Northcentral

Isn't it wonderful that we live in times where we can be so selective, if we choose, about the institutions we sign on with?

I'm having a delightful time; I did a very nontraditional-model RA B.A. via DL from a nontraditional school, a very traditional-model RA M.A. via DL from a brick-and-mortar school, and will probably do a traditional-overseas-model research Ph.D. from a school with a semi-prestigious faculty in my field of study, all for about half as much as I would have ended up spending for a single on-campus bachelor's program. What more could a guy ask for?


Peace,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

Tom,

Where are you considering doing your Ph.D?

North

 

I think that regardless of regional accreditation the real accrediting agency is the job market. NCU might get accreditation but once the market starts getting its graduates they will be judge by their knowledge and a with a weak background like the one they offer I don’t see them in a very competitive position, unless the student makes an extra effort on his own.

 

This implies "the market" acts as one mind. It certainly does not. With thousands of accredited schools in the U.S., it is not likely employers will know anything about Northcentral, or even be able to distinguish it from the other North Centrals. The proliferation of unaccredited schools--not to mention degree mills--bears that out. And even when they do check, it is accreditation that matters.

I read an interesting book (long ago, long lost, and the title escapes me) about which MBA program to select. There are a handful of schools with national reputations. (Some earned for their academics, others for their sports teams.) Then each region has schools with reputations in their regions. Finally, the vast majority of schools that aren't really known at all. If I shop my National MBA around San Diego, it will be hit-and-miss because while many will have heard of it, some will have formed positive impressions, some negative ones. But I've been employed by companies and schools far beyond San Diego; not one has ever commented on it. Not one. No, I'm sure an NCU degree will do just fine for a lot of people. It will fill a square, leaving the rest of the candidate's success to his/her skills and abilities. And almost never will there be a distinction made between it and one earned from some non-descript brick-and-mortar school.

Rich Douglas

 

Not really, in my experience with individuals with degrees from weak schools, it was easy to find out their level of background by asking them simple questions. That is why normally companies don’t rely anymore in the degree qualifications and try to screen candidates by other meanings like examinations or panel evaluations. At the Ph.D. level is not easy to fool a panel of qualified researchers that are questioning the individual in order to test his level of knowledge and confidence. But I must admit that there are some guys that know how to talk with confidence even tough they don’t know what are they talking about

 

I don't fully agree with that.

On the doctoral level particularly, education is rather focused. There is another thread that has been discussing that issue. Imagine a history Ph.D. is interviewing. Suppose that he or she has a 'degree by research' without broader graduate coursework, and did a dissertation on some aspect of the 8th century Byzantine iconoclastic controversy. The applicant might be a true authority on that small subject. But suppose you ask him or her about 19th century Chinese history. Suddenly the applicant is little better than a layman.

I picked that example to highlight my point, but it happens everywhere. A biologist may know all about cell-membrane lipid biochemistry, but little about the molecular biology of mitochondrial DNA. That may be critical if you are a biotech firm hiring a specialist.

Sure. But I think that has less to do with separating "strong" and "weak" programs than it does in finding suitable applicants. A graduate of MIT might be a weaker applicant than a Nova graduate if the Nova Ph.D. is a specialist in the relevant issue. Ph.D.s are unique individuals, the more so as their preparation becomes less broad and more focused on a dissertation problem. For that matter, employers are unique individuals as well, each with unique requirements for a doctoral level candidate. Finding a match is kind of a subtle thing, like falling in love.

 

Tom,

Where are you planning to do your Ph.D. and in what area?

North

 

Thanks for asking!

Australia, and in philosophy of religion and/or metaphysics. Kind of leaning towards a religion-tailored philosophy degree than a philosophy-tailored religion degree, but I could go either way.


Peace,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

I thought you were looking at Lampeter?

 

Rich, I graduated from National University in San Diego. (MBA in Finance) I went to the Campus at MCRD. It's a small world.

 

But it's a big school that's been in operation for 30 years. National is the second largest (in terms of enrollment) private university in California. I took my MBA in 1985, but most of my classes were in San Diego during 1982-3 (Miramar, National City, and the 4007 Building, mostly).

Rich Douglas