South African & Australian DL Doctorates ?

Two questions:

• What makes an Australian and a South African degree the equivalent of the American "RA"?
  
• Are there any South African or Australian DL doctoral degrees in criminal justice?

Pray tell?

 

The answer to the first question you already know. It has to be recognized within the framework of their education system (ie Dept. of Ed recognition). Aussie's have their agency whose name (AQF ??) escapes me (all that controversy with Greenwich). South Africa is easy. Go to the federal government web site and then to the Dept of Ed. There is a list of all recognized public universities.

Second, probably a great number. UNISA definitely does. UNIZUL has a law faculty but the site is under construction and I have no idea what credentials they offer. Without a doubt many more.

What I would be carfeul about is the issue that Criminal Justice may be perceived as somewhat geographically specific (I do not know this for a fact). Theology is theology although paradigm's may differ. Application of CJ may be very interesting but very different in SA or AU vs US. If you want to teach in a 4 year university a research PhD from outside the USA may or may not cause some concern due to whether or not it is seen as applicable to the US. Again, I am no expert so just speculation. If you just want the equivalent of an RA PhD to teach a a Community College or University of Phoenix this may not matter at all.

Have you looked at NCU. Their business PhD is available with a CJ Administration emphasis. Certainly not as inexpensive as a 2000 dollar UNIZUL PhD but may be seen as more applicable depending on intended application.

North

 

Me...

Since the research doctorate at Unisa is based upon a topic that you and your promoter agree upon, the legal basis for the research does not have to be South African.

On the other hand, undergraduate taught courses there will be very specific to South African law and culture.

Two other notes. To study for the Unisa research doctorate, you must hold a Masters degree in Criminal Justice as a prerequisite. A degree that required a thesis is even better.

Note that the Australian research doctorate normally requires a thesis of 100K words as a minimum.

Regards,
John

 

Thanks John & North.

I think I'm suffering from "information overload" and what I need is a sorely needed break from academics. We are scheduled to complete graduate school on June 21st of this year and then I shall take a sorely needed sabbatical from all academic labors.

Ah yes, rest and relaxation for the remainder of 2003.

Skools almost out!!!

 

Heyyyyyy Me Again:

Check out the Australian Graduate School of Police Management... they offer a Doctor of Public Policy through Charles Sturt University...

http://wwwdb.csu.edu.au/division/marketing/courses/postgrad/pg-agspm/edpppo/edpppo-csu.htm

They offer a coursework based doctorate with a 40,000 word dissertation... the cost appears to be around AUD$20,800 (back when I was gathering data on this the exchange rate made this roughtly US$10,400... not sure of today's tuition and exchange rate...)

Looks quite interesting!

BruceP

 

Wow, a thousand thanks for the link. It looks awesome and I will be following up on it!!!

 

me again - North answered the first question as well as anyone could. The second question is a bit more difficult. John clearly indicated that UNISA has a program. Also, there are a number of schools that have law faculties that may or may not include specific programs in criminal justice. One thing that you'll have to contend with is that the language is a bit different than in America. Some words like "course," "faculty," etc. don't mean the same as in American schools. This may mean that there's a diferent term for "Criminal Justice" as well. Also, there are schools that are open to the prospect of DL research doctorates if they are approached in the right way. If you find a degree program that looks good and there are instructors with similar interests to your own, then you may want to strike up a conversation with them regardless of whether the university advertises itself as being a DL school. Good luck,
Jack