No dissertation for Northcentral University International Dept DBA?

Given at The Hanoi University of Technology

http://www.ncuinternational.com/misc.htm

 

Hi,

After reading your post I logged into http://www.ncu.edu/university_information/dpro_det.asp?degree_program_id=17

Which is site maintained for American students. It clearly states that there is a dissertation requirement for both the PhD and the DBA. This must have to do with RA requirements. I know that European requirements for some degrees are different (The M.D. in the U.K. is started right out of high school). The lack of a dissertation requirement for some students studying out of the U.S. may be demonstrative of these different requirements.

 

Amazing….

*A disproportionate number of initial NCU PhD dissertations appear remarkably short in comparison to other universities.

*Recently, we see on the NCU site a new DBA program that states, “Although a D.B.A. dissertation is required to address a practical problem of an organization, it is not required to produce an original contribution to the body of knowledge in Business Administration. An oral defense of the D.B.A. dissertation is not required.”

*And now, they tout an international DBA program that requires no dissertation. As stated on the NCUI website, "A DBA is only a continuation of the MBA: DBA students will not need to write a dissertation. Therefore it only requires about 2-3 years of study after the MBA even though they students who finish either the DBA or Ph.D. bear the title of Doctor."

It seems the bar for a doctoral degree from NCU/I sinks lower and lower.

Additionally, from the Northcentral University International website, there seems to be very little question as to the source of the degree….

“We are pleased to provide the best services we can to those who are determined to earn an American degree. NCU will offer you a unique opportunity to obtain quality education and a degree you have dreamed about. With a dynamic staff and experienced faculty, we will make your dream become a reality.”

And the program and or source of the degree are presented as accredited too…

“Northcentral University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS). You can earn a Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree or Doctorate Degree in Business and Technology Management.”

My apology for projecting all negative here, but I’m struggling to see anything positive in terms of the international DBA program or what NCU is doing to advance the credibility or substance of online doctoral degrees, regionally accredited or not.

In my opinion, this direction is very disappointing.

Tom

 

If Northcentral is indeed:

1) running a doctoral program for international students that is markedly different than the program used to achieve accreditation (and dropping the dissertation is significant enough to constitute a mjor change in the program)...

2) using their regional accreditation to market a non-dissertation DBA that may not have been included under NCA accreditation...

3) allows even one student from the U.S. into the "international" non-dissertation program...

...then it is possible that NCU may be operating in violation of their accreditation.

If true, that would be tragic. Anyone out there with clarifying info on this?

 

Actually, the MD is not started right out of school. Instead, someone studying medicine will earn a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgury (MBBS or MB ChB). The MD is often considered to be a higher doctorate (above the PhD).

 

In the British system, one first earns the BMed, then one may proceed on to the MMed and the MD (both research degrees).

The BMeds are called "Doctor" and the MDs are called "Mister."

 

To me, this is truly a disturbing turn. After looking at the different schools I chose NCU. I believe that this is indeed a violation of their accreditation and I think it is a warning sign that NCU will eventually head into probation.

The Newcastle DBA, UNISA, Regent, or Touro start to look a little better now.

 

Actually, the MDs are not necessarily addressed as Mister. Only surgeons and some specialists are addressed as Mister (a long standing tradition). This is one of the entries in Bears' guide that I have some issues with (that and the entry where it talks about how honourary commissions in the army are not given. The Emperor of Ethiopia and the King of Nepal might say otherwise (near the bottom of the list).

 

I found this interesting:

 

That's about $10K cheaper than they are charging American students. I wonder if they will give me a similar deal on a PhD there? I should enroll through northcentralinternational.

 

Maybe the wording is not actually saying a thesis is not written; just comparing with the dissertation requirements of the Ph.D.

If no thesis is written, then what is the student doing for 2 to 3 years after the MBA - course work?

I have heard that NCU is wandering around Asia, looking for alliances, and from what I hear, they have encountered some real problems- such as getting into bed (or almost) with degree mill promoters.

Yes, NCU is one to watch!

 

Do we know if this school (Hanoi University of Technology) is really running the website? Do we know if there really is a connection with NCU? Before we go off half-cocked, it might be a good idea to confirm a few things.

What is the nature of Hanoi University of Technology?

Is the website we see really operated by HUT or NCU?

Is NCU really offering these degrees in the fashion described?

The website is registered to:

Huy Doan (CTLGDN-241025)
505 W. Whipple Street
Prescott, AZ 86301

NCU is located in Prescott. But the phone numbers listed ring in California (in the 714 area code).

There is information about HUT on NCU's website here:

http://www.ncu.edu/hut/

It would seem to indicate a connection, no? And if so, and if the DBA is being awarded to overseas students using different (and inferior) requirements, this is very troubling indeed.

A DBA without a dissertation isn't a doctorate.

 

HUT seems to appear on lists for Vietnamese universities.

I wonder if HUT awards the degrees? It would explain a lot.

 

Rich,

I seriously doubt that HUT awards American degrees, whereas NCU does. The following statement from the NCUI website strongly suggests that NCU offers the degrees.

“We are pleased to provide the best services we can to those who are determined to earn an American degree. NCU will offer you a unique opportunity to obtain quality education and a degree you have dreamed about. With a dynamic staff and experienced faculty, we will make your dream become a reality.”

If HUT indeed awards the degree, then I would think that the statements on the website are misleading in terms of having students believe they are earning a regionally accredited American degree. One way or another, the situation does not cast NCU in a favorable light or flow much credibility their way.

Tom

 

Verrthy intrestink!

GoIng in via just plain www.ncu.edu I can't seem to find the series of buttons or icons to press in order to get to the co-ordinated HUT/NCU program. Yet said HUT/NCU co-ordinated program indeed shows up at www.ncu.edu/hut so I'm not sure what that means. Hopefully, NCA is okay with NCU offering a jointly-offered foreign non-dissertation DBA. I'd be very disappointed if it did negatively effect their accreditation status inasmuch as there are not many PhDs or DBAs in E-Commerce on offer via DL.

 

Here's another link just for FYI about the NCU International program in Vietnam:

http://www.hut.edu.vn/cictt/ncu/

Many new financial doors are now being opened in Vietnam.

 

On another thread recently, it was pointed out that the National University in Vietnam has an alliance with Pacific Western University.

So don't be surprised as to what this other Vietnamese accredited institution does with an NCU doctorate!

 

On another thread recently, it was pointed out that the National University in Vietnam has an alliance with Pacific Western University.

So don't be surprised as to what this other Vietnamese accredited institution does with an NCU doctorate!

 

On another thread recently, it was pointed out that the National University in Vietnam has an alliance with Pacific Western University.

So don't be surprised as to what this other Vietnamese accredited institution does with an NCU doctorate!

 

As a NCU student, this concerns me. At "http://www.ncuinternational.com/misc.htm", information about the no dissertation DBA is quietly placed among the mountains of information about the MBA. It is as if to say, " pssst... we have a secret.. but you can't tell anyone"

So why the sudden increase in NCU tuition over the years? ( and more to come ). It is nice ( for vietnam ) that NCU can shave the cost of their MBA at 50 percent off, call it a "scholarship", and include the DBA for the total price of an american based NCU MBA.

In regards to text at ncuinternational.com, NCU could fix their spelling and grammer mistakes. If NCU evaluates grammer of a graduate student's statement of purpose, they definitely can pay an editor to fix any grammatical and spelling errors in their "international" website.

I hope NCU knows what they are doing. It may all be a misunderstanding. What do they mean by, "not required to write a dissertation"? Is a large project required? Is the dissertation part of the thesis required for the masters? Why the lack of information about DBA requirements? Also, $6000 may be a steep price for many vietnames. Are they marketing the program to corporate employees in vietnam? I am not very familiar with vietnamese purchasing power in relations to US currency, my apologies if anyone takes offense.

Ray