What is better between a PhD in Governance & Globalization (design my own research topic) at Virginia Tech and a Doctorate in Statecraft & Global Security with a focus on economic statecraft & policy at the Institute of World Politics in D.C.?
My goal is Senior roles within the government, consulting, and adjunct teaching. I’m already working in the Federal Government in D.C. I don’t know which of the two fields will be the best for not only the return on investment, but also future demand. I have 8 years of work experience in export control and global sanctions. Both options are part-time and fully funded.
Where does your interest lie ? What would your topic be if you got to choose it ?
I’d choose Va Tech as it will be known by all - but I’m sure those on DC know about the Institute. But I’d want to ensure I had a marketable expertise for the future.
As a rule, if you wish to know what degree is the best for a specific career or position, the best way to figure that out is to find people who have that career or position, and see what degree they have.
A very rough way to figure this out is to understand that a PhD is a research degree, so any career that requires high level independent original research would require a PhD. Conversely, a career that requires high level expertise and the ability to apply high level knowledge to existing situations or plans would require a professional doctorate.
That is why a person who wants to develop a treatment for a medical condition needs the expertise that is provided by a PhD. On the other hand, a person who wants to be able determine medical conditions that a person has or that persons have, and to determine the correct treatments for these, requires a professional doctorate, in this case an MD.
I’m already admitted to both programs. I understand the difference between a PhD and a Doctorate, but I’m just indecisive about which one to choose. I fear that a PhD may take longer and at the same time I fear the Doctorate will not be flexible enough for opportunities
The PhD will probably take longer than 3 years–which is the length of the part-time doctorate for most students if I understand correctly.
IWP is designed for individuals planning a career in public service, while PhDs typically want to teach while engaging in funded research.
Depending on your other educational and work experience background, consulting in the private sector may be an option for either degree.
Is one program more generalized (IWP) and the other more specific (PhD dissertation) ?
Since both options are funded, your career goal should be a major factor in your choice of study.
Also consider the effect of career options, if any, of pursuing a conservative program degree versus an, arguably, neutral degree with respect to political orientation.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. After further research, I have decided to move forward with the Virginia Tech program, as it aligns well with my career overall career objectives while offering a high degree of flexibility.
One potential drawback is the time required to complete the program. However, given that it is not a traditional political science PhD with a heavy emphasis on theory and methods and considering my professional background I am well-positioned to pursue a policy-oriented dissertation.
Additionally, since I am already working, I believe that even if it takes longer than the IWP doctorate, the Virginia Tech program will provide greater long-term value and relevance to my career goals.
I am also mindful that IWP’s perceived ideological alignment could present limitations in certain professional contexts, depending on the administration in power and the types of institutions I may seek to join in the future.
I’m not really sure what you mean here. A Ph.D. is a doctorate. There are lots of kinds of doctoral degrees, including Ph.D.s and professional degrees like Ed.D.s, MDs, JDs, PharmDs, etc. When most people talk about a “doctorate” generically, they’re talking about a Ph.D., though. So what kind of doctorate are you talking about that’s different than a Ph.D.?
Yes, but some universities, such as Harvard (Education Doctorate), offer a doctorate that is not a PhD. The difference is probably lack of a thesis requirement and just 3 years, rather than 5 or more, to earn the doctorate.
Right, but professional doctorates have their own labels (like Ed.D., JD, Th.D., etc.). I was confused because the OP was referring generically to a doctorate, so it was unclear what degree they were talking about. Turns out it was a DSS (based on the website), so that makes sense. Never heard of a DSS – learn something new every day!
So OP needs to consider possible career paths – is a DSS likely to open up the paths they want? Will a Ph.D. allow for more flexibility (professional and academic applications)? It might be worth looking at the profiles of people working in desirable jobs to see what degrees they have.
The IWP Doctorate that OP is considering requires 3 papers of 75 pages each and, if I recall correctly, is typically completed in 3 years. Seems a bit more generalized than the specificity required in a PhD thesis.
Honestly, that seems like about as much work as an MA. It’s worth asking if anyone takes the degree seriously. I say that knowing nothing about the field – maybe it’s respected. I have no idea. To me, that sounds like something considerably less than doctoral-level work, but I don’t know the field and there may be different standards than what I’m used to.
Most of the instructors have significant real world connections for conservative minded / motivated individuals (think Hudson Institute/Heritage Foundation/etc.).
Writing three 75-page papers can approach the overall workload of a PhD thesis, but breaking the work into smaller segments may make it feel more manageable. It could also help me avoid being overwhelmed by the sustained depth of research typically required for a traditional dissertation.
That said, I’m unsure whether this approach is ultimately more valuable than concentrating on a single research topic, which might allow me to build deeper expertise and a clearer scholarly identity.