Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

Did you look to see if UNISA was even approved for the GI Bill? Of course, their costs are so low it might not matter.

 

I used my GI Bill for my MPA. Ergo, I'll be spent this upcoming November. That's why I was looking for a cheaper degree. Do you know how much it costs exactly at UNISA?

Actually, while I'm talking with you Rich, I've been meaning to ask about Union. What does your PhD say? What exactly is it in? Since it's self directed, couldn't the degree be in anything you want? Just Curious.

 

Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

I don't think that NCU would be perceived adversely because of the new RA status but mainly because it is a for-profit internet school.

Internet schools are new and academia tend to look down at them. This has been discussed already and there are some people that agree and some that don't, I only can tell you that it is going to be very hard to convince a faculty hiring committee that an internet school can be compared to a rigorous B&M school.

I personally have experienced this kind of bias not because I hold an internet degree but because I teach at an internet school, after the interview I had people telling me that more than one was laughing because my experience as an internet teacher. Some people is just not ready to take the changes and you should expect a strong resistance against any internet school. Internet degrees from B&M schools tend to be more accepted but not because they are from B&M but because most of the time people just do not ask about the way the degree was earned.

In any case, this bias will dissapear as time goes by so my guess is that NCU will get acceptance in the future and may be in 10 years from now we will have many full time prestigious faculty members holding NCU degrees.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

RFValve,

So I guess the same perception applies to more established for-profit schools such as Capella and Walden?

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

I would say that Walden has a good reputation because many school administrators got their degree from this school and also because it is not exactly a pure internet school given the residencies requirements so it has a strong B&M component.

As for Capella, I don't know the school but I believe that also has on campus requirements, class rooms and on campus full time faculty so it has also a strong B&M component.

The same thing for Argosy that has on ground degrees and mandatory residencies for distance learning degrees so I wouldn't call it internet school either.

I would compare NCU with internet schools like Jones International or the DETC schools that conduct classes mainly over the internet with no on campus requirements.

I think that most of the academics accept the fact that universities have DL programs but are not very happy with the concept of schools that only exist in the cyberspace.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

Simon,

What do you want to do? If you're interested in teaching a t a top notch research university, then NCU, Capella, Walden, Touro, etc. is not for you. At least not for another 10 years or so. If your looking to teach at some lower tier schools, or a community college, then the degree will have more utility. If you want to remain in a business, then you'll be fien.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

BinkWile,

Thanks for your response. I am currently engaged in private organizational consulting and individual career coaching practice, and would like to have a doctorate to enhance my professional portfolio. I have already completed the coursework for a Ph.D at another distance learning school and was at the point of completing the comprehensive exam, but due to certain personal constraints may not be able complete the doctorate at this school at this particular time. I need a more flexible doctoral program such as an Ed.D being offered at NCU , that does not require an oral defense for the comprehensive exams or if possible, the dissertation. Your thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Simon.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

I agree with this, as a matter of fact few organizations would actually pay you more because of the PhD but it might be exeptions. I believe that it has good utility in consulting where a PhD can be seen as a tag of expertise. In practice, few customers would actually ask you where did you go to school.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

Exactly. In my current position, my salary was based on my education, being an MPA. After working for several months I asked my employer if they wanted a copy of my transcripts or my diploma. They said it wasn't necessary. Scary.

Also, for most government jobs, they could care less where the degree came from, as long as it's RA. If you look at a lot of GS12/13 positions, it will say that experience can be waived if one posesses an acreddited doctorate. In this case NCU does fine. In academia, if you want to work at the University of Texas at Austin, NCU will not be seen as enough, but Austin Community College may accept you.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

Exactly. In my current position, my salary was based on my education, being an MPA. After working for several months I asked my employer if they wanted a copy of my transcripts or my diploma. They said it wasn't necessary. Scary.

Also, for most government jobs, they could care less where the degree came from, as long as it's RA. If you look at a lot of GS12/13 positions, it will say that experience can be waived if one posesses an acreddited doctorate. In this case NCU does fine. In academia, if you want to work at the University of Texas at Austin, NCU will not be seen as enough, but Austin Community College may accept you.

 

Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

I remember a post some time ago regarding the University of Leicester's Centre for Labour Market Studies getting DETC accreditation in order to allow US based students to be eligible for student loans (or some other financial assistance). So the UNISA DETC could have a reasonable explaination. You should ask them why the wanted to DETC when they are already GAPP (ie, RA equivalent)

Best wishes----Jim

 

Re: Re: Re: Utility of a UNISA Doctorate

I remember a post some time ago regarding the University of Leicester's Centre for Labour Market Studies getting DETC accreditation in order to allow US based students to be eligible for student loans (or some other financial assistance). So the UNISA DETC could have a reasonable explaination. You should ask them why the wanted to DETC when they are already GAPP (ie, RA equivalent)

Best wishes----Jim

 

"GAAP."

There are a few distinct advantages for schools like Leicester and UNISA to get DETC accreditation. First, when marketing programs to Americans, it answers simply the inevitable question, "Are you accredited?" No muss, no fuss, no complicated answers about Royal Charters and the like.

Another advantage is access to tuition reimbursement programs in the military, government, and private sectors. Being accredited by a U.S. agency smooths that out quite a bit.

Finally, these schools can boost the prestige and impact of DETC, which benefits all involved. A rising tide lifts all boats.

By the way, there have been foreign schools with U.S. RA for years, likely for the same reasons.

 

I remember some discussion here that Athabasca was applying for RA. Is that still in the works?

What other non-US schools hold RA?

Best wishes----Jim

 

Jim:

This is knowable by going to the RA's websites. For example, I see at SACS the Universidad de Monterrey is accredited. The other SACS-accredited foreign schools can be found HERE

And so it goes....

 

I was curious about this so I email the VA and here is the official answer on using the GI Bill with UNISA:

"None of the programs offered by the University of South Africa (UNISA) are VA approved."

Maybe someday it will be VA approved, but not for now.

Oh...in case anyone is interested in using VA benefits for a foreign school...here is the entire email response from the VA:

"VA does not approve foreign schools. VA at the request of a responsible school official only, may approve one or more degree granting programs offered by foreign institutions of higher learning.

We do not provide lists of foreign schools with one or more VA approved programs because our internal approval database system is not structured to query foreign schools by country, only by name. If you know the name of the school you wish to attend and you wish to know if it has programs approved for the training of veterans and other eligibile persons, please contact us again and we will provide you with that information. Please limit your request to three schools per e-mail query.

None of the programs offered by the University of South Africa (UNISA) are VA approved.

Please click on the hyperlinks below for detailed information on the usage of your education benefits in a foreign country and the criteria necessary for VA approval.

http://www.gibill.va.gov/education/OS_TrngV.htm
http://www.gibill.va.gov/education/OS_TrngS.htm



Regards,

The Foreign Program Approval Group (223B)
VBA Education Service
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20420"

If anyone has been successful in using VA benefits to pay for a UNISA degree, please let the rest of know what you had to do.

 

UNISA Tuition

I have been looking at UNISA for awhile - PhD in Psychology most likely. By my conversion from Rand to USD, looks like PhD tuition is about $1500 per YEAR at UNISA. This is in comparison to another of my possible choices, Charles Sturt, which converts to about $3k USD per SEMESTER.

I have to say that the UNISA fee schedules are somewhat difficult to interpret, but are layed out on the web site. You have to figure out which category you fit in, etc, and figure out which fees apply to you. After I figured all that out, I simply Googled a currency conversion table and Viola! I'm also starting to investigate the U of Pretoria based on some postings I've seen on this forum.

I am a bit concerned Re: UNISA based on some posts I've read on poor communication, etc. But at 1/4 the tuition, it is worth doing more research.

 

Hello Everyone,
For the record:
If you deal with UNISA directly, you will encounter red tape and delays. If you submit your documents through iaci-canada.com the turn around time is weeks instead of months.

I'm now in the process of finishing my third chapter. I have not had any serious problems with UNISA other than the fact that they keep misspelling my name on my student identification card. (Salvia instead of Savia).

regards,