AboutCynthia Wolfe Expertise Let me help you with questions about online programs and what is expected of an online student or instructor. I am an instructor as well as a student in an online program. If you are looking for a program or have questions about online learning in general, I can guide you. If you are a teacher looking for new ideas or methods, I can help. I have resources and ideas to share. I am a member of the National Business Education Association (NBEA), a professional organization devoted to the recognition that business education competencies are essential for all individuals in today's fast-changing society.
Experience I am an instructor at the University of Phoenix, working in online and classroom modalities. I am also a student at Northcentral University, where I am working on a PhD in Business Administration, with a specialty in Management. My MBA is from Troy University, 2001, and I have a BS, Environmental Science, from Troy University, 1980. Read about my experiences as an online student at my blog thinkPhD.
Question QUESTION: I have a dilemma on my hands, which entails making the decision of whether I should pursue an on line Phd degree or not. I am hoping you can help.
I am a mid 40's working professional with an M.S. degree. For the longest time I have been searching out for a Phd program. Reason being is that although I serve as an adjunct with two colleges already, my intentions are to one day teach for a University on a full time basis.
Long story short, the programs in my field (Criminal Justice and or Corporate Security) are limited. They are limited to folks who are practically not working full time, and can devote most of their days to school. Unfortunately, as a working adult, I don't have that luxury. So, I came across an interesting Phd program/degree offered by Northcentral University (NCU)of Arizona in Business Administration - w. a concentration
in Business & Corporate Security. The only thing is that this University, although accredited, is an on line University. At the same time, to my benefit, it is a program and degree that my employer would pay for.
Therefore, this is my dilemma. I have contacted the Higher Learning Commission about NCU and they would not provide me any details other than the fact that the College is accredited. They told me to speak to the College - which I naturally did- but then again, NCU will only tell me what
they need to tell me to "sell me:. I also reached out to the Better Business Bureau, and have found that the school has a clean record. Additionally, I have been speaking with various people on linked.com in who are adjunct
professors, and quite frankly, many feel negative about the idea of an on line Phd. Throughout the web, I see various comments made by student regarding NCU that are positive and negative.
My hesitation and reason for the research is the obvious concern of the stigma that on line colleges carry. In as much as my employer would pay for this degree, I would hate at the same time to spend the next 5 - 7 years
pursuing such a degree only to later find that many of the brick & mortar colleges that I would apply to as a Professor, will not look too highly upon my degree.
So my several questions for you if you don't mind answering are as follows:
1. What is your overall opinion of a Phd graduate from an
on line University for purposes of becoming a full time
professor?
2. Am I over analyzing this decision and should I just go
for it?
3. Have you heard anything positive or negative about
Northcentral University? http://www.ncu.edu/
4. Any other advice/tips you can offer that I haven't
thought of?
Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide me on this very difficult decision.
Bruno
ANSWER: Hello Bruno,
Let me preface my remarks with an important note: I am a PhD student of Business Administration at NCU, just entering the research phase of my dissertation. I can share some of my experiences, if you want to read more, see my blog at www.thinkphd.com.
I work full time at a well-known paper company, and adjunct on the side. Leaving my job and returning to school for seven years is not in my realm of possibility. So my choices were either online with a residency, or 100% online. I did a lot of researching my options prior to choosing NCU. They have a rigorous program which is fully accredited, no residency, and a number of payment options. I don't have employer reimbursement, so I pay as I go.
My ultimate goal is to adjunct through retirement, and PhDs are paid more and have more opportunities. I do not plan to get on staff at a traditional brick and mortar university. At 50, I have already missed the tenure boat.
Your NCU degree will not say "online"...it looks like any other. There remains a great deal of suspicion about online universities from the establishment. But of course, these naysayers are the same ones who stated that distance learning was a fad...and now almost every university has DL classes. And here is a secret - scratch some of the professors who teach NCU and other DL schools, and you will find tenured PhDs from brick and mortar schools "adjuncting" just like me.
If you are expecting a professor to hold your hand, a classroom of other students to discuss assignments, or college-y social activities, you won't find these at NCU. Most of the students are like me, professionals who attend school because they want to increase their credentials which maintaining full-time careers.
Essentially, you get a syllabus, read the textbooks, and write papers. It's a tremendous amount of work and you are working independently. If you are not self-motivated and confident in your writing or researching skills, do not attempt a doctorate.
If you would like a copy of a syllabus, contact me through my blog on this page.
If if was not for distance learning and a school like NCU, I would not be at this point in my education. It certainly works for me and I am happy with my choice.
Regards,
Cindy Wolfe
www.thinkPhD.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Cynthia -
Thank you for your feedback. What did you mean as far as your age and it being too late to attain tenure? At 50 you have no chance to attain tenure at a College?
Answer Hi Bruno,
Academic tenure is obtained through demonstrating a record of publishing, teaching, and research. Typically the time to achieve tenure is limited in each step; for example you can only remain a junior professor for a certain amount of time. Most of my colleagues that have achieved tenure tell me that it takes at least 10 years of focused work and publishing.
I have spent my life building my career as a manager, not as a professor. I have a fine career and am not willing to step back and make a junior professor's salary and essentially "pay my dues" all over again. Assuming I decided to do this, in am 50 and will finish my PhD within two year. Add 10 years to 52 and now I'm 62, with no time to build a career.
It's not that I do not have a chance to obtain tenure - it's simply that tenure is not an option for me.
