Creating your own Ph.D. program?

[AshleyJordan]

OK, so I'm sorta thinking aloud here, so please bear with me:

I have a Master's degree and have been out of school now for just over year. I realized that I love being in school, yet don't want to go back to being a full-time student. Just a class here or there would make me very happy. My job offers tuition reimbursement, and I'm interested in another degree in my field (nonprofit management,) but am in NO rush this time to finish it. Seriously, if it took me ten years, I'd be OK with that. :p

Anyhoo, there are lots of Master's degrees out there in nonprofit management, but I see NO Ph.D. programs in that field. I could get a second Master's, but I'd kinda prerfer to get a doctorate if I already have a Master's under my belt, ya know? Also, I'd like to really specialize by doing academic work (i.e. publishing papers, etc.,) on the same work that I do evry day. . . so it would be academic AND applied at the same time, ou know?

Now, I realize that getting a doctorate part-time would take a gazillion years, but I'm working "in the field" and indeed within the system of one of the colleges I'd be interested in attending, so it would be doable. And I know profs can be flexible about this sort of thing, creating your own academic "path" or "concentration" or whatever, but I'm just curious about how doable this might sound, or what I would do?

I suppose I could 1)start as a non-matric in some of the programs I'm interested in, or 2)just meet one-on-one with the department heads and see what they say. Thoughts? Experiences?

[winneythepooh7]

We work in similar fields. I think the PhD in Social Work offers various options, where you pretty much can "major" in whatever you desire with it, or create your own plan. I just personally can't see how this would help me out anymore financially. You can still teach in my field without a PhD from what I've seen. You can be an administrator of a company (something I don't want either). Plus, I haven't come across too many jobs that pay for it or present a financial incentive to advance yourself this way. I'm not really looking for a title either as "Dr." which is why some people go for it, I'm sure. ETA: I've actually read several articles as of late about how so many SW schools feel they are hurting in getting PhD candidates because there is not really any point in spending all that money, when you can pretty much do the same things with your Master's.

[AshleyJordan]

That all makes sense. I guess I'm just thinking if it's paid for, and I've already got graduate credits that will transfer/professional experience that apply, why not get a more advanced degree if there's a school here that would go for it? I think I'd be very happy in an academic setting long-term, and I guess I just think this would be a nice, low-pressure way to do so. What I'm imagining here is seriously years of just doing more specialized research/coursework while I'm working in the field. . . .
ETA: It hadn't occured to me that this might fall within the Social Work umbrella, but I did work with a TON of MSW's at my last job who had pretty high-level administrative posts within the nonprofit sector. I should contact some of the SW departments at area colleges and see what they say, as Nonprofit Management is still a pretty young field!

[ebruening]

I'm going on part-time for my doctoral degree in Education, after I finish my Master's in Education in May 2008. The education field is a little bit different, but most programs make it relatively easy for educators to work full-time and attend classes part-time. If I did it that way, I could conceivably finish in 8 years - when I'm 34 :rolleyes: However, a Ph.D. in Education could open up a LOT of different opportunities for me - anything from superintendent positions to teaching at the college level. I think you have to look at what sort of opportunities a Ph.D. in social work could give you. It sounds like you've already done that, so perhaps you might start searching around for a program that you feel is a good fit for you, and your interests. Good luck!

[AshleyJordan]

I think that what I'm interested in would fall under the board category of "public policy," and there are a couple of schools here that offer doctorates in that field.

[winneythepooh7]

That all makes sense. I guess I'm just thinking if it's paid for, and I've already got graduate credits that will transfer/professional experience that apply, why not get a more advanced degree if there's a school here that would go for it? I think I'd be very happy in an academic setting long-term, and I guess I just think this would be a nice, low-pressure way to do so. What I'm imagining here is seriously years of just doing more specialized research/coursework while I'm working in the field. . . .
ETA: It hadn't occured to me that this might fall within the Social Work umbrella, but I did work with a TON of MSW's at my last job who had pretty high-level administrative posts within the nonprofit sector. I should contact some of the SW departments at area colleges and see what they say, as Nonprofit Management is still a pretty young field!

Yeah, if they are willing to pay for it, that is a great benefit to have. Are there any strings attached though? Like if they pay for your education, you have to stay with them for X amount of years or pay back the $$$? That's how it was at my last job that would've been willing to pay for my MSW at Hunter College (I was already enrolled at YU though and would have had to work a whole other year, then hope I got this......I think they only gave this to one employee a year).

Definitely check out the SW track. I think YU has two focuses for their PhD program: SW education and research.

[winneythepooh7]

Here, check this out Ashley:

http://www.yu.edu/wurzweiler/page.aspx?id=2850


Would they pay for a private school? YU is not too far from where you work during the day ;).

[AshleyJordan]

Nope, no strings. It's just a benefit they offer. ETA: I think it only kicks in after 3 or 6 months of employment, but still, that's not a big deal. It'll give me a chance to figure out what I'd like to focus on.

[winneythepooh7]

Wow, that's great. Only 3-6 months after being employed? Yup, as I said, where I was, you had to be there for a year, then hope you were the employee they picked!!! (That was a smaller non-profit though).

The administrators where I work primarily just write new policies all day. Which is fine and needed, but so NOT up my alley ;). But, I guess that's why they pay them the big bucks. They also are the ones who are sent when employees under them screw up, so to save face so to speak........

[AshleyJordan]

Hmmm, the YU program looks like it could fit within the course of study I'm considering and it would be convenient. Certainly worth sending them an email. Thanks, Winney! And, no, I don't think the reimbursement is contingent upon *where* you study, which is good!

[AshleyJordan]

Ultimately, what I would most like to do is focus more on conceptualizing development plans and administering them at a higher level than I am now. That's the sort of thing that just happens after a few years and a promotion or two, but I'd like to study more about how to set those organizational priorities, etc. It'd be great because with the right classes (I've seen a few at Baruch and Columbia that tie in perfectly,) I'd be studying the exact same stuff I'm working on. Also, with a Ph.D. I'd be in a better position to teach/work at a university, and I now have an "in" for working in an academic environment ;)

[winneythepooh7]

Glad I could help! I enjoyed my time there while I was a student. They are a less known SW school in NYC (probably because they aren't big SW school choices like Hunter, NYU or Columbia where EVERYONE wants to go), however, they do have an excellent reputation and are becoming much more known in the field. They also still remain pretty small so you get the added advantage of actually knowing the other students and ALL the professors. Another important thing, is I felt that they were very diverse. Good luck and keep us posted! How exciting!