next »

[ptr00]

Hi, glad I found these forums because I can use some advice! I am looking into pursuing graduate education, but I'm trying to decide whether I should go for a program in Sociology or Ethnic Studies. My interests are race/ethnicity and international relations/geopolitics. I've had conflicting advice on which program I should go for.

My goal is to teach, I would love to teach CC. I'm just wondering, which discipline do you folks think would not only suit my interests the best but also would be of more use in the academic job market?

While I'm at it, I'll throw one more question out there: for the disciplines I'm interested in, would getting only an MA give me a good or not so good chance of landing a CC teaching job? I'm sure it probably depends on a lot of things, but any feedback is welcome.

Thanks for reading!

[zharkov]

If you look at the market, there are fewer schools with ethnic studies departments than sociology departments, and I'd expect very very few CCs with ethnic studies departments.  Search the CHE ads for a sense of how many in each field are getting hired and what kind of schools are doing the hiring.

You could get a job teaching sociology at a CC with an MA, but you would also be competing with PhDs.  Getting a PhD would increase your chances of getting a job, but there are no guarantees you'd get a job even with a PhD.

Also, keep in mind that most of your work at a CC will be teaching SOC 101 as a gen ed course to non sociology majors.

Only go to grad school in the social sciences or humanities if you get fully funded.  Don't take out loans or go into debt b/c you can't know whether you will ever get a job.  If you do go, go to the best program that accepts you.  Don't settle for something b/c it is close or convenient.

[ptr00]

Thanks a lot for the reply. I'm wondering, how likely is full funding...is that usually only for exceptional candidates or prestigious programs?

Only go to grad school in the social sciences or humanities if you get fully funded.  Don't take out loans or go into debt b/c you can't know whether you will ever get a job. 

[larryc]

Never get a PhD in [blank] studies. Stick to a discipline.

[zharkov]

Thanks a lot for the reply. I'm wondering, how likely is full funding...is that usually only for exceptional candidates or prestigious programs?

Only go to grad school in the social sciences or humanities if you get fully funded.  Don't take out loans or go into debt b/c you can't know whether you will ever get a job. 

I don't know the numbers, but it is pretty common. You don't have to be a star or go to the top program.  Programs usually have required GPAs and/or GRE scores, not just to be admitted, but to obtain funding, so keep that in mind as you research programs.  Your advisor should be a good source of info about programs in your field, and often may suggest and recommend you to certain programs based on your interests and academic ability.

PS: Grad schools won't like your idea about teaching at a CC, so keep that mum.  Not that it is a bad idea, but, well, just keep it under you hat.