Tennessee Temple University

Is there anyone on the Board who is actually enrolled or a graduate of the TTU PhD in Leadership?

I'll be getting some more detailed info from TTU shortly and will be happy to share anything of interest.

I got a "thumbs up" from the education regulators here in Georgia for TTU. These same regulators shot down the Swiss Management Center back in June. I've given up waiting on an online History PhD.

For anybody else around here in my boat - Georgia Public School teacher - be aware that the rules for upgrading a teaching certificate based on advanced degrees are changing and the changes are going to limit our options.

I don't post much but I have gotten a wealth of info over the last few years from you folks.

Thanks,

Bill Clark

 

Eastern University: Online PhD/Organizational Leadership

I have no information on TTU, but if you are interested in online PhD programs at schools that emphasize religion, there is the program at Eastern University in organizational leadership: PhD in Organizational Leadership | Doctorate in Leadership PA | Pennsylvania Christian University

 

I posted this on another page in the board, but thought I would repost it for you here.

I am currently a student at TTU's PhD program. I might preface my comments by explaining that I obtained my B.S. in Business at Colorado Christian University and my Master of Arts in Theological Studies at Liberty University . However, I also have finished two degrees at California community colleges, so I have been in both secular and religious collegiate environments.

There are aspects of the program that demand some theological framework. The course "Aspects of Leadership" requires that the student think about a modern leader with the Good Book on Leadership in view. This is a book about biblical leaders co-authored by Danny Lovett, the president of the school and former dean at Liberty Seminary. That being said, framing secular concepts with a theological view is extremely challenging to the mind, and does not seem to hinder critical thinking. It might be valuable to realize when one studies leadership that leadership is many times a religious and philosophical interchange. Leaders from Rudolph Giuliani to Joe Lieberman can best be understood when the theological foundations from which they operated are properly studied.

Ultimately, it is a PhD program. Each student is slogging through the dissertation alone. It is not a situation in which the school is forcing a student to endure countless hours of religious discourse. Most of the texts that are chosen for coursework come from prestigious leadership programs. These texts are the foundations from which students will build a dissertation. The bulk of the research in each class comes from the initiative of the student and will be related to the student's chosen dissertation. The week spent in Chattanooga is hardly religious at all, with more religion being discussed by the students than the faculty. The lectures during the required week include research design and area leaders (some religious and some secular) describing which leadership styles proved effective.

With all of that in view, this program is new to TTU and has its own issues. The school is old and now oversized, with many vacant buildings. It is in an older part of town that is one of the most dilapidated in Chattanooga. The school itself is building the framework for the program as she goes, so classes are being added and taken away as the faculty sees need. Sometimes, there are syllabus changes after the course commences. It is doable, and I forgive the school since it is still a relatively new program. It may even be that new students in the program will not face these same challenges.

Just wanted to give some inside info.

 

Landmark,

So how do you like the program like the course material the work load? Can you shed some light on the program? How far along are you and what courses have you taken? Thanks for the feedback I just enrolled and started this week with LEAD7053. Thanks again hope all is well.

 

TTU Ph.D.

I am a current D.Min. Student and was on campus recently. In chatting with school leadership it seems that there may be a possibility in the future of D.Min. Graduates to "roll" a large part of their coursework into the Ph.D. Program. Dr. Lovett is in favor of this but it remains to be seen if TRACS is on board from what I gather.

Hoe do like the program?

 

I just finished my first year, but overall I am enjoying the program. It is very self-directed. Assignments have short descriptions and it is up to the student to fill in the details of how to complete them.

There are shortfalls, as with any program, but I am happy to work with TTU. I hope they continue to seek SACS accreditation under the new president. It would be awesome to have an RA PhD. Nevertheless, I am committed to sticking by TTU for my personal learning objectives.

 

I have been considering, for more than a year now, applying for admission into TTU's Ph.D. Leadership program. However, one thing that concerns me is the financial stability of TTU. It would be terrible to be a year or so into the program and TTU go into bankruptcy or otherwise change ownership. Please can any current or former TTU Ph.D. students give an update on how it is going? It would sure help me make some hard decisions. I am swaying to and fro concerning what doctoral program to pursue...secular or Christian. The utility of a TRACS or DETC accredited degree is not too much of a concern for me. I have 21 credits of doctoral work from Liberty University completed. I am disappointed that TTU only allows up to nine credits in transfer. I was accepted into Walden's Ed.D., Northcentral's Ed.D. and Aspen's Ed.D. but decided to not commit due to either excessive tuition, program not approved for financial aid, or no credit transfer allowance (Walden's Ed.D). Any input would be appreciated. Merry Christmas to all and have a great new year!

 

I cannot comment on the PhD program as such, but I am in the project phase of the DMin and I am familiar with the PhD program. I have had some of the same concerns as a very soon to be alumni... I don't think the school is in danger of bankruptcy BUT they are downsizing facilities and faculty a bit with their on campus enrollment way down and online way up. When I was on campus for a course last spring I voiced similar concerns to one PhD frof who replied, "I just bought a house here, I don't intend for us to go anywhere..." for what it's worth...

 

You may want to check out Johnson University's PhD in Leadership. They are SACS (regionally) accredited and is attractively priced. I believe TTU is $250 per credit with one week residency. Johnson is $400 per credit with no residency. I have been accepted into the first cohort starting January 9, 2012. I believe they plan to start another cohort in August. I looked at TTU and a TRACS accredited degree would be fine for my career goals. However, I have learned from being a long time member of this board; go for the RA degree especially if they are similar degrees in terms of content and cost is similar or not too much more. I would prefer to pay a little extra for a regionally accredited degree cause I am likely get more "mileage" out of the RA degree vs NA? I don't think it is on their website but according to my student handbook they will accept up to 9 transfer units which I believe is fairly high for a doctoral program?

I hope this helps!

Johnson University - Ph.D.

 

Thank you Jay. Johnson University is appealing to me especially being a Restoration Movement affiliated school. Tuition is very low and Johnson University is certainly on my mind. Again, thank you.

 

PilgrimPastor,

Thank you. The information you shared is valued.

 

Your welcome. You should apply right away if you want to start in August. The word is beginning to spread about the program so the volume of applications are likely to increase. I plan to come back here and post my experience in the program. I wish you luck in your search.

 

You are very welcome. I was considering doing the Ph.D. in leadership with TTU as they had offered to consider taking a ton of my D.Min. in as a sort of "advance standing" in that program. Instead, if I do anything after the D.Min. I am likely to earn a post-doctoral certificate in Church leadership from Regent University. That would more greatly suit my present needs and it is very close to my house.

Its a lot to wade through, but the program mentioned above looks very good.

 

I noticed that there was a lot to do to get admitted to Johnson's Ph.D. program . Which is good and bad, for me. That is one of the reasons I like TTU's program... fairly straightforward admission hurdle . There is no question that Johnson University's Ph.D. program is going to be a success. Moreover, Johnson University's Ph.D. is regionally accredited which offers much greater utility than TTU's Ph.D. For me that is not everything in that I work for a Christian University that recognizes national accreditation as adequate credentials for faculty and administrators. It is a tough decision for me because both programs have positives and negatives.

That is good concerning TTU allowing some of the D.Min. coursework to transfer in to the Ph.D.. This makes sense as if yo have some coursework in leadership it should fit into the Ph.D. Keep up the service to God.

 

Thanks. The former president of TTU had told me in person of his desire to allow all 30 credits from a TTU DMin, though he knew this was ambitious. They will allow much though, from what the recently former Dean of the seminary told me a few months ago... Lots of formers around there I know...

In light if TTU's struggles it feels good to me to "cover" my doctorate with a post doc cert like the one from Regent University in ecclesial (church) leadership. Blessings!