Monday, December 05, 2005

Vote 2005

English PhD or Master's of Library and Information Science?

26 comments:

Katya said...

MLS.

But I'm biased.

skyeJ said...

Library!!! What would my sister DO if her husband couldn't pull rank at the library for her? Just think, you'd be a MASTER of the LIBRARY....

ambrosia ananas said...

English PhD

Christian said...

In looking at Ciaran's guidelines, both degrees are fairly impractical and esoteric because, like, well, you know, people, like kinda sorta, like don't really, you know, read anymore.

But I guess the Library and Information Science is less impractical, so the logical choice says get the PhD. But everyone has one of those, and I don't think Master Fob is one to do things that everyone else is doing.

In the end, I vote for a PhD in Botany and Horticulture.

Mrs. Hass-Bark said...

PhD. That way you can procrastinate real-life decisions for as long as possible. Just as I plan to do for the next 1.5-6.5 years.

Cricket said...

I say PhD Just you can be Dr. Fob
or Dr. Master Fob or even Dr. Master Brother Fob...

Anonymous said...

To answer a question with a question, please tell us, what could you do with a PhD that you couldn't do with an MLS (besides maybe impress people with your title)? Vice versa, what could you do with an MLS that you couldn't do with a PhD?

Mary Jane (who has a doctorate in education) thinks you'd make a good PhD and probably enjoy the life of an academic. On the other hand, she has since turned in her resignation to UH, and will continue to teach only one class, because she can't stomach the politics that go on at the university. And you don't need a PhD to teach a class or two. She's the first to admit that the PhD was an ego thing for her, because she had been told by a teacher that she wasn't very capable/intelligent (although she has enjoyed some of the doors it's opened for her).

Then there's always the problem of not getting hired where you want to work b/c you're 'over-qualified'. After listening to myself, I think I'm leaning towards MLS - unless your answer to my original question provides new insight.

Anonymous said...

P.S. I meant to add that, in spite of my comments, I also agree with Mandi's reasoning. :)

Katya said...

If you want the best (or worst) of both worlds, you could do a PhD in Library & Information Science.

Melyngoch said...

I don't care which you do, so long as you do it at Indiana University Bloomington. (We have very good programs in both fields.)

Th. said...

.

Wait.

Is this for you or for me?

B.G. Christensen said...

The count thus far: MLS-2, PhD-6 (I'm counting Edgy's vote as a PhD even though he broke the rules and wrote in his own candidate).

Mandi's point had not occurred to me, even though it's logical--if I recall correctly, it was the Zippergut Queen who dubbed me Master Fob, and it was because BYU had just declared me a master of arts. And though the complications of changing one's established online identity are manifold, I like the sound of Doctor Fob. Perhaps even Doctor Fob, Medicine Woman (just because ever since Dr. Quinn I feel that every doctor's name should be followed by ", Medicine Woman").

To answer M.O.M.'s question, the thing I can do with an MLS that I can't with an English PhD is work at a library; the thing I can do with an English PhD that I can't with an MLS is teach upper-division English classes.

Katya, I actually have looked at PhD programs in library science. The problem is that, as Ciaran and Edgy have pointed out, this really is a practical vs. impractical thing. If I do the English PhD, it would be because I know I'll love taking the classes and reading the books and probably even writing the dissertation. If I do the MLS, it will be because I know I'll love being a librarian and the degree is a necessary step in that direction. A PhD in library science would be less enjoyable than a PhD in English and not any more practical. It really would be the worst of both worlds.

Melyngoch, I actually did look at Indiana's offerings, but they require the GRE subject test and their application deadline is too soon for me to take it (even if I wanted to).

Th., of course it's for you. I am planning your life. Would you rather move to Seattle or Honolulu next fall? (Assuming you have any say in the matter.)

Tolkien Boy said...

Everyone knows that an English professor is 89% more sexy than a librarian.

On the male side, anyway. Female librarians are always preternaturally sexy.

editorgirl said...

What about female English professors?

Oh. And I suspect you know my vote.

Anonymous said...

Okay, so if that's the only difference, then I do vote for MLS, b/c with it, you could still teach - besides being a librarian, but the PhD wouldn't give you any more clout as a librarian, would it? So is teaching UPPER DIVISION instead of lower, really worth getting a PhD for? (Besides, you can always get the PhD later, if you really want to.)

Anonymous said...

I suggest you do both. The MLS to further your professional career which will finance your real desire and talent to be an author and then the PHD so that your books can proudly present your title. (Xyz by DOCTOR BC)

skyeJ said...

Does NOBODY here care about MASTER OF THE LIBRARY?? MASTER of all the books. Think about it... Picture it... All the pages bending to your every whim! mmmm... whim.

FoxyJ said...

I just vote for whichever one is in Hawaii, the land of no snow and no socks.

Th. said...

.

Gosh....

Is it true that to move to Honolulu you have to first discard all worldly possessions? Cause I have this really sweet set of vintage cat-eyes....

Anonymous said...

I vote you apply for BOTH programs, PhD's and MLS according to which school's program is the strongest. THEN, see what results you get. Options, lots of options. What if you got into HI for PhD, but Seattle for MLS?
-Anon #1

Kari said...

Ummm...laughed out loud at the Medicine Woman comment. Loudly out loud. No one heard me, though. I'm still alone. Until the 17th. Then, I'll never be alone again.

Melyngoch wants us all in Indiana.

And I did dub thee Master. So let it be written, so let it be done.

I kinda like the idea of calling you Dr. Fob. Sounds like a cool soft drink.

Tolkien Boy said...

Or an illegal drug.

And editorgirl, of the girls I could allow myself to like, English professors are on the list.

That's sexy.

Anonymous said...

Hope there's no limit on how many votes I get. After my last comment, I reflected on your comments that sounded like the PhD was not so much for the job as for the enjoyment of both the classes you could take and the ones you could teach.

If M.J. can vote, she agreed, and said PhD b/c it's a lot more fun to teach upper div. classes, and b/c the students at that level are serious about their work. (However, I still think you could do both - the PhD later.)

Everyone has great (and funny) comments! Too bad you can't make a living running a blog.

B.G. Christensen said...

If controversy is measured by number of comments, what degree I pursue is much more controversial than war protests.

Anonymous said...

So, maybe I am too late to cast my vote...but obviously the REAL question ought to be "what career do I want to pursue?"! Although some may say that education is a valid pursuit in and of itself...seems to me you should be deciding first what you want to be doing with 40 hours of your every week in the future, and then decide from there which educational path you take.

Anonymous said...

I vote for MLS becuase then you can be MASTER OF THE LIBRARY like Skye sez... also you can have a good career there without having to correct papers...of course, I'm totally sick of correcting papers, but that's just me. But getting the PhD is very alluring...and if you love teaching, then correcting papers isn't too bad of a price to pay. PS I love teaching.