Bill -- There is master's degree called a Professional Science Masters 
(PSM) that is rapidly developing across the country.  It is considered a 
terminal degree and is a combination of either several sciences or science 
and business.  We have one at Fort Hays State University that includes 
both business and biology.  I do not know what the job market is like for 
such degrees, but the forecast is high for such.  mas  EJF

Elmer J. Finck
Professor and Chair
Department of Biological Sciences
Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street
Hays, KS  67601-4099
e-mail: [email protected]
webpage: http://www.fhsu.edu/biology/finck.shtml
phone: (785) 628-4214
fax: (785) 628-4153
home: (785) 625-9727
cell: (785) 650-1057

Let it be.  The Beatles 



William Silvert <[email protected]> 
Sent by: "Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news" 
<[email protected]>
03/14/2009 06:07 PM
Please respond to
William Silvert <[email protected]>


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Re: [ECOLOG-L] EdD vs PhD






Since I did my graduate work in physics, not ecology, I was hesitant to 
step 
in here. However on looking at the various responses I would like to point 

out that in physics, and possibly in other areas, the masters degree is 
what 
you get if you try to get a PhD but drop out part way through. It is rare 
for someone to enter graduate school with the intent of getting a masters 
in 
physics, although there are some fields, such as optical physics, where it 

is a meaningful degree.

In a sense the masters can be a terminal degree, although often this was 
not 
the original intent of the student. It may signify that the student did 
enough work in graduate student to merit some recognition, but was not 
willing or able to proceed to the PhD.

However I should qualify this by pointing out that I know some schools 
that 
are trying to establish a graduate program and start with a masters degree 

before they are able to offer a PhD. This is fine, espeicially if they are 

conscientious about finding suitable jobs for masters graduates or 
providing 
help for those who want to go on to a graduate school that offers a PhD or 

EdD program.

Bill Silvert


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sean McMahon" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 11:05 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] EdD vs PhD


> Wait a second here.  This has nothing to do with the debate over two 
> terminal degrees (can't get more than a Ph.D. or Ed.D).  A Masters is 
not 
> a terminal degree. 

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