Advice on second doctorate

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by tcarter73, Jul 20, 2017.

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  1. tcarter73

    tcarter73 New Member

    Hello. I am a new member/first time poster. I tried to post this once before, but nothing appeared. Please forgive me if it shows up somewhere else.

    I am writing to get general advice about pursuing a second doctorate from anyone who may be willing to comment.

    I am a full time Asst Prof and hold an additional administrative position for an accredited seminary. I earned an accredited Doctor of Ministry degree a few years ago. The position that I currently hold is a dream situation.

    I also teach adjunct for two other schools. As an adjunct, I teach interdisciplinary studies (an additional 2-3 courses per semester online). Altogether, I have 13 years of experience teaching on the college/university level.

    I have also written/published four books since 2015 and have contracts for three more that are due by the end of 2018. Most of the books deal with some aspect of the intersection of race, education, community and Christian faith.

    The main reason that I am thinking about pursuing a second doctorate/PhD is that it, along with all the writing I do, would hopefully open other opportunities to teach in a secular university closer to home. I live with my family in one city, but the school where I work is in a different state. So, I commute back and forth. I stay in one place for a while, when I have time off I go home, and the cycle continues. My wife works at a university where we live and has been there 17 years, so her leaving her position is not really a viable option.

    I know that I am hampered in the kinds of teaching positions I can get outside of a seminary due to my highest degree is a DMin (a professional/practitioners degree). So, I’m thinking about pursuing a PhD in theology and philosophy or in education so I can teach more than ministry courses.

    I am looking at “dissertation only” programs overseas. My plan would be to make one of the academic books that I am working on into a dissertation.

    Although I have been accepted into a PhD in Theology program at a school in South Africa and a PhD in Education program in Asia, both programs are well over $10,000 and I would like to find an option that’s more affordable.

    I guess my question is, can anyone help advise me on finding any other overseas dissertation only program that’s less than $10,000? I have looked at multiple UK and South African programs, such as UNISA, London School of Theology, etc., but they have not been timely in responding to my inquiries. It would be nice to find a program that is less than $6,000 (I understand that this desire may be unrealistic).

    I have also considered PhD by publication. I have found 3 programs that this is possible through for foreign students. I could simply wait till the next two academic books are written and then submit those, along with any other writings that flow together and a unifying document and call it a day. The costs for these programs are less than $6,000, but I don’t know how earning a degree through this format would be perceived by hiring departments.

    Sorry for the long post. Thanks for any constructive comments.
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Hi. Please read this thread

    http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/35100-new-users-ask-where-did-my-posts-go.html

    You're not going to find a legitimate program that costs substantially less than the ones you've already found. The only other place I could point you towards is the Open University of Malaysia but I don't know if they offer the discipline(s) you're considering. As an aside I would also say that you're decision of "go cheap" on that second doctoral degree is probably a good one because I really don't know if it's going to add much to your career/earning potential. Others may disagree.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 21, 2017
  3. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Do you want to teach undergraduates or graduates? And in what subject area i.e. business, education, theology, etc?
     
  4. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    I'm not sure about hiring departments. Best guess is, as these are earned doctorates, they should be acceptable. Personally, I would perceive a UK degree by publication as at the very least as good as the one earned by traditional route. Decent academic presses have requirements for quality of scholarship that are more stringent than most PhD programs. Are your books published by academic/university press?
    In any way, hiring committees are ran by academics; they'll be able to judge your scholarship directly. A PhD degree is important but more like the HR and accreditation checkbox and prestige indicator. UK degree should be perceived just fine. Of course, this does not go into the fact that academic job market in the humanities is unbelievably competitive, and no doctorate by itself would be enough.
     
  5. tcarter73

    tcarter73 New Member

    Thanks for the responses

    Kizmet, thanks for the advice. And I will check the thread you mentioned.

    me again, I am willing to teach anything. I currently teach adjunct in multiple humanities areas (art, ethnic art, race, general religion) for a community college and a liberal arts university. At the seminary, I teach graduate courses and doctoral courses in ministry, organizational leadership, interpersonal skills, and strategic thinking. In addition to teaching, I am the person at the seminary who is responsible for managing graduate thesis projects. I also supervise doctoral dissertations.

    My published research and writing are in the areas of ethnic art, race/ethnicity, community and religion.

    Stanislav, thanks for your comment. I have thought about the competiveness of the job market and have mentally prepared myself that I may have to seek out an administrative position that allows me the opportunity/flexibility to still teach a class or two each semester.
     
  6. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Here are some things for you to consider, regarding regionally accredited institutions:

     

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