100% coursework PhD online

I know I'm asking for alot, but I'm also wondering if there are any online PhDs which consist completely of coursework (i.e. no dissertation). I have an MA in TESOL, and would be interested in a PhD in a related field, but I know I do not have the will power to write a dissertation. Thanks.

Daniel

 

I can think of only one which I'm not going to list because the degree has no recognized accreditation and, of course, is banned in Oregon and other states.

Why do you not want write a dissertation? My alma mater (undergrad) placed heavy emphasis on writing, research, and reports and I didn't think I'd have the willpower, but I wanted a degree so bad that I sucked it up and nailed a 4.0 GPA. If you want an accredited (a.k.a. respectable) doctorate why not just hunker down and get with it.

I would recommend Northcentral University because you can enroll on a course by course basis so you don't get too overwhelmed by the whole experience. www.ncu.edu

 

A Ph.D. without a dissertation seems worthless. A great deal of the satisfaction in getting a Ph.D. is knowing you've slugged through the process like everybody else--including the doubt & fear included with producing a dissertation.

 

A PhD is research degree. A significant part of the process, aside from increasing knowledge in your domain area, is honing your skills as a researcher and a writer. It would be contrary to the spirit and intent of the degree to waive the predominant instrument that demonstrates just how well you have mastered one of the primary comptencies of the PhD program.

There are some practioner terminal degrees, such as the Doctor of Management (DM), that may not require a dissertation. I believe Colorado Technical University has such a program.

 

re:

I very much appreciate the replies thus far. I love writing - am just scared about such a project. But I suppose bullet-biting is in my future The NCU advice sounds like the best option so far.

Daniel

 

UoP, CTU, UMUC, Nova and a few other schools have a Doctor of Mgt or DBA which does not require a disertation but do require a final project.

NCU and TUI are the only schools that offer a 100% online PhD - disertation required. I had a great fear of the disertatation (and still do) but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. NCU makes it sound managable with their approach.

I have always felt that I would not start anything I did not plan to finish. The PhD is different. I am taking one class at a time and I will see how it goes. If I look at the big picture all at once, it is too intimidating.

Good luck.

 

No.

If you don't have "the will power" to do something, then don't do it.

A Ph.D. without a dissertation is not a Ph.D.


"A flute with no holes is not a flute. And a donut with no hole is a danish." Ty Webb

 

Daniel,

I cannot imagine a doctoral program without a dissertation. The dissertation is intimidating but an integral part where the student has the chance to contribute to the body of knowledge in his/her area of study. It is the differentiating factor between doctoral programs and other degrees.

Eli
Ph.D. Touro University International

 

Re: re:

It's not as horrible as it first seems. There are many books out there that will help get you through the dissertation process.

 

Randall - A minor correction regarding Nova Southeastern. Their DBA program requires a dissertation. Their approach is pretty traditional - you must identify base theory, identify a research problem, develop hypotheses and test the hypotheses empirically.

Regards - Andy

 

A major dissertation amounts to writing 1 page a day for a year. Or (for Jimmy's reference) that is one medium sermon a week (unless you are ELCA whenit would be two long sermons).

Considering it as a whole it is daunting, but considered as a piecemeal it is managable. I just turned in my draft literature review (80 pages (but as a powerpoint presentation - 160 slides)- Trends in Discrete Event Simulation).

 

UMUC has a DM programme and it is not a PHd... pls. do not confuse both

 

If you want a doctorate without doing a dissertation, then you would need to look into a first professional degree, such as law (JD), medicine (MD), podiatry (DPM), chiropractic (DC), etc.

As Rich says, a PhD is a research degree. The purpose of the coursework of a typical PhD program (research design, statistics and the like) is to prepare you to complete a dissertation, which adds to the body of knowledge in a field and allows you to become an acknowledged expert in the subject of your dissertation.

Since you wish to further your education in TESOL or something related, without doing a dissertation you could have at least two viable options for a post-masters degree:

1. Consider pursuing a law degree in a TESOL-realted area (3 years of full-time study, rigorous but without a dissertation requirement).
2. Consider pusuing an educational specialist (Ed.S.) degree. Ed.S. usually requires a couple of years of coursework beyond the masters and does not require a dissertation. Many educaitonal professionals, such as school counselors and administrators, have Ed.S. degrees. It is higher than a masters, but would not allow you to call your self "doctor".
3. If you had the means, you could donate a large sum of money to a university in exchange for an honorary doctorate. It is not an academic degree, but many folks with honorary doctorates use the title "doctor".

Tony Pina
Northeastern Illinois University

 

I think Tony's post was a good one. I'd put a bit of a finer point on the subject. There have been a couple of recent threads in which the pros and cons of earning a second Masters degree (as opposed to a PhD) have been discussed. It's possible that the best option for you is to earn a second Masters degree. Areas of interest might include English Lit. or Education. There are numerous DL Masters programs in both areas. It's possible that the second Masters degree could be more valuable than a doctoral degree (in terms of employability). Also, the obvious benefit is the lack of a doctoral dissertation.
In either case, good luck in your endeavors.
Jack

 

Thanks for the correction.

 

If you're wishing to stay in the general area of TESOL, this means you'd be earning a doctorate in:

a. linguistics/applied linguistics/etc.; or
b. education; or
c. English (maybe)

I am not aware of any programs in those fields that would allow you to earn a doctorate without completing a dissertation. Even if you could, it would be of so little value in the TESOL field as to be meaningless.



Tom Nixon

 

I agree with much of what has been noted. The idea behiond a research degree is research and you will have to produce writing of some sort.

Even the DMin program I am in at American Christian College & Seminary had coursework and an Advanced Research Project which combines research with a practical bent. I am about 130 pages into it so far. I was told to ball park at around 200 pages. And so...I research & type and research & type.... It is just part of the process.

Good luck!

North

 

I guess. I wouldn't know. I don't preach from manuscripts or notes.

 

I should add that I agree with Jimmy on another thread. If I ever finish this program before the deadline, I will likely not do another program. I want to read what I want...when I want......and not be expected to produce any in depth analysis written and assertions from it (unless I choose to).

North

 

Dissertation

Daniel,

Traditional programs can be brutal in as much as some folks start their dissertation after the comprehensive exams. Comps take about 5 hours per day studying for 60-90 days or so. But, DL programs have developed a strategy in that the dissertation is eaten like an elephant - one bite at a time. Courses are desgned to align course papers to funnel the research conducted down to support the dissertation. Other courses "heard" learners through the process with the course outcome being the next dissertation milestone. DL programs essentially provide the organization and incremental steps to get your through the process one bite at a time.

Don't sweat this man but be clear. The KEY is to get a topic early on, align course papers to drive your research in this direction, and build couse papers into a research data base/platform from which you can develop you dissertation. Don't wait till the end to start this dissertation task. Engage it early and take it step by step. It's not that bad.