Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!bu-cs!husc6!yale!choo
From: choo@aqua.cs.yale.edu (young-il choo)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Advice ... (on part time PhD)
Message-ID: <49276@yale-celray.yale.UUCP>
Date: 31 Jan 89 22:47:23 GMT
References: <2008@lcuxlm.ATT.COM> <00JuC36BGP1010IEdew@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com> <2015@lcuxlm.ATT.COM> <669@wucs1.wustl.edu>
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Organization: Yale University Computer Science  New Haven CT 06520-2158
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In-reply-to: conrad@wucs1.wustl.edu's message of 30 Jan 89 16:07:57 GMT


In article <669@wucs1.wustl.edu> conrad@wucs1.wustl.edu (H. Conrad Cunningham) writes:
   In article <2015@lcuxlm.ATT.COM> ram@lcuxlm.ATT.COM (Miani Rich) writes:
   >> > but I would like to do it part-time.

   I haven't been following all of this discussion, but has anyone
   addressed the "social" or "cultural" aspects of part-time vs.
   full-time doctoral study?  [...]

   It seems to me that a very important and large component of education 
   at any level is the "socialization" into an "educated culture".  I think
   that this is especially true of doctoral level study.  [...]

   To me the research for and writing of a doctoral dissertation is an
   "apprenticeship" to a "master."  

   [more good stuff deleted]

   Conrad Cunningham
   A I-hope-soon recipient of a D.Sc. in CS

I strongly second the idea that working on a doctorate is an
"apprenticeship" to a "master".  The class work etc. are the basics
required of any profession, but to do research I believe you need a
perspective of what the important questions and open problems are in the
field as well as the nuts and bolts of how to do research.

And the best way to develop such a perspective is by studying under and,
working, talking and even arguing with someone who already is a "master"
(shouldn't this be "doctor"?).  This takes time.

--  Young-il Choo  [Yale Computer Science choo-young-il@cs.yale.edu]