In association with
just about every day, leaving information, thoughts, and doing his best
to answer questions. Here are some of his posts that you might find
helpful or interesting. Please stop by the newsgroup and leave a note!
Most of the unaccredited universities offer graduate
degrees for teachers. Although I've never talked with
any of those schools about the interest they receive
from teachers, you'd figure that there must be a market
for the service, otherwise schools wouldn't offer it.
My hunches are that:
o While lots of teachers have access to Master's programs
through local universities, doctoral programs that accommodate
teachers are a bit harder to come by in many places.
o Accredited non-traditional doctoral programs tend to be
quite expensive. The cheapest I've seen is Nova Southeastern's
EdD which runs about 30K (not doable on many teacher salaries).
o A great many school districts do not grant much of a pay raise
for having a doctorate. Thus, while a teacher may want a doctorate
for intellectual or self-improvement reasons, a big investment in tuition
might not pay for itself for a very long time.
o Many teachers feel that their local university (if there is one) has
an education department that is two or three steps behind the times.
Schools have changed rapidly in the past 10 to 20 years.
Just some thoughts from my observation of teachers. I'd love to
hear comments, opinions, and experience from real teachers.
Best!
Kevin Nunley
Institute for On-Line Research
https://members.tripod.com/~DrNunley/degree.htm
In his new book "Digital Mosaics: The aesthetics of cyperspace"
Steven Holtzman tries to define what is special about our on-line
world:
"Digital worlds form a web of community. They connect people
from across the planet to form virtual communities. They dissolve
the barriers of time and location, and in their place create ties of
interest and, perhaps, even a new form of global consciousness" (128).
Of course, the removal of the barriers of time and location have
been going on through media since the invention of the telegraph.
This is one of the key issues in the debate over non-traditional degrees.
An association of professors at traditional graduate schools has stated
that to be true graduate education, instruction should only happen in the physical
presence of a live professor. In other words, studies by mail, telephone,
and over the Internet don't count, or at least, shouldn't count as much.
The other controversial point has to do with the removal of the barrier
of time. Non-traditional degrees frequently take less time to earn than
degrees at traditional residential universities (there are a whole host
of reasons for this that we won't get into here<g>).
As Jim Benton, the President of the non-traditional University of
America once told me, "Non-traditional education isn't supposed to
be easier than regular ed. The difference in the amount of time it takes
to complete is due to the fact that you can study around the clock if you
want and don't have to wait until class convenes next Wednesday before
progressing."
Why would the abstraction of time and location be a controversial
factor for education? They are a controversial factor in all areas of
society. Our cultures are built around older perceptions of time
and space. To change the rules brings into play lots of questions
and upsets some people.
One the other hand--and this is probably the most important point--
the removal of barriers of time and location make education truly
democratic and equalitarian. The removal of time and location barriers,
like the removal of any barrier, opens the opportunity up to so many
more people and so many more different styles of learning and research.
A man in Asia recently emailed me about his desire to get an MS
degree in computer science. The problem was he lived in a remote
area and had no chance of returning to the university. The price of
attending an accredited American distance degree program was
prohibitively high (as it generally ranges from 13K to 25K US).
He was looking into American unaccredited schools, but was a
little discouraged by the lack of distance computer courses he had
found.
I told him that this was a situation where thinking creatively and
non-traditionally would pay big dividends. The Internet is swarming
with computer programmers and engineers. If one wants to talk
with a programmer at MicroSoft, or someone who is designing
Internet interfaces for government, or someone who manages one
of the rapidly emerging software production houses in India--all these
people can be found on-line.
Most of the time you can seek them out, ask your questions, and they
will be happy to reply. If approached in a systematic way, this method
could become the study plan for an outstanding degree in computers
(or any other subject!). The student in Asia might do well to look
at a non-traditional degree program that would recognize and encourage
this style of learning, a style that could well become the norm in the
next century.
I was on the mailing list for a while..but when they
started getting approval delays from the state board
of education, the mailings slowed to a halt.
Understand from a friend who inquired that they have
a staggering number of people wanting to apply..and
only a relatively few places available when the program
finally starts.
Rather than my hearsay...anybody got solid evidence?<g>
Best!
Kevin Nunley
Inst. for On-Line Research
https://members.tripod.com/~DrNunley/degree.htm
Understand this site is for doctoral students to
share information. Might be an interesting/educational
place to drop in and read.
Kevin
back their non-bar Law degree (JD). At one time
they offered a bar qualifying law degree, then deleted
their JD programs.
For the real do-it-yourselfer...
American Coastline University offers a *very* inexspensive
JD program, which can be done in association with
the English law degree at U. of London.
While non of these degrees will allow you to practice
law, they do present an interesting option for self
improvement and business and professional skills.
All these schools have web sites..but I don't have
the URL's handy. Try searching on www.dogpile.com
Kevin Nunley
Institute for On-Line Research
https://members.tripod.com/~DrNunley/degree.htm
John Bear, the non-trad guru, has compiled a fine list
of British universities that have a history of allowing American
students to work on their doctorate with very little time on campus.
These programs are often *much* less expensive than similar
programs in the US.
See his site at http://www.degree.net
Kevin Nunley
Institute for On-Line Research
https://members.tripod.com/~DrNunley/degree.htm
Someone on another newsgroup was asking if Summit University
(in Louisiana) is accredited. Thought I would share the info here as well.
It is not (far too non-trad for the conservative
Southern Assoc.) However, they were founded by former administrators
of several major colleges and universities. (In the interest of "full
disclosure":
My organization, the Institute
for On-Line Research has an association with Summit. You can see
Summit's site at http://www.summitunivfla.edu
My Institute site, which has some info on their programs, is at
https://members.tripod.com/~DrNunley/degree.html
Best!
Kevin Nunley
Just received in the mail a new brochure from La Salle
University in Louisiana. As you remember, they got in
very hot water over not being clear that their degrees
were accredited by an agency of their own creation.
There were also students whose money was taken but
no services were rendered.
The school is now under new management (and maybe
new ownership since the old owner was headed for prison).
La Salle has done an incredible amount of marketing over the
years. With the general public the name still rings positive
and familiar. It could be that the "new" La Salle will turn out
to be a positive venture (keeping an open mind here!).
I'm wondering if anyone has had a recent personal experience
with the school and can fill us in with first-hand info.
Kevin Nunley
Institute for On-Line Research
https://members.tripod.com/~DrNunley
>Most of my current college credits are over ten
>years old, so I have to be careful that the college I enroll in
>will except all those credits.
Roger,
The wonderful thing about non-traditional education is
that it's geared for people just like you (there are millions
of us!).
Schools like Regent's (University of the State of New York in
Albany) generally don't care how old your credits are. If
a recognized school granted the credit...they'll accept it.
Also, if you've taken seminars, business courses, military courses...
all that sort of thing can be converted to credit by Regent's.
I got a BA from Regents in 1992 through much the same circumstances. 15 years
of college here and there. Regent's
allowed me to tie it all together into a degree that is
respected everywhere.
Good Luck!
Kevin Nunley
Institute for On-Line Research
https://members.tripod.com/~DrNunley/degree.htm
Perhaps the most remarkable success story in non-trad. degrees
is that of Hariot-Watt University's distance MBA program. Begun
a few years ago after a *considerable* investment in course
development, HWU has had explosive growth the world over.
Their degrees are widely recognized in the US (it's an old Scottish
university) and can be earned by taking tests (no classes, no written
papers). As accredited MBA programs go, it's still relatively inexspensive.
The distance MBA program also has a well developed student networking
program which includes a list server.
To get your own info on Harrot-Watt's MBA, (in North America) call
John Bear (yes, the same guy with the book!) at 510-528-2227.
John's site is at http://www.degree.net
You can call the Scottish office at (+44) 131 451 3090.
Kevin Nunley
Institute for On-Line Research
https://members.tripod.com/~DrNunley/degree.htm
Here's an idea for structuring an interesting and innovative
independent study course or--even--non-trad degree.
John Horgan's book "The End of Science" was recently
released on paperback. Horgan is a senior writer with
Scientific American and his career has brought him into
frequent conversation with some of the most important
scientific minds of our era.
Not only does Horgan recount his interviews with some
of the science world's most notable, he also details all the
important books that these scientists have penned to date.
If you keep a list while reading the book, you end up with
a reading program of the pillars of scientific thought in the
second half of this century.
Such a reading list could make an excellent start on a self-study
program, an independent study course, or even an innovative
non-trad degree.
It is also a very rewarding experience to take one of the most
important books in your field and read into everything listed
in the references and bibliography. By tracing the author's steps,
you often bring new insight to an important theory or body of research.
Best,
Kevin Nunley
Institute for On-Line Research
https://members.tripod.com/~DrNunley/degree.htm
Got a comment, bit of information, or question? Drop Kevin a note at DrNunley@tripod.net