Northcentral vs Argosy DBA Programs

I have applied and been accepted into Northcentral's DBA program. I have also had discussions with Argosy. Based on comments from folks here on the discussion board, NCU is more work at your own pace and appears to be more research oriented. Arogsy on the other hand has much more structure to their courses requiring logging in 2 or 3 times a week and completing the associated assignments. Can anyone shed light on whether the work at Argosy is more research oriented or more application oriented? I realize that their online program is fairly new but I've been told that it's the same program that is taught at their campus locations.

Thanks for any information that can be shared.

ProfTim

 

I don't have nothing against NCU but Argosy has a more solid reputation than NCU. If you are looking to teach full time at the University level Argosy might be a better choice only because their product has been tested in the market with so many Argosy graduates teaching already full time.

Argosy also has on campus programs that gives more credibility to your DBA. I was about to enroll with Argosy but my employer wouldn't pay their fees so I went other route but I found their programs better structured and with so many graduates working as academics as a proof of being a reliable product.

 

You would have to consider the costs. Argosy is $45,000. Is it worth the extra money? For some, but not everyone.

There is a local Seattle campus here that meets 1 night a week. The program appears very similar to the online option.

For $45,000 you could almost get a Nova Southestern DBA!

http://www.huizenga.nova.edu/FutureStudents/Doctoral/overview.cfm

 

This depends, if you are looking to teach full time after graduation you might consider the 45K degree. A DBA from NCU is too new and there is no evidence that schools actually take it seriously for tenure track positions.

 

Although I agree with you this development can only help NCU IF they are successful:

NCU hosts Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs site visit as step in accreditation process

http://www.ncu.edu/press_release.asp?press_release_id=70

 

Another Choice

Have you considered Nova Southeastern? I'm a satisfied graduate of NSU and would encourage you to at least consider them. They have a longer track record than either of the schools you mention. Also, NSU is a real B&M school - in addition to doing DE.

Regards - Andy

 

I would suggest that "real" is a bit over the top, but Andy's point about the value of Nova being a B&M is well-taken. But I'm not sure how well NSU is known for this outside its local area. I suspect, like UoP, NSU's reputation is as a short-residency school, despite the full on-campus experience available.

Personally, I like NSU and would suggest that it, like Argosy, offers more value due to its residency requirements. I think something is lost by students studying totally DL.

 

Why is "real" over the top? My niece is in Nova’s pharmacy program. Is that not real?

 

Maybe Rich means that a B&M is inherently real and it is unecessary to state that it is real. Unless you are trying to imply that Argosy is not a "real" B&M.

 

I agree with Andy, one has to take a good look at NSU if they are going to fork out $45,000 to Argosy. I would think a Nova DBA would be far more marketable in academia than Argosy.

The residency requirements of Nova may be a deal breaker though, in which case Argosy's online program looks like a decent second option. At least the B&M and residential components of the school add credibility.

I think there are a lot of Nova graduates throughout the country, including one at my local college. So the school may be a little more well known than you might think.

 

What is "Real"?

I didn't mean to confuse the discussion by talking about "real B&M" schools. Indeed, virtual schools are "real". Students do "real" work at virtual schools and earn "real" degrees.

There is, however, something to be said for a school with a physical campus, varied on-campus programs (medicine, law, psychology, etc.), significant library resources, etc. For one, there is a permanence - it is likely to remain in place for the forseeable future. In NSU's case there is also a relatively long history of educating people. One is far more likely to run into an NSU grad (for better or worse) than from one of the newer DL schools.

Regards - Andy

 

I totally agree with Andy. If I were going the PhD\DBA route Nova would be it. Argosy (University of Sarasota) has been around for awhile and may have staying power. Northcentral is too new and unknown for me to want a terminal degree from them.

Nova really needs to go the next step and get AACSB. In conversations over the weekend I was told that the University of Central Florida located in Orlando needs business professors. But they only consider PhD\DBAs from AACSB-accredited schools. And this is only a tier three school.

 

Jsut for clarification, I agree with all of this.

 

Because the use of the term "real" when describing NSU could imply that short- or non-residency schools are somehow not "real." Andy clarified this in a subsequent post, and I agree with him.

If I chose to do a second DL doctorate, I would be swayed (but not persuaded) by the B&M issue. But there are several free-standing DL schools that have fine reputations, including Fielding, Argosy, and Walden.