University of North Dakota PhD in Computer Science

The University of North Dakota (UND) offers its PhD in Computer Science online. "Benefit from strong departmental proficiencies in artificial intelligence, compiler design, database, networks, operating systems, graphics, simulation, software engineering, and theoretical computer science."

Tuition plus fees for online students is 869.51 per sh. The program is 60 sh if entering with an approved master's, 90 sh if entering with an approved bachelor's.

 

Neat! UND definitely leads in accessible programs, they've had an all-online (except required supervision hours) MSW years before others got around to it. Dakota State also has a good program in Information Science.

 

Nice! The prereqs and such are not too difficult to obtain either for someone going this route.

 

Thanks for this. I was actually looking for such a program and was talking to NorthCentral. But I will definitely be more comfortable with such an institution

 

What about it makes you more comfortable? Was there something about Northcentral that made you uncomfortable?

 

Rich, I’m not an expert. Rightly or wrongly, there is always discussion about Capella/Walden/NorthCentral on their reputation for not sticking to a graduation path, stretching the dissertation months to gain more tuition money and whatever else.
I am in the IT/Cyber field and was looking at NorthCentral for the PhD in Cybersecurity but Computer Science has been my white whale. Wanting it but worried about me not grasping it yet with such offerings like UND, I could start back from the Master’s level and progress up over time.

 

On places like GradReports.com you'll see very mixed feedback on those schools. Obviously not many people go out of their way to give a great review so they'll always skew negative, but it's something to keep in mind. Additionally, schools that have a reputation for being online only still deal with some stigma, when compared with totally online degrees at schools that also have B&M offerings.

 

Dustin, it’s not just those reviews but examples like the class action suit against Capella or the news articles or tv segments about them…

 

Agreed. Every time I find myself looking at Walden, I remind myself that people's committees get dissolved or they wind up unable to complete the program and at a cost of $1000 a month to be left 8 years later with no PhD would be an awful feeling.

 

I have the good fortune to have been around when these schools got their starts. Both Walden and Capella began with academic rigor. I've seen no reason to believe that has changed. What HAS changed is the "consumer attitude" of students attending these schools. While I have no doubt there have been legitimate complaints lodged--these schools are decades old, after all--I've never gotten the feeling those were significantly different that what students experience in more traditional environments. The difference is those students are young and inexperienced, as opposed to the kinds of students who pursue degrees at Walden and Capella.

As for Northcentral, I've noticed even less. Of note, however, is that Northcentral is no longer a free-standing, for-profit school. It was acquired by the National University System. Whether this distinction matters is up to each observer.

Does anyone know if there has been a successful legal action against these schools? I don't seem to recall any.

Finally, I think the "online only" stigma is fading rapidly, hastened by the coronavirus pandemic. I think people are getting the idea of distance education more than they ever have. But I don't have any research to back up this notion.

 

Rich, my BS is from NU in San Diego. My MS was acquired online when I was deployed down range. I am not the person to knock any online stuff. I’m even now working remote since I retired from the military. I embrace that. I just don’t care for any HR arguments later about these schools (rightly or wrongly). I’m taking that stance with myself as we only have one life to live.
Same reason why I didn’t apply to Liberty University after discussion with one of their counselors about their doctoral program. Aside from the Falwell BS, I didn’t care for the religious tones that have to be included in every paper written and dissertation produced.
One life to live!

 

Good considerations. FWIW, degrees from Argosy/Capella/Walden/NorthCentral/UofP tend to be regarded as "check the block/you pays your money, you get your degree".

 

I assume this is an unsupported assertion. (I'd love to see the evidence, if any.)

If so, when such an assertion is made, once should consider the source. What qualifications do you have to make that assertion?

(I seriously do not know. I don't know the posters here, anonymous or not.)

I do have qualifications in this area, but I'll refrain from responding to your comment, preferring instead to hear what else you might have to say to bolster this statement. Thanks!

 

I would not say that those unis are a "pay the tuition, get a degree" type of unis. While they tend to have an open admissions approach, you still have to earn your degree. You have courses to take, learning objectives to achieve, etc.

Rich Douglas actually taught at University of Phoenix I believe, so he would have much more insight into these types of unis that are generally online.

 

I taught at UoP for 3 years; the first as a full-time campus chair and the other two as an adjunct.

If you do a degree at UoP, you've earned your degree, and that learning experience is comparable to anything else out there. In some ways it's harder because you have a significant portion of each class's grade is based on group assignments.

I've also taught for several other traditional and nontraditional universities utilizing a variety of delivery methods, including online asynchronous classwork, in-class, independent study, and four years teaching full-time as an assistant professor at a huge state university.

I also have earned several degrees by various forms of distance learning.

In my first doctorate I specialized in this field, at the time calling it "nontraditional higher education."

I've completed the University of Wisconsin-Madison certificate program in teaching distance learning.

Finally, I've studied at the feet of the master for more than 35 years now.

 

I've never heard this expression before. What does it mean in this context?

 

I thought it was a reference to John Bear….

 

Same!

 

And it has continued to as late as last week. We also have a project pending if I can ever get to it!