tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post3427634167348481603..comments2023-10-07T08:43:04.748-04:00Comments on Historical Reminiscents.: Compatible or Incompatible? Public History and the PhDKrista McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-74684626123638734782012-07-20T22:05:28.980-04:002012-07-20T22:05:28.980-04:00Finally weighing in, although I think my colleague...Finally weighing in, although I think my colleagues have said just about everything I was thinking. My experience is closest to Abby's--my MA was in another field (archaeology) and I would like to teach at some point. Also our program requires both a thesis and a high level project of the type you described, so it is the best of both worlds, in a sense. It sounds to me like there are shorter (more affordable) programs like the archival certification that could get you the skills you want faster. If, on the other hand, you want a PhD is something you want, we will cheer you on every step of the way!<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts and to Katie for pointing the rest of us over here. :)Kristennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-41450222411396633652012-07-16T14:47:16.961-04:002012-07-16T14:47:16.961-04:00I am all too familiar with the MA vs. Ph.D. debate...I am all too familiar with the MA vs. Ph.D. debate. I've had the same internal struggle that I know my other colleagues have also had (Katie and Abby!)I have heard students from other public history programs debating the same conundrum, and usually what lays at the heart of the issue is the fear of limiting ourselves, or the desire to have a "leg up" on our competition. I admit I had the same thought process when I decided to go for my Ph.D. in public history. After finishing my first year, I have made some realizations. I don't believe that having a Ph.D. is "superior" to having a M.A. You can have a successful, intellectually challenging, and fulfilling career with a M.A. just as well with a Ph.D. I do believe, however, that having a Ph.D. will direct the TYPES of projects you will take on. You may be more interested and capable of handling large-scale, multi-year projects. In that respect a residency and dissertation is helpful in training you for that aspect. Like Abby said, it really comes down to a personal choice. Are you in a position to complete a Ph.D. program? And, most importantly, WILL YOU BE HAPPY DOING IT? A Ph.D. program is no joke...no walk in the park...and not to be taken lightly. I will conclude by saying that getting a Ph.D. really does not make you skip steps in the career ladder. It takes time to go through a program, during which your M.A. counterparts are gaining valuable full-time experience. My hope is that later in my career my Ph.D. will allow to me climb farther and quicker.Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10149884188984092940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-40670145807987028762012-07-16T14:09:53.613-04:002012-07-16T14:09:53.613-04:00I think it's tricky, and it really depends on ...I think it's tricky, and it really depends on what you want to do. A PhD is fundamentally a research degree, which isn't to say that there aren't brilliant people doing amazing research without PhDs, of course, because there are. I think the experience of doing deep research on a specialized subject it something that can come in handy depending on what you plan to do in public history and what your background is.<br /><br />My MA and BA are in traditional history, so getting another MA didn't make sense, and I didn't have the public history skills to pursue a career in that arena with my existing credentials. I also switched historical fields (from European to African) and began working on totally different questions. The PhD also makes sense for me because I eventually want to come back and teach after working in the field for 20-30 years.<br /><br />Do you need a PhD to do public history? Absolutely not. Does writing a dissertation push you into some lofty circle where you're incapable of doing public history work without consulting the wizards in the ivory tower? Not automatically, no. I think public history tends to draw people who want something other than the standard academic experience of writing a monograph and becoming a professor. <br /><br />At the end of the day, it comes down to what you want to do and what credentials you need to do it. If you want a PhD and think it will be helpful, find a program and do it. If you have an MA and feel like you're doing interesting and enjoyable work and the PhD process would only be a distraction, don't do it.Abigail Gautreauhttp://twitter.com/abbygateaunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-10957851740816282962012-07-16T13:48:19.485-04:002012-07-16T13:48:19.485-04:00Thanks for your comment and link to your blog Kati...Thanks for your comment and link to your blog Katie. <br /><br />I completely agree with your emphasis on actual experience and continuing experience in order to promote success. <br /><br />It's great the your program incorporates actual working into the program. I wish more public history programs would take that approach.Krista McCrackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07259602785539292344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655032545297970791.post-7972470685926821082012-07-16T13:37:12.780-04:002012-07-16T13:37:12.780-04:00I'm currently a candidate getting my PhD in Pu...I'm currently a candidate getting my PhD in Public History... I took a roundabout way to get there, and my focus has always been in museums rather than just general public history (my MA is in history with a certificate in museum studies). <br /><br />I think people can run into problems with academia and the public - of course we need people to train these new public historians, and many times they are PhDs... however, I'm a very strong believer that people need actual experience, and <b>continuing</b> experience in museums/archives/CRM/oral history/working with the public whatever, to be successful as a public historian or academic. <br /><br />I'm excited that this time next year I will be finishing my dissertation in public history and will have that title of "doctor." But I'm not going to be bogged down in academia. I refuse! Eventually I would like to teach Public History, but I want to get more extensive real-world experience. Yes, that is offered in our program, but actually working rather than interning or volunteering is way different. I sometimes wonder if everyone realizes that...<br /><br />Hope this makes some sense! Sorry for my crazy ramblings.<br /><br />My blog might explain some more: http://katiestringer.wordpress.comKatie Stringerhttp://katiestringer.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com