RA MBA for $9K validated by Concordia University, Chicago ?

Discussion in 'Business and MBA degrees' started by TheEternalLearner, Dec 13, 2015.

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  1. TheEternalLearner

    TheEternalLearner New Member

    Hi All,

    I came across this MBA program from Concordia University, Chicago which offered in partnership with StudyInteractive. It seems like the program is delivered by StudyInteractive though the degree is issued by CUC. The total cost of the program is roughly $9K (£6K) which is a bargain.

    I was wondering what the hell is a degree validated by x? Will students get transcript from the university that validates the program? Should I be wary of the quality as the same program delivered by CUC cost $25K!
     
  2. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    No idea about that, but my WGU MBA was right at $9000 and it is regionally accredited.
     
  3. novadar

    novadar Member

    This is very common in the UK. An external party administers a study program and gives students standardized tests to confirm knowledge. The main university in this case Concorida - Chicago, will then issue a diploma and transcripts on its own paper when forwarded successful results from the third party.

    The cost is often much less because the main university essentially has almost no overhead related to these types of programs.

    It's very interesting to see this in the US. A sign of things to come?
     
  4. GoodYellowDogs

    GoodYellowDogs New Member

    Patten.edu is around $7K for a RA degree.
     
  5. major56

    major56 Active Member

    My question is: Which entity will the MBA degree (offered by InterActive Pro Limited) are issued—InterActive or Concordia University-Chicago? The MBA link Comprehensive MBA online validated by CUC I InterActive positions that the degree is “validated” by Concordia … nothing about issued /awarded by. For instance, would /could a MBA conveyed by InterActive vs Concordia-Chicago make a difference in the degree’s perception /overall value? I don’t really know … just thinking out loud. Nonetheless, such a difference to which entity in actual fact awards the degree would definitely make a difference to me personally. You may want to consider getting a definitive answer upfront.

    Validation of a degree (an internal recognition of the establishing and validity of a program), to my understanding, indicates that the coursework and assessments are offered via a non-degree granting party (e.g., unit not having degree-awarding authority but who provide complete courses leading to recognized degrees via a validation agreement between the parties). Therefore, re CHEA (2002), degree-awarding powers judge that a program developed and delivered by another institution or organization (e.g., InterActive) is of an appropriate quality and comparable standard to offer a MBA program of acceptable equivalence to that of a Concordia MBA degree. Courses at these validated establishments are validated (via evaluation) by institutions which have degree awarding powers—with the quality of the vendor program (InterActive) meeting acceptable program quality standards of the institution holding degree awarding authority (e.g., Concordia-Chicago).

    An example image of a diploma (Arab Open University) validated by The Open University (UK) under the authority of its Royal Charter:

    [​IMG]

    Example image diploma (Bangkok School of Management) validated by the London College of Business Sciences (UK) under the authority of British Accreditation Council (BAC):
    [​IMG]
     
  6. TheEternalLearner

    TheEternalLearner New Member

    Very interesting and valid points! I will send an email requesting clarification.
     
  7. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Just a quick side note, the British Accreditation Council does not grant degree authority. They have the same legal status as ASIC which, as we have established, is just an external review but not the form of "accreditation" that we are accustomed to here.

    QAA notes that the London College of Business Sciences, in fact, does not possess degree awarding authority and LCBS does not appear in this database as a degree authority.

    So having a degree validated by a BAC accredited school that has no degree award power seems pretty meaningless.
     
  8. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Both image examples (not an argument pro or con re UK BAC credibility, or for that matter, even The Open University—both diploma pictures were simply provided as a look-see of what an actual diploma might be similar to (look like) … nothing more. The more relevant points were made initially re validated degrees. Clearly … which entity (via its recognition and authority) will actually award or validate the degree should be the principal consideration, along with, the general perception of and/or acceptance of validated degrees.
     
  9. curtisc83

    curtisc83 New Member

    My Masters from Liberty cost me about 7500 dollars total. Vet tuition was heavily discounted and I was given a book stipend. It was/is a pretty good deal for a non-profit RA B&M school. My wife is a non-vet but she gets the same deal as me so she is also going to LU. I think they recently raised vet tuition rates from 250 to 275.
     
  10. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    I wasn't trying to say you were endorsing the schools you posted. I just noticed that you commented that one was validated under the authority of a royal charter and the other was validated under the authority of the BAC.

    So I just wanted to clarify that the BAC doesn't actually have any authority.
     
  11. TheEternalLearner

    TheEternalLearner New Member

    Here is the answer I got :

    We have designed and delivering Comprehensive MBA degree program through our e-learning platform. As the final degree certificate is issued and awarded by the Concordia University Chicago, the program needs to be validated by CUC. Therefore, it is a validated degree program by CUC. You will get the same quality degree certificate as on-campus students but the transcripts will be issued from us – InterActive. On the final degree certificate, it will not be mentioned that you have studied online

    Having a degree from CUC and a transcript issued by InterActive sounds bogus to me! Do you agree? I'm sure it would be looked down especially if applying for a PhD or a DBA.
     
  12. bceagles

    bceagles Member

    That is a very awkward, non direct, work around answer. I wouldn't touch it.

    Too bad though, Concordia is a real b&m school with a decent reputation.
     
  13. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    It sounds a bit off, it's true. So you get a diploma that says CUC but a transcript awarded by InterActive? The transcript is, in many ways, the part that counts.

    Is it possible that CUC has an arrangement with InterActive for them to award all of their transcripts by offering a service like Parchment? So, InterActive actually issues the transcripts but they are on CUC paper?

    What would give me cause for concern is that CUC offers online MBAs on their website. So why would they also offer a cheaper version through a partnership with this outfit?

    Another red flag always pops for me whenever I see that a degree is awarded through a partnership with the London School of Business and Finance. LSBF does not have degree granting authority on its own. They provide studies and the degrees are awarded through partner schools. So when I see other for-profit providers claiming that you can study through them to receive a degree from LSBF, I'm immediately suspicious. I have no idea if it's a convoluted system designed to charge a student three or four times for a degree that is likely available at a fraction of the cost if you go directly to the awarding institution or something more innocent. But there are so many options out there I would probably steer clear.
     
  14. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    Yep that's some shady stuff for sure. LSBF is in hot water right now as well. I can't figure how CUC has gotten mixed up in all this.
     
  15. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I'm willing to believe that it's legit (I guess) and here's the picture I get. Interactive develops a curriculum that is approved by CUC. All the other stuff, delivery, assessment admin, is done by Interactive with the oversight and approval of CUC? In return CUC gets a cut? Maybe with a guaranteed minimum per year? So the diploma goes out on CUC paper and the transcripts go out on Interactive paper because that's the way it was. It's just a business relationship like subcontracting. My concern would be, what if in 5 years the contract ends and the two entities go their separate ways. Maybe Interactive goes under and yet my transcripts still say Interactive all over them. That's kinda not so good, right?
     
  16. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    LSBF's "hot water" is over visa certification. While not a good thing to happen to a school, especially one whose bread and butter is international students, it isn't an academic scandal. Also, CUC didn't partner with LSBF. They partnered, allegedly at least, with a provider that also partnered with LSBF. So the LSBF mess no way involves CUC, at all.

    I suspect that CUC doing this was a way to attract international students without increasing their bottom line. They don't need to market themselves overseas. They don't need to process foreign payments. They don't need to deal with all of the regulatory business of getting those foreign funds back to the U.S. By partnering with an international provider in a limited fashion they extend the reach of their program and also plant a few new alumni in key foreign markets.

    All of that is assuming, of course, that CUC actually did enter into the partnership and the website in the first post of this thread isn't just a phishing scam being operated out of an internet cafe in Malaysia.
     
  17. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Do you mean increase their bottom line without increasing expenses?
     
  18. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Let’s hope so Steve …
     
  19. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Indeed I did. Thank you for pointing that out.

    Unless, of course, CUC really just wants more students holding their degrees without getting paid. I mean, maybe they have enough money?
     
  20. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

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