The Displaced Ph.D. in English

In reaction to the academy's heavy use of adjunct professors, Dr. Joseph Sora argues that the Arts & Sciences doctoral cohort faces a genuine crisis. English Ph.D. holders, in particular, face a tricky job-market where the perils of failing to land a tenure-track position are year-to-year contracts and piecemeal work. Insecurity, poor pay, no benefits. In answer to these long-standing issues, Sora proposes that graduate English programs pay a renewed focus to the master's degree--a strong and diverse degree that really warrants more attention in light of the problems facing Ph.D. programs. Master's programs have a much better chance of succeeding where doctoral programs have failed. Master's programs can be something other than stepping stone to Ph.D. programs--they can connect their students to gainful employment and a more secure future. In this book, Sora discusses the history of the Ph.D. in English, placing it in the context of today's challenges and offers a curricular template universities and colleges might consider as a source for changes to their own graduate English departments.

Autorentext

Dr. Joseph W. Sora currently teaches at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned a Doctor of Arts degree in 2002 from St. John's University in Queens, New York.

Klappentext

In reaction to the academy's heavy use of adjunct professors, Dr. Joseph Sora argues that the Arts & Sciences doctoral cohort faces a genuine crisis. English Ph.D. holders, in particular, face a tricky job-market where the perils of failing to land a tenure-track position are year-to-year contracts and piecemeal work. Insecurity, poor pay, no benefits. In answer to these long-standing issues, Sora proposes that graduate English programs pay a renewed focus to the master's degree--a strong and diverse degree that really warrants more attention in light of the problems facing Ph.D. programs. Master's programs have a much better chance of succeeding where doctoral programs have failed. Master's programs can be something other than stepping stone to Ph.D. programs--they can connect their students to gainful employment and a more secure future. In this book, Sora discusses the history of the Ph.D. in English, placing it in the context of today's challenges and offers a curricular template universities and colleges might consider as a source for changes to their own graduate English departments.