DPA vs. DCJ?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by chrisjm18, Sep 18, 2017.

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  1. dlbb

    dlbb Active Member

    Present arguments aside, I think one might argue that the DCJ could have value for the holder, for purposes of advancement in academia, if the holder also had good publications. The degree may be an unknown commodity in terms of its potential value, but if a holder had decent publications on their curriculum vitae, I think it would be a moot point. Absent any publications, then the degree's merits would more likely be questioned in an academic environment. I'm not so sure that a CC would make that distinction though.

    In general, I think a person with a DCJ and publications would be far more likely to be hired than a DPA and CJ-related specialization and no publications at a 4 year school. At the CC level, there will not be as much expectation for publications, so teaching experience, a willingness to adapt to and thrive in the unique cc environment, previous experience in law enforcement (as practitioners), would be most helpful. One or two publications could set you apart, but ultimately may not matter too much at the CC level. CC's are looking for good teachers, not researchers who will regularly publish. It all depends upon the type of environment in which you hope to teach at.

    If you hope to teach at a 4-year and do not plan to publish, then you probably could be a lecturer or instructor, and a DPA may be better if it has a dissertation and a DCJ does not.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 6, 2017
  2. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    dlbb,

    Thank you for steering the conversation back in the right direction :)

    I appreciate your feedback. I already applied for the D.CJ. program because my goal is to teach at a 2-year school so a doctorate more than likely won't be required. I am not opposed to teaching at a 4-year school as an instructor or lecturer. I just don't have any interest in publishing as it is now. I am very passionate about alternatives to juvenile detention/incarceration so that might be an area that I would like to do some advanced research on.
     
  3. dlbb

    dlbb Active Member

    A program with a dissertation would more likely teach doctoral level writing and research, which would help more with potentially publishing. If you go with a more practitioner-based degree that lacks that element, you may not be exposed to that kind of learning that provides you with the skills and knowledge to do that successfully. That's not to say you couldn't learn it on your own. :)

    And, to contradict myself, you potentially could go farther than a lecturer or instructor at a 4-year school with a DCJ and not publishing. It really depends on the school, location, your competition, the value placed on publishing by the school, etc. I do think either would serve you well at a CC. As with many careers, experience matters, so you will want to get that first teaching experience, more likely than not as an adjunct. A lot of people who go to traditional schools get that experience as graduate students, as TAs.
     
  4. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    So I was unfortunately not admitted to the D.CJ. program at Cal U :( I am going to apply to the WCUPA DPA program.

    "Thank you for applying for admission to the School of Graduate Studies and Research at California University of Pennsylvania. Your application for our Doctorate in Criminal Justice Program for summer 2018 has been reviewed.

    Unfortunately, based upon the faculty committee review, we are unable to offer you admission at this time. The selection process was highly competitive with many qualified candidates for only 25 available openings for the summer 2018 cohort. We do invite you to reapply for future consideration.

    If you wish to reapply for the summer 2019 cohort, please resubmit your application by February 15, 2019 for consideration.

    Good luck with your future endeavors."
     
  5. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Sorry, that's unfortunate to hear.
     
  6. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Understood. Hang in there. That program is a diamond in the rough and once CJ practitioners find out about it, it could end up being one of the most popular RA online CJ doctorates in the nation.
     
  7. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Thank you guys! I will update you on the outcome of the DPA application at WCUPA. I really wanted to study CJ but I don't want to wait another year and not be accepted because I am not a mid- or senior level CJ practitioner like the DCJ program calls for. Nova Southeastern is too expensive and I am trying to stay away from Walden and Capella. I hope public administration isn't too boring and I don't know how well I will do with public admin courses.
     
  8. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Yesterday, Cal U awarded degrees to its first graduates of the Doctor of Criminal Justice (D.CJ). program. I watched the live stream because I know someone who was graduating with his D.CJ. He added the prefix Dr. to LinkedIn profile :) I'm so happy for him!
     
  9. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

  10. JoshD

    JoshD Well-Known Member

  11. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

  12. JoshD

    JoshD Well-Known Member

    chrisjm18 likes this.
  13. not4profit

    not4profit Active Member

    Her bio reads like she is in the program even though she would have graduated by now. The principles of investigation tell me that she finished the degree and someone just added the dcj at the end of her degrees. This seems like a case of someone doing a bad job of updating the bio when she graduated.
     
  14. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Yes. Seems someone just added the degree to her name but forgot to update the bio portion.
     
    JoshD likes this.
  15. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    DCJ Diploma

    20200726_100905.jpg
     
    JoshD likes this.
  16. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

  17. Asymptote

    Asymptote Active Member

    De’ear kindly Sgt. Krupke, ya’ gotta’ unda’stand . . .
     
    SteveFoerster likes this.
  18. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    :D
     

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