Industry and Insights Dave Schippers Doctoral

Summary

The transcript discusses the differences between master's and doctoral degrees, emphasizing the doctoral degree's requirement of original research through a dissertation. It highlights the importance of choosing a topic early in the program and the benefits of having real-world experienced faculty. The conversation also touches on the flexibility of Walsh's doctoral programs, the potential for fast-tracking, and the support for students to successfully complete their degrees while balancing other commitments.

Takeaways

• 🎓 A doctoral degree is an advanced qualification that differs from a master's by requiring the completion of a dissertation, demonstrating the ability to conduct peer-reviewed research.
• 🏫 The right schools and mentors can make earning a doctoral degree less intimidating and more accessible.
• 🔍 A master's degree typically builds expertise in a specific subject, while a doctoral degree is prized for its research component and is suited for those aiming to teach at the higher education level or work in specialized fields.
• 💼 Doctoral degrees can open career paths in consulting, academia, and research, where problem-solving and logical reasoning are highly valued.
• 📈 The dissertation process involves identifying a problem, conducting research, and presenting a solution in a structured format.
• 🤖 Generative AI can assist in the doctoral research process by identifying gaps in existing research, potentially saving time and effort.
• 📚 The time commitment for a doctoral degree varies, but a consistent daily effort can lead to completion within 2 years or less.
• 🛠️ Project planning and setting clear timelines are crucial for managing the dissertation process and ensuring timely completion.
• 🌟 Walsh College's doctoral programs emphasize applied research, real-world impact, and flexibility for working professionals.
• 🏆 Walsh College's doctoral programs, including DBA and upcoming Organizational Leadership PhD and Tech PhD, are designed for quality and student success.
• 🔄 Students considering a transfer or looking for a more flexible and applied approach to their doctoral education can find a supportive environment at Walsh College.

Q & A

What is the primary difference between a master's degree and a doctoral degree?

A master's degree is an advanced degree that focuses on equipping you with in-depth knowledge in a particular subject matter, often at a faster pace than a bachelor's degree. In contrast, a doctoral degree is a higher level of education that requires you to complete a dissertation, demonstrating your ability to conduct peer-reviewed research and contribute new knowledge to your field.

What are some reasons one might pursue a doctoral degree?

Individuals may pursue a doctoral degree for various reasons, including the desire to teach at the higher education level, to work in contracting or the federal government where a doctoral degree is often preferred, or to establish themselves as experts or consultants in their field.

What is the significance of the dissertation in a doctoral degree?

The dissertation is a critical component of a doctoral degree as it serves as a marker of the student's ability to conduct original research. It requires the student to identify a problem, propose a solution, and defend their findings through a rigorous peer-review process.

How does the career outcome for someone with a doctoral degree differ from that of someone with a master's degree?

While both degrees offer career advancements, a doctoral degree often leads to roles that require deeper expertise and research capabilities, such as academia, high-level consulting, or leadership positions within the federal government or in the private sector where innovative problem-solving is paramount.

What are some common challenges faced by doctoral students during the dissertation process?

Doctoral students often face challenges such as identifying a viable research topic, navigating the complexities of academic writing, managing the time commitment required for research, and dealing with the pressure of producing a work that contributes meaningfully to their field.

How does Walsh College approach the doctoral program differently from other institutions?

Walsh College emphasizes applied research and practical application of theoretical knowledge. The faculty, who have real-world experience, guide students through the dissertation process with a focus on solving real-world problems and making an impact in their field.

What is the typical time frame for completing a doctoral degree at Walsh College?

The time frame for completing a doctoral degree at Walsh College can vary depending on the student's commitment and the specific program. However, it's possible to complete a doctoral degree within two years, especially with a disciplined approach to coursework and dissertation work.

How does Walsh College support students in choosing their dissertation topic?

Walsh College encourages students to identify their research interests early in the program and provides guidance on identifying gaps in the research or areas where their expertise can contribute. The college also integrates the use of generative AI to help students identify potential research topics and gaps in the literature.

What are some examples of dissertation topics that students at Walsh College have pursued?

Examples include researching why financial institutions collapse despite legislative safeguards, examining leadership styles and emotional intelligence, and exploring how neurodivergent individuals operate in certain environments.

Can a student with a background in one field, such as marketing, pursue a doctoral degree in a different field like finance?

Yes, a student can venture into a different field for their doctoral studies, provided they have the necessary groundwork and are willing to build upon their existing knowledge through additional coursework and research in the new field.

How does Walsh College's approach to the doctoral program benefit working professionals?

Walsh College offers doctoral courses in the evenings and residencies on weekends, allowing working professionals to fit their education around their work schedule. This approach ensures that students can continue their careers while advancing their education.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Understanding Doctoral Degrees

This paragraph discusses the intimidation and misconceptions surrounding doctoral degrees. It explains the difference between a master's and a doctoral degree, emphasizing that a doctoral degree is not for everyone and should align with one's career path. The conversation highlights the value of a doctoral degree in higher education and specific industries, and the challenges of the dissertation process, which requires peer-reviewed research and clear communication across multiple groups.

05:01

📚 The Dissertation Process

The speaker delves into the dissertation process, addressing common misconceptions and providing insight into the actual experience. The paragraph outlines the importance of identifying a research problem and purpose, and the role of generative AI in streamlining the research process. It also touches on the structure of the dissertation, the challenges of writing the first chapter, and the importance of focusing on a specific problem without trying to 'boil the ocean'.

10:01

🤔 Navigating Research and Dissertation Topics

This section explores the variety of research topics and problems that doctoral students might tackle, emphasizing the importance of choosing a focused and manageable subject. The speaker shares examples of current research interests, such as financial institution collapses and leadership styles, and discusses the process of narrowing down a topic. The paragraph also addresses the flexibility of transitioning from one field to another for doctoral research.

15:03

🕒 Time Commitment and Planning for Doctoral Studies

The speaker shares personal experiences and advice on the time commitment required for doctoral studies, highlighting the importance of daily dedication and effective planning. The paragraph discusses the impact of doctoral work on family life, the benefits of consistent work habits, and the challenges of writer's block and data assimilation. It also provides a realistic view of the weekly time investment needed and the importance of project planning for the dissertation phase.

20:04

🏫 Transferring Credits and the Flexibility of Walsh's Doctoral Programs

This paragraph addresses the process of transferring credits and the flexibility offered by Walsh's doctoral programs. The speaker explains how the institution assesses coursework and learning outcomes from previous studies to grant advanced standing. The paragraph also discusses the benefits of fast-tracking from a master's to a doctoral degree and the support provided for students who may be unhappy with their current doctoral program.

25:05

🌟 The Walsh Difference in Doctoral Education

The speaker elaborates on the unique aspects of Walsh's doctoral programs, emphasizing the real-world experience of faculty and the institution's focus on applied research. The paragraph discusses the advantage of learning from experts who are still active in their fields and the institution's commitment to practical education. It also touches on the expansion of doctoral programs at Walsh and the institution's adaptability to various learning styles and career paths.

Keywords

💡Doctoral Degree

A doctoral degree is the highest academic degree that signifies extensive knowledge and research skills in a particular field. In the context of the video, it is contrasted with a master's degree, emphasizing the advanced research and dissertation completion required for a doctoral degree. The speaker discusses the intimidation factor often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree and offers insights into making the process more manageable and accessible.

💡Master's Degree

A master's degree is an advanced academic degree that builds upon the knowledge and skills acquired in a bachelor's program. It is typically less research-intensive than a doctoral degree and focuses on deepening expertise in a specific subject area. In the video, the speaker explains that a master's degree is ideal for individuals who want to showcase their intelligence and knowledge in a particular field, such as obtaining an MBA for business professionals.

💡Dissertation

A dissertation is a substantial written work, often required for the completion of a doctoral degree, that presents original research and contributes new knowledge to the field of study. It involves a comprehensive exam and peer-reviewed research, marking the student's ability to conduct in-depth research. The video transcript highlights the challenges of writing a dissertation and the importance of selecting a topic that can be explored within a reasonable timeframe, emphasizing the practical application of research.

💡Career Path

A career path refers to the progression of professional roles and positions that an individual may take throughout their working life. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses how a doctoral degree can impact one's career path, particularly in academia, consulting, and federal government roles. The emphasis is on how a doctoral degree can lead to roles that require advanced problem-solving and leadership skills.

💡Walsh College

Walsh College, as mentioned in the video transcript, is an institution that offers doctoral programs with a focus on applied research and practical application of knowledge. The college is noted for its smaller class sizes, experienced faculty, and a commitment to integrating real-world experience into the academic curriculum.

💡Generative AI

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can create new content, such as text, images, or data. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses the potential of generative AI to assist in identifying research gaps and streamlining the dissertation process by providing insights into the most common gaps in a particular research area.

💡Research Gaps

Research gaps refer to areas in a field of study where there is a lack of information, understanding, or research. These gaps can be identified as opportunities for new research that can contribute to the advancement of knowledge. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of finding and focusing on research gaps when undertaking a doctoral degree, as it provides a clear direction and purpose for the dissertation.

💡Project Planning

Project planning is the process of defining the scope, objectives, tasks, and schedule of a project to ensure that it is completed effectively and efficiently. In the context of the video, project planning is crucial for doctoral students when working on their dissertations, as it helps them to set realistic timelines and manage their work towards successful completion.

💡Transfer Credits

Transfer credits are courses or degree credits earned at one educational institution that can be applied towards a degree program at another institution. In the video, the speaker discusses the flexibility of Walsh College's doctoral programs, which allows students to transfer credits from previous academic work and continue their studies without starting from scratch.

💡Applied Research

Applied research is a type of research that focuses on solving practical problems and generating new knowledge that can be directly used in real-world situations. It contrasts with pure or theoretical research, which is more concerned with expanding knowledge without immediate practical applications. In the video, the speaker emphasizes Walsh College's preference for applied research in its doctoral programs, encouraging students to address real-world problems and make tangible impacts.

Highlights

Doctoral degrees can be intimidating but don't have to be, especially with the right education and guidance.

A master's degree skills you up on a particular subject, typically at a faster pace than a bachelor's degree.

A doctoral degree is prized for its comprehensive examination and dissertation, marking the ability to complete peer-reviewed research.

Doctoral degrees are less common, with only about 6-10% of the population achieving one.

The dissertation process is challenging and requires conveying ideas clearly across multiple groups.

Career paths for doctoral degree holders often include higher education teaching, contracting, and federal government work.

Consulting is a common career outcome for those with doctoral degrees, emphasizing bulletproof problem-solving skills.

The primary function of a doctoral degree is to complete a dissertation, which is a marker of the ability to conduct peer-reviewed research.

Generative AI can help identify research gaps and potentially shorten the dissertation process by at least three months.

The dissertation process involves a five-chapter model, with chapter one being the most challenging for many.

Doctoral research can span various methods such as case studies, interviews, surveys, non-experimental, and experimental approaches.

It's important not to 'boil the ocean' in a dissertation, meaning keep the focus narrow and specific, rather than trying to solve every problem.

Examples of doctoral research problems include financial institution collapses despite legislation, leadership styles, and neurodiverse individuals' performance.

Doctoral students can venture into different fields from their original degree, depending on their interests and prior coursework.

A realistic weekly commitment for a doctoral degree might range from 7 to 15 hours, depending on the individual's learning style and assimilation speed.

Project planning is crucial in the doctoral degree process, setting clear deadlines and deliverables to keep on track.

Walsh College is designed for flexibility, allowing students to fit education into their lives with evening and weekend classes.

Walsh College values applied research over pure theoretical work, focusing on real-world problem-solving and impact.

Walsh College's faculty have real-world experience and are industry leaders, providing hands-on expertise to students.

Walsh College is expanding its doctoral programs, including an organizational leadership PhD and a tech PhD.

Walsh College offers fast-tracking options from bachelor's to master's and then to doctoral degrees, saving time and courses.

Transcripts

three doctoral degrees can seem

intimidating on the surface we hear

about it a lot you want to go back to

school to be a doctor you want to do get

your doctor in business you want to be a

doctor in in any capacity and it sounds

intimidating but it doesn't have to uh

especially when you go and you go to the

right schools and you are getting your

education from the right people so today

I'm sitting down with Dr Skippers and

we're going to talk a little bit about

what does the doctoral mean what makes

it different from a master's degree and

then we're going to talk about how Walsh

is doing it differently so first thing I

want to do is let's talk about what is

the difference between a master's degree

and a doctoral degree yeah that's always

a good question and I think some people

get confused on on what what's en what

is encompassed in both to put it rather

simply I'll say a master's degree is an

advanced degree that in essence skills

you up on a particular subject matter

and it usually goes at a much faster

Pace than per se a bachelor's degree so

typically would say if you want to say

hey I'm really smart and I've you know

I've got this really good knowledge in

this particular subject matter a

master's degree is the way to do that so

if that's really what you're looking to

do to Hallmark you know some of the

reasons to get like a masters is like

MBA um you know it has very specific

connotations in business um if you're

going to get a technical degree it is

because that is beneficial within your

career path um now bringing up career

path a doctoral degree has to make sense

for your career path right so I you know

I can't sit down and say this is always

going to be the right answer and this is

why for everybody what I would say is

there can be many different reasons for

that right so if you want to I will say

one um if you want a Gateway into being

able to teach in in higher ed um a

doctoral degree is a good way to do that

right that is one way um there are other

benefits to that as well um if you have

connections as far as Contracting or

working in the federal government they

very much typically a doctoral degree um

now why do they do that so one of the

reasons a doctoral degree is prized um

by specific groups or specific entities

is it is I want to be careful it does

have um some of those components of the

Master's Degree like you have to learn

subject matter you have to prove you're

competent in it there's actually

typically a comprehensive exam that

proves that you are competent within it

the primary function of it is to

complete the dissertation now that

dissertation is a marker that you can

complete peer-reviewed research all

right so that is the primary difference

between a master's degree and a doctoral

degree and when you look at the context

I you know from a percentage wise I

honestly don't remember the percentage

of folks that have master's degrees it's

very common it's much more prevalent

typically you're looking at around you

know somewhere between 6 and 10% of the

population end up with a doctoral degree

so it is difficult it is not easy the

part that is I'll say I think

problematic for most people is that in

that dissertation um you have to write

and you have to convey ideas that in

essence carry the same meaning across

multiple groups all right so that's the

peer review piece so making sure you

explain it and get it right is the very

difficult part what what career path do

people tend to take when they're getting

a doctoral degree because you know

you're you're talking about how on a

master's on a master side that's the one

you're proving that you have the

intelligence to do it and a doctoral is

great it's not for everybody but what

what is that next step because if you're

in if you're in the world of of business

there's a lot of people that have a

master's degree and that's wonderful

sure but like a lot of times people have

doctoral are like yeah but now I'm out

doing my own thing and right and it and

it's viewed as more of a of a Consulting

thing so what is the career outcome and

career opportunities like for somebody

that gets their doctoral degree well I

think what you brought up with the with

the Consulting is a is a great Point

there's a lot of people if you're

running your own um business and you

want to Hallmark yourself as an

exceptional leader especially within a

specific space um Consultants often

obtain those now and here's why I like

to use the phrase we're going to go

through logic and we're going to go

through I like to use the phrase

bulletproof problem solving so it's you

have to be able to go in identify I'll

say logic errors in in most people's

thinking and then try to assess the

situation and find the root cause once

you find that root cause then you're

going to try to so what's the real

problem that you're trying to deal with

and you're trying to fix okay not I

think it is I I have to actually go

through and we we teach you here's the

Frameworks and all the types of things

to do that effectively but then it is to

go in logically and say what is the

problem and then how do I build ways to

test Solutions and make sure that they

actually will have impact all right so

in essence and I'll say part of the

reason I can I feel confident in saying

that to be frank is that most

dissertations all right are wrapped

around a problem and a purpose statement

so what is the problem you're trying to

resolve and what purpose or outcome do

you hope to gain does that make sense it

does it does so so I want to dive into

the dissertation process because I think

that that's something that we hear a lot

and you hear say people say all the time

like oh yeah I did my dissertation on

that thing but what does that mean I so

so let's say that I'm somebody sitting

here that's considering a doctoral thing

a doctoral degree and and in that

process I have to hear about okay you're

going to do a little bit of the

classwork stuff and then you're going to

dive into your dissertation because of

what the movies have told me a

dissertation is that's terrifying so

tell me what what is a dissertation how

do you come up with what that topic is

and then what does that process look

like to take that through

completion okay so most people don't

know it what happens is as we put you in

a hallway you have to run down that

hallway well other phds throw stuff at

you that's it feels like that's the way

the movies make it out oh my God you

know it's I think there's a Far Side

comment I'm probably comic where it has

like it's a dissertation committee and

they're standing there with like clubs

and you got to try to run through um so

that is kind of the public perception of

that which is absolutely not the case um

so I'll say it starts off with like for

instance I'm teaching the intro um

dct700 or intro course into the doctoral

program um we start at that stage like

what are what are you interested in

researching so one um you know in asence

what problems do you hope to try to

resolve and and bring some closure or

help with or try to provide solutions to

it seems early in the program I'll say

but I've seen people you know get into

the program and when they hit their

dissertation they're still trying to

figure out what they want to research

you don't want to be there because then

you're burning you're burning clock and

it's costing you money so you don't want

to do that um now I will say one of the

things that we've just started to

integrate so I'll say I know there's a

lot of I'll use the phrase controversial

opinions on generative AI in research

okay and I got it um I will no holds bar

tell you this if I had generative AI

when I did mine okay I would have shaved

at least three months off my

dissertation process and and that's not

cheating that's the number one problem

most people have when they get into a

doctoral program is they're not

typically quite they know roughly like

here's the subject matter I want to

research but here's one of the big

issues where are the gaps okay so where

is their missing research or where are

there disagreements in research meaning

gaps okay or potential

problems most of the time like for me I

had to spent about six months trying to

figure out are those gaps really where I

believe they are and I have to try to

justify that with literature right so I

have to go through because you have to

site your work you have to be able to

prove that what you're saying is

actually true and all of these things so

generative AI can do things like in this

particular research area what are the

most common gaps that are currently

exist now it's not going to tell you how

to solve those it's not going to tell

you what methodology to use but it's

going to say within this particular area

here's the top 10 gaps right now you can

use those as a student to go I just

shaved off I just saved time trying to

find a potential subject to to work on

now from there you still have to dig in

you got to do the work you got to fast

fact check it do all of those things but

that is one of the ways I'll say that we

are saying hey you can use this in a

positive way that doesn't compromise

scientific standards in order to make

sure you get this thing done at a faster

Pace okay okay so okay so talk to me

about then what does that research phase

look like and are we talking about going

out and we're interviewing hundreds of

people or are we talking about diving

through databases and in case studies to

Define what we're looking for it could

be any or all so I'll say I kind of got

off on my um on my generative AI stance

there so let's talk about the

dissertation process so we use a five

chapter model so typically I would argue

I think the hardest chapter for most

people to write is chapter one and

here's the problem with the dissertation

you've never done it before it's

literally like I would argue it's like

remember in say well some of us are old

so it might be harder for us to remember

but think back to when you were doing

something brand new like I'm riding a

bike you don't when you're a kid you

don't know how to do that it's hard

right and you get frustrated easy um

normally our parents are there to help

you know help you along they put your

training wheels on and all this other

stuff um dissertation process is a bit

like that right so your committee

members your committee chair they're

there they're kind of the training

wheels to get you started and get you

moving um that chapter one is difficult

because that is where you're going to

outline like one uh we I like to say

this was said to me when I did my

dissertation is you're on a journey take

everybody with you and make it

interesting yeah okay so you can write

in a I'll say you know I tend to write

in a technical format so some people are

like oh it comes off a little boring at

times but when you write chapter one you

one of the first things you have to do

is like why does anybody care about this

why do I even care that you're doing

this so you have to kind of set that

tone then you get into here's the type

of study that I you know here's the

problems I'm trying to address here's

the purpose of the research and here is

the methodology and Frameworks that I'm

going to use so for instance am I going

to do a case study am I going to do

interviews am I going to do surveys um

am I going to do um non-experimental am

I going to do experimental there's a lot

I mean we can spend hours here talking

about all the different models we're not

we don't have to do that but the short

version is that is up to the individual

doing the dissertation now I will say as

you go through classes here we will give

you Pro tips like yeah don't do that or

don't do that one um or like I often say

I know a lot of St if any of our

students are watching this they be like

yeah Skipper says that a lot um don't do

mixed methods um I say don't do mixed

methods because now some still want to

do mixed methods and depending on how

you do it it's acceptable one of the

problems is and this is a common phrase

with dissertations don't try to boil the

ocean you know don't do too much you

have to keep it very small and very

focused um and don't try to win a Nobel

Peace Prize right that's not that's not

the purpose of your dissertation do you

know what the best dissertation is I

don't I was just G the finished

one I because I was because I was going

to ask you you know what are what are

the different what are the different

types of of problems and so I guess the

first question is is are they solving

one problem is that the dissertation

thing is they like they're after one

problem it should be one yeah okay and

and what are some examples of types of

questions and problems that they're

trying to solve um do you want to hear

some of what I'm hearing now from our

sure so like one um I actually just

literally today I just read um and did

review on problem purpose statement

submission for a particular student I'll

say if they're watching they they'll

know I I'm talking about them but we

won't name them um so they're interested

in looking at um why uh I'll say

financial institutions like banks are

still collapsing when there's

legislation that puts markers out there

for us to identify when it's going to

happen so that's a problem right so that

is a genuine problem that we are seeing

societally especially within the United

States where we have you know different

banks are now we have legislation that

says well if these things are happening

we should throw red flags and then there

needs to be a response and that prevents

the collapse right um still not stopping

so what's happening there so that's one

um you know I'll say I know there's

others um I had I'll say last week in

the class there's people interested in

okay one leadership styles in emotional

intelligence in certain environments how

is that would that operate better um

I'll say I'm paraphrasing a lot there so

it's at a very high level but they're

early on um I have some folks looking at

hey um how do neurode Divergent

individuals operate um in certain

environments better than others so we

actually got into a conversation like

okay neurod Divergent um I said well one

um based off the descriptions that

you're giving I said if you want to do

if you you want to do interviews and you

want to talk to individuals that are

earmarked as they're doing really good

and are neurode Divergent I said I would

look at look into it and incident

response I said I would dare say you're

going to see this criteria is going to

be semi commmon and then you would be

able to get some good information if

you're going to do a case study or

interview process as far as your your

method so that's the kind of stuff we

get into does that does that make sense

yeah no it's really interesting too

because I you know I think the other

piece of that you know outside of the

perception of it being terrifying um cuz

there's that there's the other side too

where you go but this gives me the

opportunity to find the answer to

something that I am so interested in so

I guess the next part of that question

is is there limitation so if I come in

and let's say you know I have a degree

in marketing but I come in and I'm like

but the thing that is so fascinating to

me is happening in the world of Finance

am I limited to saying no you have to

stay in your in your lane or can I go

and Venture into that world of Finance

it depends you can you can Venture

depending upon you know where you're at

and what what you know past cour work

you've done within typically within

marketing you may have had different um

you know different types of courses if

you've got the groundwork for that um

you know I'll say sliding into our DBA

is going to be a natural connection um

and then you would get additional

Finance there and then of course as you

go through coursework um and those

Finance classes and then as you start to

look at your dissertation phase my

general recommendation is even as you're

taking classes is I did this when I went

through was I continued you know it was

the the homework outside of the class

which was I'm getting ready for

dissertation I know I've got to start

reading more and more literature on the

subject and make sure I'm very versed on

it right so so so talk to me about the

the doctoral degree as a whole and what

that looks like in a process so you so

what's our what's our general time frame

uh both you know in a time commitment by

week and then also how long it's going

to take to actually achieve that

doctoral degree yeah I'll say I'll tell

you what I should have done um and then

what I ended up learning to do so right

out of the gates I would say um you know

it depends on the degree it depends on

where you're at um and it also depends

on what standing you get when you come

in so um if you come in with Advan

standing I'll say personally for mine I

finished within basically two years okay

now some people are like whoa Skippers

that's insane how did you do that um I I

knew I'll say again I'm going to Snicker

so my I'll use the phrase uh my cohort

buddy um he Lea frogged me and finished

at least one semester before me which I

was like you know congrats dude but darn

it um you know what I mean so um but the

short and I've also seen people take 15

years all right I I don't recommend the

15-year plan that's not really a that's

not really you know viable now what I

would say is weekly commitment I would

say I'm the type of person that does

better in committing I'm going to spend

x amount time x amount of time each day

so I would commit that time and say I'm

going to spend um I can tell you most of

my dissertation and most of my

coursework was completed between 300 and

5:00 a.m. okay okay so I was an early

riser that was the way I operated some

people are late people they work better

at night because that's their bio rhythm

um you know choose what works best for

you um part of the reason I did 3:00 to

5 a.m. the family's sleeping so it has

more of an minimal impact I would say on

them in our relationships and things I

would say if you're going to do a

doctorate degree it will impact you in

your family cuz it is a Time sync um I'm

not going to deny that um they are part

of it so you have to realize that

they're going to miss you um on some of

the you know G togethers and commitments

and all of those things um you know do

you exit all of them no that's up to you

but I think if you do a consistent Daily

Commitment like I'm going to spend an

hour every day um and you're and you get

regimented that's a lot easier to deal

with all right now I've seen some people

go well I'm going to do all my homework

on the weekends well if you do that then

you're going to commit all of your

weekend

do want

SCE now will say the daily with an hour

or two or whatever works for you and

carrying that into dissertation was

super helpful because now um you know

you can get into things like writers

block and all these other things but

when you train your body and your head

that okay this is when I'm sitting down

and I'm doing the heavy lifting you wake

up in go time yeah and it's go time yeah

so um does that kind of make sense yeah

for sure so so you think that a a

realistic commitment to plan for is do

you think that 7 hours a week or are we

looking more on that you know 10 to 15

hours a week it's it's tough it depends

on the individual okay and and how how

much I mean not to you know not it all

depends on how fast you assimilate data

and how you know the other piece is I

would say it's not only how fast but do

you know how you learn best right if you

know how you learn best you can have a

lower amount of time if you tend to

struggle and you don't know yet how you

learn best you're going to have to

figure that out in the process does that

make sense yeah for sure um and then

there's different learning you know

things that can that can happen along

the way um I'll tell you there there was

definitely times where I got frustrated

and it slowed me down I'm sure it

happens to all of us at every point no

matter I would imagine at some point

you've you've picked your topic you've

said this is I'm going all in on this

thing and you're going to hit a

roadblock where you go I'm out of data

and I don't know how to prove that next

thing and that's where that's where

somebody that is in your cohort or your

mentors or those can can step in and say

okay here's let's get you past this and

let's get you into that next thing but

you have to build in the time to be able

to do that absolutely so one of the

things I recommend um especially when we

get to dissertation phase project plan

MH I know a lot of people are like oh my

God it's red tape it's like no project

PL set dates we build um we build our

dissertation process

around the concept of project plans so

we will sit down and say okay you should

be able to write this chapter in this

amount of time um now you got to sit

down and go here's my weekly

deliverables and here's how I'm going to

meet those weekly deliverables so I I

like to use the phrase you know we

demystify that dissertation process

there's some out there you know and not

to you know we're not going to name

names we'll just say you know there's

there's some situations out there where

they're like yeah have fun um and you

literally go from and part of the reason

dissertations get weird

and I think weird is probably the best

word for probably is the best word yeah

it gets weird because you go from even

at the beginning of your doctoral

program you come in you're taking

coursework you got homework you're

delivering that the the professors

saying here's your timetable here's your

project plan you got to meet these

deadlines all the stuff and you

literally Go from it's very prescribed

and here's the date you got to meet

to have fun bro right on you and so now

it's all you um and and now uh it

depends on the um on your dissertation

chair and the committee like I said we

have a structure we have it set up we

have I'll call them loose plans um

because I think the plans that we have

built they do say here's here's if you

want to do this within this semester you

got to deliver these sections from this

chapter by these dates it'll Auto Kil it

for you okay we have that set up now I

would recommend carrying that down to a

little bit more granular level um just

because that's the kind of planner that

I am um and then go from there but that

in my opinion um reduces a lot of the

I I think if you don't understand what

you have to do um then you got to figure

out what you got to do as well as do it

and that kind of makes it more difficult

um well it's I mean it it's almost in to

use a very generic uh metaphor for this

but it's very similar to when you're

going to the gym if I have to go and

think about the workouts I have to do

and I have to plan all that for my I'm

probably not going to do it because

that's I got to spend so much effort

trying to figure out what I'm going to

do that when I get there to actually do

it it's not it's not going to be fun to

do so to your point plan that all ahead

of time so when it comes to your

doctoral stuff like get your project

planning done this is what I'm going to

do this is when I'm going to do it this

is when it has to be done by I don't

have to think about that anymore now

when I sit down to work I can just work

I don't have to sit down to think about

what I'm going to work on you know you

you mentioned um you mentioned some

other schools and some different ways

that programs are are set up I've heard

I've heard some interesting stories

recently about uh about some students

who have come to Walsh or transferred

into Walsh in the middle of their

doctoral yeah and in what that process

was looking like so talk to me about

what does why would something like that

happen and why is Walsh so prepared to

bring those students in in in not have

to start all the way

over yeah so I'll say there's a couple

other couple of things to unpack there

so one I think a lot of it has to do

with how is the program set up and how

willing are they to accept transfer

credit okay um a doctoral degree is a

pretty big investment all right I'm I'm

not going to going to lie like my

doctorate was was 50k mhm okay that

that's not cheap right um so you have to

have really good reasons why you choose

it um now what I will say is and mind

you I started my doctorate before I was

here at Walsh so you know I got it from

somewhere else so take it for what is

but um they actually did a decent job of

trying to give me advanced standing so I

will say that we try to do that as much

as we can here I'll say and the reason

there's there's multiple reasons for

that so one um if you genuinely done

coursework with same learning outcomes

and you're prepared in that particular

area I I don't I don't want to make you

take another class again I mean there's

no point in me doing that because then

in my opinion that makes our institution

look bad because now it looks like we're

just trying to soak you for cash I'm

more about let's make sure you are

getting you are meeting the learning

outcomes that you need to be successful

if you've already met those um whether

they're you know let's say you had a

really great master's program and we

take a look at it and go okay we can

wave a couple classes based off that and

you've gotten out of that for learning

outcomes we're going to try to do that

that that's the nature of how we operate

now let's say let's go to the example

where you said like hey somebody was at

a different they were at a different

institution they weren't super happy um

now that I'll say in having spoke to

this individual as well I'll just simply

say I've heard things like oh you know

when they were talking with professors

professors were saying well you're

there's no way you can finish your your

dissertation in less than two years I'm

here to tell you that's bunk okay it's

bunk I the my cohort mate that I talked

about he finished in six

months okay that is some time management

six months now well he's 20 years my

junior so I'm going to try to use that

as an I'm not going to excuse that he he

was a machine he got it done okay he

also had a super supportive chair in

committee that's important in the

process I got done well within a year

okay so I was cooking as well I've had

people say don't Dave don't tell people

how fast you went wait it's common I to

you right now if you go out and you

connect with a dissertation coach that

does this professionally on a regular

basis those individuals will tell you if

you are committed 9 and 12 months no

more here's the other problem in today's

environment we have generative AI right

if you take three years to do your

dissertation is it even going to be

valid data anymore yeah let's start

thinking about that for a second well

and especially when you talk about

things like AI because I mean a year and

a half ago it basically didn't exist in

the consumer eye look at what's

happening now so now and we got a tech

PhD coming out too so I mean it's like

wait a minute you can't we can't run

dissertations where we're expected to

take two years it won't even be valid

anymore um that that just doesn't work

now it'd be we'd be doing a disservice

to that student to the service to the

industry um to the knowledge base um you

know here's the I'll say Let me let me

let let you in on the what I I call the

dirty little

secrets okay it's not that dirty but it

is kind of a secret um in in well I

guess maybe it's not that but you got to

look for it there's actually articles

out there that have been written about

how the dissertation and doctoral

process creates

PTSD uh it it's tough it challenges you

have I will say a doctoral degree

especially dissertation process will

make you grow it has to that's it's you

get pushed not in bad ways but you have

to change your you have to make sure you

have solid lot you you get challenged on

a lot of things that we don't get

challenged on in in day-to-day life okay

but in order to do peer rreview research

you have to be able to navigate those

Waters right um now the PTSD thing I I

would argue I've I have I have seen it

in some professors um I think this is

why you hear things to me if I if I hear

a professor say oh no students can't

finish in less than two years there's no

way that's a red flag for

me had experience well they probably no

well I'll I'll be blunt they they

probably took two years and they don't

want you to do faster than them and I

hate to say that but that is part of

what I call the Dirty Little Secret

those are red flags if you're hearing

stuff like that like I had I had a

discussion with one of our our students

and and they were saying listen um how

long do you think I how long how fast or

you know what duration do I should I

plan for do you think I can do it in

this year we had a conversation early

January and I said yeah you can do it in

a year if you're serious you'll be done

in 9 and 12 months and they said okay so

I can set my project plan to be finished

in December and I said no you set your

project plan to be finished on September

30th so you got a little buffer there in

case you run into some problems and they

were like you're serious I'm like I'm

serious you need to write to deliver and

have review and everything done by the

end of September okay because if you

want out if you want to be finished and

you want your degree shouldn't say you

want out but you know you know what I

mean so you want to be finished and say

hey I I made it I made it and I finished

let's be realistic and let's put a

little B that's the PM in me you know

put a little buffer in there so that you

don't blow past the end of December

right well it's discouraging then if

yeah you're going to run into some

you're going to run into some problems I

did it took me longer than I wanted um

for my dissertation but I still hit I

still was like I got to where I wanted

to be um well when it comes to research

you're talking about relying on a lot of

additional people and you don't you

don't always have control over their

schedules yeah there's a lot of variable

no no pun intended there's a lot of

variables involved with other people you

have typically have three committee

members that's how we operate here you

got to try to have them they have to

make time they have to work with you

there's there's like I said a lot of

variables um but yeah I mean just you

know be proactive be smart um but yeah

so that's kind of I'll say that's the

dirty little secret is that you know

sometimes that gets in the way I think

there are a contingent of doctorates out

there who come out the other side and

they somehow are like it's you you can't

you can't do it different than I did and

to like I said to me it's like I want

you to go faster than I did if you hit

the quality in the requirement levels

and you can do it faster than I you

should do it faster than me for God's

sakes I'm older I'm slower but the other

thing is you have better tools now you

should go faster than me I mean there

should be I should have no investment on

making sure you take a certain amount of

time my investment is you need to meet

the criteria to complete the degree and

it's quality Walsh wants quality

dissertations to go out and have an

impact right once that's met

congratulations yeah no absolutely

absolutely so so then that gets me into

the next thing and that was that was a

good way to set this up if why a

doctoral at Walsh because this is

something that we've you know we've

started to develop a way that an entire

college that is built around those

personal relationships and having

faculty that that communicate with

students on a regular basis yeah and why

so why why come to Walsh when you're

trying to get that doctoral what what

sets Walsh apart from

others you know I'm just going to bounce

back to our brand in our Legacy and I

think that's one I'll say frankly that's

why I've stayed here as long as I have

and two um you know I've I've had a

personal focus on wanting to have a

doctoral degree especially attack PhD

which like I mentioned earlier we have

coming up in Fall um and I why is that

important why do I think that Walsh is

the place for that um one I small we

have smaller class sizes typically

two um I'll say I'm not I nor any of our

faculty even full-time faculty are what

I would consider to be typical academics

okay we didn't we didn't you know wake

up one day and go I'm going to be a

college professor as a child and then

just go through High School directly

into college go all the way to the PHD

and then start

teaching I don't think that we have a

single example of that in our faculty at

all all right so every example is they

have real world experience they've been

out in the industry for decades

typically all right like for instance I

had decades in in business it cyber as

my backround Consulting all kinds of fun

stuff um and then you know I kind of got

sucked into teaching and had fun with it

that's what pulled me into academ and I

love doing research I was I was in

Industry I was taking all the projects

that required in that required research

so that was what drew me into research

and then I went okay I'm having fun with

this and I'm with research and I'm

having fun with um teaching so I'm I

just made the jump over in Academia but

um all of our we we even have adjuncts

that have you know doctorates they're

still working in field um they still

love working in field but they also love

the research piece so the ability to

spend time with people that are experts

in the subject matter that you want to

be involved with and they're still out

there they're in Ence thought leaders

they're hand I like to use the phrase

they're handson people they're doing the

work um that to me is why that that's

why in the other pieces I would say you

I'm going to bounce back to you know I

made the original comment of our brand I

think the Legacy that mvin Walsh left

left with us was we teach you Theory and

then we teach you the Hands-On how to do

it in the real world so everything so

when we talk what does that mean for

Doctor Dave that sounds great but what

does that mean it means we want applied

research I don't want pure theoretical

now if you're going to go down that road

okay that's fine but pref we prefer okay

what is the real problem that you're

trying to solve and how are you going to

have a direct impact like my although I

didn't admittedly I'll say I didn't do

it at Walsh but my degree is a doctorate

of Science and cyber so my research was

focused on identifying fakes of images

created on smartphones and have they

been manipulated and I was specifically

trying to solve a a problem with law

enforcement training in finding a

simpler way than heavy engineering and

Mathematics to do that all right so I

had a very

applied um approach now there's a whole

backstory um which I'll say we can save

for another day um on why I got pulled

into that um and it has to do with

forensic so mine was specifically in

image forensics so but you know what you

know why is a doctor of science guy

running a you know help and run a DBA

and so on and so forth here we still you

still have to use you know you have to

use logic you have to use scientific

method you have to come in you have to

prove that and then think of the Walsh

brand I talked about how is that going

to have a real impact in the world

that's really what we're after

interesting it is it's really

interesting and it's great to see what

is happening in the in at Walsh with the

doctoral programs we are expanding them

on a regular basis it feels like at this

point but to your point we're bringing

in the people who

are they're leading the charge in

instructing these because they have such

a passion for bringing up the Next

Generation in what do degre is I have

yeah I have people calling me doctorates

that are in field calling can I come and

teach with you guys yeah um spoke to a

gentleman on Friday I mean so people

words out um yeah we have a DBA so

here's my my Shameless plug you know uh

Forbes number one ranking for online DBA

nationally there's that we also got um

what is it CEO today magazine I know

that you know we we we released that on

social media as well got a top Global on

that as well we're taking all of those

same that same level of excellence and

dissertation process and all of that

those pieces we're bringing it into an

organizational leadership PhD and we're

bringing it into a tech PhD um so that's

that's where we're headed um I'm I'm

hoping to crush some awards over in

those spaces in the next year or two as

well um it's setting itself up we're get

we're getting tons of them already P we

are and you know and in reality what's

what's funny is we're not doing anything

beyond what we've what we've done we're

adding new degrees but our foundation is

so built on the working professional and

finding a way for you to fit education

into your life versus the other way

around and because we're set up that way

we are set up for the the success of

business business and technology

professionals yeah see it's interesting

you say that I would make a couple of

plugs here one um there's still old

school what I would call I guess I

should be careful when I say old school

but I'll use the phrase old school old

school phds which is you quit your job

and you're on campus full-time then you

got to pay for that you know there's

different ways to deal with it but

that's the old style PhD um and that's

still out there I mean if that interests

people great that has benefit to your

career path great um your point on the

working adult absolutely 100% all of our

doctoral courses are um evenings all

right so people work during the day they

take classes at night when we have

residencies those are on the weekends so

people can come in we do Friday Saturday

Sunday so if you have to miss work you

miss just Friday you do Friday Saturday

we do a half a day on Sunday and then

you head home and things like that and

I'll say the um I'll say the other loose

plug I don't remember if we talked about

this but if you're look at so if you're

in a position where one you're like I

don't understand why they're telling me

it's going to take me three years to do

my dissertation like I said red flag for

me um that's not a good situation I

would argue two I'm not if if people

aren't happy like you're you're like hey

I don't feel like I'm learning a lot

here or I don't feel like this is going

to pan out the way I I expected it to

where it's maybe not the quality of what

I expected but hey let's say you're

you're a third maybe you're halfway

through your your your doctorate and

you're like I'm afraid I got to start

over you

don't it is I say that really quietly

because then people listen yeah yeah

it's it you don't if you're in a

position where you're like I'm not super

happy um and I I wish I could go

somewhere else and just use the credits

I have and continue right give us a call

right you can do that can and that's and

that is why I love so much the way that

this program's been designed and and

it's and that goes from our

undergraduate all the way through our

doctoral we're here for that that

transferability and we're here to make

sure that you understand we are an

advocate for you as a student we are

designed for you for your education for

your life and for setting you up for a

career so well so if you're GNA if

you're thinking about a doctorate but

you're you're let's say you're wrapping

up your bachelor's and you're like hey

you know what am I going to do I want to

do my masters you can FastTrack we

didn't even talk about that no you can

FasTrack from Masters into doctoral and

you can cut down four courses yeah right

which so because it qualifies for both I

mean so there's other ways to speed this

baby uph absolutely then again I think

it's great the way that the Welsh is

being designed to help everybody

get theirself through college in any

capacity that they want right so if

they're an oncampus person be an on

campus person you want to be a virtual

person be a virtual person whatever

works for you let's do that we can work

with you for that but know that those

are all options that you have in in your

learning style yeah let me jump on that

for a a second I like to I'll use the

term Flex okay because I actually had

emails like oh I'm concern that you

require I have to attend class every you

know every week my schedule doesn't with

my working schedule I can't always do

that and you know the short version is

you can do it on your time just like you

said you can go okay if I can't make the

class we record it and then you can

consume it when it's it's it's most

advantageous for you as opposed to I

have to be there on that particular

night now I will say some classes we are

you know there's interactive things that

are happening between there's peer

learning as well as learning with the

professors so if you want that benefit

you you really want to show up class but

if your schedule's like listen I really

need to do it as almost fully online um

so on and so forth you can do that as

well I mean so as you said perfect

example like it fits your schedule it's

flexible yeah yeah it's education into

your life not your life into education

so well Dave I I mean this was great I

think the doctoral programs are going to

be incredible I think the ones that are

coming are going to be just as exciting

as the ones that already exist and I

can't wait to see what happens so thank

you for putting together all the degree

programs getting everything up and

running and putting the right people in

place to make sure everybody is prepared

all right thanks for your time today

appreciate it

thanks