Does obtaining a Ph.D in your field matter?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Do you mean the "University of Phoenix" type, or the "University of Texas Online MBA" type? Or are both lacking?

I can think of a couple of legitimate online advanced degree programs...UConn Law does an LLM in insurance program that's done online, and I think a couple of other law schools have online LLM programs. (For those who don't know, and LLM is a Master in Laws, usually held by someone who specializes in a field like insurance law or tax). Of course, those people already have jobs, and they're looking for more experience in their specialty.

I don't know enough about the U of Texas online MBA, but I think it's more likely than not that you'll find online programs to be duds. That could be for a variety of reasons - some aren't accredited and have lackluster faculty, some aren't well organized, whatever. Some, you essentially just have to show up and pay the fee and you get the degree.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I can think of a couple of legitimate online advanced degree programs...UConn Law does an LLM in insurance program that's done online, and I think a couple of other law schools have online LLM programs. (For those who don't know, and LLM is a Master in Laws, usually held by someone who specializes in a field like insurance law or tax). Of course, those people already have jobs, and they're looking for more experience in their specialty.

I don't know enough about the U of Texas online MBA, but I think it's more likely than not that you'll find online programs to be duds. That could be for a variety of reasons - some aren't accredited and have lackluster faculty, some aren't well organized, whatever. Some, you essentially just have to show up and pay the fee and you get the degree.

I didn't mean UT specifically; I meant an MBA program from a "real" (for lack of a better term) school that just happens to be online. I'm planning on going for my MBA soon, and several good schools have online programs. Of course, I'd prefer going through the actual on-campus program, but I'm not sure if I want to move to another college town anytime soon.

[LadyDread2010]

I think that the key to finding out whether or not a online university is legit is to travel to the school itself. Online scams occur everyday,and it's also important to check the school's accreditation. Also,most people attend online universities because it's more easier for those who have hectic professional and personal lives. But if you only have a hectic professional life,then go to grad school in person.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LadyDread2010

I think that the key to finding out whether or not a online university is legit is to travel to the school itself. Online scams occur everyday,and it's also important to check the school's accreditation. Also,most people attend online universities because it's more easier for those who have hectic professional and personal lives. But if you only have a hectic professional life,then go to grad school in person.

I don't think it's so much an issue of scammary or not. I think there's just a basic assumption that an online program is not likely to be as rigorous, balanced or thorough as a traditional program. Lots of the learning comes from classroom discussions and personal interactions with other students and with faculty. An online degree just sounds too much like a correspondence course. That may be changing, I know, and probably will continue to change, but I think that the correspondence-school connotation is still wide-spread, and not without reason.

Perhaps I'm biased, but to be blunt, I probably wouldn't think of on online PhD as a "real" PhD. And I sure wouldn't consider a PhD from a school that's only online to be comparable to a PhD from a brick and morter institution. May not be fair, but that's how I see it.