Just wondering, because I want to eventually get my PhD in Psychology, but I don't want to teach... at ALL. I don't plan on being a Professor, so I don't see the point of being of me teaching a class.... so yeah, just wondering....
2007-07-01 16:18:05 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
I get frustrated easily when people don't get stuff.
And Dr. G's wife (or whatever)... I KNOW I won't have to be a professor... did you even read my post?
2007-07-01 16:30:43 · update #1
And I also don't want to counsel people. I'm more into just research...
2007-07-01 16:46:00 · update #2
Graduate students often teach college courses and lab sections to get paid. Graduate school costs a lot of money, but science students often attend for free and get paid as well - if you preform some service. You can earn a fellowship or grant so you won't have to work, but if you don't, you can work as a teaching assistant or research assistant. If you don't want to teach, that's fine. Get yourself a research assistanceship right off the bat - it will be a lot easier if you have some research experience already.
2007-07-01 16:33:30 · answer #1 · answered by eri 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Actually, not all Ph.D. students have to teach. My Ph.D. program actively discouraged us from teaching, and there was no pressure on my sister (who was in a Psych. program) to do so either, that I can remember. Check with the schools you are applying to to see if this is expected.
The only problem I see is with your career goals. I don't know of any psychologists who JUST do research. I don't know of any psychological research which takes place outside of a university setting, and most universities don't hire people just to be researchers. They are either faculty, which means that they teach, or they are clinical, which means that they do counseling. You may know of jobs that I don't, but if I were you I would spend a lot of time making sure the type of job you want actually is common before putting a lot of time and money into a Ph.D.!
2007-07-01 23:59:08 · answer #2 · answered by neniaf 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are a bunch of reasons, aside from the fact most Ph.D's going on to either professorships or full-time research positions and are going to need the skills.
-You need to demonstrate that you have mastery of your subject area and the ability to explain things clearly to others. If you've ever tried to teach someone something that you're shaky on, you'll understand. You really need to understand your subject to be able to teach it well. One of my advisors once told me that teaching really prepared her for her defense.
-You get to know faculty, which is also useful, because again, the defense.
-For some colleges, it's easier/cheaper to get the grad students to do it than the professors. It's also a way for the grad students to be productive and at the same time earn money. Grad school ain't cheap.
If you're interested in being a therapist, you might want to get a Psy.D instead. It's geared more toward teaching you skills you'd use in the field instead of preparing you for academia.
Edit: If you want to do research (especially your own research), someone needs to fund it. If you're lucky, you might get someone from the military or interested corporations who will want you to do research for them on their topics. If you want to pick and choose what you research, you need a university, and that means you're faculty, which means you're going to teach. That's how it works.
2007-07-01 23:35:40 · answer #3 · answered by Yarr Yarrington 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's just how life works at times.
Some get ahead to prusing their goals earlier than others and well the PhD students had a handle on it first.
2007-07-01 23:55:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free labor
You don't think a real professor doing real research has the time to teach Undergraduate Pyshc 101.
Also it's good training to pit your witts against the snotty undergrads.
After a while they might pay you and they helps bide the time while you wait for them to review your dissertation.
2007-07-02 00:19:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not everyone will make you teach, but in general it is thought that learning how to become a teacher is an important part of getting a Ph.D. You don't have to be a great teacher, but you do need to be capable of communicating to others. This is true WHEREVER you will work, and teaching will help you learn how to do that.
2007-07-01 23:25:40 · answer #6 · answered by Mel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simple. Colleges want cheap labor. As a Ph.D student, they can charge you tuition AND pay you peanuts to teach undergrads at the same time. Besides, if you can't explain psychology to freshmen, how will you hack it before a dissertation committee?
2007-07-01 23:28:27 · answer #7 · answered by noble_savage 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
slave labor...seriously, it sucks
2007-07-01 23:28:28 · answer #8 · answered by hippiewithsoap 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
what you scared?
2007-07-01 23:26:10 · answer #9 · answered by Saki 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They do???
2007-07-01 23:22:16 · answer #10 · answered by scottyusa1 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋