Defense of the Online Phd

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Dr. Gina, Jul 21, 2003.

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  1. Dr. Gina

    Dr. Gina New Member

    A question for those who are persuing or have obtained your PhD online...


    How do you go about sucessfully defending your PhD in a DL enviroment (orally as well)?


    Just curious...
     
  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    IIRC, Northcentral requires a video conference over the internet.

    Union Institute and University requires a face-to-face meeting.

    I believe the other, established, short-residency doctoral programs require face-to-face defenses.

    Not sure what Touro University International does.
     
  3. duff

    duff New Member

    TUI does some type of video conference as well online.

    Duff
     
  4. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Mine is not an online PhD. It is a low-residency doctorate.

    Ike Okonkwo, PhD
    (Nova Southeastern University)
     
  5. cehi

    cehi New Member

    Mine at the U of Texas (Longhorn forever) was not online, and it required a face-face meeting with the committee members and also, have all the normal window-dressing sentiments such as party/celebration room, vote room, waiting room, etc. etc. Remember, this is purely a normal B&M facility with all those traditions that people are not willing to change. I believe universities should now consider comtemporary methods like video or telephone conferencing. If they refuse to change time, time will change them.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 22, 2003
  6. ashton

    ashton New Member

    "Outside" observers

    I'm a MEd candidate at the University of Vermont,
    a bricks and mortar school. I receive e-mail invitations
    to every masters and doctoral thesis or dissertation
    defense for the graduate college. I wonder if that
    tradition could be preserved in a video conference?
     
  7. Michael Lloyd

    Michael Lloyd New Member

    Re: "Outside" observers

    This is somewhat off topic, but when I did my master's in chemistry 20 years ago, there was no thesis defense. I typed it up (on an actual typewriter), submitted it to my adviser and that was that. I just checked my old department's website and confirmed that there is still no such requirement to this day, but the PhD program still requires an oral exam and a dissertation defense.

    There was no thesis or defense in my MBA program nor in my wife's MHA program either, although she did have to take a comprehensive exam from Chapman, her school. Is it common to defend a master's thesis? Or does this happen only in certain areas of study or at certain schools?

    Regards,

    Michael Lloyd
    Mill Creek, Washington USA
     
  8. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    Colorado State requires a standard face to face oral defense. In fact several of the courses require you to attend a 3 day seminar on campus (I go for my second one at the end of August).
     
  9. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    If you are pursuing a doctorate from a South African or Australian university, you may be required to defend your dissertation in person.

    The University of South Africa requires a face-to-face defence. However, in some cases, this requirement may be waived if the doctoral candidate can show proof that he or she has published an abstract in a journal or online organization.

    You should note that this requirement applies to those pursuing DPhil and DLitt et Phil degrees in the Arts and Sciences. The other fields such as Education and Business require their candidates to defend their dissertation in person.

    I plan on publishing two short articles on the "Brain Drain Phenomenon of South African and Canadian knowledge workers" in SANSA (SA) and the Population and Development Review (New York) in order to have the oral defense component of my program waived.
     

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