PHD education

Graduated Sep 2008 - PhD - Orgn & Mgt - Started and stopped due to business development and bad health but finally finished.  Also have been teaching part-time at different schools both in ground classes and online. 

Had the greatest mentor and only one professor I considered a bit less than great. And it was based on the 100 page report I submitted where he did not like reference to the historical development of the subject matter. Since this was such a minor issue in the overall scheme of my final degree and the steps involved getting to it I really cannot say he was bad or poor, he just did not like seeing the original development of the topic in a report. 

As a part-time instructor for over 25 years in 5 different schools I have seen a lot of students (and instructors) who should not be in the program. School is hard work and it takes a high level of commitment. As a former USAF Recruiting Service Operations Officer and Officer Training School (OTS) recruiter I would accept Capella graduates as qualified if their grades were good. However, having seen other schools and their programs I would have to be cautious even with the student having outstanding grades.  

The degree gets one into the interview and selected but the work output observed by the organization is going to be the deciding factor in whether the individual is retained. When I read both the positive and negative posts I consider the comments in relation to other school reviews and, for the most part, they are fairly consistent with the overall postings. Some people like Capella and some do not. Some people like vanilla ice cream while others prefer chocolate while others are willing to pay for strawberry and work for the money to buy it.

There were good times and bad times throughout the academic journey and if I had the extra cash available I would go for another degree just for the fun of learning. Instead, I teach part-time now and am developing a series of work books to help learners make the academic journey a bit easier trip.

Best of luck to all and as the judge said to the student who was suing me because I failed her in a course, "Education is hard work. Case dismissed!"

I attended Capella University for a Ph.D. in Education and completed the degree in 2005.  Previously, I attended an Ed.D. program at a traditional university for a year.

I found the instruction and professors at Capella University to be exceptional, and the dissertation process was explained well throughout the program. At my previous university, the dissertation process was a mystery during the coursework, and was only explained once the students acheived ABD (all but dissertation) status.

I was concerned how a degree earned online would be perceived. Ironically, my experience with distance learning as a student, positively impacted my employment prospects for university professor positions.  I accepted a university professor position in my hometown of San Diego, which is a competitive job market in higher education. I just completed my fifth year as a full faculty member at that same university.

Like any university, you get from it what you put into it. Although some people will put forth significantly more effort in their studies than others, because the program is rigorous, nobody will skate through it.  It is a program that will take significant effort and dedication to complete.  However, once you complete your degree from Capella, you will feel accomplished.

I thoroughly recommend Capella University.

After completing my B.S. M.S. and Ed.S. in traditional "brick 'n' mortar" programs at accredited universities, I researched my options and chose to pursue my Ph.D. online from Capella University so that I could be at home more versus leaving my child with more sitters while I pursue a higher education for the overall purpose of supporting him better. I could have attended a state-funded public school in my area for far less money, but that program, to be honest, has lackluster reviews at best from my colleagues who went there and offered only an Ed.D., no Ph.D.

It has taken me far longer to complete this degree than I ever imagined and the price tag is well beyond what I think anyone should have to pay. However, with the exception of ONE professor, my experience with Capella's faculty and advisors, overall, is quite positive. My dissertation chair, or "mentor," as Capella prefers to term him, is incredible. He is helpful, patience and has empathy. I am blessed to have him as a mentor. My committee also contains a "visiting scholar" from another university, on-ground school, that I was allowed to choose for his expertise in my particular area of study, journalism education.

I have had colleagues of mine, those I went through the Ed.S. program with, comment that the papers and coursework they have seen me complete during my time in Capella's Ph.D. in education program is far more rigorous than what they underwent at the aforementioned state school. They have said they only had to fill the seat at that school, not writer papers in each and every class they took--never mind that they did not do residencies, as I have done through Capella. Thus, on that front, I would put my academic program of student in this area and level up against any other. I know I have received a quality education, sans one particular instructor, and face it, every school, every field, has bad apples.

I do agree that it has taken longer than needed for some at Capella to provided feedback, which eats valuable time and is frustrating. In particular, during the dissertation process, the IRB's feedback has been costly in terms of time taken and this was my greatest source of distress overall. 
Another reviewer of this program termed her review as "Garbage in, garbage out," and I can relate to that. You will get from this degree what you get out of it. I can say that at this level of study, no one could honestly call Capella a "diploma mill," as I can say about some online schools, including one where I personally have served as a part-time faculty member (same reason I quit teaching there, too).