Lots of questions with no answers…. Are there any Capella doctoral graduates here? If so, can you please describe your experience at this school? How would you evaluate the difficulty of the course work and the tuition costs? In your opinion, how does Capella compare to Argosy, UoP, Regents and the other DL programs? Any experiential feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I graduated with a PhD in Human Services in 2000 My experience was very positive. The entire school works toward helping you with your goal of obtaining the PhD. The school has a pretty good completion rate (can't quote you percentages.) The coursework is DL (2 focused seminars and one two week extended seminar) but this should not be confused with easy. In comparison, the work was more diffcult than either my B&M MBA or DL MA in Counseling. The tuition is high.....over 1,000 per quarter. Sorry, can compare to either of the others as I have not attended and have no way of knowing. I would highly recommend Capella......I don't think you will be disappointed. You are bounded by the two year minimum enrollment but if you are focused you can complete the PhD in two years. Good luck.
Capella graduate Are there any Capella doctoral graduates here? >> I am not a doctoral graduate, but I graduated from Capella's MBA program. Capella has an ambassador program, visit http://www.capella.edu/aspscripts/schools/meetlearners/index.asp?from=about. This is a great way to talk to current learners and alumni. If so, can you please describe your experience at this school? >> I had a great experience! Capella provides more support than I have ever experienced! The faculty are scholar practionars with extensive experience in their fields. I found this helpful because i was able to ask them questions about relating my coursework to my job. Which doctoral program are you considering? How would you evaluate the difficulty of the course work and the tuition costs? >> I recieved employer reimbursement for my tuition. Does your employer provide any reimbursement? Capella also has financial aid options. In your opinion, how does Capella compare to Argosy, UoP, Regents and the other DL programs? >>I think that Capella far exceeds other programs in the support services provided, the great interaction with faculty and other learners, and the opportunity to select from a wide range of courses. I was not tied down to only specific courses- I was able to chose which courses fit what I wanted to study.
Capella Doctoral Information Thanks Howard and Jennifer for all the valuable information and the link. I'm not certain. Which is the least rigorious? I should finish an MA in criminology in late 2003. Initially, I had no interest in pursuing a doctorate. But if I'm still young enough to do it, then it may be a viable option. I'm not sure yet...
Capella graduate Are there any Capella doctoral graduates here? >> I am not a doctoral graduate, but I graduated from Capella's MBA program. Capella has an ambassador program, visit http://www.capella.edu/aspscripts/schools/meetlearners/index.asp?from=about. This is a great way to talk to current learners and alumni. If so, can you please describe your experience at this school? >> I had a great experience! Capella provides more support than I have ever experienced! The faculty are scholar practionars with extensive experience in their fields. I found this helpful because i was able to ask them questions about relating my coursework to my job. Which doctoral program are you considering? How would you evaluate the difficulty of the course work and the tuition costs? >> I recieved employer reimbursement for my tuition. Does your employer provide any reimbursement? Capella also has financial aid options. In your opinion, how does Capella compare to Argosy, UoP, Regents and the other DL programs? >>I think that Capella far exceeds other programs in the support services provided, the great interaction with faculty and other learners, and the opportunity to select from a wide range of courses. I was not tied down to only specific courses- I was able to chose which courses fit what I wanted to study.
If I enroll in Capella, how long will it take me to get a doctorate (I should complete a MA in late 2003)?
Good question that I wish I knew the answer to. I need to obtain a PhD in order to get promoted at work. Is 2 years a realistic time frame in which to complete a Capella program? Are there any other similar good DL PhD programs which a student can expect to complete within a 2-3 year time span? Mike
No, two years is not a realistic time frame. It can be done if you are focused and direct 30 to 40 hours per week to your studies. I don't know of any accredited PhD that you can complete in less two years, minimum, and would think that the three to four years would be a pretty good estimate. I do believe that you will get as much assistance from staff and faculty as you will get anywhere. I was well pleased.
I will complete my doctoral program at Capella by the end of this month. I am putting final touches on my APA style and form edits and have my final dissertation conference call on May 15th. That should wrap it all up. There are some that have completed the program in two years, so there is proof it can be done. I was optimistically hoping for two and a half years and it took me three years and five months. I completely changed my dissertation topic three quarters of the way through my program, which contributed, to my schedule delay. If you are absolutely certain of your dissertation topic, are extremely organized, an excellent writer, can focus each of your classes on some aspect of your dissertation research, and have no serious personal distractions while in the program, then two years is possible. However, I know very few people that fit that description. I think three years is a more reasonable expectation. However, you may just be one of those unique individuals to make it happen in less. Paul C.
Capella Helping Doctoral Students "The entire school works toward helping you with your goal of obtaining the PhD." The quote above is one reason to consider a Capella for a doctorate. Nova I heard is that way, too. I looked at the Capella program in distance education/instructional technology and it is really juicy! I asked a nationally known Research I program a few months back if they could give me figures on their doctoral degree completion rate and how long it took to complete. The chair told me he couldn't give me the figures.... warning sign! If they were proud of that, they would have had the figures. The world is filled with ABD's... I am among them from 20 years back, but I have moved on.
Employment or No Employment while Studying for Doctorate? For the people who finished a doctorate at Capella in only two or three years, was that as a full-time student or were you working full-time? I cannot take a sabbatical from work to pursue a higher degree. I'm a working stiff...
Perceptions of Capella Are there any Capella PhD holders out there who can offer a balanced view (both positive and negative) of the perceptions of your degree in various schools and workplaces? Although Capella is accreditted and posters here have lauded its programs, it seems that it is either mostly or entirely a DL institution, and perhaps that encourages bias against it in some circles. To what extent is that the case? What are your insights into the pros and cons? Mike
Re: Employment or No Employment while Studying for Doctorate? I did my PhD in a little over 2 years. I transferred in 48 credits of the 120 I needed by virture of my Masters. Its a matter of priorities...yes, I worked and had family time. If you can plan to study 15 - 20 hours a week you can pull it off in 2/3 years. The school will assist you in every way possible but you must have the initial motivation. You start by having your objectives and courses programmed before you enroll. The $ clock starts at enrollment. After than you put the plan into action and move forward through the courses, comprehensive, and dissertation. The catalog says the comprehensive cannot be until the courses are done and the dissertation cannot be done until the comprehensives is done. But you can parallel them. Remember, the school wants you to graduate but since you are paying tuition they don't mind if you take 5 years to do it. Good Luck. Howard.
