Unaccredited Degree Titles

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Garp, Jul 13, 2011.

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  1. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    I know some states seem to require unaccredited religious schools to not offer degrees that have academic titles in them (eg PhD or MA). Would that be a logical, consumer protection and just plain fair thing to require of all unaccredited schools that have religious exemptions to offer non academic titles?

    That Northwestern Theological Seminary/University and its apparent substandard doctorate (PhD) had me wondering.

    Why not some kind of law, as some states have, requiring people to note that the degrees were unaccredited. That way it does not prohibit them from using them, having religious exemption and so on.

    It is just unfortunate, especially in the Christian community, to have these substandard or sub sub standard degree programs with religious exemption offering what are purported to be PhD's. I recall on another board someone posted a "school" where the on line systematic theology text was a whopping 7 pages long.

    Maybe the answer is developing a system where even exempt programs must demonstrate they meet certain minimum standards (no one interfering in curriculum, version of scripture and religious beliefs). I mean, seriously, even if you are a religious institution you still have to have a driver's license for the bus driver, meet health codes for the cafeteria, and fire codes for the building and that is not considered interfering with the sep of Church and State. Why not education standards (even if it is not accreditation but state insurance of meeting certain minimal standards)? Or maybe institutions should request not to meet fire, health and safety codes because they are exempt.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 13, 2011
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Your assumption seems to be that accreditation and academic legitimacy are the same thing. This isn't so. Accreditation is simply an attempt at independent verification of academic legitimacy. (Although, as an aside, having observed the process at a few schools I don't actually find it all that impressive.)

    The idea behind government "consumer protection" regulations is to protect people from fraud. But since a PhD program at a university that is not accredited isn't inherently fraudulent, banning it is unnecessary and meddlesome.

    It is costless and trivially easy for prospective students, employers, and other interested parties to check on the accreditation status of any school in the U.S. If you really think that state government ought to do something, they can simply encourage people who find accreditation important to use such freely available tools to help them make decisions about where to apply or whom to hire.
     
  3. dlady

    dlady Active Member

    [Sarcasm]
    Yes, lets make it so no new higher education institutions can ever start and our government is the sole entity that defines how we can learn, what we can learn, and who is allowed to teach it.
    [/Sarcasm]
     
  4. AdjunctInstructor

    AdjunctInstructor New Member

    There is a wide gap between unaccredited and degree mill. It is erroneous to consider all unaccredited schools as degree mills. A particular schools' qualitative values can be viewed as being somewhere on a continuum from the highest to the lowest--- or as in the case of a degree mill perhaps no value.
     
  5. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    What he said..lol
     
  6. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    But aren't they the wisest in all the land? :eek:mfg:
    Who could do it better...you?? :veryhappy:

    What are you going to do? Become the dean or president of a school and offer a high quality degree program at an affordable price...what after that....start your own organization? Come on now, leave that "big thinking" to the governement...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 14, 2011

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