New Walden Tempo CBE Postdoc Certs; Could Tempo CBE Doctorates Be Next?

[Jonathan Whatley]

Walden University’s subscription-priced competency-based education program Tempo Learning, which previously only offered programs at the bachelor’s and master’s level, just listed on their landing page two programs at a new level, and it’s a leapfrog two levels higher.

The programs are the Post-Doctoral Bridge to Management Certificate (20 quarter hours) and the Post-Doctoral Bridge to Business Administration Certificate (25 quarter hours). The certificates are “designed for professionals who already hold a doctoral degree and need to take additional doctoral courses.”

The Bridge to Management offers specializations in

• 21st Century Finance
  
• Human Resource Management
  
• Information Systems Management
  
• Leadership and Organizational Strategy
  
• Organizational Design and Innovation
  

The Bridge to Business Administration offers specializations in

• Entrepreneurship
  
• Healthcare Management
  
• Human Resource Management
  
• Leadership
  

Walden’s Tempo CBE tuition page does not yet list the tuition for these programs in the CBE format.

This next part is just me speculating, but after offering these certificates consisting of doctoral-level courses in the CBE modality, it wouldn’t be surprising if Walden’s next step is to offer complete doctoral degrees in management or business administration in the CBE modality. They already offer these doctorates in traditional semester-scheduled, per-credit-priced non-CBE modality.

[Stonybeach]

Just curious, why would a doctoral degree holder spend over $16,000 on a certificate in business from a for-profit school? I simply don't see this product boosting one's CV. I would think money would be far better spent on a second master's degree. Consider a $3000 MBA from HAU, for instance.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Just curious, why would a doctoral degree holder spend over $16,000 on a certificate in business from a for-profit school?

It’s $16,000 at the current per-credit tuition rates, but might well be less at Tempo CBE per-term subscription rate if completed quickly. The Tempo tuition has yet to be announced.

I simply don't see this product boosting one's CV. I would think money would be far better spent on a second master's degree. Consider a $3000 MBA from HAU, for instance.

A master’s in business lets you teach undergraduate level business courses, but generally doesn’t let you teach master’s level courses and never really lets you teach doctoral level courses. A doctorate outside of business might or might not let you teach master’s or doctoral level courses in business.

This certificate could help make a credible case to a business department – one that doesn’t put up an AACSB barrier and that is friendly to an online for-profit doctorate – that its recipient can teach master’s and doctoral level courses in business.

[bjcheung77]

MBA from HAU are Masters level studies, these new certificates are Doctoral studies... There's a difference, even though it's graduate level of studies... If it was compared to the undergraduate level, you're looking at undergrad certs with lower level credits vs undergrad certs that require upper level credits. I'd investigate UK Level 8 (doctoral level) diplomas instead if I wanted more doctoral studies...

[Stonybeach]

Fair point! I was not thinking about utility in academia, but in the business sector, with an MBA having more utility. Even so, I would imagine "post-doctoral" certificates from for-profit schools may not be widely accepted in academia, especially at not-for-profit schools.

[SteveFoerster]

Fair point! I was not thinking about utility in academia, but in the business sector, with an MBA having more utility. Even so, I would imagine "post-doctoral" certificates from for-profit schools may not be widely accepted in academia, especially at not-for-profit schools.

Having worked in higher ed, I've noticed many people see a line between for-profit and non-profit schools that often isn't real. Culturally, tuition-driven non-profit schools are often more similar to their for-profit counterparts than they are to endowed non-profits or public institutions. (And even that distinction has eroded over the last twenty years.)

[Stonybeach]

Fair point! I was not thinking about utility in academia, but in the business sector, with an MBA having more utility. Even so, I would imagine "post-doctoral" certificates from for-profit schools may not be widely accepted in academia, especially at not-for-profit schools.

Having worked in higher ed, I've noticed many people see a line between for-profit and non-profit schools that often isn't real. Culturally, tuition-driven non-profit schools are often more similar to their for-profit counterparts than they are to endowed non-profits or public institutions. (And even that distinction has eroded over the last twenty years.)

I'll admit that "non-profit" versus "for-profit" is a poor descriptor in the context of obtaining a post-doc credential/certificate. I used those descriptors because I don't like to mention schools specifically. To make it simple, I believe a post-doc fellowship or certificate from a school like MGH, Johns Hopkins, UPenn, and State Universities will have much more prestige, utility, and acceptability than perhaps a school like Walden, Cappella, or Phoenix! Otherwise, I would go for the MBA for a business credential instead of the post-doctoral business certificate.

[GoBroncos95]

Fair point! I was not thinking about utility in academia, but in the business sector, with an MBA having more utility. Even so, I would imagine "post-doctoral" certificates from for-profit schools may not be widely accepted in academia, especially at not-for-profit schools.

Having worked in higher ed, I've noticed many people see a line between for-profit and non-profit schools that often isn't real. Culturally, tuition-driven non-profit schools are often more similar to their for-profit counterparts than they are to endowed non-profits or public institutions. (And even that distinction has eroded over the last twenty years.)

+1, Agree here. Honestly I feel like nowadays, most employers dont really seem to care where you get your education from but rather actual experience. I've seen people who go purely for the prestigious name and end up landing the same jobs as someone who went to a local community college or a for profit institution. I work alongside with people who went to highly touted schools and seem feel entitled that they deserve more because they went to "so-and-so" and knock down and downplay everyone elses education for some reason. Not to say all that are going to prestigious schools are like that, but getting an education regardless of where you get it from whether is for profit or non profit and finishing it is an impressive feat for most employers.

[Stonybeach]

We are talking about a post-doctoral certificate for $16,0000 online program and $?? for the CBE. I just don't see the value, even if it is used in academia. This is a big investment for a possible adjunct gig teaching a class in business. The return is pennies on the dollar. Doctoral degree holders would better spend their time publishing or being involved in research. The curriculum vitae would be much more impressive with current research and publications than a certificate.

[LevelUP]

Doctoral degrees

Doctoral degrees are primarily valuable for careers in teaching and research. You shouldn’t pursue a doctorate unless it’s truly necessary for your desired role. Much like starting a business, earning a doctoral degree can carry significant risk if the return on investment doesn’t materialize, especially if you change your mind about your career path later on.

Some of these newer online options can reduce the time and cost of earning a doctoral degree, which lowers your risk.

Credential-Focused vs. Skill-Focused Hiring

The trend is moving toward skill-focused hiring, especially for jobs in tech, creative fields, and marketing. However, some fields still lean toward credential-focused hiring, which is sometimes required for licensing.

Whether or not you need a graduate degree for jobs that don’t require it is debatable.