PhD by submitting Dissertation

Why 6 years ? I imagine 1 year should be sufficient .... unless the cross-traffic between submissions / reviews take time ? Is course-work also involved ?

Well - I am looking at US & EU . If UNISA is not acceptable - which are the other options ?

 

I think we have a problem with expectations. Yes, it takes about 6 years. Mine took about 8 years but my research required this time.

If you are looking for a tenure track at a US or EU University, a PhD from UNISA might not make the cut for most of the positions.

If you want something fast, the executive doctorates that can be completed in 3 years part time is the closest thing to your expectations.

A traditional 5 year full time program is the best for a full time teaching career path, this basically because you need to build teaching experience, research experience, publication portfolio, etc.

It takes about two years to get a publication in a decent journal. I just got accepted one that took one year on revisions.

You are not writing an engineering report for an industrial project, you are writting a dissertation that shows contribution to the field of knowledge that is not so easy to do.

 

Yes, most of the professor positions require a PhD but you cannot expect to get a teaching position at a major research american school with a UNISA PhD.

Humm. I guess I am spinning my wheels hum? I think, and you are much more learned than I am, that a PhD from an institution, journal articles, teaching and publishing get you a chance at the interview process. Why do I know this? I work for an academic institution that grades not only on degrees, but what you have done with it. Why do I know this? We have a University of Michigan PhD in history ( that is right, Big Blue) and he is teaching part time at HCC. He has been trying to get something, but he has not yet.

 

Thank you, no. When moderators choose to join a discussion, they should have their facts right. They run things, after all.

I'm just another poster. Get back to me when I've entered Levicoff levels.

 

BTW, "RFValve" has made some all-time great contributions to this board during this thread, and should be commended for their quality.

 

In your case it is different, people at your institution know you and your PhD is just a check mark for them. The UNISA might work for you as you are already an academic but need the PhD for a tenure track.

If a person is able to produce top research at top journals, I am sure that nobody would care about the source of the degree. However, this doesn't happen often.

The OP has the intention to switch from Industry to academia with a PhD from UNISA in the US. This type of programs are not meant for this.

If OP wants to go the distance route and remain in Industry, he or she should follow a more structured program that is meant for working professionals such as the ones offered by Walden, Capella, etc. These programs are not meant to train high caliber scholars but many graduates from these schools work as full time faculty.

 

I just remembered this program:
Indiana State University: College of Technology: Ph.D. in Technology Management
Related to engineering management and from a good state university.
But again you would probably have to start from scratch unless you have a masters or other applicable courses to transfer in.

 

Please forgive me if I don't respond in this thread. A general discussion of the moderator role might be in order, but I've already insulted one without provocation (this time) and it would seem inappropriate of me to continue. (Apologies to "Kizmet.")

As for "looking around this place," I've been posting since its inception, and until I decided to back off, was its most prolific poster. And if I'm not mistaken, I hold a Ph.D. that (a) comes from an accredited nontraditional school in which I (b) specialized in the subject of this board. I suspect that is unique among posters here. So yeah, I've looked around.

 

Rich,

Thanks, we have been in the distance education journey for long time. I remember you from the MIGS days and have learned a lot from your discussions.


As for the OP question, there are tons of threads that talk about the utility and limitations of distance PhDs for tenure track positions. The OP can use a seach function for this.

Bottom line is that tenure track positions are becoming a thing of the past. The future of education seems to be relying more on contract and adjunct faculty. It is just cheaper and more efficient to hire someone to do a course rather than paying someone a ridiculous amount of money to teach only 4 courses a year and publish few papers that few would bother to read.

Even if you get a tenure track, you still need to achieve tenure. The tenure rate at some universities such as MIT and Harvard is less than 50%. Tenure doesn't exist at some private universities. Devry, Walden and other private schools have yearly contracts that are renewed based on enrollments and performance.

The question posted by the OP makes me believe that some people think that all they need to get a full tenure track position is a PhD when this is just a check mark of many things you need to fullfill to be considered for one.

 

Middlesex University, Ted. The reason I know is (partly) because it's the closest University to where I lived many, many years ago, in England.

Johann

 

In an effort to get it right I've pulled this quotation from the UNISA website:

"6.2 Readmission to postgraduate studies will, in accordance with the UNISA Admission Policy, follow the following criteria:
6.2.1 During the first and every subsequent year of study the student must demonstrate academic activity to the satisfaction of the supervisor;
6.2.2 In the event of the student failing to meet this requirement, s/he will be admitted to another year of study. However, if a student continues not to demonstrate academic activity, s/he will not be admitted to a further year of study at the University, except with the express approval of the Executive Dean of the College in which the student is registered;
6.2.3 A student registered for a Master’s by coursework programme should endeavour to complete the programme within three years;
6.2.4 A student registered for a research Master’s programme should endeavour to complete the programme within four years. A student may apply to the Registrar for one additional year of study. The Registrar will consider the application only if it is recommended by the Executive Dean of the College in which the student is registered;
6.2.5 A student registered for a doctoral programme should endeavour to complete the programme within five years. A student may apply to the Registrar for one additional year of study. The Registrar will consider the application only if it is recommended by the Executive Dean of the College in which the student is registered. The Executive Dean approves the application and notifies the Registrar."

http://www.unisa.ac.za/contents/colleges/col_grad_studies/docs/Policy_masters_doctoral_degrees_21November2008.pdf

I hope this is helpful information for those interested in this type of program.

 

Hello all,
I have been away for a while working and studying too hard... With that, I am half way through my DM at CTU and I had another question. Everyone was so helpful last time and I know that some of you have experience with this. I am considering the DProf at Middlesex University on Islamic Studies next. I teach classes on homeland security and I would really like to become more knowledgeable about the culture as it is one of the major players in the world of homeland security/terrorism. Can anyone shed some light on Middlesex and the DProf in general? I have never dealt with anything like the U.K. DProf so its a new animal for me...
Thanks in advance to everyone for your help,
GBS

 

Or not. :smile:

 

With online education, it is becoming common to see people with two doctorates. In the last month, I have met 3 people with second online doctorates. One admitted that the second doctorate was to be able to pick up extra work teaching online.

I wonder if we will start seeing people with two, three or more doctorates as these programs become more accessible. Would schools start asking for two doctorates for a faculty position given the flexibility to teach in multiple areas? Who knows

 

Were they both earned from a for-profit like NCU, Walden, Capella, UoP, etc?

 

No, only the second doctorate. She profited from the discount given to faculty teaching online so earned a second doctorate just to make extra cash on the side teaching in a second area.

Earning a online doctorate seems to be something that many do just to be able to make extra cash teaching online on the side.

The OP is also considering two doctorates, why not? this maximizes your income as an online adjunct.

As NCU considers a DBA lower than a PhD, I can see them offering upgrades so may be we would see people getting two doctorates soon (DBA and PhD). Walden is already offering upgrades with Post doc certificates, so I wonder if a DBA + Post Doc = PhD. At the end of the day, it is just business.

By the way, if you want a second doctorate, it is a lot cheaper to put all your publications together and go for a doctorate by publication with a UK shool rather than pay for a second online doctorate from a for profit.

 

Groan. Never, never, NEVER would I do another doctorate! Famous last words...