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[crp26]

I'm seeking advice on the relative value of two alternative nontraditional doctoral programs.  First let me say that my intention is to pursue a second career as an adjunct, not a tenured faculty member.  The two options are the Doctor of Liberal Studies (DLS) program at Georgetown or the Doctor of Management (DM) program at Maryland.  Both are nontraditional allowing part-time study.  The DLS program uses a multidisciplinary approach with a core focus on human values.  The DM program has a business orientation. 

I have a BS in Finance, an MS in Management and have completed the SMG program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.  I have worked in banking, insurance and government for 26 years and currently serve as CFO of a Federal agency.  Appreciate comments on the relative value of these alternatives to secure position as an adjunct faculty member.

[larryc]

1. In what field do you hope to adjunct?

2. What do you think adjuncts are paid?  I have not heard adjuncting called a career before.

[onion]

Second to Larry's questions.  It also strikes me, OP, that with your years of experience, the additional degree may not be necessary for you to pick up a class here or there, depending on what you would like to teach.

[crp26]

Thanks for your responses.  The term 'second career' was used to indicate this will be a part-time pursuit and not a primary source of income.  Having spent a fair amount of time in both the public and private sector dealing with the 1980's banking turbulence as well as the current broader financial meltdown, I would like to focus on government regulation, business ethics, corporate governance and leadership.  (My time in government has mostly been with financial regulatory agencies.)

Perhaps I am wrong in my understanding that many institutions will only consider applicants who hold a terminal degree?

[onion]

One of our business/finance profs will probably wander by soon and be able to better answer these questions, but this is what I know in my experience.  My former university would regularly hire politicians, CEOs, and other high-ranking folks with "real world" experience to teach a special topics course every now and again, and the draw (for the department and students) was that this person had "real world" experience that could flesh out the topics in the textbooks.  In addition, at my former university, a Masters degree was enough to adjunct in many, many departments.

Do you live in an area with nearby colleges and universities?  Perhaps you want to put out some feelers and see what their qualifications for adjuncts are.  Or at least investigate their websites?  In other words, I wouldn't enroll in a PhD program in the hopes of picking up a class here and there unless you had a deep passion to earn the PhD and the ability to fund it.

Just my two cents!

[charlesr]

Ditto what Onion said.  Assuming that your MS in Management gave you at least 18 graduate hours in management courses, then you should be OK to adjunct management.  Given our financial regulatory experience, I could see a benefit to having at least 18 graduate hours in finance as well.

I don't see much advantage to getting either doctorate.

[punchnpie]

Before pursuing an additional degree, you might check out Maryland's University College to see if you can get an adjunct gig there.

When I worked at  DC think tank, I was solicited by UMUC to teach. At that time, I had a terminal degree in another field, but only a masters in the field in which they wanted me to teach. I don't know what UM's budget issues are, but if you want to adjunct on a PT basis, I bet with your experience you could do it now, you just need someone to know you are available. You could also check out Montgomery College; my mother adjuncted there for years with a masters. I imagine the community colleges in northern VA would also be good places to investigate.

The only problem with all this is that DC is full of people with good pedigrees and interesting jobs who want to adjunct somewhere. The competition is fierce. If you're bound and determined to go into this, look into all of the local schools, not only the big names like Maryland and Georgetown.

[mathguy]

crp26,


Don't waste your time pursuing a DLS or DM. Your credentials are already more than adequate for adjuncting purposes.


Mathguy, Ph.D.

I'm seeking advice on the relative value of two alternative nontraditional doctoral programs.  First let me say that my intention is to pursue a second career as an adjunct, not a tenured faculty member.  The two options are the Doctor of Liberal Studies (DLS) program at Georgetown or the Doctor of Management (DM) program at Maryland.  Both are nontraditional allowing part-time study.  The DLS program uses a multidisciplinary approach with a core focus on human values.  The DM program has a business orientation. 

I have a BS in Finance, an MS in Management and have completed the SMG program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.  I have worked in banking, insurance and government for 26 years and currently serve as CFO of a Federal agency.  Appreciate comments on the relative value of these alternatives to secure position as an adjunct faculty member.

[groundhog]

Second to Larry's questions.  It also strikes me, OP, that with your years of experience, the additional degree may not be necessary for you to pick up a class here or there, depending on what you would like to teach.

OP, I agree - you don't need a doctorate to teach on an adjunct basis.  I have a masters with 18 graduate hours in finance and have 20 years experience in financial management and I have been teaching finance, money/banking and economics for three years now, both undergrad and grad-level. 

Your big draw is the combination of the masters degree and industry experience.  Someone with a brand-new masters would not have the same opportunities. 

With the low salaries for adjuncts, getting a doctorate (unless it's fully paid by an employer) is a money-losing proposition.  All of this advice would change, however, if you ever intend to make a switch to full-time teaching. 

[educator1]

Many of the better AACSB accredited schools of business are moving toward the terminal degree as a basic necessity to be considered for a teaching gig.
At my school, my adjunct colleagues without a terminal degree were told to pursue the doctorate ASAP or leave.

[charlesr]

At my school, my adjunct colleagues without a terminal degree were told to pursue the doctorate ASAP or leave.

If we did that we'd have no adjuncts and we'd lose about 25% of our fulltime faculty. 

[groundhog]

Many of the better AACSB accredited schools of business are moving toward the terminal degree as a basic necessity to be considered for a teaching gig.
At my school, my adjunct colleagues without a terminal degree were told to pursue the doctorate ASAP or leave.

Yes, I agree that that is happening, although as long as the OP doesn't intend to make teaching his/her primary career, I don't think the lack of a doctorate will keep him/her from being hired and employed, but it may limit the schools that are interested.

[boolos]

You're wasting your time.  Adjuncts are paid dirt, treated like dirt, and it isn't a career.  It's like aspiring to be a substitute teacher.

[onion]

You're wasting your time.  Adjuncts are paid dirt, treated like dirt, and it isn't a career.  It's like aspiring to be a substitute teacher.

Adjuncts in certain business and professional schools are paid better than TT faculty in the Humanities.

[educator1]

You're wasting your time.  Adjuncts are paid dirt, treated like dirt, and it isn't a career.  It's like aspiring to be a substitute teacher.

Speak for what you know. The proliferation of unfounded generalizations like this on a discussion board involving highly educated individuals is amazing!