Thinking About Getting a Ph.D.Pros and Cons

Nuts and Bolts

Presentation by Scott D. Scheer

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

• Pros and Cons Activity

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

Positives of Ph.D.

• Reach career goals• Advance your skill sets• Life-long learning• Become an expert in a particular area• Research, research, research• Develop new friendships• Tuition benefits

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

Negatives of Ph.D.

• Time costs• Lack strong research focus• Stressors doing work and school• Only 57% of students obtained their PhD

10 years after enrollment in U.S.• Ph.D. fatigue• Loss of family-personal time

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

You Decide

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

Nuts and Bolts

of Earning a Ph.D.

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

Nuts and Bolts

• What program is right for you?

http://www.gradsch.osu.edu/graduate-programs-degrees.html

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

Nuts and Bolts• Admission process http://gpadmissions.osu.edu/

• Getting accepted• Graduate school admission requirement for all

programs is a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA• Letter of intent• Recommendation letters (three, at least two should be

academic• Other requirements vary by program - GRE

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

Nuts and Bolts• Basics• Waiver request needed if pursuing degree in CFAES • Residency (two consecutive semesters as full time

student – can include summer semester)• OSU – HR does not allow for special study

assignments or automatic salary increase with degree completion

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

Nuts and Bolts• Expectations • Coursework – minimum 80 hours beyond

undergraduate degree, Masters usually counts as 30 credits

• Numerous research courses; Ph.D. is a research degree

• Candidacy Exams• Dissertation – discovery of new knowledge (maximum

five years to complete dissertation after successful candidacy exams)

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

Helpful Links• Graduate School: http://www.gradsch.ohio-state.edu/

• Graduate Admissions: http://gpadmissions.osu.edu/

• Find your program: http://gpadmissions.osu.edu/programs/

• Graduate School Handbook: http://www.gradsch.ohio-state.edu/graduate-school-handbook1.html

• AEE Graduate Program: http://acel.osu.edu/graduate

• AEE Graduate Program Handbook: http://acel.osu.edu/sites/acel/files/imce/images/GRADUATE%20%20%20PROGRAM%20%20%20HANDBOOKJuly2015_0.pdf

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Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership

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