A programme like this one? Doctoral and distance

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by flannelberry, Apr 11, 2012.

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  1. flannelberry

    flannelberry New Member

    Hi all,

    I have found the degree that truly speaks to me and I would love to do. The problem - no part time (I'm the primary wage earner) and I'd have to attend 10 sessions per year. It's about $300 round trip to fly plus accommodations etc, so a pretty penny when you add tuition to it.

    Intensives would work better for me but they tell me there's no change on the horizon.

    This is the programme:
    Pacifica Graduate Institute-Community Psychology, Liberation Psychology, and Ecopsychology graduate degree program

    I don't require this, I would take it for personal reasons. I would prefer an RA school because of tax issues (we can write off RA tuition). One that doesn't require so much travel would be great. And preferably part time. And the doctoral part - I have the Master done.

    I know I'm asking for the moon but I thought if anyone would have the answer - know of a programme like this one but part time etc.- it would be one of you.

    Thanks in advance for your help.
     
  2. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    More precisely, the current cost for tuition and accommodations for this program is $ 30,171 per year. The doctoral program looks like it requires three years of coursework (not including the dissertation). Add in your travel costs, and this is a $100,000+ degree. And you probably would have to pay full freight -- Pacifica is a for-profit school, and is not noted for offering scholarships or tuition assistance.

    It does seem like a lot for personal fulfillment.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2012
  3. flannelberry

    flannelberry New Member

    Thanks CalDog - that's exactly how it's feeling to me.
     
  4. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    You might be interested in Naropa University's low-residency MA in Transpersonal Psychology with Ecopsychology concentration. This is only a master's, not a doctorate. Requires a couple of short summer sessions in Colorado. Still not exactly cheap, but not six figures either. Naropa is an RA non-profit.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2012
  5. flannelberry

    flannelberry New Member

    Thanks CalDog. I have Master's and just can't see myself taking another one - no matter how cool it is.

    I've tried everything short of funding a programme myself to get Naropa to do a similar PhD.

    Thanks for trying.
     
  6. major56

    major56 Active Member

  7. flannelberry

    flannelberry New Member

    Thanks for your note. I did look at them and there are some things about the programme I don't love but I have definitely considered just taking one of their classes to see. There is a lot about that curriculum that appeals to me.

    Do you have any personal experience with them? I know a couple of people who have attended Pacifica and loved it - but they're in California so it's very accessible for them. Not knowing anyone who has attended ITP has made me hesitate.

    WASC= RA, right?

    Thanks again.
     
  8. major56

    major56 Active Member

    No ... none whatsoever.


    Yes; The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology has regional accreditation (WASC).
     
  9. flannelberry

    flannelberry New Member


    Thanks. They're telling me there is no part time option. Sadly.

    I wonder if there's an overseas option. I'll have to start looking there.
     
  10. major56

    major56 Active Member

  11. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Just a word of warning.....if the OP wants to do the program for self-interest or personal fulfillment, then have at it. Otherwise, keep in mind that Transpersonal Psychology is considered a bit "out there" by mainstream Psychology, so employment opportunities are going to be extremely limited.
     
  12. flannelberry

    flannelberry New Member

  13. flannelberry

    flannelberry New Member

    Thanks. I have a clinical degree with registration and a great job I don't plan on leaving so I'm set that way. I appreciate you taking the time to comment though, had I been expecting to get registered as a psychologist or something. Thanks again.
     
  14. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Awesome, good luck to you then!
     
  15. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    When I was doing my PhD at Michigan State (just after the Ice Age), I also had a terrific full-time job in San Francisco. My chair at State proposed a plan that worked for me: taking a couple of "independent study" courses each term, along with the residential courses, and taking a 'deferred' grade in those. That made me a de facto half-time student, in terms of work load, and my employer agreed to some telecommuting as well. It worked well for two years . . . and then, as I've written elsewhere, stuff happened. My chair died. He was the only one in the department who had interest in my topic (privacy). So I left for 3 years, then came back to finish with a different topic and a different committee. (And I got enough frequent flyer miles to become an American Airlines Admiral of the Flagship Fleet at the age of 23.)

    (In a related matter, a friend in Tucson had comparable issues with doing the Pacifica doctorate. He took to heed some of what I write in the "Bending the rules" chapter of Bear's Guide, and was able to negotiate back-to-back sessions, thus "only" five trips. But that was 9 or 10 years ago, and things may well be different now; on the other hand, he is an awfully persuasive negotiator.)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 12, 2012
  16. flannelberry

    flannelberry New Member


    Thanks so much John :)

    I am realizing that with the cost of tuition and travel I could do a research degree in the UK - doing most of the research here and travelling as needed. One of my profs did that and went a total of three times (once for her defense). Because of the supervision structure I already have in place at work, much of the continuing education part of what I'm hoping to learn could be done that way - as well as through my doctoral supervision. The research topics that haven't quite crystalized for me all relate to the things I'd like to learn.

    Do you have any thoughts on going that sort of route?

    Thanks again.
     
  17. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I've never looked into a UK research doctorate, but those here who have report that the dissertation is expected to be significantly longer than a US doctoral dissertation, since the dissertation IS the degree.
     

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