"Fast track" would be full-time status. The time-to-degree for most full-time Ph.D. programs is 5 years. That includes 2 years of course work, and allows 3 years for the dissertation. It is possible to write the dissertation in less time, but not much less than 2 years. Depending on the research topic, it can take more. The degree generally has to be finished within 10 years, and many of us just made it.
The Ph.D. is a research degree. It prepares you to do research in the field. There are a very few tenure-track positions that do not require research; I believe that Maryland has "clinical faculty" whose primary responsibility is to teach. I don't know if there are any others.
If you have little interest in research, and primarily are interested in teaching, then a Ph.D. is not only not necessary, it will not be what you are looking for. Teaching as an adjunct or, better, as a permanent instructor would be the way to go. It seems to me that the online programs in particular hire permanent instructors. It's a non-tenure track position, so does not require research.
Suzanne M. Stauffer, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
School of Library and Information Science
Louisiana State University
275 Coates Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225)578-1461
Fax: (225)578-4581
[log in to unmask]
________________________________
From: Discussion List for issues related to cataloging & metadata education & training on behalf of Christine Schwartz
Sent: Mon 11/30/2009 8:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [eduCAT] LIS Phd online?
Thank you for this information, Judy and Philip. I will take a close look at
both the SJSU SLIS and School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt
University programs. I have to say, since I'm turning 51 next month, 7 years
part-time sounds too long! I'd have to fast track it somehow.
I guess the other option would be teaching cataloging and metadata as an
adjunct which I suppose could be done with just the MLIS. I been writing the
Cataloging Futures blog for almost three years which is educational (I
hope), but would like the sharing, problem-solving, and interaction that
would be part of teaching students.
Chris
Christine Schwartz
Metadata Librarian
Princeton Theological Seminary Libraries
[log in to unmask]
On Fri, Nov 27, 2009 at 5:03 AM, Hider, Philip <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> The School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University, Australia
> also has one. It's been running for over a decade; we currently have 20 or
> so part-time online/distance PhD students. The part-time program is
> generally completed in around five years, but rates of progress vary. Most
> students attend at least two or three residential schools over their
> candidature, but we're more flexible when it comes to offshore students
> (through the use of videoconferencing technologies, etc.). We have, I guess,
> medium strength in cataloging/metadata, with three faculty members
> researching and supervising in the area.
>
> Assoc Prof Philip Hider
> Head, School of Information Studies
> Charles Sturt University
> Tel. 02 6933 2522 (International: +612 6933 2522)
> Fax. 02 6933 2733 (International: +612 6933 2733)
> Email [log in to unmask]
> Web http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/educat/sis
|