Going for 2nd Doctorate (good or bad idea)

Hello everyone!

About 3 years ago, I completed my Ed.D. with concentrations in Educational Leadership and Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. I really enjoyed the Ed.D. program at NSU and contemplated the possibility of a second doctorate. I have a specific Ph.D. program in mind, but I am unsure if I should actually go through with it. I started my Ed.D. program for career advancement, which resulted in a pay raise and promotion. The Ph.D. program would strictly be for self-fulfillment (it is in a subject area that I am very passionate about). I have spoken to an admissions adviser and several professors within the Ph.D. program, and they feel I would be an excellent candidate for the program.

Friends, family, and colleagues seem to be puzzled as to why I would want to go through a doctorate program of study and dissertation process for a second time. One colleague suggested that it might actually hurt my chances for further career advancement, stating that I might be considered over qualified. Most colleagues seem to think I am crazy for even thinking about it.

I would love everyone’s advice, comments, and opinions!

 

Nice

In my personal opinion, I think getting a Ed.D and PhD is pretty cool if you can afford, why not?

Abner :smile:

 

I don't have, nor am I planning to get, a doctorate degree. However, if you can find what you want, you have the spare time and money, and it is for your personal enjoyment and fulfillment, well, then I really don't see the problem. I would think you could just not mention the PhD if it will hurt your career (although I don't know why it would). If you have the credentials needed for your job, and you plan to stay in said job, and the PhD is strictly for your personal satisfaction, I see no need to even divulge its (potential or actual) existence to anyone with whom you work. Just my opinion....Besides, the Ed.D is a working doctorate and the PhD is more of an academic/research one. No need for the two to ever intersect, unless you want them to.

 

"Bad idea", waste of time, energy and $$$! You hold an Ed.D. from Nova, a well respected University! Have you considered a post doctoral fellowship from another well respected school?

 

Let's back up a little bit. What's the money situation? Would this put a strain on your wallet?

 

I would recommend if you have NO money and time problems. I am working on My Ph.D degree in Information Assurance at Nova Southeastern University, but sometimes I am wondering what am I doing. I have no interested in teaching or full-time research, but only for consulting. Money might not be a problem for me, but time is extremely important to me as a full-time professional and raising 3 kids (3 years, 2 years, and 10 months).

 

Sorry, off topic for a minute

3 kids? Wow TEKMAN, I remember when you first joined you had no children. Boy, time flies. Good job with being a single parent, everyone knows how difficult that it is.

Abner

 

How many peer reviewed publications to you have?

 

I might be wrong but the PhD in your case has almost no chance of return of investment unless you are doing it for personal reasons.
I hold a doctorate and has mainly helped me to get research grants, teach and get research consultancy jobs such as a second reader at Universities, dissertation committees, etc.
If you are planning just to stay in professional practice, the PhD has almost no value but just to impress friends and coworkers.

 

If money is an issue, you might want to try a Doctor of Science (higher doctorate) from British schools. This type of doctorate is higher than a PhD and only requires the examination of publications in your field of practice. They don't come from free but I researched options from 5K (Sunderland) to 20K (West of England), these numbers are still way lower than some of the for profit options.

In few words, you publish around 10 papers in good journals and then send them for examination. At your level, I don't see the point of taking courses, exams, etc but just show your research skills in the chosen area.

 

A second doctorate? Perish the thought! :wink:

 

If the pursuit is for personal reasons, you have adequate funding, and can work it into your time parameters, go for it. I earned an RA professional doctorate in the late-90's, then completed a research doctorate (PhD, non-USA, RA equivalent per IERF and AACRAO) a few years ago.

 

I you worry about what others might think about a person with two doctorates, just check the thread below that talks about Dr. McGee that holds 13 doctorates. You would still look uneducated compared to Dr. McGee with your only two doctorates so don't worry much about it.

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/47354-phd-publication-examples.html


By the way, with so many online doctorates and with faculty getting access to professional and development funding, it is quite common to see people with two doctorates. Walden's associate dean of the school of information systems and technology holds two doctorates. Many people are now getting second doctorates such as EdD, DBA, etc to complement a PhD or vice versa.

 

If you want it, go for it! I'd be thrilled with one doctorate! Two would be heaven!

 

The poster didn't ask about "Return on Investment".

It was for personal enrichment.

Not everyone looks at education that way.

 

Oh, I don't know....

 

Actually, I am still married. Which I feel like and want to be single parent. When I am at work, but when I get home I'll be with the kids and the cycle all over every week.

 

A post-doc is a fine thing, but looking back at the start of the thread, it doesn't sound like it would help the original poster with their study desire. A post-doctoral fellowship isn't usually a degree or certificate, but a residential research or teaching position.

Good thought, though!

 

I agree. I have a D.Min. and I am a pastor. I have a few bucks of TA to use so I started an Ed.D., however I come to realize that the Doctor of Education is really just not necessary for me. I do a lot of writing outside of the church and it won't make any difference there. I mentor and train pastors here and in Haiti. Won't make any difference there. I don't want to waste the coursework I've done and am doing so I'm going to finish it as a third master degree and get the M.Ed. instead.

A second doctorate is a lot of work. I think sometimes some of us who have so much education just don't know how to stop earning degrees. After 12+ years of always having a paper to write, a test to take, a research project to complete, I think we can develop a strange anxiety disorder I like to call "Terminal Degree Disorder." It prevents one from believing they have attained enough formal education.

Isn't the ultimate aim of a doctorate not to do some research and get a degree, but to become a researcher? Instead of another doctorate, do more research and writing. Contribute articles to teaching journals, teacher websites, start a teaching team blog, any of that is going to be a better contribution to your field than yet another graduate degree.