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[wildlybeautiful]

Hello All,

I am in the process of deciding which PhD I would like to pursue. I have a Masters degree in Social Work, and at first I thought I wanted to go further into that field. However, I am at the point where I want to be as marketable as possible. Which PhD has the most security in the field as well as marketability as far as job choice and selection?

[thundering_m]

OK, I'll bite. In what hiring venue are you hoping to be marketable?

[notaprof]

OK, I'll bite. In what hiring venue are you hoping to be marketable?

The guaranteed one, of course.

[wildlybeautiful]

If you wish to be snippy...take that down the road. I am attempting to gather info from people that I thought may have more insight then myself, nothing more, nothing less.

I would like to continue in social work..but for what I have been told by Professors in the field, I have the terminal degree so why not look into another field that will assist in being more well rounded. I have been in social for over a decade, so I have alot of experience in therapy, case management and the like. So I want to be employable in higher ed in social work, but not necessarily have that degree.

[bread_pirate_naan]

If you wish to be snippy...take that down the road.

Telling people what to do here doesn't pay anything but grief.

I am attempting to gather info from people that I thought may have more insight then myself, nothing more, nothing less.

Well, you might not be cut out for a PhD on the critical thinking and writing levels, because you're doing more than that. 

<insight into academia, delivered>

[wildlybeautiful]

Coming into someone's post just to be ass, just for the sake of being a ass pays in something...but over the internet is can't be accomplished.
So I can take myself down the road to folks that are really into helping other's.
Thanks for the heads up.

[mouseman]

Let me explain to you why you got those responses.  A PhD is something that takes 5-11 years of you life, and costs an enormous amount of, excuse me for the cliche, blood, sweat, and tears.  It will almost never increase your marketability in any field, as you will understand if you check out the threads on the job board.  Waltzing in and talking about it in such a blase way will not increase the affection that anybody here has for you, nor will your moniker.
Since the people on these forums are, essentially, the same type of people, or the actual people who will be in charge of deciding whether you are accepted to grad school or not, you would do well to learn the language and culture here, if you are serious about doing a PhD.  You want to join our world, so it is up to you to make us like you.  We are already either in grad school, or have our terminal degrees.  We are part of the club, so we don't have to make sure that you like us.  Furthermore, if you think that the people here are abusive, you will not survive your first article submission, much less a meeting with your PhD committee, or your first conference talk.

So  learn the language and etiquette, or find another direction for your talents and ambitions.

[tinyzombie]

Waltzing in and talking about it in such a blase way will not increase the affection that anybody here has for you, nor will your moniker.

We like proper spelling and punctuation, as well.

[jackit]

I think the OP has a reasonable question.  Any takers?

[hmaria1609]

One of my P/T library colleagues has a M.P.A. (Masters in Public Admin.) as a program analyst at a city govt agency across town.  Works just fine.

[anthroid]

OP does have a reasonable question.  What does she want to do?  Teach?  Research?  Be a higher level practice or policy administrator?  OP, what are your goals?

FYI, a MSW is no longer considered a terminal degree for academia, though it is for practice.  The same seems to be true for the Ed.D. and the Public Policy Ph.D.

[thundering_m]

OP does have a reasonable question.  What does she want to do?  Teach?  Research?  Be a higher level practice or policy administrator?  OP, what are your goals?

FYI, a MSW is no longer considered a terminal degree for academia, though it is for practice.  The same seems to be true for the Ed.D. and the Public Policy Ph.D.

Thank you, Anthroid. My apologies if my first response seemed less civil, but this is what I was asking when I said

OK, I'll bite. In what hiring venue are you hoping to be marketable?

and by the way, I don't doubt that the original poster is wildly beautiful any more than I am a thundering marshmallow.

[thundering_m]

OP does have a reasonable question.  What does she want to do?  Teach?  Research?  Be a higher level practice or policy administrator?  OP, what are your goals?

Thank you, Anthroid. My apologies if my first response seemed less civil, but this is what I was asking when I said

OK, I'll bite. In what hiring venue are you hoping to be marketable?

and by the way, I don't doubt that the original poster is wildly beautiful any more than I am a thundering marshmallow. However, I'm not so sure that the Ed.D. is not a terminal degree for academia, at least for schools of education that value clinical experience.
 

[msparticularity]

However, I'm not so sure that the Ed.D. is not a terminal degree for academia, at least for schools of education that value clinical experience.
 

The EdD and the PhD have become hopelessly muddled, thanks to the triumph of institutional history over function. For example, Columbia Teachers College grants only the EdD, while many compass-point state programs grant only the PhD--this despite the fact that, if one reviews their respective program requirements, it is quite clear that the degrees granted should be exactly the opposite.

In education, at least, the only way to figure out what a person's qualifications are (supposing they have one of these degrees) is to look at their transcript and teaching and publication record.

[anthroid]

However, I'm not so sure that the Ed.D. is not a terminal degree for academia, at least for schools of education that value clinical experience.
 

The EdD and the PhD have become hopelessly muddled, thanks to the triumph of institutional history over function. For example, Columbia Teachers College grants only the EdD, while many compass-point state programs grant only the PhD--this despite the fact that, if one reviews their respective program requirements, it is quite clear that the degrees granted should be exactly the opposite.

In education, at least, the only way to figure out what a person's qualifications are (supposing they have one of these degrees) is to look at their transcript and teaching and publication record.

My point actually was that a teacher in the classroom does not need an Ed.D. to be a good practitioner (though, frankly, I would have a hard time hiring an Ed.D. to teach at the college level.  I want to see the Ph.D.), just as a person doing public policy practice doesn't need the Ph.D., and someone interested in being a psychotherapist or a social worker or something related does not need anything beyond the MSW.  If you want to teach, however, the doctorate or Ph.D. is mighty important these days, given the number of practitioners who believe that practice=theory (which, BTW, it doesn't).