Posted on 01/10/2017 6:45:16 AM PST by Academiadotorg
You might be surprised to learn that there are employment opportunities for college graduates with PhDs in the Humanities. You might not be surprised to find out that they are usually with left-wing cause groups. "The ACLS [American Council of Learned Societies] has placed over one hundred recent humanities PhDs in two-year positions with government and nonprofit hosts," the Modern Language Association (MLA) convention guide informs us.
At the MLA’s annual convention in Philadelphia last week, John Paul Christy of the ACLS told us where some of them went:
• The Union of Concerned Scientists; • The Nature Conservancy; • Amnesty International; • The American Civil Liberties Union; and • The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
Christy noted, as his audience knew acutely, that there are more PhDs than available positions in classrooms. As you might imagine, job candidates who come with these credentials are a bit of an awkward fit, even in offices sympathetic to their life experiences.
"Most PhDs can't write," Fuzz Hogan of New America said at the MLA panel on Careers beyond the Professoriat for Humanities PhDs. "They can't tell stories." Hogan spent 20 years at CNN.
Nevertheless, they do have a skill set, although it may be a rather esoteric one. "he ability to run a meeting is something PhDs have," Alison Cuddy of the Chicago Humanities Festival said at this MLA panel.
Malcolm A. Kline is the Executive Director of Accuracy in Academia. If you would like to comment on this article, e-mail mal.kline@academia.org.
(Excerpt) Read more at academia.org ...
The ability to run a meeting?
Is that like organizing a wiener roast?
200 thousand dollar education. 20 thousand dollar job.
Finance was never a strong suit for liberals.
I know a PHD married couple (deans in a Classical School for 6-12 graders -(Homeschool Model). They both went to Rice and are using their PHD’s to promote high quality learning environments for refugees escaping common core and spread the knowledge of the gospel.
There can be a place for PHD’s if they are so inclined.
They can definitely write, but with a lot a footnotes.
I can recall in the 1970s and 1980s stories of PhD’s driving taxis and working in fast food restaurants.
Many who could not find jobs when they earned their bachelor’s degrees would remain in college and go for their Masters. Those with Masters who could not find jobs would stay in college and work toward a PhD.
Academia, like many other professions, it impacted by supply and demand. Sometimes the supply exceeds the demand. Sometimes the demand exceeds the supply. It takes universities a decade to adjust.
My stepson wanted to get a Drama Major and minor, I told him that would qualify him to work at McDonalds. I refused to let him do that. It came to me saying if you really want that, do it on your own as we will not pay. Since he was not technically inclined we agree on a business minor, which on his own he changed to a business major.
Unfortunately he still has all his lib friends from college. I was stunned when he stated the Trump was going to start a nuclear war. Wow, I did not see that one coming.
oh that’s priceless
My daughter is talking about an English Major.
Made it clear that we don’t support that. No real place for an English Major outside of education (of which I am aware). Suggested STEM - for which she has talent - but not a chance.
She loves Drama and Choir.
I guess you have to try to do what you love. But I don’t know how she can make a living at it.
I told mine “You can study whatever you want, at the point where you are self-sufficient and paying for it yourself. If you are expecting ME to lay out money, then you WILL pick a major which qualifies you for a job”.
I don't mind a nonprofit that is not government funded paying a PhD, but I do mind when the federal or state governments do it for something nonproductive. I'm okay with a PhD working in the CIA's S&T department or with NSA. I'm okay with PhD engineers working for NASA. I am not okay with frivolous work funded by my tax dollars, even if the literature scholar has a doctorate.
I hate to say this, but you might need to bitch slap her.
I now have a 3 year old daughter, she is learning that Daddy is the mean guy. I hope I get my way and her into the US Naval Academy.
My view is that she does it my way. No other option.
I have a master’s degree in history and a DD214. With them I got a decent position with the US Army, after retiring from active duty, as a historian. Talk about living a dream I never imagined having when I was just a PFC.
And folks believed the scare adds that Goldwater would either get us into a nuclear war or a war in Asia, thus the voted for LBJ to ‘keep us out of war.’ 52,000 KIA later....
People told me if I voted for Goldwater we’d end up in a war - I voted for Goldwater, and see what happened.....
congratulations!
Thank you. And I retire as an Army civilian in 160 days.
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