Military Studies

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by MichaelGates, May 28, 2005.

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  1. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    vast majority, etc.

    Sampling method?
     
  2. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Hayes:
    "Knightsbridge most assuredly represent [sic] one of the legitimate non-traditional DL schools that... John Bear used to work for – and used to write so positively about - until [he] became totally obsessed with the "RA or NO WAY" syndrome."

    Bear:
    Totally obsessed? That would be you, kiddo, not me. If anyone would like a list of 100 non-RA schools that I think are entirely acceptable for people who are satisfied that such a degree will meet their current and potential future needs, I will be glad to mail it to them on receipt of a written request at PO Box 1575, El Cerrito, California 94530.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 5, 2005
  3. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: Re: Knightsbridge?

    You don't have a clue about what you're writing about. John and I have been involved with some start-ups, true. But you've purchased two fake Ph.D's for which you did no work, submitting work you'd done under no one's supervision. Please.:rolleyes:

    Oh, and I've never "worked for" an unaccredited school. I interned with Greenwich (and was paid for guiding one student). At the time, I "worked for" the U.S. Air Force and was on faculty at San Diego State University full time. And I didn't "work for" VIU; I taught classes at that B&M school. At the time I "worked for" AT&T.

    You bought two fake degrees. Get over it. No one cares unless you bring it up.:cool:
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 5, 2005
  4. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Re: Re: Re: Knightsbridge?

    I believe that it originally had an address in Devon, England. Then it briefly sported a Scottish address. Now it's turned up in Denmark. Its international wandering seems to follow its owner's changes of personal residence.

    My understanding is the Knightsbridge only has a business license in Denmark. Apparently the thing is owned by one single individual (Henrik). When he's asked what formal approval he has from the Danish educational authorities to operate his own little personal university, he stoutly insists that none is necessary and feigns offense that the question was even asked.

    That seems to be the strongest thing that Knightsbridge has in its favor. Unfortunately, I know that at least one of them says that he has never done any work for Knightsbridge. But it's conceivable that KU might have value in setting students up with mentors.

    But given that Henrik actively and dismissively avoids any kind of outside scrutiny, how are individuals outside the small Knightsbridge circle supposed to assure themselves of KU's credibility?

    It has? Knightsbridge certainly hasn't made much of a splash.

    Your search - military "knightsbridge university" site:.edu - did not match any documents.

    Your search - military "knightsbridge university" site:.ac.uk - did not match any documents.

    Your search - military "knightsbridge university" site:.mil - did not match any documents.

    Your search - military "knightsbridge university" site:.gov - did not match any documents.

    Perhaps, if people are just accepting any degree for no reason.

    But if a program is going to be recommended to prospective students as KU was in this thread, and particularly if those students are going to be told that "Knightsbridge University in Denmark offers one of the world's best DL MA degrees in Military Studies", serious problems arise.

    First of all, I've seen absolutely nothing so far to support the "world's best" remark. In fact, the academic credibility of the program at just the basic university level is still in question.

    But even if we accept for the sake of argument that Knightsbridge does have some real academic value in the military studies area, I think that it's still extremely irresponsible to steer prospective students to something like this without warning them about its very real drawbacks.

    By their nature, obscure non-accredited schools best serve special students in special situations. They are probably most appropriate for students who don't need degrees. If a degree is the objective, then its utility is probably going to be greatest among those who are already familiar with the school and with what it's doing.

    Prospective students need to carefully consider those things.

    What in the world is a "non-traditional DL school"? Has the word "non-traditional" just become code for 'start up your own unrecognized internet "university" and then do whatever you want'? Or does non-traditional mean something more interesting and more valuable than that?
     
  5. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: Re: Knightsbridge?

    Written by a two time academic fraud that is simply trying to justify his own actions by knocking down others for speaking the truth.

    The most damning thing I've ever read about KU is Neil Hayes own description of the process used by KU to bestow him their Ph.D.. Followed closely by the reponse to Gus's inquiry to the Denmark department of education that said that KU doesn't have authority to grant degrees and their degrees are illegal in Denmark.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Knightsbridge?

    Yes, yes, yes.

    And do we have even one other story from a Knightsbridge graduate? Somebody used to post as "Dr. Marianus," but we never got his/her story, IIRC. Here's what we do have:

    1. A school in Denmark, operating without any legal basis.
    2. An owner and two graduates who've posted mightily, but with almost no substantive comment on Knightsbridge.
    3. No 3rd-party oversight, or insight.
    4. A school operating in Denmark doing its business exclusively in English.
    5. The only outside comment regarding Knightsbridge (Dr. Moskos' "endorsement") turns out not to be written by him--he says he knows little about Knightsbridge.
    6. Faculty members that cannot be found, or who say they don't really do anything with the school.

    And so on.

    I did notice, however, that anonymous posters on Jamesville have been cracking on Union's program again. Of course, they get it wrong--but accuracy isn't their goal anyway. Two reasoned voices, Quinn and Evans, describe both my dissertation and Union in terms with which I concur: ho-hum to both. Union isn't Harvard, and my dissertation is average. Okay. I'll buy both. I've never bragged about the quality of either, despite what James' boys say.:cool:
     
  7. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Knightsbridge?

    I don't know what the quality of your alma mater is. The wording I used was this:

    "And even supposing their alma mater is a 'bottom tier' (I'm sure not saying it is) outfit -- so what?"

    Note "I'm sure not saying it is". How the heck would I know what it is? I've never studied at Union, or even looked at their web site. Closest I ever came to Union was when an undergraduate student there interviewed me for a Philosophy course.

    As I said over there -- I've read worse from bigger universities. I've read about the same quality from an infamous one. I've read better that is shorter, from a reputable university in Germany.

    Your (and Levicoff's) fields are not my specialty. I read the dissertations not to judge your scholarship, but to get some insight into the issues your dissertations discuss -- they are both on interesting and important topics, and I wouldn't say they are "average". They are both good scholarship, in my opinion. I don't pretend to have the depth of understanding of your respective fields to sit in judgment of the work beyond that of a layperson's ability. But I know how to read dissertations in general, and as far as I can tell, they pass muster above "average".

    When the time comes for me to answer the question, "What hast thou wrought?", I answer for Quinn. So I had better be damned good and sure I'm not left stuttering at the Gates.
     
  8. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Thanks, Tireman! Finally, I have gotten around to firing off my own email!
     
  9. warguns

    warguns Member

    If you are in the US, you could join the Civil Air Patrol, the Auxiliary of the US Air Force "http://www.cap.gov/" and distance learn from many Air Force schools, including Squadron Leaders College, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College.

    All these educational opportunities are free. There may be a charge for books.

    These distance programs do not offer degrees but the American Council on Education "http://www.militaryguides.acenet.edu/index.htm" recommends that college or graduate credit be awarded for each school. For example, Air Command and Staff College Credit Recommendation: In the graduate degree category, 6 semester hours in military history, 3 in regional studies, 6 in defense resources management, and 6 in national and international securities studies (5/04).

    Many colleges will use the ACE recommendation for credits, however there may be limit on how many credits they will accept toward a degree.

    From recommendations on this forum, I found that Mountain State University "http://www.mountainstate.edu/" appears to be willing to accept all 21 units toward their dl GRADUATE INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (M.A./M.S.) "http://www.mountainstate.edu/majors/onlinecatalogs/graduate/programs/IDS.aspx"
     
  10. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

  11. warguns

    warguns Member

    Re: Re: re: military studies

    That's odd, but here it is with quotes removed:

    If you are in the US, you could join the Civil Air Patrol, the Auxiliary of the US Air Force http://www.cap.gov/ and distance learn from many Air Force schools, including Squadron Leaders College, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College.

    All these educational opportunities are free. There may be a charge for books.

    These distance programs do not offer degrees but the American Council on Education http://www.militaryguides.acenet.edu/index.htm recommends that college or graduate credit be awarded for each school.

    For example, Air Command and Staff College Credit Recommendation: In the graduate degree category, 6 semester hours in military history, 3 in regional studies, 6 in defense resources management, and 6 in national and international securities studies (5/04).

    Many colleges will use the ACE recommendation for credits, however there may be limit on how many credits they will accept toward a degree.

    From recommendations on this forum, I found that Mountain State University http://www.mountainstate.edu/ appears to be willing to accept all 21 (sic) units toward their dl GRADUATE INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES (M.A./M.S.) http://www.mountainstate.edu/majors/onlinecatalogs/graduate/programs/IDS.aspx
     
  12. warguns

    warguns Member

    Permit me to express my opinion that graduation from dl "Air Command and Staff College" or any service's Staff College, confers far more prestige than a master's degree from AMU. However, ACSC offers far fewer electives.
     
  13. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Re: re: military studies

    As a retired Air Force education and training officer, I would disagree. In the military, an officer must complete professional military education at certain points in his/her career, and ASCS is certainly one of those. But that simply does not convey when he/she enters civilian life. But a master's degree does.
     
  14. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Re: re: military studies

    If I am not mistaken, some of AMU's (www.apus.edu) coursework resulting in an MAMS (Master of Arts in Military Studies) is done in conjunction with work done at the advanced military colleges.
     
  15. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    Rich,

    A couple of my friends are professors (read Cols and PhDs) on staff and relayed the following information:

    the new ACSC now awards a masters degree if attended in residence.

    http://wwwacsc.au.af.mil/FAQ/faq.htm

    "Q: Do ACSC in-resident graduates receive a degree?

    A: Yes. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, signed by President Clinton on 5 October 1999, gives the Air University Commander the authority, upon the recommendation of the Air Command and Staff College faculty, to confer the degree of Master of Military Operational Art and Science upon the graduates of the Air Command and Staff College who fulfill the requirements for that degree. The legislation lays the foundation for ACSC to proceed with a request for accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools."


    Intersting comment with regard to the DL program:

    "Q: Can I earn a masters degree in the ACSC nonresident program?

    A: No. Congress only gave Air University degree-granting authority to confer degrees on the resident graduates who meet the specified requirements. However, the American Council on Education does recommend credit for completion of the nonresident program. The current recommendation for graduate levbel credit is 9 semester hours in military history and evolution of strategic thought, 6 in regional studies, 6 in defense resource management, and 6 in defense policy/national and international security. If you are enrolled or plan to enroll in a masters program, check with your institution to see if credits are accepted based on ACE recommendations and any limits on transfer credits. Most institutions accept credits based on the ACE recommendations, however, there are limits on the amount. Most institutions set an upper limit of transfer credits regardless of the source."

    On a positive note Troy University is liberal with the credits from the DL program.

    Just thought I would throw this info out for those that qualify to attend. Federal civilians are eligible.

    Sadly, CCAF for the enlisted counterparts still has not pursued working on awarding bachelor degrees yet some enlisted PME and courses are recommended as upper level bachelors credit by ACE.

    Kevin
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2005
  16. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Yes, I know. But warguns specified "dl" ACSC, so that's how I responded.

    I have been on record for years and years regarding CCAF and bachelor's degrees, largely because of the ACE recommendations. (Not only do we not have bachelor's degrees from CCAF, the situation hurts enlisted personnel trying to get credit for their military training. Excelsior, for example, doesn't look at ACE recommendations for Air Force courses, using CCAF instead. But CCAF cannot award upper division credit.)

    Another reason for CCAF sticking to associate degrees is that the awarding of so many bachelor's degrees to enlisted personnel would (a) encourage many more to want to become officers and (b) encourage many of them to separate sooner. (I separated after getting a bachelor's degree, as did many of my peers. As an officer and a commander, I saw it all the time.)

    I truly believe there is a prejudice in this matter. The man is keepin' 'em down! :cool:

    (6k? Crabb sez I gotta get a job....) :D
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2005
  17. Charles

    Charles New Member

    SENIOR ENLISTED PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME)

    The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and the Navy War College have begun a proof-of-concept program for Command Master Chiefs. Selected Command Master Chiefs will have the opportunity to earn:

    COLLEGE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION COMMAND AND STAFF DIPLOMA (web-enabled)

    COLLEGE OF NAVAL COMMAND AND STAFF DIPLOMA (seminar)

    MASTER'S OF ARTS DEGREE IN NATIONAL SECURITY AND
    STRATEGIC STUDIES (resident)


    http://www.npc.navy.mil/ReferenceLibrary/Messages/NAVADMINs/MessageDetails/094_05.htm
     
  18. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    I think a way around this would be to make the credits received from the Senior NCO Academy an upper level requirement for completing this degree. If this was a requirement, the people receiving this degree would (a) typically be too old to receive a commission and (b) realistically be shooting for promotion to Senior and Chief and more likely to stay in beyond 20.

    I think that the degree could be one generic program for all career fields, maybe a B.S. in Military Management with a possible emphasis in the management of your specific career field.
     
  19. warguns

    warguns Member

    Re: Re: re: military studies

    I regret I must strongly disagree. Of course, your average 7-11 clerk will believe that a Masters from a DETC school is more valuable but someone hiring an exceutive will certain value more the second highest PME school in the Air Force
     
  20. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: Re: re: military studies

    Okay, we disagree. But I've been both the hired and the hirer, and I would have a terrible time believing that anyone in the civilian world would value military PME.

    When has anyone, anywhere, ever seen military PME as a decision factor in hiring? But we see college degrees as factors in almost every one of them. So if you have information to the contrary, fine. I'd love to see that. Until then, we'll have to go with the observable facts.
     

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