Doctoral Degree Check In (regionally accredited)

[newdegree]

I earned my Doctor of Science in Information Technology degree from Middle Georgia State University. I experienced a few setbacks at other schools over the years (for various reasons) before getting back in the doctoral saddle and succeeding. I chose this program over others for the following reasons (listed in order of importance):

1. Regional accreditation (wouldn't accept anything less)
2. 99% online (two four-day in-person seminars at the beginning and end)
3. Curriculum (very much aligned to my professional experience)
4. Cost (approximately $20,000)

I feel very fortunate to have been part of this program.

After missing one application window, I applied the very first day I could, but I ended up waiting a long, long time to receive my acceptance. While waiting, I discovered this site and explored other educational opportunities. I completed my MBA at WGU in one term and started laying the groundwork for an AI program, which required completing prerequisite undergraduate courses at TESU (a different story for another time).

I'm currently in another doctoral program and exploring others. I can't seem to stop myself.

Awesome to hear, I finished my Doctor of Science in Public Safety at Middle Georgia State University two weeks ago. I am also exploring doctoral programs and trying to gather information on which schools most people on the forum are attending, and which programs are most popular.

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Another MGA alum! Congrats on graduating! Did you attend the graduation ceremony? It was built into our second seminar for the IT program. This was the only time I have ever put on the cap and gown for college (though I did wear my service dress when accepting my CCAF degree). Since you are interested in learning about other programs, I'll tell you more about what I have going on in that world.

I'm entering my second term in a D.Eng. program in AI & ML at George Washington University. The coursework was a little light, but that could be because I just finished the MSAI program at the University of Texas at Austin, so it was a refresher (if anything). I'm really looking forward to the research stage (praxis is what they are going with), but the cost is incredibly high.

My "big" goal is a Ph.D. in Computer Science (a long-held goal), where I can conduct real quantitative research and write a proper dissertation. I have applied to two schools: Capitol Technical University (accepted into the program yesterday, though they seem confused about what program I am actually in) and Mississippi State University (for which I am waiting to hear back). 

For CapTech, they transferred 18 credits in, so I would have to take one "research background" course in the first term and then start the dissertation in the second term. I have been interested in CapTech for some time after learning about their "European model" for the dissertation, as well as the option to structure it into three peer-reviewed papers (though I think this option is no longer available).

For MSU, there is the appeal of completing a Ph.D. program at a state university that is an R1 research institution. The tuition isn't too high, which is another benefit. I have no idea what will transfer, but I am sure that my doctorate and five master's degrees will max out what is allowed. I have already looked into the program extensively, and if I am required to take courses, I can pull from departments other than computer science, which is great, because I don't want to "retake" courses I've already completed elsewhere in my other programs.

I did not walk this December due to short notice. I didn't think I'd complete my final defense, but I did. I am walking in May of 2026. It's fantastic that you are going back to school and getting more doctorates. It seems you want to be well-rounded in the CS, CIS, and IT fields. I see you applied for a PhD at Mississippi State University. I was considering applying for their EdD program myself. Also, how was your MGA experience?

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I'm in the TWU PhD Sociology program, but they have a good many 100% online doctoral programs (and Masters)
https://twu.edu/my-courses/online-degree...-programs/

It's going well for me thus far.
$728 non resident
$323 resident
per credit

$284 fees/semester

Very nice! Are you doing it entirely online or in person? Seems like a solid program, and they do offer doctoral programs after reviewing their academic degree offerings.

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 very funny have a nice day
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I'm glad you found it amusing.

In all seriousness, I was enrolled in a RA doctoral program "pre-COVID" and was unable to complete it due to on-campus requirements.

It is noteworthy to mention that an intra-COVID, and now a post-COVID phenomenon has occurred, allowing many students the opportunity to pursue and complete coursework without on-campus attendance requirements at a higher number of universities. The COVID pandemic was pure hell, and schools had to make accommodations, of which I am grateful that VUL, in my opinion, led the way with live video conferencing and no "on-campus" requirements.

"100% Online" now seems to be the "norm" for many of these types of programs. One of the results of a post-COVID paradigm.

My son will graduate from a state university traditional campus this spring with a Bachelor of Science. Unfortunately, during and after the pandemic, he had to take coursework from other schools to satisfy graduation requirements. Why? Because the school cancelled course offerings, programs, and reduced faculty, due to the drop in student enrollments. How does he explain coursework from five different schools on his transcript to future employers? Answer: The COVID pandemic was a mess! Thank heavens for non-traditional pathways in education!
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I got a doctoral degree from VUL myself, but I don't consider it highly because of the program's level of rigor. Personally, the workload was more like a master's program than a doctoral program. Yes, it was great during the pandemic that they were entirely online, but there were many programs around. Do I regret my decision to go there? Maybe now that there are better options, but I was one of the first group of people who applied, as I was in cohort number 2. I should've waited it out and gone to Oklahoma State University, but they discontinued their program in 2022, so I had no clue. I am not trying to knock the degree down; if it works for anyone, great. I speak from experience after going through another doctoral program. VUL has many issues with leadership, student support, growth, and advancement. I personally have left that school in my past, and it is just a placeholder on my resume.

[PauFraTat]

I did not walk this December due to short notice. I didn't think I'd complete my final defense, but I did. I am walking in May of 2026. It's fantastic that you are going back to school and getting more doctorates. It seems you want to be well-rounded in the CS, CIS, and IT fields. I see you applied for a PhD at Mississippi State University. I was considering applying for their EdD program myself. Also, how was your MGA experience?

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Deciding to go all in with AI/ML pushed me to hit CS hard... There is a significant difference between IS/IT and CS! It's been an interesting experience! In this process, I've learned I really enjoy the challenge of multiple programs, even when they are different from one another. It's nice to have a break now and then, but I feel like I have a lot of momentum and I don't want to lose that. But really, the Ph.D. in CS is the main goal, everything else is just icing on the cake at this point. I'm still waiting to hear back from MSU. They sent me a text and an email today to check out their Facebook page (haha, no thanks) while I wait for the admissions decision. I wrote a very compelling statement of purpose outlining my research plans and approach, identifying major professors from faculty, everything I could think of to make this an easy choice for them.

Overall my MGA experience was positive. Being part of a cohort for the first time was a positive part of the experience. I think having the upfront and final in-person seminar was great too. Meeting everyone at the start of the program really helped foster communcation and openness (on our Discord channel) throughout the program. I still keep in touch with some from the program on a regular basis. The curriculum wasn't as focused as it could have been, and given that it was set without any options to choose from, may not have been relevant to everyone, given the broad spectrum of "IT" as a domain. It was funny that AI wasn't a course or topic discussed at all, yet nearly all of us had some sort of AI element in our final research. To wrap it up, it was a great program and I'm glad I was a part of it. I hope you had a similar experience at MGA!

[newdegree]

I did not walk this December due to short notice. I didn't think I'd complete my final defense, but I did. I am walking in May of 2026. It's fantastic that you are going back to school and getting more doctorates. It seems you want to be well-rounded in the CS, CIS, and IT fields. I see you applied for a PhD at Mississippi State University. I was considering applying for their EdD program myself. Also, how was your MGA experience?

---

Deciding to go all in with AI/ML pushed me to hit CS hard... There is a significant difference between IS/IT and CS! It's been an interesting experience! In this process, I've learned I really enjoy the challenge of multiple programs, even when they are different from one another. It's nice to have a break now and then, but I feel like I have a lot of momentum and I don't want to lose that. But really, the Ph.D. in CS is the main goal, everything else is just icing on the cake at this point. I'm still waiting to hear back from MSU. They sent me a text and an email today to check out their Facebook page (haha, no thanks) while I wait for the admissions decision. I wrote a very compelling statement of purpose outlining my research plans and approach, identifying major professors from faculty, everything I could think of to make this an easy choice for them.

Overall my MGA experience was positive. Being part of a cohort for the first time was a positive part of the experience. I think having the upfront and final in-person seminar was great too. Meeting everyone at the start of the program really helped foster communcation and openness (on our Discord channel) throughout the program. I still keep in touch with some from the program on a regular basis. The curriculum wasn't as focused as it could have been, and given that it was set without any options to choose from, may not have been relevant to everyone, given the broad spectrum of "IT" as a domain. It was funny that AI wasn't a course or topic discussed at all, yet nearly all of us had some sort of AI element in our final research. To wrap it up, it was a great program and I'm glad I was a part of it. I hope you had a similar experience at MGA!

The number of degrees you have completed is very impressive. I see you are really into the computer science and information technology field. PhD is the big goal, but along the way, might as well keep racking up degrees. I really enjoyed my MGA experience. Public safety has always been of interest to me, as I was a former correction officer and an investigator for child welfare. I am now in the law field working for prominent attorneys, which I enjoy. Can't complain about a Monday-Friday 9-5 job that pays 200k+ a year. That is why I continue to go to school to keep studying and learning new things. Eventually, I want to start teaching and try to score a tenure professor position, but I would like to teach at night and online. 


If you are ever interested in getting some type of artificial intelligence degree, there is actually a free master's degree from a German university, which is taught fully in english, AI masters from Universitaet zu Luebeck: https://ai-master.org/

[PauFraTat]

The number of degrees you have completed is very impressive. I see you are really into the computer science and information technology field. PhD is the big goal, but along the way, might as well keep racking up degrees. I really enjoyed my MGA experience. Public safety has always been of interest to me, as I was a former correction officer and an investigator for child welfare. I am now in the law field working for prominent attorneys, which I enjoy. Can't complain about a Monday-Friday 9-5 job that pays 200k+ a year. That is why I continue to go to school to keep studying and learning new things. Eventually, I want to start teaching and try to score a tenure professor position, but I would like to teach at night and online. 


If you are ever interested in getting some type of artificial intelligence degree, there is actually a free master's degree from a German university, which is taught fully in english, AI masters from Universitaet zu Luebeck: https://ai-master.org/

Thanks for sharing more on your background! I feel very much in a "tech" bubble at times when it comes to academic pursuits, and it's great to see there are others with the same drive for lifelong learning (I mean, I knew there were, of course). Given your background and the work you do now have you considered getting your J.D. and maybe even taking the bar? Just for fun if anything?

I also would like to teach eventually! That is another motivating factor for this. I had an adjunct and course development gig lined up but it dried up unfortunately.

Thanks for sharing that program! I grew up in Germany so having a degree from a German University would be very cool. But, I do already have my M.S. in Artificial Intelligence from UT Austin and if I complete the program I will have the D.Eng. in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from GWU. Plus my planned Ph.D. research will have a heavy ML component. 

I'm looking at other programs outside of tech, like the MAOI from UMPI (really as a speed run challenge). Once I complete the grad cert in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University (NVIDIA has a partnership with Standford so courses there are no cost thankfully) I am going to apply to the Master's program for the same area. The acceptance rate last year in that department was on 7% so fingers crossed. I'd love to have a Stanford diploma hanging behind me.