IS AACRAO and NACES approval enough to make a foreign degree legitimate?

Just to bump up a thread: laferney, is there any more info you might share?

 

YES I do have an update

Yes I received a PhD in Psychology by published works from UCN.(2007) I had an advisor who I worked with in writing a unifying paper and it took about a year to complete. I also had advanced graduate credits (from a CAGS) that were applied to the jury decision.
The degree was found to be equal to a regionally accredited doctoral degree by 2 NACES agencies.
Education International, Inc. ( a charter member of NACES)
and
Education Evaluators International, Inc. who is used by the college I teach at for foreign students.
My college accepted it as did several psychological organizations for membership.
I really thank Rich Douglas (and Levicoff) who "questioned my research skills"
upon my intro into Degreeinfo years ago (in a good natured way) This inspired me to write several more papers and I researched all around the world looking for a university offering a doctoral degree by published work.
UCN offered a international program done European style by research or published works. They have a medical and nursing school on campus and graduates of these programs are licensed in their own country.
and the school is listed on the Consejo Nacionale de universidades.
They worked with me by phone, snail and e-mail. THe cost of the degree was similiar to South African degrees.
I am happy with the degree and proud of the work I 've done. I'm sure there are the naysayers out there who might say he didn't do a traditional dissertation or it's from Nicaragua or whatever other reason. But getting 30 plus credits past a Master"s ( a CAGS), writing over 10 published papers (some long,some short), and a unifying paper is a task.
Two respectable NACES members found it equal to a RA doctoral degree. To be honest I did also apply with WES who after 6 months of sending them documentation refunded my money for "insufficient documention".
So that's the Update. It mmets my needs. Hope it's helpful. I again thank Dr. Douglas, S. Levicoff, John Bear and others who inspired me to pursue it. Thanks to other programs I first heard about on degreeinfo I have completed and received 40 credits in the TESC credit bank through FEMA courses, a DETC accredited Hypnotherapy certificate, graduate credits fron BYU and Portland State, and numerous CEUS.

 

Congratulations!

 

Does your state psychology licensing board recognize this kind of degree?

The definitions in MGL Chapter 112 Section 118 include:

 

Thanks Stanislav.
Bill-
MY doctoral degree is not in Clinical Psychology -it is more general and in Social Psychology so licensure is not an issue. I'm not seeking licensure as a Psychologist. I use the degree for my teaching of Psychology at a local college. I am however licensed in two other areas -as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse.
TO be a member of the APA or APS (Association for Psychological Science) my degree is acceptable with NACES approval.
However foreign doctoral degrees are considered in Massachusetts if in Clinical Psychology.

 

MA. regarding foreign doctoral degree

From MA. law

b) For Applications Filed After September 1, 2000: A "program in psychology" shall mean a psychology program that:

(2) A degree from a foreign educational institution may be accepted by the Board, provided that, in the opinion of the Board:

(a) the institution meets standards equivalent to those of domestic recognized educational institutions; and
(b) all other provisions of 251 CMR 3.03 are met.

Whether this degree would meet this standard I don't know. It's not in Clinical Psychogy and there is no predoctoral internship -it's geared toward teaching, But as you see a foreign doctoral degree in a clinically related area of Psychology who obtains a pre and post doctoral internship coudl possibly be licensed as a Psychologist.

 

laferney,

I am trying to get some info on UCN. Do they offer a 100% DL MS or PhD in Psychology? I see mention of DL on their website, but I don't know if the degree can be completed entirely via DL. Also, do they offer the International programs in English or Spanish?



Thanks
Tom

 

No argument here. I have much less papers published and I have a "traditional" PhD from a relatively good US school. Good job!

Would you share with us the actual school requirements for a PhD by published work? You know, minimum number of papers, pages (if specified), acceptable publication venues, etc.

 

process

MY papers were published in various publications -journals as
Continuum and Current Psychiatry,magazines as Advance for Nurses and a book chapter. Miimum is 3 peer reviewed. "Impact on a field is not a relevant criterion for a conventional PhD because impact cannot have emerged when it is submitted, but it is clearly of possible relevance to a PhD by publication "
I based my case and unifying paper on S.Draper's paper on Ph.D by Publication.

http://www.psy.gla.ac.uk/~steve/resources/phd.html

I met the criteria in Dr. Draper's argument for a PHD by publication.
SOME of the points CNU looked at: (from DR.Draper)
Quantity. An average conventional PhD may result in one journal paper (though many result in none). A researcher keen to push publications might get three out of a PhD. Some PhDs are turned into one book. So any PhD by publication that submits more than three papers has easily satisfied the quantity implicit criterion. I met that.

Quality. If the publications were peer-refereed then an examiner would be in a very poor position to argue against them of being of adequate quality for a PhD. To do so would be to show the examiner as preferring their personal opinions to those of the candidate's peers.
If the publications are in several different journals (or other refereed outlets) then that is a further good point, as it reduces the possibility of the work being accepted only by some small clique, or any possibility of cronyism.
If the publication outlets are of dubious quality or respectability, or are not peer-reviewed. I met that.
If quantity and quality are satisfied, the only remaining issue is whether the candidate is capable of taking a view wider than that required in a single paper: of relating and integrating the body of work as a whole. In my view, that is the main purpose of the accompanying specially written essay" I wrote this.

I met most of Dr.Draper's key points. I gave supporting documentation on the impact on the field to the Jury in my paper. This is a key element in the PHD by publication.

For example:Impact on the field. A couple of examples:
From http://nursing.advanceweb.com/common/EditorialSearch/AViewer.aspx?CC=46409
“La Ferney's focus, he explained, was to challenge the use of prn medications for pain and behaviors in long-term care. He introduced the article's purpose by citing studies that documented evidence-based practice (EBP) related to the use of prn medications was inadequate in long-term care and psychiatric settings. He then explained his article would dispute or support with EBP the reasons nurses commonly give for not administering prn meds to patients in long-term care.
Look for LaFerney's article in a future edition of the magazine. Hopefully, it will serve as a guide for you and your colleagues to submit examples of EBP that have improved patient outcomes in your facility or nursing unit. “

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/09-98/09-20-98/d03bu143.htm
PROVIDENCE -- Lakeville resident Michael LaFerney received the 1998 Effective Advocacy Award from the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare. Mr. LaFerney published a study that showed geriatric patients completed partial hospitalization treatment at the same rate as younger adults.
ETC.
My unifying paper was about 5000 words-not that long.
My published works, transcripts, unifying paper were reviewed by a Jury who awarded the degree based on points. I got just over the number of points needed for the awarding of the degree.

Tom contact them -they're very helpful.

http://www.ucn.edu.ni/contactos.php

ON campus is Spanish. The distance programs can be done in English -minimum of 3 years for PHD. Mine was shorter due to being done by publication/research. They rarey allow the PH, for publication unless you can submit evidence of substantial publication, and in my case, advanced graduate coursework.

Hope this is helpful.