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[achylles]

I hold both M.A. and M.F.A. degrees in my field, and my area of expertise is housed in both Visual Arts (communication design, photography, new media, etc.) and Communication (Journalism, Film, Media Studies, etc.) programs within a university.  I've found that many of the latter departments require a Ph.D., and positions in those departments are more plentiful.  That being said, I am considering entering a doctoral program to widen my marketability and research focus.

I have 63 hours of graduate work, $64,000 in student loan debt, a mortgage, 10 years of industry experience, and a terminal degree in my field.  I'm 35 years old, and have spent most of my adult life as a student.  If I were to begin a doctoral program now, I might be in my 40s before completing, and I'd likely owe $100,000.  I'm weighing my options, but am concerned about the impact of my age on a new academic career.

While obviously I realize that I'm not too old to pursue or receive a Ph.D., will my age be an unwritten barrier to the successful pursuit of post-docs or a first-time university tenure-track position?

I know that I'll be able to pursue adjunct and community college teaching without issue, but I wonder about universities, particularly those with a heavy research focus.  Any feedback?

[imawakenow]

I have a friend with a similar background (except more professional experience). She left our program last year to start at TT job at an R1, and she had several other offers. She is early 50s.

I'd be more concerned with the debt. 100k is a lot.

[betterslac]

Are you too old to use the search function?

[cranefly]

The age is not the issue. The fact that you'd be finishing further in debt and already entering an overflooded area may be. I know people hired in Visual Arts who only have a BfA. The difference was, they were making an impact in their field and had loads of RELATED industry experience. I think you can find what you're looking for with what you've got now, IF you have a lot of practice to show as well. Teaching on the theoretical side you've got more competition. If you can combine your degrees and sell yourself as a new media/digital arts practitioner specifically to visual arts departments, you can probably get away without having a PhD. Communciations departments will likely want a PhD.

[psychprof]

You are certainly not too old to get the degree and your age will not be an unwritten "barrier" to getting hired. Like the others said you have to make sure you have the currency that will get you hired in depts that you are interested in.

Do you have the experience/skills/portfolio necessary to get hired with the MFA (which is treated like a terminal degree in the creative arts depts at my university)? If so, I'd say get a job with your MFA and pay down that debt!!!

Otherwise, make sure that you really have a job market to get into before embarking on the PhD. Usually with the PhD you are expected to do more "research" and less "creative activity" so make sure also that you will like the kind of work you'll be expected to do when hired into a position.

Good luck!

[dr_prephd]

It depends on how much that time & debt will set you back in relation to the pursuit of your long-term goals.

[slipdisco]

For what its worth,  I am a soon to be 49 year old professor at a large community college (tenure-track fourth year) who is working on a Ph.D.  I started this "new" career after spending nearly 25 years as an addictions counselor.  You're not too old.  Just don't get too bogged down with the debt.  This is my biggest regret because I am still paying off the master's debt while paying out of pocket for the doctorate.  By the way, I like teaching at my community college although it can be challenging and similar to my previous counseling career!