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[trublue]

My husband is currently seeking employment at the CC level and tended to eliminate the ones that stated "PhD. preferred" beings he has only an MBA (which is generally the minimum qualifications).. 

I'm wondering now if he should have considered these establishments instead of dismissing them..  Anyone out there that actually did apply for their job where it was "PhD. preferred" but only met the minimum requested and received positive results?

TruBlue

[zharkov]

It all depends on the applicant pool.  If loads of PhDs apply for a PhD preferred job, then the master's-only holder is probably out of luck.  But sometimes, loads of PhDs don't apply, then the master's holder has a good chance.  I know master's only holders who were hired based on PhD preferred ads.

[calurduran]

I can't speak for business, as I am in political science, but I have had several interviews this year with "Ph.D" preferred community colleges and I only have a Masters (although I am in a PhD program ... but since I am not anywhere near finishing the dissertation my claiming I will someday is about as accurate as another candidate claiming they are willing to get a PhD down the road).

The marginal cost of applying to an extra job is fairly low and since you never know what the sc will be looking for, I say he should apply for any job that he meets the minimum qualifications for and that he would be interested in. Never disqualify yourself for an academic position that you might fit at -- let the committee do that for you.

[charlesr]

He should apply.  I am in a business field.  In some business fields, especially  accounting, finance, and computer science, many 4-year schools have trouble finding or affording PhDs.  I have difficulty imagining that CCs have many PhDs in business.

[jossfritz]

In most cases, experience with community college teaching trumps Ph.D-preferred. In other words, someone with an MA but who started out studying at a cc and now teaches part time at a cc will seem more attractive than than the Ivy Ph.D. who has only ever adjuncted at research universities. Apply to everything--in truth, the Ph.D. line may well be a boilerplate part of the posting while the committee is actually focusing on other things.

[sciencephd]

The best strategy for a job search would seem to be applying to every job that is related to your field/area of expertise.  It is pretty clear that the academic job search is in part a numbers game.  Not sure what the reason would be to not apply for the set of jobs labeled "PhD preferred", unless it said "PhD required".

[gekko]

In my state there is next to no monetary incentive at a CC for doctoral degree holders, aside from a very small (around 1k) annual bump called a "doctoral differential."  Salary is determined by credits beyond the bachelors. This just shows on a macro level (although individual departments/programs may differ) that the "preferred" mantra is likely just lip service since the credential is obviously not valued in any substantive material way. This is not only indicitive of the general attitude that a Ph.D. is not necessary at a CC (probably an accurate assumption) but also the fact that many prospective faculty in professional fields will not wish to be considered for these openings or will only in the event they do not receive others.  Bottom line is that you have nothing to loose by applying.

[doctorious]

I am actually sending off my materials today for a business instructor position at a CC (and I have an MBA with 16 units in an EdD program in organizational leadership -- which I don't think means much). As someone else said in another thread, "don't self eliminate yourself" -- let the SC do that (likewise never tell someone what you can't do, but only what you can). On a related note, how supportive (directly or indirectly) would a CC be if I were to get this job and then endeavored into a PhD program? I am investigating program options and, as a backup, am making a short list of less traditional PhD programs that I could pursue even if employed full time at a CC.

[chaud]

He should apply. This isn't the same, but I got a job offer when I applied to a job advertised at two ranks. I had the lower of the ranks, but they obviously didn't get a huge pool or liked me better for some reason.

[msparticularity]

I think you just need to pay attention to the small print. Some jobs listed as "PhD preferred" go on to specify that they will consider someone who is ABD, but the appointment will be at a lecturer level (non TT) until the degree is conferred. Some jobs say, "PhD or other terminal degree" - is an MBA considered a terminal degree?

[prytania3]

I teach at a cc in the NYC tri-state area (basically desirable except for cost of living--but not in the boonies and we have big applicant pools). Anyway, I'm in the English department and all of our new hires are Phd's, but in the business department? Nope, not a one. They either have MBAs, JDs, or MAcc's. People with PhD's in finance and accounting can pick and choose, and most of them are not picking cc's.

I would definitely apply to anything that looked interesting.

[john_proctor]

Ph.D. preferred means just (and only) that.

Send the app.  Have a backup plan.

[zharkov]

is an MBA considered a terminal degree?

No, not in 2008.  The business program accreditors (AACSB and ACBSP) expect that most business faculty have doctorates in 4 year and MBA programs.

Maybe 30 years ago, when fewer business profs had doctorates, an MBA may have been considered more or less a terminal degree. But not today.