Question

Which is better: One Phd or two Master's degrees? [bumped]

Answer 1

I'm getting Deja Vu.

Comments

Bluegenel--I always liked you, so out of curiosity, did you get two MAs or a doctorate, or an MA, or two MAs and a doctorate? Just curious. :)

Answer 2

Depends on what you are doing with them.  Value is determined by what the market will pay so;

A PHD is a soft category say English or Psychology  if one can get a job between $23K - $35K max, Adjuncts make around $1300 per term per class times 3 classes a term.  Plus your Barista job at Starbucks

Now a Masters in Electrical Engineering with an MBA you are way over $100K per year with minimal experience

Comments

"Soft" category subjects? My MA program in English Studies was ranked as the same level of difficulty as the equivalent graduate level degree in mathematics and logic. And SUCCESSFUL members of any discipline, which they have followed to its highest level, tend to make a lot more than 35K.

Before you try to belittle people who have done a lot more leg and brain work than you, do some research. ;)

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RE: "PHD in Psychology - between $23K - $35K max"- $25k max these days isn't a livable wage. For example in Seattle and Tacoma in Washington State the minimum wage is 15/hr. That's comes out to 30K /yr. A phd in English has to make more than that. Nobody would do it at that price.

Answer 3

I think the variables of the field said degree is in will either make or break the answer. 

Certain fields won't even let you into the door without at least a base level of education.....

Answer 4

Probably one PhD.

Answer 5

Get a Ph. D. The trick is learning enough to make a really good show with your dissertation. Once you do that, you have your fair share of opportunities, if all you really care about is the money aspect.

Answer 6

The top tier is PhD, and the Master's degree is below that.  While having two Master's degrees shows versatility, the degree itself is not the top tier in either field.  So.. it depends on what job you're seeking:  will the employer value a high degree of expert diversity or the top of the field ranking.  A PhD is regarded highly enough that the person who achieves that level of education is known as a "Doctor of Philosophy" in the field.  A person with a Master's is ... uh ... not.  :-)