UNISA EdD Worthless?

To add to the analysis presented, it interesting to see that most of the cited professors are south africans. I feel that a fellow that lived all his life in south africa will be seen better than a new yorker from the bronx with a PhD from UNISA. People won't question the origin of the degree when you are a native of the place. That is why, I believe is always better to study a DL PhD from your country of residence, few people know the difference between Capella and University of Idaho, both accredited, neither top ten. So it comes back to credibility of the degree.

 

Bottom line

Having a degree from UNISA is better then not having a degree at all. I have known those who came to the conclusion that it is better to forego a degree because it was with a foreign institution with a strange name, even though it was the only one within their price range.

I would say if the degree is from an RA equivalent school, it cannot hurt you to have it.

 

American instituions are also very open to foreign degrees, here is a link to a faculty member of new york state with a PhD from a very well known foreign DL university ("University of southern queensland")

http://www.geneseo.edu/~provost/New%20Faculty%202001/new_faculty_for_2001.htm

 

I think you make a very valid point, RF. I noticed the same thing. A DL degree from another country may not have the same utility in academia as a residentially earned degree held by a native. Your example about a New Yorker with a Ph.D. from UNISA is probably on the money.

 

However, you would notice that the gentleman lived in Australia and even taught at an Australian university. Further, citing a person or two here and there from among the several thousand faculty positions in the U.S., borderlines on being anecdotal. I may reference to two or three foreign degree holders I know personally that have a hard time finding faculty positions here in the U.S. The example you cited also bears out your other point about a native earning a degree where he or she lives as opposed to a DL degree.

N.B. I am not against foreign DL degrees. I am giving consideration to one. I'm only calling attention to some of the inherent limitations for a person with interest in the academe.

 

No such thing as a residentially-earned degree from the University of South Africa.

 

Is UNISA getting a bum rap here?

Fact: UNISA has graduates in teaching positions at many universities in the United States

Fact: Just about every country in the world host a certain percentage of foreign students - studies with from countries other than there own in not new.

Fact: Distance education is not a new thing-

"1946: University of South Africa Begins Distance Learning
The University of South Africa opened its Division of External Studies on February 15, 1946. It began with a few thousand students and a handful of staff; by 2000 it had grown to about 3000 staff members. UNISA is one of 11 "mega" distance education universities in the world (universities with more than 100 000 students) and its qualifications are recognised worldwide.

Among UNISA's graduates are former RSA State President Nelson Mandela, who completed his LLB while in prison, and Nobel Laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu." quote from about.com

More info.

"Distance Learning Timeline


circa 360 B.C.: Using a new technology... the written word

circa 50-60 A.D.: Instructing church members at a distance

1728: Early correspondence advertising

1840: Shorthand via correspondence

1856: Language teaching by correspondence

1873: Society to Encourage Study at Home

1900: Cornell University Extension Courses for Rural Women

1901: Moody Bible Institute correspondence courses

1905: Calvert Day School offers its kindergarten curriculum by correspondence.

1914: Art Instruction Schools (originally named the Federal Schools) begins offering art courses by correspondence.

1926: National Home Study Council (later Distance Education and Training Council) is formed.

1933: Televised courses from the State University of Iowa

1946: University of South Africa opens its Division of External Studies

1967: British Open University established

1974: John Bear publishes his first guide

1985: National Technological University established

1993: The Graduate School of America (now Capella University) is founded

1997: The Graduate School of America (now Capella University) is accredited by the North Central Association.

1999: Jones International University is accredited by the North Central Association." quote -about.com
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Comments

How can one say that a UNISA degree is useless because it is a DL degree?

Where is the evidence for this?

Is there anyone we know that has not been treated fairly because he had a UNISA degree? Any available statistics ? or are we just speculating?

In my opinion it may be beneficial for a student to take a graduate degree from a foreign country. In order to view their field from a different point of view.

A student decision in reaching their educational must not only be based on what other peoples preceptions are - but rather on facts- that is attend a school that gives you the needed qualification at the required standards.

What the degree is completed and the diploma is hanging on the wall - the Dr - still has to produce.

 

Is UNISA Getting a Bum Rap?

Colin, just a few comments on your points:

You are correct that just about every major university has "international students." The difference with UNISA is that the degree is done through distance learning. If one can negotiate away the so-called "Pretoria Clause" (a clause in the admissions agreement requiring a student to visit pretoria if the faculty deems it necessary) one can earn a doctorate from UNISA without ever visiting the school. There is a difference between an international student doing a residential degree by visiting and living in a foreign country and a student doing a degree from a distance.

The person who began this thread was asking if the degree would be useless for his intended purpose. That is a legitimate question. If I am interested in teaching political science at UC Berkeley and the school expects me to have a doctoral degree accredited by the appropriate NASPAA or one such professional association, then a UNISA degree would be useless for my intended purpose.

Look, I am a staunch supporter of distance learning. I am still looking for a good DL doctoral program and may yet consider UNISA. But we need to acknowledge that because of prejudice there are some inherent limitations to those of us who earn DL degrees. UNISA is a great institution - at least so I've heard. At the same time, a degree from UNISA may not be suitable for some purposes. We can engage in all the wishful think we want; we will not eliminate some of the prejudices associated with distance learning.

 

Jim - I don't want to come off completely wrong here but if you're going to lose sleep over whether people are going to "look down" on you and your degree then you might as well just do whatever you've got to do in order to get yourself into Harvard or Stanford or whatever unassailable school you can envision. ANY DL degree, doctoral or otherwise, is going to be tarnished in the minds of some people. It seems clear to me that if your goal is to become a faculty member of any US college (community or otherwise) your chances increase as your degree more closely approximates a standard residential USA PhD. "If I get a EdD from UNISA will it be seen as favorably as a US doctorate?" Answer: No (at least by many) "If I get a EdD will it be seen as favorably as a PhD?" Answer: No (at least by many) The question that you should be asking yourself is: "Do I have any realistic alternatives to UNISA that will put me in a better position for reaching my goals?" If the answer is "yes" then go for it. If the answer is "No" then the question has no significance.
In either case, good luck,
Jack

 

I agree with you Jack. DL PhD degrees of any sort are going to have trouble getting full time faculty positions at 4 year Universities. The market is already saturated and competitive. An Argosy doctorate or Capella doctorate is accredited but my guess is they will have a hard time getting anything besides Community College or adjunct faculty because of the market which already rejects PhD's from major universities.

Will a UNISA doctorate meet your needs...maybe. Will an Argosy EdD meet your needs......maybe. Jim needs to weigh realistic potential use, cost, etc. An UNISA EdD may be no more useless than a Argosy or Capella doctorate. All are DL but UNISA has a far more extensive reputation and history which includes some well known alumni. Heck, with the money you are saving make a couple of trips to UNISA so you can put actual study at the home campus on your resume.


North

 

Re: Is UNISA Getting a Bum Rap?

I'm not sure someone with a degree from Harvard could immediately get a teaching job at UC-Berkeley; they're pretty strict, and it would seem to me that one would have to be established in the field as something other than a Ph.D.-holder. If you have a CV that otherwise looks like Noam Chomsky's, I don't believe a UNISA Ed.D. would be considered inadequate; if you have a CV that is basically devoid of experience in the field, no Ed.D. or Ph.D. can guarantee a full-time university teaching gig. I know plenty of people with brick-and-mortar doctorates who can't get jobs as full-time professors, and end up working as security guards or library clerks. It happens even here in Mississippi where, according to a recent newspaper graph, 11.x% of residents have earned a bachelor's degree and 5.9% have earned "a bachelor's or higher."


Cheers,

 

Re: Re: Is UNISA Getting a Bum Rap?

Then again, UC-B hired a freshly-minted Ph.D. from the University of Michigan because he had unlimited potential. I believe his name was Dr. Theodore Kaczynski....


Bruce