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Scam Artists

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Clarissa

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A job announcement posted by Chronicle of Higher Ed:

Open Position

Core Faculty in Transformative Inquiry

School of Consciousness and Transformation

 

 

Position Description:

The Transformative Inquiry program of the California Institute of Integral Studies announces a job opening for a core faculty position at the assistant professor level to teach online doctoral and masters courses.

The Transformative Studies doctoral program is designed for individuals who want to engage in innovative, transdisciplinary research, combining rigorous scholarship, creativity, and self-inquiry.

The Transformative Leadership MA is designed for individuals who want to lead by example, mobilizing their creativity towards personal as well as social transformation.

12 responses to “Scam Artists”

  1. David P. Bellamy Avatar
    David P. Bellamy

    I have talked to clinical psychologists who say that in spite of its silly ads, the California Institute of Integral Studies is a very reputable institution.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      Online PhDs, though?

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      1. David P. Bellamy Avatar
        David P. Bellamy

        No. Ph. D.’s from the University of Delaware in one case and from George Mason University in another case.

        I am horrified that they are teaching online, however.

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  2. ladyleahjane Avatar
    ladyleahjane

    I’m applying for my Master’s right now, and I’m the only one in my year planning to go to grad school applying to exclusively brick-and-mortar institutions. 😦 There’s this weird idea that they won’t interfere with your life as much, because you won’t have to move or commute to the school. But I’ve watched a lot of people sign up for these “master’s” programs, get overwhelmed by how much work and how little support there is available, then get completely burned out after 3+ months in the program.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      “But I’ve watched a lot of people sign up for these “master’s” programs, get overwhelmed by how much work and how little support there is available, then get completely burned out after 3+ months in the program.”

      – Very true. This is precisely the time in your career when you need the most in-person contact with peers and professors. It is absolutely crucial that you get to spend time with the professors who will orient your research. Are you planning to do a PhD as well or are you still unsure?

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      1. ladyleahjane Avatar
        ladyleahjane

        I want to do a PhD, I’m just not certain where yet; Queens University in Kingston is an option for me; there’s a professor there, Scott Morgensen, whose research interests are fairly lined-up with my own, but I want to see where my Master’s takes me before I lock in on a university, program, and adviser.

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        1. Clarissa Avatar
          Clarissa

          I think it’s a brilliant idea to do an MA from a different university before a PhD. I will be blogging about this soon.

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  3. anon Avatar
    anon

    Oh wow – if I had spare time and three friends who wanted to have some fun claiming I “transformed their life” I would submit an application just to see what happens. Ha!

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  4. musteryou Avatar
    musteryou

    There are cheaper degrees on offer:

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  5. n8chz Avatar
    n8chz

    That was about the most new-agey bowl of word salad I’ve read in a while.

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  6. Shakti Avatar
    Shakti

    I don’t know anyone who signs up for these programs. As I understand it, for the masters’ and Ph.D levels, you conduct original research instead of merely writing term papers. I’m not sure how one writes a monograph entirely online by themselves with no peers and no institutional support. I believe about 90% of people who sign up for master’s programs do so because of the credentialing function and all that it implies (institutional support, close contact with professors, buildings and equipment dedicated to the purpose, or the illusion thereof) and putting it online obviates about 90% of that.

    I took three (non masters) courses this semester that all had completely online homework and tests. If I’m to believe the learner profiles and the class averages, the online formats are disasters. The coursework is on the level of simple algebra and equations. I got As and the rest of the class on average got Cs and Ds, in very basic, non-weed out courses.

    In my experience, moving and commuting are the least disruptive parts to your life of higher education.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      “If I’m to believe the learner profiles and the class averages, the online formats are disasters. ”

      – Yes, they are. Everybody agrees except the folks who are hoping to make a bundle pushing this format to the desperate and the helpless and then turning everybody into the desperate and the helpless.

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