----- Original Message -----
From: "Ciotola, Nicholas P." <[log in to unmask]>
> Re: Education/Experience debate
>
> A MA holder with several years of experience has a great
> chance of beating out a recent graduate of a PhD program with no
experience.
...Sometimes, a PhD will work to ones disadvantage,
> especially when looking for that elusive first museum job. >

I think the point here should be that experience is crucial, with or without
the degree. A Ph.D. holder WITH several years of experience might still win
out in the above scenario. But you shouldn't wait until the Ph.D. is in hand
to look for that "first" museum job, just as you would not expect to be a
successful candidate for an academic teaching position without ever having
graded a paper or lectured to a class.

When I entered my American History doctoral program, I made it clear from
the start that I was interested in returning to museum work (I had four
years of experience at that point) and my academic advisors and my program
supported me in that - in fact, were intrigued, since they were well aware
of the job crisis in the humanities in academia. They let me do an area of
special study in Material Culture, for which I took courses at another
university entirely. I did consulting work and part-time work in museums
throughout the process of getting the degree, rather than the usual number
of teaching assistantships, etc. (and took much longer than the traditional
student to finish).

So it really depends where your passion is, and, yes, experience will always
count. But I hate to think that a Ph.D. might actually hurt a qualified
candidate for a museum job!

Carol Ely (Ph.D., Brandeis University)
Museum consultant
Louisville, KY

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