How important is it to have a PhD with a concentration?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Randell1234, Feb 22, 2004.

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  1. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I was speaking to NCU and asking questions about the PhD program. They told me, as I understand, that you can earn a PhD in Business Administration and a concentration such as: Management, E-Commerce, MIS, etc, if you take the core classes with the classes listed under that particular concentration.

    They also told me that I could take the core classes and a variety of elective classes from the PhD program and meet the credit requirement to graduate with a PhD in Business without a concentration.

    Question: Does it matter which route I take - PhD in BA with a concentration or PhD in BA without a concentration?

    I will probably teach at a community college as an adjunct but not teach business. I plan to take 18 credits in humanities and teach humanities.

    Thanks
     
  2. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    To teach in a CC a masters degree is usually adequate.
     
  3. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    If one has to take the same amount of credits for a Ph.D without a concentration vs. with a concentration, I would pursue a concentration. Just icing on the cake!
     
  4. KKA

    KKA Member

    All Wrong!

    Hello,

    I honestly don't understand the premise of the question. A PhD (any doctoral degree) is by definition an outcome of some specialization, hence some one has concentrated on some topic or area of study that one becomes an expert on it.

    Can you tell us what you mean exactly?

    Kenneth K. A.
     
  5. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    I think what Northcentral University is doing, is trying to appeal to a larger group of students by offering a dozen different concentrations(Health Care Administration, E-Commerce, Criminal Justice,etc) within the Ph.D Business Administration degree.

    It's about marketing strategy!

    Check them out: www.ncu.edu
     
  6. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Re: All Wrong!

    NCU is a newly accredited "virtual university" that does not have a traditional university program. It is 100% online. Additionally, it only offers two PhD programs:Their two different PhD programs offer dozens of "specializations." For example, you can get a PhD in business administration with a specialization in criminal justice administration. Imagine trying to explain that one to an employer.

    If a candidate gets a PhD in business administration with a "specialization" in criminal justice administration, then is he proficient in business academics at the doctoral level? No!!! Why not? Because the NCU PhD in business administration does not require the student to study doctoral-level business-academics!!! Then why do they call it a PhD in business administration? Sounds fishy.

    The fact that they only offer two PhD programs, yet with dozens of unrelated "specializations," strikes me as extremely unusual. I have never seen anything like it.

    It will be interesting to see the destiny of this bandwagon.
     
  7. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: All Wrong!

    I find also extremely misleading the PhD in BA with computer science specialization. The courses required for this specialty are not at the graduate level but the graduate can say that he is a PhD in applied computer science. This can be confusing for a prospect employer because there is no university that awards a PhD in BA in Computer Science so the employer might think that the graduate is in fact a computer science major.
     
  8. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: All Wrong!

    NCU is not the only school to offer such a thing. Nova has a

    DBA with concentrations such as Accounting, Information Technology Management, or International Management.
     
  9. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: All Wrong!

    If NCU were to limit their PhD in business administration "concentrations" to accounting or business management, as NOVA does, then it would be fine because those concentrations fall within the realm of "business." But NCU's specializations reach far beyond business-academics, to include criminal justice, computer science, etc. Randell1234, what is your opinion on this?
     
  10. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: All Wrong!

    You make an excellent point. I noticed as I was posting this that all the DBA concentrations were business related. I would not want a PhD - BA / Computer Science because I feel I would have to explain that it is a business degree not a tech degree.
    To my credit, it would be a PhD - BA/Management.

    Back to the orginal questoin: Does it matter which route I take - PhD in BA with a concentration or PhD in BA without a concentration?
     
  11. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: All Wrong!

    Computer Science? Can you name one PhD in Business Administration with Computer Science specialization?. This is like saying a PhD in BA with a specialization in Biology.
     
  12. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: All Wrong!

    Not Computer Science. I did not know you were being so specific. I thought it was more of a general statement.
     
  13. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: All Wrong!

    There is a huge difference between Criminal Justice and Criminal Justice Administration. I know other colleges that have CJA degrees offered within their B-school. CJA programs typically require courses well outside standard CJ curriculum, like budgeting and personnel management. As a major/concentration, CJA is closer to Public Administration that pure Criminal Justice.
     
  14. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    specialization needed

    I think that you need to have a concentration. When I saw this question, I pulled up a handful of B&M schools that offer PhDs in Business Administration. All require specialization in a research area.
     

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