New England College DBA and Doctoral-Level Certificates

[Jonathan Whatley]

New England College is introducing a three-year online Doctor of Business Administration. Specializations are Healthcare Management, Organizational Leadership, and Technology and AI Strategies. NEC’s prior business programs are accredited by the ACBSP. 680 x 63 credits + fees = 43 902 estimated total cost.

“Additionally, as students advance through the program, they may earn three stackable certificates: an Executive Leadership certificate, a Specialization certificate, and an Executive Certificate in Applied Doctoral Research. Students can earn a DBA and three doctoral certificates within the same program timeframe and tuition.”

[PauFraTat]

I wonder if this will be cohort-based, given the "three-year" timeframe. Three years seems a little long, though. Having completed a two-year doctoral program, I can attest that many were ready to do it right after the first year. But I think that was primarily due to the number of courses we were taking before our research phase (and no one dropped out due to burnout).

[Sagan]

An ethical question:

If you earn certificates along the way, is it okay to list them in addition to your doctorate? On the one had, I'd say "no" because the degree subsumes them; they're not separate accomplishments.

The associate's degree isn't a good metaphor since it is commonly understood that the associate's is typically--but not always--awarded along the way to the bachelor's.

But I think it would be okay if one made it clear that these certificates were part of the program and earned along the way, then I think not only would it be okay, it would even better explain one's learning from the program.

[freeloader]

An ethical question:

If you earn certificates along the way, is it okay to list them in addition to your doctorate? On the one had, I'd say "no" because the degree subsumes them; they're not separate accomplishments.

The associate's degree isn't a good metaphor since it is commonly understood that the associate's is typically--but not always--awarded along the way to the bachelor's.

But I think it would be okay if one made it clear that these certificates were part of the program and earned along the way, then I think not only would it be okay, it would even better explain one's learning from the program.

I don’t find it problematic. 

Many PhD programs, including the history PhD program that I attended at a well-known research university, grant students a master’s degree on the way to their PhD. My program required successful completion of comprehensive exams and defense of the dissertation prospectus to be awarded the MA. I don’t think many, if any, people would think it unethical to list such a master’s degree on your resume/Vita or to use the MA/MS post nominal letters even after completing the PhD. 

I see these certificates as much the same as the MA/MS as part of a PhD.  

If I were in this DBA program, I would probably list the certificates as I earned them on my resume/Vita. If I didn’t finish the DBA, I would leave them to show that I got some credential out of my studies. If I finished the DBA, I would take them off. That’s a personal decision, but the typical DBA recipient is middle-aged or older and likely has a decade or more of experience including management experience. They also likely have a master’s and certain a bachelors. They likely also have important skills and perhaps other licenses and designations. I want people to focus on those, not some certificates that were earned while my doctorate was in-process and which constituted part of the doctorate course of study. That’s personal preference though. I wouldn’t fault anybody for listing them.