Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hoost]

As the title states: Is a PhD necessary for job security at a UNI for a LIFER?

More specifically, I'm committed to becoming a lifer here in Korea. I currently have a MBA from a Korean university and am working as a full-time tenure track professor at a National University outside of Seoul.

I have over 4 years of university teaching experience in Korea. I'm relatively young (low 30's).

I am worried about the longevity of my position. Dwindling populations, merging of universities, and overall overpopulation of qualified applicants make me feel as though my job may be in danger in the long term. I'm thinking 10-30 years down the road. I plan to teach at a university level until I retire.

I have been looking at the Korea University- English Education PhD. However, I am not sure if it is necessary or worth the time/effort. The drawbacks are time, money, and the fact that I hate research.

I'm really in love with teaching, but abhor research and the burden of constant publishing.

So back to the title... is a PhD necessary?

Also, if I do get my PhD, would I have more pressure to publish research vs teaching? I truly only want to focus on teaching.

thanks in advance, i'm especially looking forward to hearing from English Education PhD holders.

[Professional TEFLer]

Why not do some research on a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) instead? There is the dissertation phase, like the Ph.D but you would not have the constant pressure to keep publishing after your dissertation.

I have known some professors in the U.S. who taught and had an Ed.D and not the all powerful Ph.D.

It's a doctorate like the Ph.D but usually the Ed.D is for one who is working on the admin side of things at a university. Couldn't hurt to check with some universities.

[HapKi]

First of all, if you are tenure-track, like you state, and hate research and publishing, I predict a rocky and disappointing road in your future.

I know of several people who are tenure-track without PhDs, so I don't think that should be your main concern at the moment. If you were lucky enough to get where you are, your school must have realized this when seeing your credentials (in that case, congratulations and lucky you!). In my experience, once you are tenure-track, the rules and requirements for promotion are very clear and laid out (a track). The only one who can kick you out is you, by not performing.

That being said, I recommend getting the PhD. Not so much for the job security (though that is an obvious +), but for the insight and motivation it will give you in writing publishable papers. Publishing is what gets you promoted in tenure-track, and it is constant (trust me).

Coincedently, I've completed my PhD coursework in Eng. Ed. at KU, and am now working on my dissertation. I've had several papers published that stemmed from class assignments, and I believe this is the way it should be. This, I believe, is what can benefit you the most in keeping your job (ie promotion), because you can't become stagnate forever.

[nora]

Depends.

If you're teaching ESL, no.

If you're teaching teaching esl, or linguistics, sure.

I know the director of the esl department at one of the national universities, and i asked them about PhDs, and they said they would NEVER hire a PhD. If you have one, then you want to do research and not teach. So if you've got a teaching position, the PhD might hinder you.

On the other hand, if you're teaching a field and not just ESL, then it's another story.

Just my two cents.

[tob55]

[PatrickGHBusan]

OP,

If you hate research and the pressure to publish then a tenure-track position is a bad idea for you as is a PhD.

What you seem to want is a position as a Lecruter where you can teach without having the burden of research.

Can that be sustained over time in Korea? Perhaps but you would do best to talk to other Westerners that do teach in such positions as they can provide you with concrete and reliable information.

[Hoost]

Thanks for the insight. I do in fact have a tenured position in a national university.

It seems like the game is constantly changing in this industry with regulations and credentials. The most recent change has been the "Master's degree with 2 years of university teaching experience or PhD with no experience" regulation. I'm just wondering if its headed to a straight up PhD minimum requirement.

Although I'm on a tenure-track, I'm afraid things might change as I see that the whole university system as a whole in Korea is being audited and restructured.

[chrisblank]

looking at the trends I would say that a PhD minimum is on the horizon. My coworker lost his department job, and could not find a similar position with juts his MA. Lots of schools are asking for the PhD now. Especially with the lack of good jobs in the US a lot of people are staying in school and ending up with PhDs that are very attractive to the Korean Unis. Schools here are now actively recruiting from the US directly for PhDs.

[happiness]

I dated a Masters professor (Korean) and she said she'd debating getting a PH'D, she does alot of research, but everyone here has a Masters nowadays.Even with the foriegners coming here, theres quite a few Masters and more nowadays. I know a guy who went to Harvard (not full 4 years) to end up teaching in a Kindie (nice guy, got married to a nice lady).

I would say I think Tenure for non-Koreans would be VERY few and extremely competitive...and I bet research here for foreigners would be near non-existant. Even if you speak Korean, its still a old-boys club here....and always will be

Do you do it for the pride? For the money? Do you have a message to say? I dont know you, but Id say think on that.

[HapKi]

To the OP- I would be interested to know the requirements for promotion, and years between promotion periods, at your school.

That's where you're going to find the main answers to your questions.

[Malislamusrex]

A PhD is not that useful, published papers in accounting, petroleum engineering etc will make you a kind of demi-God.

[I'm With You]

[I'm With You]

For all those in the know and who are interested, the term "tenure" is a relatively new concept in Korean academia. Korean teachers automatically received a permanent position - you were either hired or you were not.

Since the introduction of labor changes and non-renewable contracts for foreign instructors, we get the term "tenure track." It's never existed prior to recent years. You were either hired as a regular employee - or not.

Tenure track positions should be approached with caution. If you aren't hired on as a regular employee at your university, then chances are you won't be. They'll dangle the carrot in front of your face, calling it "tenure track" and then yank it way after your 4th year is finished. All along, keeping you on a contract.

[I'm With You]

[I'm With You]