CPU DBA: I finally enrolled in it

I don't plan on teaching at another university.

 

Go ahead and say it. I'm interested in hearing this. The fact is that the MBA type degree doesn't have the pull it used to AND I know I need to learn better research skills. CPU has a research course and a project to do.
I went to school in Israel and competed with captains of industry in that country. Nevertheless the BU degree didn't have the pull there that I needed so I came back to the States.
If you want references at school and work I can provide them.
I feel it's time to move on and non-traditional ed is the way I want to go.
Someone complained that CPU had people that had degrees form non-traditional schools. I like that. If I wanted to go to Harvard (one of the people I went to the BU program with now goes to classes at Harvard and works for the Boston Consulting Group and I had a higher GPA than him) I'd enroll there.
I think I'm on the right track for myself and that's what counts.

 

If you decide on an unaccredited degree, you've taken away that option.

One of the biggest reasons I recommend RA degrees is that, if nothing else, it keeps your options open.

 

Sorry, that was meant to be humor. You typed Magna Cum Laude Cum instead of Magna Cum Laude.

 

I'm a bit ditzy some times. But more education should help OK?
I iz a college grad-u-eight!

 

The degree is illegal in NJ but I'm not staying here. And the Institute is being worked on using my MSM credentials.

 

During a conversation with Dr. Dalton in late 2003, he mentioned that California Pacific University was trying focus on North America (NA) for three reasons: 1) They try to limit the number of students to turn assignments and feedback around quickly, and NA is large enough to fill the programs to capacity; 2) Written fluency in English is essential for completion of the business programs at all degree levels; 3) After 9/11, it has become more difficult to send/receive packages to/from overseas via USPS, which fits most students' budgets.

Cheers,

Dave

 

I think that it is perfectly legitimate to pursue a doctorate for the primary purpose of acquiring academic research skills. After all, that is the REAL idea behind any PhD program, to acquire and demonstrate exactly these skills.

If the program is one of the better unaccredited programs, as Dr. Bear seems to think, I say go for it!

 

If your primary purpose in pursuing a doctorate is to aquire academic research skills, why would you choose a program that does not include a dissertation?

 

Bear's advice usually comes with a caveat: be sure that such a degree will meet both your present and future needs. This can be a difficult thing to ensure.

As far as CPU goes, it is one of the better unaccredited choices. But the Ph.D. is different; it is the "union card" for entry into academia. (Granted, it is also used in government and industry, but for different reasons.) A Ph.D. from CPU doesn't do this.

Another concern I have is with the efficacy of the review and supervisory processes--IIRC, they're kind of thin with little institutional involvement.

 

Caveat noted. I've said myself that the dissertation degree is recognition by the experts in the field that the holder is now a member of their august company. That's why I opted for the U of London LL.M. instead of the NWCalU J.S.D.

Thing is, the LL.M. does introduce the student to the world of academic journals and research, but does NOT require the student to demonstrate mastery of those skills. That's what I gave up in return for pursuing a GAAP degree.

I didn't realize that CPU's program didn't require a dissertation??!??

 

Good point. Just a point of clarification... CPU (California Pacific) offers both the DBA and the Ph.D. in management, now. The DBA requires an application oriented thesis that is proposed and prepared in separate documents, but can be rejected by any of the three readers; there is very little supervision relative to the content. When I did my DBA, I proposed whatever I wanted within the framework required and the final doctoral project was rejected once because it didn't follow the five chapter method; I had my reasons for deviating but they weren't considered adequate. I asked many questions about what was expected and received prompt responses. The Ph.D. in management requires a committee of three other Ph.D.s within a strong chair process to resolve disputes, a process which does require more supervision than the DBA. However, neither the DBA nor Ph.D. from CPU provides the requisite "union card" that Rich is referring to, because the school is not regionally-accredited.

Dave

 

I made a mistake on my previous post.

I misread CPU for CCU. (I can't imagine how that could happen....)

In any case, I am not sufficiently familiar with the requirements and requisite supervision for a CPU doctorate, and thus am in no position to comment.

 

Good luck!


peACE,

ACE

 

This would seem to be a particularly bad time to pursue an unaccredited degree for anything but personal use.

 

I totally agree. You are absolutely 100% correct. Anyone who does not agree must be a mill shill.

 

The degree has a course in research and also a final project. I feel I need both and am a strong enough student that I don't need to overdo it.
I finished the Leadership class by the way and got and "A". They loved my mid-term and final and said so.
My primary purpose is really to fill in some gaps that my Master's left flat in my opinion.

 

I prefer to do things by the book. My belief is that if you're competent people will perceive that readily. Additional training is a good idea in any field.
Also I wouldn't worry about the price tag. My Master's degree was done in Israel and cost me much less than if I had done the Boston U MSM program in Brussels, Belgium.

 

When it comes to academia, I prefer to set up my own shop. One of my friends was commenting on a NJ school after hearing all the professors high on themselves. He thought it was funny how people who teach students who can't find jobs have such a high opinion of themselves.

 

I'm fighting the tide

I don't believe in going with the flow. My scholarship should be good enough to help out CPU as well as their helping me.