My Grad School Thoughts - Masters/PHD

[sanantone]

There is really no purpose in having a doctoral program if it doesn't lead to an advanced license or advanced research. Doctoral students are supposed to make some sort of contribution to their field.

Exactly this!!!!! Cheap and fast have there place in undergrad or even masters (most times) but when you get to PhD level this is not acceptable. As you stated, the goal of a PhD is to expand to the existing level knowledge in a particularly finite area of study. This takes time, sacrifice and at times bringing many students to the brink of breaking down because.........IT IS REALLY HARD. Casually shopping around for a no name online PhD or doctorate makes no sense and such degrees are treated with the respect they deserve which is none.

I agree with both of you -- to a point. I don't necessarily think a doctorate should be fast, but I would like to see a reasonably inexpensive program.

If you want a cheap doctorate, you can always look at international schools. The added benefit is that most of what I've seen can be completed as quickly as you can reasonably provide a cogent, quality piece of original research (probably a minimum of two years if you are really dedicated). Oh, and if someone really wants to skip the defense part, just dig deep into Australian schools. Some of them don't require you to defend your dissertation because of the vast distances the committee would be required to travel for a true viva voce.

I don't have a problem with cheap, but expecting a competency-based doctorate goes against what a doctoral program is all about. The competency is being able to do research. If you want a competency-based doctorate, then find a dissertation-only doctorate. Those aren't fast, though, because foreign schools expect longer dissertations.