaulC

    PaulC Member

    I am in the last stages of completing my PhD in Education with a specialty in Instructional Design from Capella. I hope to be putting the final touches on my dissertation this month and be out of there by end of March. I took slightly over three years. I have known some to get through in two. I was optimistic that I could do it in two and a half, but for me, it just wasn't to be. Now that I have gone through its entirety, I am certain I could do it in under two and a half. But that is the advantage of hindsight. I would stick much more diligently to making each course specifically meaningful to my comprehensive topics. I would write my comps to be specifically related to my dissertation research. Those that complete the quickest have already developed a very keen picture of their program holistically. They are clear about their dissertation topic right from the beginning and make all their coursework fit that objective.

    As to cost, it is by no means cheap. Probably similar to Walden, Fielding, etc. The cost is pay as you go as opposed to per credit, so the quicker you complete the less cost it is.

    I probably cannot be looked upon as objective in my comments. With that in mind, I have had an absolutely wonderful three years in my program. I could not be more pleased with my process and outcomes. One never knows how it will go until you get knee deep in your program, but for me it turned into a great learning journey. My personal and professional objectives are being met in an unfolding manner. I enjoyed the Summer Session in Minnesota big time. I broke up the two weeks into a week one summer and a week another. The interaction with other learners and the short on campus experience strengthened my sense of community and connectedness with Capella and other Capella learners.

    The administration was helpful and most course tutors were well versed in the subject matter and helpful and facilitative. I have heard some learners complain of a lack of feedback, but for me, I received all that I cared to get and no more than I wanted or needed. It was a perfect fit for me.

    After communicating with a number of other Capella learners, it seems the selection of your program mentor can have a lot to do with your overall experience in your program.

    If you have any particular questions that I might be able to address, I will try.

    Paul C
     
  4. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Paul,
    Do you have any info about the percentage of Capella students who complete their course work and comps but are unable to go on and graduate? At Nova (SCIS) it's about 80% but it could be higher. The reason why this happens is that these students could not find a faculty member that would accept their dissertation idea paper. One of my former classmates (and a friend too) at Nova transferred to Capella last year. He told me that Capella assigns a mentor who guides students during the course, and also through the dissertation stage to graduation, and as result dropout rate at Capella was reduced drastically. If this is true, I think it is a good policy because every student who enters a doctoral program wants to graduate. I don't see anything wrong that. Those students who are not fortunate to be sponsored by their employers may have to use loan pay for their education and this load must be paid back, graduation or no graduation.

    Ike Okonkwo
    Candidate for Ph.D. (NSU)
    (Who will escape gracefully and hopefully before the middle of this year, after a torturous and amazing academic experience)
     
  5. pmn

    pmn New Member

     
  6. pmn

    pmn New Member

    THANKS SO MUCH for the information! I am even more confident about my decision. I will keep in mind the advice about focusing my work. I believe I do have a workable concept in a general sense. I imagine a mentor will help me refine it. I wish I'd had a clearer vision of my final project for my master's degree through CSU (distance). That degree took me three years but, of course, it was considerable less expensive so I had some wiggle room.

    I love this site. Just found it last night and I admire the thoughtful and thorough "conversations."
    pmn
     
  7. Ike

    Ike New Member

    I don't see anything that is wrong with[/] that policy.
     
  8. pmn

    pmn New Member



    [/QUOTE]

    P.S. from PMN: I forgot to ask if anyone has any mentor recommendations for the PhD in teaching and learning, or the PhD in general education. I realize it depends upon one's topic of interest, however, sometimes it's good to know other salient issues such as attitude, timeliness in response, etc.
    thanks again...
    PMN
     
  9. Ike

    Ike New Member


    I don't see anything that is wrong with that policy.
     
  10. PaulC

    PaulC Member

    Ike, I just saw that statistic recently. Either 70% or 80% was what I recall seeing as the number of those that complete.


    I chose my mentor by the end of the second month of my program. Though I have not needed him every step of the way, I did use him for the maximum number of classes you can use your program mentor over the course of your program. I think that was five. By doing so, we developed a good relationship and understanding of each other which helped as my program progressed. Obviously your mentor is instrumental in guiding you in developing your comp questions and dissertation abstract, scope and purpose statements.

    Seemed to be a good method for me.
     
  11. Ike

    Ike New Member

    That's a good news for DL students.
     
  12. freud38us

    freud38us New Member

    I am having a great experience with Capella! I give them an five star rating.

    Robert Hayes, Asst. Prof. of Psychology
    Lexington Community College University of Kentucky


     

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