Any students from NorthCentral U?

Note: I thought my post maybe on the wrong forum..

I am interested in the PH.D. program in MBA (applied CS or MIS) at Northcentral university and waiting for their accreditation to go through. I would like to get comments on the quality of the program, the attention of the mentors/advisors, and overall feeling.

thanks,
Adamo

 

I just got accepted by NCU. Overall, their staffs are very responsive. But most importantaly, I can have a total of 40 units transferred to the Ph.D/Intel. Bus. program. I am hoping to have said degree completed entirely on-line within 3 years (less than $15K including tuition, books, etc.)


Paul

MBA Oklahoma City Univ.
JD Univ. of La Verne

 

Currently, I am doing one of my research classes towards the dissertation. My experience overall has been a great one, besides the work (lots of it). The administrative staff and faculty are very supportive.
Wish you well.

 

Thanks for your reponses. At the same level as accreditation, I think a quality program is very important. I didnot like the fact that they listed "C How to program" as a doctorate level course. I think I am willing to take one class at a time before accreditation happens (hopefully by next March 2003)

 

Very good point! me neither, the PhD program is substandard and poor, I don't think any university in the world would consider it a good program. None of the courses at the PhD level in the applied computer science are at the graduate level. The Capella program in Information Technology seems to have a much better program, if it wasn't because the incredible expensive tuition fees it would be my first choice. Any university would laugh at your transcript from North Central, I don't see the point of you waisting your money. It might get accreditation, but the academic community won't accept it as it is.

Other good options in Information Systems/ Computer Science are:


- Argosy Univesity DBA Information Systems
- Walden University PhD in MIS
- University of South Africa PhD in Computer Science/IS
- Deakin University Doctor of Technology in Information Technology
- Capella University PhD in Information Technology
- Charles Sturt PhD in Information Technology
- University of Southern Queensland PhD in Computer Science


I checked all these options and the course work and program seems to be challenging and with good qualified faculty. I'm not qualified to evaluate the other options of the PhD at North Central, so it might be only the Computer Science and MIS that has bad quality. But if you want to invest your money in higher education, you should try to make worth every dollar you expend.

I hope this helps,

 

RF, which program did you go with. Capella is too expensive for me. does anyone of the mentioned programs have tuition fee between NCU and capella. thanks,

 

RFValve - I'd add Nova Southeastern (NSU) to your list. They have PhD programs in computer science and information systems. Further, they've been in the business for quite a while and have a sizable enrollment.

Thanks - Andy

 

If you don't mind a DBA in information Systems, then Argosy one is about 30000 US. But since I'm a poor information technology professor living in Canada, I cannot really afford Capella. But I found the course work at capella at the first level, after some shopping around I decided to enroll in DBA in Information Technology at USQ (University of Southern Queensland). The course work is good but more research oriented, this term I'm taking a course in Component Based Software Development that I would consider very good. Check the website and see if the graduate courses in Information Technology suit your needs, the DBA is about 22000 AUD, and you can select any course from the graduate section of information technology. One problem is that the program is not totally online, that means that you will have to write a proctored exam at the end of the course. The course work described in the DBA section of their catalog is not totally accurate since you can really choose any course from their graduate section, I'm telling you this because I didn't take any of the courses for the Information Systems specialization since I already had some similar couses in my MBA.

North Central got my attention many years ago, but after examining its course work I found it too poor, most of the courses described were part of my the first year level of my undergrad. I teach first year students in information technology and the level of our C++ is higher than their PhD level C++.

But I agree that their tuition fees sound really attractive.

I hope this helps,

 

thanks again,
Other people argue that the most important part of a PHD is the dissertation, i.e. the topic and the quality of the research.

I looked at Walden University and they have so much residency requirements that might not fit with our US 2-week annual vacations

 

I agree, but I wouldn't expect too much out of a dissertation prepared by a student with an introductory course in C, another introductory course in C++, a very basic course in computer graphics. The course in computer networks is at the same level of a course that I taught at the community college level.

Capella knows that they are the only good option for an accredited DL PhD in Information Technology and that is why they charge a fortune for it. I forgot to mention the PhD in computer science at university of Idaho, very sound program and residencies can be negotiated but they seem to be a little tough when it comes to admission since you have to write the GRE. When I appied they weren't to flexible with me for the residencies since my research topic required a lab, so they asked me for a six months residency which is a pretty good deal if you ask me. But I was just too lazy to rearrange my life for six months.

 

Personal Experience

Since others have offered their opinion about Northcentral, I thought I would weigh in as well. For background, I have been an adjunct professor of regression analysis, decision models, and operations research at an AACSB accredited university for the past five years. I own a regional market research firm, so teaching is my avocation.

I matriculated into the Ph.D. program (Management) at Northcentral a year ago. I must say that I am very pleased with the level of academic rigor at the university. Each professor has been extremely responsive, yet focused on increasing both the student's breadth and depth of knowledge in each subject area. I am still in the course work phase of the program, and the reading and writing requirements have been extensive. I would expect nothing less from a doctoral program.

I am also pleased with the checks and balances that are a part of the academic culture at the university. For example, during the dissertation phase, not only does the candidate have to satisfy his/her committee members with regard to the quality of the research (and whether the research is a substantive contribution to the field), but must also submit the work to an outside reviewer that is a noted expert in that area(or as closely related as possible).

I am of the opinion that the quality of a doctoral program is significantly based on the individual. For example, I have read a number of dissertations that originated from "high profile" programs that I would deem substandard. Conversely, I have read several dissertations from lesser known programs that I believe were exceptional.

All in all, I would recommend the doctoral programs at Northcentral University to any student that is both academically prepared and fundamentally resolved to make the requisite commitment to earn a terminal degree via distance learning. Again, this is my opinion based on personal experience.

 

Re: Personal Experience

My comments were regarding the course quality of the PhD in MIS and CS, perhaps the other options have a better program. It happens that some universities have stronger programs in some areas. But the CS and MIS options are very poor compared to other DL programs as the ones from Capella or Nova.

 

Accrediting agencies are not stupid, and the North Central Association, while more favorable toward the distance model, is no less rigorous for that. If the courses are are dismal as Mr. Valve suggests, that will be noticed and taken into account by the accrediting team.

Adamo writes of "...waiting for their accreditation to go through." I'm sure he or she realizes this is not like waiting for a trolley car--the next one will come along soon.

John Bear, who remembers that what is now Union Institute University
was a candidate with North Central Association for nine years, before finally
gaining their full accreditation.

 

Remember that ythe International Graduate School seemed like a sure thing when they had candidacy in the '80s from North Central. They not only didn't get accreditation, they lost their candidacy status as well after a review team visit. The school closed soon after.

 

CA Options

Perhaps you can consider a CA Approved option, I am pursing a CA Approved program for my MSc and I am quite satisfied. While other states' non-accredited models are subject to bashing and scorn, here, generally the CA approved schools are satisfactorally recieved. A school, that is well respected is Califiornia Pacific University, for Business Degrees. I am pursuing a different major so I chose Pacific-Western in CA. You also may want to consider California Coast. While not RA, these schools are fairly well respected in business, and are much less expensive. I have spoken with Dr. Dalton from CPU, myself, and I have directed a few potential students to the school. Pretty sure given their positive review by the CA Borard, that they could achieve RA, but that would likely drive $$ up. Just my 50 cents.

RJT

 

RJT: "I am pursuing a different major [than business] so I chose Pacific-Western in CA."

Dear Ms. T: If Pacific Western (no hyphen) is offering degrees in a field other than business from California, then I believe they are violation of California law. I suspect you may be dealing with an entirely different school, which is Pacific Western University (Hawaii), albeit with an address in California.

 

Major

John:

My major at PWU is Masters of Science in Management, specialization in Personnel. The MBA that CPU offers - was what I was orginally considering, but CPU didn't have the HR specialization. Should I ever decide to pursue a second Masters though, I am interested in their MA in Human Behavior, perhaps I can then figure out why such contstant bashing goes on here, regarding anybody that thinks differently than - RA is the only way to go. Guess I am a rebel.

Regards,

RJT

 

Thanks for the clarification, Ms. T. So I guess you are dealing with the California-approved Pacific Western, not the Hawaii (but run from the same place) one.

I hope it meets your needs. Clearly that degree has for many others, who have no wish for a job in academe, and who are confident they will never end up living in Oregon or New Jersey or whichever other states go along with the Oregon model and make use of that degree a criminal offense.

I used to meet occasionally with owner Phil Forte. The first time, he threw me out of his office, but later came to realize that their listing in my book was valuable to them, and he even took me out to dinner once.

Our last talk was after the national TV program "American Journal" did a long feature on them, the centerpiece of which was the description of a staff member who had gotten (if I remember correctly) a Master's in Management in nine days, from application to issuing of diploma. When they approached Forte to ask about this, he got into his Rolls-Royce and drove off. Forte later called me to say he would be suing them, but he never did.

So there's a challenge. Maybe you can get yours in eight days.

 

That was very kind of Forte to not sue them for making Pacific Western University look like a degree mill. I believe that Forte is very lucky to have RJT's tuition. He gets a tune up for his Rolls and maybe part of a tank of gas plus he gains a vocal and active supporter to boot.

 

Fathom

John:

I appreciate your reply. However, the California Approval in my mind - adds a degree of credibility. I am not sure how someone could get the degree in nine days. I guess I could fathom it this way. If someone is able to obtain their RA degree with Laurie Miller's model in four weeks, and CA approved is slightly less than RA then ... .

Caloric Consumption for Cognitive Processes.

RJT