Capella University : PHD education Reviews

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Capella University is phenomenal

By: einsteinium2009 (Graduate) on January 14, 2011

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As someone who has been on a doctoral committee at the Union Institute and University prior to my PhD at Capella University, I know that the quality of the phenomenal mentors, committee members, and professors at Capella is top notch.  I have taught in the Biology Dept. at Syracuse University and I know that the PhD I received from Capella has been unbelievably worthwhile.  You are treated like an adult and you are not micromanaged at all (unlike what I hear from other PhD candidates at other institutions).  There are so many advantages with online education and specifically Capella, that I only have positive reviews for the education I received with Capella University.

Very disappointing

By: Anonymous (Graduate) on January 11, 2011

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I enrolled in the directed studies programs at the doctoral level and the work was easy mainly because I was able to work at my own pace, develop my own course completion goals and objectives, and presenting thesis pertaining to my passions health policy and health services research. 

However, I felt sabotaged two years into the program.  I suffered through mentor changes each year thereafter, frequent policy changes, and longer response times from faculty, and faculty whose integrity I still question to this day. Mentor changes during the dissertation period is a death sentence for completing in a timely manner. Compared to my Masters program at Central Michigan University, Capella fails miserably.  As a writer mentioned in this post, I wish I also had known just how bad they were and are.

Great Experience Thus Far...

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on December 28, 2010

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This is my third semester with Capella and I must say that I am very pleased with the rigor and relevance of the assignments and classes. As a doctoral student I recognize that my assignments should be challenging and I should be able to work independently and that is exactly the opportunity I am given at Capella. Feedback is immediate and I am able to converse and learn from other professionals in my field. The quarters are pricey but you have the opportunity to take as many classes as you choose for the same rate so it is advantageous to load up with classes if possible. I look forward to completing my studies within the next 2 years and hope my experience continues to be positive.

Excellent Education

By: Anonymous (Graduate) on August 14, 2010

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I had an excellent experience at Capella University. The PhD program requires the learner to have a strong level of discipline and already enter the university with the appropriate skill set to analyze, synthesis, and write well. I have found that those who are easily frustrated with the program often do not have the skill set or the appropriate tools to be successful. This is a great program for learners who enjoy learning without constant face-to-face interaction or support. I highly recommend this program to others. I have found that other PhD holders are very respectful of my PhD degree and admire the discipline involved in obtaining such a high level degree online.

Questionable

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on June 18, 2010

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As someone who once hailed Capella for its Masters program and personal conveniences, I absolutely kick myself for returning to the PhD program.  Throughout this process I have received NO formative feedback and have been constrained by inflexible rules and people.  I hope other learn from my mistakes.

IDOL - No Regrets from Me!!

By: nmoreau (Graduate) on December 24, 2009

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I just finished my PhD in the IDOL - Instructional Design For Online Learners - program at Capella. Online worked for me because I have a full-time position and and live hours aways from a degree granting institution. Online is not for everyone. Go into it with your eyes open. If you want to be a PhD candidate, you should be an independent learner with some level of maturity and the knowledge of how to find help locally if you need it. Capella charges a flat fee per quarter if you take one, two or three courses. During my first and last quarters, I took two courses. All other quarters I took three courses - that was a full-time load. Two of my colleagues are enrolled in PhD programs at on site Universities. We have compared assignments, textbooks, and professors course by course. Capella's professors, textbooks, and courses compare favorably to the brick and mortor universities. The courses were enjoyable, informative and useful. The comprehensive and the dissertation are the areas which seem to separate out students. Your comprehensive is based on four area which are explained to you. The actual questions are related to your proposed dissertation topic. According to my own research over 80% of Capella students pass the comprehensives. The next phase is completely self directed dissertation. Your mentor is assigned to you based on your interests. But it is up to you to finish each milestone within a certain time limit. Extensions are available for emergencies. Beginning with a pre-proposal, the learner works with a mentor and a committee to develop a study. Just like every other PhD, you must go before the IRB, produce a scholarly report and defend your research. It is a planned, focused program. It took me 3 years to complete this program. A number of students finished before me and a number of studens are languishing behind. The journey to a PhD is not usually a smooth road, but rather it is filled with job and family responsibilities, disappointments and frustrations. Its important that you reach deep into yourself to get the inner strength to finish the program.  My 2 colleagues are still working on their proposals with at least a year to go once the proposal is approved. This is not an "easy" degree, but it will open doors to you in the future. Most people who don't get the degree fail because "life" gets in the way. Remember, if you don't have at least 20 hours PER WEEK to commit to this program (or any other PhD program), you are not going to be successful.  I'm happy I chose an online college. Capella was a good choice for the major I wanted. Choose with your eyes open, allow enough time to study, make sure you are in a supportive environment, and before long your friends will be calling you, "Dr." also.

Great Job

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on February 1, 2009

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I have finished all my courses except one and will be starting my comps. I have really enjoyed attending Capella and have had no problems at Capella. What I have really enjoyed is the Residencies that Capella have for the students. The reseidencies are very informative and give great insight for what is ahead for a student working toward their degree.

Improvements are Big Steps Backwards

By: Anonymous (Graduate) on November 18, 2008

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I somehow managed to survive this program, but it was not what it was advertised to be.  Completing the coursework was the easy part.  The comps process is, as a fellow-student aptly described it, a crap-shoot due to its subjectivity. The dissertation process turned into a tightly-scripted series of steps that holds the student to a set amount of time for each, but the school and faculty can take a long time to respond, causing delays. I would not recommend this college to anyone. And echoing another review here, I had also heard that the IDOL program was the worst of the education department.

Great Experience

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on November 16, 2008

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I'm a bit confused by the individuals who state that Capella instructors can not find jobs anywhere else.  I am currently working on my dissertation, and I just put together my committee.  I spent a good deal of time exploring Capella instructors and reading their resumes.  Many have full-time jobs as professors at other institutions and work part-time for Capella.  Many are also full-time Capella professors.  Several are deans or associate deans at universities.

Such feedback is simply ridiculous.  Have you explored the competition for positions in higher education?  There are more than enough Ph.D.s with "brick and mortar" doctorates who are THRILLED to have the opportunity to work at Capella.  There are IVY league Ph.D.s who struggle to find work.

Capella....what?

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on October 1, 2008

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I am a Capella Learner and want to be objective about the program, but I am having difficulty as I have now been placed in a position that I am wondering if this is the institution for me. I am in the military so this proved to be a perfect fit or so I thought. My misery starts with the fact that the technology will make you pull your hair out. Be prepared to have to try to post continously more than once or just have the program lock up before you can get your post in. This problem has been the nemesis for my experience at Capella. I have submitted and resubmitted and resubmitted postings only to actually get a facilitator on the phone and have them tell me they still did not get it or it was not visible. The next is the APA format. I have had different classes that seem to change how they want you to reference the information. I have even been told after mimicking the APA reference book that the citation was wrong. Lastly, as I sit here I am feeling truly upset because I received a dual master's in HRDV and HRMG and they transferred ONLY 5 credits, the equivalent of one class. They said in the I/O spec the words have to specifically be in the title of the class, it doesn't depend on the content of the class and whether the descriptive tells that the classes encompass components of what Capella  describes as placing emphasis on. I have almost had my fill of Capella and think although I initially was going to another institution (online), I am going to have to go back to the drawing board. By the way, the other institution I considered does have a B&M component, but they are just more expensive. If I had to forego many of these issues I face with Capella, then the money will be spent better and more so worth it.

IDOL

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on March 21, 2008

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The biggest mistake I made was doing this online degree.  I have never been so upset about the lack of professionalism with the place.  I don't want to get into it now, but not only do they lie (especially in IDOL), they expect you to be dishonest too. They are there for the handout of $$, you are worthless to them otherwise. Good luck trying to get a person on the phone who knows something.  You only get through to a call center, and when on hold you are reminded to be sure you renew your FAFSA.  Absolutely WORTHLESS.  

RUN LIKE THE WIND!

Garbage In Garbage Out

By: Anonymous (Graduate) on March 16, 2008

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After going through all of the reviews, all I can say is that you get out of something, that which you put into it.  Garbage in, garbage out, as they used to say.

I spent 3.5 years obtaining my PhD and used a Purdue PhD alumnus as one of my dissertation committee members, just to add an element of insurance to the credibility of my program, and I can honestly say that i think I got a quality education.  A bit pricey, but quality nonetheless.

The only problem I had with Capella was right at the end (December 2007), when they changed over their LMS and IGuide changed format.  I understand that the staff is still learning their new system, but it has become quite a challenge to say the least.

To those other naysayers who have imparted their little pearls of wisdom, via this conduit, I can only say this:  either you went into the experience with your eyes shut, or the product you produced (all of you ABD'ers) just wasn't good enough.  You cannot just fly through the coursework of any institution of higher learning and think you can throw some words on a piece of paper and pass your Comps.  Its just not going to happen.  And as far as the quality of instructors at Capella, most of them have obtained their PhD's from other institutions, like Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pitt, and the list goes on and on.  Is that to say that those schools suck, too?  Are these faculty really the dregs of those other schools?  I think not.

Capella is a good school that needs to get there act together from a support standpoint, only.  It was great from 2004-2007, and has only recently gone sour.  I am confident that they will get it together quickly, though, as it seems that a lot of students are already enrolled and having a good experience.

Capella University Scams

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on September 23, 2007

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Capella University is running a scam on PhD learners. After successfully completing all the required coursework and three residencies, the university will subjectively fail you in comps for no apparent reason. Be aware of this educational institution. Their reputation and credibility is severly damaged.

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