New PhD: How to Build a Better Graduate Education

The New PhD argues that universities need to prepare graduate students for the jobs they will get,not just the academic ones. It reconceives graduate education as a public good and offers examples of how programs can work to reduce the time it takes students to earn a degree,expand career opportunities,encourage public scholarship,create coherent curricula,and provide the resources needed to complete the program.

Format: Hardback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 19 January 2021
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

The New PhD: A Practical and Sustainable Plan for Graduate Education

For far too many students, today's Ph.D. has become a bridge to nowhere. Imagine an entering cohort of eight doctoral students. By current statistics, four of the eight—a staggering 50%!—will not complete the degree. Of the remaining four, two will never secure full-time academic positions. The remaining pair will find full-time teaching jobs, likely at teaching-intensive institutions. And, perhaps, just perhaps, one of them will garner a position at a research university, like the one where those eight students began their graduate school journey. However, all eight members of that original group will be trained according to the needs of that single one of them who might snag a job at a research university. Graduate school has been preparing students for jobs that don't exist—and preparing them to want those jobs above all others.

In The New PhD, Leonard Cassuto and Robert Weisbuch make a compelling argument that universities must equip graduate students with the skills they will need for the jobs they will obtain, rather than just the academic ones. Connecting scholarly training to the vast array of career options open to graduates requires a Ph.D. that looks beyond the boundaries of the university, not one that turns inward—a Ph.D. that doesn't narrow student minds but unlocks and broadens them practically as well as intellectually. Cassuto and Weisbuch document the growing movement for a student-centered, career-diverse graduate education, highlighting some of the most promising innovations taking place on campuses right now. They also review, for the first time, the myriad national reform efforts sponsored by major players like Carnegie and Mellon that took place between 1990 and 2010. These efforts aimed to transform graduate education, but why did they fail? And, more importantly, how can we learn from these failures and make meaningful progress?

The New PhD offers a comprehensive plan for a practical and sustainable Ph.D. It emphasizes the importance of a student-centered approach, where students are encouraged to explore their interests and develop the skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers. The book also highlights the need for a more interdisciplinary approach to graduate education, where students can draw from multiple fields and develop a broader understanding of the world.

Furthermore, The New PhD emphasizes the importance of career development and placement services for graduate students. Universities must provide resources and support to help students identify job opportunities, prepare for interviews, and negotiate job offers. This includes providing access to career fairs, networking events, and mentorship programs.

In conclusion, The New PhD is a timely and important book that offers a fresh perspective on graduate education. By advocating for a student-centered, career-diverse approach, the book challenges the traditional model of graduate school and provides a roadmap for preparing students for the jobs they will need in the 21st century.

Weight: 682g
Dimension: 200 x 315 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421439761