South College announces competency-based DBA

[cerich67]

I have been accepted into the DBA Organizational Leadership program

For those who are paying themselves, you may find this of interest from the financial office. I will be paying myself cash so this is nice.

"Students that are electing to pay for their program in full with cash, please reply to this email letting me know what payment option you would prefer. We offer 1,2, or 3 payments within each term. Students that select 3 payments within each pod are required to complete an automatic payment form and have their payments automatically deducted."

[cerich67]

Update, and yeah, I am pissed.

So, prior to applying I had called their fiance office and confirmed that the SC military grant would apply. I was told and assured it did.

Got an email that they are not going to apply it. Checked with Dr Patrick who confirmed "there is no military grant due to the low price of the tuition model. The only grant is for current K12 or higher education employees."

If they had said that up front, I wouldn't be upset, but finding out after I enrolled having been told it would, and even buying textbook for first class REALLY pisses me off.

I am strongly reconsidering the program, while the bean counters aren't the academic staff, corporate culture tends to be reflected across departments. If so, it could be detrimental to doing the program.

[bjcheung77]

Ouch, for the price, South College is still one of the front runners for my list of programs. Hopefully they're more transparent and admit their mistake, I'll continue to see how this ends up... You may just want to email them and see if there are "other" discounts such as awards, bursaries, scholarships, or whatever else there is for this particular degree program.

[cerich67]

Well, cooled down, had a good talk with Dr Patrick and will be going forward with.

[Sagan]

They're using already collected data. 

This is not uncommon. Data are just that: data. One might use extant data to conduct new analyses, to test existing theory, etc.

I've written far more pages than a dissertation in the last year so I will never understand why it takes 2 years to write one.

Because it is much more than just the number of pages. The writing is more complex, more analytical, more global, than a set of term papers that, collectively, are the same length. Plus there's the review process--back and forth with one's advisor and then the university. Or one might have to go out and collect more data, or answer question not anticipated in the proposal. There are myriad reasons for the dissertation to take longer than expected.

[ss20ts]

They're using already collected data. 

This is not uncommon. Data are just that: data. One might use extant data to conduct new analyses, to test existing theory, etc.

I've written far more pages than a dissertation in the last year so I will never understand why it takes 2 years to write one.

Because it is much more than just the number of pages. The writing is more complex, more analytical, more global, than a set of term papers that, collectively, are the same length. Plus there's the review process--back and forth with one's advisor and then the university. Or one might have to go out and collect more data, or answer question not anticipated in the proposal. There are myriad reasons for the dissertation to take longer than expected.

Stop acting like you know what I've written and researched. You couldn't be anymore wrong by saying "a set of term papers that, collectively, are the same length".

[sanantone]

Regular class papers are usually just literature reviews. You're summarizing other people's work. Dissertations require you to design an original study whether you're using existing data or collecting your own data. Quantitative studies can involve analyzing multiple variables using thousands to millions of data. Experiments can take months to years to complete. Qualitative studies can require coding long interview responses from dozens of people, which can be an arduous task. Some dissertation studies are so big and complex, people have to hire assistants.

Your committee will continue to send your work back if it's not right. What comes out of your dissertation should be able to pass the peer review process for an academic journal. Generally, papers written in grad school are not publishable quality.

---

There's a ghostwriter who pumps out dissertations left and right for students at for-profit universities and schools like Liberty because, according to him, their standards are pretty low.

[Sagan]

Stop acting like you know what I've written and researched. You couldn't be anymore wrong by saying "a set of term papers that, collectively, are the same length".

I only know what you shared.

[ss20ts]

Stop acting like you know what I've written and researched. You couldn't be anymore wrong by saying "a set of term papers that, collectively, are the same length".

I only know what you shared.

You're the one who mentioned "a set of term papers". No one else. Personally, I haven't written a term paper since high school.

---

Regular class papers are usually just literature reviews. You're summarizing other people's work. Dissertations require you to design an original study whether you're using existing data or collecting your own data. Quantitative studies can involve analyzing multiple variables using thousands to millions of data. Experiments can take months to years to complete. Qualitative studies can require coding long interview responses from dozens of people, which can be an arduous task. Some dissertation studies are so big and complex, people have to hire assistants.

Your committee will continue to send your work back if it's not right. What comes out of your dissertation should be able to pass the peer review process for an academic journal. Generally, papers written in grad school are not publishable quality.

---

There's a ghostwriter who pumps out dissertations left and right for students at for-profit universities and schools like Liberty because, according to him, their standards are pretty low.

Not always. Many students conduct research as undergrads and assist grad students with their research. Everything in your first paragraph I experienced as an undergrad. 

That ghostwriter isn't cool.

[Sagan]

You're the one who mentioned "a set of term papers". No one else. Personally, I haven't written a term paper since high school.

If you ever do a doctorate, please let this forum know so that we may enjoy reading your research.