Professional Doctorates

I've been thinking about something a colleague was telling me a colleague told her. This very person was apparently telling my friend that if she was to do a "proper doctorate", she'd better stay away from the professional doctorate scene (eg. DBAs and EdDs,etc) and just stick with a "real doctorate" ie. A PhD.

I've been around and have considered this idea for a while. Scanning the newspaper job sections I notice that many universities now shoot for doctoral qualified applicants for basic teaching posts as a matter of course.

Whilst the obvious "you don't ask, you don't get" syndrome still pervades, I have a number concerns with this.

1. Demanding teaching faculty possess doctoral qualifications seems to be an artifact of the culture of the "professionalisation of everyone" which runs increasingly like a corrosive thread through our society.

2. Doctorates in general don't seem to me to be a strong indicator of anything. Apart from the candidate's ability to achieve a doctorate, that is.

3. PhDs are difficult to do as a preparation for a career if you already have a career.

4. PhDs are world recognised as a preparation to be a professional researcher. Professional doctorates are training for professionals who want to research.

What are thoughts? Why not post a comment?
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