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PhDs or not

The thing about a PhD is, and dont get me wrong as I respect those who obtain them, it is a very specific degree. A PhD in Civil Engineering would be a Thesis in lets say, for example,

"The thermodynamic Characteristics of Steel Trusses and their impact on Floor Sagging in Skyscraper structures".

You wont see too many PhDs in "Skyscraper collapse" as the topic is too large and consuming for a single PhD Thesis.

Most of the general training that one would get to have some Idea of what you are talking about wrt any given science or arts, you get in your Bachelors. From there on in, the Masters, the PhD, are pretty specific in the topic(s) covered.

TAM
 
T.A.M. said:
The thing about a PhD is, and dont get me wrong as I respect those who obtain them, it is a very specific degree. A PhD in Civil Engineering would be a Thesis in lets say, for example,

"The thermodynamic Characteristics of Steel Trusses and their impact on Floor Sagging in Skyscraper structures".

You wont see too many PhDs in "Skyscraper collapse" as the topic is too large and consuming for a single PhD Thesis.

Most of the general training that one would get to have some Idea of what you are talking about wrt any given science or arts, you get in your Bachelors. From there on in, the Masters, the PhD, are pretty specific in the topic(s) covered.

TAM
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I think you draw the distinction at the wrong place. In almost every science and engineering discipline the masters is a breadth degree, and a PhD is a depth degree.

A master's degree holder in an engineering discipline is supposed to have a broad understanding of the "modern" implementation of his discpline, across all fields and applications. A PhD picks a particular discipline or application, and moves it forward.
 
Anti-sophist said:
I think you draw the distinction at the wrong place. In almost every science and engineering discipline the masters is a breadth degree, and a PhD is a depth degree.

A master's degree holder in an engineering discipline is supposed to have a broad understanding of the "modern" implementation of his discpline, across all fields and applications. A PhD picks a particular discipline or application, and moves it forward.
Click to expand...

I agree. I am not sure where you misunderstood what I said. the PhD degree is very specific, not broad, and that is what I said. Likewise, compared to a bachelors in science or engineering, the Masters is more specific (in depth). While the masters is more broad than the PhD, it is less broad than the bachelors in temrs of scope, which is what I was saying. Please show me where I have misrepresented this in my original quote.

Thanks

TAM:confused:

Edit: I think the confusion is around the descript of the masters. My intent was not to say the masters was a depth degree, but that compared to the wide variety of material covered in a Bachelors, a Masters was more "specific" in the topics covered.
 
"Is the theory of exploration dead?" he asked. "I'm not out to proselytize that Bigfoot exists. I place legend under scrutiny and my conclusion is, absolutely, Bigfoot exists."

I can see his students now, with the bigfoot, stamping out some proof to make sure next monday is a banner day in lab cleaning up casts of the bigfoot. Bigfoot exist, but it is in a dorm room; waiting for the next hike to a PhDs favorite big foot area!.

Judy Wood - beam weapon - her bigfoot

All the experts on 9/11 have a bigfoot! (in their mouth)
 
T.A.M. said:
Edit: I think the confusion is around the descript of the masters. My intent was not to say the masters was a depth degree, but that compared to the wide variety of material covered in a Bachelors, a Masters was more "specific" in the topics covered.
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Hi TAM, not to be contrarian but I'd have to say that the master's degree is still a breadth degree.

You can obtain a master's without a thesis. Really it is all course work learning the same subjects you had as a BS, but now in more detail and learning much more of the underlying theory of the subject.

My take on what a degree means (or at least should mean)

BS = Can solve real world problems using engineering principles.

MS = Can solve real world problems using engineering principles and develop new principles when needed based upon the core theory of engineering.

PhD = Same as above plus can work through the scientific method of hypothesis testing.

--
BTW, i put little stock in a PhD after listening to
Dr. Laura
 
Ugh...

Idaho is another mormon stronghold. The Meldrum family name is relatively common among the Utah/Idaho/Southern Alberta mormons. My dad's sister married a Meldrum.

Can we please have an example of a whacko professor who is not from my faith or my family? :p
 
Sword_Of_Truth said:
Ugh...

Idaho is another mormon stronghold. The Meldrum family name is relatively common among the Utah/Idaho/Southern Alberta mormons. My dad's sister married a Meldrum.

Can we please have an example of a whacko professor who is not from my faith or my family? :p
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Wow. Idaho. Who'd have thought it.

My younger sister swears that there's no one in Idaho. Just potato fields and migrant workers who harvest them. :) (She's joking, of course. Still, we never used to see cars with Idaho plates on the high ways when we were kids.)
 
joobz said:
Hi TAM, not to be contrarian but I'd have to say that the master's degree is still a breadth degree.

You can obtain a master's without a thesis. Really it is all course work learning the same subjects you had as a BS, but now in more detail and learning much more of the underlying theory of the subject.
Click to expand...



Maybe it's dependant on where you come from? Here in New Zealand a masters is pretty specific. You always write a thesis - indeed that's basically what it's all about.

Maybe it's different in different countries? Or even different for different subjects?

I had a German flatmate who came to New Zealand to do research for her masters in social working (rough translation into english?) which was to write a thesis (she did hers on youth suicide).

Likewise, one of my tutors at film school, for her Master of Arts, wrote a thesis to do specifically with horror films. My friend is doing a Masters in Marine Biology and writing a thesis to do with Jellyfish. And so forth.

-Gumboot
 
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