Charles Sturt U. DBA program: Can not do my research area

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Marko, Feb 11, 2003.

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  1. Marko

    Marko New Member

    Hi,

    Thanks to this wonderful board of very educated and helpful participants here at DegreeInfo, I have decided to go for the DBA programme at Charles Sturt University (Australia).

    Today, I am shocked and saddened, because I found out that CSU does not have any supervisors available in the area of research that I am interested in.

    Here is a copy of the e-mail I sent to the DBA program coordinator, with his response following:

    INQUIRY:

    [QOUTE]
    I would like to disuss with you the area of research study that I am interested in. The area / subject of interest is:
    "DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROFITABLE STRATEGIES IN EQUITIES TRADING"
    [QOUTE]

    RESPONSE:

    [QOUTE]
    Unfortunately, at this point in time we are unable to offer supervision in your area of interest. We do not have staff with the requisite knowledge and expertise.
    [QOUTE]

    I wrote back the following just now, waiting for a response:
    [QOUTE]
    Is there a way of arranging for a qualified mentor outside of the university? Also, could you tell me what areas of study have supervision available -- perhaps I could fit it in to one of those.
    [QOUTE]

    What should I do? Should I try to change my subject area? Or should I look to another university? Which one?

    I also tried to contact the CSU PhD program coordinator, but she is off until February 24th, so I'm waiting.

    Marko

    :confused:
     
  2. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    Try an end run.

    Look up the faculty listing fro the department and allied research centres and see if any of them are interested in anything even close to what you are proposing and then contact them directly.

    In general the individual faculty have more flexibility than their US counterparts, and if one of them syas they will supervise you then you can use that with your application.
     
  3. humbug101

    humbug101 New Member

    Hi Marko,

    As a current enrollee in the program and one that has been there and met most of them, I think it is a credit to the program that they are only taking it in areas they can support.

    My suggestion is either find another program or modify your topic. Once in the program you will have plenty of room to modify its focus, which will definitely happen as you go through the course sequence, as I have.

    My supervisors are very flexible and supportive. I have floundered a bit but they have continually put me back on track.

    Leave me an email if you have more detailed questions.

    Bah
     
  4. Michaelmail

    Michaelmail New Member

    I had the same kind of response last year, and my topic was one of Sturt's specialities! (Similar situation at USQ, so it does make me wonder if I did a poor job of 'selling' myself.)

    I think the phrase used by CSU was 'no point in pursuing this, we have no one to supervise'.

    It was very brusque - I decided to turn and run, rather than turn and fight.

    I'm now happily enrolled at Touro UI, so things worked out in the end. When you compare the curricula between Sturt and Touro, the subjects don't seem all that different.

    I'd seen mention, on this board, that it can be a challenge to get accepted at the Aussie universities, and made the decision not to take it personally. Just move on.

    (And... please, folks.. let's not start yet another thread on the - pro's and con's of TUI, USQ, CSU, et al.)

    With thanks

    Michael in Vancouver

    - BA (English & Sociology) Dalhousie, Halifax Canada (bricks/mortar)
    - MBA, Athabasca University, Alberta Canada (distance)
    - Province of British Columbia Instructor's Diploma (bricks and mortar)
    - MA/ Humanities (Cal State Dominguez Hills) over 1/2 way there! (distance)
    - neophyte PhD student, Touro UI, in third of eleven courses... finish in 06???
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 11, 2003
  5. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Marko: Your unfortunate experience points up something I also learned the hard way: get your topic informally approved in writing by the relevant prof(s) before mailing your A$ away. This sort of thing happened to me with a uni in South Africa--in my case, I thanked them for their consideration, and took my business to Kinsel's. Best of luck to you.
     
  6. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Mike - I agree with you completely except for one small thing. I don't consider the approach you've described as being an "end run." I consider it to be the single most sensible, most successful approach known.
    Jack
     
  7. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member


    Marko,

    I had the same answer from CSU when I applied to the DBA three years ago. I believe it is a good thing that they only take the students that can support and supervise. I would try to polish my dissertation proposal, change the focus and try again.

    I'm currently enrolled in the DBA at USQ and I have already submitted three different research proposals that have been refused because they feel that the research problem doesn't justify a dissertation. So don't get discouraged, try again a couple more times before giving up.

    Australian DBAs and PhDs are well regarded in Canada and considered equivalent to canadian PhDs. Their rigorous admission process is just a sign of their high quality.

    As Michael said, we don't want to start another fight TUI vs CSU, but a DBA from CSU would be considered equivalent to a north american PhD by many universities at a fraction of the cost of a virtual PhD from a virtual university like TUI. The university of Toronto in Canada said that they would evaluate the DBA from CSU as equivalent to the U of Toronto PhD.
     
  8. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Kinsel's??

    Where are you pursuing your doctorate unk? Care to elaborate any on your SA experience.

    North
     
  9. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Kinsel's: Oh. It's a Detroit idiom meaning to get disgusted with a situation and go somewhere else. Kinsel's was a drugstore chain years ago, long since vanished.

    Re SA: No, I would rather not go into any more detail. Others have dealt successfully with the "difficult" university faculty in question, and I think my experience should be seen as cautionary for any research-only doc applicant, not normative for that particular school. I would not want to scare anyone off from productive study with the SA school in question.

    Having had an earlier diss trashed, I am less inclined to negotiate than many others would (rightly) be prepared to do. My own experience with working through topic difficulties in a US uni was so negative, protracted, and ultimately unavailing, that I personally would now rather bail out if problems arise at the outset with topic or approach, when those problems appear to strike at the heart of the project rather than merely indicating surface matters easily enough corrected or compromised upon. Other people might be well advised to fight it out or tough it out. This is a matter of temperament as much as it is one of protocol.
     
  10. Marko

    Marko New Member

    Thanks so much for the responses so far.

    Uncle Janko: thanks for clarifying that. That saved me from trying to look up "Kinsel University" to try to do my DBA there, LOL.

    In the meantime, I received a response from the DBA program director. Here it is:

     
  11. Marko

    Marko New Member

    Touro U.

    In the meantime, I searched this forum for alternatives. Touro U. kept coming up as a very popular and attractive option. Their PhD program seems similarly structured to the CSU DBA program. It is a bit more expensive, but still fairly reasonably priced ($22K for the core program, then $1K per quarter during the dissertation phase). IMHO, the PhD is better recognized than the DBA degree (at least by "ordinary", non-academic folks).

    I contacted Touro U., and the PhD program coordinator told me that my subject area is acceptable. So it looks like Touro might be it. We'll see.

    :)
     
  12. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Good luck.
     
  13. Homer

    Homer New Member

    Re: Touro U.

    Since it is now RA, you could run it by Northcentral as well. They offer a Ph.D. with a specialization in financial management.
     
  14. Lajazz947

    Lajazz947 New Member

    Charles Sturt DBA rejection

    I had the SAME response from CSU to my proposed dissertation. I have now contacted about 15 different RA/GAPP schools but only CSU has replied so far.

    I know that this board goes round and round regarding utility vs. credibility, but if I cannot get some support from the RA/GAPP people I will go to a state approved school or GOD FORBID one of the schools listed in Dr. Bears book that is " Other schools with non residential programs". Berne, Rushmore and Robert Kennedy come to mind.

    Listen my fellow students, I am assuming that there are MANY others out there in my situation. People with good RA credentials that won't make any more money by spending more RA dollars. All things being equal I want another RA school but it won't make me or break me at this stage of my career since I am basically self employed.

    I am no stranger to hard work and the "easy" way out is the last thing I want or would accept of myself. My CV speaks for itself.

    My Thesis for my MBA was a 300 plus page global and domestic strategic plan for my former employer, a global investment bank. My dissertation will definitely be something that I will be proud of.

    The PhD/DBA is purely for my own education but yes, truth be known.............I want those three little letters behind my name.

    Call it ego, call it whatever you want to but I really want them. OK, maybe it's because my cousin has those three letters behind her name and I don't. I have never asked where she went but I am sure that it was NOT a top tier school.

    Whether I go to an RA/GAPP school or a non accreditted one I will work just as hard and put in as much time and effort to the research because the topic, not the title that will follow, is what will make me money.

    I would like someone out there with some experience to look at the following E mail that I have sent to many schools asking for feedback and comment. My dissertation proposal is very simple ( I think ).

    " Dear Sir/Madame:

    I am starting to research DBA/Ph.D programs and I have been referred to you for specific questions that I have regarding the ability of your department to supervise a the subject of my proposed dissertation.

    In terms of background I have a BS, JD, MBA and am finishing an MS in personal finance, all from regionally accredited United States schools. I am of Cuban descent and plan on forming a business consortium dedicated to establishing business opportunities in a post Castro Democratic Cuba.

    My dissertation would involve a study of Cuban-American relations post 1959, an economic study of the same period, a study of the political relationship that has existed between the two in that period as well as recent developments in the region that have allowed for worldwide foreign investment in the country.

    I also plan on completing research on the feasibility of the current US embargo in place and how that may affect relations going forward prior to a change in the Cuban government.

    I plan on starting this program in late 2003 or early 2004.

    I would appreciate you letting me know if this is a topic that that your university could supervise."

    I have sent this to nearly every SA, UK, Aussie school as well as SCUPS, CCU and a few US RA schools, Union and Touro.

    Am I missing something with my topic?

    Rafael

    BS Western state University, Fullerton, CA
    JD " " ( ABA )
    MBA Pepperdine, Malibu, CA
    MS Kansas State University, KS ( 2003 )
     
  15. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    Lajazz947

    Your topic is relevant and exceedingly interesting. I am not near a doctorate but am at a loss for words. I guess its not boring enough.
     
  16. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    I think a DBA from CCU requires 15 courses and no dissertation so that may explain a lack of interest.


    I checked - the PhD in business does require one.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 24, 2003
  17. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    The first three non-accredited schools you mentioned leave a bit to be desired. But then you mention more. Did you consider California Pacific University?

    You also mention Union. I would imagine you would be able to pursue your topic there, and build a degree program around it and your field. There are supposed to be changes afoot at Union--perhaps even other forms of the doctorate besides or instead of the Ph.D. Still, I would think you'd be welcome there.


    Could it be that your topic isn't exactly one that would be studied in a business administration program? This is particularly so in the DBA, which tends to be more pragmatic than the Ph.D. Your topic sounds more social sciences or economics, rather than business administration.
     
  18. Lajazz947

    Lajazz947 New Member

    Thanks Rich

    Rich:

    I actually got a favorable response from Union but it was over the phone with a counselor so who knows what the real response will be with faculty members.

    Thank you very much for the info. I actually had not considered Cal Pacific, that is why this forum is so usefull.

    I know, REALLY I know, that the schools I mentioned leave allot to be desired and that is why I struggle so much. I struggle because deep inside I want the school to be accreditted but also know that I would work just as hard in any school.

    Your'e right about my topic though. It incorporates social sciences AND economics so it is hard to quantify it as one discipline. I do however think that my topic is pretty straightforward.

    As I understand it the DBA is usefull in applying practical solutions to real world business problems. I guess if I framed my consortium as a consulting group and addressed the various problems attendant in doing business in Cuba it might fly.

    Thanks again,

    Rafael
     
  19. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Re: Thanks Rich

    So ask a few and find out. Union faculty are open to prospective learners and their plans/ideas. Go to the school's homepage, thumb through the faculty bios, pick a few with interests in your area, and contact them.

    I'm not recommending Union, nor California Pacific. Just some ideas....
     
  20. plumbdog10

    plumbdog10 New Member

    Many of the foreign universities list the areas that their faculties can supervise on their web sites or catalogs.

    But I agree, that your topic seems like it would find a better home in an economics department, or in an interdisiplinary program like Union.
     

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