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+---- Thread: New England College DBA and Doctoral-Level Certificates (/Thread-New-England-College-DBA-and-Doctoral-Level-Certificates)
New England College DBA and Doctoral-Level Certificates - Jonathan Whatley - 02-09-2026
New England College is introducing a three-year online Doctor of Business Administration. Specializations are Healthcare Management, Organizational Leadership, and Technology and AI Strategies. NEC’s prior business programs are accredited by the ACBSP. 680 x 63 credits + fees = 43 902 estimated total cost.
“Additionally, as students advance through the program, they may earn three stackable certificates: an Executive Leadership certificate, a Specialization certificate, and an Executive Certificate in Applied Doctoral Research. Students can earn a DBA and three doctoral certificates within the same program timeframe and tuition.”
RE: New England College DBA and Doctoral-Level Certificates - PauFraTat - 02-10-2026
I wonder if this will be cohort-based, given the "three-year" timeframe. Three years seems a little long, though. Having completed a two-year doctoral program, I can attest that many were ready to do it right after the first year. But I think that was primarily due to the number of courses we were taking before our research phase (and no one dropped out due to burnout).
RE: New England College DBA and Doctoral-Level Certificates - Sagan - 02-10-2026
An ethical question:
If you earn certificates along the way, is it okay to list them in addition to your doctorate? On the one had, I'd say "no" because the degree subsumes them; they're not separate accomplishments.
The associate's degree isn't a good metaphor since it is commonly understood that the associate's is typically--but not always--awarded along the way to the bachelor's.
But I think it would be okay if one made it clear that these certificates were part of the program and earned along the way, then I think not only would it be okay, it would even better explain one's learning from the program.
RE: New England College DBA and Doctoral-Level Certificates - freeloader - 02-10-2026
(02-10-2026, 10:02 PM)Sagan Wrote: An ethical question:I don’t find it problematic.
If you earn certificates along the way, is it okay to list them in addition to your doctorate? On the one had, I'd say "no" because the degree subsumes them; they're not separate accomplishments.
The associate's degree isn't a good metaphor since it is commonly understood that the associate's is typically--but not always--awarded along the way to the bachelor's.
But I think it would be okay if one made it clear that these certificates were part of the program and earned along the way, then I think not only would it be okay, it would even better explain one's learning from the program.
Many PhD programs, including the history PhD program that I attended at a well-known research university, grant students a master’s degree on the way to their PhD. My program required successful completion of comprehensive exams and defense of the dissertation prospectus to be awarded the MA. I don’t think many, if any, people would think it unethical to list such a master’s degree on your resume/Vita or to use the MA/MS post nominal letters even after completing the PhD.
I see these certificates as much the same as the MA/MS as part of a PhD.
If I were in this DBA program, I would probably list the certificates as I earned them on my resume/Vita. If I didn’t finish the DBA, I would leave them to show that I got some credential out of my studies. If I finished the DBA, I would take them off. That’s a personal decision, but the typical DBA recipient is middle-aged or older and likely has a decade or more of experience including management experience. They also likely have a master’s and certain a bachelors. They likely also have important skills and perhaps other licenses and designations. I want people to focus on those, not some certificates that were earned while my doctorate was in-process and which constituted part of the doctorate course of study. That’s personal preference though. I wouldn’t fault anybody for listing them.