"Even though I completely finished the PhD in mid 2007 and it’s now mid 2010, I haven’t had a single academic job – not even a job interview!"
Don’t get a PhD “Imagine that I’m in a rowboat, in the middle of a lake. So are a hundred other people. The lake is big enough to hold just one hundred rowboats. We all have fishing rods, and our heavily baited hooks are in the water. There’s a single fish in the water, and everyone on the lake knows it. You’re standing at the shore and you call out, “so…. should I bring my boat and rod out there too?” Another illustration: There’s an elevator full of people. No, not just full, it’s absolutely stuffed with people, and the crowd overflows out into the lobby, where still more people – dozens of them, are pressing in as hard as they can, trying to get into the elevator. Should you try to get in? Imagine that the scene before you does not change. The people in the elevator are quite happy to stay there, and the crowd pressed hard up against them just keeps on pressing it, showing no sign of letting up. You haven’t even entered the mob yet. Should you stand around for hours waiting to get in?” HT: Larry
It’s interesting to note the 2 specific academic fields referenced in this article — theology and philosophy. The author is not discouraging everyone from pursuing a Ph.D. (although a Ph.D. is certainly not for everyone). Rather, it is a call to awareness of supply-demand in these 2 particular fields. However, if God calls one to pursue a Ph.D. in these fields, one should certainly pursue it. However, one must also be willing to make the necessary personal sacrifices to follow that calling (i.e. willingness to move geographically; willingness to take 1 year interim positions rather than long-term or tenure-track slots, etc.). In contrast, there are other academic fields where Ph.D. job applicants are in very short supply compared to the open positions, including, but not limited to, Communications. Either way, don’t pursue a Ph.D. for the “glory.” If you do, you will be sadly disappointed.
Just food for thought …
Just food for thought …
Theology in particular is a bloated field. There are a host of barely adequate (ok, inadequate) institutions offering meaningless PhDs to anyone with the money to pay for them. The problem is that no one recruits faculty from these schools. On the other hand, your odds are a lot better if you’re planning on pastoring, which is not why most people get PhDs, but offers a much better shot at getting a job. Churches fawn over PhDs as long as they don’t come across too nerdy and intellectual. To get an academic job in a reputable university or seminary, you probably need a PhD from one of the top theology programs - Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Duke, Harvard, Notre Dame, a few others - or from the school at which you want to work. A PhD degree from even a decent seminary, for instance Dallas, is unlikely to secure a position except at a third-tier Dallas wanna-be school.
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Cor meum tibi offero Domine prompte et sincere. ~ John Calvin
It is always unwise to take advice from someone who has been unsuccessful at something and has an axe to grind. In this case, the author cannot find the teaching job he wants, and I doubt frankly if this blog will help. It sounds like he got a paid-for Ph.D., so what is he complaining about?
That being said, he is half-right. I have been “around” higher theological education for more than 15 years, have taught college classes, have been published and also have a few bumps and bruises to show for my time in the race.
If someone like the author has his heart set on teaching at one particular school or filling one particular position for the rest of his life, he is indeed probably going to be disappointed — like the kid who dreams of going back to his high school to replace his favorite teacher. At most that can only happen to one person every one or two generations, and would not be the basis of forming a wise life plan (Eccl. 11:1,2).
Also, anyone who thinks that a Ph.D. in Bible, theology or anything related is going to be the key to his financial success is smoking his sweat socks. If you have to pay for the degree yourself, it could easily cost $50,000 to $100,000, and even if you land your dream job you are probably going to be in bottom 1/3 in terms of annual income when you go back for your high school class reunion. The dynamics were a lot different a generation or two ago, but this is the reality today.
So that leads us back to square one — why do you want to get a Ph.D.? Is it for self-glory, or to increase your usability in God’s hands to be a blessing to others? There are myriads of open positions for even inadequate Ph.D.’s — with vast amounts of spiritual opportunity there for the taking — on the mission field.
In spite of the author’s counsel and the fact that I have not yet started Ph.D. work at age 40+, I still have a desire to get one, if for no other reason because it is there to get. I have learned that a lot of life is what you make it — with God’s perspective and help.
That being said, he is half-right. I have been “around” higher theological education for more than 15 years, have taught college classes, have been published and also have a few bumps and bruises to show for my time in the race.
If someone like the author has his heart set on teaching at one particular school or filling one particular position for the rest of his life, he is indeed probably going to be disappointed — like the kid who dreams of going back to his high school to replace his favorite teacher. At most that can only happen to one person every one or two generations, and would not be the basis of forming a wise life plan (Eccl. 11:1,2).
Also, anyone who thinks that a Ph.D. in Bible, theology or anything related is going to be the key to his financial success is smoking his sweat socks. If you have to pay for the degree yourself, it could easily cost $50,000 to $100,000, and even if you land your dream job you are probably going to be in bottom 1/3 in terms of annual income when you go back for your high school class reunion. The dynamics were a lot different a generation or two ago, but this is the reality today.
So that leads us back to square one — why do you want to get a Ph.D.? Is it for self-glory, or to increase your usability in God’s hands to be a blessing to others? There are myriads of open positions for even inadequate Ph.D.’s — with vast amounts of spiritual opportunity there for the taking — on the mission field.
In spite of the author’s counsel and the fact that I have not yet started Ph.D. work at age 40+, I still have a desire to get one, if for no other reason because it is there to get. I have learned that a lot of life is what you make it — with God’s perspective and help.
Church Ministries Representative, serving in the Midwest, for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
I may be off target, but it strikes me there is education for the sake of vocational prospects and then there is education for the sake of interest in the subject area. Examples below
- Vocational eduction: I’ve taken many programming classes: SQL Server, Cold Fusion, REXX, PL/1, etc. The purpose is to enhance my job prospects.
- “Passion for learning” education: My wife is interested in pursuing a degree in art history. She is thinking about doing this in retirement. She knows that there will be no vocational benefit (but she doesn’t care).
In this case, the author cannot find the teaching job he wants, and I doubt frankly if this blog will help. It sounds like he got a paid-for Ph.D., so what is he complaining about?I wonder if you missed the point of his article, Paul. He isn’t complaining. He said he got paid to do what he loves to do for three years. He says, It was great! And if that’s all you’re after – three years of doing what you love, then I take back my warning. Go ahead, do it, because you will very probably get what you want. He says (also in response to Jim), If you’re doing it for the love of it, sure why not. It’s expensive, but whatever.
I think his point is that it’s expensive and time consuming and it puts you in a very crowded field so if you think it is the doorway to professional academia, it probably won’t work unless you are special or know someone (his two categories). If all you want is knowledge, you can get it without the PhD. No need to spend the money, unless you just want to.
I think this is just a reality check type of warning about expectations.
And I, for my part, think it is a good one.
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