Reforming the German Studies Ph . D .
Russell A . Berman
Abstract of Presentation The rapid contraction of the job market after 2008 was a shock and , today , there are too many Ph . D . s being produced for the number of available tenure-track academic positions . In the end , what ’ s at stake is preserving the vitality of the Humanities in our culture even if it means changing how professors pursue their profession . So , rather than shrink programs , let ’ s recognize that Humanities Ph . D . s can open many career doors . People who finish Ph . D . s and don ’ t go on to tenure-track positions , get good jobs : jobs they ’ re interested in . In reality , 10 years out from their Ph . D . s , only about 50 percent are in higher ed . So , we need to let Ph . D . candidates know about the realities of the job market , and restructure our programs to facilitate this mobility into a wider field of careers .
That means greater transparency by departments on student placements and outcomes . Ph . D . s also take too long to complete . A graduate program typically requires nine years . There ’ s no reason it can ’ t be completed in five . Entering the profession at 27 vs . 32 years of age is a huge difference . There should be a cruel scrutiny of every requirement we have . Many requirements , examination hurdles , and required courses are just there to preserve the past . Our fields have gone through enormous transformations . What I envision is Humanities study , including advanced study – a Ph . D . opportunity – that remains accessible , diverse , and available across the country in many different kinds of institutions , precisely so that Humanities thinking can better inform our society . vii