Comments on: Ph.Ds at CCs: a reflection http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:39:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Former PCC Grad http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-137349 Former PCC Grad Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:45:35 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-137349 Hugo, I see a point to your article and I see valid arguments. A degreee doesn't necessarily change a person, it simply changes your colleague's view/opinion of you. P.S. Marc Dollinger was one of the best professors that I ever had in my entire academia. While I took his classes at PCC, I always felt as though his teachings were of intergral quality equivalent to upper-grad studies. Hugo, I see a point to your article and I see valid arguments. A degreee doesn’t necessarily change a person, it simply changes your colleague’s view/opinion of you.

P.S. Marc Dollinger was one of the best professors that I ever had in my entire academia. While I took his classes at PCC, I always felt as though his teachings were of intergral quality equivalent to upper-grad studies.

]]> By: Anthony http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-130131 Anthony Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:48:30 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-130131 The point of hiring someone with a PhD instead of an MA is that a PhD is, presumably, more knowledgeable about the subject matter, particularly in her specialty, and is more willing to do research to find the answers to questions posed by students. Or maybe it's that PhDs have proven themselves more willing to suffer abuse at the hands of arbitrary and capricious academic authority. The point of hiring someone with a PhD instead of an MA is that a PhD is, presumably, more knowledgeable about the subject matter, particularly in her specialty, and is more willing to do research to find the answers to questions posed by students.

Or maybe it’s that PhDs have proven themselves more willing to suffer abuse at the hands of arbitrary and capricious academic authority.

]]> By: Karla http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-124935 Karla Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:44:39 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-124935 I don't have my diploma in my office (as it happens it's a Ph.D. in biochemistry, but I would be equally proud of one in history, since I've done both original research and avid TV watching and am aware of the difference), but do have a champagne bottle from my thesis defense, signed by members of the lab, on a shelf. I don't know how common that practice is, but my thesis advisor did that and I've seen some others do the same. I think I would like to have my diploma (and the frame I purchased three years ago but haven't yet used) up in my home at some point, for reasons that Dr. S in the other post gave. For now, though, there isn't an appropriate wall space (I'm thinking of a home office). I don’t have my diploma in my office (as it happens it’s a Ph.D. in biochemistry, but I would be equally proud of one in history, since I’ve done both original research and avid TV watching and am aware of the difference), but do have a champagne bottle from my thesis defense, signed by members of the lab, on a shelf. I don’t know how common that practice is, but my thesis advisor did that and I’ve seen some others do the same. I think I would like to have my diploma (and the frame I purchased three years ago but haven’t yet used) up in my home at some point, for reasons that Dr. S in the other post gave. For now, though, there isn’t an appropriate wall space (I’m thinking of a home office).

]]> By: Hugo Schwyzer http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-124840 Hugo Schwyzer Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:12:36 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-124840 PS, I assure you, I am indeed at best "only moderately" proud. The history channel (of which I too am an "advid" watcher) and the likes of David McCullough serve an important purpose -- to popularize history. McCullough is a great friend to the profession, and relies heavily on professional historians to help shape his works. Most professional historians have no animus towards him or those who do as he does. PS, I assure you, I am indeed at best “only moderately” proud.

The history channel (of which I too am an “advid” watcher) and the likes of David McCullough serve an important purpose — to popularize history. McCullough is a great friend to the profession, and relies heavily on professional historians to help shape his works. Most professional historians have no animus towards him or those who do as he does.

]]> By: PS http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-124800 PS Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:18:29 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-124800 Jeez, the guy has a PhD in History, not in Biochemistry or Mathematics. This is something to be only moderately be proud of. I have met advid watchers of the History Channel and readers of David McCullouch who know more about history than most history PhDs. This guy would not last 5 minutes in a lower level statistics course in any EdD program. Jeez, the guy has a PhD in History, not in Biochemistry or Mathematics. This is something to be only moderately be proud of. I have met advid watchers of the History Channel and readers of David McCullouch who know more about history than most history PhDs. This guy would not last 5 minutes in a lower level statistics course in any EdD program.

]]> By: theverycold http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-124384 theverycold Sun, 07 Oct 2007 21:23:13 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-124384 you and mystery college dean echo a lot of the same sentiments that my cc professors tell us often. don't ever stop. many of us students in cc's initially feel ashamed to be going a non-four-year college. i've gotten the looks, and the judgy attitude when i tell people i'm a transfer student. but you guys have been through it all, and you know that the c-word makes us no less inferior to others. so keep telling us, and tell us often. you and mystery college dean echo a lot of the same sentiments that my cc professors tell us often. don’t ever stop. many of us students in cc’s initially feel ashamed to be going a non-four-year college. i’ve gotten the looks, and the judgy attitude when i tell people i’m a transfer student. but you guys have been through it all, and you know that the c-word makes us no less inferior to others. so keep telling us, and tell us often.

]]> By: Mermade http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-123853 Mermade Sat, 06 Oct 2007 22:21:49 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-123853 The best quote that sums up reverse snobbery comes from dear ole C.S Lewis: "If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed." The best quote that sums up reverse snobbery comes from dear ole C.S Lewis: “If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”

]]> By: elanor_x http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-123719 elanor_x Sat, 06 Oct 2007 13:22:29 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-123719 On an unrelated topic: Hugo, today I found this site and immediately thought about the poems you post. Probably you will like the Translations of the Poems of Vladimir Levi (selected): http://www.levi.ru/houses/poetic_berth/inna_kogan.php On an unrelated topic: Hugo, today I found this site and immediately thought about the poems you post. Probably you will like the Translations of the Poems of Vladimir Levi (selected): http://www.levi.ru/houses/poetic_berth/inna_kogan.php

]]> By: Hugo Schwyzer http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-123457 Hugo Schwyzer Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:25:50 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-123457 YNWA, I assure you that most folks don't think my ego is peanut sized, unless it's the size of a prize-winning peanut from Plains, Georgia. I have a blog post in mind about displaying degrees -- and about reverse snobbery. Yes, I did go to the UK for research -- mostly at the Durham Cathedral Library. I also ordered microfilms, and did a lot of work with manuscripts and printed rolls at the nearby Huntington Library. YNWA, I assure you that most folks don’t think my ego is peanut sized, unless it’s the size of a prize-winning peanut from Plains, Georgia. I have a blog post in mind about displaying degrees — and about reverse snobbery.

Yes, I did go to the UK for research — mostly at the Durham Cathedral Library. I also ordered microfilms, and did a lot of work with manuscripts and printed rolls at the nearby Huntington Library.

]]> By: YNWA http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-123430 YNWA Fri, 05 Oct 2007 23:14:10 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/10/05/phds-at-ccs-a-reflection/#comment-123430 Wow, you are indeed a man with an ego the size of a pea-nut. I admire your willingness to be a "man of the people". I find it a bit annoying to see professors who put themselves on a pedestal when I see all their degrees hanging on the wall on an overly fancy frame. When you did research on medieval English history, was it obligatory for you to travel to the UK and delve into fact finding there? You should write a post one day about the research methods you used for your dissertation! Wow, you are indeed a man with an ego the size of a pea-nut. I admire your willingness to be a “man of the people”. I find it a bit annoying to see professors who put themselves on a pedestal when I see all their degrees hanging on the wall on an overly fancy frame.

When you did research on medieval English history, was it obligatory for you to travel to the UK and delve into fact finding there? You should write a post one day about the research methods you used for your dissertation!

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