PhD vs Resarch question

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Han, Jan 1, 2003.

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  1. Han

    Han New Member

    I am looiking into a PhD, and have come across two different titles for degrees.

    PhD and Doctorate in Business

    The Dotorate in Business is a research based degree, but I can't find any other difference.

    DBA vs. PhD

    If I were to want to teach at the Unviersity level and a "doctorate" was required, would both be the same.

    Oh Knowledgable boad, please help!!
     
  2. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    You may want to check the archives on this - I'm sure it has been talked about before.

    Virtually all of the teaching positions I've seen call for a doctorate in business (PhD or DBA) from a regionally accredited school. Some ads (as Kristie is very aware!) also call for graduation from an AACSB accredited school - even though AACSB doesn't accredit doctoral programs. DBA is the older label. There are still schools that use this label - including Harvard and some Southern schools. Others have switched to the label PhD. At one time for example, Indiana let students choose DBA or PhD. Today, I believe they've gone to PhD. At one time Oklahoma had both DBA and PhD with the only difference being a language requirement. Today, Oklahoma awards PhD's in business.

    Some programs differentiate DBA from PhD programs - but there is no consistent pattern that I can detect between the two labels.

    In the DL world, NSU has produced a large number of DBA's over the years, as has Sarasota (now Argosy) and USIU (now named Alliant?).

    Interestingly, NSU has recently decided to change from DBA to PhD. This seems to be a market response to new competitors such as Capella and TUI that use the PhD label.

    I suspect the label you earn after completing a doctorate in business is far less an issue than the education you've received and your ability to teach and conduct research.

    Regards - Andy

     
  3. Christopher Green

    Christopher Green New Member

    principle of deterioration

    Hey Kristie:

    I don't have much to offer here since business is not my thing. But I did think of something while reading Andy's response.

    there have been several posts on this board discussing the differences between, the advantages of and disadvantages of earning an "EdD."

    essentially, what I have gleaned from this discussion is that there is a problem when two doctorates can be earned in the same field, and one of those two retains the initials "Ph.D." This can be a problem over the long term because, although the educational experience is essentially the same (with the EdD--most of the time), the non-"Ph.D." degree will, once in a blue moon, be perceived with less authority.

    this could be understood as a problem of decay or deterioration. When one degree, like the Psy.D., takes a unique place in psychological practice the Psy.D. does not deteriorate. This may be because the Psy.D. is intended for practice, not strict academic research. The Ph.D. in Psych. is more research oriented, so in a sense they meet different needs and the two degrees do not compete in the same specific field. It has it's unique role and value.

    But when the Ed.D. is compared to the Ph.D. in Education (no real curricular difference), the Ph.D. in Education is the one guaranteed to lose no perceptible value over time because "it's a Ph.D." The head of the education department at Trinity International University (my alma mater) explained this to me in detail when I asked why the school decided to change their degree to a "Ph.D. in Education" from, what was originally an Ed.D. The accreditors just showed up, in this particular case, and changed it to a Ph.D. The fact, however, that the accreditors had to review the curriculum means that there is a different set of standards for these two degrees. He said, "the Ed.D. is getting 'dumbed down.'"

    It may be that, in this situation, when two doctorates compete in the same field, one will inevitably be offered as the "easier route." This is probably more true now with the advent of DL.

    I'm not one to say if this principle of deterioration has any applicability to the DBA.

    Chris
     
  4. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I am not a business person nor in academia. My 2 cents is that all things being equal I would go for the PhD. There still is more perceived prestige in what Jason Baker calls the 'creme de la creme' of doctoral degrees. I have previously posted a Dept of Ed site listing degree considered equivalent of the PhD. The degree titles are astounding and range far beyond the (EdD, DBA, DMin). However, the plain fact is that they are again being compared to the PhD. Jo shmo may not know what the initials DBA or DMin are but they certainly know what a PhD is. PhD just has more prestige.

    However, you have to weigh cost and opportunities to earn the degree. All things are not equal. The DBA may be more cost effective for you and in a format more acceptable. It may also have equal employability for academia (a question Andy is far more able to answer). If I could choose between the two I would take a PhD. You can see that in my case all things were not equal and I choose a 60 credit hour DMin program that meets my needs (affordability/convenience/etc).

    Good luck.

    North
     
  5. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    Chris and North are right about preferring a PhD to DBA - all other things equal. But of course, all other things are not equal. So I'd make the "PhD versus DBA" factor one thing to consider - along with a host of other matters (like quality of faculty, accessibility, library support, cost, etc.).

    Regards - Andy
     
  6. obecve

    obecve New Member

    Frankly, it is not just the degree that makes he difference. Among acadmeic docs, I think PhD and EdD are most common and there is a perceived quality difference of the PHD being highger quality. However, the reality is very different. I have an EdD and have often been in competeition with other candidates with PhD's. In almost every case I was able to advance over the PhD folks. Why? other factors contribute to credibility: publications. public presentations, local/regional/national recognition, your own ability to present, etc. I have not discovered a single time where having the EdD diminished my opportunity or credibility. Interestingly enough when I testify in front of the legislature or congressional committees, or present nationally or internationally, they just introduce me as "Dr. O'Brien".
     
  7. Han

    Han New Member

    Thanks for all the posts, one more question. If a teaching position states "must have a doctorate in appropriate discpline", would both a PhD and a DBA fulfill that requirement?
     
  8. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    In a word - yes.

    Regards - Andy

     

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