What's better: PhD from a .com school or a DBA from a B&M?

Discussion in 'Business and MBA degrees' started by SurfDoctor, Aug 14, 2010.

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  1. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    ..and if you don't have an AACSB accredited doctorate but do have a doctorate in a business discipline...

    AACSB Bridge Program.

    Granted you have to be good at what you do, but not getting into an AACSB doctoral program isn't the end of the world.
     
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Those aren't the only two options. My institution doesn't have tenure, but it does have full time faculty positions. We have a business professor whose doctorate is from the University of Phoenix, for example. And we have a vacancy for a full time instructor for computer science and I would be perfectly happy to consider applicants with a terminal degree from a proprietary or all-online school.
     
  3. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I think we are over killing schools like NCU and over selling B&M AACSB accredited schools (I'm guilty of this). The reality is in the middle, there are plenty of opportunities still available for doctoral holders with just accredited degrees but these opportunities are becoming more limited.

    If a person doesn't care about a career in academia and is quite happy with adjunct work, then any accredited doctorate would do (even those foreign ones from India or Mexico might do). If a person wants to teach full time at places where the master's is normally the norm, then any accredited PhD would do as you are already exceeding the requirements. The latest has been my case, I first taught full time at a CC and now at a University but I hold a non tenure position. I'm happy with this but if I had a doctorate with AACSB accreditation I could be making about 50% more, have more job security and more opportunities.

    This is just fair, I talked to many tenured folks and many had to move, struggle many years with little money and some spent 7 years finishing a doctorate full time without any extra income. I finished my doctorate in 8 years but worked full time and had a life in the mean time, I may be making about 50% less than them but I;m debt free.

    I don't think the general feeling of academics is against online doctorates, if a person wants to better him or her self with education, why can this be wrong? However, if we compare the folks that worked 7 years full time at a strict and rigorous AACSB accredited institutions with the ones that finished in 3 or 4 part time while working and supporting a family that took an online program at a DL institution, the experience is just not the same and no matter how much you want to fool yourself is not the same program.
     
  4. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Great piece of advice, I actually was ready to take this program and sent my application. At the beginning I was refused because I already have a business doctorate but then explained that wanted to change concentration so I was accepted. However, i know some folks have been declined in spite of having a doctorate so you cannot assume admission.

    If someone wants to do this, I would suggest an accounting or finance concentration. Folks teaching finance and accounting make more than 150K at AACSB accreditation institutions.
     
  5. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member


    Please see my post above, I know that there are quite a few positions that do not require AACSB accredited doctorates or just require a master. Many people are quite happy with these positions.
    As I mentioned, there is no "Evil" online doctorate or "God" B&M PhD. Not every school can afford the 150K for faculty member and have a tenured system. However, there is a huge gap in salaries, workload and benefits between those offers from AACSB accredited schools and those from private non accredited schools. I have been offered as low as 50K and being asked to teach 5 classes during 4 terms during the year at some places with as little as one month vacation spread in between two sessions. I know folks with AACSB accredited PhDs get offer at least double that with tenure track plus they are required to teach only 4 classes per year, have assistants, 2 month vacation, etc.
    Again, it just makes sense, if I cannot offer the 100K plus salary, benefits, etc, then I just ask for less requirements.
     
  6. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I looked into this and the Post-Doctoral Bridge required you to have a non-business PhD from a school that offers AACSB PhDs.
    we welcome applicants who meet either one of the following qualifications:

    non-business doctorate degree holders who received their Ph.D. from an institution whose business program is
    AACSB accredited.
    non-business doctorate degree holders who currently teach at an AACSB accredited business program.


    For Viginia Tech -
    Candidates for the Finance track at Virginia Tech are required to have a doctoral degree in Economics from U.S. or non-U.S. universities. For U.S. universities, a minimum requirement that they have an AACSB Accredited business school will normally apply.

    The PQ Program is entirely different and only $5K and you do not pick a specialty (like accounting, marketing, finance) like the AQ program. I was think of doing the AQ program just for fun.
     
  7. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Thanks for clarifying this. So it looks like a folk with a PhD from NCU teaching as an adjunct at the UoP wouldn't qualify for the bridge.
    A PhD from NCU could qualify for the bridge if he or she teaches at a AACSB accredited school.
    My other concern is if Institutions would actually honor this certificate. I know that my chair would have no idea about this and if a person sends a resume with this bridge, the candidate's resume would only make it to the trash bin.
    There might be schools that recognize the certificate but I would be surprised if all the graduates are treated as PhD holders from AACSB accredited school as the program tries to make people believe.

    The PQ is not very useful, anyone can qualify to be PQ faculty if you hold a master's and professional credentials such as a CPA. I would also think that very few schools would honor someone because the PQ program.
     
  8. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I agree but (there is always a but) I spoke to the person in charge of the AQ program at Tulane when they offered it. He said they hold to this rule most of the time. He said in a recent class they had someone with a PhD from an online school but this person was also a VP of marketing and had written two well respected books on marketing. He was accepted based on those outstanding credentials. So could it happen - yes. Is it common - no.


    I could not agree more. Look at some of the CVs of the people that competed the AQ program. Many hold JDs or PhD from other B&M schools and teach at a university already. Now they are just moving to a different department. - AACSB International

    But it looks good on paper!
     
  9. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the comments. I checked the resumes and most look already established faculty teaching at CCs or small colleges. It makes sense that they close the gate for online doctorates, if the gate is opened then this could be a perfect path for those looking for academic careers but they know that this would kill all the AACSB accredited doctorates.
     
  10. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    Randell,

    The first step to recovery is to admit that you have a problem (addicted to learning)....
     
  11. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I do not have a problem!!!!!!!!!!!! Do not...do not...I am being much more selective on when it comes to committments. Does that count as the road to recovery??
     
  12. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Randell,

    Forget it about new degrees, if you have the urge to learn more, just publish articles and books. The reality is that one could always get better in life but we need to make the decisions that are the best at the time we make them. Yes, ideally we would all want PhDs from Harvard but most of us face life issues such illness, budgets, family, etc so we need to go with the best we can. A degree from NCU is better than no degree at all, you cannot use it to become faculty at Harvard but may be you don't want to be faculty there.
     
  13. Acadmiaguy

    Acadmiaguy New Member

    D.B.A from a B&M
     
  14. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Oh, I am done. I had a recent "issue" that has put a whole new perspective on things.
     
  15. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Thanks for your valuable and detailed input :rolleyes:
     
  16. Acadmiaguy

    Acadmiaguy New Member

    No problem, in the academia world, online learning is still new and comes with a sigma. Whether we all would like to admit it or not, especially now with all the various articles about for profit university, a non for profit B&M makes a lot more since. I personally, promote online learning, I feel that it is a valuable tool for people to gain a valuable education. However, when dealing with a B&M school that has built a reputation and has a sound academia portfolio of scholars it makes it difficult to side with a PhD from a ".com school". Most professors that I have spoke with, would rather see and Ed.D from a B&M than a PhD from a ".com school". I do not agree with it, but that what a "few" professors think that I spoke with.
     
  17. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I don't think many/any will agrue that point. There is rarely one factor that goes into a decision to select a school. I picked a ".com school" (which should really be a ".edu school" but that is another point) because I was already in management and travel 75% of the time. A traditional school was not an option nor a desire. A requirement of "on campus weeks in the summer" or other residency requirement would not have been possible either. I went the option that best fit my life. Like RFValve said, "... ideally we would all want PhDs from Harvard but most of us face life issues such illness, budgets, family, etc so we need to go with the best we can." I am just happy NCU has regional plus ACBSP accreditation which puts it a notch above others.
     
  18. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Is that "Acadmiaguy" or "Academiaguy"?
     
  19. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    "Comes with a sigma" or "comes with a stigma"?
     
  20. dl_mba

    dl_mba Member

    As always, i would avaoid Online Only schools. There are a handfull of B&M schools offering DBA's, DM and even PhD's online or part-time. Online-only schools are just businesses making easy/quick money.
     
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