Touro Health Sciences Ph.D. Anyone enrolled?

Greetings,

I'm new to this list. I did an archive search on Touro and only found a few references. I did see one post from someone enrolled in the MBA stating that the courses seemed professionally put together.

I'm wondering if anyone on this list is enrolled in (or has completed) the Ph.D. in Health Sciences. I'm considering enrolling, but would like to talk to a student who is already enrolled.

I'd also be happy to hear any opinions about the program. From what I can see, it is regionally accredited, requires forty semester credit hours (including dissertation), and has no residency requirement. The cost is currently $500 per credit, so I suspect that when all is said and done it should cost in the ballpark of $21,000-$25,000. (I'm not sure what other fees there might be added on as one progresses in the program.)

Any thoughts about this program, or recommendations of other regionally accredited doctorates in a behavioral science that cost less or about the same would be appreciated. I've explored a few other options (Saybrook, Fielding, Union) but found them to be way too expensive for my budget (working in human services hasn't been all that profitable!) Are there other programs that I should consider in addition to Touro?

Thanks in advance for all suggestions!

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Rik Pavlescak
[email protected]

 

Is this through the east coast Touro, or the west coast one? The east coast Touro is a [somewhat] long established school of acceptable reputation under Orthodox Jewish auspices (actually started to compete with Yeshiva University). They have a law school on Long Island later (competes with Cordozo?). At some point they decided they wanted a Medical school, and since the MD world sees itself facing a glut (and is making it tough to create new Med Schools) they bought a health sciences school in Northern California (a Podiatry school IIRC) and have converted it into a Osteopathic Medical school. Don't know if they have graduated a single PhD [yet] (UMI seems to be down now, so can't check)

I know that the MS in health sciences is out of the east coast, but that is a cooperative program with the Technion medical school in Israel for a MS/MD degree. I haven't seen any info (or found any on their web site) about the PhD.

A few concerns:

1) The program is new (I think). If they loose interest, it might fold before the degree is awarded

2) If you are really interested in your field, you will likely do a substantial amount of work wherever you do the Ph.D. If so, why note get the paper from the most respected school you can (this is something I mentioned once in the MIGS thread).

3) If the school wants to make itself known and respected, one way a new school will do this is to kill their students so that the research and dissertations coming out are unimpeachable. Not to pleasant to be there while they are doing this.

4) You will not have any seniors to show you exactly what the standards are. Also administrative stuff (degree requirements etc) tend to be in flux in the new program. You might end up doing more work that you would have to otherwise.

5) A biomed degree by DE sounds a bit fishy since I assume they will need lab work (unless they will let you use research at work for the reseach [I've seen this in some Universities when I spend summers working at NIH]). Do you have a web link to info about the program?


I will say though--regionally accreditted and they have some Biomed experience witht he Technion program, so if you get the degree, I doubt it would be questioned.

 

As Gerstl says, it is a new program. Touro University International (a branch of the east coast college) itself is new. When I contacted them about the program it seemed fairly flexible. I wanted to focus the Ph.D. in Health Sciences on mental health and this was not seen as a problem.

It is probably one of the shortest Ph.D. programs I have seen (at 40 credit hours). Each course is a 4 credit hour (not quarter)course.

It may or may not get you job offers but if you want an accredited Ph.D., the price is not bad at all, and it is relatively short.

North

 

Pretty much in agreement with the other points, but the above is likely not possible. As far as I know, there are, with apologies to institutions which offer such degrees, no "most respected" schools that offer Ph.D.s in Health Sciences through distance learning. I would be hard-pressed to call any of the schools which were mentioned "prestigious". The choices in this particular field are fairly limited.


Tom Nixon

 

Fair enough. I think my point is more airmed at people doing degrees where there are long standing RA alternatives (like the MIGS crowd).

I wouldn't worry about this--They assume you come in with a masters degree. Also they only budget 4 credits of that to the dissertation (with any needed extra semesters at 2 credits/semester). If they are expecting dissertations that are not going to cause them grief when the times comes to renew their accredation, I expect most students will spend far more than one semester just of the writing [and then you've got to account for the research]. The typical grad will have 30 credits [masters] + 36 [doctoral courses] + some number of dissertation credits >>4.

 

Often, the best way to make contact with students is to ask the school. When I was involved with marketing for two large British universities, we routinely asked all new distance learning students, as well as graduates, if they'd be willing to talk to prospective students. About 1/4 said yes, so we always had a list of several hundred that we could supply. Not every school does this, but no harm in asking.

And if a school replies, "It is not our policy..." (etc.), the next step is to ask, "Will you please supply my name and Email/phone number to a dozen students, asking them if they would get in touch with me."

And if they don't/won't do that, it is time to grow a little concerned.

John Bear

 

I will have completed all the required courses for the Ph.D. in Business Administration at Touro University International this Fall and can say without a doubt the program is comparable to other doctoral programs offered by universities such as the University of Nebraska and University of Alabama. I can say this with certainty because I have taken Ph.D. courses at all three and all three require similar work and effort. I like the Touro program because it is flexible, has a diverse international student body, is interdisciplinary in nature, totally Internet-based and the professors do a great job working with you to accomplish your goals. I can assure you no one is giving degrees away and that you will work. You will work hard and learn. This is all done in a flexible fashion. The program is like anything else in life. You get out of it what you put into it. I highly recommend looking into the TUI program if you are like me and need a program that works with and for you.

I would also like to see the program listed in the Bear's Guide in the future as it is a really good program and deserves the listing.

Grady Batchelor

 

Howdy! You might be interested in knowing that it's listed in the new 14th edition of Bears' Guide (page 133), the new 8th edition of College Degrees by Mail and Internet (full-page listing), and Bears' Guide to the Best MBAs by Distance Learning (full-page profile of MBA program).


Peace,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

Not sure of your needs, however, let me offer you a possible alternative. Although not out of the gate yet, it is working to that end, with a proposed start date later this year.

Central Michigan University, Doctorate in Healthcare Administration
http://www.cel.cmich.edu/DHA/DEFAULT.HTML

RK

 

I agree with Grady. This is my 5th course at Touro University International (Ph.D. BA). It is rigorous and highly interactive. Both faculty and administration are extremely helpful. TUI is listed in Dr. Bear's 14th edition, as well as Petersons.

Eli