International University for Graduate Study

Hi All,
I have MS in organic chemistry. I graduated in 2008 and since then I have been working in my field (Chemistry). I am research scientist leading different research program. Recently, I am thinking to continue my education for PhD. however, since I have very stable job I can't take regular university. I have been looking for online Chemistry PhD program and came across to International University of Graduate Study in Dominica. Can PLEASE someone let me know if this university is accredited or not?

 

Paging Steve Foerster!!

 

https://iugrad.edu.dm/about-iugs/accreditation-and-affiliations.html

There's some "member of" stuff in there. Vague on the acceptance of its degrees.

 

Imo, you should be very cautious obtaining a doctorate from this "university". Primarily, when asked if there are any US private accreditation agencies that evaluate the equivalence of their degrees with those obtained in the US, they cannot provide any! Secondly, if one is a professional engaged in research or teaching, their credibility will be highly questioned by peers and professional organizations. Those who acquire a PsyD degree from this "school" can potentially be placed in jeopardy if sued by a client because their degree is not equivalent to one's from US regionally accredited schools, thereby raising the question of the competency of the degree holder to provide treatment to patients on the doctoral level and possibly be held for professional misconduct due to misrepresentation of their doctorate to the public.

There are no easy ways around obtaining a legitimate doctorate but to take the plunge and do the work required to attain a doctorate that is substantive, credible, valid and that will enhance your professional status rather than devalue it.

 

Unfortunately Steve, when asked if their doctorates can be evaluated by an accrediting evaluation agency to measure the equivalence of their doctorates with those from the US they couldn't provide ANY names of agencies which could do so. Imo, this is a very strong indication not to attend this "university".

The fact that this "university" is also on the list of unaccredited and unacceptable schools in many US states also does not bode well for their degree holders.

 

They don't even have a Chemistry department, do they? They seem to say that they will award a doctorate in any arts, humanities, math or science subject, something that I find inherently implausible. Even universities with almost limitless resources like Stanford don't do that.

https://iugrad.edu.dm/degree-programmes/arts-humanities-natural-sciences-mathematics-a-statistics.html

They claim to be accredited by the Commonwealth of Dominica, which may or may not mean something in that small country. I'm not sure how much meaning it has elsewhere.

You should already know this, but in the sciences accreditation isn't really the big issue. What employers will look at is who your doctoral program supervisors were and what your department's reputation was in the area of your dissertation.

A Google search for '"international university for graduate study" chemistry site:.edu' produced no hits. Suggesting that the chemists at American universities aren't discussing any chemistry work done under their auspices.

The Chronicle of Higher Education mentions the old St. Kitts version of IUGS in this 2004 story, including interviews with its American owner at that time. (It may have new ownership now.):

Psst. Wanna Buy a Ph.D.? - The Chronicle of Higher Education

A Ph.D. from IUGS will set you back $20,000 US. That's a lot of money for a degree that appears to me to be academically meaningless. I wouldn't enroll in it.

 

So it starts out bad and then the deeper you dig the worse it smells. I've seen enough.

PhDs in Chemical Engineering are not so hard to find but Doctoral degrees in Chemistry are fairly uncommon. Since you were clearly willing to consider a non-US degree you might want to look at this:

http://www.unisa.ac.za/qualificationsMD/index.asp?link=http://www.unisa.ac.za/qualificationsMD/Navigation/Alph_4_99.html

 

The information I provided is not "scare quotes" but based on feedback from IUGS Admissions and discussion with a faculty member. So the question is why would anyone who possesses credible degrees and professional status wish to potentially compromise their credibility by obtaining a highly questionable doctorate? If one can answer this question in the affirmative, best of luck to you!

 

Btw, if you read the fine print on their website closely, IUGS is open to considering doctorates other than the ones they list.

 

I don't know who owns it either, but the Pro-Chancellor is Dr William Martin Sloane, a graduate of Universidad San Juan de La Cruz, Costa Rica, Charisma University, Turks & Caicos and Alliance International University, Zambia and Atlantic University, among others. Alliance International University is interesting. Director of Studies is one George Gonzalez, but I don't know if it's the same George Gonzalez who is Dean of Charisma University's School of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences.

Yes, that would be interesting.

 

Hi Kismet,
Thank you very much for your comment.
Is this university (UNISA) has online PhD in Chemistry?
Do you know any US university who offers online chemical engineering degree?
Of course, I would rather to have online PhD degree from US than outside of US.
Thanks again

 

Thank you all for your replies.
IUGS is kind of fishy and I can't trust their diploma.
I talked to their admission office. The lady sent me this website. Please take a look

Accreditation of the International University for Graduate Studies - National Accreditation Board

On the other hand, I work in very high rank company and I will do my research in collaboration with IBM. This will go toward my desertion and PhD. Now, the question is even if my research is done in two top companies in USA and I have at least three patents, and ten years of research experience still my PhD will be useless if I obtain it from IUGS? personally, I don't know. what do you think?
If anyone knows any online accredited university which offers PhD in Chemistry or Chemical engineering degree, please let me know.
thank you all.

 

IUGS university

Hi All,
Thank you very much for your replies.
I agree with all of you and I think IUGS is kind of fishy. however, I am very confused and don't know what do to. My only choice at this moment is online study, and so far I haven't had a chance to find any online university which offers online PhD in chemistry.
Now, I want to know what you guys think?
I work in very high rank government agency. If I register in IUGS, I will be working in collaboration with IBM for my desertion. My advisor will be from IBM who has PhD from MIT. My research topic will be patentable and its breakthrough idea. Now, do you think my doctorate with all these conditions but from IUGS will be useless?
I just don't know and I really want your feedback.
BTW, I talked to the lady in IUGS about the accreditation of the university and she sent me this.

Accreditation of the International University for Graduate Studies - National Accreditation Board

Thank you all.

 

Thanks Kizmet
Do you know if UNISA university is accredited or not? and also do you know if their PhD in chemistry is 100% online or not?
Do you know any university who offers PhD in chemical engineer degree online?
Thanks a lot

 

My goodness, Bill Sloane is still going strong. I've been following his career for nearly 40 years. Sometimes he reminds me of the guy with the curtain rod, but he has a bundle of very legitimate credentials:

York College of Pennsylvania [BA], Atlantic University [MA in Transpersonal Studies], Liberty University [MAR magna cum laude], Air University [Diploma, Squadron Officer School], Universidad San Juan de la Cruz [MBA summa cum laude], Alliance International University [DBA summa cum laude in Leadership and Management], Charisma University [EdD in Higher Education], London Metropolitan University [Certificate in English Law with Distinction], Widener University [JD], Temple University [LLM (Labor)], and American Christian College and Seminary [PhD in Religion magna cum laude].

 

John, just a straightforward question. Based on their accreditation from NAB, are the doctoral degrees from IUGS considered credible and valid in the US and equivalent to doctorates earned in the US from regionally or nationally accredited schools? Thanks, Jan