2 year phd

Discussion in 'Business and MBA degrees' started by maverick3934, May 25, 2014.

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  1. phdorbust

    phdorbust New Member

    You can definitely complete a full PhD program in 2 years or so, with the right circumstances, motivation, a good advisor, and no program hurdles prohibiting it. I finished in 2yrs, 3 months at a state flagship university while holding down a full-time academic appointment, no leave time. The key for me was a high degree of motivation and willingness to stick to a do-able dissertation from the outset. Also, for coursework, transfer, transfer, transfer. For me it solved the problem of waiting on the academic calendar and my schedule.

    In my experience, many people stumble at the dissertation stage worrying about particular topic tweaks and flavors of study. Choose a topic you care about and come in writing it day one. Don't wait to be told its ok to begin. Come in wheels turning and do not allow administrative delays. It can be done but at time you may feel slightly insane doing so. Being a strong writer will really help, but the right advisor is everything.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 6, 2014
  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Perhaps not so clearly. I routinely cite the book Diplomaism, which made that argument in 1971. But it isn't the whole story. There are other forces afoot.

    Technology has had a huge impact on the availability of degrees. Because doing a degree (at any level) while continuing to work full-time has become so routine, the supply has increased due to competition. More people need more degrees because more degrees are available to more people. Like that.

    Another force involves the changes in our society, particularly in the middle class. Frankly, it is so much harder today to make a middle-class living in low-skill jobs. This pushes people towards getting higher and higher skills. But because the U.S. lacks a strong qualifications framework (a very specific term--look it up), the only widely-recognized credentials are degrees, so many people push for them. This contributes to the inflationary forces we feel.

    Another force is the change from the defined-benefit retirement systems of yore to the defined-contribution plans of today. This made employees more mobile, which also means (a) employers are more reluctant to invest in employees who will leave for other jobs and (b) employees need recognizable credentials (see the previous paragraph) so new employers will notice.

    There is no indication that these things will change. Its as if a guy needs two doctorates just to get by these days. :wink:
     
  3. phdorbust

    phdorbust New Member

    In general college in the United States represents much more than skills. It is viewed by many as a social achievement. This, coupled with the under-appreciation for skilled trades and physical labor and generous student loan programs, makes a great recipe for a flood of degrees. American secondary schools also sort students less effectively than they once did. We send the message strongly that college is for everyone. Open access is Americana. Unfortunately it is expensive to maintain, and doesn't always respond to the labor market.

    Another side of this is that many skilled positions in the manufacturing arena cannot be replaced by our labor pool. Positions that pay well, such as equipment operators, previously filled by 60-somethings for salaries upwards of 70k, go unfilled due to lack of interest, requisite technical training, and positive drug screens. We need stronger counseling at the high school level to better place students where they belong, but these are tough conversations.
     
  4. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    And what is a DBH?
     
  5. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    If a one or two week MBA Certificate galls you, there is a three-day MBA Certificate and this very board has a thread on it.
     
  6. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    One of my old history professors from Western State College of Colorado (now known as Western State Colorado University) got his EdD in Social Science Education from Oklahoma State University, which he managed to do in two years.

    Last I checked their catalog (1991), the University of Washington was offering a 54 quarter hour PhD, which required 27 quarter hours of coursework and 27 quarter hours of dissertation. If you can hack 9 quarter hours per quarter, you could then take your PhD in two years.

    If you want a two-year PhD in Nuclear Engineering by distance learning, you could try the University of South Carolina. They require 18 semester hours of coursework and 12 semester hour dissertation. Could be done in two years.
     

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