Grantham U? Aspen U, AJU, Southwest? CSU? etc.

Your having eliminated Ashworth, had you not liked Andrew Jackson I would have encouraged you to. I think you're on the right track. AJU is my unambiguous second choice. Columbia Southern is also good. These from among the nationally accredited schools, mind you. I prefer regionally-accredited, but just staying within your criteria, and given what you've eliminated, it looks like you're getting ready to pick the best one in AJU.'

Again, just my $.02 worth.

 

Since national accreditation is a criteria, but Ashworth is out as far as your concerned, another option is California Coast University. They are DETC-accredited, and they are cheap.

 

Okay after a lot of research this is the standing.

Aspen, Taft, Cardean and Grantham are the most expensive and therefore out.

California Coast University is a strong maybe. Good price but I have some questions, this is my 3rd choice.

Andrew Jackson is a strong maybe. Least expensive but seems like you have a tight time budget. Also I would have to test for mathematics proficiency. Thus becoming my 4th choice.

Southwest University strong maybe. Good price my 2nd choice so far.

Columbia Southern. In a surprise move, these guys are middle of the road affordable with the most options (i.e. media) for the learning experience, thus becoming my 1st choice thus far.

 

As has been mentioned elsewhere on this forum, CSU also has connections with a couple of RA universities. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you can take your classes through CSU, and get the degree from one of the RA colleges.

 

since you asked. CSU awards its own degrees, you can take a couple of classes, very specific as to which ones, and transfer them into UNA. I can't speak about UWA or UWF but UNA has its own online courses. CSU merely handles the administrative stuff of admissions and the online course registration. Once admitted to UNA you will interface with the graduate department at UNA.

A search on my user name will provide some information on CSU. I liked the school but since tuition has gone up you can get a RA degree for about the same. Still, very flexible and they are constantly trying to improve.

My understanding is that the may be a participant in the DETC doctorate foray.

For me the speed with which I was able to complete the CSU MBA allowed me to put MBA on my resume while I complete additional programs.

As a caution to the original poster if you ever want to teach in the field of the MBA even non RA schools require RA credits. I managed to squeak into an adjunct position but was required to complete additional RA classes (18 credits) to teach additional subjects. Even non RA accredited schools require RA degrees and credits in most instances. My point is if you get a non RA accredited MBA understand the limitations.

I didn't at the time but have since gained some useful insight from this board.

Good Luck with your choice.

 

I appreciate the input on CSU, however sadly I learned today that they expect another tuition increase in September. Bummer.

I do not ever intend to teach business in any type of school, I do intend to teach Criminal Justice however and as such will be attending University of Phoenix Online for an MS in Criminal Justice.

The MBA is strictly for private sector opportunities, such as leading a private industry security company, starting my own business, or getting out of full time law enforcement to become a manager elsewhere. As a law enforcement officer I have been a supervisor of 14 Officers for about 2 years now and have come to the conclusion that management is it's own discipline. Thus my pursuit of an MBA to learn how to manage and to prove that I have learned how to manage.

As for the RA schools, I have been looking elsewhere for an MBA but after speaking with California Coast University, AJU, CSU and Southwest, I am leaning toward Southwest or California Coast. Both have been in business for at least 20 years, which is a concern of mine.

Question: What happens if you get a degree from a school that loses its accreditation?

How do you get transcripts if your school goes out of business?

These are two questions I don't want to learn about the hard way.

If I do choose CSU, it is not for the platform (media) or for the tuition or for the graduation etc. It is because they have steadily shown that they are interested in continually improving themselves, which is a big deal in my book.

 

California Coast just recently became DETC accredited, so I wouldn't be concerned about them losing their accreditation at this point. Granted, it does happen, and it has happened to RA schools. Morris Brown College comes to mind. Grambling State was placed on probation at about the same time. While California Coast had been accused by some of being a degree mill in the past, I don't think that was actually the case. A mill gives you a degree for pay and no work, and somebody can correct me here if I'm wrong, but I don't think CCU ever did that. They DID operate as an unaccredited school, but like I said, they are DETC accredited now.

By the way, friendorfoe....thanks for being part of the "thin blue line" that protects us from the bad guys. I don't think cops get the respect they deserve.

 

Well how about American Military University? They have an NA MBA which is about $250 per credit. They're moving towards RA and the MBA has a security management concentration. Perhaps you could save $$$ by transferring credits from your CJ program?

Also, you could take an AMU diploma or certificate at AMU which may suffice for your need to show that you know about managing people.

And I would think that American Military University might sound impressive on your security service brochure, should you decide to go into business for yourself.

http://amu.apus.edu/Academics/Degree_Programs/DegreePath.htm?paid=1895&concID=1943

 

By the way, friendorfoe....thanks for being part of the "thin blue line" that protects us from the bad guys. I don't think cops get the respect they deserve. [/B][/QUOTE]


Thanks, I appreciate it.

As for AMU, I have requested their catalog and will be taking a look at them however they are a bit expensive at $250 an hour. How likely is it that they will recieve their RA?

I have an Officer that works here with me that is one of their students and he informed me that they had been turned down for an RA.

 

APUS/AMU is still an active RA candidate.

http://www.apus.edu/APUS/Who-We-Are/APUS-Facts/APUSfacts.htm#Accreditation

 

I stand corrected. I wonder if their website is fully current.

 

What I'd really seriously consider is the University of London. The Royal Holloway College MBA at the UoL can be had for about $8,000 British pounds, works out to roughly $14,000 USD, though it could go down or up depending on the exchange rates, which are pretty crummy right now.

Anyway, it's all online, and I can't imagine that "M.B.A., University of London" on a resume if you're looking for a teaching job at the C.C. level isn't going to be worth every penny. Only downside is it's not AACSB--though program is accredited at the very highest levels in England--but you seemed to be saying that the accreditation was of secondary importance.

 

I don't know if you are aware or if it is still being offered but NCU provides a scholarship to active law enforcement officers. The scholarship makes it very difficult to ignore NCU for one's education. It's worthwhile to check this out.

 

I'm looking at the NCU site like crazy and see no mention of any type of scholarship. Do you have a link?

 

$675 per course for Bachelor's degree programs
$855 per course for Master's and Doctoral degree programs

Here is the link.

http://www.ncu.edu/law%5Fenforcement/

 

Has anybody mentioned the Heriot-Watt MBA yet? Even with the current exchange rates, the price is reasonable, and it truly is a DL program. I think it would also have wider acceptance by employers than an NA degree.

 

Pretty good price actually. It really sucks that they don't have any Federally backed tuition assistance.

 

TCord1964......

Looks interesting, however I would probably attend the University of London if I had the out of pocket cash.

 

friendorfoe,

Does your agency provide tuition reimbursement to defray some of the tution cost?

 

Yes, up to state rate, 18 hours a year or a % of the cost. I have considered this option which at NCU would probably wind up costing me about $150.00 out of pocket for each class plus materials.

I have to speak with my HR rep and the school. Also, if for some reason I have to drop a class or don't make the grade, I suddenly incur the cost of the whole thing. They only reward success, as it should be.

If I decide to shoot for an MBA, these guys are on my short list.