I posted a comment on another thread but thought it deserved it's own thread. I would like to get input from others on it. I looked at NCU's DBA program and they had a concentration in there for "Applied Computer Science". Normally, I would not see this in a business program. I would likely see it in a PhD at a brick and mortar. My comment from the http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20180 thread was.... "I have a new question, that might be a new thread. Are these non-traditional DBA programs pseudo PhD programs? If they have a DBA in Applied Computer Science then what is the next step? A DBA concentration in History or Physics? " Maybe the reason that these schools offer such a program is that they could not get accrediation for a PhD in computer science? Maybe they can only do it business or psychology?
I'm a bit opposed to too much specialization in the doctorate. The degree should demonstrate that one has a command of one's field, and adds new knowledge to its canon. "Applied Computer Science" sounds like a business discipline, not an IT one. As such, it would seem a legitimate concentration and/or specialization area for a DBA. In fact, I would question a Ph.D. in that area.
I'm guessing that many, if not most, PhD's offered via distance learning are applied in nature in order to be more attractive to the adult learner.
I agree with Rich. A friend of mine, who is the IT director at a community college, has an M.Ed. in educational technology and an MBA in information systems. It seems like her program was along the lines of this DBA in applied computer science. I think that the key word here would be "applied", however NCU chooses to define it. The emphasis would obviously not be on research and theory.
Or Education, too, remember? What sorts of facilities and other things would one need in order to get RA for one's PhD in Computer Science that one would not need in order to obtain RA for one's PhD in Business Administration, DBA, PhD in Education, EdD, or PhD in Psychology? (PS - When is NCU going to start offering their PsyD?)
Except that IT is often treated as a sub-discipline of business. There are many, many MBA-IT degrees. And there is even a DM in IT at UMUC.
When I look at the concentration I see... CS5000 - Decision Support and Expert Systems CS5001 - C Programming CS5002 - C++ Programming CS5003 - Computer Graphics CS5005 - Database Management CS5006 - Networking Technologies CS5008 - Client Server Relationships CS5009 - Computerized Systems for Business and Management CS5010 - Managing Communication CS6010 - Applied Computer Science Research Project MIS5005 - Local Area Networks (LAN) MIS5007 - Wide Area Networks (WAN) BUS6011 - Special Topics in Business & Technology Management MGT5031 - The History of Management Theory There are a few courses in business in it...2 of them. Their program lit says..."The Applied Computer Science Specialization is the discipline of designing methods for solving problems by means of computers. The curriculum is designed to provide preparation for professional careers in the areas of Software and Network Administration." To me, this doesn't sound too businesslike, really. I would think that for a business degree it would say something like " The curriculum is designed to prepare for professional careers MANAGING the areas of Software and Network Administration". As I looked at Tufts, MIT, Cornell, and a few others they had PhDs in programs in applied computer science.
But, in NCU's case they have a concentration in MIS. That is traditionally business. MIS is not the same as applied computer science.