Capella vs NCU IT PhD

Discussion in 'IT and Computer-Related Degrees' started by SnafuRacer, Jul 24, 2016.

Loading...
  1. SnafuRacer

    SnafuRacer Active Member

    I'm about to finish my MS in Information Assurance and will take the next year to complete my MBA.
    I'm contemplating the jump to a PhD after that and have settled on these two.

    Is there anyone on this board that is familiar with either and who can provide advice?

    Both provide military discounts and I have a year of post 9/11 GI Bill for use.

    Pro for NCU: no residency. 1:1 mentorship and no group assignments.
    Pro for Capella: NSA/DHS recognized CAE.

    I'm wondering about the student support for the dissertation process and if the chairs are responsive/available or will it be a money pit when changing the direction of the dissertation.

    I want to be done in 3-4 years, recognize the hard road ahead and am willing to take it. I just don't want to be stuck halfway through a bad deal.

    Does anyone know the recognition of either in the industry?
    I want to undertake this challenge for personal satisfaction, eventual adjunct work while maintaining a full-time civilian IT career and allow me to do work past my 60 (consulting or whatever)
     
  2. Michigan68

    Michigan68 Active Member

    I will just answer the NCU part.

    These reasons were the same I liked: "Pro for NCU: no residency. 1:1 mentorship and no group assignments."
    This couldn't have been farther from the truth. After 3 PhD classes at NCU, there is no mentorship. The profs do not care about the students and there is no interaction. They treat you like your a bother, if they answer the emails at all. I have transferred to a different university and very happy about my decision.

    As for the residencies, my company, if they pay for some tuition, will hold a multi-department meeting after each residency, with managers and directors and listen to your residency experience of how it improved you and what you learned about your degree program. So far, every one who has had a residency, has been given a promotion because this meeting is like a 'pre-interview' to the directors, and their pay increases are usually substantial.

    Regards,
    Michael
     
  3. SnafuRacer

    SnafuRacer Active Member

    Thank you.

    I will truthfully say that I am leaning towards Capella if nothing else because of the NSA/DHS CAE designation for Info Assurance. I thought about Nova Southeastern but it is a little bit on the expensive side.

    The residency at Capella is not extensive but you never know when it will fall within a time window that is non-cooperative at work or home. The trick is to find an employer who supports these residencies/escapades and not take it against you if they don't support employee's education endeavors.
     
  4. novadar

    novadar Member

    Even if you pay for all of the tuition out of your pocket try to see if the residency time could be considered training hours. When I earned my PMP I was lucky to get my prep course covered as a training expense and my time "off" recorded as training so saved my vacation. Never hurts to ask.
     
  5. russogd3

    russogd3 New Member

    I've heard mixed things about both NCU and Capella. If I were you, I would try to find a grad or two from each program on LinkedIn and see if they would be willing to answer a few questions.

    The enrollment advisors are going to tell you what you want to hear. I am always very skeptical about for profits and their enrollment/ recruiting tactics. Not to say that either are a bad program, you just want to know how things are from an actual students perspective.

    Not sure where you're located, but have you looked at any local/ state universities?
     

Share This Page