Johns Hopkins Doctorate

[EdYouKateOr]

Does anyone know anything about this program? I noticed their app date is not until 4/1 and their taking 8 fully funded PhDs this year. I haven't seen anyone talking about it in this forum. Any one?

[Guest HEPhD13]

Honestly, this is probably why-- "Note: This program is pending approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission." and their Ed.D. is "underdevelopment". http://education.jhu.edu/Academics/doctoral/

They don't have a Higher Ed concentration, but even if they did, I would be hesitant to apply and commit to a non-accredited program.

Edited January 17, 2013 by HEPhD13

[ZeChocMoose]

Honestly, this is probably why-- "Note: This program is pending approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission." and their Ed.D. is "underdevelopment". http://education.jhu.edu/Academics/doctoral/

They don't have a Higher Ed concentration, but even if they did, I would be hesitant to apply and commit to a non-accredited program.

 

To be fair, it is not an accreditation issue.  In Maryland to grant new academic degree programs, HEIs need to get approval from the Maryland Higher Ed Commission (MHEC).  MHEC requires HEIs to go through this approval process to coordinate efforts.  They don't want 30 programs in X field if the demand is not there so the school proposing the new program (JHU in this case) needs to show there is demand for the program in their region and that they have adequate financial resources to create and maintain the new program.  Other HEIs in Maryland that already grant this degree may submit their objections to JHU's proposal especially if these schools think that the new program at JHU will decrease their enrollments substantially.  This new program approval process is separate from accreditation though.

 

It looks like MHEC is going to make the decision on JHU's proposed PhD in education on Feb 1.  So far, there are no objections registered from other schools. Here is the link: http://www.mhec.state.md.us/highered/acadaff/acadproginstitapprovals/AcadProgDescriptions/APTLogPDShow.asp?sPD=12203

 

However, whether you should go to a newly created PhD program is a whole other discussion. I think it comes down to whether there is faculty there that you would want to work with and how comfortable you feel with risk i.e. the program might be fluid for a bit until they work out all the kinks per say.  They are also not going to be able to tell you their job placement rates since you'll be the first class.  Perhaps being in a new program will allow you greater flexibility with your program and maybe the faculty and staff will be more motivated to help you because you'll be the first class.  It is difficult to tell in these cases and that is why you'll need to be comfortable with some degree of risk.

Edited January 18, 2013 by ZeChocMoose

[EdYouKateOr]

Great information! Thank you both!