Traditional Sociology MA/Phd to Business degree?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by emailtojason, Mar 18, 2002.

Loading...
  1. emailtojason

    emailtojason New Member

    I’m looking for a GAAP DL school that can help me become qualified to teach (college level) in the field of Management. I hope to do so with a reduced course load since I already have a traditional Masters degree (Organizational Sociology w/thesis, 4.0 GPA) and am in the middle of a traditional PhD (Organizational Sociology). Would an MBA be enough for most business schools to consider my application for a tenure track position (being that I should have a PhD in another field soon)? Or should another PhD or DM be in my future? I’m considering this change because the opportunities in education for individuals with a Sociology degree are slim, while business schools practically beg for professors. Thanks!

    Jason
     
  2. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Jeez Jason, I'm not sure I know the answer to your question but I'm impressed that after earning a Masters and a Doctorate you're already planning on going back and getting ?another Masters and ?another Doctorate! You must have a lot more time and a lot more money than me! :D
    Jack
     
  3. emailtojason

    emailtojason New Member

    Did I mention on the cheap? :) Money is a concern but so far I'm out of debt, I would like to stay that way. My goal is to increase my odds of a good tenure track position, something that is getting rare in my field. I'm thinking a research based degree, since I'm at a major reseach insitution now... Many local colleges let you teach with a masters, maybe a second masters would let me teach in business (organizational sciences) at a university and still have the respect of a PhD? Thoughts?
     
  4. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    I'm not a good judge of business programs but I just posted a new thread (New? MBA/DBA Programs)
    regarding the University of Natal in South Africa. I know there are plenty of alternatives but these have got to be among the most affordable.
    Jack
     
  5. Craig Hargis

    Craig Hargis Member

    I would think that an MS (not MBA) in management would do the trick along with a Ph.D. in any field which includes the word "organizational." My experience is that schools do not look for people with two doctoral degrees. My undrstanding, out here in CA is that two Ph.D. degrees is a taboo.

    Good Luck,
    Craig
     
  6. emailtojason

    emailtojason New Member

    Your thinking is along the same lines as me, a masters should cut it without being overkill. The MS does seem to be a better option as MBA's are more of a professional degree and "are a dime a dozen" as it is so commonly said. I'm sure I can find a way to get atleast 12 credits waived, anyone have any experience here?
     
  7. Craig Hargis

    Craig Hargis Member

    My training is in English (and theology). But I had a job teaching business communication at Cal State Fullerton. When I was hired, the director of the program was an English major. When a management professor took over, we were all asked to get a subject area masters; no one mentioned a Ph.D. I was told that the MS in management, the MPA, and the MS in human resource management, or even MA in business were all preferable to the MBA in an academic setting. But it was made clear that the MBA, almost any MBA, would still be fine. I could have done it very inexpensively as a faculty member right at CSUF, but I was dissertating at the time and the very idea of more school sent me into distraction. I should have., but hindsight is perfect. I have been told clearly, more than once, that a second doctorate should not be well considered in the mainstream academy. Why I don't know...We wouldn't want teachers that are too, ah, educated.
    The exception, I understand includes M.D. and law degrees, and tenured people who do the second degree down the road. You will rarely if ever see a second doctorate claimed in faculty listings at secular schools. Why ? I wonder if Dr. Bear has a take on this?

    Craig
     
  8. BruceP

    BruceP Member

    Jason:

    I really wonder if you need to do anything further... Considering all of the Organizational this-and-that (Analysis, Behavior, Design, Development, Change, etc...) courses in business programs I would investigate the opportunity to orient your current studies and dissertation towards your business interests. Sociology should be considered an "allied" discipline, especially since so much management theory is rooted in sociological theory.

    To validate this possibility I would do a college catalog faculty search in the business departments to determine who is teaching with what degrees (sometimes the catalog will list all earned degrees with subject area). Of course standards for academic employment may have changed... so some of the old timers teaching with "odd" degrees might not be a great example... focus on the Assoc Prof's... (theory being that the Asst Prof's are too new and the "full" Prof's are too old to determine valid criteria)

    Whereas an MSM or MBA might not be a bad credential, it might be totally unnecessary.

    On the other hand it might allow for the development of a secondary area of interest to increase your marketability.

    Let's consider the possibility that you absolutely need to go one more degree... have you considered a J.D.? I would think that a Ph.D. in Org. Soc. and a J.D. should entice some tenure track interest (and if it doesn't you can hang your shingle out or enter the corporate world).

    BruceP

    PS: Hard to believe that I actually encouraged someone to go to law school...:D

    PSS: Another thought... what is MOST important in the tenure process? If it's research and publications (as I would imagine) then just how important is your academic preparation? So if your PhD in Org Soc gets you in the door then your publications get you tenure... Will be interested to see how this pans out when all of the experts have weighed in...

    PSSS: I am no where near an expert... just weighing in with an opinion based on logic and the experience of my higher education yearnings...
     

Share This Page