Integral Masters?

Thu, Feb 9, 2006

Just got an e-mail from I-I (my former employer):

I am very pleased to announce our first Integral accredited degrees and certificates through two partnerships. First is our partnership with Fielding Graduate University. Students may choose from two Integral options: an Integral Studies Certificate or an Integral Master’s in Organizational Management and Development.

Also, in partnership with John F. Kennedy University, Integral Institute and Integral University is pleased to announce an accredited Master’s degree in Integral Theory.

Both of these programs start this year, and appear to be hybrid programs with online courses with IU and then courses with the respective schools. Seems like the way to go, and as Emily and I have concluded recently, online education is the up and coming thing. All the same, it’s yet to be seen whether or not these will carry any weight in the academic world, which (un)fortunately is where I’ll likely be headed.

I’d be interested in hearing, from other people, what these masters would be good for?

This post was written by:

Vince Horn - who has written 803 posts on Numinous Nonsense.

Vince Horn lives as a modern monk. He spends part of his year in silence, meditating, introspecting, and developing spiritually. The rest of the time he spends engaged in the world, where he produces and hosts the popular show, Buddhist Geeks, writes for various publications—including on his personal blog Numinous Nonsense—and enjoys living in Boulder, Colorado with his wife Emily. Read his full bio here.

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10 Comments For This Post

coolmel Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 2:38 pm

it’s more interesting to see who among those integral masters will turn to the “dark side”
AQAL-saber anyone?

ebuddha Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 5:25 pm

coolmel,

that made me chuckle!

Vince Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 7:48 pm

Geek…

Sean Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 10:21 pm

It would open the door to many high paying jobs at social responsible companies where management is yearning for integrally informed employees.:D

coolmel Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 10:33 pm

but no still no match for the uber-geek

paul Says:
February 10th, 2006 at 1:14 am

yo dawg,
i would forward this to my co-workers to ask, but you don’t have an “email this to a friend” button, so i can’t– hint hint!

oh, and i wouldn’t put much creedence in a degree from jfku, after all they do a have a “Dream Studies” major….

-p

Vince Says:
February 10th, 2006 at 7:49 am

thanks for the hint Paul…

Sean, I really hope you’re right…

coolmel Says:
February 10th, 2006 at 11:06 am

“i wouldn’t put much creedence in a degree from jfku”

huh?! wtf? and there’s the rub.

Katie Says:
February 12th, 2006 at 5:51 pm

Hi Vince,

If you are interested in entering academia, to be a tenure-track professor at a major university, I would recommend neither of these programs, unless they’d be stepping stones towards a PhD at a more traditional institution. To put it in other words, a Harvard PhD won’t keep you out of JFK, but a JFK PhD will keep you out of Harvard. Ditto for Naropa, CIIS, etc.

However, if your goal is not academia but the working world, the Organizational Development MA at Fielding is quite respected. In fact Fielding is often called the “Harvard of Organizational Development.” I would say the JFK degree is more for self-enrichment at this point.

Hope this helps! Katie (IU diva)

Vince Says:
February 12th, 2006 at 5:54 pm

Thanks Katie! Yeah, I agree with you here, and being that my goal IS (at least right now) to be a professer, then yeah, I have no intention of getting an MA in Integral anything, until the programs become a bit more reputable. I’m sure that’s just a matter of time though.

coolmel Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
it’s more interesting to see who among those integral masters will turn to the “dark side”
AQAL-saber anyone?
ebuddha Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 5:25 pm
coolmel,

that made me chuckle!
Vince Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Geek…
Sean Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
It would open the door to many high paying jobs at social responsible companies where management is yearning for integrally informed employees.:D
coolmel Says:
February 9th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
but no still no match for the uber-geek
paul Says:
February 10th, 2006 at 1:14 am
yo dawg,
i would forward this to my co-workers to ask, but you don’t have an “email this to a friend” button, so i can’t– hint hint!

oh, and i wouldn’t put much creedence in a degree from jfku, after all they do a have a “Dream Studies” major….

-p
Vince Says:
February 10th, 2006 at 7:49 am
thanks for the hint Paul…

Sean, I really hope you’re right…
coolmel Says:
February 10th, 2006 at 11:06 am
“i wouldn’t put much creedence in a degree from jfku”

huh?! wtf? and there’s the rub.
Katie Says:
February 12th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
Hi Vince,

If you are interested in entering academia, to be a tenure-track professor at a major university, I would recommend neither of these programs, unless they’d be stepping stones towards a PhD at a more traditional institution. To put it in other words, a Harvard PhD won’t keep you out of JFK, but a JFK PhD will keep you out of Harvard. Ditto for Naropa, CIIS, etc.

However, if your goal is not academia but the working world, the Organizational Development MA at Fielding is quite respected. In fact Fielding is often called the “Harvard of Organizational Development.” I would say the JFK degree is more for self-enrichment at this point.

Hope this helps! Katie (IU diva)
Vince Says:
February 12th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
Thanks Katie! Yeah, I agree with you here, and being that my goal IS (at least right now) to be a professer, then yeah, I have no intention of getting an MA in Integral anything, until the programs become a bit more reputable. I’m sure that’s just a matter of time though.

Numinous Nonsense