Am I being crazy?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

i am almost done with my masters in organizational psychology. I an finishing my thesis (discrimination during the interviewing process for out male homosexuals) and then its all over. Once done, i was planning on pursuing a doctorate in the field

However i have been moving more and more into activism and social policy lately. every job that i want requires a MSW. So now, i am considering a second masters in social work instead of a doctorate.

Am i nuts?

[Tobin S.]

1. I don't think you're crazy

I think it just depends on what you really want and where you think you would be happiest. You'd probably take a pretty big pay cut with the MSW, but if you think you would be happier, and could still get along okay financially, why not go for it?

[NewJeffCT]

2. You've been crazy for a while now

so, how is this any different?

:P

But, in 10 years, are you still going to want the jobs you want now that require an MSW? Or, will getting the doctorate help you more in the long run?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. i think i have changed a whole bunch in the last couple of years

and i dont think academia will get me where i want to be

the only other thing maybe law school

[NewJeffCT]

4. then your MSW would probably be a better choice

if a doctorate won't.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. You're not nuts, but you may want to try to get one of the MSW jobs with your STB done masters.

Make the case that your recent studies and experience are a suitable substitute for an MSW.
Often times degree requirements are either there to weed out people without any degrees or are restricted just because they have experience with people with that specific degree and aren't aware that there are other degrees to position a person for that job.

See if you can set up a few informational interviews to test the waters.


Personally, if I were in your shoes and after informational interviews I discovered that I could make the case that the organizational psych degree was translatable to social work I'd continue on for the PhD as planned.

[UndertheOcean]

6. Do you see yourself 10 years from now in a University ? or somewhere else

If you would like to settle in a University , then pursue your doctorate .

Really , that is the major advantage of a doctorate , obtaining tenure track and settling down in teaching and research.

If not , then go with the MSW.

[Writer]

12. Not all docs end up at universities.

Most do, and most achieve a doctorate for that reason, but a few pursue fields in the private sector or using their own leadership capacity and/or experience for nonprofit endeavors.

But for Lioness' sake, I agree with the suggestion that she should try to find employment with her current Master's, and if that isn't successful, to consider an MSW. If her goals are activism and not research, then a doctorate for her specific area may be overkill.

[bigwillq]

7. Do what you want to do.

IF the second masters helps you get a job in the field you want, then I say go for it. :) :hi:

[Deep13]

8. doctor = immediate gravitas.

I won't pretend to know the answer, but a doctorate in anything is pretty impressive.

[Mojambo]

9. You're almost done with a masters in psych. You should KNOW whether you're crazy! n/t

[SidneyCarton]

10. If it's what you want to do with your life, then no.

I don't know you, but from your posts you show a strong degree of passion for activism and social policy. Passion counts for so much in one's work, If one loves what one does, then one's work, while difficult, is never really the grinding slog that so many of us go through. If the MSW will get you where you want to be, go for it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Union Seminary and Columbia University have a MSW that's fucking OUTSTANDING

Which might, quite honestly, be better than a Ph.D.

[Taverner]

13. Social work and activism will burn you out quick

Make sure you have something to fall back on when you are exhausted

[Moondog]

14. A doctorate may well have more cachet in social policy areas. Carries some

extra heft in activism too, particularly in the Washington, DC area, which is and always has been credentials crazy. A doctorate is going to do a lot more for your vitae and your resume than a second masters.

[hfojvt]

15. well you gotta be crazy, baby

to want a guy like me.

So I am hoping the answer is yes.

Drat, wouldn't you know that youtube does not have the video for that old song. :argh:


You might wanna ask some employers. In my experience my master's is useless. The PhD might be more valuable even for a job that requires an MSW. Simply add some social work courses to your doctorate and you can perhaps beat out all those people with mere MSWs. PhD trumps an MA just like four of a kind beats a full house.