What advice do you have for someone entering into a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership program?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 10:38:13 -0400

I have chosen a program through Trident University, Just looking for some advice on how to Juggle family, work, military, and now School again. I just completed my Masters however I feel way more time will be needed to be focused on school this time around. I am also looking for others experience and avice that may have went through a similar program.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jun 7 at 2016 11:05 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 11:05:09 -0400

Here's a good place to start.

http://www.gradschools.com/doctorate/education-leadership-administration

I'd look for the best universities that have that programs, and then see where their faculty went to school. That can help you find the most reputable programs.

Education Leadership Doctorate Programs and Degrees

Search for Education Leadership doctorate degree programs and learn more about earning a doctorate degree in Education Leadership on GradSchools.com!

Response by CSM William DeWolf made Jun 7 at 2016 12:29 PM

CSM William DeWolf — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 12:29:36 -0400

Drexel University has an excellent online accredited doctoral program. Good Luck!

Response by CW4 Scott Hyde made Jun 7 at 2016 1:00 PM

CW4 Scott Hyde — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 13:00:56 -0400

Hang in there. Find something you enjoy for your research and dissertation. It will keep you focused. A good dissertation committee with a strong chair will keep you on track. Get to know them well. If you feel the team is not right, change it.

Response by SPC David S. made Jun 7 at 2016 3:50 PM

SPC David S. — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 15:50:49 -0400

I think the biggest thing to look at is the time to degree -more work means more time needed. For education related PhD's (the longest in time to degree) is 11.8 years. While that time includes graduate school I'd look at ways to decrease the time to degree as that time equates to an opportunity cost. While you're still in school mode try to get'er done. Good luck in you educational pursuits.

https://mlaresearch.commons.mla.org/2014/05/14/opportunity-costs-of-the-phd-the-problem-of-time-to-degree/

Opportunity Costs of the PhD: The Problem of Time to Degree | The Trend

The road to a PhD in a humanities discipline is long—for graduates who completed degrees in 2012, 9.0 years long, the median time from first entry into graduate school to receipt of the degree (Doctorate Recipients, table 31). That nine-year median is not just long in itself; it is significantly longer than the median for 2012 graduates in social sciences (7.7 years), life sciences (6.9 years), physical sciences (6.7 years), and engineering...

Response by SFC Donald Kilgore made Jan 23 at 2017 7:15 PM

SFC Donald Kilgore — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 19:15:27 -0500

SSG Collins,

First of all, Congratulations for pursuing a higher education. I am currently in my 1st year of the Dissertation process. My advice is find a mentor who is willing to keep challenging you thoughout the process. There are going to be some times during this process you are going to ask yourself, why am I doing this... remember, every doctoral candidate will ask themselves more than once. Then, the next piece of advice, be prepared to start an indepth research and analysis process. This process is not like your Graduate and Undergraduate programs, where you were writing a paper and moving on. Each piece of research you will read and analyze should be within the last 5 years and concurrent to your program of study.

If you would like, you can write me at my university email for more tips or just if you need help.

Good luck

Sincerely
Donald C. Kilgore IV, MBA ABD
Doctoral Candidate, EdD Higher Education Leadership
email: [login to see]

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 9:20 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:20:59 -0400

Elaborate, if you can...I have an interest in career/educ questions of the type you asked...what did you do for associates, bachelors, masters, what grades, GPAs, STEM and/or other coursework...did you actually apply yet? Were you accepted? Have you taken the GRE genl and/or subject tests? GMAT? Why do you want that major? What specific dissertation topic(s) did you have in mind? Did you try at all for an assistantship and/or fellowship? What are your ultimate aspirations? Senior enlisted? Warrant? Commissioned? Did you wanna try linking to an ROTC? USMC platoon leaders course (PLC), which is less well known? An OCS, whether in Army or another service? Civilitan stuff? Guard? Reserve? AGR? Guard Tech? Reserve Tech? What are your hobbies? Interests? Reading tastes? Sports, incl any martial arts? I've generally found that that the more is sent in by those asking questions of the type you'd asked, the more can typically be suggested...also, how many credits a semester did you wanna do? Half time, typically six credits, two courses? I tried God only knows how long to do a PhD, I ultimately went clinical allied health for my doctorate, it took me six years, before my total perm disability bollixed the whole thing up, we had to shut my license because of the whole disability thing, I've just been around the groves of academe, and a good many academic bureaucratic blocks, so, if you'd wanna chat, give me as much detail as you can see your way clear to send in, do a really thorough, detailed biosketch, so far as possible...I'll try to see what else I can suggest for you, for goals, options, whatever occurs to me, as well, no rush, whenever convenient, I'd be most eager to hear more whenever you'd have time, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 9:24 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:24:13 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=youtube%20afit%20senior%20noncommissioned%20offers%20allowed%20to%20finish%20their%20phd&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Look through these, AFIT has an option I've seen YouTube videos on to let senior NCOs finish a PhD through them, I don't know if you'd be able to submit at your level, I'll try to find the YouTube videos, I just figured you might at least find such stuff of interest, I'd seen videos about one Army NCO and one USAF NCO, both fairly senior having been allowed, you might possibly care to call over there to ask, that's all I'm saying, I don't know if Naval Postgrad School (NPS) allows it, I definitely did see AFIT within USAF did apparently allow it, in at least those two cases I'd seen videos on, OK?

youtube%20afit%20senior%20noncommissioned%20offers%20allowed%20to%20finish%20their%20phd - AOL...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 9:25 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:25:57 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iBvq0LMLQQ

Here's one of the videos I'd mentioned, I'll try to find the other one....

NCO earns PhD from AFIT

For the first time ever since the Air Force Institute of Technology opened it's doors 95 years ago, a Non-Commissioned Officer has earned a PhD. The kicker? ...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 9:28 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:28:15 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL6UEvY9W2I

I also stumbled across this one, though it's apparently unrelated to those I'd already mentioned, you might care to ask about whether you might be able to submit for this, I don't have a clue if Army can go for it, however, you've got nothing to lose be at least just asking, you know?

AFIT's Graduate Program for Enlisted Airmen

The Air Force Institute of Technology, or AFIT, is the Air Force's graduate school of engineering and management. The school is geared mostly towards officer...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 9:30 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:30:31 -0400

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=army%20nco%20finishes%20phd%20at%20afit&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Look at these as well, you'll find more references to the whole enlisted/NCO thing at AFIT on here, I'm unsure if these are about the USAF or Army NCO, you'd need to look through them, trust me, I definitely did see them....

army%20nco%20finishes%20phd%20at%20afit - AOL Search Results

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 9:31 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:31:01 -0400

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Institute_of_Technology

Read this....

Air Force Institute of Technology - Wikipedia

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is a graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education for the United States Armed Forces and is part of the United States Air Force. It is located in Ohio at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton. AFIT is a component of the Air University and Air Education and Training Command.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 9:31 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:31:41 -0400

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Postgraduate_School

And this....

Naval Postgraduate School - Wikipedia

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a public graduate school operated by the United States Navy and located in Monterey, California. It grants master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and certificates. Established in 1909, the school also offers research fellowship opportunities at the postdoctoral level through the National Academies' National Research Council research associateship program.[3]

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 9:33 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:33:23 -0400

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

You might find this useful, esp for the forum pages, it's not all-inclusive, it doesn't include Army WOCS or any of the direct commission indoc OIS type programs, however, it does cover the five main OCS programs in considerable depth....

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2019 9:34 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:34:12 -0400

And I saw you said you'd finished your masters, so, as I'd said, elaborate in depth on that, your bachelors, any associates, etc, so far as you can, OK?