Does obtaining a Ph.D in your field matter?

[AKA_Monet]

I have my PhD in molecular genetics. And I was attempting to go for the professor track, but due to several personal setbacks, I left my field altogether and am doing something wholly different.

A Ph.D. in any field teaches you some basics, what the current literature is of your interest, understanding it, defending your thoughts, and writing about it for publications. Afterward, you have to write grants, etc. to stay in the field. You have to interact with your field's experts, etc by making presentations, etc.

IMHO, you don't need a Ph.D. if you want to get paid and have the oooolala job.

But those letters behind your name make you the expert in the field of which you speak, without having really to publish in that area. Especially if you KNOW it.

The only difference is, you can NOT a physician, and laypeople often are confused.

Think about it this way, in the United Kingdom, they view the Philosophy of Doctorate higher than they do physician... Probably, long ago, a physician was also the undertaker and graver...

[DoctorD]

If higher ed is your career goal, then do not get an online degree. We routinely eliminate people from candidate pools who have an online degree.

[LadyDread2010]

Why does it matter if they have an online degree? Is it accreditation?

Originally Posted by DoctorD

If higher ed is your career goal, then do not get an online degree. We routinely eliminate people from candidate pools who have an online degree.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by LadyDread2010

Why does it matter if they have an online degree? Is it accreditation?

Among other things.

Don't get me started on online MBAs...

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Don't get me started on online MBAs...

Do you mean the "University of Phoenix" type, or the "University of Texas Online MBA" type? Or are both lacking?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Do you mean the "University of Phoenix" type, or the "University of Texas Online MBA" type? Or are both lacking?

I can think of a couple of legitimate online advanced degree programs...UConn Law does an LLM in insurance program that's done online, and I think a couple of other law schools have online LLM programs. (For those who don't know, and LLM is a Master in Laws, usually held by someone who specializes in a field like insurance law or tax). Of course, those people already have jobs, and they're looking for more experience in their specialty.

I don't know enough about the U of Texas online MBA, but I think it's more likely than not that you'll find online programs to be duds. That could be for a variety of reasons - some aren't accredited and have lackluster faculty, some aren't well organized, whatever. Some, you essentially just have to show up and pay the fee and you get the degree.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I can think of a couple of legitimate online advanced degree programs...UConn Law does an LLM in insurance program that's done online, and I think a couple of other law schools have online LLM programs. (For those who don't know, and LLM is a Master in Laws, usually held by someone who specializes in a field like insurance law or tax). Of course, those people already have jobs, and they're looking for more experience in their specialty.

I don't know enough about the U of Texas online MBA, but I think it's more likely than not that you'll find online programs to be duds. That could be for a variety of reasons - some aren't accredited and have lackluster faculty, some aren't well organized, whatever. Some, you essentially just have to show up and pay the fee and you get the degree.

I didn't mean UT specifically; I meant an MBA program from a "real" (for lack of a better term) school that just happens to be online. I'm planning on going for my MBA soon, and several good schools have online programs. Of course, I'd prefer going through the actual on-campus program, but I'm not sure if I want to move to another college town anytime soon.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Do you mean the "University of Phoenix" type, or the "University of Texas Online MBA" type? Or are both lacking?

Both, really. I don't consider U of P a real MBA program, since it's not accredited by a major governing body. Honestly, it seems like a joke to me.

UT actually doesn't have an online MBA; you'll find that most business schools in the top 20-50 won't even bother with an online MBA. Some may or may not offer individual classes online, but since I didn't consider online MBAs, I don't really know.

So much about getting an MBA is about networking and collaborating with your cohort. Most people I know who did traditional full-time, executive, and evening MBAs say that the interaction with your professors, classmates, and guest lecturers was the single most important thing about their educations. Part of the reason you pursue higher education is access--to more money, to different perspectives, you name it. I don't exactly know what you're accessing if all you're doing is logging on.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Perhaps I'm biased, but to be blunt, I probably wouldn't think of on online PhD as a "real" PhD. And I sure wouldn't consider a PhD from a school that's only online to be comparable to a PhD from a brick and morter institution. May not be fair, but that's how I see it.

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

So much about getting an MBA is about networking and collaborating with your cohort. Most people I know who did traditional full-time, executive, and evening MBAs say that the interaction with your professors, classmates, and guest lecturers was the single most important thing about their educations. Part of the reason you pursue higher education is access--to more money, to different perspectives, you name it. I don't exactly know what you're accessing if all you're doing is logging on.

These pretty much sum up my feelings. Any graduate degree you receive, whether it be a masters, JD, MBA, or MD, whatever, has to do with that access issue. It's the face-to-face interaction with your professors and fellow students that makes the experience, and how you can parlay that into your future career goals. It's very hard, if not impossible, to get that same experience out of an online program.

I've known a few people who have done the online thing, and for the most part, it seemed like they just wanted the letters after their name, not the extra knowledge and hard work that went with it. That may be generalizing, but that's been my experience.