If you are a student who has taken an Ed.D. program, and that program's requirements are clearly equivalent to a Ph.D. in Biology, I recommend that you ask the program director of the Ed.D. program to write you a note of clarification to enclose with your application materials to positions. When you enclose that note you want to reference it clearly in your introductory letter. Your advisor should also indicate this in his/her letter of reference. Additionally, you might ask an outside professor who has experience to review your dissertation and provide you with an evaluation indicating if it is equivalent to what is typically done in their program. In this way, you could more authoritatively defend in employment applications that you in fact have completed work equivalent to a Ph.D. This will not guarantee that search committees will consider this information, but it certainly puts you in a more competitive situation.
I hope that this is constructive feedback, rather than the long series of mixed feedback which has previously been posted. On Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 2:48 AM, Tupper, Mark (WorldFish) <[email protected]> wrote: > Dave, > > Sorry, libel or even criticism of an EdD degree was not my intention. I > realize that it certainly seems that way because I failed to provide the > context for my frustration with the EdD degree. I do not feel that an > EdD is an inferior degree, but the problem is that the general public, > including many potential employers, do not see it as the equivalent of a > PhD. The Wikipedia EdD page cites a couple of studies that suggest there > is no difference in the quality or quantity of work involved in EdD or > PhD degrees. That page also suggests that the EdD might be particularly > useful in preparing students for consultancy work. Unfortunately, the > majority of employers in aquatic science do not appear to feel the same. > > > I actually was going to enroll in an EdD program back in the 90's but > backed out after I saw several of my friends who earned EdDs repeatedly > get turned down for jobs that went to PhDs (see my other email). At the > time I was interested in combining fisheries research and extension, but > as soon as I said the word "research", prospective supervisors or > employers wanted to see a PhD. > > I'm not sure how universities can educate the general public, and > particularly the science sector, about the relative roles and values of > an EdD and a PhD. Until they can, people who want a job in science will > (in general) be better off getting a PhD if they want to maximize their > chances of getting a position. > > I apologize to the list for a knee-jerk reaction caused by a bad > experience from my past, but I wonder if the prospects for finding > employment with an EdD (other than in specialized positions that would > really suit the EdD) have improved much in the last 15 years. > > Cheers, > Mark > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David M. Lawrence > Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 10:39 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] EdD vs PhD > > It's nice to see the enlightened opinion here -- i.e., tripe -- but > until someone comes up with a substantive difference between the two > types of degrees, all I can conclude is that the critics of Ph.D.s are > bigoted jerks better suited to wearing white sheets and burning crosses > than scientists who dispassionately pursue the evidence no matter where > it leads. > > Put up, or shut up. Comments like Tupper's and Tyson's, given that they > > are in print, amount to libel of anyone with an Ed.D. > > If you're going to criticize it in such terms, you better have evidence > to back your statement up. So, what is it? > > Dave > > Tupper, Mark (WorldFish) wrote: >> I'd beg to differ with that. If you want "opportunities" and > "placement" >> in aquatic biology and fisheries (i.e. a real job after university), > get >> a Ph.D. >> >> Get an Ed.D. if you want to be a bartender or make money in real > estate. >> >> Mark Tupper >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Wayne Tyson >> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 6:07 AM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] EdD vs PhD >> >> EdD is a BS degree in makeup, and is for those who want > "opportunities" >> and >> "placement." PhD is for the passionate. >> >> WT >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Jay Beugly" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 11:18 AM >> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] EdD vs PhD >> >> >>> My name is Jayson Beugly. I am currently pursuing an EdD in science >>> (aquatic >>> biology and fisheries)and an opportunity to switch to a PhD has come >> up. I >>> am searching for advice on the pros and cons of the PhD vs EdD. There > >>> seems >>> to be a bit of confusion regarding place and opportunities available >> for >>> recipients of these respective degrees. >>> >>> >>> >>> Thank You >> >> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> -------- >> >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.10/1995 - Release Date: >> 03/11/09 >> 08:28:00 > > -- > ------------------------------------------------------ > David M. Lawrence | Home: (804) 559-9786 > 7471 Brook Way Court | Fax: (804) 559-9787 > Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: [email protected] > USA | http: http://fuzzo.com > ------------------------------------------------------ > > "We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo > > "No trespassing > 4/17 of a haiku" -- Richard Brautigan > -- Malcolm L. McCallum Associate Professor of Biology Texas A&M University-Texarkana Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology http://www.herpconbio.org Fall Teaching Schedule & Office Hours: Ecology: M,W 1-2:40 pm Cell Biology: M 6-9:40 pm (don't ask!) Forensic Science: T,R 10-11:40am Office Hours: MW 12-1, 5-6, TR 11:40-12:30, 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
