A PhD that’s out of reach

I’ve noted here several times in the past that I have long wanted to pursue a PhD in librarianship. I’ve pretty much given up that possibility though, for a number of reasons. I feel like I’m too old, and I question my own ability to meet the challenge. More importantly I have a wife and family who come first and whom I could not support effectively if I were a full time student.

Occasionally I see announcements of the availability of stipends or grants that would give full tuition reimbursement for chosen candidates for this or that PhD program. This latest one from University of Texas at Austin and Drexel makes me a bit wistful.

It makes me a bit wistful because there is a basic requirement that chosen candidates be in residence at either school. That’s impossible for me to consider. I fully understand the desirability and the benefits of that requirement. But I can’t help wondering when or if or where there is a well regarded school that will offer a PhD in LIS that I can pursue almost entirely online. Surely this isn’t out of the question in terms of possibility?

If anyone who has any involvement in such a program should some day happen, miraculously, to read this post, consider this a plea. I think there are lots of people like me out there who can’t or are not able to pull up stakes and move and complete a PhD program in residence.

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10 Responses to A PhD that’s out of reach

  1. Brian says:

    Have you checked out Nova Southeastern University's PhD in Information Systems with a concentration in Information Science?
    http://www.scis.nova.edu/Doctoral/Academic_Prog...

    Also, I have heard rumors that UW-Milwaukee is trying to put one together as well.

  2. FamManLib says:

    Brian, thanks, I hadn't heard of either program. I'll investigate further.

  3. While I'm not reading for a PhD yet, I have thought about this dilemma as well. There are so many LIS master's programs online…. it is surprising to me that more of the LIS PhD programs have not followed suit…. hopefully that will change in the future!

  4. FamManLib says:

    Thanks; I'm glad I'm not the only one who has this problem. I think it will
    indeed change; there are PhDs in many other disciplines that have been
    online for years now.

  5. I am so there with you also. I spent some time last fall looking. It is frustrating because it limits those who have actual field experience from a second career as a library school professor. I like to think that I have learned some things from being a library director which I could share with the next generation of students. The fact that there are also a limited number of places (which are often not near where I am) which offer the PhD is frustrating. A couple years ago I thought about doing an EdD in Educational Leadership at a [then] local school which had a three year program aimed at practitioners.

    Maybe we need to push some more…..let me ponder.

  6. FamManLib says:

    Thanks for your comment Michael. Interestingly I just noticed yesterday that
    my alma mater, UIUC GSLIS, is also offering fellowships for PhD work. They
    are supporting this via an IMLS grant (I think). I asked Linda Smith,
    associate dean, if residency was a requirement. Her response was that
    technically, depending on what classes one took, on campus requirements
    could be fulfilled in as little as two days per week. (That's still too much
    for me.) She also pointed out that part of the idea behind offering this
    fellowship though was precisely to build community among the PhD cohort.

  7. Ken Haycock says:

    Take a look at the San Jose Gateway PhD program.
    You will find complete information on our site at:
    http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/gatewayphd/
    Please review these pages carefully and then contact me with any questions.
    Thanks.

  8. Brian says:

    I don't know if you ever came across this program in your research, but Simmons offers a PhD in Managerial Leadership in Information Professions. http://www.simmons.edu/gslis/academics/programs...

    It has minimal on campus requirements compared to other programs. The current students are listed on there. They come mostly from Public and Academic libraries, and from all around the country. You should check it out. I think a grant covers tuition and its a cohort program that takes 3 years.

  9. Glen says:

    Ken, Syracuse University iSchool offers a Doctorate In Professional Studies (DPS) that just started August 2008 (first cohort). Mostly online with limited residency requirements. I too am looking at this, as well as the Ed.D option at a local research university. Good luck.

  10. Glen says:

    Ken, Syracuse University iSchool offers a Doctorate In Professional Studies (DPS) that just started August 2008 (first cohort). Mostly online with limited residency requirements. I too am looking at this, as well as the Ed.D option at a local research university. Good luck.

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