New DPA program at Valdosta State University

Careful thouugh - the Valdosta Handbook notes that the DPA is a Political Science degree, NOT business.

Shawn

 

Application

I am still waiting on one final recommendation. It takes forever for mail to get to Valdosta.

 

Some feedback...

Thanks abnrgr275 and truckie270 for letting us know about the Valdosta State DPA. That's one of the best things about degreeinfo, the neverending opportunity to learn about new and sometimes experimental programs. I appreciate hearing about them all.

I took a good look at this program because I have been looking for a doctorate as a next step for my professional growth. I spoke with Dr. Argyle about the program and with his permission will relay what we discussed and my own independant research.

The price is right...about $10K for a RA, NASPAA, and AACSB accredited doctorate program. That's one really big draw for most of us poor kiddies. The program documentation looks great. Like has been mentioned in previous posts this is a B&M school trying to build their online component. They have one specialization at the moment designed for public administrators (not politicians, this is really NOT a political science degree). Examples of those served by this degree would be treasurers, CIOs, political aids, and other staff (including among others, program managers, school administrators, and other departmental administrators) for small to medium sized cities and counties. The program as constituted will focus exclusively on non-profit civic, and public administration issues for cities, counties, and on a limited scale state and regional locality issues. With that in mind for the moment the final seven courses (the five specialization requirements and two electives) will be in the city administration focus areas for those in the online program. For those students who are able to take the core curriculum online and then transfer to the campus-based program (or leave the system and transfer to another college, is how I read that), there are very few direct limits to what the program can be made to accomplish (with the exception that the mission of the program is to provide locality administration support and have a mainly public and non-profit focus).

In the next year and a half depending on how the program does in beta, more options will be brought to the online program including a public policy program which is in development now. All in all the program looks to be solid and while currently somewhat limited in scope by design will be expanded and added upon in due course.

Dr. Argyle added (and I hope that he is not offended by my sharing this in a public forum) that due to some minor planned attrition in the department he will be looking to add three more instructors for the online program (who will help to define the program's vector growth) sometime after July 2007. He will be placing advertisements in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the PA Times, and all NASPAA-rostered schools with doctoral programs.

Anyway, that's all I got.

Since I'm looking for something with more policy flavor or something that can lead to additional marketable expertise in the IT/business consulting industry, I personally won't be looking at attending this program in the near future. It's certainly a good looking program. Dr. Argyle is very responsive to all the questions I could come up with via email and phone. I would recommend contacting him through the Valdosta website or by email at [email protected] or phone at 229.333.5771 with any questions that I wasn't able to answer.

He did seem somewhat flexible about the program makeup during this early stage (in my opinion) especially about the capstone project and dissertation/capstone review but I guarantee this is one of those unwritten rules of higher education so take my gut impressions with a grain of salt.

Hopefully this will help anyone looking at Valdosta's DPA program.

Jacob Metro

NOTE: I AM NOT PAID BY VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY AND HAVE NO AFFILIATION WITH THIS WHATSOEVER EXCEPT AS A POTENTIAL SALE IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE NO PARTICULAR AXE TO GRIND AND AM ONLY REPORTING WHAT I HAVE READ OR HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM. I TOOK EXPLICIT/IMPLICIT RIGHTS IN REPORTING MY FINDINGS TO DEGREEINFO.

 

Jacob,

Thanks for the post on Valdosta's new program - I sent the link to one of my co-workers who is finishing up her MS in Social Work at Rutgers. I'm sure after taking a break, she'll be very interested.

It looks like a heck of a program - and boy is the price right.

Shawn

 

This is a deliberate bump - I'd love to know if anyone on the board took the plunge into the Valdosta State DBA program...

Merry Christmas.

Shawn

 

Several...

Truckie270 is part-way through and I believe that "CUMPA" is also in the program.

 

I'm wondering how the program is going for them.

Shawn

 

I am 2/3 the way done with the VSU DPA. I start my last semester of coursework in January. I has been a great experience so far. CUMPA started the program, but withdrew for personal reasons in the first semester.

 

Thanks Truckie for the info - I know someone who is looking at earning a doctorate. She has an MBA and is the clerk of courts in a nearby county. I don't see it happening next year (she's expecting a baby), but once things begin returning to normal for her...

Have a Merry Christmas!

Shawn

 

DPA program update

I just got back from my residency weekend in Valdosta for the DPA program. This is my last semester of required course work in the DPA program. I have three credits left of electives in the summer and 9 credits of dissertation/applied project - projected finish date is May 2010.

We started the program with 24 or 25 in the first cohort in August 2007. We have lost 6 or 7 by the time we met again to start year two the following August. We lost a couple more in year two, but several have been able to drop back and take classes with the second cohort.

So far the program has exceeded my expectations. I should finish with the DPA for less than $20K including six trips to Valdosta from Eastern Washington.

For anyone considering the VSU DPA, you should get on the ball. Applications for next year close 4/15. And yes, you will need to take the GRE. There were significantly more applications for the second cohort group than the first. Word is starting to get out about the affordability of a NASPAA accredited distance DPA program from a B&M university.

If anyone has anyquestions, be sur to let me know via PM or - [email protected]

 

Thanks for all of the great info. This does sound like a very promising program. I've thought about the possibility of getting an MPA in the future, but maybe a DBA is the way to go!

 

Damn! It seems like yesterday that you started this program. Good for you, your progress is admirable. Keep it up. You got yourself a hell of a deal. I remember you alerted the forum about VSU, I am surprised it is not mentioned more.

Abner

 

Hi Truckie,

Thanks for the update. How have the residencies been (packed with activities)? How many have you attended so far? How long is each residency and how are the accommodations (are there hotels near the campus and how far is the airport)?

Thanks,
Arch

 

I have been to four residencies so far. They are not as packed with activities as I would like, but they serve to provide some motivation and refocus energies. Each residency is a Friday evening dinner reception and seminars all day Saturday. There are numerous accomodations near the school. The Valdosta airport is about 15 min. away, but I have usually flown into Jacksonville (90 min. away) as the flight options are better and I need to rent a car while in Valdosta anyway.

 

Thanks. Weekend residencies - not bad at all, though I can imagine the cost of the frequent trips. Congratulations on your progress, and keep us posted!

 

Not as bad as you would think. A residency costs me $1000 with airfafre from Washington State, hotel, rental car, and food. Combined with $130/credit hour - it is still the best deal going for a DPA.

 

In the whole program how many residencies are there? In which months do they usually happen?

I am thinking about the commute from Vietnam. During the last half of June and all of July I am usually in Canada.

The low tuition still makes it possible but I wanted to check on the number of trips during the degree.

Thanks,

Sidney

 

If one were to go through the program as quickly as possible and finish the dissertation in two-three semesters, the minimum number of residencies would be six. The residencies are usually held on the second weekend in January and the third weekend in August.

 

I know it's been a while since anyone commented on this thread, but I have appreciated the good input of those of have attended (or are interested in) the DPA program at Valdosta State. I am scheduled to start the program this fall. Really looking forward to it. Like most everyone else, I have a full family and professional life (I am a development officer for a university in North Carolina...I put in 50-60 hours in the office and on the road most weeks). I am thinking about starting with just one class. However, I know if I want to complete this program in four years or less, I am going to need to take at least two classes per semester. Any thoughts about the time commitment for each class? How much time did you find yourself reading/writing in the evenings and on weekends? Any concerns about jumping out with two classes this fall as I start the program?

 

Valdosta State DPA Program - 2011

I have just completed the application process for the fall of 2011. This board has been fairly silent. Can anyone provide an update on how they are finding the program? Is there a regular place where current students are keeping in touch?
Thanks.
Mike