Thinking about Doctorate

[Cocolisa1]

Hello everyone, I am currently enrolled in WGU Master of Public Health and will be finishing up soon. I don't have a job in the field yet and I am working on finding a job at the moment. I haven't been in the work field in years but have been taking certification classes/certificate classes. I am disabled (Severe controlled RA) Anyways, I have applied to internships via WGU and also just waiting for responses. I just want to know if there's a possibility of me enrolling in a PhD program seeing my lack of job history (seems experience in some programs are needed)  and where would a good program be online. I prefer a ABD and online. I'm using financial aid, and located in NYC. 

In Progress: WGU Master of Public Health 
Completed: UMPI B.L.S Mangement & Pre-Law
Pierpoint BOG A.A
Certificates & Certifications:
CASAC-T (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee) – Expires: 11/09/2028
I.C.C. Phlebotomy Tech with Honors – Completed: 10/2023
Goodwill Career Coach and Navigator – Completed: 12/14/2023
Introduction to Generative AI Specialization (Coursera) – Completed: 06/11/2024
HIPAA Privacy Training (OSHAcademy, 01/2023)
American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification – Valid through 11/01/2025 | Certificate ID: 01CDFL3

[freeloader]

In what field do you want to do your doctorate?

What are you wanting to do with your doctorate (teach, research, personal fulfillment, etc)?

Are you specifically wanting a PhD, or would an EdD, DHA, DrPH, DBA, or other degree serve your purposes?

If interested in a doctor of public health, Georgia Southern’s degree is likely the cheapest available online.

https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...lic-Health

Your ability to be admitted to a doctoral program with your current credentials is going to be highly dependent on the program.

[NotJoeBiden]

Hello everyone, I am currently enrolled in WGU Master of Public Health and will be finishing up soon. I don't have a job in the field yet and I am working on finding a job at the moment. I haven't been in the work field in years but have been taking certification classes/certificate classes. I am disabled (Severe controlled RA) Anyways, I have applied to internships via WGU and also just waiting for responses. I just want to know if there's a possibility of me enrolling in a PhD program seeing my lack of job history (seems experience in some programs are needed)  and where would a good program be online. I prefer a ABD and online. I'm using financial aid, and located in NYC. 

In Progress: WGU Master of Public Health 
Completed: UMPI B.L.S Mangement & Pre-Law
Pierpoint BOG A.A
Certificates & Certifications:
CASAC-T (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee) – Expires: 11/09/2028
I.C.C. Phlebotomy Tech with Honors – Completed: 10/2023
Goodwill Career Coach and Navigator – Completed: 12/14/2023
Introduction to Generative AI Specialization (Coursera) – Completed: 06/11/2024
HIPAA Privacy Training (OSHAcademy, 01/2023)
American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification – Valid through 11/01/2025 | Certificate ID: 01CDFL3

Most in-person PhD programs are fully funded. Some funded programs offer remote aspects, but most distance PhDs wont be funded. Most, if not all PhDs will require a dissertation. Schools like Capitol Technology University allow you to graduate with publications, but they are an exception in the US.

Other professional doctorates will have different requirements. Quite a few people have done the DHA at Virginia University of Lynchburg online in a relatively short time by transferring in credits. I dont know if it has a dissertation, but again, almost all programs will have some final capstone.

[Cocolisa1]

In what field do you want to do your doctorate?  

What are you wanting to do with your doctorate (teach, research, personal fulfillment, etc)?

Are you specifically wanting a PhD, or would an EdD, DHA, DrPH, DBA, or other degree serve your purposes?

If interested in a doctor of public health, Georgia Southern’s degree is likely the cheapest available online.

https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...lic-Health

Your ability to be admitted to a doctoral program with your current credentials is going to be highly dependent on the program.

I'm wanting to work Community Health/non-profits etc.   
I want to be able to hold a higher position when I enter the work force and personal fulfillment is up there. 
PhD would be preferred but flexible enough to know that anything I get beyond my Master will be personally just as good. 
You mentioned EdD would it matter that I am not a teacher?  Working at a college would be fantastic too! 
I'm very open to anything at could lead me down a better path for employability.

[Heartstrings]

I was a substance abuse counselor for 15 years and worked in human services for 20 years. In my experience, education didn't give me a higher position. It is all about networking. When I worked in that field I had a master's degree. My boss had a criminal record and a GED. Networking is so important in the field. I think some EdD programs require you to be a teacher and others do not. You have to research and find out. I am in Baker College's DBA-ABD program. In my experience I worked for a lot of small businesses even though I was in counseling and have seen every side of the coin from small businesses succeeding and I have seen small businesses fail. I know that University of the Cumberlands offers an EdD Educational Leadership and you can specialize health professions or health sciences.

[Cocolisa1]

I was a substance abuse counselor for 15 years and worked in human services for 20 years. In my experience, education didn't give me a higher position. It is all about networking. When I worked in that field I had a master's degree. My boss had a criminal record and a GED. Networking is so important in the field. I think some EdD programs require you to be a teacher and others do not. You have to research and find out. I am in Baker College's DBA-ABD program. In my experience I worked for a lot of small businesses even though I was in counseling and have seen every side of the coin from small businesses succeeding and I have seen small businesses fail. I know that University of the Cumberlands offers an EdD Educational Leadership and you can specialize health professions or health sciences.

Thank you for this. I am not trying to be in the Subtance Use field what so ever. The state paid the 4k for me to take the program, but that's the end of that. I wanted something in the medical administration area, and they, being the state, just did not listen to me. Human services would be more to my liking. I should have mentioned this, but I have been a volunteer since I was a child with different organizations, and I have a lot of lived experiences that I think could be very beneficial in the field. I also understand about networking, and WGU has been amazing at helping get that started.

[sanantone]

ABD as in all-but-dissertation or is that a typo?

PhD programs usually don't require work experience. Professional doctorates more often require work experience, but there are some that don't. A PhD program is not going to prepare you to run an organization. PhD programs train students for research. The only employer I know of that will give you a higher-level position for having a doctorate is the government, particularly, the federal government. A doctorate (it doesn't have to be a PhD) qualifies for GS-11 or GS-12 for research positions. 

Still, you likely won't walk in being a manager or executive. You'll just be a non-supervisory employee who is doing more complex work than lower-graded employees. After working for at least a year at the GS-12 or GS-13 level (sometimes higher or lower, it varies), then you can compete for supervisory positions. At non-profits, you'll need to gain work experience and move up the ranks to get to management and executive positions.

For what you've described, I think a DrPH would be most appropriate. There's are also healthcare administration and health science degrees that are more focused on management and administration. I strongly discourage people from going to Virginia University of Lynchburg unless they really want to avoid a capstone or dissertation. Even then, going to Oklahoma State University for their DHCA would be much better than VUL, which has been on probation with their accreditor for a while. The school has a long history of having accreditation, financial, and management problems. Plus, TRACS accreditation limits where you can use your doctorate if you decide to teach college courses. 

I would not recommend Capitol Technology University. It is far too expensive. I think it's only a good option if you have a lot of doctoral-level credits to transfer. 

Unless you want to become a tenure-track professor or a scientist for an organization outside of academia, a PhD won't be needed. A lot of EdD programs these days are designed for non-teachers, but I still think a DrPH or DHA would be better.

[vpum15]

Hello everyone, I am currently enrolled in WGU Master of Public Health and will be finishing up soon. I don't have a job in the field yet and I am working on finding a job at the moment. I haven't been in the work field in years but have been taking certification classes/certificate classes. I am disabled (Severe controlled RA) Anyways, I have applied to internships via WGU and also just waiting for responses. I just want to know if there's a possibility of me enrolling in a PhD program seeing my lack of job history (seems experience in some programs are needed)  and where would a good program be online. I prefer a ABD and online. I'm using financial aid, and located in NYC. 

In Progress: WGU Master of Public Health 
Completed: UMPI B.L.S Mangement & Pre-Law
Pierpoint BOG A.A
Certificates & Certifications:
CASAC-T (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee) – Expires: 11/09/2028
I.C.C. Phlebotomy Tech with Honors – Completed: 10/2023
Goodwill Career Coach and Navigator – Completed: 12/14/2023
Introduction to Generative AI Specialization (Coursera) – Completed: 06/11/2024
HIPAA Privacy Training (OSHAcademy, 01/2023)
American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification – Valid through 11/01/2025 | Certificate ID: 01CDFL3

Hi there: If you're open to other doctorates besides a Ph.D., here are some suggestions to look into:
Oklahoma State University, Doctor of Health Administration (DHA)* This is a cheap program from a great college. For instance, they have a DBA program that runs $129,000 but you can get a DHA for $23,000!
Central Michigan University DHA
Samford University, Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) or Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Educational and Organizational Leadership
A. T. Still University, Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc), DHA or Ed.D. *This school is great and has a lot of flexibility. For instance, if you need it for any reason, you can take up to two blocks (a full semester off) without having to reapply for admission. You just pick up where you left off. 
*This is the college I am enrolled in for the DHSc.
 
Many online programs have an Applied Research Project, which approaches a dissertation a bit differently. You're still doing the research and writing but it's not like you will get to the end and be denied your doctorate for any reason.

[wow]

I don't want to derail this thread, so would it be OK to privately message you about your experience in the WGU MPH program or, if you're willing, describe your experience in a thread? I've been curious about this program and the potential for acceleration. Thanks.

[Cocolisa1]

I don't want to derail this thread, so would it be OK to privately message you about your experience in the WGU MPH program or, if you're willing, describe your experience in a thread? I've been curious about this program and the potential for acceleration. Thanks.

Sure thing!