Taft DBA

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by sshuang, Mar 11, 2010.

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  1. sshuang

    sshuang New Member

  2. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    I've always liked Taft. They are serious about giving students a good education. Moreover, I think this DBA program has a lot of useful content and seems reasonably priced, if you can satisfy the degree requirements in under three years, as advertised. A senior manager could really learn to apply some useful theoretical tools. However, even assuming the advertising is true, what the heck are you going to do with a doctorate that will not be accepted as a doctorate?
     
  3. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Dave,

    It is very questionable the real value of a DETC DBA. The price might be low but too high if you cannot do much with the degree. There are not many positions that require a business doctorate and I would think that these positions would not be so open to a DETC DBA in a world where even RA is not enough given the trends towards AACSB accreditation, a DETC doctorate is almost a "vanity" degree in my books.
     
  4. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

    That's probably true; if someone is a business guru of some kind (doing speaking gigs, writing books, etc) then a DETC DBA might be a nice add-on, letting them use the Dr title.
     
  5. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    This is about the only market that might benefit from this degree. You also have the full time faculty member that got the job because the masters but need the DBA just for a pay bump or more respect among peers.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I suspect it would have even wider utility than that. In my peer group--generally considered senior management but not executive--we see a lot of people with doctoral degrees. Some are in their professional areas while others, like me, not. But I'm convinced having a doctorate is extremely valuable at this level--and for getting here.
     
  7. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    I could not find a tuition per credit/course cost on their site (just a circular series of links). What is the 3 year cost?
    Thanks.
     
  8. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

    Tuition info:

    http://taft.edu/dba.htm#fin

    $420/month, minimum of 27 months, so best case scenario would be $11,340 tuition plus the other fees listed there.
     
  9. sshuang

    sshuang New Member



    Please correct me if I am wrong.
    However, I think $420/month is based on 48 billing months.
     
  10. jek2839

    jek2839 New Member



    Hi Sshuang,

    I thought the same thing, but after re-reading their website, I found the following:

    Financial Information Tuition is billed at the rate of $420.00 per month during the term of enrollment. The obligation of students to pay tuition shall continue until the earliest of the following events:
    a. satisfaction of all degree requirements;
    b. 48 billing months (four years);
    c. withdrawal from the Program;
    d. academic dismissal from the Program.


    So, I would asssume that if you are able to complete the program in 27 months and will have paid 27 monthly payments of $420, then you would not owe for the remaining 21 months. I could be wrong!!!
     
  11. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

    That's how I came up with the total figure I gave. Their website is not particularly well laid out so I/we may not be interpreting this correctly, only way to know for sure is to ask 'em.
     
  12. TonyM

    TonyM Member

    Schools like Lanier Tech in Georgia are all over the USA. Most Votech schools have business AAS or diplomas. Note that Lanier Tech, a state school, has only national accreditation. A Taft DBA along with some occupational experience and some dedication to teaching might take you right to the top. These schools are on the same pay scale as the public k12 teachers, so it would be a worthwhile pursuit.

    http://www.laniertech.edu/LTC_/accreditation.asp?m=x
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 12, 2010
  13. TonyM

    TonyM Member

    Before we label a degree as having no utility, let's recall that some talented people have gone very far on fake degrees before being exposed as cheats. Often a simple title and perserverance can take you a long way. You may be able to get a lot of mileage out of a discount, off-brand degree that's also legal. In the long run a low-class person with a top degree will only go so far, while hard-chargers who meet the minimum requirements do quite well. A few letters after your name might open the door, but you have to perform to succeed. After a very short time people know you by your true identity and your credentials fade away.

    For example, when I was a young private in the Army I had a West Point educated commander who froze even during simple land navigation exercises. The 1st Platoon leader, a 2nd LT, a ROTC from a regional school in Arizona or New Mexico (can't recall), actually ran the company behind the scenes. It's all who you are and not where you went to school! I was the commander's driver and saw it all! My world was flipped!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 12, 2010
  14. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    Tony... the doctorate is only really required for full-time teaching and research in higher education, and if the doctorate is not accepted in it's intended context, then it has almost no utility.

    I'm guessing that the DETC-doctorate is not going to be accepted in 99% of the cases where a doctorate is required, now and in the foreseeable future.

    So if you don't mind investing some time and some money in something that might have some value in the future, then go for it, presuming that is your best option.
     
  15. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I believe some people might have the impression that a DBA would help them to get a CEO or other high level positions but in practice these degrees play little role with this type of appointments. Some people might want to use them to get a pay bump or to differentiate themselves. However, as more schools are offering DBAs and then access to the degree is increasing by replacing dissertations with corporate projects and research with course work, we will see that in the near future the DBA will have almost no utility in particular one from a DETC school. I believe there are smarter ways to spend money and effort but everyone might have a different opinion.
     
  16. TonyM

    TonyM Member

    My thinking is usually leans toward 2-year tech school teaching and administration. The cheaper DBA seems like a nice fit for someone in the votech business departments of my state, where many instructors have only undergraduate degrees and the tech schools are often nationally accredited. The focus is more on experience than education, but if you had the DBA you might be able become a dept chair or some other leadership position. In other situations it might be useful in midlife or later for someone with a nice resume who wants to transition to something else. Basically, a degree like this might work if you're already qualified for the position you want, but you'd like to stand out or have an edge.
     
  17. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Very good point.

    If some one publishes a book etc.

    Then this may be a good return on investment :)
     
  18. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I sense in these boards an underestimating of the value of the doctorate for non-academic settings, as if having one doesn't matter outside of academia. But it does, it really does. I see it all the time. And I think doctoral degrees from DETC-accredited schools will have real value in those settings.

    Another thing I see a lot of in these parts is the mistaken thought that jobs don't "require" doctoral degrees. But the term "required" is so dichotomous--I suspect the truth lies somewhere between the expressed extremes. The doctoral process (not the degree) helps you rise to the top levels of thinking in your particular area, and the degree lets people know you're a doctor in your field. Are you a better hands-on practitioner for it? Sometimes. But invariably you look at the field differently, strategically.

    I wonder if the people who dismiss the value of the doctorate in the workplace do so from a vantage point hindered by not having done one?

    Again, I think doctoral programs at DETC-accredited schools have a potential for real value in the workplace.

    Or they could end up perceived as cookie-cutter square fillers.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 17, 2010
  19. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    Agreed. While the actual demand for those holding accepted doctorates is small and growing steadily, the supply of doctoral students in accepted and unaccepted programs is growing exponentially. Presumably some of the students will graduate... Will the unaccepted doctorates have any value?
     
  20. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I fail to see the real value for these programs, it looks like most of these programs are replacing the dissertation with a project that is more of a MBA approach. The course work looks about the same of a typical general MBA. So it looks like students are going only for the "Doctor" title as they are not getting much more than a MBA.

    Schools are replacing the dissertation with a more friendly "project" just to attract more students and sell more product. Even if the program picks up, don't you think that employers are going to start noticing that all of sudden more applicants have doctorates and they happen to be from virtual DETC schools?
     

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