The first step in figuring out my Open Ph.D. program seems like it needs to be figuring out how many courses (can’t say credits, now can I?) to take, and what topics they should cover. I did a quick check at some of the more well-known, accredited online universities offering Ph.D.’s in Educational Technology and here’s what I found:
- Walden – 87 Semester credits (130 quarter credits) – residency requirement
- Capella – 80 Semester credits (120 quarter credits)- residency requirement
- Northcentral University – 51 Semester credits (76.5 quarter credits)- no residency requirement
- University of Phoenix – 59 Semester credits(89 quarter credits) – residency requirement
Most of the courses averaged 3 semester credits/5 quarter credits, with the occasional seminar offered as a 1 or 2 credit course. Doing a little basic math, I work that out to mean I should find 20 open courses of the 3 semester credit variety (60 credits) , 4 courses worth 2 semester credits (8 credits), and 2 courses worth 1 semester credit each (2 credits). That will equal 70 semester credits which is roughly the average between the four schools listed above.
So far, so good.
The next step is to look at the individual classes within all these programs . What courses do they have in common? And will I be able to find them in the world of open courseware? The first question I will worry about now – the second I will worry about as this project progresses.
I created a chart that includes all of the classes in the PhD programs listed above for the Educational Technology specialization. You can find that chart page here or by clicking the words Course Chart in the upper right hand corner of this blog.
I need a couple of days to digest it all – and then I should be able to start formulating my program and looking for courses throughout the open education “edusphere”.
As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.
Open Ph.D. - An Experiment in Higher Learning 